Vyoone’s — Restaurant in New Orleans

First I will say I know how important and persuasive reviews can be so I am hopeful this will help patrons make an informed decision and keep in mind that some restaurants have more than one off night. I also hope this review will motivate the staff, chef and owner to strive for excellence consistently.

More to be desired… we were greeted and welcomed politely however we were “buttered up” to change tables. We were sat in the outdoor courtyard area and told the table we were being moved to was more intimate. However, it was clear that the 4 top was needed for the next party. Not a problem however it would’ve been nice to have the staff reset the table we moved to opposed to having to move things ourselves. We received a complimentary glass of champagne from the owner for our anniversary which was a nice touch however the service went downhill from there.

I originally believed they were short staffed and had no problem being patient however I noticed an abundance of staff moving around and yet the service moved at the pace of a sloth. I noticed the tables surrounding us were also constantly looking around for a staff member and actually beckoning for help. I counted the amount of times we saw our waitress: 4 times (taking our order, bringing out our drinks, refilled our water and to take care of our bill) We watched a party of 8 being served their dishes at varying times and we could hear their complaints one of which deterred our entrée selection because they weren’t pleased with their pork chop. The menu described a stuffed pork chop and it lacked.

We started with cocktails: Vyoone’s Pimms Cup and The French Manhattan. Both were tasty and very strong. We were going to order appetizers however we heard the couple at the table across from us discuss their disappointment and the portion size was not comparable to the price. We ordered the Salade De Vyoone which was drenched in vinaigrette so it was extremely soggy. The Bisque De Homard Pates: it was served cold so when the owner passed by I politely informed her. She was apologetic and asked if I wanted it reheated or a fresh dish. So quick fact, I am a degreed chef. I was surprised she asked this for a few reasons. Number one is that this restaurant is labeled as high end and has received several accolades so one would believe the level of service and food would be deserving and up to par. Secondly, I expect a $35 literally cup size portion entree to deliver flavor and be hot. Lastly, lobster isn’t a very forgiving protein so reheating it is a waste. Considering it took nearly an hour to receive our food I said to just reheat it. Big mistake! One of the kitchen staff brought my dish back to the table and I immediately noticed it was basically a bowl of cheese. The pasta had clearly been mixed and dowsed in cheese so the pieces of lobster were now shredded bits and the noodles were oily and gummy. I picked through it and left most of it on the plate. Coteletes D’argneau Grillees: based on the waitress’s recommendation we substituted the rice pilaf for mashed potatoes which were very basic and lacked salt. The lamb chops were small in size and were just ok. Again, more to be desired. So based on our experience thus far we did not order dessert and thankfully our check came out quicker than anything else. We still tipped the waitress more than she deserved strictly because you don’t “shoot the messenger”.

As mentioned earlier, not only did our waitress inform us the rice pilaf was dry, while ordering, she also said that a certain cut of meat wasn’t available so a different cut was being used. First impressions truly are everything so I was not pleased to see some staff in hoodies, back of the house staff walking out in their aprons and one actually went to the restroom with his apron on and there wasn’t a polished uniform look from all staff members.

I love supporting minority ran businesses and while this visit left MUCH to be desired I see others have had wonderful experiences so please try this place...

I reserved Vyoone’s based upon Eater’s recommendation as a “quintessential” New Orleans eatery. With that said, this meal was by far the worst I’ve had in a long time, and does not compare at all to the rest of the amazing restaurants and bars in New Orleans.

We should have recognized something was wrong when we arrived to a near completely empty restaurant. Our waiter (who did his absolute best and was by far the only good part of the experience) told us guests had been cancelling due to the construction in the neighborhood…we would later walk up the street under construction to see full restaurants. We ordered the crab cakes which came out still cold in the center. Our mains included the scallops (over cooked and covered in unappetizing food service melted cheese) and the grilled fish with pasta (fish was over cooked, not very fresh, with a supremely overly garlic flavored alfredo-like sauce; pasta was way over cooked).

We quickly left Vyoone’s only to move a few blocks up the street to a different restaurant for dessert. When we described our experience at Vyoone’s, our waiter at this new restaurant indicated that Vyoone’s was a running joke in the New Orleans restaurant community with positive reviews generated to fool sites like Eater.

I’ve been fortunate to eat at some the best restaurants in New Orleans, and when I booked Vyoone’s, I hoped for a similar experience. This is a city for great food! More importantly, I can set expectations accordingly; I know what I’m getting into if I eat at a Cracker Barrel (no shame on CB; it’s food is far better cooked and seasoned than Vyoone’s) versus a night at Michelin starred restaurant. Vyoone’s is billing itself as something special, and it is far from that. Do not waste your time or your money on Vyoone’s; there are far...

I am rarely one to leave a negative review about a small business and enjoy leaving positive ones when I experience great service and/or excellent food, but my experience at Vyoone’s was too egregious to not share and warn others about.

My group arrived promptly before 7pm for our reservation and were seated quickly. That’s where any semblance of a positive experience ends. Our server hardly addressed us and when she did was curt and made us seem like a bother. It took an hour to order and receive our drinks. We were a big group enjoying each other’s company so we were understanding at first. Not once did we receive an apology or an explanation for long wait times. After an hour and a half of waiting for appetizers (which were simply some bowls of French onion soup), one member of my party asked a busser if our meal was coming at all, to which he just replied with a shrug. It was absolutely laughable.

Tables surrounding us were in the same boat. Extremely long wait times, even worse service, and when the food actually did manage to come out, it was inedible.

Finally, 2.5 hours after our arrival, half of our entrees trickled out. After a few bites, the manager, in the most rude fashion I have ever experienced in my life, picked up our plates mid-bite and told us to leave. We were still made to pay nearly $500 for cocktails and tasteless soups. Never have I had such an unbelievably poor and unprofessional dining experience. I have enjoyed fabulous meals all over New Orleans. There are too many incredible restaurants across the city for this place to make it. I beg you to go anywhere...