"1"^^ . . "2011-08-15T00:00:00"^^ . . "3"^^ . "3"^^ . . "First let me say that I've had many wonderful dinner experiences at Willow, and while my most recent visit was not \"wonderful\", it was at least \"excusable\" given past . . . let's call it \"enjoyment equity.\"\n\nThe mistakes, none too damning were: mixed up drinks, cold coffee, and winelist that reflected wines they were out of. \n\nAnd though not a \"mistake\" per se, our waiter. . . let's call him \"Name Withheld\" was new. If he wasn't new, this whole review should be called, Willow needs to hire better wait staff. But I'm sure he was new. He wasn't terribly savvy about the selections, appeared to read them off a slip of paper hidden on his tray (or was chronically fearful of making eye contact), and wasn't terribly informative about some of the items on the menu.\n\nThat said, the food was excellent. I had the special, which was braised lamb ravioli on pureed white beans with carmelized onions and fig and was such a fantastic marriage of flavors and textures that I felt it trumped the previous two paragraphs worth of whining on my part. \n\nMy wife ordered her steak rare. . . and let me tell you, the law would forbid a rarer steak from being served without reclassifying the restaurant a butcher shop. . . which is EXACTLY how she likes it.\n\nIf this were my first trip to Willow, I probably wouldn't return. I enjoyed the food, but there are LOTS of places with food I enjoy, and a so-so visit for these prices is a lot to expect. But it was NOT my first visit to Willow, and I feel sure they'll recover. \n\nStill, like any business, the name of the game is \"what have you done for me lately\", and the name of my most recent visit to Willow would be \"Gave me good food with so-so service that cost a lot.\""^^ . "3"^^ .