Nicole B.
Yelp
This was probably the worst fine dining experience I've ever had--and I dine out often, especially at higher-end restaurants. I've been to this location back when it was La Vie, and I never expected the level of service we received at Solera.
We came just for Restaurant Week on a Saturday with a 7:30 PM reservation for a party of two.
Right away, our server greeted us and asked if we wanted still or sparkling water. Those seemed to be the only options offered. My fiancée asked for "water," but tap water would have been perfectly fine. I ended up saying still, not expecting to be charged. I later saw other reviews mentioning that this is how they train their servers, but $13 a bottle is excessive for something we didn't actually want.
We ordered drinks--the $33 Taittinger Champagne and the $19 "Poached Pear." My fiancée ended up ordering a few rounds of the Poached Pear throughout the meal.
When taking our food order, my fiancée ordered the $210 caviar, $42 oysters, $24 poke, the $110 "A5 Miyazaki Wagyu," and two sides: the $15 Wagyu Potato and $15 Mushrooms. When it was my turn to order, I tried to order the Restaurant Week prix fixe menu. The server then told me that all guests at a table must order the Restaurant Week menu--something he never mentioned earlier. I asked whether the kitchen could make an exception since my fiancée had already ordered so much, but he simply repeated that it was "their policy." This policy was not disclosed on OpenTable or on the Restaurant Week website. So, since we were required to order the same Restaurant Week menu, I ended up ordering the $110 "A5 Miyazaki Wagyu" and the $22 Johnny Cake.
About 20-30 minutes later, our appetizers arrived. The server noticed the delay and checked on us, which I appreciated--kitchen delays happen and I wasn't bothered by that. However, after all the appetizers were served, someone came 5-8 minutes later with the whipped eggs, crème fraîche, and chives that are supposed to accompany the caviar. No idea how that was forgotten.
About 15-20 minutes after that, the food runner brought out our "A5 Miyazaki Wagyu" entrees. Our table was completely covered with appetizer dishes--some of which we were still eating--and no one had come to clear them or reset the table with the proper utensils. We didn't even have steak knives. The food runner stood there holding our entrees with nowhere to set them, then took them back to get help clearing the table. While clearing, he tried to take the half-eaten caviar, and I had to tell him we were still working on it.
When the steaks finally arrived, my "A5 Miyazaki Wagyu" was about 70-80% fat. I called the server over and told him that my steak was almost entirely fat. This is the part that really pushed me to write this review. Instead of looking at my plate first, he immediately replied, "Yes, this is Miyazaki Wagyu," as if explaining wagyu to someone who didn't know what it was. I told him I am fully aware that Miyazaki Wagyu is heavily marbled, but asked him to actually look at my plate. Once he saw that nearly the entire cut was inedible fat, he acknowledged the issue and took it back to the kitchen. I really should have taken a photo.
The manager came over, apologized, and offered a replacement entrée, which I politely declined. At that point, I was done with the meal. I tried some of my fiancée's wagyu, which had some fat--as it should--but at least had edible portions. Honestly, I'm questioning whether what we were served was really "A5 Miyazaki Wagyu." I've had authentic A5 many times, and it always melts in your mouth. This did not. Normally, fine dining restaurants present a certificate of authenticity for Miyazaki Wagyu or display it somewhere in the dining room. Solera did neither.
For comparison, I've had the A5 Wagyu at HY's, which is also part of G.Lion Hawaii, and that was proper A5 Wagyu--marbled, tender, and authentic. What we received at Solera was nothing like it.
At the end of the meal, the server brought out complimentary desserts. Unfortunately, they were dry and not good at all--but since it was a gesture of apology, we accepted it. When the check arrived, the server told us he removed my wagyu and said he could "take off another appetizer," but he never actually did. It was a strange thing to say without following through. He should have adjusted the bill before presenting it, not after mentioning it to us.
The final bill was $575.92 before tip, and we still left a 15% tip because no one was rude--just poorly trained and inattentive. But if Solera is going to charge fine dining prices, I expect fine dining service and quality.