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| - So, I do believe that the circumstances in which you visit a restaurant ultimately count towards the experience you receive. In honor of full disclosure this is my first yelp review. Also...I had a "Groupon" that was set to expire on the day of attendance...and while I did put a few last minute feelers out to my besties, I ended up dining alone. A practice I used to relish but since my 10 + years of domestication have forgotten all about.
With that said, it was inspiring.
To be clear my groupon was for $25 bucks of experience. The rules were that I had to order two entrees, from 5-6 choices of $20-$30 entrees, all very generic hotel selections. (i.e. no local ingredients, flavors etc) Not to be counted towards alcohol, and dine-in only. (P.S. ALWAYS read the fine print on those things!) Luckily my outstanding server was sympathetic to my solo status and allowed a $25 credit to my total bill.
I was not about to disappoint his coolness. I originally ordered a glass of ruffino, "lumina" pinot grigio (Their only "by the glass" pinot grigio.) @ $11.
For Lunch ~ "grilled beef fillet . butter whipped potatoes . sauteed mushrooms . cabernet reduction ~ $29. I decided that a glass of the Penfolds shiraz (The only "by the glass shiraz") would pair much better with my over salted "entree"
The highlight of the meal was the server! I can be easily charmed by efficient, knowledgeable and attentive staff (which is why I steer clear of Nordstrom). John was a delight. Did I mention that he raved about the Ember Grille's newest Pinot Noir and even brought me a sample. It was delicious and for your knowledge and mine it is the " Meiomi Pinot Noir from Sonoma County." (He was kind enough to jot it down on a slip for me.)
My husband & I went to the Ember Grille for the first time a few years back when they first opened. I still recall the delectable hazelnut encrusted North Carolina Trout. With so many spectacular restaurants in Charlotte and the business of life, we have not been back, although I often reference it as a great recommendation from our first experience alone.
On this my most recent visit I can say that the seductive appeal of the local out of the box entrees were unfortunately absent from the current "lunch" menu. I wonder/fear that they have decided that they are just a hotel restaurant. Perhaps that is why the groupon did not work for them and I was clearly the only one scampering to use it before the deadline. I would call to them to see that as a hotel restaurant specifically they should highlight the local flair of their surroundings.
Also worth noting and the reason for at bare minimum a 1.25 deduction from my score (the remaining 1.75 for the over salting and generic hotel menu lacking reasonable by the glass wine options and local flair, for which the exceptional service made up for significantly. ) the parking cost was excessive and not validated by the restaurant. It was nearly $10 at the Westin parking lot. A cruel move on the part of both parties at the sole expense of the local patrons and supporters of both businesses! (I recall distinctively that parking used to be covered by validation from the restaurant!) One can only assume that greed fueled this unfortunate change in logistics resulting in a divide between the Ember Grille ever becoming a destination for the locals and the Westin a recommendation for their visitors. For Shame.
P.S. I could imagine that I would have had a MUCH worse experience if I did not have such a delightful and doting server as John. It was one of those moments where If I could only prescribe John to one of my other fave Charlotte restaurants that are in desperate need of phenomenal servers I would...a girl can dream.
Until next time...
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