So we went last night after not having read the previous review...the 'Grand Opening' signs are still up which had us a little confused...we were willing to chalk up some of the problems we experienced to being newly opened, but seeing as the previous review was from August...
What we have here are a series of lessons as to when you should run (don't walk) the other way away from a restaurant....
Here are a few signs...
1. We arrived to an empty parking lot - no other cars
2. We walked in and found a lone staff member in a lounge chair in sweats on her laptop
3. We were given the "we're usually much busier on Thursdays" line...perhaps the Live DJ needs to be brought in a few more nights during the week?
4. Our respective drink orders were taken...my beer arrived warm
5. My wife got all excited when she saw another car pull up in the parking lot (assuming it was more diners and maybe it got busy a little later) - someone got out of the car and came in the side door. We can only assume this was the chef/cook.
6. We attempted to order 6-7 dishes to split between the two of us, only to be told 4-5 of them were either not available or due to be delivered tomorrow. This left us scrambling to find replacements.
7. (This is a sign to run away but was actually relatively kind) We were advised that our server "was not comfortable" serving us the scallops we had ordered and that we should try the lamb instead.
I think we were a little distracted by the prospect of Tapas closer to home than we expected...the food itself was VERY bland and barely seasoned if at all. It rarely matched the description in the menu, and I can't help but wonder if that's because the cook showed up after we arrived and nothing was prepped and ready to go.
A summary of what we had:
Ostrich - tender meat, but no wine-reduction as mentioned in the menu. The vegetable pesto reminded me more of a tapenade without the salt...but it could have really used the salt.
Garlic Shrimp - Menu says 'Garlic, Chili, and white wine". Sounds pleasant - sadly I got none of these flavous. The shrimp WERE well cooked, mind you
Tortilla - Did NOT leave us wanting more. Once again, VERY bland. Served with a side of MAYO?!?!?!?
Lamb in a Fresh Fig Sauce - The "star" of the night - this was a VERY tasty dish with well-cooked lamb and a very nice sauce...the lamb chops themselves were a little skimpy, but it was nice to eat something w/ flavour
Chorizo in Brandy - looked like a cut up hot dog in oil. Chorizo had a pleasant flavour but I'm not sure what the brandy was supposed to add as we certainly didn't even catch a hint of it
Things we wanted but were told they were out or had not yet been delivered:
Cod Croquettes
Duck Confit w/ Pears
Scallops in a Saffron Cream Sauce (we were warned....)
Queso Con Membrillo (Not enough for a single serving)
And at the end of the night we paid our bill and left...it was probably the first time we had ever been the only people in a restauraunt