Honestly the food is ok, but the experience overshadowed our perception of this place. I really really want to like it - its close by and would be great to be a regular. But. 1) RESERVATIONS EXPERIENCE: app was not working...called multiple times over 2 days and no one every picked up the phone! I drove there in person to make the reservation. [Really?!!!!] The 'little girls" at reception response was "they don't let us have a phone" and the 2 guys at the valet said they hear a lot of guests complaining that no one answers the phone and people have trouble with reservations 2) ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE: plenty of tables, no room at the bar... but young girls at reception would not seat us. We were 15 minutes early. Tried to squeeze in at bar to order a drink and told we had to go over by the register. Went to register and bartender said "what are WE having? [degrading phrase] and when we answered, she said she was busy...give her a minute. It was all just off-putting. 3) OUTSIDE TABLES / CHAIRS: the little bistro tables and chairs are super low quality for a place like this, unstable and uncomfortable. Then the chairs in the outside area don't have cushions [for ladies in short skirts...very uncomfortable] and also low quality for a place like this. There are a few fans, but doesn't make a dent for the tables around the edge of the tent 4) SERVICE: Waiter arrived and said "happy birthday" - spoiling the surprise at the end with desert. And then ... never brought the surprise desert. He topped off our untouched water glasses 3x before actually interacting with us. Someone else delivered a beer - we were fine with it in the cold bottle, but she insisted on pouring it from the bottle into a glass while we watched and left a huge head of foam and then had to leave the bottle anyway. She didn't say anything. It was odd and showed lack of experience or training. Then waiter just started rambling about the menu in no logical order. We have never been here before and it made no sense. When I asked "what are popular items on the menu" he responded with "I just told you." [Really?!!!]. After. our meal was served, we were ... forgotten. It was really hot...the chairs were uncomfortable ... someone else dropped off desert menus without saying anything ... no one ever came back over ... they had spoiled the birthday surprise ... we finally just asked someone else for the check. 5) FOOD: we thought the chef must be pretty good. Sourdough bread is really yummy. But not worth the price. Maybe add some other yummies to put on top to make it more signature. Fried Green Tomatoes were really good. They are on a bed of cold butter beans or something that was very tasty, albeit a bit too spicy. Garden salad was very fresh, very. We had all 3 pastas which are homemade. Good, but really wanted them to be outstanding. Meat one was too spicy, taking away from the overall combination of tastes. Mushroom has amazing combination of mushrooms. Ravioli is ... fresh, light, different with lettuce. But I don't think we would order any of them again. Seems they are known for their cheese burger and we did see it - looks pretty good.

We watched how the staff interacted. They congregated by the outside station but were not really paying attention to the guests. They seemed very unsure, inexperienced and yet formal. It was not a neighborhood, welcoming feel at all.

I get the sense that they want to be upscale, but...they are next to ... a park. There are plenty of people showing up in tennis and running attire AND people who are more dressed up. Maybe this place should re-evaluate and become the really really good neighborhood bar/bistro instead of a white tablecloth place? Capitalize on location and build a welcoming, more casual but quality atmosphere. And, get more comfortable seating!!

I want this place to succeed... but I think we'll wait til they figure out what they want to be... and how to improve their experience.