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| - I've been meaning to post this since my last experience there, which was late October of last year. Prior to that visit, we had eaten at Ratcliffe on 3-5 occasions, and the food had always been some of the better in Charlotte, save for a few items here and there- their chicken dishes are never very good, the mini biscuits they serve are like cold little rocks, and there is an excessive use of truffle oil going on with the grits and a few entrees (to the point that we would ask that grits not be included with our meal, the smell makes my fiance ill). But outside of that, everything had been pretty good, with generally decent service.
But then we had the October incident- after that, we never went back again. My fiance had called the day before to make a reservation and had told the host it was my birthday- we don't expect any special treatment because of this, but we'd hoped we would get a slightly better seat than what they usually gave us, which was a tiny two person table against the wall (they did it every time we went). So we arrive on our special night, and are (after the host actually showed up) escorted to the tiniest, crappiest table in the whole place, in the far back left corner next to the water station. The person that seated us was curt and unfriendly. Ok- maybe the other tables were reserved? But mind you, whenever we went, the restaurant was always under half-full, usually well under half-full- the rest of the night, I think I counted maybe 5 couples/groups in and out of the place.
I can't recall if the server was male or female, I simply remember that they were not friendly, because it surprised me for the place. The dishes that night were sub-par, which was a first. Some people complain about the portion size- I don't see the problem, the food is well presented, and whenever we order the tasting course, we come out full! Anyway, the whole night, someone was always right behind my head clanking around a water pitcher, and it wasn't pleasant. Our server was slow to wait on us, and while we're used to the fact that it can take up to three hours to get out of the place (we've actually listened to tables around us complain about the slow preparation/service, to the point of anger, but we realize it takes time to artfully prepare food, so we don't have an issue with it) it was taking an exceedingly long time to be waited on.
Also, we've watched the chef come out and pleasantly make his rounds almost every time we were there, and he'd speak to almost everyone, never to us, even if he walked right by our table.
It was a miserable birthday dinner- bad seat, bad service, and less than stellar food made quite the impression on the boy and I, and we never went back again. It just isn't worth the cost- if we're going to spend over $100 on a meal, we expect it to be much better than that, especially on a special occasion.
We are always polite and cheerful, well dressed (no jeans and such!), and we're well-educated in local/organic/gourmet food. I have zero clue as to why we would be treated poorly and stuffed into small tables- we're young, 24/25, maybe that's it. I was wearing a vintage fur coat my Dad had given me for my birthday that day, maybe the fur thing irked them. Maybe it's because we rarely order wine, as we don't care to drink. I honestly have no clue! But it left a bad taste, and we have since found better restaurants to give our regular business to.
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