Omar's Carriage House — Restaurant in Norfolk

I hardly ever write reviews, but this experience warrants one. First time dining here for a dinner meeting, and the place is beautiful, but it'll be my last. The food was outstanding, but the service from one of the female managers/owners was appallingly rude. We had reservations for a small group to be seated upstairs, but we all arrived at separate times. The first person only about 15 mins behind the reservation time. I came only a couple minutes after them (after being lost and almost passing the place since the street it's on is so poorly lit). The manager, seemed perturbed at our tardiness, which I could understand, but then we waited for an extra 15 minutes so they could "get the table ready." Manager/ owner then proceeds to tell us they only allow a period of 2 hours for dining at a table, and since we're late we won't have much time to order and eat. Reason given: they're a small and busy restaurant. I've been to similar, and they don't treat guests in this manner. They did not mention this at all when I made the reservation, and keep in mind, we were already waiting 15 mins for a table that wasn't even ready when we arrived. They would not even seat us at the table until the third person came. It is now about 30 minutes into our reservation. I have never heard of any restaurant acting in this manner. The actual waitress we had was friendly, but seemed very rushed with us trying to keep the 2 hour time limit i'm sure. The 2 other guests in the group arrived by the 45 min mark and were greeted by the front house staff with a mere pointing motion to the upstairs. The waitress was nice, but rushed through the orders, and some of my meeting guests were so turned off by the rude and rushed atmosphere, they didn't want to even order anything. Basically hurried through our meeting. One of the guests that did get food, had hers snatched away by the manager before she could even finish it, with about 20 minutes left on our 2 hours time limit. Manager didn't even bother to ask if she was finished. The check hadn't even come yet. Manager also claimed there was another reservation scheduled right after ours. We stood outside talking for a little while after leaving, and interestingly enough, we saw no one else arrive. I sincerely hope the pigment of our skin was not the cause of this disgraceful service. It's a shame, because I really wanted to frequent this restaurant for dinner...

I went to the restaurant during restaurant week as one does to try out new places.

I got there early for a 7pm reservation and was promptly taken to a 2 top table jammed against the wall with two 4 top tables and another 2 top table practically on top of it.

I sit down and immediately feel uncomfortable and claustrophobic. I get the attention of the server and told her my feelings and asked to move to another table with more room around it that another couple had recently vacated. I was told no when she came back from speaking with the manager or owner. At this point it was close to 7pm. I was told because they had reservations for that table and that it was restaurant week that I could not be accommodated. I asked if there were reservations specifically for that table and was promptly told yes by the server

Later this would prove to be a lie.

I settled into the table and tried to make it comfortable for myself by pulling it out from the wall and discovered it was rocking. I asked for something to make the table stable and was told that is why it was against the wall. I told the server well another solution needs to be thought of because it's not getting pushed against the wall again. At this point I tell the server my dissatisfaction with not being moved earlier and she almost immediately cuts me off to tell me she offered me a solution of moving my jacket from behind my chair.

After this interaction, we got another server, not by our behest, but the server.

Later during our appetizer course, the hostess comes over to offer me a new table to which I decline as this was not the appropriate time to move tables. The appropriate time was when I had no food or drink in front of me

The manager or owner guy NEVER stopped by our table to inquire how I was until the end of our meal and even then he was not receptive to me telling him of my experience. He scurried away with a short "ok, thank you" instead of acknowledging the situation and helping come up with an adequate solution.

This place could be better if they learned to be more customer focused, hospitable and get...

I planned my trip to Norfolk months in advance and based on where I was staying the venues I was visiting I researched a series of restaurants in the area. Based upon the menu and ratings I chose Omar's Carriage House with great anticipation. Here are the good things. It's a lovely setting. The staff is incredibly accommodating, helpful, and to the server who helped me, downright cheery. And that's probably why I felt compelled to lie when she asked me how my food was. I wanted it to be as amazing as I had hoped it would be. Here is the truth of my personal experience. I ate there on a Thursday evening that was rather slow. The beet salad was delicious. I asked the server for a recommendation and she gushed on the Duck, so I ordered the Duck. The Duck was nothing special at all. I eat a Thai Crispy Duck at a local DC restaurant for half the price and it tastes circles around this duck. Furthermore the Sweet Potato Hash was old, and luke warm and just nasty. Not anything I would have ever served to a guest in my home. Likewise the Brussels sprouts were dry and chewy in a way that only a cow could appreciate. I'm sorry that I told the lovely young woman otherwise, but I've learned a valuable lesson. If I'm ever again in such a situation--I honestly won't pay for poorly prepared food like this. And would never recommend this...