The Commentary — Restaurant in Arlington

I am absolutely appalled at the unprofessional and inconsiderate treatment we received from Social Commentary House in Arlington. We discovered this place through a Fox 5 spotlight and, impressed by the coverage, made a reservation for six people for Mother's Day brunch at 1:00 PM using OpenTable -- directly through their own website. Everything seemed confirmed and set. Then, barely an hour before our reservation -- 11:50 AM on Mother's Day -- I receive a cold, impersonal email (not even a phone call!) saying our reservation was canceled. By that point, our entire party was already en route. No heads-up, no courtesy, no accountability. I immediately tried calling the restaurant. Radio silence. It took THIRTY minutes of dialing and waiting before I was finally able to reach someone. And what was the explanation? A so-called "glitch" in their system allowed us to book, even though there was apparently a ticketed event planned the whole time. A glitch? Then why were reservations still available on OpenTable up until the night before? Here's where it gets even more absurd, their version of "accommodating" us was to offer tickets to a 1:15 PM brunch -- at $75 per person. That's three times the price of their regular buffet, and for what? A buffet and one mimosa. Not only was that a massive price hike, but we had children with us who obviously wouldn't be drinking alcohol, making it even more unreasonable. This wasn't just a scheduling issue it was a complete failure in communication, professionalism, and basic decency. Thanks to their incompetence and last-minute cancellation, we were left scrambling on one of the busiest dining days of the year. Unsurprisingly, every other decent restaurant was fully booked, so our Mother's Day celebration was completely ruined. This place doesn't just need better management they need a wake-up call on how to treat paying customers with respect. If you're thinking of dining here, especially on a special occasion, do yourself a favor and...

One of my girlfriends and I came to a pizza making and craft cocktail class on Saturday. We had such a great time. Let's start with the Commentary is located in the Westin in the Ballston Commons area. There are many Glebe Roads in VA, so follow your GPS directions and not your passenger, lol. Also the Westin is right on the corner. I had no idea it was inside a hotel, so almost missed the entrance.

Once inside, we were seated at a table as we waited for the class to start. When the class was ready, we each had a station with a dough ball and a floured pizza peel. The instructor was a little Italian lady who showed us how to shape and form the dough, add the sauce and the ideal way to add toppings. After she finished, it was our turn. She walked around to make sure everyone's dough was properly stretched and shaped for ultimate baking. We then added the marinara sauce and as much or little toppings as we wanted. We had fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, chicken, ham, shrimp, spinach, mushrooms and freshly shaved parmesan cheese to choose from. When we were done with the toppings, the pizzas were put in the oven, and we were off to make a cocktail.

We were able to choose if we wanted to make a drink of gin, tequila or bourbon. The drink cards were large and written so they could be easily followed. Our bartender instructor was funny and taught us the basics of making and mixing cocktails. By the time we were done making our drinks, our pizzas were at the table waiting.

If you're looking for a fun date night or girls' night out, you need to try this class at the Commentary. They sell out fast, so as soon as you see it on Eventbrite, get your...

Subject: Disappointing Experience at [Restaurant Name]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment with the service I received during my recent visit to your restaurant. From the moment I entered the establishment, it was evident that the level of service fell far below expectations.

First and foremost, the initial greeting I received upon arrival was lackluster and unwelcoming. The lack of warmth and hospitality from the staff member who greeted me set a negative tone for the rest of my dining experience.

Furthermore, the service throughout the meal was unacceptably slow and inefficient. Not only did it take an exorbitant amount of time for my food to be served, but there was a noticeable lack of attentiveness from the staff in checking on the well-being of the patrons and ensuring a timely dining experience.

The delays in food service were particularly frustrating, as my companions and I found ourselves waiting for an unreasonably long period of time for our meals to arrive. This extended wait significantly impacted our overall enjoyment of the dining experience and left us feeling disappointed and dissatisfied.

As a paying customer, I expect a certain level of service and professionalism when dining out, and unfortunately, my recent experience at your restaurant did not meet these expectations. I sincerely hope that you will take this feedback into consideration and make the necessary improvements to ensure that future patrons do not encounter similar issues.

Thank you for your attention to this...