Square One — Restaurant in Santiago de los Caballeros

As you see in the photos the restaurant is very chic, it is modern, and artsy and clean! It is a very nice place to be? Now the issue is SERVICE!!!

Whomever is running this place needs to get it together and realize the service UNACCEPTABLE!

The food was just so so.. I had to seat myself - then the hostess who was not at her pulpit then brought me the menu - at no time was there a welcoming greeting?

When my waiter finally arrived to take my order after sitting for a unacceptable period of time, there was no greeting from him either! This is UNACCEPTABLE service a guest must always be acknowledged and cordially greeted make your guest feel welcomed!

I then placed my order for 1person but ordered 2 different breakfast plates, the coffee came but then waited and waited for the food to arrive!

Finally the eggs and bacon and potatoes came and was placed in front of me but that was only 1/2 of my order??

Where was the French toast plate??

I then called a different waiter to my table explained to her that I had or a French toast plate but it was not delivered?

She informed my waiter .. my waiter came, I explained to him that I need my French toast plate to be served with my eggs plate!

After almost finishing my egg plate here comes the French toast plate and so this is why I rate the service as Unacceptable!!

All food must be served at the same time unless a request has been made to hold the 2nd plate!

SO all that waiting was unnecessary - I am the replica of Gordon Ramsey of Hells Kitchen and the Donald Trump of "You're Fired"!

Get it together over there.. there are way too many employees sitting around doing nothing and running at the mouth you are there to provide an impeccable dining experience but you all have FAILED to do such!

That restaurant looks amazing but sadly the service and food are sub standard!

By the way.. the French toast was horribly soggy!!

Cooks - do not let the bread sit In the egg mixture.. you dip each side quickly, and then cook it browning both sides! Como ves en las fotos, el restaurante es muy elegante, moderno, artístico y limpio. Es un lugar muy agradable para estar? Ahora el problema es el SERVICIO !!!

Quienquiera que esté ejecutando este lugar necesita reunirse y realizar el servicio INACEPTABLE.

La comida era tan tan ... Tuve que sentarme, luego la anfitriona que no estaba en su púlpito y luego me trajo el menú, ¿en ningún momento hubo un saludo de bienvenida?

Cuando mi camarero finalmente llegó para tomar mi pedido después de estar sentado durante un período de tiempo inaceptable, ¡tampoco hubo saludo de él! ¡Este es un servicio INACEPTABLE que un huésped siempre debe ser reconocido y cordialmente para que su huésped se sienta bienvenido!

Luego hice mi pedido para 1 persona, pero pedí 2 platos diferentes de desayuno, llegó el café, pero luego esperé y esperé a que llegara la comida.

Finalmente, los huevos, el tocino y las papas vinieron y se colocaron frente a mí, pero eso fue solo la mitad de mi pedido.

¿Dónde estaba el plato de tostadas francesas?

Entonces llamé a un mesero diferente a mi mesa y le expliqué que tenía o un plato de tostadas francesas, pero ¿no fue entregado?

Ella informó a mi camarero ... mi camarero vino, ¡le expliqué que necesitaba mi plato de tostadas francesas para que lo sirvieran con mi plato de huevos!

Después de casi terminar mi plato de huevos, aquí viene el plato de tostadas francesas, ¡por eso califico el servicio como Inaceptable!

¡Toda la comida debe servirse al mismo tiempo, a menos que se haya realizado una solicitud para mantener el segundo plato!

¡Así que toda la espera fue innecesaria, soy la réplica de Gordon Ramsey de Hells Kitchen y Donald Trump de "You're Fired"!

Reúnanse allí ... hay demasiados empleados sentados sin hacer nada y corriendo a la boca, están allí para brindar una experiencia culinaria impecable, ¡pero todos ustedes NO HAN SIDO FALTANDO esto!

Ese restaurante se ve increíble, pero lamentablemente el servicio y la comida son...

Update

Usually, when I'm in town, Square One is my go-to place for 60% of my dining experiences. This time, I tried several items from their menu, some of which were new and others I had tried before. Let's start with the positives:

The ambiance, decoration, and cleanliness of the place are top-notch. My youngest son particularly enjoyed the NY Subway theme, and the servers' uniforms were a nice touch as well.

Now, onto the negatives:

Customer service: Unfortunately, this seems to be a common issue in customer-facing businesses nowadays. People just don't seem to care as much as they used to. What's particularly disappointing is that we are in the Cibao region, where people are supposed to have a warmer touch, but the staff at Square One act like they are from Santo Domingo. The service is very cold, with zero attention to detail. They just recite a pre-scripted jargon and that's it.

Food taste and quality: This is where I noticed the most significant decline. For instance, their avocado toasts are a clear example. The quality and taste of the avocado are similar to what you would find in a low-quality restaurant in Florida—bland and almost tasteless. We are in the midst of avocado season, and one would expect them to take advantage of this situation and serve the most creamy, yellow, and buttery avocados. However, there is a strong inconsistency in the kitchen, as well as at their smoothie bar. One day, the smoothie is a flavorless drink with a bunch of ice, and the next morning, it's overly sweet. Another consistent issue is the large chunks of ice that get stuck in the straw, making it difficult to drink. This happened to me with every smoothie and frappe. Furthermore, there are instances where the greens on your plate lack flavor, while in other situations, they are overly sour, as if a high-acidity vinaigrette was poured on them. Consistency is of utmost importance in any food service establishment.

I often noticed some servers in a corner, adopting a "don't give a care" posture, as if they were in a neighborhood corner. Their facial expressions clearly indicate that they don't want to be there.

Here are some potential solutions:

Conduct an inventory of your raw material suppliers and request better quality ingredients, especially those that are in-season. Organize a customer relations seminar, covering important subjects such as maximizing customer satisfaction, which is at the core of the service industry and the value of a satisfied client. Consider gradually replacing your customer-facing employees with individuals who possess the right skills and a genuine desire to work with clients. Square One is one of the better, new-traditional places, and I would like to continue coming here and enjoying their food and service year after year.

Wishing...

A Gastronomic Delight at Square One

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Square One, a culinary gem that offers an unparalleled breakfast experience. I was looking forward to a savoury morning feast and I must say, they did not disappoint.

The moment I stepped through the door, I was welcomed by the warm ambiance and friendly staff that set the tone for the delightful breakfast experience ahead. The menu is an homage to classic breakfast dishes, but each with a unique twist that makes Square One stand out.

The star of the show was undoubtedly their French toast. Custardy on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside, it was a symphony of flavours in every bite. The toasts were drizzled with maple syrup that added just the right amount of sweetness without being overbearing. It was obvious that the ingredients were fresh and of high-quality, a testament to Square One's commitment to providing an exceptional dining experience.

The scrambled eggs were light and fluffy, a perfect example of simple done right. The bacon was cooked to perfection, boasting a balance of crispiness and chewiness that hit all the right notes. The sausage was juicy and packed with flavour, a perfect companion to the eggs and bacon.

My meal also included potato wedges, which were a standout in their own right. They were cooked to a golden brown, crispy on the outside yet tender and fluffy on the inside. The seasoning was spot on, providing a subtle kick that worked well with the rest of the dish.

Each dish was served with care and attention to detail, from the presentation to the portion size, everything was well thought out. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff ensuring that the dining experience was smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.

In conclusion, breakfast at Square One is an experience that is not to be missed. It's not just a meal, but a celebration of flavours, textures, and culinary craftsmanship. Whether you're a local or just passing through, make sure to stop by Square One for a breakfast that is sure to start your day on...