Kelly Tee
Google
We had a really mixed experience while here today, that turned sour as we were leaving and actually ruined my family’s Sunday because it was so disappointing. Most of our concerns relate to the service, transparency and cost. I tried to speak about it with the only service person we saw, but he honestly did not seem to care about our experience. Take it for what it’s worth, but it may explain why the huge restaurant was basically empty.
Starting with the good: the restaurant is beautiful. The seats are so comfortable and the artwork is thoughtful and lovely. Everything seems clean and brand new (though we were plagued by well fed fruit flies during our meal, which was gross and annoying—but can be tough to eradicate in the summer). The food ranged from mediocre (my drink, hubby’s flatbread) to really great.
Now to the bad. We fell for the trick of selling us a special “vegetarian“ main dish that’s not listed on the menu, and we paid a fortune for it.
Our drinks were tiny (think 6 ounces), and my date/almond smoothie was inexplicably warm, and lumpy. It needed to be chewed to be consumed. My daughter liked hers, but it was basically a mango lassi in a tiny martini glass for $11.
Our serve server did not check on us while we were eating, and just continued to deliver food and walk away, while we sat puzzled over what had actually been ordered).
As he delivered the check (but before I looked at it), I told the server that I wished they had publicized vegetarian meal that they had, because I would’ve come in sooner. Instead of taking the feedback, he went off at me on how many vegetarians eat there and no one has complained before. I guess you’ll never know how many people haven’t bothered to come in because they assumed you couldn’t feed members of their party. But, sure, flex those muscles.
Now for the shock: my husband ordered a $17 flatbread for his lunch. Our total check was $150. This means my nearly 10 year-old daughter and I were charged $125 for the “we are headed to Costco” lunch we received. It was only when my jaw hit the floor and I asked for clarification that I was told we had been charged the same price as a particular meat entree even though they’d substituted out the most expensive ingredient (halal meat) for a cheap vegetable (cauliflower). I also learned the meat entrée was on the menu, and could’ve been pointed out to us rather than the garbled verbal description we received of it. That would’ve given us a chance to ask questions about the cost and clarify what we were ordering. (we certainly did not intend to order an entire mezze platter, a side order of Falafel, and full main course for a mother and child to share at lunch).
The waiter, who seemed young, but also very invested (I’m guessing he may be related to the owners) did not want to hear my feedback and immediately became defensive and argumentative when I asked for clarification. I still paid. I still tipped 20%. But I was not expecting to spend $150 on a casual, alcohol-free lunch in downtown Somerville (we chose this place over Cava, haha!). I don’t think the food quality was there (hubby certainly doesn’t), though I’d have been much happier if we’d just split the rice dish, skipped apps, and smoothies.
Given how I was treated, the poor service, and the reaction I received, I don’t think they’ll be disappointed to hear we won’t be back. It’s unfortunate, because I think the restaurant could have promise (but only as a special occasion venue given crazy pricing) if they significantly improve front of the house service in terms of attentiveness, information sharing/transparency, and focus on customer experience.
