Geordie's at Wrigley Mansion — Restaurant in Phoenix

I celebrated my birthday there yesterday with nine of my friends, and while the scenery was absolutely breathtaking, the overall experience had some ups and downs.

The complimentary valet service was a nice touch, and both of our tables had stunning views overlooking Phoenix. We were there for brunch, which costs $79 per person (before tax and gratuity). The meal started with pastries and a bowl of fruit, followed by a visit to the dessert room where you can choose your waffle size—whole, half, or quarter—and have it made fresh for you. I loved that option since I couldn’t finish a full waffle.

After that, our server brought out bacon, sausage, salad, and potatoes for the table. However, the portions were surprisingly small—six people shared just five pieces of bacon and four sausages, leaving one person without any bacon. The potatoes were hard as a rock, and both the salad and potatoes were served in bowls meant for one person, not a group of six. I initially thought sides like the bacon, sausage, potatoes, and pastries were unlimited, but they weren’t.

I ordered the salmon, which was delicious and cooked perfectly, but it came by itself with no side dish—just a small piece of salmon in lemon sauce. A few of my friends ordered the ribeye steak with eggs, but several mentioned their steaks were overcooked (they requested medium but received well done) and tough to chew.

Dessert was served in a separate buffet-style room, but unfortunately, some of the desserts seemed left over from Halloween on Friday—it was Sunday when we visited—so a few items tasted stale.

Our server, Cecilia, was very sweet and kind, but service was inconsistent. She took my table’s drink and entrée orders right away, but the second table only got their drink orders taken and had to wait a long time before placing their entrée orders. Toward the end, Cecilia brought the second table’s bill but never gave ours. After waiting 20 minutes, I asked for our check again, and it took another 20 minutes to receive it, plus an additional 15–20 minutes to cash out.

While we were still waiting for our bill, the manager—who had dreadlocks—came by and, in so many words, implied that we needed to leave because they were turning over for the evening. We couldn’t leave since we were still waiting to pay, but the approach felt dismissive and unprofessional.

To the manager: Please take time to understand what’s going on with your servers before assuming guests are lingering without reason. Communication and awareness can go a long way toward improving the customer experience.

Overall, the view and ambiance were incredible, but the food and service didn’t justify the $100+ price tag. You’re definitely paying for the scenery more than the meal.

Update: The manager, Mike, personally called me to hear my feedback about Sunday. He was very easy to talk to, explained some of the background behind what happened, and offered a sincere apology. It was clear that he truly cares about his customers. I would definitely give them another try...

Dear Owner: The Gardens were amazing,  and I wish I could say more. However,  what could have been a 4 or 5 star visit quickly turned into a RATING OF 1 for to the unwelcoming looks of a visitor which I first ignored,  but then were later echoed by the General Manager.

I was peacefully browsing the Gardens while I awaited time for to pass to attend an RSVP'd event at a pre-scheduled social hour.  Like most people,  I was with friends and took a few photos to capture memories along the way.

As a respectful citizen, and professional, before even arriving to the event,  I spoke to the event organizer and 2 different individuals at the mansion to discuss the ability to take a images,  specifically at a  couple areas of the mansion that I intended to take pictures while touring, and gained approval to do so I had no expectation for the encounter I experienced.

Unfortunately,  I never even made it to the front door,  unlike a friend of mine who had the ability to browse quite a bit of the estate, and even was asked by staff to take pictures for her around and inside the mansion and valet park her vehicle without being questioned about her affiliation with the estate (i.e. membership and beyond).

Instead I was stopped in a very demanding, unpleasant,  unprofessional,  and uncalled for way by a man boasting to be the general manager.  Instead of being polite (and in typical Scottsdale/ Pleasant Valley fashion) and despite understanding that we were misled by staff,  he continued to raise his voice,  hoping to create a show and hoping to escalate the situation in order to tell us to leave the property. Apparently,  myself and another individual out of my group had the wrong "look" and to say the very least,  me and the individuals of my group were extremely well dressed,  well mannered,  and well prepared to pay for any services we received. We just were not given the opportunity,  but instead assumptions were made and we were talked to like children,  especially the older one of us, as if we were back in the 1900s.

Though recently remodeled I only care to spend my money where I am respected and the operators aren't so money hungry that they try to draw conclusions and push to make scenes that should have never happened in the first place.

There's always a professional way to handle things and then there's, well the type that get you these kinds of reviews.

You're definitely making a name for yourself like the rest of Scottsdale is rumored to be. Let's not let assumptions about money or complexion dictate who we choose and don't choose to service.

But if we don't know better we can't do better.  We'll now you know.

Oan: here's a few photos my friend was able to capture of this estate which now has left a bad taste...

A Truly Disheartening Christmas Eve Experience at Geordie’s

As a loyal wine member at the Wrigley Mansion, I expected nothing less than a memorable experience for our Christmas Eve dinner. My girlfriend and I had saved up for months to make this night special, foregoing presents to invest in what we believed would be an extraordinary meal and evening. Instead, we were met with disappointment at every turn.

The setting at the Wrigley Mansion remains undeniably beautiful, which is why I became a wine member in the first place. Unfortunately, the beauty of the surroundings could not salvage the atrocious service and subpar meal we received. From the start, the experience was marred by poor organization. Upon arrival, I confirmed with the hostess that our reservation included the wine pairings, only to discover halfway through the meal that this was not the case. No explanation or remedy was offered.

Our server’s attitude reflected a complete lack of care or hospitality. Beyond taking our initial order and dropping off the check, we were essentially ignored. We were seated right next to the server station, yet had to flag down a busser just to request another glass of wine. For a dinner costing nearly $500, this level of inattentiveness is inexcusable.

As for the meal itself, it was nothing short of disappointing. The prime rib was cold, tough, and devoid of seasoning. The salmon was dry, and the overcooked carrots were barely edible. The highlight of the meal? The two small dinner rolls we were given. Given the price and the reputation of Geordie’s, this lack of quality and care in the kitchen is appalling.

Adding insult to injury, we were seated 20 minutes past our reservation time in a corner next to the server station, stripping us of the breathtaking views the Wrigley Mansion is known for. This small detail exemplifies the lack of thought or consideration put into the entire evening.

My girlfriend and I both work in the hospitality industry and understand the demands of the job, especially during the holidays. But this experience was beyond disappointing—it felt exploitative. We saved for this meal, hoping for an unforgettable experience, and instead left feeling robbed.

For the price we paid, we could have enjoyed a world-class dining experience elsewhere, with better service, superior food, and actual hospitality. I will be canceling my wine membership and sharing this review across all platforms to warn others.

I hope Geordie’s management takes this feedback seriously and reaches out to make amends. This experience was a painful reminder that even the most beautiful settings cannot make up for a complete lack of...