02/15/09

BAD SERVICE ON VALENTINES DAY

by nanzaberry

My boyfriend took me out to Esquire Grill for Valentines Day. He made reservations 4 days before and we ended up with the last open seat, which was out on the patio. They told him they had heat lamps and that it was enclosed in a tent so it wouldnt be cold. The hostess wasnt very friendly and she walked off before we had a chance to ask her if our heat lamp was lit. Our server came over a minute later and she seemed very stressed. She never introduced herself but we found out later that her name was Gina. I wasnt ready to order so she said she'd give us some time and come back. While we were deciding we realized that it was infact pretty cold and the table next to us said that they had asked her to replace to gas tank so that the heat lamp could be turned back on but she never did. So we decided to move tables because we didn't feel like freezing the rest of the time we were there. Our server didn't return to take our order for quite sometime. When she eventually came back I ordered a glass of wine and it took about 20 minutes before I recieved it. A new couple was seated at our old table and the hostess didn't even grab them chairs, they had to carry seats over to the table themselves. They too were cold so they decided to both sit on the same side of the table with each other to keep warm and we became pretty crowded in the small space. The busser finally moved a heat lamp down towards us and after that we were pretty warm. We got our bread and a plate with a dirty fork. Luckily our appetizer and entrees didn't take too long to arrive. The food was very good with the exception of my steak not being well done like I had requested. It was still quite pink but edible. It took a long time for us to get refills on our water but the busser was very busy but still did a good job bussing our table. It took a ridiculously long time for our very tiny dessert to arrive and even longer for us to get our bill. Id only go back if I got the server that the table next to us had.

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Bad Service

09/26/08

Good mid week spot - the 20 somethings don't arrive until much later!

by JLH123

We made reservations for a Wednesday night - we were celebrating my step son's 23rd birthday. The hostess, while a little snooty, seated us right away. She initially tried to give us a rather poor table in the middle of the restaurant where the setting sun would have been right in our eyes...we asked for another table that was just a few feet away but against a wall and although she was a little exasperated by our request and acted as if she were more than just a little put out by the whole ordeal, subsequently acquiesced to our request. The drinks, appetizers, side dishes & wine were all excellent...and our waitress was nice.

However...

My stepson & I both ordered the lamb loin chops and found that they were undercooked (we both ordered medium but they were so rare that they were barely warm in the center and bloody). Both of us were also surprised by the olive tapenade that was smeared on the plate under the lamb. We are experienced lamb eaters in this family and were both a little put off by the olive flavor - it just didn't go with the lamb and the menu describes the dish as "served with a cabernet reduction" - it says nothing of the olive smear.

I probably would have sent it back but by the time our waitress came back around it was time to pay the bill & leave. She was nice, just very busy and we were in a celebratory mood and didn't want to complain.

My husband loved his meal, he ordered the tenderloin and had no complaints. Overall, it was a nice time but at roughly $100 per person, if we ever go back, I'll skip the lamb and ask more questions about the dishes before ordering.

Perhaps they could offer a little more description on their menu.

The parking garage was hugely convenient and allowed us to bypass the street people that we usually encounter when walking from a downtown parking garage to our dining destination.

• Pros: Great drinks, appetizers & parking
• Cons: I could make the same meals, better and for a fraction of the price in my own kitchen

06/20/07

Really good food

by crystaljfowler

My husband and friends took me to Esquire Grill for my birthday last night. The food was excellent!! I had the tenderloin which was cooked exactly how I ordered it. I tried a bite of a few of the other peoples entrees and they were great as well. The service was on the slow side, but we weren't in a hurry. Our waiter seemed a little stuck up, but the hostess (who I think was actually the manager) was really nice. At 26, and on a Tuesday night, I think we were about 20-30 years younger than the average age of other patrons though. Oh, and the valet parking for $5 that gets added to you bill at the table was great!!!

• Pros: Food, price
• Cons: location, service