Thud! Whomp! Splat! What was that? Well if you recently have been to Five and Dime it is the sound of customers dropping like flies! Since their promising opening this Summer, this place has gone from a 3-4 star solid hangout to a confused, frustrating not worth your time avoid at all cost nightmare. How does this happen so quickly? Oh let's continue the use of sound effects:
Thud! - Love the upstair's inside-outside space! Cool, fun, and on a warm evening (even in November) it has the potential to be a place where one eats, drinks, and hangs around for a while spending some cash. If you go to ask for a table, they will tell you something like, "we are at capacity" you will have to wait at least 20-30 minutes." You know what happens when you get up there? There are more empty seats than customers. Even when inquiring about sitting at the bar instead, (we sheepishly were told by the hostess it was "full") the bar practically was empty with two people seated! I am not surprised to read other reviews claiming a similar seating and waiting situation. On a football Saturday in Evanston where every other place was actually full with customers (albeit Wisconsin fans) this was the first red flag.
Bonk! - The entree menu of the restaurant has been whittled down to 3 items (they may tell you five). However they are:
Salad - one topped with chicken, the other topped with shrimp. (2 menu items, same salad you decide)
Burger - One "classic cheeseburger", one black and blue burger. (2 menu items, same burger base)
One Whitefish Sandwich
Just weeks ago and look at pics of their menu on here they had a variety of entree options. I am not sure how two burgers, two salads, and one fish sandwich makes a "restaurant"?
Whomp! - The service really lacked any coordination or effectiveness. When first opening, I get the fact that "kinks and training" need to occur. However, by November, that ship has sailed. However, each visit has shown that the ship is indeed taking on water and sinking fast. Seated, Waited. No water. (Maybe 10 minutes) Drink order taken....glass of wine, an ice tea served in a "rocks glass" (short whiskey on rocks type of glass). Told, "sorry" we don't have glasses so I will just keep bringing you more ice tea. We order apps promptly, and wait, and wait, and wait. Server says, "sorry about the wait..."
We order food knowing that there is a major malfunction going on...and the wait continues. By the way, I tried to order a "burger". Was then told, "we are out of burgers". Think about it, their "5" item menu is now down to "3" choices. More than 20 minutes go by and our apps are brought. My iced tea hasn't been refilled, and water finally arrives. 2 minutes later our food arrives... So water shows finally, iced tea in a tiny glass stays unfilled, food is ridiculously late and then all of it shows at once.
Side note: Five minutes later the table next to me orders a "burger". Thinking to myself, "oh man they are going to be bummed, they are out of those." The server walks away and takes the order. I am later told, "Oh yeah, we have burgers now...." Never offered to change my order, no apology....just like a matter of fact new development in the world of five and dime.
Splat! - "May we speak to a manager please? This just isn't right." Response? "Sure, let me get someone for you...." More than five minutes pass, nothing, nobody, zilch. We leave.
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! The sound of a falling, rapidly declining establishment that had such promise. Save your nickels and dimes, don't spend five or ten minutes waiting (that would be an improvement), don't wait for five or ten visits to this place before you also realize the catastrophe that is Five and Dime. read more