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| - There's a reason that the other local Walnut Grill's have closed and based on my recent experience, I firmly believe this one is on the fast-track to follow suit. First, it must be disclosed that on Mother's Day 2016, our party of six did not have a reservation. With that said, our decision to visit the Walnut Grill was based upon an earlier phone call which confirmed the wait would be no more than one hour. This was acceptable given the circumstances, and would give our party a chance to meet at the bar for cocktails anyway. Upon arrival to a near-dead-empty restaurant, we were advised by the hostess that the wait would be 3 hours, unless we wanted to eat outside. We saw that the patio (also empty as it was 60 degrees and falling) was equipped with heat lamps, so we opted to sit outside. The hostess advised that we could simply let her know when we were ready to be seated after our cocktails at the bar, which we did approximately 30 minutes later. The hostess then led us to a table on a different patio at the opposite side of the building near the front parking lot. This patio offered no space heaters. Despite these setbacks, we decided to stick it out and make the best of the situation, after all, we made it to a table at a restaurant on Mother's Day without reservations. It's worth mentioning that we could see countless tables inside the restaurant that remained vacant throughout the duration of our visit. After a brief wait, our waitress arrived with menus. We spent about 15 minutes perusing the "special" Mother's Day Menu, which is different and dissimilar to the traditional Walnut Grill menu. The waitress arrived and took our orders: 2 cedar-planked salmon and 4 NY strip steaks. Approximately 20 minutes later, the waitress returned with a basket of bread, which she set on the table and again disappeared. We had no place settings or plates so we were forced to wait for her return to ask for these items. When we did, she brought 4 plates and 2 place settings while at the same time advising us that the kitchen had run out of NY strip steaks. Disappointed, we all chose the next-most similar (but more expensive) menu item, the filet. The waitress disappeared again, this time for around 45 minutes. When she finally re-emerged, we politely asked how much longer we could expect to wait, especially for the soup that was ordered (over 1 hour ago). She lazily advised that the wait would be at least 20 more minutes and that the soup for some bizarre unknown reason, would arrive with the entrees. How she came up with the 20 minute estimation is anyone's guess. At this point, we decided to re-evaluate our options and considered leaving, but believed we were close enough to the finish line that we opted to stay. 20 more long minutes later, our meals finally arrived, which in this case one would think would be a blessing. I can only speak to the quality of my own meal, but will attest that nobody appeared overly excited about the food on their plates. Unfortunately, my filet was cooked "medium", as was the preference when the original NY strip steak was ordered- my fault, I guess for not re-specifying, but nonetheless it was a bland slab of meat. Nothing special about the baked potato or garden slaw. Word about our table's long wait and unrest must have made its way to the restaurant's manager, as he arrived at our table to offer an apology- and a price reduction on our bill- a nice gesture, for which most of us were appreciative, but which was too little, too late. This restaurant is a total mess- from the awkward, separationist floorplan to the bartenders' avoidance-of-eye contact policy to the trash-strewn restrooms- just an overall pretty terrible experience. Not sure how long this place can last in it's state of mismanagement. The waitress who served us was unacceptably untrained, which is a disappointment at a restaurant asking $26-38 per entrée. In my opinion, Walnut Grill has attemped to position itself as an "up-market" restaurant without first taking care of the small details that are to be expected of comparable restaurants. No place of business can operate in the manner which the Walnut Grill does and expect to stay in business long. I predict this restaurant will be closed in the very near, if not immediate future. Will not go back.
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