Commons 1882 — Restaurant in Billings

Last night I decided to take my wife after being away for sometime to Commons 1882 because I had a wonderful experience at a business luncheon. The commons is situated as a higher end living/shopping experience that I expected to be no difference than the last visit. To that I was very disappointed. We arrived and pleasantly waited To be seated. A gentleman arrived after about 5 minutes of us being seated. The restaurant is casually decorated as a comfortable relaxing upscale eatery giving off the feeling of clean, open, and friendly. The first concern we noticed was a highly waxed or polished floor with aluminum chairs that don’t quite move across the floor giving the feeling you were dragging steel of rough concrete making it very hard to sit down, pull into your table and relax. This situation definitely was present when a couple across our way experienced as they were leaving the table only for one of the patrons to fall backwards into another table falling to the floor as she hit her head on the table behind her. Of course everyone was concerned and jumped to their feet to accommodate. But to me it was the first concern that maybe someone who owns this establishment should recognize that maybe the selection of chairs, or the type of floor is not a good combination. We heard it throughout the night of the dragging of chairs like chalk on a chalk board scrapping. The waiter was attentive to us, and I would say more so that never was my problem. Being attentive to your guests was an expectance. But when you first start your night waiting for drinks to arrive for over 15 minutes. It gets annoying! I wanted to unwind and relax and once the drinks arrived is when I was already irritated. We put in An order for an appetizer of Tempera fried Vegetables and Shrimp and a Presented option of Meatloaf with Garlic potatoes and a veggie.

After our order was made, a couple sat in the table besides us. They were served just a bit faster and I even over heard them make the same food order. Our drinks took forever to arrive and were watered down. I’m not trying to pick things apart but I can assure anyone here that even Red Lobster gets drinks faster to you that 5 minutes and certainly anywhere I have established in my weekly nights out have supplied you with a drink that was heartier that a watered down Martini or Huckleberry Mule. Then our appetizer arrived on a huge plate of fried and over fried Vegetables with a few hints of Shrimp and though it was an enjoyable dish, to say the least there were more fried particles on the plate than substance of what was expected. Then our waiter arrives to tell us unfortunately the meatloaf has been sold out. Excuse me for saying but in my general experience, we would think that wait staff would be well informed how many specials are left before making that offer and what really pushed me over the edge was the people who sat down after us, who ordered the meatloaf dinner. We’re served before our appetizers and we’re already eating the meatloaf dinner they ordered. So knowing we are already disappointed with the drinks and the fact that our appetizer was a pile of overly fried veggies with a few shrimps and half a plate of crumbs. My wife ordered the Avocado burger with Sweet-potato fries and I ordered the Bison burger with Pub chips. Now mind you I have been here before and they hit it out the park. I was impressed enough that bringing my wife to place I raved about would be great but already I was not impressed and clearly neither was she. Our plates arrived looking pretty good except I was looking at a bowl of over fried chips and her sweet potato fries looked like they had been fried twice. I love a good burger as well as the next and after eating at Ted Turners as well as her before. I expected a Bison burger to die for. It was more or less equivalent to that of a casino burger and I would of much better enjoyed Moo Yaa. My Wife as well was not impressed stating it was less that delicious.

The final outcome was I don’t believe we will be back. 1882 needs...

I used to be a regular at Café Decamp, so I really gave the benefit of the doubt their new place. However, even after giving it three opportunities, it has failed miserably.

Firstly, the menu has a very minimal selection. Second, the items on the menu are rather overpriced for the quality and portion sizes. Third, the wait staff, while courteous, seem rather confused and un-prompt. Fourth, they are unable to refund you when they overcharge you.

I went there on a quiet Thursday afternoon around 4pm, and it took 10 minutes for the waiter to even take our drink orders. Then another 15 minutes to find out what the specials were so we could decide what to order. Then another 10 minutes for him to come back to take our order. After that, took another 30 minutes to get our food, during which two separate tables arrived and walked out. And all the while, we were bombarded with rather loud muzak reminiscent of early 1990s porn. When the food arrived, my friend's meal was wrong, as it turns out the waiter had misquoted the specials. But the kicker was when he brought out a second drink for my friend, which she did not ask for. Apparently he had charged her twice for her drink, but could not figure out how to remove it from the bill, so he just brought her a second one. So about $60 later, we left feeling stressed out and still hungry as the portions...

We've patronized Commons four times now. The first time last May we had really good service and food. Every time since then either the food or service has been unsatisfactory. Our most recent experience is the reason we will not return. Stopped by a couple of weeks ago to place a to go order. One person was sitting at the end of the bar. The bartender was just standing around. She acknowledged me and said she would bring me a menu. Then two guys sat down at the bar and I became invisible. I finally got up and walked over and asked again for a menu. I had to wait several minutes for her to finally break off her conversation with the two guys and come over to take my order. One of the items was not available so she suggested something else. She took my order and then I waited and waited and waited. It was close to half an hour before she went back to the kitchen to retrieve the order. When I got home and took a bite of the hamburger it was as dry as dust. I reviewed my receipt and she had ordered the hamburger well done. She in fact never inquired how I wanted the hamburger cooked and I assumed it would be medium unless otherwise requested. The other entree was disappointing as well. Too bad. It has so much potential but it's obviously...