Angela A.
Google
I’ve been wanting to try The Ace ever since it was taken over by the new owners a few years ago. It’s since landed a spot on the Michelin Guide which, while highly subjective in my opinion, is still a notable acknowledgment and great for visibility. We came as a party of four for Saturday brunch with a reservation, arriving early enough to be the very first guests seated.
While we were seated promptly, the welcome from our server left much to be desired—curt, disengaged, and leaning toward unpleasant throughout the entire experience. We ordered coffees and our mains. I had the hummus bowl with duck confit and mushrooms. Unfortunately, the hummus had the texture of mushy cornmeal, the duck confit was extremely salty and sinewy, no sign of any mushrooms, and the toast was so hard it actually cut the roof of my mouth. The poached eggs were the saving grace of the dish.
The other three dishes—Avocado Benny, Bacon and Guacamole Benny, and Huevos Rancheros—were visually beautiful, but everyone commented on how salty their food was as well, so at least it wasn’t just my plate.
The service, however, was what sealed the experience for me. Our server carried an air that we should feel privileged to be dining there—no smiles, no thank-yous, and even when we helped him by stacking our plates, there was no acknowledgment. When we paid the bill, he simply took the money and walked off without a word. Very odd, very off-putting. We were also one of the first tables of the day, so it’s not like he was tired from working all day.
For me, that combination of underwhelming food and dismissive service makes this a one-and-done. I know there are off days for everyone, but I will have to think really hard before returning.