Onur T.
Yelp
Food: not sure, never got that far, but I am sure it is just fine.
As for the rest, we walked into the restaurant at around 4 PM on a Wednesday. Admittedly, we did not have reservations. However, the restaurant was 30% full at most. And it was recommended by the concierge at The Randolph, so we figured a couple of tourist in shorts and no reservations would be tolerated.
And I suppose we were tolerated, in a fashion.
From the moment we walked in we were treated with an attitude that my wife summarized as "I have never felt more unwelcomed in my life." The manager who received us clearly had some pretensions as to the people he is willing to serve, and it felt like he allowed us to sit only because he is required by law.
We were lead to a seat that seemed to be reserved for undesirables, despite the fact that the restaurant was largely empty.
Then we waited for about 20 minutes looking around at each other awkwardly, before someone thought we might actually want to place an order. At that point I asked to be reseated because the table was covered in dirt particles that were drifting gently down at a consistent pace from the filthy awning above us.
After checking with the same manager, we were informed the whole outdoor seating area (even emptier than when we were initially seated) was booked.
At that point, we paid 5 pounds for our barely touched bottle of water and left. The server, who didn't bother to ask if anything was wrong, had such a look of relief on his face, it almost made me sympathize.
My wife and I are driving through the English country side, we were dressed in shorts and t-shirts, and we did not have reservations after all. And I would not mind being turned away at the door for not having reservations or being dressed inappropriately for the setting. But once I am admitted as a guest, I expect to be treated with due respect. I had the privilege of eating from $1 noodle stalls in Beijing, $1,000 tasting menus in New York, and everything in between, yet I had never felt so disrespected.
If you and your party look the way the patrons of this fine establishment are supposed to look, according to its' manager's opinion, I am sure it is a lovely place. For anyone else, I can't recommend an establishment that treats amiable strangers in such way.