Westport Social — Restaurant in Maryland Heights

Celebrating my wife's and her twin sister's 40th birthdays was a momentous occasion for us. As first-time birthday celebrants, we wanted to make it unforgettable by hosting a surprise party at Westport Social on April 6th, between 2-5 pm. However, the experience fell short due to significant service, food quality issues, premature cleaning up, and an unexpected policy on leftover food.

Service Shortcomings: The service was far from satisfactory. Despite spending a considerable sum of $2782.27 for the event, we were allocated only one server for over 20 guests. This lone server was also juggling other tables simultaneously, leading to neglect and delays in attending to our needs.

Food Quality and Safety Concerns: The food quality at Westport Social left much to be desired. We opted for sliders, chicken on skewers, wings, and pizza, but all were disappointing. Instead of being served in stages to maintain freshness, everything arrived at once. Consequently, the burgers went stale, the chicken and pizza turned cold, and the wings were overcooked, dry, and almost inedible. Of particular concern was the apparent disregard for food safety practices. Leaving cooked chicken out at room temperature for an extended period, in violation of food safety regulations, raised serious doubts about the establishment's adherence to proper food handling practices. In hindsight, while we initially hoped to take some of the food home, upon reflection, we realized that the quality of the chicken wasn't worth saving anyway.

Premature Cleaning Up: Adding to our dissatisfaction, the staff started cleaning up before our reservation time was over at 5 pm. It felt like they were rushing us out, even though we had paid for the entire duration.

Manager's Response: The manager's response was particularly disheartening. Rather than acknowledging our concerns, he defensively justified the policy, insinuating that allowing guests to take leftovers might be perceived as exploiting their buffet offer. Moreover, his reluctance to accommodate a simple request for to-go boxes for the birthday girls further highlighted the establishment's lack of customer-centricity.

As a general manager myself, I was appalled by the disrespect and disregard for customer satisfaction displayed by Westport Social. Despite the significance of the occasion and the considerable investment made, the overall experience fell far short of expectations. Therefore, I strongly advise against using their services, given their apparent disregard for guests' experiences and needs.

Final Note: This review is not intended to discredit or disparage but to highlight areas for improvement. Celebrating twin milestone birthdays should have been a joyous occasion, but unfortunately, the shortcomings of Westport Social marred the experience. I urge the establishment to reconsider its policies and prioritize customer satisfaction to ensure better experiences for future patrons. Additionally, adherence to food safety regulations should be a top priority to prevent potential health risks for customers.

Just for an update, I still haven't heard anything back from the staff or corporate about this...

I attended a company party at Westport Social on Monday, and while the atmosphere and offerings were vibrant and fun, the service and seating left much to be desired.

Pros:

The atmosphere is lively and enjoyable, perfect for social gatherings or parties.

The food was excellent—fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared.

Drinks were fantastic, with a great selection and quality.

The security team was courteous and professional, contributing to a safe and pleasant environment.

Cons:

Service: The service from the waitstaff significantly impacted our experience. We had two different waitresses across two tickets, and both were inattentive and slow. It felt as though they were coasting on the automatic 18% gratuity for our large group, putting in minimal effort. Requests took an unusually long time to fulfill, and both waitresses seemed disengaged. One even exhibited visible hostility through her demeanor, which was off-putting. Their lack of friendliness and attentiveness soured what could have been a perfect evening. It was disappointing to spend over $1,000 (before tips) and feel like our needs were neglected.

Seating: The seating was another major issue. Chairs with backs are extremely limited, and most seating consists of hard wooden benches that are uncomfortable for extended periods. It feels as though the seating is intentionally designed to keep you moving, spending more on food and drinks rather than settling in. I ended up moving our group to a different section just to find a padded bench where I could lean against the wall, but even that wasn’t ideal for a long evening.

Final Thoughts: While the food, drinks, and overall ambiance were outstanding, the poor service and uncomfortable seating overshadowed the positives. I wouldn’t consider returning with a group without first speaking to a manager to ensure expectations for service are clear. If I were to encounter either of these waitresses again, I would request a different server or choose to leave.

Westport Social has so much potential, but I hope management addresses these service and seating issues to ensure every guest feels valued and comfortable, regardless of group size or the automatic...

I came in with a large group of friends for a "Witch's night out" many of us have been servers/bartenders for years. Fun, easy group. Our server was HORRIBLE, and I don't say that lightly. I asked for an iced tea 3x, she would come back around 10/15 min after one request without the tea, but not say anything about it, I would ask again and the cycle would start over. Finally, after over an HOUR WITHOUT A DRINK, I went up to the front bar and asked for a tea. That was the only drink I had all night and we were there from 7ish until 940ish. No refills, She never once acknowledged that she never brought me my tea or apologized. She couldn't care less. I nibbled on someone else's appetizer, which was very good (hence the food rating)...I would've loved to have ordered and tried one of your pizzas but didn't trust that it would come out and the server never asked if I wanted to order food. Other girls in my party were all complaining about how horrible the service was as well. One girl ordered food, thought it never came out, but then found out it was placed on the far end of the table without a word. For such a fun place with what I'm guessing has good food, having wait staff being the only thing that put a damper on our great annual night out celebrating the season with our friends is a disappointment. Your restaurant missed out on a great deal of additional revenue that could've been made on our table... many people would've drank and ate much more if we could've. The service definitely put a damper on the overall experience. It should also be noted that she wasn't running around super busy. Another friend, while helping her gather dishes asked her to come back when she got a chance she would like to order another drink then after 20 min the girl came back and when my friend tried to order the drink the server told her she would have to order from the bar she was leaving.. then my friend saw her 10 min later taking orders at another table. It...