Copper Creek Restaurant — Restaurant in Abilene

I made a reservation well in advance for my daughter's graduation dinner in their private area as I had seen the ratings reflecting a 5 start, plus I had been here twice for company luncheons. Graduation ended earlier than anticipated. With this being a 5 start their should always be some anticipation for the unexpected especially during graduation weekend where you have 3 high schools graduations (many ppl in town). I had several conversations with the manager regarding time as I really was not for sure what to expect as this was my first graduation in Abilene. I had made my reservation for 5 pm as I was informed it would be about 3 hours. I called and spoke to the manager stating that graduation ended earlier than anticipated and wanted to know if we could come in prior to 5 which he confirmed would be ok. My family arrived between 4:30 and 4:45. I had requested 2 appetizers, one on each table but ended up with a total of 4 due to the number of family members, which were not cheep. The food was good, however some came out cold. What I would like to emphasize is the service was the worst for a 5 start rating and mind you my family and I spent quite a bit of money on food. The private room accommodates 30 ppl and we had 28. I still gave a full 15% minimum. We had no servers designated for the private room, we had to wait long periods of time to only have to ask for refills on drinks. Then having to wait to place our orders. It took about 30 minutes it seemed for everyone to get their tickets long after we completed our meals, then took about another 30 before we received our cc back due to an issue where all tickets were applied military discount in error. So we waited and waited until all but one ticket was reversed to apply the 10% (this we found out after a family member asked what was taking soooo long). If an error was made then take accountability but don't make guest wait and wait to correct the issue as we all stand around waiting and wondering where are cc are and wondering what the hold up is. I had family members who were driving back 3 hours. Last but not least it was upsetting to here some excuses and then state you had 4 years to correct the mistakes that were made for my next daughter's graduation. I will not be making any reservations in the next 4 years. This was a HUGE disappointment as I ranted to my family about...

My husband and I ate here last Tuesday for my birthday, the first b-day dinner we’ve had time for in 7 years (we live 2 hours from town), so needless to say, I was very excited to go to dinner and try this place, but overall, it was a disappointment. The atmosphere was lovely, but the expensive food and poor service left much to be desired. We anticipated spending a lot money in this place, however, when we spend that much, we expect everything to be delicious, but unfortunately, not everything was. The garlic mashed potatoes that we each paid an extra $9 for, were dry and at room temperature, not hot, like we prefer. Honestly, at the prices this restaurant charges, potatoes ought to be included, especially since they’re so inexpensive. I’d expect to have to pay extra for potatoes in a state up north, but not at a steakhouse in Texas where meat and potatoes are traditional fare. My husband’s ribeye was not very tender, almost tough on the edges, even though it was cooked medium rare. The bacon wrapped medallions and the brussel sprouts were great, however. We could have overlooked the food had our service been better, but we felt like our waitress would disappear for long stretches of time. I realize there are others eating that had to be taken care of, but I didn’t see her at their tables either. I had to wait a long time for a glass of wine, and had to ask her to refill my water when she finally came back around. I had already finished my water and was drinking my husband’s glass, and I don’t drink fast, if that tells you how long it took for a refill. (It would behoove this restaurant to have a person periodically walk around with the water pitcher, if your waiters are too busy to do it.) Our waitress never once asked us if we were enjoying ourselves, were the steaks cooked properly, did we like the food, etc. I realize some people have quieter personalities, I’m one of those people too, but when you’re a server (as I once was), you have to force yourself to be a little more accommodating and professional toward your customers. We would have appreciated a manager coming around and asking us if we enjoyed our meal, but that didn’t happen either. Overall, this place was a big disappointment and we will not be wasting our money here...

| Food | 5 stars - The complimentary warm, crusty bread and creamy butter was a great start to our meal. 5 stars - The Goat Cheese Jalapeño Poppers are absolutely irresistible — stuffed with rich, creamy goat cheese, crispy bacon crumbles, and just the right kick of jalapeño. Drizzled with a silky avocado ranch dressing and topped with fresh chives, they strike the perfect balance of heat, tang, and indulgence. 5 stars - The Carbonara pasta is comfort on a plate. Tossed in a velvety sauce with just the right amount of richness. Topped with crispy, golden fried chicken that's perfectly tender inside, each bite is satisfying. 4 stars - The grilled Caesar salad was nearly spot-on — the charred romaine added a wonderful smoky depth, perfectly paired with classic Caesar dressing and generous shavings of Parmesan. The only thing missing are some anchovies on top.

| Drinks | We all enjoyed the Spicy Pineappletini cocktail, so much so, we each had a couple! It was perfectly blended with subtle spice and a nice hint of sweet pineapple flavor. You can tell they use fresh lime juice. Perfection with the tajin rim.

| Atmosphere | I loved the "vintage Texas" decor and atmosphere. The main dining room is gorgeous with massive furniture, wrought iron lighting fixtures, floral arrangements, and elaborate taxidermy on the walls. Pro Tip: the golden "taxidermy" figures in the hallway against the dynamic wallpaper makes for a great photo backdrop.

| Service | Our server, Courtney, is all heart, all hospitality—and straight outta Texas. Seriously, she is one of the best servers I've ever experienced. She provided flawless and efficient service. We never wanted for anything - our water glasses were magically filled we needed, plates promptly taken away when finished, and somehow she appeared with perfect timing for us to order more cocktails. She knew the menu very well and made excellent suggestions. It's like she could read our minds at times, for example with splitting the check she knew exactly how to handle it...