Leela's Wine Bar - Uptown — Restaurant in Dallas

I wish I could give this place zero out of five stars. I have never, had a worse experience. I went to this restaurant with my friend to celebrate her new promotion, she recommended the place because she had been there before and had a great time. We were sat pretty quickly by the bartender, the restaurant was calm, only four tables in the restaurant already serviced. After being sat, we were blatantly ignored, the same bartender checked on the other tables and did not say a word to us. After about 20 mins a table of three walked in whom the bartender quickly serviced and helped them get set up with plastic cups so they could sit in the lawn area across from them. At this point we go up to the bar to order, it takes the bartender even longer to find the items on her toast. We go back outside because she said she would bring us our stuff to the table, that did not happen. Our appetizer was brought out before we had silverware, waters or even plates. The red head who brought our food was uninterested in talking to our table or making sure we were okay. We continued to watch the bartender clean the bar, while the other 4 tables in the restaurant were fully serviced besides ours and the red head eat food before either of them decided to bring out our wine. The wine comes for the bartender to complain to us that “trump shut down there system so they are unable to get paid correctly and they have to keep all of their receipts”. Though I can empathize with that issue, I’m more confused that neither her or the woman who brought out our food had no concern for us not being taken care of. The wine was sour and unenjoyable. She continues to check on other tables and ignoring ours. She finally came back to check on us and we let her know we did not like the wine, she basically told us that didn’t make sense took the bottle back and then came back and asked if we wanted to split our check or not. No replacement or suggestion for another wine, no remorse for not communicating with us, and no acknowledgement of the very clear energy shift since we walked through the door. We said we would split it and I noticed the price was high for splitting it in half and she assured me it was, I pay out for her to recognize in fact was not split, another show of her not knowing how to use her toast. I have never been so frustrated at a restaurant and...

I did a courtesy call to let them know that we’d be a few minutes late - even making it within the window. I was informed that they’ll try, but no guarantees. We get there within the window and we’re sat down right in front of the door (it was freezing outside). Granted, I was informed that we’d have a high top table for our reservation (we didn’t). Then it took a good 15 minutes for us to even be acknowledged (given water and asked what we wanted). I don’t even know what our server’s name was, but I definitely didn’t feel welcomed. Thennnn my friend made a very good point - the 90 minutes allotted for each table wouldn’t even matter because we were barely checked on to see if we wanted anything else. We had to grab the guy at the host stand (who was lovely) to grab our waitress for our checks. We left and went to Mexican Sugar. I love Leelas, but I will never return to this location again. Every time we’ve been, we’ve received horrible service and I’m done giving chances.

The decor was decorated really cute for...

Sam at the bar is amazing at her job!!! She was super attentive all night to me, made absolutely stunning and delicious drinks and made sure I was having a good time even when it seemed like she was getting a ton of drinks. I love sitting at the bar here because it feels a lot more intimate than being at a table and truly, the bartenders and waitresses are wonderful!!!!

I do hate though that it seems like the attire of the staff has changed??? I miss when they were more individual and had more style….. makes it difficult sometimes to see the actual person I’m trying to flag down because they’re all wearing the same thing. It also very much cheapens the experience, I feel like I’m at some kind of trashy pick up food place than the upscale establishment I’m used to. Hope they do smth to change that soon because I wouldn’t take my friends here with the way they’re forcing the...