To me the Carlton can seem like a place that is past it's prime. It's not "new," trendy or avant-garde. That said a recent lunch experience really proved me wrong.
The service is a total stand out. Our waiter was very skilled in making recommendations, handling the table, and keeping our lunch moving along perfectly, as it was a business affair. He handled everything from prompting orders to delivering the check and taking payment with perfect tact.
I was also so pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. The bread and seasoned butter was FANTASTIC. I had some type of cheesy sourdough. If it wasn't a business meeting I probably would have had three slices.
I had the southwest salad. Wow! It was a huge portion and everything was so fresh. The dressing was really tasty and the lettuce was perfectly cut so I didn't have a hard time eating it politely. Everyone in our party had a different salad and they all looked delicious.It was also very reasonable for a place I would typically think of as extravagant! Our bill came to just over $100 for 5 people before tip.
Before this meal, I never would have thought of coming to the Carlton for something other than business. Now, I would welcome the opportunity.