Rose & Thistle ( Perrysburg, OH ) — Restaurant in Perrysburg

Deeply underwhelmed and full of missed opportunities.

Ridiculously understaffed for a Saturday, which meant slow, stressed, less attentive service. She wasn't the only person on staff, but our server was also the hostess, AND taking orders, refilling drinks, running food from the kitchen and drinks from the bar, taking payments, and bussing tables. All this pressure made the place feel like a busy greasy spoon diner at breakfast, not an upscale dinner establishment.

Arrived at 7 at the same time as another couple. We had a reservation for 7, they had a 7:30 reservation, but were seated before us, rather than the host checking to see if we had an earlier one. So we waited awkwardly at the (cramped) entrance while they were seated and the host then attended to other tasks before coming back to us. Made an off-putting first impression.

We ordered two different cocktails--both tasted like they consisted of only one ingredient.

The food was fine--once they got the order right--but nothing mind-blowing. I ordered a filet medium, it came out rare, and because of said understaffing it took a while to get our server's attention, and then more waiting for the meal to be corrected. (I just can't do rare, I've tried!) My companion had finished his meal by the time I got mine corrected.

Lots of other, little things could have been improved to make a better experience. The tables are really close together, so I guess when the website says it's "intimate" they mean intimate with the tables next to you! The bread basket could have been full of warm, fresh slices instead of a few tiny, cold slices. Online reservations are actually just awkward emails, so you might as well just call. The website says the menu "evolves regularly" with "seasonally crafted selections" but based on others' reviews they've offered the same items for a long time.

TL;DR: Okay food but short staffed = slow, inadequate service = damper on...

I hate to give anyone a bad review, especially in light of the economic circumstances and the past couple of years. I really wanted to love this place, but I’ve had essentially the same entrees done better elsewhere for much cheaper. The pricing seems way out of line considering the portion sizes.

I ordered the filet which was approximately $12 dollars more expensive than their menu posted online. I asked for it pink, and while the center of it was tasty, the ends were brown and extremely dry. It comes with potatoes, green beans, and soup or salad. If I had to estimate, the dishes were plated prettily, but I think I had literally eight green beans. The portion of potatoes was also comical, maybe four bites. The salad is similar to the organic boxed mix I buy at the grocery store with some halved grape tomatoes and cucumbers.

My boyfriend’s chicken dish was also price adjusted, $36 or so for a tiny plate of chicken and potatoes, plus a small basic salad is truly outrageous. Unfortunately, the 6 oz chicken breast was also very dry, shockingly dry even. The caesar salad left much to be desired as it had barely any dressing on it.

I just don’t get it. I would love to say this is an outstanding small business with a really elegant atmosphere and exceptionally flavored food making the cost worth it, but that was not our experience. We were placed in between couples a foot or so away on either side so close that each other’s conversations were distracting. My boyfriend and I paid the $115 bill plus tip and said never again. We felt as though we were taken advantage of. The chef did go around to the table, but considering how closely seated everyone is, it really felt inappropriate to complain about our food while other customers said “oh, it was great”. I am just wondering if they have never had great steaks elsewhere. Had our favorite steakhouse not been fully booked, we would have gone...

Each time we go, it's PERFECT. We have felt, for the past few years, every time we go out to dinner, it's disappointing.... regardless of price. This is the exception to that recently (unfortunately) added rule of dining out. Chef-owned and operated, they do not disappoint. Seriously. I'm not someone who ever finishes their plate, BUT.... the first time I ate here since the new owner has taken over, I ate every single bite of my dinner, not to mention the salad (house with tarragon vinaigrette, yum!) and delicious bread...... Side note, I hate asparagus, but that was what came on my dinner plate. I loved every single last bite, not joking. I hate asparagus, I repeat. Tonight we had an appetizer, so I couldn't quite finish my dinner. But the appetizer was wonderful. It was a smoked butternut squash and feta spread on toast points and I couldn't stop..... I would feel shamey, but one cannot be blamed for succumbing to the allure of the deliciousness one is faced with from time to very rare time! This was such a time. Service is very personalized and attentive, the two lovely ladies there that run the front of the house do a wonderful, in-tandem job with hosting their guests, which is exactly how one is treated --as a welcome guest being hosted to dine in one's home. Very rare, these days. (I can only name one other such place, but this is not about them... ahemCIAOahem) DEFINITELY go to Rose and Thistle if you want to go out to dinner and pay (a small fortune) for dinner but don't want to be disappointed (which, you're going to pay a fortune for dinner everywhere you go ---for real---{even fast-food from what I hear, but that's not firsthand info because I don't go for fast-food} so you might as well spend that money at an actually wonderful place), You will NOT be disappointed. Truly worth the money, seriously. I do not joke...