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| - Uneven service really hurts this rating. I arrived for a 6:15pm reservation within a group of four. There were only 2 other tables filled at the time. Service initially seemed like it would be okay. Servers pulled chairs for seating and placed napkins on laps. However, there was a major lull between seating and being asked for our drink order, then another major lull before our appetizer then entree orders were taken.
To drink, I simply ordered ginger ale which took a while to receive. I didn't finish it right away, but my empty glass remained that way for the rest of the evening. I didn't want any more, but servers collected my dining mates' empty wine and cocktail glasses and refilled them a few times while they ignored my empty glass and never asked if I wanted more.
Two of my dining mates ordered the tasting menu while I and another ordered a la carte. We've done this a few times at other restaurants without incident. Yet, here, flow seemed to exponentially fall apart as it got later and later. Time between dishes for all of us got worse as the evening progressed. Service seemed scarce. Though I've never seen "dining time allowance" before, it's listed on their website as 2.5 hours. Due to what seemed like a lack of a kitchen expeditor, we remained there for 4 hours.
Food was good to great. To start, I ordered "Victor's Foie Gras Parfait" (Lennox Farms Rhubarb Confit, Black Truffle Coulis, Walnut Crumble). It was excellent. The portion was just right and the foie gras parfait remained bright in taste and never lumbering. For my entree, I had the "Cumbrae Farms Rabbit Saddle" (Ontario Flieschnacka, Glazed Heirloom Carrot and Mustard Greens), which was good, but could have used a little more acid in some component of the dish.
It's a shame that despite good food quality, the reason I won't dine here again is because of poor overall service.
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