Hi, I'm curious about why it was so bad and what you ordered. I have an ADR for Yachtsman (staying at YC) for our first night, and I was only able to get a 6:45 pm ressie, which is too late for us, so I was thinking about cancelling. Maybe if you tell me why your meal was so terrible I won't feel so bad!
I should preface that we dined at the Yachtsman last fall and it was very good, hence why we planned to eat there this trip. A friend that lives in Florida suggested an offsite restaurant..but as we had the dining plan and had enjoyed a good meal previously we coerced her to come join us here. Big mistake for which we still feel badly..
We were a party of 7...5 of us arrived 25 mins prior and chose to have a drink in the bar before eating. DH went to the podium to tell them where we were and should the other 2 arrive to please direct them to where we were. They told us at that time they were running behind and our reservation at 8:35 p.m would be approx 15 mins later..which was fine. About 10 mins later, now 8:20 a fellow came to tell us we were on hold..they were waiting on us?? HUH??? So...ok.....we hurried our drinks and went in. The other 2 in our party had just arrived...so no pre dinner drinks for them to be had. Turns out they technically close at 9:30 p.m so I guess they had some no shows and thought if they could get us 'in and out' it might be a reasonably early night!!
We were seated...and pretty pronto the waitress was there to take our order. We selected some wine..and perused the menu. Within 10 minutes we had all ordered. Appetizers came out fast..and were fine. Nothing amazing, just fine. I should add that we were at a round table near the window..and one of the servers that was helping drop the appetizers blatantly reached in front of my face to put my husbands in front of him. My friend beside me, well her jaw dropped and she said "tell me that fellow didn't reach in front of you" which of course we both knew he had!
Then we waited...and waited....and waited....our waitress was now NOWHERE to be seen. So I caught the attention of a waiter that happened to pass by...he made it clear he was not our server and I said "That's fine-I just wonder if you could ask our waitress if she could give us an idea of when our entrees might be here because we have waiting a very long time" she didn't come back and neither did he. My husband asked another passing waiter...if he could please send the Manager over to which he replied that he would. Approx 15 mins later ..now one hour and 15 mins since the appetizers were taken away..our waitress came out in a flurry with the entrees. She TOO reached across me to place my husbands meal in front of him rather than pass around behind him. Not a peep of "pardon my reach or excuse me"! It was obvious that word had spread that we were not happy campers! There was no conversation..not a "do you have everything you need" and no topping up of water glasses. We figured she would be back. Well, not only did she not come at any point and ask if everything was allright, the Manager never showed his face either. Not at any time.
I had the filet as did my friend...both were requested medium done. Mine was raw....friends was well done. We both ate them anyways as who was asking if they were allright and were we to sit there all night waiting??? No one. My DD and her friend had the lobster..which they both claimed to be tough. At $46 a plate? Not acceptable. Another had the ravioli..small portion and mediocre I am told. DH had the Porthouse if I recall and he enjoyed that. Although really---we were all rather past it as it was now almost 10:15.
Some ordered dessert..which was fine...and only DH was offered coffee, which he declined. No one else was offered. The bill was presented pretty fast and our share for 4 - over and above the DP was $200. That included a $70 tip that was of course included being a party of 7.
It was a miserable evening...one we all looked forward to...but was spoiled by terrible service and below mediocre food. There was a table of 2 adults and a toddler beside us...they were waiting as long perhaps longer than us. The little one , why they would take such a small child here so late is beyond me, was crying and fussing and eventually they left, not having even had their entree merely appetizers.
The Executive Chef from the Yachtsman is now at Le Cellier and it looks to me as if the bus boy might just be in the kitchen!
DH went the next day to talk to the Manager and my friend has sent a letter (email) to which she has no reply as of yet. The Manager offered all kinds of things but my DH made it clear he wanted nothing, just what a restaurant of this caliber should deliver should we ever think of dining there again!
Maybe for someone else...it might be better because it sure couldn't be any worse!
