Yes -- that actually makes the drink delay even more frustrating because the cocktail itself sounds…read morelike a home run. I'd absolutely include it because it reinforces the theme: the product was excellent; the hospitality and pacing killed the experience.
The food was honestly the best part of the night -- a solid 4.5/5. Unfortunately, the overall experience was nowhere near what we expected from a restaurant at this price point.
We started with the calamari, which was excellent. The giardiniera with it was an unexpected flavor combination that I loved. They also brought out an enormous loaf of fresh-baked Asiago bread with butter -- way more than two people needed, but damn, it was good. Both came out within minutes of ordering.
We also ordered the cherry-smoked Old Fashioneds, and they were fantastic. Probably one of the best things we had all night. The presentation was really impressive: instead of simply smoking the glass, the cocktail arrived inside a glass box filled with smoke. The server placed it in front of us and we opened the door ourselves, letting the smoke roll out around the drink. Really cool presentation, and the cocktail tasted every bit as good as it looked.
The problem? It took nearly 30 minutes to get them.
They were so good I absolutely would have ordered a second round, but after waiting that long for the first one, we weren't willing to chance it. That's a missed sale and, more importantly, a missed part of the experience.
In fact, we had finished our calamari before our drinks ever arrived. From the time we were seated, it took close to 10 minutes for our server to return for our drink and appetizer order, and then nearly another 30 minutes for the cocktails -- even after we reminded her.
Our server was very sweet, but the interaction felt extremely scripted rather than genuine. We heard essentially the exact same questions and phrases repeated word-for-word at the tables on either side of us. She was also very slow getting back to us throughout the meal.
For dinner, we shared the ribeye and Caesar salad because we were hoping to save room for dessert -- it was my birthday. The steak was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. At $60, it was exactly what I expected it to be. The Caesar was huge and very good. Everything we ate was delicious, although the food presentation felt surprisingly basic for the type of restaurant Double Cut positions itself to be.
The bigger disappointment started before we even sat down.
When we arrived, there were several people waiting and no host anywhere in sight. Multiple employees walked past carrying to-go orders without acknowledging anyone or even saying someone would be right with us. Because the entrance also serves Red's Piano Bar, we actually started wondering whether we were even in the right place.
When the host finally appeared, there was no hello, no smile, no welcome. Just, "Do you have a reservation?" We gave him our name and were told, very matter-of-factly, that we would have to wait a few minutes.
Five minutes later, he returned and led us directly into Red's Piano Bar.
That was not what we had reserved.
We specifically made a reservation at Double Cut for a quieter, elevated birthday dinner. Instead, we were being seated in a loud bar with red lighting, TVs on the walls and a table just feet from the bar. When we explained that our reservation was for Double Cut, we were told it was the same menu and that if we didn't sit there, we would have to wait considerably longer.
So we sat.
And frankly, that pretty much took the air out of the evening.
Brian had planned a nice, romantic birthday dinner for me. Instead, we were sitting in a bar booth while he tried not to watch the baseball game playing on the TVs. It felt more like sitting in the bar area of a Chili's -- except without the Chili's hospitality or Chili's prices.
Even the person who delivered our steak simply asked us to cut into it, said "enjoy," and walked away. No smile. No warmth. Completely transactional.
Needless to say, we didn't stay for birthday dessert. We ate what we had ordered, paid the bill and left.
The frustrating part is that the kitchen and bar are clearly doing a lot right. The food was genuinely very good, and that cherry-smoked Old Fashioned was outstanding.
But at this price point, you're not just paying for a steak and a great cocktail. You're paying for hospitality, atmosphere, pacing and an experience.
That part missed the mark by a mile.
