I had a superb meal during Arizona Restaurant Week. I started with a wonderful salad with an unusual form of green (it was stringy and fiberous, but it was good)-I will give them props for a unique and enjoyable twist on a salad. This was followed by a delicious filet mignon expertly prepared accompanied by french friends paoched in duck fat....just like they make in France!!!! this was topped off by a yummy banana and fruit parfait. The outdoor patio made for a really enjoyable atmosphere.
So why two stars? The service was apathetic from the moment we sat at the bar to order drinks. The bartender and later our server never smiled and acted like they could have cared less about looking after us. They were not overtly rude, but they certainly did not go out of their way to be the least bit pleasant and this made the overall experience VERY disappointing. This is The Biltmore, and I would expect warmer service for the level of diner that would typically patronize this restuarant.
Perhaps because it is The Biltmore, the staff feel the need to do their job with their noses in the air. Or perhaps because we were there for Arizona Restaurant Week, the staff were expecting a lousy tip and wanted to get us in and out as quickly as possible. I have to added that I went with some friends in the service industry. Depsite the bad service, we left 20 percent anyway. If it had been left up to me, I probably would have left 10 percent. There was nothing wrong with my order or my meal, but the collective attitude at that place sucked.
In any case, this experience left me with a very bad impression and I don't think I would go back. And this is unfortunate because the food is exceptional.