Before this evening, it had been about a year since we were at this restaurant, and we noticed the menu was completely different, so we commented on the changes at which point we were informed that they had a new chef. I hate to say this because we have enjoyed our once a year visit to Mountain Creek, but the changes are NOT GOOD!
My appetizer was the Phyllo Mushroom concoction. In my first bite I bit down on a small, hard stick. I could handle this considering the earthy process and origin of mushrooms, but beyond that it was just a very bland dish. I then had the mushroom soup, and again, very bland, but with a sour taste that was unpleasant. My entree was the Steak Au Poivre, the best of what I had, but still, the steak was under-seasoned, however with a divine peppercorn sauce that there simply wasn't near enough of; my steak was also not cooked properly as it was way over the medium rare I ordered. Finally, for dessert I had the weirdest Tiramisu I've ever tasted. Served in a glass, it was "soupy" with a lumpy, watery ricotta-type consistency, the lady fingers were very hard, and probably the worst Tiramisu I've ever had. My wife's dessert, a molten chocolate cake was all sauce with very little cake. The flavor was nice, but it may as well have been a bowl of chocolate syrup.
Although my meal, and parts of others', were a bit disappointing, my dinner companions has some good dishes. The Applewood smoked steak with a raspberry-wine reduction was good, and my wife had the pecan crusted trout that she really enjoyed (with a caveat to come), although the bland, sticky white rice it sat on was confusing. If not for these bright spots this review would have been a one-star affair.
To add insult on top of disappointment in the meal, my two lady dinner companions found the women's restroom without tissue, and had to hold each other's purses as there was nowhere to hang them in the restroom.
I truly hate to leave this review, negative as it is, but we have loved our infrequent trips to this restaurant until now. A special friend takes us here once a year for my wife's and my anniversary, so I really couldn't complain out loud. This friend pays, and on this trip the tab was $208 and some change before tip for a party of 3. For that price one should get much better. As I sit here and write this, just 2 hours after finishing our meal, my wife is not feeling well with a nauseous stomach (aforementioned caveat).
I hope things change for the better as time goes on with the new menu/chef. I think I would feel nauseous, too, if I'd paid for this overpriced, underwhelming meal. Too bad because it's a beautiful setting, and our server, Cassie, I think, was good. read more