Ted R.
Yelp
It pains me to write this update for a place that I have been a regular at for over 25 years. However, tonight's experience was awful.
I had made a reservation for 5:15 pm for dinner and requested a window seat. As usual, they wanted to seat us in the back of the restaurant, next to the large plywood "mural" that was put up to cover a window. This alcove is off the main seating area, and they always seem to put us there (the Siberia of the restaurant). The restaurant was 65% empty, so I asked for a window seat. I was then told that all of those tables were "pre-reserved." I told the host that I have made a reservation and requested a window seat. I asked him what "pre-reserved" meant and he replied, "I guess I'll just have to bump someone else." Huh? He then did sit us at a window table.
After our order was taken, the same person seated another party of two next to our table next to us and the people actually asked for a table away from the window. So I assume that they didn't "pre-reserve" a window table because they didn't even want one.
The evening was about to become a lot worse.
I ordered the beef tenderloin kabobs medium-rare, which I've had many times. A woman came over with our entrees and said that she didn't know if they were our dishes, but they were sitting on the counter by the kitchen. Um, not encouraging.
When I cut into my kabobs, they were clearly cooked to well-done. No pink at all and they tasted tough. I called the waiter over, and he said he would ask for another order.
By the time I got my new kabobs, my wife had finished her entree. The waiter did not wait to see how they were cooked (which is strange for an order that needed to be redone) and when I cut into them, they were raw and cold inside. When I order medium-rare beef, I honestly would settle for anything between rare and medium, but the first was very well done and the second order was really raw and cold.
I called the waiter over and he agreed. I have occasionally sent a badly cooked meat back, but never, ever needed to do this twice.
The waiter informed the host and by that time, I was very, very disappointed and frustrated. He told me I could order something else and I ordered the chicken kabobs. Of course, by this time, my wife's meal had been completed long ago, so we wound up watching each other eat.
To the credit of the restaurant, they did comp the chicken kabobs, but it made for a very unpleasant experience. For a restaurant with this much tenure, this really is not excusable.