"I hadn't visited Gale Street Inn since it was remodeled, which was probably over five years ago. The new interior is modern, upscale, and clean, but I personally miss the old lodge atmosphere—it felt a bit uncomfortable for us this time. They've also removed the salad bar, likely a casualty of the pandemic as it wasn't being used.
I made our reservation through a credit card website that offers additional points for dining at promoted restaurants. The reservation system requested details like special occasions, any allergies in our party, and seating preferences. However, upon arrival, they didn’t seem to check for our reservation; we were just quickly seated in the dining room. Our waitress was unaware that we had a shellfish allergy or that we were celebrating a birthday, but she was very nice, and the rest of the staff was helpful as well. Our water glasses were always full, plates were promptly cleared, and both our waitress and the manager checked on us after we were served.
We ordered soup and salads, which arrived quickly, but then we experienced a significant delay. The dining room was about one-third full, and only two tables had ordered just before us while others had already received their meals. Suddenly, our waitress stopped by to ask if we needed more drinks. We ordered additional soda, and she left. A few minutes later, another staff member came by to check on us, and we mentioned that we were still waiting for our drinks. The waitress returned shortly after to inform us that the kitchen was “a little behind” and asked if we needed anything. We reiterated that we just wanted the drinks we ordered. She brought them right away.
It's unclear whether the kitchen was overwhelmed with to-go orders or if our order was simply overlooked, as we received our meals several minutes later when no other dishes were coming out of the kitchen. It made us wonder about the actual delay. As for the food, it was average. My mashed potatoes and baked French onion soup were delicious, but the steak, which cost $67, was a disappointment—it lacked seasoning and crust, and honestly, I could have cooked it better over a campfire.
On a positive note, the restaurant was clean, the parking lot was spacious, and the location was easy to find. Unfortunately, given our experience, it's hard for me to see us returning. Our total for two adults and a teenager who ordered a $10 kids' meal, including tip, was $175. Overall, it was a dinner with beloved family at Gale Street Inn, but not enough to entice us back."
