Raglan Road review

[ncbyrne]

DH and I ate at Raglan Road last night. The restaurant itself is quite attractive, but we found the menu disappointing. The first item is a HAMBURGER and surprisingly, no corned beef! The servers were friendly, but service was very rushed, despite the fact that there were several empty tables. I was only half done with my soup (served lukewarm) when the entree was served - I had to stop them from removing my bowl from the table. Then, when we were still eating the entree, they brought us the dessert menu. We opted not to have dessert. We won't be returning soon for dinner, but we may go back after 9 tomorrow for the live Irish music.

 

[aengus]

Hopefully your experience is a result of the place just being new.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm a little disappointed that there is no corned beef. It next to impossible to find on menu here in central Texas, and when you do it is definately not a quality product.

I really wish they'd publish a full menu on their website for potential diners to look over, or supply a copy to AllEars.net

 

[plutolovr]

FYI, Corned Beef and Cabbage is an American-made Irish tradition. In Ireland it is usually Bacon and Cabbage. So if this place is traditional Irish, you won't find corned beef.

These early reviews of this place are unfair. Working in the restaurant field I have witnessed that it takes a while to get all the kinks out. New staff, new chefs, everyone trying to find a rhythm. Hopefully in another 3 months the reviews will be better. The menu will be tweaked and the staff will find their legs.

 

[justcantwait]

I agree that it's obvious they just opened. We were there last Sat (10/15). Food was good on average (apps were great, entrees pretty good), but service was horrible! When the waitress doesn't even know where the restrooms are , they need to be trained better. And yes, no corned beef, but the smoked loin of bacon over cabbage is their signature dish and a viable substitute .

 

[Uncleromulus]

Appears this place "rushed" to open--and it shows.

 

[maggs]

Corned beef certainly isnt seen on any menus in Irish restaurants. I am from Ireland and the only time I have ever seen it is in a can! I do hope that the service and food improves.

Maggs

 

[plutolovr]

Appears this place "rushed" to open--and it shows.

I don't think this is accurate. If you "choose" to dine at a restaurant that is in its infancy, you have to realize to some extent that they will still be training and deal with what comes. You need to train "live." You can't train without customers. I know it stinks, but it's reality. If they waited until everyone was "fully" trained to open, they would never open, because you can't train without customers, like I said.

 

[Kaycee]

I'm sorry that some of the early visitors are disappointed with their visits to Raglan Road, but I hope they will give it another chance on a future visit when the restaurant has had a chance to work out the kinks.

I'm looking forward to trying Raglan Road in December - hopefully some of the problems that are caused by being new will be worked out by then.

As far as the menu - it's nice that it is an authentic Irish menu. And I think it's a good thing for those of us who are used to Americanized menus to learn that corned beef isn't really served in authentic Irish restaurants. I had no idea that corned beef was really an American thing, not an Irish thing, and my family is Irish. Looks like I need to plan a trip like the one my dad and his brothers took last year to visit those cousins in Ireland!

While it's not a full menu with prices, this thread lists items served at Raglan Road:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=931702

 

[TwingleMum]

I agree with Kaycee I also am looking forward to trying Raglan Road at the end of November. I'll post my thoughts.

 

[Pooh67_68]

While it's not a full menu with prices, this thread lists items served at Raglan Road:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=931702

Thanks for the link, now I know there is something my dh and sister will eat (I will eat almost anything ) when we go next Dec.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Plutolovr:
Actually, I've seen several restaurants who, at opening, had the BEST service they ever had. Were well prepared, everyone completely anxious to please. Once they established a customer base, they began to care less about service and it took a nosedive.
And I still think this place rushed the opening. We were down at WDW and took a look at the place first week in October. They still had swarms of workmen all over, tractor trailers driving up with equipment, etc. No way it looked to be done anytime that month!!

 

[K9pal]

We ate at RR last Sunday, 10/16. We enjoyed it. Service was not up to par and it was obvious they are working out kinks, but that is to be expected during the soft opening phase. Our food was delicious - DH had shepherd's pie, I had fish and chips. Also had the scallop appetizers. The scallops were to die for, in our opinion! However, our biggest disappointment was the size of the servings - way too small. A "meat and potatoes" man will go away hungry on just an entree. Only one piece of fish, and the shepherd's pie would have fit in a cereal bowl with room to spare. I am a small eater, and I was still hungry when we left. But then again, it was a good excuse to go to Ghiradellis!

We went back and had drinks at the bar on evening. Very enjoyable. I see RR developing as more of a bar than a restaurant.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I have the feeling that you are exactly right. Beer and live entertainment will keep this place full. Lets hope they can work things out with the food and the service.
Plutolovr:
I was thinking of another restaurant at WDW in my last post--Marrakesh,in the Morocco area of Epcot. We ate there the very first night it opened-in fact, we dined at 6:00 , so we were among the very first customers ever. They had the building completed and the staff hired long before the place actually opened for business--in fact, they spent 2 full weeks just training the "final" staff prior to opening. That first night, service was impeccable, attentive, and oh so courteous. The server knew that menu backwards and forewards--in fact, we had to STOP him from explaining every dish to us!!

 

[plutolovr]

uncleromulus,
I hear what your're saying, but being a former pastry chef and involved in a few restaurant openings, management is different in all places and things done differently.
I just don't think it's really fair to review and criticize a place before it has a chance to really organize. And as someone else said, I think this place's bread and butter will be alcohol and entertainment. After all it's on Pleasure Island and it's a pub not a 5-star restaurant.

 

[Jack Splat]

FYI, Corned Beef and Cabbage is an American-made Irish tradition. In Ireland it is usually Bacon and Cabbage. So if this place is traditional Irish, you won't find corned beef.
QUOTE]

Exactly. The two Irish owners tried very hard to make it an authentic Irish establishment, which means NO corned beef.

 

[KFISCHER]

As I posted elsewhere, the restaurant is beautiful. Not your typical Irish pub.
Gorgeous wood...........super-looking bars.

Service was great. Managers came out to speak to us several times. Our food was amazing. I had a great appetizer of Guinness-maple glazed ribs...my salmon entree was the best salmon I've ever had. My wife said her shepherd's pie was amazing. So unlike some others, our experience was well worth it.

What I don't get is people criticizing the place when they haven't even dined there.