Mr. Lyons Steakhouse — Restaurant in Palm Springs

Unacceptable: the Mr. Lyons experience in a word.

We made a reservation and indicated “special occasion” for a celebration of our engagement, one of the most special times in the lives of many. We arrived early and politely indicated this to the maître d, who suggested we enjoy a cocktail at the bar while we waited for our reservation time. This put us under the impression that we’d really be taken care of and looked after, but this wasn’t the case at any point.

After friendly hellos, the bartender proceeded to ignore us. Pleasantly and noticing the absence, a gentleman named Alan (who should be teaching service at this restaurant along with one other individual whom I’ll mention below) came to request our drink orders - the martinis were absolutely divine. After not much time with the martinis, someone else we had not seen before brought a bill for the drinks (most restaurants let you carry over to the dinner reservation to pay once) — this action was cold and indicated to us we weren’t being taken care of. Then we asked this person politely: will the maître d come back to guide us to our table? No, to back to the front and start over he said.

We arrived at our table. A very friendly busser with an Italian flag pin (wish we were able to get his name. He was a very young gentleman) came to bring us waters. After this, we were quite literally ignored for over 30 minutes. No dinner menus even, no server in sight. Finally, I first asked a different busser (a woman in her 40s) if we would please be able to order - she rolled her eyes at me and said the server would be over. Then nothing. Finally, I went back to the front of the restaurant and very politely asked if we could order food and drinks; the maître d said they would take care of it. At this point, I would have expected a wholehearted apology and an offer of at least a single measly drink on the house (much cheaper than losing customers, and friends of customers for life), but even the apology wasn’t extended. The server actually took another 15 minutes after I inquired before coming over to our table for introductions (45+ minutes after sitting at this point; meanwhile multiple other tables that sat down at the same time as us were ordering after dinner drinks or paying bills before we even put in our first drink never mind appetizer orders at this point.

When our food arrived (chip salad, snap peas, rib eye, baked potato), it was mostly absolutely delicious (although my half of the ribeye was far too fatty and steak knives were extremely dull, which is surprising for a well known steakhouse). No one checked on us at any point. The same busser who rolled her eyes at me earlier was quick to grab plates before we had even finished. The server finally reappeared to push dessert on us (I’m sure we would have paid — no remorse for the absolutely terrible service despite our extreme politeness and patience). We’d had enough.

Mr. Lyons is the place to go to ruin a wonderful life celebration. Food is good, but you can find the same quality in the area for a better price in many cases and with far more respect for the customers who choose to spend their hard earned money and scarce time at their establishment. Only reason for a 2 is Alan, the busser gentleman with the Italian flag pin, and the decent food and our determination to have a good time during this special time in our lives.

Mr. Lyons, if you are going to respond to the comment, it will take more than “we’re sorry. We hope you’ll give us another chance”...

Driven past this joint many times and said, "Oooh, we should try that out!" On Sunday, finally we did. The occasion was a friends 40th birthday tagged onto the end of a bachelor party weekend. I was excited, espcially given the fact that there is so much food that isn't really worth writing home about in Palm Springs. Walking in for dinner, the ambiance felt good, 110 degrees outside, a nice and cool dimly lit art-deco delight met us inside. Visually: just my cup of tea! Good start. The hostess led us to our table. We weren't offered a booth despite 80% of them being empty and remaining so for the entire evening. Not sure why... but perhaps they are more uncomfortable than the chairs that the birthday boy and I got to sit in! Seriously, I have never complained about the uncomfortable nature of a chair in a restaurant before now, but before I'd even seen the menu I was feeling it. Don't get me wrong, they look great - so good I'd want them in my house even, but both of us immediately felt it - and we had to spend 2.5 hours in them. It didn't feel great on the back and we smacked the table and knocked over drinks multiple times unintentionally when trying to reposition ourselves to get a better angle to talk and feel any element of comfort at the same time. We ordered cocktails and a side order of Macaroni and Cheese for the group to share ($12, 7/10) while we looked at the menu. Baby Iceberg Wedge Salad ($15 yes, you read that right! 7/10), Beef Wellington ($46, 6/10) and Coachella Valley Corn ($10, 10/10) for me, Baby Iceberg Wedge Salad, a 5oz Filet Mignon the size of a large scallop ($36/, 5/10) and smashed potatoes ($12/, 7/10) for my wife, Baby Iceberg Wedge Salad, 10oz Filet Mignon ($48, 7/10) for the birthday boy's soon to be wife, and Caesar Salad ($13, 8/10) and a 22oz Kansas City Strip ($72, 2/10) for the birthday boy himself. And so... on to the elephant in the room - he asked for it medium-rare and it arrived, pre-sliced, dry, and medium at best. This is a steakhouse people! While I appreciate that some chefs have taken a liking to pre-slicing their delicacies (not too sure that this is better, jury is out for me) this was not worth the $72 ticket. He ate two pre-sliced slices, put down his tools, and called over the waiter. "I'm sorry," he said, and walked away to talk with someone. He then came back with "an offer - the best [he] could negotiate," he said... No, not a new unsliced correctly cooked $72 steak, but a 5oz filet ($36) coupled with a round of drinks (likely to be ~$48), and free deserts (likely to be $`48). "That's the best I can do," he said. We did the math, figured it might be a win although didn't understand the reasoning and, not wanting to argue while sat uncomfortably after a long weekend, we took the deal. 5oz filet arrived - much better than the previous batch (9/10). Desert came and went- I had the Beignets ($14, 9/10) and the rest of the group shared a mint and a vanilla ice cream ($12, 8/10). When the bill arrived we were perplexed - the "free round" was actually only a free drink for one person and the same applied to the desert. $500 later (we had a few cocktails that, generally speaking were 7/10 ), including tip, we left the building. I wish I could say that I am eager to go do it all over again, but I am not going to queue up to spend $500 on anything that is not a completely...

ZERO STARS

I recently visited this restaurant this past Coachella weekend with a friend, and we have never been so disrespected, humiliated, and treated unfairly. I am Asian and my friend is Black. We were seated in the restaurant close to an older White couple. After our order were placed, we started to have a conversation with the couple. Shortly after, the couple invited us over to their table. We had intentions to return once our food arrived. Not long after, their waiter asked us to return to our assigned table and even asked the couple if they were okay. We explained that we were invited to the table, the couple confirmed that was correct, and even told the waiter that there was no issue. My friend and I were in no way disruptive or loud as to raise any alarms. The waiter even used the word "bothering" the guests, although, any form of that was denounced when the told the waiter we were invited. I was in shock, disbelief, offended, and hurt. It did not stop there. Greg Rowan came out shortly after and insisted that we return to our table because we were "harassing" the couple. The couple again told them that we were not, and that we were invited. At this point, we had enough and left with Greg escorting us out. How humiliated and upset would you feel? As a human being enjoying your night and later accused of "BOTHERING" or "HARASSING" an older white couple. Even later stated by Greg Rowan that my friend's behavior was "UNCONTROLLABLE" and even accused him of being on substances. What was the basis of their choice of words and actions? Had this same scenario unfold if myself and my friend were White, I wouldn't be writing my experience now. If there were an investigation that had to be done, I have nothing to hide. Per Greg, reservations were made with the couple. Contacting them should not be hard to hear their side of the story. If we were disruptive, uncontrollable, bothering, or harassing guests, there has to be some surveillance showing that. I called the police who came. If it were true that either of us were uncontrollable or under substances, wouldn't that warrant some kind of arrest?

THIS IS 2017. THIS IS PALM SPRINGS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

This is just one voice, but if I remained silent about my experience, I would only condone this appalling...