I recently visited for a birthday celebration with a party of two. The reservation was made for 6:30 PM, and we arrived promptly. However, we were not called to be seated until 6:50 PM. While I understand that tables need to be turned and guests may take longer to vacate, this delay was acknowledged by the host, who apologized and mentioned that appetizers would be sent to us as a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, these appetizers never arrived.

Once seated, we received a thoughtful birthday card from the host, which was a nice touch. However, the service provided by our server, Ajet A., was disappointing and far below the standard expected at such an establishment.

To begin with, Ajet attempted to take our order from memory, which initially felt rushed and unprofessional. Upon realizing this was not effective, he began writing the order down. We ordered the prime rib for two and were immediately subjected to an inappropriate comment, as Ajet asked, "Cooked right?" based on our appearance. This left us feeling uncomfortable, and we responded by ordering our steaks cooked to our preferred rare temperature.

When our appetizers arrived, including the porterhouse meatballs and steak tartare, Ajet proceeded to prepare the steak tartare in a rough and careless manner, making both my guest and I exchange concerned glances, unsure if we had done something to provoke this behavior.

As the meal progressed, Ajet failed to exhibit basic attention to detail. We had to flag him down for a simple wine refill and drink change order, a task that any attentive server would have noticed. This lack of engagement made us feel uncomfortable, yet we chose to move forward and continue with the evening.

When we finished, we requested the bill. A birthday dessert was brought to the table, which we appreciated. The bill totaled $463.81, and in the spirit of fairness, we tipped $40, recognizing that we work in the industry ourselves. However, Ajet processed the payment without a word of thanks or acknowledgment and simply walked away. A separate staff member brought the receipt to us, stretching across the empty table to hand it over, with no words of gratitude or farewell.

While the food itself was delicious, the overall experience was incredibly disappointing. The lack of professionalism and poor service overshadowed what should have been a celebratory evening. I had high hopes when booking this reservation, but unfortunately, the service left a sour taste that I cannot ignore. I sincerely hope the establishment addresses these issues to ensure future guests receive the level of service they deserve.