Table 14 — Restaurant in Ludington

Very disappointing NYE dinner experience. After reading all the great reviews and hearing good things about the restaurant from our hotel and other locals we decided to make this our nye dinner. They had a 4 course, $70 per person menu which we were aware of prior to coming in. Unfortunately I ended up walking out still very hungry, feeling like I only had a snack and poor service. For the first course I choose oyster Rockefeller which consisted of 3 tiny oysters, the salad was a small side salad, which would be alright if the main course was a decent size dish. I ordered shimp and scallops, it was 3 shimps and two very small scallops, extremely over salted served with risotto. I do not consume rice and was very disappointed that the fact that it came with it was not disclosed on the menu. So of course, I couldnt finish my dish i took few bites and set it aside. Our server never checked in to ask how our meal was, just came by and asked if I was done with my dish so she simply took it away. My husband had lamb, which was actually a good portion with potatoes and asparagus, but the lamb itself was cold and under cooked, the only warm thing on the plate were the potatoes. The dessert was an even bigger failure, my creme brulee was more like custard with lots of brown sugar. We ordered it in the beginning so the chef had plenty of time to torch it and cool it, unfortunately it was not cooled properly and it did not crack because it was not torched, the sugar was still very raw and tasted like rubber. Again no one bothered to come up and ask how it was, I had a lady come up and tell me that I got the last creme brulee and that " you better finish it". Maybe I would, if I actually got a creme brulee. Dont get me wrong, I understand thats its a very small town and that I shouldnt have high expectations, but Ive been to some of the local pubs and they executed their menu a lot better. At the end of the day if youre charging $70 a person, there are certain expectations that need to be met and you should be able to deliver a somewhat decent meal, and it doesnt help that the staff doesn't care either, not once asked about how anything was which is why I didnt get a chance to perhaps replace the rice or get a different dessert, we felt unwelcomed, rushed and very...

"A king should be a king in all things." – King Louis XIV

In the quaint village of Ludington, where local lore whispers through the streets, stands Table 14. A culinary realm led by Howard and Laura Iles, it aspires to greatness yet comfortably sits in the realm of the good enough. This eatery, drawing from a tapestry of regions from Louisiana to South Carolina, sets a table more akin to a baron than a monarch.

My wife and I started with the "Crabby Chips," a dish that playfully cavorts in the realm of culinary jesters - potato chips and crab meat joined in a creamy cheese alliance. A charming overture, yet far shy of a regal parade.

The main acts, our steak and duck, were like loyal courtiers - noble in effort, yet lacking the splendor of a royal banquet. The steak whispered tales of the South, while the duck maintained a poised, if somewhat subdued, demeanor.

In this corner of the Midwest, where Southern warmth merges with the steadfast spirit of Michigan, one might hope for a feast fit for a king. But the night's offerings, while commendably crafted, seemed content with the nobility of 'good enough.' The pricing, a blessing for commoners, stood as the evening's quiet ruler.

Walking out the door, we couldn't help but muse – was the Table 14 name a cheeky reference to a mythical banquet where guests await a never-to-arrive 14th course? A playful jest, perhaps, at the diner's eternal hope for that one...

My wife and I tried this place for the first time this past Thursday. We made a reservation which was highly recommended but when we got there the place wasn't even half full. They seated us at a small table for two next to the window which the sun was coming through. We asked to be seated at a larger table away from the window, but the hostess said she couldn't and just closed the blinds. I just assumed larger tables were saved for parties of 4. The tables were never filled the whole time we were there. We started with the oysters which were creative and very good. We then shared a Caesar which was good. For our entrees my wife had the pan seared ahi tuna, which came highly recommended, and I had the salmon. My wife's ahi tuna was kind of tough, and seems like it was frozen and not fresh and kind of had a funky aftertaste. My wife couldn't finish it, and actually had an upset stomach later in the evening. My salmon was good and cooked perfectly. I asked for it medium rare and that's just the way it came. Both entrees came with asparagus and Parmesan risotto which was good. Service was good, they actually got us in and out of there in under an hour. Overall experience was okay but we wouldn't rush back. For the price it should knock...