My husband and I have been to this restaurant many times, both together and separately with friends. We have never felt like the food was that stellar, but it was a nice atmosphere with good wine (pricey) and a break from the chain restaurants that line our city. Recently, we began meeting with a group of about 12 friends for a regularly monthly dinner in order to try out some of our locally owned restaurants. This month, we decided to go to Culpepper. My husband called and made a reservation on Tuesday for a Friday dinner for 12 people at 8pm. Our party had arrived by 7:45 and we had drinks in the bar area. At 8:15, we had not been sat, so I approached the hostess. I was told they were waiting on one couple to leave so they could get the table ready. 8:30, still waiting in the bar...........8:45, still in bar.........8:55 our group was seated (with no apology from anyone that I am aware of and no visit from management). My husband actually had to leave to pick up our child and make other childcare arrangements because we knew there was no way we were going to be able to pick her up from the sitter on time (10:00). Once we were seated, we all realized we were sitting shoulder to shoulder because they had shoved 12 people onto three tables.........we had to get up and add a fourth table (which was completely available, since it was 9pm) to get some elbow room. The waiter took our drink orders at 9pm. We had appetizers by 9:30 and dinner by 10:15. The food was not worth waiting 2 hours and 15 minutes for, nor was it worth the $100 tab for a salad and two steaks, of which the salad $7 consisted of cherry tomatoes, mixed greens, and glazed pecans (seriously, no other vegetables for $7) and the steaks, while cooked perfectly as ordered, had mashed potates slopped on the side of the plate (presentation was terrible and sloppy, no different than if we went to some chain steak place). We hardly saw our waiter except to take drink, appetizer, and dinner orders........so maybe they were understaffed? There was a large party of some sort in the lounge, but they were on their way out and winding down at 9:30. Doesn't matter, we were never approached during the whole meal by any management.....even just to give attention to the large party present in his/her establishment.
We would have all just left, but there was no way any place could take 12 people just walking in at 8:15. However, we were left wondering why we bothered making reservations at all.........I bet most places could accommodate 12 people at 9pm any weekend night, lol. Considering our total bill for the whole table (food and alcohol) was likely well over $650, we would have been better off, had better food, seated on time, had a less expensive bill, and treated with more care at Outback Steakhouse 10 miles away. Not impressed, Culpeppers. read more