Dandelion - Restaurant

Beautiful Setting, Poor Execution The ambiance was amazing, but the food and service were a letdown. My wife’s roasted chicken looked good but was undercooked and raw in the middle, while my burger had a decent patty but came with a cold, uninspired bun. When we raised the issue, the chef refused to take responsibility, insisting the chicken was cooked properly without apologizing or offering a proper solution. The saving grace was the bartender, who later apologized for the entire experience and service. She comped a couple of excellent cocktails for us to enjoy in the sauna, showing the professionalism the kitchen sorely lacked. Despite sending back the inedible chicken, we were still charged the full amount, which felt like an insult. Stunning setting, but a deeply disappointing experience.

I had dinner here two nights in a row (I was staying in the property). Both nights the food and service were incredible. I love that they have specials. The drink called sunburn was delicious!

Really special. The atmosphere and service is just right but what stands out is what Josh and Michael are producing from the Kitchen. We only meant to stop by for for drinks but were tempted by the seasonal and changing menu (meaning missing something once may mean you never see it on menu again). The seafood bucatini was out of this world and the striped bass was even better. We’ll be back, a really outstandingly good menu and a great location in which to enjoy everything on offer

This fabulous out of the way hidden gem is the perfect intimate setting to be matched with such exquisite food and libations. The hand crafted special drinks are delicious and refreshing. The menu, has a limited selection of thoughtfully matched dishes matched to the current season. The staff is very knowledgeable, and is the perfect of taking queues to know if you are in a deep conversation or curious for some conversation or history of the place. This is a treasure, you will want to be sharing with others.

Once a local favorite of ours, Dandelion has unfortunately lost its charm. Despite a hardworking and clearly overextended waitress handling the entire dining room and bar, the service felt rushed and chaotic. Given the huge demands on the solitary waiter, it was no wonder it was always difficult to get her attention, forcing us to resort to the crude tactic of arm waving. Her rushing about made us feel that any minor request -- such as filing a water glass - was interruption. The food server and table setter, who could have stepped in to help out, remained disengaged, robotically sticking to their apparently narrowly defined tasks. Also odd was food server’s manner of simply plopping down the plates on the table with a seemingly begrudging look on his face. And the complimentary dessert for our guest of honor felt like a rushed gesture for us to wrap things up rather than a thoughtful touch. One less table to tend to, I guess. The food: 3 out of our 4 dishes were good, but the big let down was the "pesto" rigatoni -- bland and utterly lacking in flavor. The sauce had none of the vibrant, herbaceous notes you expect from a proper pesto -- no garlic, no pine nuts, not even a hint of basil. What rushed waiter failed to explain to us was that the dish was an arugula pesto -- no basil in it at all -- an no other flavors to compensate. Seating-still uncomfortable. At first, we thought we had lucked out when we were seated at the only 4-top without the dreaded backless benches. However, we immediately noticed that the chairs were significantly below standard height, making for an awkward dining experience. A simple fix like adding cushions could easily solve the issue. But when we asked for a cushion or pillow, our request was met with a laugh. While I understand the staff was overwhelmed, a restaurant of this caliber should know when to prioritize quality over quantity and limit the number of reservations it takes. But I also got the feeling the waitress didn't want the help, so she wouldn't have to share the tips -- but that's not fair to customers looking for a relaxed meal with attentive, considerate service. After many great experiences in the past, this visit was a letdown, and with so many other options around, I’m hesitant to return unless I hear through the grape vine that management has gotten the message to fully staff the restaurant and give their guests a truly fine-dining experience, commensurate with the prices.

We LOVE the vibe at Dandelion. Big windows, exposed timber (okay LVLs), soft lighting and a chic crowd. What a perfect place to follow a day outdoors in the Catskills. Just as important, the food is outstanding with a great mix of veggie and omnivore dishes. Everyone should be happy. The starters were large - delicata squash with herbed goat cheese and a huge kale Caesar salad. Offered mains were diverse: ribeye, pork chop, halibut, duck breast and Asian eggplant. We had the thick-cut pork chop and the duck breast. Both were fantastic with clear thought from the chef to compose complex flavors and detail. The great vibe and food made up for a lacking wine list - super small and just a bunch of table wines. Something a bit higher-end would have been appreciated. Similarly, they need to work on Service. The servers seem busy but not efficient and we had a hard time getting attention more than once. Nonetheless, we thought the meal and experience were great. Worth the visit and really good food.

Overpriced with no creativity in food presentation. Soup came in cold, steak and burger came in cold., toasted crostinis came in cold. When asked about it, they simply threw them in the microwave. The ambiance was quite nice and the server was responsive and kind. They did offer a desert for the inconvenience which was thoughtful. Bar service and cocktail menu was great. I’d go just for drinks next time. Never for dining again.

We ordered some fish and beef. Couldn’t remember the name. While both were quite delicious, despite the small portion, the ambiance was poor. First, there was this sweaty lady walking back and forth between the dining room and the patio. Her body odour just ruined the whole thing. Second, three tables away there were this group of very loud women. The people sitting behind us were also bothered but we didn’t say anything. Third, the hotel guests in the field were yelling and the music was blasting. We just ordered the entree and left. Service was ok. Won’t come back. The whole thing was contrived.