FARMbloomington — Restaurant in Bloomington

[UPDATE TO REVIEW] Farm management reached out to me not long after I posted this review to express their concern, convey their apologies, and offer a makegood for our experience. Although that night did not go well, I will say that the Farm leadership is responsive to concerns from their diners, which we greatly appreciate.

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My husband and two of our friends went to Farm for their NYE special dinner event. It was an absolute (expensive) bust! We are generally easy to please diners and we did not spoil our own evening by complaining to staff who gave us the very clear impression that they did not want us there. Farm was evidently understaffed for the evening (although we had reservations and plenty of people seemed to be working) and short on food (they ran out of one of the dishes we requested and we basically received an explanation of "too bad for you"). Here are the details, but Farm has lost a customer in me and I will say that I will not be recommending this joke of a NYE dinner to anyone I know.

We had reservations for 10pm, but weren't seated until 10:15 despite many open tables. The host was dismissive of us the entire time we waited and then attempted to seat the four of us at a table for two before remembering that we were a larger group.

Around 10:30 someone who wasn't our server was zipping around and practically threw our good luck black eyed pea dishes at us. He knocked me in the face with his arm as he whipped around the table with a mumbled apology and before we could ask for drinks. When I saw him again I got up from the table since none of the staff had visited our table and asked if we should order drinks at the bar (assuming perhaps there was a different protocol for the evening), to which he - I don't know how else to put it - growled he "was doing his best" at me. I sat back down. Over the course of the evening I witnessed staff arguing, as well, so I assume there was something going on behind the scenes that was contributing to the general lack of professionalism exhibited by every member of the staff we interacted with.

Around 10:45 a server finally arrived and asked to take our entire dinner order without any niceties - indeed, we seemed to be getting quite on everyone's nerves by being present at our table. We asked if we could order drinks first, which we did and received along with the first course (I had celery veloute, which was quite good - the fish course seared ahi tuna was well done, which was quite poor).

The Root Cellar below had a dance night so there was lots of loud music pouring in from downstairs which would have been fine except Farm was loudly playing competing music. There was no announcement or special fanfare/setup for the ball drop. In fact, we might have missed it altogether except other diners began to stand up and look around. There was a small TV on the bar side which we couldn't see from our side that showed the NYC ball drop at midnight. We had only just received our main course, so we stood up congratulated one another on making it another year and returned to finishing our food (although they ran out of the desserts we had ordered, so we got ice cream on a 9 degree night).

All in all - a terrible bust at $250 per couple for dinner (we knew it was $75/per person) and drinks. The food was mediocre (although I did enjoy my steak, everyone else did not enjoy the other 3 main options), the service was awful, and the ambiance was non-existent. Unsure how Farm failed so completely on a special evening event, but whole-hearted thumbs...

