February 15 Update 5 Stars!
A Fantastic Return Visit - Thank You, On the Nines
We recently returned to On the Nines after a previous visit where the food was great but the service was a bit lacking. This time, however, everything was spot on, and we couldn't be more pleased!
From the moment we walked in, the staff was attentive, friendly, and efficient, making for a much more enjoyable experience. It was clear that the team had stepped up their game, and we truly appreciate the effort.
As for the food--just outstanding. Two of us had the braised beef short rib special, and it was melt-in-your-mouth tender, packed with rich, deep flavor. My wife ordered the linguine again because she loved it so much last time, and it did not disappoint. It's not often you find a dish so good you have to have it twice! And we can't forget to mention the pimento cheese appetizer--hands down the best we've had anywhere.
A big thank you to the staff and kitchen team at On the Nines for making this visit so enjoyable. We're already looking forward to coming back!
Jan 19 Update: following my review below, the executive chef and owner took the time to call me and discuss the below. He was extremely respectful and apologetic. He offered a gift card and asked that I call him personally next time so he can show us what they can do. I greatly appreciate this and look forward to taking him up on this offer in a few weeks. I will update again after that.
Jan 18: We recently dined at On The Nines for a special occasion--my mother's 72nd birthday--and what should have been a lovely evening turned into one of the most frustrating dining experiences we've ever endured.
To start, we arrived on time and were seated promptly. Our waiter took our drink orders, and everything seemed fine. I ordered a soda since I was driving, and my wife and mother each ordered cocktails, which were delivered without issue. Unfortunately, that was the last smooth moment of the night.
When our appetizers arrived, my wife's salad was served split between her and my mother, despite that not being what we ordered. More frustratingly, my French onion soup never appeared. After waiting 15 minutes, I asked the waiter to cancel it if it wasn't ready. He agreed--but 10 minutes later, it finally showed up with my entrée.
At that point, my wife's and mother's meals still had not arrived. I waited to eat my now-lukewarm entrée until their food came. The waiter eventually walked over to the neighboring table, picked up the meals that had been sitting there for 10 minutes, and gave them to my wife and mother. To top it off, the diners at that table had to hand over the missing condiments for my mother's dish, which the waiter forgot to grab.
A manager finally intervened, offering to remake the meals. However, since this would have meant waiting another 30 minutes--and my dinner would have been cold--we declined. The manager offered complimentary dessert, which seemed like a fair resolution. We soldiered on, with the soup still sitting untouched in the middle of the table.
Throughout the meal, the waiter never checked on us or offered refills. I eventually asked for another soda, and while it arrived promptly, the glass was badly cracked--sharp enough to potentially cut me. When I pointed this out, the waiter returned with a to-go cup and straw, quipping, "Here's one for the road," despite the fact that we were still eating and waiting for our promised dessert.
We finished what we could of our meals, and when the waiter boxed our leftovers, he ignored my wife's request not to box her mostly finished plate. He packed it into an oversized container that was completely wasteful. The French onion soup remained untouched and forgotten.
Finally, the waiter dropped off the check without ever offering dessert or coffee, despite the manager's earlier promise. We left disappointed and drove to Nothing Bundt Cakes for a last-minute birthday treat.
There were so many issues with service, from inattentiveness to blatant mishandling of food, that I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Suffice it to say, this was a complete service failure and one of the worst fine dining experiences we've had. We expected far better for a special occasion. read more