I Was At the Pacific Table - Las Colinas Friday May 10, 2024 ( Kirby at the bar was an absolute dream-So young, looking and vibrant) And the food!?!? WOW WOW!!! , every bite was a testament to the symphony of flavor, artfully orchestrated by General Manager Thomas Nellen and his culinary dream team. From the moment we stepped into the embrace of this gastronomic haven, the professionalism and warmth of the staff, under Thomas's leadership, was as palpable as the tantalizing aromas wafting from the kitchen. The HH One Dozen Oysters shone like pearls,( we ended up ordering four platters total for a little under $100) their freshness rivaling the morning catch, served with a mignonette that danced on the palate, a zesty accompaniment to the ocean's bounty. The Spicy Rock Shrimp, a fiery delight, were cooked to a crunch that spoke volumes of the kitchen's timing and prowess. The HH Cali Roll was a coastal dream, with every component - from the rice to the tender crab meat - whispering tales of quality, each roll cut with precision, a testament to the chef's attention to detail. Meanwhile, the Nigiri Platter was a canvas of colors and textures, each slice of fish a brushstroke of freshness that melted on the tongue like sea-born butter. Filet Mignon arrived at our table with the dignity of an old friend, seared to perfection, the pink center guarded by a charred exterior, each forkful a celebration of tenderness. We cut it up amongst the three of us, Mary, Allison, and myself JAK And devoured it like a AND DEVOURED IT LIKE AN APPETIZER WITH A BIG PILE OF FRENCH FRIES I’M NOT TALKING THE RECESSION PORTION. THIS WAS THE REAL DEAL. ( The roasted garlic contained in the fritz was spectacular ) The Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail was a refreshing interlude, the shrimp themselves a parade of succulence. Not to be overshadowed, the Garlic Rosemary Fries were a humble masterpiece, the rosemary's aromatic flirtation elevating the golden potatoes to a level of culinary sophistication. Dessert came in the form of nostalgia, with Ice Cream Sandwiches that were a whimsical nod to childhood joy, yet crafted with the finesse expected of a high-end establishment. The Oreo Cookie Sandwich was a playful coup de grâce to the meal, a delight of textures and sweet creaminess that ensured the dining experience concluded on a high note. Our libations, from the HH Old Fashion to the effervescent HH Bubbles, were mixed with an expertise that only heightens the pleasure of each sip, the Hitachino Nest beer a refreshing palate cleanser that spoke of a well-curated beverage program. When an unexpected incident from the apartments above sprinkled the patio, Thomas Nellen responded with a grace and aplomb that transformed a moment of discomfort into an opportunity to showcase his remarkable leadership and commitment to guest experience. His adept handling of the situation not only neutralized any inconvenience but also elevated our admiration for his professionalism. In the end, the Pacific Table under Thomas's stewardship was not just a meal; it was a culinary journey, a service masterclass, and a reminder that excellence in hospitality is not just about what's on the plate, but also about the human touch that makes dining out a joy to...
Read moreUpon arrival, we asked two hosts if it would be possible to be seated outside instead of at our reserved table. We were informed there would be a wait, which was perfectly fine as we had arrived 10–15 minutes early for our reservation. We were directed to wait at the bar, where we chose not to order drinks at that time since we preferred to enjoy our red wine with the meal. After approximately 15 minutes, another party arrived, sat at the bar, and ordered drinks while also waiting for an outdoor table. To our surprise, they were seated after only 5–10 minutes, despite arriving after us. Initially, I found this confusing and mentioned it to my partner, who suggested they may have had an earlier reservation, so we let it go. After another 15 minutes passed, we approached a host to ask for an update. She looked outside and mentioned the staff were in the process of cleaning a few tables and that our table would be ready shortly. We continued to wait patiently. A few minutes later, a different hostess approached us and asked if we were waiting for an outdoor table, which was frustrating given that we had already been waiting over 35-40 minutes.
Eventually, we were seated at a high-top table near the window outside. Since we preferred standard seating and noticed 3 lower tables were available, we asked if we could move. Our server said she would check, but instead of doing so immediately, she proceeded to take another table’s order. At that point, we were beginning to feel dismissed, but chose to overlook it, as it was a special occasion for us. Shortly after, my partner pointed out that the party seated ahead of us may have been prioritized because they ordered a bottle of wine while we had not ordered anything during our wait. Additionally, we couldn’t help but notice we were the only Asian couple at the restaurant, which made us question whether implicit bias may have influenced the service. Once we moved to a standard table, a man approached us to take our drink order. Believing he was our server (he was great btw!), we placed our full food and drink order with him. Not even a second later, our actual server came by to introduce herself and appeared noticeably irritated when we placed our whole order with the previous server. We apologized and explained that we had assumed the previous waiter was our assigned server. Throughout the night, she never smiled at us and looked irritated while serving us.
Overall, the food was great but the service could be a bit better! We ordered five dishes and one drink and still chose to tip 18-20%. But based on the overall experience, we would likely not return. The way we were treated throughout the evening made us feel like an afterthought rather than...
Read moreWe’re a young couple who enjoys fine upscale dinning a few times a year, as we were in the industry for many years before our careers took off. For a restaurant as beautiful as Pacific Table you would expect the food and service to match… I was proven wrong.
The host was very sarcastic with her tone when we checked in for our reservation. We also requested a table that had a view of the water when called to make the reservation (days in advance), we were told at check-in that we have to give the specific table number to hold a specific table. How are we supposed to know what your table numbers are if it’s our first time and that was not explained over the phone? We looked on the website to see if WE missed something, no table chart on the website for that situation. Please, speak with your host regarding this! We came at a time for an early dinner as there were not many people in yet, we were sat at a first table right by the door where there was a windy draft that evening. We were disappointed to be stuck in a dark, not very well lit dinning room corner for our Anniversary…. That was not accommodating for us. Our waitress, Veronica, Bless her heart. She’s a very sweet gal, but before ordering Happy Hour I had a few questions. She did not have an answer for any of my questions regarding wine! I asked four questions about their features options. I’m sorry, but how are you going to serve in a place like this and not know these basic questions? Please, speak with your servers about how important this is. The salmon was under cooked and squished in my mouth like sushi, the mashed potatoes had a funny taste to them… it almost tasted like a citris-y undertone and it was weird.
The positive about our experience were the same-day flown in oysters, crème brûlée and our complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate. All around, it was a disappointing experience for our Anniversary. If they want to offer a discounted do-over, I’ll take it, but other than that I don’t think we’ll be back for future occasions. Makes me sad because I really wanted to...
Read more