Short story: Not worth a drive from Indianapolis. Food was good, but not for the price. Server was uninterested in us or our food. Highlights were the appetizer (Fried Green Tomato Sliders) and dessert (Bread Pudding and Chocolate Peanut Butter cake) Long Story: Had heard good things about the owner and restaurant and I liked the concept of the restaurant. I should have read the reviews here before committing our 21st Wedding Anniversary dinner and a 1hr drive from Indy. The hostess was nice and seated us promptly and showed us the menus. Our server brought us water and asked what drinks she could get us. We reviewed the drink menu, and ultimately decided on just drinking water. Once we told our server that, she disappeared for about 10 minutes. She finally returned to take our order. She asked if we had any questions, but offered no suggestions and anything abut the specials. I asked her opinion of three different items and she (predictably) suggested the most expensive one of the group, but offered no real insight in to my question. Our appetizer was brought out pretty quickly and was very good. Not worth $14, but was good. Large slices of green tomatoes, fried very perfectly, served with a small piece of lettuce, goat cheese and a relish on a plain hamburger bun. Well plated and tasted good. Picture worthy, so one was taken. She took our plates form the appetizer, but I don't remember her ever asking if we liked it. Finally our dinner came, not too much longer. My wife ordered the special of braised beef brisket with onion gravy. She said it was good and the meat was very tender. Not picture worthy. I ordered the Bison flank steak. It was very good and well seasoned. The sauce was good and the mashed parsnips were excellent. Not a big fan of the sauteed kale. My meat had two sizable chunks of gristle. Not what I expect in a $28 small piece of meat. Our server asked shortly after we tried our food if we liked it. Never once asked again or asked about the two hunks of meat left on my plate. Yet again, uninterested in our experience there. Once she cleared our plates, she asked if we wanted dessert, we said yes. She brought the dessert menu and told us about the other items the pastry chef prepared that day as well that was not on the menu. After reviewing the dessert case, my wife decided to order the chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, which was not mentioned. It was very good. I ordered the bread pudding, which was also excellent. Both desserts were $6.50 each, which expected. We enjoyed watching the up-front kitchen prepare the salads and some appetizers. As it was our first time there (which our server never knew, as she never asked) we were curious as to the plating and different foods. As we left we talked to the chef up front and she was more interesting and conversational than our server. So, all in all, not a bad place to eat. Based on other reviews here, it sounds like it is a crap shoot as to whether you will thoroughly enjoy it or be extremely disappointed. We decided it wasn't worth the drive from Indy. If in Bloomington for business or other reason, I might stop in again and give them a second shot. I will know to ask not to be seated in Steph C's section. Tip for Steph C: At least act like you care about the customers and their experience at your restaurant. You'll find tips are higher and you might actually enjoy your job and meet some interesting people. Possibly...

We had very high hopes for this place due to the reviews and ratings. We were very disappointed! This place is very overrated for what it is! The atmosphere is neat, so I can see the appeal. But the food is extremely overpriced for what you get! Our waitress was rude and snobbish. We were seated immediately (because we had reservations) but the restaurant was only halfway empty so there was plenty of seats. We sat for 12 minutes before a waitress even came by to ask us for drinks. We ordered an appetizer and it came pretty quickly. It was just garlic-fries with herb seasoning on it. Upon more discovery, they are called shoestring fries and you can buy them at your local grocery store a $1 a bag!! And they did!! They charge $8.50on their menu, I'm assuming for the herbs?.... then our waitress took another seven minutes to come back and place our dinner order and she seemed like we were bothersome and messing with her socializing time where all the waitresses and waiters were gathered in the back. We then sat there patiently waiting on our food, we watched seven other tables sit down and get their food in a prompt time. All before we even got ours. My husband asked about where our food was to our 'passing' waitress, (never stopped back by), she rolled her eyes and went and checked and Lord and behold our food arrived! 45 minutes after ordering it.The food itself was subpar. Average at best. I ordered the bison with Gouda Mac and green beans for $35, my husband ordered Big Red Pizza for $15 +$2 for chicken. My steak was cooked perfect, but was complete bubblegum! It was so full of fat,there was barely any meat. My husband's pizza was average at best. No strong flavors even though theres pesto on that pizza and pesto usually has a strong flavor. He paid two dollars extra for chicken to be added on the pizza. There were 4 small pieces of chicken. And his pizza was cold!! This place was way too expensive for what you got! We mentioned to the waitress that the time that it took for our food was longer than anyone else and we were only a party of two. Parties of five seated after us were getting their food before we were. And several other tables with only two got their food long before we did and we were sat before them. She rolled her eyes and acted as if she could care less. I told my husband to ask for a manager, but he didn't want to he just wanted to leave because we had been there for so long. We will never go back to this place. I understand the appeal of maybe what it once was. But I feel like they have lost The original idea and plan that this restaurant once represented. I think that them reaching fame and popularity, has destroyed and made them forget what they originally open the business for. For fresh, locally grown products to be repaired locally and sold locally. They have a lost that reputation we with me! Seems like all they care about now is money! We will not be back and I will advise everyone not waste your money on mediocre food &...