Martin H.
Yelp
Attn: CHRIS! You're not just the "manager" you're one of owners!!!
My wife, daughter and I had made a reservation to dine here to celebrate my daughters birthday, and to also celebrate her acceptance at a local college. What a perfect way to end such a wonderful day....
We were promptly seated on arrival, and our waitress, Miryam, was a delight.
For a quick and easy sharable appetizer, we picked the fingerling potatoes. They were served fairly promptly as was our wine (and soda for our daughter). Missing any discernible sauce (it was smeared on the plate under to potatoes), they were otherwise quite bland. A salt shaker swiped from the adjoining table added the needed seasoning to make these more interesting.
There was an uncomfortable delay between this course and our entrees. Our waitress did make us aware that they were working on our meals, and finally 3 entrees arrived. My wife had chosen the Joyce Farms chicken, our daughter the pork tenderloin, and I had ordered the roast lamb, medium rare. (I'll post the pics below).
Unfortunately, the Celery Root-Parsnip Puree that the lamb was sat on was cold. Not stone cold, not warm, cold. I asked our waitress to make sure if this puree was supposed to be hot or cold. Hot, she replied.
Our waitress went the the kitchen and returned, telling me they'd make it again. I had eaten one of the 3 portions of lamb, but hey, I was now hungry.
A few minutes later my dish returned, with the original 2 remaining lamb chops now on fresh Celery Root-Parsnip Puree. To my shock, this too was cold. Not any warmer at all. Our waitress returned and asked if everything was ok, and I told her AGAIN, it's cold. I offered her to taste it, touch it, anything. I asked my wife to taste it, and she confirmed - IT'S COLD! I wasn't going crazy.
Again, for the second time my dish went back to the kitchen. Again, a few minutes later my plate returned, and Chris, the "manager" placed my dish in front of me and stated, "I HOPE THIS IS WARM ENOUGH FOR YOU NOW!" I was somewhat taken aback, and reminded him that I had hoped that it was warm enough for him to serve me, and he told me, "I won't be spoken to in that manner!" WHAT???? You're serving me cold food, and now you want to know if it's warm enough for me? At no time did he offered me an apology. He just walked away.
Chris, this "manager" was obviously irate that I had returned unsatisfactory food TWICE, and I then looked down at my plate. There was a quadruple portion of now hot puree (that tasted of ... nothing!), and my original 2 lamb chops, and some Collard Greens. (so much for just remaking my dish). I have no idea what happened to my 2 remaining lamb chops but they had gone from medium rare to medium well. This delightfully delicately balanced meal, had gone from visibly appetizing to a plate of overcook garbage. Our waitress was visibly shocked by the managers attitude, and asked what she could do for me. "Please take this off the check." She asked, and they did.
I've no idea why some of my food was cold, I have no idea why it wasn't fixed at the first opportunity, and I cannot explain the repugnant attitude of someone who was given a job to fix it, easily and without an attitude. Hot food coming from the kitchen shouldn't be ... difficult.
My wife and daughter both enjoyed their meal, our service was otherwise stellar, and I can see why this was a popular restaurant. However, the managers attitude has no place in this type of establishment.
So, learn from me. Don't complain. Don't send it back. Just eat it. Hopefully it's good the first time.