The Iron Oaks — Restaurant in Raleigh

I really wanted to love this place! I came in on a Tuesday around 9:10 pm and they let me know their kitchen closed at 9:00pm which I completely understood. So I came back today ( Saturday) anticipating a great time. I walked in and no one greeted me ( which wasn’t a big deal because I know I am small and short). I walked over to the bar and asked if I was supposed to be seated or if I can seat myself a young gentleman at the bar said I could seat myself. I waited about 10 minutes until a young lady came with water and greeted me. I gave her my order food and drinks at one time being that I already knew what I wanted. She came back with my mojito about 10 minutes later (no problem) and after I waited almost an hour for my blackened chicken Alfredo. If it wasn’t for the same young man who was a server/ bartender who saw me looking like a deer in headlights at my table to ask if I was okay I would have probably never got my food. I told him I was just waiting for my food he asked what I got and he went to go check on it. He came back and said it should be out in about 5-10 minutes. I have worked in the food industry and I know that is code for we forgot but we are on it. My food was great along with my drink . When the young man brought back my food I also ordered another mojito. I never saw my original waitress until I was trying to check out. I had to walk up to the bar and ask if I was supposed to get my check at the bar or was my server going to bring it to me. The two young ladies ( my original server included) looked at me like I was being annoying and gave me their tablet so I could check out. Once i finished they took the machine away from me and walked away, no thank you or anything. I had to ask for a box which was also shoved in my hands ( I’m still confused on why I was treated this way). I boxed my food up and left sad . I enjoyed my food but I’m not comfortable with returning because I didn’t feel comfortable with the service. I don’t know if it was because I was the only POC in the building or if that is how they are with everyone. I really wanted this place and experience to be a 10/10 but unfortunately it was not. Shoutout to the young man who tried to help...

Our whole experience here could be described as underwhelming.

Decor could be described as having an identity crisis. Traditional style armchairs and couches in one area, mid-century modern couches and chairs around an ultra modern fireplace, with industrial furniture and wildly uncomfortable bar stools in another area.

Cocktail menu appeared to have a decent variety and curated feel, but lacked in execution. Ingredients did not taste fresh/housemade despite the menu explicitly stating they were. The lime wedge garnish on my drink was...brown. I get that produce in winter can be hit or miss but if you don't have appetizing looking limes just don't use them as garnish.

Truffle fries were undersalted and the stand they used to hold the fries was too big to fit the container used for the garlic aioli. They were out of romaine for a Caesar salad and asked if they could sub mixed greens instead, which I agreed to but was kinda gross in application. Dressing and croutons were nothing special. We also got the cheese ball trio, which comes with no actual explanation of what the cheese balls are, either from the menu or from our server. One appeared to be pimento cheese with bacon, one was a blueberry goat cheese with pretzel on top, and the last was some sort of dorito crusted spicy cheese ball, which I would not have eaten if I'd known what it was.

Including tip, we paid around $100 for three disappointing drinks and some sad, mostly uneaten appetizers. For the price, I expected a different level of quality. I regret going here and will not...

I would give this 5 stars if I was rating the food portion of our visit and the server we had for it (he was fantastic). I’d give it 2 stars for the employee that “helped” us with the golf sim. Overall 4 * experience. Employee who came over to the sim was a bit of a jerk… 5 min after our reservation time and we were trying to set up our session and he walks up and says “what are you guys doing?” in the tone of a disapproving father. A “hey how’s it going, do you need help?” Would’ve been more appropriate given we were already running over our reservation because of the group before us. He canceled out exactly what we had already set up ourselves with no questions or statements and then set up the exact settings we had done for ourselves which wasted another few minutes. After asking if we could hit warm up shots before playing a course he said “I guess but you’ll have to come and find me to fix it for you later”. A quick demo or explanation of the sim would’ve been sufficient, but he didn’t give us options and was clearly annoyed before engaging with us. We were rushed and appeared to just be an inconvenience for him. We adjusted settings after he walked away and played at our leisure (the sims were solid!), but wish the guy managing the sims was a little more pleasant and engaging rather than annoyed and dismissive off the bat. I understand you’ll have a variety of experience levels with golf sims, but there was no chance to start off on the right foot with him,...