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| - I think my husband summed it up when he said, "It feels like the chef won a restaurant on a reality tv show and just didn't know what to do with it." We went here for a special occasion but nothing, nothing made us want to stay.
* Service - awkward, inattentive, slow
* Food - tasteless salads, excellent entrees, dessert missed the mark
* Atmosphere - loud off putting music, empty strange decor, beat up bathrooms
I had higher hopes based on yelp reviews. We had a 9:15 reservation and were not seated until 9:30, even though we could see empty tables. Others who were waiting just decided to leave.
Our waitress should be fired. She described the food in the most unappealing way possible: "We don't have a lamb chop, instead we are substituting a lamb leg, it is cut in half at the bone, it has lots of sinew, tendons, connective tissue, so it is pretty chewy and tough, and it looks worse than a chop but it is still really good tasting." And, "Monkfish is really good like lobster, but it is a super gross looking, ugly fish." Way to turn our stomachs.
Many different people waited on us. The person clearing our salads put our dirty knives straight on the table. At this price restaurant they should bring new silverware with each course, and if not, then at least don't put it straight on the wood top table. They also cleared things too early, placed things awkwardly, didn't ask if we wanted drink refills. Did anybody train this staff?
Menu: I understand seasonal cooking doesn't leave many options in January. But I also think there is a real lack of invention here. 75% of all the dishes had escarole and fingerling potatoes. It all just sounded the same. Get more creative with what you have at this time of year.
Mussel salad was utterly flavorless. I don't know how you can make a salad that has mussels, fennel, and caper berries that has no flavor. It sounds impossible, but true.
The monkfish was delicious. Well seasoned, big piece, tender, lovely tomato accompaniment. Spanish mackerel was good. Small. Could have used a bit more sauce or flavoring.
Warm gingerbread came with ice cold quinces on top and was so slathered in whipped cream it looked like a three year old plated it. The gingerbread was fine but the fruit should have been warm and saucy. The whipped cream tasted like cool whip and was about 8 times too much.
At an odd moment, the music started blaring, the Smiths, which I love, and strange dance party music. Just too off for this type of restaurant. We had a strange oil lamp on our table that had a tiny blue flame. There was a big empty wall behind us with a picture hook and no picture on it. The bathroom has a strange shelf right when you walk in with q-tips and OB tampons in a tray. Just so odd.
****
UPDATE: The owner of the restaurant contacted me via yelp and addressed the above concerns point by point. She did so very respectfully and with tact, which I appreciate. They are sending me a gift certificate and the next time I am in Pittsburgh I will give this place another try and can hopefully leave a more positive review. I am very impressed with how they handled this and am updating my 2 stars to 3 stars for the time being.
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