First let me say I am a big fan of the lodge - the original one at Colony Place and was very excited that they opened one in Ballantyne close to my house.
When you walk in you notice how large the place is... Was a good sign and the décor was similar to the one on Colony.... The hostess asked if we wanted ot sit in the bar and was asked for a table or booth... We sat in the back room in a corner... Which we thought was a good location.
First issue was that when we looked up we could see straight into the kitchen and not in a good way. The view was of the dishwasher with his pants half way down his back side. Then the "slop bucket" which every time a server went into the kitchen would toss out beverages, etc. into it. Not very appealing. Finally we asked our waitress to please shut the door (there are two swinging doors to the kitchen, one left open). She did but it was just pushed back whenever someone else entered the kitchen.
Second issue... I understand the need to turn tables when your busy, I get it. But they were not busy and did not have a wait. We ordered drinks and an appetizer. That came fairly quick and the waitress kept asking are we ready to order dinner. We declined and said we would wait. After the third time we ordered. One order was the pasta special the other were blackened shrimp tacos (one of my favorites). About 5 minutes later the food arrived. Not a good sign, that indicates to me that the food was already prepared and waiting for someone to order it.
The pasta special had a salad with the entrée and came out after the pasta. The shrimp were not blackened, just cooked shrimp.
Then the third issue... Sorry but I did not go to Hooters. I don't want to go to Hooters. What is it with the "Daisy Dukes" on the majority of the wait staff... And I am sorry, not to be rude but there is a certain age that they are not appropriate (assuming they are ever) and there were quite a few that were well past that age.
I will return, I like the Lodge, but given everything I will patronize the Colony Road location way before going back to the Ballantyne location.