Johan N.
Google
TL;DR: A forgettable culinary experience made memorable by a wonderful waitress and a ludicrously unskilled bar staff.
What should have been casual dining at a restaurant related to one I quite enjoy (The restaurant of the same name in Stillwater) ended up leaving a rather bad taste in my mouth, overcooked salmon aside. I have a partner with a grain allergy, not to be confused with celiac disease, which is a sensitivity specifically to gluten within some grains like wheat. This is usually not an issue, as generally restaurant staff are incredibly kind when it comes to accommodating such things. In this particular instance, a request was made for a craft cocktail, not pre-mixed, that was made with vodka. We made sure to look up the vodka to see what its primary ingredients are, and it was a grain spirit. Considering that my partner has had bad experiences with alcohols in the past containing grains, as quality of distillation may vary, we decided to play it safe and asked for said cocktail with a different vodka not made from something that is an allergen to one of our diners. We were very surprised to hear that the bartender was unable to do this. The waitress was incredibly kind and explained to us that the cocktails allowed no substitutes. We moved on from this and had different drinks. Fast forward through some over cooked salmon and asparagus, mediocre cocktails, and a comically long wait for a neat scotch, we went on our way. My partner left a review to voice her confusion and displeasure at this policy and received a rather rude response. All personal feelings aside, a restaurant that would so abruptly discount or even deny a customer allergy when such a simple substitution is available, which even the greenest of bar staff would be able to easily create a new, balanced experience, I'm afraid that I have to voice my displeasure and suggest against this business.