The Goat RiverSouth — Restaurant in Columbus

My spouse and I ate at the Goat River South last night 6/12 from around 5:35-7:00. We've really enjoyed coming here in the past but I've never experienced service as slow and unapologetic as I have here at The Goat before (or at any restaurant for that matter). We were seated around 5:35 and no one came to take our order until around 5:50. At one point the host came back over to our table and said "hold on let me find you a server" as if we hadn't been assigned one up to that point. At another point during our meal another party was seated next to us and they ended up leaving because no one had been to their table in upwards of 15 minutes. According to my receipt our server's name was Arkaisa M., but she never actually told us her name. There was no "hi how are you?" no "my name is..." and no "sorry about the wait" just "what can I get you?" We put in our drinks and food at the same time because honestly we weren't sure if she was coming back any time soon. Drink wise we ordered a glass of wine and a manhattan, my wine came about 20 minutes later and my spouses manhattan took around another 10. I can appreciate a busy bar, but we were seated where I could see the bar and they maybe had four groups of two seated there. Again, every time our server walked past she wasn't even making eye contact with us, let alone saying "I'm so sorry let me check on your drinks." Around the forty minute mark of being seated with only one drink (no waters) and who knows where our food was, I asked if the host could send a manager over and no one ever came. Around 6:15, our server said our food would be out in another 15 minutes. It had already been around 25 minutes since we had ordered, and we ordered two flat breads (nothing that complicated.) Our food did come within that fifteen minute mark, and when our food was dropped off we weren't asked if we needed anything or offered refills on drinks (both were empty) she just kind of left. Our server did not return to the table to see how we were doing again until we flagged her down (which honestly took a lot of effort) and said we were ready to pay. I tried to call the restaurant last night and after not getting through to anyone the first couple of times I called the host answered. She did not mute the phone while she was speaking to people about my call, so I could hear both the assistant manager and the bartender tell her to tell me they were very busy. When we left the restaurant less than half of the tables were occupied and they were not on a wait. I've never experienced service like this but the fact that this meal was $50 is actually insane. Hopefully your company can use this as a learning opportunity because it really...

I have never written a review about a restaurant in my entire life. If that tells you anything, so first thing I want to say is, I wish I could give Zero stars. This place is literally on N. High St., the busiest most popular and most populated area in Columbus. The outside looks like it’s going to be such an amazing place, and then you go in. They have young people working in there, that stare at you like you’re stupid, trying to get a table. They made us wait over 30 minutes without giving us any type of timeframe on how long it would take, I had my one year old in a stroller, then I had to go up to the desk and ask how much longer it would be and the manager of the restaurant told me that there was only one waitress and she didn’t know how much longer after I had already been waiting for 30 minutes. We get seated the waitress gives us no napkins or silverware, proceeds to complain about how it’s been so busy, doesn’t ask us how we’re doing or anything. I ordered all our food at once because I didn’t want any other issues. I ordered a sparkling rosé, it came in a wine glass hot. Literally no chill to the rosé at all. Anything that is bubbly or sparkling, is to be served cold. I’m in shock that I’m even saying this, the rosé was literally Luke warm. I asked for the manager, she came over and looked at me like I was an idiot. I asked her if we could get napkins and silverware, and if she could figure out why I got a warm glass of sparkling rosé. She said I can get you a cold rosé, Is there anything else that you need? No apology, just dry and acted like I was an idiot for being upset. The waitress came out and brought drinks, And food that is scolding hot sitting it right in front of my one-year-old. This place seemed very muggy and sticky almost like they don’t clean well. I think it is ran kind of like a hotel restaurant due to all of the LC apartment members living above. This I was unaware of until we sat down at the table, and my husband was telling me this was part of an apartment complex. If you’re going to call yourself “The GOAT” The service, the alcohol selection, The respect should be way better than this. Highly disappointed that I even had to pay for my bill. Last thing I’m going to say is I didn’t even want rosé. I asked for a simple glass of Prosecco and she told me that she was out of Prosecco and champagne. I asked her if there were any other bubbly drinks that she had, the waitress knew nothing. I asked her about certain foods on the menu and she stood there and looked at me with a blank stare.

Honestly, I feel like I’m...

The food was par for the course. Nothing amazing, but good decent food. I ordered the fish tacos and a side of sweet potato fries. The tacos have ingredients that would make you think they’d be on the sweet side, but surprisingly they had a nice balance of sweet and savory. I was disappointed with the sweet potato fries. I had my palette ready for hot out the grease fries ready to be dipped in a good cinnamon butter, only to be let down to the reality of having to dip my sweet potato fries in KETCHUP! Yuck!!! Really, no cinnamon butter?!? It’s one of the easiest condiments to prepare in the kitchen! So I disappointedly ate them with no condiment to dip them in. Mediocre!

Now let’s talk about service. There was no one to greet me as I entered the establishment, just a lonely sign saying wait to be seated, then a sweet young African American woman asked if I needed something. Well, I’m complying with your sign. So she seats me and then my server finally appears after about a 10 minute wait. Not good for business! She brought me some cold water (no ice) in a glass and became offended when I told her there was no need to put the water on my table because I don’t drink municipal water. It was nothing against her or the establishment, I don’t trust the water supply in ANY municipality (remember Flint, MI)! It was downhill with her from there. She wears her feelings on her face. I asked to quickly speak to the chef and she told me HER chefs were busy and couldn’t come out. I could understand that if the place was busy, but my goodness, I’d want to know if there’s a better way to make something as simple as sweet potato fries and amazing dish just by changing the condiment you serve it with. The server (young, short, white female) needs an attitude adjustment and needs to know it’s just as easy to smile as it is to be a sour puss! All in all, the meal was just okay and I left the establishment wanting sweet potato fries with cinnamon butter! Lol!

Would I come back? Sure, only to try other things on the menu and to give them a chance for a better review. Sorry for not having any pics. Will do so in the...