Probably not a 1-star place, but let's face it 1-star reviews get people's attention.
Isn't this brewery-like gastro-pub thing getting a little old at this point? Well, it is for me really.
I went here tonight for a late dinner. Reservation for 7:30 was no problem to get, even on a beautiful Saturday night, because, well, this gimmick is getting old.
Looking through the menu was troubling. Typical uncreative menu with typical uncreative dishes that are served at every one of these places and typical beer that , let's face it, you can get just about any restaurant you go to.
Very few items on the menu. 4 starters to share, 4 appetizers, 4 entrees, 4 salads, 4 burgers, maybe a few other things sprinkled here and there, but trust me, you have seen it all.
Oooh, they have brussels sprouts and poutine? (so does everyone else).
Anyways, I ordered the Steak Frites. Surely this will be one thing on the menu they can do?
"Sorry sir, we are all out of steak frittes".
This is at 7:30 on a Saturday night at a place that closes at 10PM. There's only 4 entrees on the menu and you are already out of one of them?
Anyways, I decide to go with my second choice, shrimp and grits. This one features a "soft cooked poached egg". Sounds delicious.
I order that, and ask the waiter to make sure that the whites are cooked through on the egg, not being entirely sure what soft-poaching an egg means. Look it up if you want, even google doesn't know, but I had a hunch it meant they wouldn't be cooking the whites through.
So I explained the waiter that I'd like the egg whites cooked through, and that a runny yolk would be welcomed.
A few minutes later the waiter arrives back to the table to disappoint me again saying, "I am sorry sir, the chef will not cook the egg differently during dinner service, if you want it that way you should come back at a less busy time. We can skip the egg for you if you'd like... or you can decide on a different entrée".
I actually felt bad for the waiter being forced by some douchebag in the kitchen to return to the table with that message.
Imagine if I showed up for breakfast and they told me I could have the eggs benedict, but they couldn't leave the eggs in the water for the extra 30 seconds it takes to go from uncooked to cooked egg-whites.
Anyways, I ordered the pepperoni pizza with hot honey instead. I ordered this after looking at the "specials" menu only to find that the only thing on the specials menu was a charcuterie board (I know, I know, why wouldn't they also have charcuterie) that is already on the menu at the same price.
So, a little about the "not during dinner service". Most people at this point were on their way out, and the dining room was not full. There was no line at the door and the truth is they really just weren't all that busy. From what I could see there were maybe 2 or 3 "four-tops" that hadn't yet been served, most others were halfway through their entrees.
I imagine that with service like this that trend will probably continue. Dinner's gonna be over earlier and earlier until the name change comes.
The rest of the food wasn't very good. Bland poutine, a pretzel drenched in some sort of grease, and pizza that you would not be confused by if you were served it in a roller-rink.
So, if you are reading this and you work at a restaurant, this is really not what to do.
If you are reading this and you work at this restaurant, I hope that at least it embarrasses you a little bit.
Really it is a shame, you have a nice little spot there right near the university and between two towns that have plenty of discretionary income. All you need to do is be an adequate representation of a place with hospitality, but you blew it tonight. read more