"I dine out often and rarely feel the need to complain or write reviews, but my recent experience at Saddle Lodge left me no choice. My girlfriend and I visited for their Thanksgiving luncheon, which featured a prefixed menu for $105 per person. She had chosen the restaurant, selling me on its festive atmosphere and cute decor, which I genuinely appreciated. The service was warm and the staff were kind, but unfortunately, the experience ended on a sour note. Both of us fell ill later that evening with identical symptoms: chills, stomach aches, diarrhea, and general discomfort. When we entered the restaurant, I noticed their B health rating, which, in hindsight, might have been a red flag. Two days later, I called to report the incident. The hostess politely thanked me for letting them know but seemed ready to end the call. I asked to speak with the manager and was placed on hold for 15 minutes. When I finally spoke with him, he was polite but dismissive. He claimed that if it had been food poisoning, the entire batch would have been contaminated and more customers would have reported similar issues. He even suggested that I might have been allergic to something in the food. Now, I eat clean and healthy regularly, so I’m left wondering—was he implying the ingredients or additives were of such low quality that they could cause this reaction? What’s more, my girlfriend had the exact same symptoms, so an allergy seems unlikely. It could just as easily have been a hygiene issue—a dirty plate, or a staff member not washing their hands. This experience ruined my Thanksgiving. I missed out on plans I had looked forward to and ended up spending the day sipping ginger tea. While I appreciated the kindness of the staff, no real solution or acknowledgment was offered. For a $105 prefixed menu, I expected much better. I hope Saddle Lodge takes this feedback seriously and addresses these concerns. The atmosphere is charming, but diners should feel confident that the food and hygiene meet the standard."
