Nyema Johnson
Yelp
I've lived in this community for almost two decades, and I was excited to try Whisk, but unfortunately, my experience left me disappointed.
Parking Issues: Before this restaurant, there was another establishment in the same location, and we never had to pay for parking. Now, Whisk requires you to pay for what they call "valet," but in reality, you're just walking to your own car and paying someone--completely unnecessary and misleading.
Hidden Fees & Deceptive Practices: One of the most frustrating parts of my visit was being forced to pay for water. Who does that? Filtered tap water is available even at "high end" restaurants. Additionally, Nowhere was it made clear that this would be an additional charge. On top of that, gratuity is automatically added, without any prior notice. I would have happily tipped even MORE because our server was great, but the way this was handled left a bad taste in my mouth.
The Impact on the Community: What makes this worse is that you don't find out about these extra charges until you receive the bill--putting both the customer and the server in an awkward position. It feels deceptive. This community has supported businesses for years, but we also don't hesitate to speak up when we feel taken advantage of. I've already had friends ask about my experience, and in good conscience, I cannot recommend they spend their hard-earned money here.
The Food: The food itself? 7/10. Good, but nothing remarkable. My shrimp omelet and fish & grits both had the exact same sauce, which felt repetitive for a $70 bill (food plus extra charges).
Final Thoughts: We love supporting Black-owned businesses, but businesses also need to respect and value their customers. This will be the last time I spend my money at Whisk unless they make serious changes. Charging for basic amenities and enforcing hidden fees is NOT how you build loyalty. We cannot allow establishments to operate this way in our community.