NOT ALLERGY FRIENDLY ⭐️⭐️
Rating: 2/5 Stars
For Diners: Those with food allergies should exercise extreme caution or consider dining elsewhere until proper protocols are established. See full review.
The Quarry boasts a stunning waterfront location on Lake Monroe with an updated, attractive interior that immediately catches your eye. The scenic setting and recent renovations create high expectations for what should be a memorable dining experience. Unfortunately, these expectations were not met due to serious operational shortcomings.
The most concerning aspect of our visit was the restaurant's complete lack of allergen awareness and protocols. As someone with an egg allergy, I encountered a frustrating and potentially dangerous situation that revealed systemic problems with staff training and kitchen procedures.
The Issues:
No allergen information sheet available
Servers had zero training on cross-contamination protocols
Kitchen staff appeared unfamiliar with ingredient checking procedures
Management showed no knowledge of how to handle allergen requests
No clear system for communicating dietary restrictions to the kitchen
What should have been a straightforward accommodation turned into a 30-minute ordeal of back-and-forth discussions, with staff clearly uncomfortable and uncertain about how to proceed. Despite our extensive conversation, my Asian rice bowl arrived with spicy mayo (which contains egg) - indicating either the allergen information never reached the kitchen or the kitchen failed to check ingredients properly.
Rather than remaking the dish correctly, the kitchen's solution was to remove all dressings and sauces, leaving me with a completely bland, bare-bones rice bowl. This approach demonstrated continued uncertainty about ingredient safety rather than confidence in their ability to prepare allergen-free food.
While the rest of my family enjoyed their meals, I was left eating flavorless food quickly so we could leave together - hardly the relaxing dining experience one expects at a waterfront restaurant.
The one bright spot was our server, who deserves recognition for being genuinely willing to help and learn despite clearly receiving no training for these situations. Their effort and attitude were commendable and prevented this from being a one-star review. However, individual staff goodwill cannot compensate for systemic management failures.
Beyond the allergen issues, basic maintenance problems detracted from the experience:
Wobbly toilets in the restrooms
Unstable benches at seating areas
General lack of attention to facility upkeep
These maintenance issues, combined with the serious food safety concerns, suggest management priorities may not align with providing a quality guest experience.
The Quarry has all the elements for success - a beautiful lakefront location, attractive updated interior, and willing staff. However, the complete absence of allergen protocols represents both a customer service failure and a potential health hazard. For a restaurant in today's dining landscape to lack basic allergen awareness and training is unacceptable.
For Management: Immediate staff training on allergen handling, development of ingredient lists and protocols, and attention to basic facility maintenance would dramatically improve the guest experience.
For Diners: Those with food allergies should exercise extreme caution or consider dining elsewhere until proper protocols are established.
The scenic setting cannot overcome operational failures that leave guests feeling unwelcome and potentially unsafe. With proper management attention, The Quarry could easily become the destination restaurant its location...
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