Luca S.
Yelp
Walking into the restaurant, the front area was noticeably cramped with waiting guests, and seating for those waiting was very limited. The only option was to leave our name with the hostess, meaning we had to remain inside if we wanted to hear it called. The hostess, while not outright rude, seemed visibly unhappy. We were quoted a 10-15 minute wait, but ultimately ended up waiting closer to 30-35 minutes.
During our wait, my partner found a seat after standing for some time. Shortly after, a woman entered carrying several bags and asked to speak with the owner or manager about setting up flyers. The two then proceeded to crowd my partner, setting up materials around them on the surrounding seats and table. Neither acknowledged my partner's presence until they got up, visibly uncomfortable. Instead of offering an apology, the owner/manager simply laughed and said, "Yeah, I know you just sat down." The woman also laughed and continued setting up. Ironically, she sat down in the same seat my partner left after 5 minutes of setting up and ended up waiting only 10 minutes for a table--far less time than we did.
Once seated, we were hopeful given that the menu looked appetizing. Our server, while a little slow to check on us, was kind and professional--one of the only bright spots in our experience.
We ordered two appetizers: the crab dip (which was delicious) and the Nashville hot chicken tender poutine, requested without pickles. Our server assured us this would be no problem. However, when the dish arrived, it was covered in pickles. We politely informed the food runner, who seemed visibly annoyed as she took the plate back. Less than five minutes later, the dish returned--clearly the same plate with most of the pickles simply removed. The fries still tasted of pickle juice, and when we lifted the chicken, we found pickles still underneath. We set it aside and focused on the crab dip.
When our server returned to check on us, we explained what happened. We were understanding about the kitchen being backed up but disappointed that the dish wasn't remade properly. She offered to box it up, but we explained that we wouldn't eat it with the pickle flavor still present. She apologized and informed us that the restaurant's policy didn't allow her to remove it from the bill. We accepted this, but it felt unfair that we were charged for a dish that was incorrectly prepared twice and left untouched. It honestly made the establishment seem money-hungry, and gave us a bad impression of the owner/manager.
For entrées, I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffle was cold and hard, and it was only half of a waffle rather than a full serving. I'd rate it a 1/5. My partner ordered the steak frites with arugula, fries, and au poivre sauce (which had a $3 upcharge). The dish arrived piled onto a plate that seemed too small, with about two-thirds of it consisting of fries. The arugula wasn't dressed with oil or lemon, and the steak was missing the sauce entirely. It took another seven minutes after the food arrived for our server to bring the sauce, although she didn't acknowledge or apologize for us having received our food without it. She just stated the sauce was really good.
Overall, the restaurant had a charming atmosphere, but the experience was disappointing. The only consistently positive aspect was our server, who remained kind and professional despite the circumstances.
Unfortunately, the management came across as indifferent and, frankly, dismissive--particularly in how my partner was treated while waiting and in how they handled the issue with our food. The owner/manager repeatedly walked past our table, making eye contact, but never once checked in or offered any acknowledgment of the earlier situation.
With so many dining options available, a restaurant needs more than just good aesthetics--it needs quality service and accountability. The food was also pricier than it should have been given the quality and the frequent errors. I've had better and cheaper food at a diner. Based on this visit, I wouldn't return.