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| - With all of the buzz around the Ace Hotel opening, we couldn't wait to get in to try the Whitfield. The main lobby is separated with the Bar to the right and the restaurant to the left with only a flower cage dividing the two. It's a very open and welcome atmosphere. The service at the bar was great while we waited for our table. There was a nice craft cocktail selection and the prices were on par with other restaurants in Pittsburgh.
As someone who previously worked in the industry, I know how important a knowledgeable and friendly wait staff is for a restaurant. Unfortunately, our server was so unfriendly, it really had a negative impact on our experience. He was uninterested in navigating the menu with us and when asked simple questions regarding dishes he was extremely annoyed. At one point, we asked his opinion on ordering the lamb or beef tartare as a starter and he informed us we had already ordered enough food and wouldn't suggest either option. Quite honestly, we were shocked a server wouldn't immediately jump at the chance to upsell a check. But, he dismissed us after we placed our order and didn't check back on us at all.
Aside from the service we received, our meals were quite good. The strip steak and the duck breast were both delicious. The steak was prepared perfectly and very flavorful. The duck had a perfect sear on the outside and tender on the inside. As a side to our steak we chose the french fries and mushrooms and onions. I would certainly go for the brussel sprouts or another option next time as the fries were average, almost like frozen french fries and there were only onions served in our side with minimal mushrooms. The olive oil cake we enjoyed for desert was a highlight of the meal.
I'm more than aware there are always kinks to work out when a restaurant is fairly new, but with the much anticipated opening of Ace and Whitfield, I expected a bit more. I certainly will try again in a few months and hope we have a better experience. It's been wonderful to experience the improvement of the Pittsburgh restaurant scene and while this is a solid addition to that, I do hope they improve their service.
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