"I arrived at 3:15 PM on a Wednesday, and noticed the sign on the door advertised food and drink specials from Tuesday to Thursday, 3-6 PM. This will be relevant later. It was a pleasant 71 degrees and sunny outside. It was just me and my baby, and since all the patio tables were still set up, I asked if we could sit outside. My waitress didn't seem too excited about it, but she reluctantly agreed. Honestly, I was trying to be considerate since I had a baby who can be a bit noisy and messy, so I figured being outside would be easier for everyone.
Before placing my order, I inquired about the food and drink specials and was told, "Sorry, there are no specials today," even though the sign clearly advertised them. Okay... Before ordering anything for myself, I requested some buns with cinnamon butter for my baby, thinking that would keep her occupied and be a quick and easy option. When my waitress returned with water, I ordered a drink and my meal. Since my dish included the same type of buns, I asked if I could just have the ones that came with my meal instead of ordering an extra serving. Both the side order and meal description stated "buns," not "bun."
I received my drink, a jalapeño margarita, which was excellent—10/10! However, I still hadn't gotten the buns that I had requested 10 minutes ago. My food and the buns finally arrived about 5 minutes later. The waitress told me the kitchen made both orders of buns because they hadn't received the message, but there were only three buns?! I found that odd, as two orders should yield more than three.
Now, on to the food: I had the loaded mac and cheese, which was delicious—9/10. It was creamy and flavorful, with nice sundried tomatoes, though the sauce could’ve been a bit thicker. I also noticed that in pictures of the pasta dishes, there was usually a grilled croissant or bread served alongside. Mine did not come with any. Additionally, the buns were disappointing—hard and barely warmed. Neither my baby nor I could eat them.
Just then, it started to rain—such bad timing! I swear there was no rain in the forecast when I chose to sit outside. What began as a light sprinkle quickly turned into heavy raindrops. I attempted to open the canopy, but there was no pin to hold it up, so I was left standing there, holding the awning out to cover both my baby and the food for about three minutes before someone finally came to help me; a different waitress who helped us move inside. I apologized profusely, as I have worked in the restaurant industry and do my best not to create rude situations like that.
Before I could fully settle in, my original waitress came over with my bill and informed me I was her last table. That was fine, so I paid quickly to allow her to leave. I did notice I was charged for the buns, but it was only $2, so I didn't raise an issue. Then I spotted a large sign by the bar showcasing the day's specials that my waitress clearly didn't know about. I definitely would have ordered the pumpkin martini!
Considering the issues with the buns and the lack of awareness about the specials, I would rate my experience at about 3.5 stars. However, the food and drinks were good enough to warrant four stars overall. The staff was generally friendly, and while the food was enjoyable, I'm not sure I'd return given the overall experience.
Service: Dine-in
Meal type: Dinner
Price per person: $10-20
Food: 5
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5"
