This rating is highly divergent, depending on whether you're looking for a bar or for a restaurant. I will offer you two perspectives:
1. BAR rating = 4 stars (calibrated for the local area)
This is a great place to go to for a nice drink. In fact, it is perhaps the only place in this area that one can get a decent Old Fashioned or Manhattan. They are using the Luxardo cherries in their Manhattans and to my knowledge, this is the only establishment that is even making an effort to concoct this drink properly within a 30 mile radius. The execution isn't quite right (they are making these drinks too sweet and bastardizing them somewhat), but I greatly appreciate the effort.
This establishment also features an acoustic musician displaying impressive (for non-musically inclined folks) talent that creates a relaxing, interesting, and unique (for this area) experience.
The interior ambiance, decor, and architecture is novel, quaint, somewhat odd, and quite pleasant. The clientele is well civilized and appears to be comprised solely of upwardly mobile citizens who contribute to society and the economy.
I would not recommend this establishment as a destination; however, if you are local and would like a nice, not trashy, relaxed environment to enjoy a few drinks with friends in a pub like setting - this is an excellent choice!
2. RESTAURANT = 1 star
The food is not bad; however, it is not great either. When I go out to eat, I expect the food to be better that than what I can make at home - that is precisely why I go out to eat. This establishment has a very small menu (which I think is great), with a focus on prime rib. My main beef is with their signature prime rib. It tastes like it came out of a freezer or off of a Sysco food truck. The au jus doesn't taste "real", if you know what I mean. It almost tastes like a powdered just add water situation. That's all fine and dandy when you're selling prime rib at a bar for $15 a plate, but when the establishment bases their image solely on the Prime Rib, one expects quality. Anyhow, the prime rib we procure and make at home is a world away from this slop. I was disappointed, to say the least.
Furthermore, the menu is BASIC, NORM, etc., which is just fine if done right. But this is NOT done right. The salads are fine, but honestly my 12 year old niece would make the same salad which is really cute and sweet, but I'm not going to pay $12 for that.
It's not about how much the meal costs for me, it's about the quality of the food and preparation technique. I could easily have a better meal at home, and therefore, this food is not worth paying for. read more