Great Atmosphere, but Disappointing Service and Inconsistent Food…read more
We visited 112 Eatery for dinner with reservations and were looking forward to the experience. Unfortunately, while the restaurant has a wonderful, warm, and cozy atmosphere, the service and execution of several dishes left us disappointed.
I started with an Old Fashioned made with brown butter-infused bourbon, which sounded intriguing. Unfortunately, the cocktail was served over regular crushed ice rather than a single large ice cube, causing it to become watered down rather quickly. Not the best start.
We were interested in ordering the pork chop, and our waiter explained that it would take approximately 15-20 minutes to prepare. He suggested putting that order in immediately while we decided on appetizers. That sounded reasonable, except our waiter then disappeared for another 5-10 minutes. After unsuccessfully trying to get his attention, we had to ask another employee to find him.
When he returned, I specifically asked whether we still had time to order appetizers without having the pork chop arrive at the same time. He assured us that the timing would be coordinated appropriately.
Unfortunately, the pork chop arrived before any of our appetizers. When I expressed my concern to the woman delivering the dish, she offered to take it back and have it prepared again. I appreciated her willingness to correct the situation, but the entire sequence reflected poor coordination between the kitchen and service staff.
As for the food, the pork chop was excellent and easily the highlight of the evening. The appetizers, however, were less impressive.
The dumplings had a flavorful filling, but the dough at the top was noticeably undercooked and unpleasantly doughy. The octopus was tender, but it was deep-fried, which wasn't what we expected. We generally prefer lighter, healthier preparations and would have appreciated knowing beforehand that the octopus was fried.
On the positive side, the restaurant's interior is inviting, comfortable, and beautifully suited for an intimate dinner. And again, the pork chop was outstanding.
Unfortunately, a great atmosphere and one excellent entrée weren't enough to overcome the service missteps, poor timing, and inconsistent execution of the other dishes. At this price point and given the restaurant's reputation, we expected a more polished dining experience.
While I can understand an occasional kitchen or service mistake, the combination of issues made for a disappointing evening. We will likely not return.