A Disappointing Holiday Dinner Experience

When planning a special holiday dinner for our team members and their guests, we chose MI Table, hoping to celebrate a year of hard work with an exceptional dining experience. Unfortunately, what we encountered was far from our expectations.

As the Director of Operations, I initially found it difficult to set up a meeting with the manager. For three consecutive days, I was told that only the manager could handle my request, but she never returned my calls. When I finally did get a response, it was clear that management was absent from the restaurant from open until 4 PM daily, leaving the establishment without any leadership during those hours.

After securing a $150 deposit for our Thursday night event, we visited the restaurant with the company’s ownership to meet with the manager and review the event space. The manager failed to show up for the appointment, leaving a single overwhelmed staff member to juggle multiple roles. Despite this, we rescheduled, only to find the event space dirty and unprepared on our next visit. The head chef, who was supposed to reassure us, displayed unprofessional behavior, cursing casually during our discussion.

We were initially quoted $15-$20 per person but received an invoice charging nearly $50 per person. Despite our objections and a revised quote, the final amount was still significantly higher than anticipated. Hoping for outstanding service, we reluctantly accepted, but the experience continued to deteriorate.

On the night of our event, we were the only guests in the restaurant, yet the service was abysmal. The event space was uncomfortably hot, and the three waitstaff members, who should have been attending to us, were mostly absent. Basic items like napkins, salt, pepper, and butter were missing, and I had to repeatedly go downstairs to request these essentials as the staff avoided us. The overall feeling was that they were waiting for us to leave.

The food, which was not prepared as requested, was either overcooked or tasted old. Despite multiple attempts to resolve these issues with ownership and management, we received no response. This lack of accountability and professionalism is deeply disappointing, especially for a restaurant with so much potential.

In conclusion, MI Table’s beautiful setting is marred by poor ownership, management and unprofessional staff. I would strongly advise against hosting any events or dining there based on our experience. The restaurant's inability to meet basic service standards and their disregard for customer satisfaction is unacceptable.

Pros:

• Attractive setting with potential.

Cons:

• Inconsistent and unprofessional management.
• Overwhelmed and inattentive staff.
• Poor food quality and preparation.

For anyone considering MI Table for a special occasion or a casual meal, proceed with caution. This was, regrettably, the worst dining experience I’ve had.