1905 Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Imperial

Be warned, after eating at this restaurant all other meals you ever have in the future will taste like eating feces by comparison. I apologize for the vulgar wording but it captures a truth. That’s how good this place is. If I were to rank restaurants, it’s this place at the top, and then at a far distant second is the rest of all other food, which is all just a grey flavorless lumpy mass compared to the culinary and mixology that 1905 has to offer. Thats my only complaint, and it’s more of a complaint against the rest of the world that isn’t the 1905 restaurant in imperial California, aka the pinnacle of dining. The staff takes hospitality to heroic levels that fill me and my family with awe and reverence. They are meticulous in every detail moving with a fluidity and grace that I’ve only encountered in literary descriptions of high level tea ceremonies in feudal Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate. At all times during my meal I felt like an emperors daughter, every whim satiated with upmost care. Towards the conclusion of our meal we were treated to a visit from Santa Clause. Now, I’m a learned man, but I must admit that even against my better judgement, his performance as Santa Clause was profoundly convincing to the point that at times I was almost convinced it was truly he. The performer portrayed Santa With an ancient quiet wisdom, as if he had lived thousands of years and carried with him the weight of the secrets of the world, and a persevering spirit of humanity and hopefulness that captured the Christmas holiday entirely. Try as I might I could not break through the performers commitment to his character and I was left shaken by his layered performance. Even now I have lingering thoughts that the man I met could somehow be that mystical jolly man from song. It is a memory that I will keep with me for the rest of my days. I write this with tears in my eyes. Thank you 1905, thank you thank...

I wish I could give it 5 stars. We were seated right away, but made to feel bad when we didn't have a reservation, though there were always empty tables while we were there. Our server was visibly disappointed that we were only drinking water, and we were served warm water, but it wasn't ever replenished. We did ask, but she served several other tables drinks and found the dessert cart for us to look at before she brought water. That time it had ice, thankfully. My husband ordered the filet, and it was really good, except he had ordered it medium rare, and it was definitely rare, with a hard piece he had to spit out that he has never had on a filet before. The potatoes served with the steak were amazing. I had the NY strip, and it was great. The asparagus was good, if a little over charred. The mushrooms were good, but not at all what I was expecting, so I'm including a picture. After we had said we would like to order dessert and asked for water, our server disappeared with what was left of the mushrooms. We waited, and after a while, I went to the restroom. I told my husband what I wanted to have for dessert. When I came back, we did not have water, the mushrooms were in a takeaway box, and he said that she wouldn't take the desert order until we were both at the table and had seen the desert cart. It took her another while to find the desert cart. The desserts looked nice, but we wanted what we had decided on from the menu. After waiting for a while, she came back to tell us that they were out of one of our dessert choices. We decided it was probably better to share one anyway. The tres leches bread pudding was wonderful.

The atmosphere is nice, except for the giant TVs. I don't understand places that try to be upscale but also have to have sports playing. I know it's common, but I don't...

Our experience at 1905 Bar & Grill wasn't the greatest. My kids and I went over for dinner Sunday night. My 2 youngest kids ordered Cheeseburgers, my oldest son ordered Ribeye with side of potato puree and Charred Brocolinii and an old fashion whiskey and I ordered Fillet Mignon with also a side of potato puree and Charred Brocolinii. We were told there was a big order ahead of us so it was going to take a few minutes which was ok with us so we ordered some desert wings as a starter. Well, 10 minutes later the waiter walks out very ashamed letting us know they were out of hamburger bread so my kids asked for New York steak one order with fries one order with potato puree. Five minutes later the waiter walks out again very ashamed to let us know they were out of Ribeye. Ok, so my son asked for the same thing I did. When the dishes were brought to our table mine was incomplete. I was missing my potato puree. So again a few minutes later the waiter walks out to let me know they were out of potato puree 😡. At that point I told her it was OK. I would share with my son. I wasn't going to wait whatever it was going to take for another side when I already had my Fillet in front of me. WELL... right when I cut through my steak. IT WASN'T well done like I asked. Complete disaster as first timers to this restaurant. We never got an apology from the chef or a manager. BUT if I wouldn't had checked our check before we paid. We were getting charged for food we didn't get. Restaurant was nice, service from waiter was great we do understand it wasn't her fault but an apology from either the manager or the chef would have been nice. Not sure if we would go over again. Maybe San Diego is still our best option for fancy...