A D.
Yelp
Disappointed but Hopeful: A Mixed Experience at The Farmhouse
After several delays, I was excited to finally dine at The Farmhouse. With some strong early write-ups--and a few mixed reviews--I was curious to see how it would all come together. Reservations were available for our party of eight on a recent Saturday night, and with chefs Mead and Cherney behind the concept, expectations were high, though realistic for a new opening.
First impressions were promising. The space is aesthetically pleasing, and we were greeted by a friendly hostess who told us we'd be seated shortly. After about 10-15 minutes of waiting, I checked back in and was told they didn't have enough menus for our party. I offered to share menus so we could be seated, which they accepted. This hiccup seemed like an opening-week logistics issue, but one that hopefully can be avoided by simply printing more menus in line with reservation counts.
We started with appetizers: the cheese board, charcuterie, PEI mussels, mushroom-braised greens, and three-cheese gratin. This is when the cracks began to show. Dishes arrived at noticeably staggered times, and we saw the first signs of a recurring theme: a lack of seasoning and flavor. The kitchen clearly uses quality ingredients, but the execution is falling short. In a restaurant led by two seasoned chefs, it's hard to justify bland, under-seasoned food--especially at premium prices.
Our entrees included several orders of the enchiladas (dry, bland, and lacking sauce), the DG hamburger (ordered medium rare, served well-done), the Jidori chicken, and the peach pizza. Surprisingly, the pizza was the standout--well-executed and worth recommending.
Service was another area that needs improvement. While our server was warm and personable, she was frequently absent for long stretches, leaving us to flag down others for basics like water or clearing plates. At one point, I had to go directly to the bar to order drinks. The bar itself was generally more responsive, but even there, issues surfaced. The much-hyped Peach Margarita fell flat--weak in both flavor and tequila--and a simple draft beer order took over 20 minutes due to a keg change.
Would I return? Maybe, but mostly for the location and the genuinely friendly staff. Still, there's a lot that needs fixing. The kitchen needs stronger leadership, better timing, and more attention to seasoning. An expeditor could help immensely with food pacing. Service staff need more support and training. Management seems aware--one manager did come by to apologize, which I appreciated--but the overall experience felt like a restaurant still finding its footing.
Here's hoping they tighten things up. The potential is there, but they need to get their act together.