David K.
Yelp
If you don't mind being rushed through a high-end french dinner by a rude manager, Scoundrel is for you.
If you don't mind seeing pornography (ala Penthouse or Playboy) plastered on the walls of one of the bathrooms, Scoundrel is for you.
My short assessment:
Excellent: ambiance, drinks, food, and service (Taylor)
Abysmal: restaurant manager (Kenzi)
More detail:
A high end French restaurant is meant to be an experience savored by all 5 senses, but due to the manager (Kenzi), it was an "experience" we will never forget.
Our experience:
My wife and I arrived 5 min early for our Saturday 5:45 pm reservation and were seated by the kind hostess.
Our server (Taylor) promptly gave us the low down and took our cocktail orders.
5:45 - 6:45 (for context): we ordered 2 of the most expensive appetizers and 4 premier cocktails (total $114 before tip)
At 6:45, we were about to order $150 worth of entrees when the manager (Kenzi) approached our table and brashly informed us (paraphrased) "you have 1 hour left, and we'd like to get your entree orders so this table can be ready for our next guests at 7:45. Resy is clear that you have 2 hours, and we only have 60 seats here, so we need to move things along". (Note: I made this reservation over the phone with Kenzi just 2 days earlier, and she never mentioned a 2 hour time limit)
Shocked, we politely asked Taylor for the check and apologized for having to leave (citing Kenzi's rude behavior). We gave Taylor a nice tip because he was doing a great job despite his manager's rudeness.
At 7pm, we left upset and disappointed. Thankfully, the evening was redeemed at a nearby Belgian restaurant.
A restaurant manager can make or break a restaurant.
Message to Chef Joe Cash: If you still ascribe to this aspiration for Scoundrel from your GVLToday interview ("It's not pretentious. It's not forced. It's just this natural, organic, really fun, just simple experience of good food, great fun, great fellowship kind of feel."), then I suggest hiring a new restaurant manager. Kenzi will be the downfall of any hopes for a "Cash Group" of restaurants. With a few minor adjustments to Scoundrel, you will be a GVL restaurant icon.
I welcome your comment or a conversation.