Rock'n Dough: The Pizza Was Worth Talking About... Unfortunately, So Was That $21 Cocktail!…read more
Let me start with the Sweet Potato Old Fashioned, because apparently I ordered a cocktail that came with a disappearing act! And at $21, I certainly wasn't expecting to have to search for the rest of my drink. Now, I'm a whiskey drinker, so I understand that an Old Fashioned isn't supposed to fill a glass like a sweet tea. However, there's a difference between a properly measured cocktail and a serving that leaves a paying customer questioning what was poured.
Before ordering, I asked our server about two cocktails: the Sweet Potato Old Fashioned and a peach bourbon option. She recommended the Old Fashioned, so I trusted her suggestion. When the drink arrived, I immediately noticed the portion. It include a whiskey rock (large ice cube), regular whiskey glass and the amount of cocktail in that glass had me genuinely questioning what I had been served. I asked our server, "Is this a sample?" Her response? "No, that's the regular serving."
If that's the regular serving, a conversation about the companies standards is required! The cocktail was $21 total, higher than my bowling score!
Let me be clear: My concern isn't about filling a glass to the rim. It's about customer service, consistency, transparency, and value. Was this an incorrect pour, or is this the establishment's standard serving? I cannot determine that without knowing the measured amount, but either possibility deserves attention. A customer should feel confident that what they're purchasing reflects both the advertised product and the price being charged. At $21, the presentation and portion should not leave that much room for questions. These are basic expectations of responsible hospitality and sound business practices. In addition, the waiter did asked me when she brought my ticket, how was the Sweet Potato Old Fashioned, I told her it taste like an regular old fashioned no sweet potato flavor. She stated they were OUT of the normal sweet potato flavored syrup to come back next week . NEGATIVE! My intention was too order additional cocktails, but my group declined ASAP.
Now, let's give credit where credit is due!
The FOOD was AMAZING! The pizza was absolutely delicious, with flavorful toppings, beautifully baked crust, and that fresh-from-the-oven goodness that makes you reach for another slice. The salad was fresh and enjoyable, and those powdered-sugar-covered beignets with dipping sauce? A wonderful sweet finish! The kitchen definitely understood the assignment!
The service throughout our visit was great, the establishment was clean, and the atmosphere was welcoming and entertaining. We attended a Yelp Elite gathering, and the bowling experience added another level of fun. Rock'n Dough has a great concept: good food, drinks, and entertainment all under one roof. There's plenty to appreciate about the space and the experience.
However, great food and an enjoyable atmosphere do not eliminate the importance of accountability behind the bar. Having spent years in food service and hospitality, I recognize the importance of portion control, standardized recipes, operational consistency, and earning customer trust. Those standards should apply just as much to a $21 cocktail as they do to the food coming out of the kitchen.
My final thoughts: The pizza delivered, the beignets delivered, the service delivered, and bowling was a blast. But that Sweet Potato Old Fashioned? It delivered more questions than whiskey!
I believe in giving businesses their flowers when they've earned them, but I also believe in addressing areas that need improvement. This cocktail experience affected my confidence in the value being offered and my willingness to return or recommend the establishment.
Rock'n Dough, you've got the food and the atmosphere. Now make sure the cocktails reflect the same commitment to quality, consistency, and customer satisfaction.
Because at $21, the only thing that should be leaving me speechless is how good the drink tastes!