Andrea Dono
Google
I flew in from Rhode Island to celebrate my sister’s birthday, and unfortunately, our experience was disappointing. We had an 8:30 p.m. dinner reservation on a friday , but when we arrived, the valet denied us service, stating that reservations had ended. However, they proceeded to take the cars in front of us at 8:40, which felt very inconsistent as we had been waiting in line since 8:25pm.
Once inside, we understood the kitchen would be closing soon, so I suggested my sister quickly take a photo to mark the occasion. We were told we could not use flash photography because it might disturb guests who were finishing their meals, which we respected. I then suggested we take a photo downstairs where the lighting was better. At that point, a staff member rushed us, asking us to hurry. I politely explained that we only wanted one quick photo for the birthday girl, but the staff member still seemed impatient. When I asked my sister to stand near the steps for a better background, we were abruptly told not to go near them, even though we had walked up the same steps earlier upon arrival.
On a positive note, our waiter was very pleasant and attentive, which we greatly appreciated. We were also impressed to see that the chef was a young woman of color, and we made sure to personally thank her for her service and hospitality.
That said, for a fine dining experience where we spent nearly $500, (group of 5- although 1 person only got fries and left early due to valet not being in service after 10 to bring her car back) the lack of warmth and accommodation was disappointing. What should have been a special and memorable celebration instead felt rushed and unwelcoming, overshadowing what could have been an otherwise enjoyable evening.