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| - There are worse places to be stuck while attending to a loved one being treated at the adjacent Cleveland Clinic than the Intercontinental, right? And after a long, dreary day in a hospital room, what more could you ask for than attentive service and a hot, savory, comforting braised lamb shank with polenta, even if it comes at an Intercontinental price, right? That was exactly what I expected after my first meal at Table 45 last night, when the server was excellent (even suggesting a salad ideal to accompany the spicy ramen noodles I ordered as my main) and food that came out on time and on target. Not tonight, however.
My server went MIA soon after taking my order, leaving me thirsty for a second beverage. The lamb was delivered by someone else altogether and to describe the entire $32 dish as lukewarm would be an insult to Luke (however that term came to bear his name). The same person who delivered the dish gladly took it back and my original server finally replaced it with a hot version that met my expectations for taste, comfort and temperature. So maybe I shouldn't complain, right? Wrong!
It is a Saturday night and Table 45 is bustling with about a half dozen occupied tables. Last night was about the same but these seem like two different restaurants. Schizophrenia is not a desirable trait for a hotel restaurant that neighbors one of the foremost medical facilities in the States. Perhaps it's just bad luck; perhaps it's what the docs next door would call "idiopathic." Whatever the cause, it shouldn't happen at a place like this.
If you choose to give it a try, hope for the best but plan for--perhaps--something worse.
P.S. The Intercontinental made it right when I checked out by taking the entire meal off the bill. Class act.
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