Alexander V.
Yelp
I've celebrated every one of my special occasions at this Del Frisco's location, and until now it was my favorite restaurant. Tonight was our first time trying the Magical Dining menu, and I left feeling let down from start to finish--even though I still tipped generously ($120 on a $558 check, nearly $700 total) out of respect for the industry.
The night began with promise. We decided to start with oysters, which were excellent--clean, fresh, and perfectly chilled. But even ordering them was a struggle. Our server, Susann, never offered cocktails or asked if we wanted appetizers. We actually had to flag her down just to get her attention to order the oysters and request a wine list. For a fine-dining steakhouse of this caliber, that lack of basic hospitality was a red flag.
After going back and forth on whether to stick with the regular menu or try the Magical Dining option, we decided to give the special menu a shot. Maybe that was a mistake. The first course--the shrimp cocktail and the burrata with heirloom tomatoes--was excellent. Both dishes were beautifully prepared and gave us hope that the night was turning in the right direction.
Unfortunately, service never warmed up. Susann remained polite but disengaged the entire evening. She offered no cocktail suggestions, gave no guidance on the menu, and never tried to build any connection, despite me even asking her how long she'd been with the restaurant (five years). For a restaurant of this stature--especially during a special promotion--this level of detachment was surprising.
Dinner is where everything really fell apart. I ordered the Pittsburgh-rare filet with Gorgonzola crust and a Chateau potato side. My date ordered the same filet, medium rare. My steak arrived rare but without the requested char and was clearly an end cut--thin and not appealing. When I mentioned it, Susann questioned whether our plates had been mixed up instead of simply apologizing and taking action. My date found her filet tough and stringy and sent it back, eventually switching to the crab cake entrée, which was better.
My steak was taken back to the kitchen and returned with a char on only one side and was now overcooked. Meanwhile, our $17 potatoes sat on the table the entire time, growing cold while both entrées were being re-prepared.
What made it worse was the complete lack of acknowledgment. Not one manager stopped by to apologize for the inconvenience of having both entrées returned. Susann never apologized either--just a silent exchange of plates as if nothing had happened. At a fine-dining restaurant, that absence of basic hospitality speaks volumes.
To add insult to injury, when the check arrived, my date's entrée switch to crab cakes was never reflected. We were still charged for two filets, including the extra Gorgonzola upcharge. I noticed it, but by that point I was so over the terrible experience that I simply paid the bill, tipped well, and left--just wanting to get out and never come back.
The one highlight of the evening was the wine service--at least at first. Steven, the wine steward, was excellent. He guided us to a $250 Gagnon Kennedy Cuvee that we loved. Unfortunately, once the bottle was decanted, Susann never poured a single glass. I poured every one myself, which again felt off for a restaurant of this caliber.
To top it all off, the valet experience ended the night on a sour note. When we were leaving, the valet was initially pleasant and my vehicle arrived quickly. But as I was about to close the door, the valet who brought the car held up my keys--showing me he hadn't left them inside--and then asked if we had tipped the other valet. I had, but the question itself was absolutely classless and unnecessary. It was the cherry on top of a disappointing Sunday.
This visit was supposed to be special: our first Magical Dining experience and another celebration at what used to be my go-to restaurant. Instead, it exposed gaps in service, management oversight, billing accuracy, and even valet professionalism that I never expected from Del Frisco's. At these prices, guests deserve more than cold potatoes, an overcooked steak, and a colder response from staff. Despite everything, I still tipped well because I know this industry is hard. But after years of choosing this location for my most important celebrations, I can't see myself returning.
