D D.
Yelp
Stunned at positive reviews. This review will be long, detailed, and scathing.
A friend and I stopped in there for first and last time at 3:00 p.m. on a cold Friday afternoon. A few guys at the bar; we were the only diners until someone came in perhaps ten minutes later. Menu is pathetic: They spent more time writing enticing descriptions of burned, bland, unappetizing-in-appearance, limited yet VERY OVERPRICED menu items.
I ordered a grilled pimento cheese sandwich with side of red coleslaw ($12), because the fries were frozen, not homemade. My friend ordered an elaborately described two pieces of very special (ha!) chicken with a side green salad ($18).
Food took 45 minutes to arrive in a nearly empty room. We were shocked at the lack of quality: Salad was simply a few full leaves of iceberg dumped in a bowl, with some too-salted dressing. The chicken was a tiny, burned leg/thigh which was too tough to separate in half. Unfortunately, it didn't dawn on me to photograph until two separate discussions with two individuals - elderly female owner? Male manager? My friend did not eat her $18 shameful bit of food. The chicken was overcooked and tough; the lettuce leaves were too troublesome to cut in the small bowl.
So: Clearly, the two individuals had zero interest in our displeasure. My friend is a business owner, and I am now retired after working/living in three foreign countries and various states. We are both courteous and professional individuals, with an aim to improve rather than simply berate. We were told it was "Chef's kitchen," - not even THE chef's kitchen, as though he were king. HE prefers to not cut lettuce leaves. A GREEN salad is just that - heaven forbid toss in a cherry tomato or something else green. HE is a "chef" - try watching the movie "The 100 Foot Journey," with Helen Mirren. Now THOSE are chefs. A short-order cook could have done better here. Zero presentation: burned chicken leg, side bowl of cut beets on a white plate.
The elderly woman offered no apology; a very curt statement of "That is how CHEF wishes it." She walked off without even courteous acknowledgement. The manager was even worse: "Your complaint is the FIRST," "Our customers love us." Basically, "Go away, Ladies, and do not return because you have no idea what good food is." Absolutely no accommodation. He ALSO simply turned his back and walked away.
Our waitress was friendly, and she took it upon herself to comp my friend's inedible $18 meal. We ensured that she, herself, would not be dinged, and I regret my friend did not think to leave her a tip, but, surely she must do well, working in such a popular venue.
Finally, the place has ZERO ambience. We sat in what we referred to as "posture" booths because the space from body to table is so narrow that you must sit bolt upright, plastered against the back of the booth. The art work is abysmal, with no theme, and looks as though it was picked up beside trash cans.
We visited a business in Sperryville, itself, after this rude experience, and were told that, in fact, many complaints have buzzed around regarding this hole in the wall.
In conclusion, I hope the Health Department finds reason to close down this pathetic excuse for an eatery. Enter at your own risk, with beaucoup bucks to burn.