A friend suggested Restaurant 1920, and I'm really glad he did. This is one of those places I've probably driven past a million times--always noticing something was going on in the building, but never quite sure what. Turns out, it's a great spot.
The restaurant is built around a 1920s theme and runs very differently from a traditional restaurant. There are no waiters or waitresses. You enter through the back door (the only entrance), where a sign tells you to seat yourself. We went on a Saturday night, there were several groups ahead of us, and we waited about 20 minutes for an open table. The place was packed.
Once seated, you immediately notice how well done the dining room is. I was wearing a Carhartt sweatshirt and felt very underdressed. It's BYOB--most people brought wine; I brought a growler of beer. There is a bar, but they only serve mocktails due to liquor license restrictions.
There are no physical menus. You order everything through your phone using a QR code. They don't seem big on substitutions or changes, and since there's no server, there's really no one to ask--something to keep in mind.
The food, however, is fantastic. I had the stuffed pork chop with mashed potatoes and a mushroom gravy that was outstanding (especially if you like mushrooms). My wife ordered the chicken Parmesan and said it was excellent as well.
When your food is ready, it's placed on a table under heat lamps with your table number displayed. There are a couple employees floating around--more like bus staff than servers. We were out with another couple, and one meal wasn't ready when the other three were. An employee noticed and brought the remaining dish directly to our table, which was appreciated.
You're expected to clean your own table when finished. I didn't see anything about tipping, and most tables either left nothing or a very small tip, which was honestly refreshing.
This isn't a traditional dining experience, and it's clearly intentional. I applaud them for trying something different. The place was full, the food was excellent, and despite the impersonal setup, everything ran smoothly. We'll definitely be back. read more