12/31/25
My wife and I were staying at the Grand Bohemian for New Year's Eve and had not made dinner reservations. After checking in, we stopped by the hostess stand to see if anything was available. She found a 9:15 PM reservation, which we gladly accepted. We asked to see a menu at that time, and everything looked great.
We returned a little before 9:00 PM and were told to have a seat at the bar for a drink while waiting. Around 9:05 PM, our table was ready. Once seated, we were surprised to learn that the menu we had been shown earlier was not what was being served. Instead, it was a New Year's Eve fixed six-course menu, with two choices per course, priced at $185 per person. At that point, leaving really wasn't an option.
Our server greeted us, brought water, and explained that she would take our entire order at once and bring the courses out as they were ready so the evening would run more smoothly.
The Food
The food itself was excellent overall, though there were execution issues and significant pacing and service problems that overshadowed the experience.
Amuse / Welcome
A cold, heavy cream-based truffle flavor welcome drink for both of us (served before the first course).
First Course
My wife: Butternut Agnolotti -- hand-rolled spinach pasta with sunchoke, pancetta, and sage cream
Me: Lobster Bisque -- poached Maine lobster, tarragon crème fraîche, Gruyère & chive gougère
There was a long wait before the next course. Thankfully, the couple next to us was local and shared some recommendations for the area.
Second Course
My wife: Benton's Pears -- pear, arugula, sumac labneh, pomegranate, champagne vinaigrette
Me: Smoked Short Rib -- parsnip mousse, gremolata, southern mop
We were told the kitchen was backed up, which is understandable on a holiday. However, this is where the issues became obvious. A table of six behind us finished and left, and another group of five was seated -- both handled by the same server.
Palate Cleanser
Muscadine Granita
At this point, the table seated after us was already receiving later courses. We continued to be told the kitchen was backed up, yet that table kept moving forward faster than we were.
Third Course
My wife: Seared Sea Scallops -- lobster risotto, Boursin, Benton's bacon-Brussels slaw, champagne beurre blanc
Me: Beef Wellington -- truffle whipped potato mousseline, mushroom duxelle, roasted carrot, cipollini onion, black garlic reduction
My cipollini onion was cold, which I mentioned when the server finally checked in. She offered to replace it, but I declined and continued eating.
By this point, the table behind us had already received dessert.
Dessert
Hazelnut & Chocolate Mousse -- feuilletine crunch, toasted hazelnut, blood orange marmalade
Apple Cobbler -- brown butter streusel, butter pecan ice cream, drunken raisins
Desserts were not good at all. The blood orange marmalade on the chocolate mousse was extremely bitter. The apple cobbler looked like a few apples tossed into a dish with a hard granola-like topping -- not the streusel listed on the menu -- and it wasn't warm. This was disappointing, as dessert was supposed to be the finish to what had otherwise been a very good meal.
Final Course
Three cheeses drizzled with honey and served with crackers
This final course arrived around 11:20 PM.
Timing & Service
Dinner took nearly three hours. We wanted to be back in our room before midnight to watch the ball drop. We had to speak with a manager and barely made it upstairs by 11:55 PM.
Other servers did not appear to have the same pacing or service issues. Another nearby table that arrived before us was still there as well, but they were loudly talking and on their phones throughout the night. We were there to enjoy dinner, not to hear someone else's personal conversations. I glanced over several times and even saw the husband whisper to his wife to quiet down -- it didn't help.
Final Thoughts
Food: Excellent overall, with execution issues
Service: Poor and disorganized
Pacing: Completely unacceptable for a high-end, fixed-course New Year's Eve dinner
This should have been a memorable evening. Unfortunately, service failures and lack of coordination took away from what should have been a special experience. read more