Debbie S.
Yelp
As a former server, I feel it's important to preface this review by saying that when I dine out, I'm very fair and realistic with my expectations around service, timing, and overall flow of a meal. With that in mind, our experience at Piedra Santa as a party of seven lands around a 2 1/2-3 out of 5 overall.
First and foremost, the ambience is beautiful. The restaurant itself is very inviting, thoughtfully designed, and comfortable. The chairs were especially cute and comfortable, and it was something we all commented on -- the space itself is definitely a highlight.
The food, however, was very hit or miss. My personal dish -- the ribeye topped with blue cheese and black truffle butter -- was absolutely excellent. A solid 10/10 and something I'd highly recommend. That said, the truffle butter arrived enclosed in plastic, and that plastic was left on my steak. I was able to remove it and let the staff know. Someone did come to check on me and offered to replace the steak, which I appreciated, but since I hadn't cut into it or consumed any of the plastic, I didn't feel a replacement was necessary.
There was also some confusion with the steak specials. Our server repeatedly mixed up the porterhouse and tomahawk steak special. Multiple people at our table were interested in the tomahawk special she mentioned, only for her to come back several times to clarify that the special was actually for the porterhouse only. Not a huge issue, but worth noting. That said, the porterhouse special -- which included the steak, a main lobster, and two sides for $250 -- felt like a good deal.
Unfortunately, two other people at our table received steaks that were overcooked and lacking flavor, which was disappointing at this price point. The sides were also inconsistent. The mac & cheese, mushrooms, and au gratin potatoes were all very good. The corn and spinach, however, were a mess and not enjoyable. We also ordered a large number of sides assuming they were individual portions, only to realize they were quite shareable. This would've been helpful for our server to mention while we were ordering, as we definitely over-ordered.
Another frustrating point was the water situation. At the beginning of the meal, we were offered still or sparkling water. When we said "still," it was assumed we wanted bottled water rather than tap, which resulted in an unexpected $30 charge on our bill. Whether that was miscommunication or assumption, it negatively impacted the experience -- especially for a party of seven spending a significant amount of money at a higher-end restaurant.
On a positive note, the cocktails were delicious. Several people ordered drinks and all were very impressed -- major credit to the bartender.
As for service, our specific server didn't seem very knowledgeable about the menu, and her experience in a fine dining environment appeared minimal. As a family that frequents higher-end restaurants, we're used to a certain level of confidence, engagement, and menu insight from servers, and that was noticeably lacking. We also observed table-clearing staff reaching over guests, which further highlighted that fine dining service standards and training may not yet be fully in place here.
Overall, while some of us had individual highlights, as a family we didn't feel the experience matched the price point or expectations. The space is beautiful, and there's clear potential, but due to the inconsistencies in food and service, our overall rating sits closer to 2 1/2 stars, possibly stretching to 3.
