I'm always a bit hesitant to try franchised restaurant concepts like Symposium Cafe that attempt an upscale dining experience. Typically over priced and with subpar food quality I will nearly always avoid them. But with someone else paying and an invite, how bad can Symposium be?
Seated upon arrival in a half empty dining room, our party combed the menu's many options. Greek salad or Pad Thai? Burgers or maybe the seafood pasta? Confused on the menu's direction, I finally settled for the blackened Tilapia with rice and seasonal veggies. When asked about said vegetables our server was unable to tell me what they would be. I ended up waiting until my plate came to find out the answer.
The Tilapia was cold, mushy and flavorless when it arrived. Its accompanying rice was unbelievably starchy and clumped together. "Is this instant rice?" I remember thinking. As for the seasonal vegetables, they were no more than over-steamed carrots and broccoli. Completely flavorless and not worth eating.
Pushing back my plate I began thinking about where I could go after we had all finished to get something good to eat.