"Let me outline a few specific issues: the prices are exorbitant for the quality of food served. Every dish featured the same vegetable—brussels sprouts—which shows a severe lack of creativity. The sprouts seemed either frozen or overcooked, resulting in a mushy texture that was reminiscent of mashed potatoes. Everyone in our group left feeling unsatisfied, including my 12-year-old daughter, who weighs under 100 lbs! We all ordered appetizers, entrees, and desserts, yet no one left feeling full. I typically don’t gauge a restaurant's quality solely by portion size, but at those prices (I’ve never seen filet mignon as the most expensive option on a menu—it's usually offered for those who can’t find anything else appealing), the meal should have been more substantial. For $38, a bigger portion than a 6 oz filet paired with overcooked vegetables and bland potatoes is simply unacceptable. Even my daughter, who normally doesn’t finish her meals, came home and made mac and cheese out of hunger!
To top it off, we were the only guests in the restaurant. Really, the only ones! Despite this, we had to pour our own wine throughout the evening, and none of us received a refill on our water. I expected better service. When we received the bill, it stated $69 for beverages, although we brought our own wine and the younger members of our table only had water. When we questioned the server, he claimed, "Oh, I forgot to cross that out. It should say gratuity." I suspect he hoped we wouldn't notice and would end up tipping on top of an inflated bill. Whether or not my suspicions are accurate, we certainly received poor service for our party of seven, likely because the gratuity was guaranteed due to your policy. Tips should reward good service and an exceptional meal, not be treated as a default expectation.
Additionally, two people at our table mentioned that their apple pie was burnt, but being non-complainers, they forced it down to keep the mood light. My crème brûlée lacked any garnish, which was disappointing given the fresh fruit in season. A few mint leaves or a couple of raspberries would have gone a long way. I can make better crème brûlée at home. And as for the tiny scoop of ice cream with the pie, I'm sure we overpaid for those minuscule servings.
At the prices you charge, I expect exceptional food quality, and it’s clear that your restaurant is not meeting that standard. I am very embarrassed to have suggested this dining choice. I’m now considering buying quality meat and lobster tails myself to prepare a nice surf and turf meal for my Aunt and Uncle in an effort to repay them. Alternatively, I might hire my aforementioned friend to cook for us.
My wife and I have dined all over the world, and unfortunately, this will be our last visit to your restaurant. At this rate, I doubt you'll be in business much longer. There are various websites that gather diner feedback, and regrettably, this review will be shared on several of them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to call my Uncle."
