Dogwood Social House Ellisville — Restaurant in Ellisville

Went to DSHE a couple times in 2021. It was big, beautiful, clean, new, and fun. Food was not great, but good. Service was good. Made it back for the first time on 6/30/23 and was very disappointed. In what seems like a relatively short time, the place really went downhill. Caveat ... we didn't eat or drink this time, just went to play. So, those important elements, the food and drink, may be exceptional now. This is about the gaming. We first noticed that some of the games we played and enjoyed in 2021 were gone: Bocce Ball, football bowling, and some others I don't recall. But, I get it, change happens, so while disappointed, no points off for that. There were some new (to us) mini bowling lanes, and the pool tables were now prominently in the middle of the main hall rather than in separate rooms. Also, on a positive note, I'll mention that the staff was very friendly and responsive. Now, for the negatives. The place was FILTHY. Our shoes creaked as the stickiness of the floor was evident with each step. Yuck. We first went to buy some credit on the automatic card machine, but that was broken. Hmmm. So, the attendant processed the card for us. We started with billiards. The question was, which did we want to play on, the table that was quite dirty and had ripped felt in several places or the one that was extremely disgustingly dirty but only had rippped felt in the non-playing areas. We chose the latter. But, eww, while playing, I accidentally touched the sticky part of the playing surface and couldn't wait to wash my hands immediately after. These tables need complete and immediate resurfacing and regular thorough cleaning. Next, we tried an arcade game. It was quickly evident that it wasn't working properly. So after a couple games, that was enough of that. Then air hockey. But the table had piles of sawdust on it that only really belonged on the shuffleboard tables. We were still able to play, but that should have been cleaned off. Then off to try mini-bowling. I thought we were buying full games, but each game just quit after 5 frames even though the scoreboard showed 10 frames, as you'd expect. What's worse, the lane we were using didn't work correctly. It couldn't recognize when we knocked down the 7 pin ... whether as part of a strike or when there was just the one 7 pin there knocked down to complete a spare. So, the attendant helped us switch to a different lane. So, we started over on that. But, this one had the same problem, except it was the #2 pin that wasn't ever recognized as being knocked down. Also, the ball retrieval system didn't work correctly several times. The ball would start to come back in the little alley and then head back to its source, back and forth. We'd have to walk on the alley to retrieve the balls. So, basically, everything at DSHE either didn't work or was filthy or both. So sad this place seems to be so terribly neglected. Really liked it in 2021 and was planning on going there with some small groups. Not anymore ... at least until I hear it's back...

The food was fantastic. We reserved a table for 4 on Valentine day. It was odd that the restaurant was only half full on that day but soon found out why. The order took 30 minutes and only after I had to remind them that our waitress vanished long ago after bringing us water. We never did get silverware so I stole them from another table that hadn't been seated yet. The waitress had zero information on the special Valentine dinner that we were to get and had to go ask her manager. When she returned we placed our orders. Maybe 30 minutes later she brought out 1 salad of the 4 we ordered. About 10 minutes later we got 2 main plates of the 4 we ordered. 10 minutes later we got a 2nd salad. 10 minutes later we got 2 more main plates. One was undercooked. 10 minutes later and only after we asked, we got the 2 later salads and sent the steak back to be finished. We got in back in about 5 minutes. The deserts were fantastic but again 2 now and 2 about 10 minutes later. By this time we say 2 other tables just leave the restaurant because of the wait. The restaurant was still half full. We played some of their games. This is not an exaggeration...fornever 3 games we tried to play only 1 actually worked. Some didn't see the game cards. Some didn't keep score. Some took the points from the cards but didn't let you play. Some worked. We resorted to throwing darts. There are 4 targets but they only had darts for 2 and they were bent and missing tail ends. After about 30 minutes we went back to the table. Still no ticket to pay. The girl at the front didn't even say sorry and actually acted like games not working was a normal thing and if I wanted to pay I would have to track down the waitress myself. I did and after asking for a ticket she brought one ...10 minutes later. Zero apologies or price comps or even a free game play. Just laid it there and said Here is is. The whole night was ridiculous but none of us are angry. It game us a fantastic story to tell everyone about the worse restaurant we had ever been to despite it...

Great concept. Great location. Horrible service and general manager has no idea what she is doing and should not be in contact with the public. We have been a few times and service was never good. Last night we were with another couple. 50 minutes after ordering we still never received our drinks and by chance the general manager asked if everything ok…we said no and stated we still had no drinks…instead of getting what we ordered(and we told her) she sent the waiter back to retake our order(several minutes later): at about 1 1/2 hours after ordering our friends received their food. We noticed at least 4 tables around us that arrived after we did receive their food. By now one of those tables had even eaten, paid, and left. At 2 hours after ordering I walked toward the bar area looking for a manager…see our waiter come out from kitchen….I am a good 35-40 feet away from the door to kitchen….I ask where our food is…he states…he just placed our order “again”, at this time the general manager comes out and tells me it is unacceptable for me to be asking him about our order!! I said “unbelievable “ walked back to our table. She proceeds to our table and tells me I am not to be yelling at her waiter…which I never did!! She calls 2 more managers over…she keeps berating me and I continued to tell her I never raised my voice that she has been the one yelling. She proceeds to say our order was never placed!!! Do we want our food? I said not after all of this, I would not feel safe eating it , thinking you did something to the food. We were literally told we had to leave!!! No one ever apologized for THEIR behavior, THEIR attitude, THEIR incompetence The 4 of us could not believe we were being blamed for them continually not getting/placing our orders. We are all in customer service fields and were appalled by the general managers lack of respect and lack of...