2 stars for the seafood counter.
2 stars for the dining area auto server/waiter staffing (see below for why)
5 stars for the location
0 stars that my initial posting and review got quashed because someone else created this listing and more folks kept checking in so this became the official one. And yes, I was there on opening day making this new add.
Seafood: my brother pointed out a stark difference in age, texture and usefulness in the catfish and 16/20 shrimp that I bought from this location.
1) The catfish was fatty and old. It should have been refused at the distributor level.
2) The shrimp had been thawed and refrozen several times and HE WAS SHOCKED That I let them give this to me at the counter. Well the shrimp were limp not fresh and tender. The shrimp were dingy and not the colorful as they should have been. They shrimp were clearly frozen multiple times after being thawed which was overwhelming because I was ready for dinner.
Needless to say, I returned them. 5 stars on how the service was handled. It went over very well.
Dining area - my sorority sister complained about it but i dismissed her. Well, the same Tuesday I bought from the meat counter. I got a call and needed to send out some work so I can to the dining area to get the emails off from my laptop. I felt guilty and bad for not dining because the servers count on any seat taken to make income. The young man was mannerable, attentive and understanding. I tipped. Yep! I felt the need to do so as I've waited tables before but the more I thought about it - why is the eastside is seat and serve yourself but the westside is "let's be fancy' and we must serve you. At opening I thought this was cool but through practical use - I feel it's a bit much. And comes as classicist when you know good ole' Madison.
Location = perfecto. The build out, decor, aesthetics are all working. In and out location replacing part of the old strip mall. Great! Not far from Hilldale as well.
So all things considered - beware when you go to the seafood counter. Yes, I'm from Louisiana and I'm not that kind of picking when I'm this far from water to get fresh shellfish BUT at the same cost per pound as Whole Foods - I expect more. I mean really $13/lb is a special price not the regular price so the quality should keep up with the pricing.
Today, they're running that $13/lb special pricing again with the tag "Responsible Choice" which can lure one in but heed the warning and look elsewhere.