The Garden Company in Round Top — Restaurant in Round Top

Do not go here if you have food allergies! I had heard wonderful things about this restaurant and was excited to try it with another couple. Our waitress Summer was incredible and so kind but that’s where it ended. I called ahead before even making a reservation and explained my peanut and sesame allergy. I was told it wouldn’t be a problem. When we got there it became clear there was zero communication among the staff. We ordered chips and queso and were told it was safe. I asked our waitress one more time before eating it if she could double check what oil the chips were fried in. She came running back telling me not to eat them because they were fried in peanut oil. She apologized profusely and was clearly shaken because she was originally told by the chef the chips were safe. Had I eaten them and not double checked, I could have died. I asked her to take them away and within a min or two our food was delivered to the table. They brought my pork with a fried onion ring on top. I asked whether this meal was indeed safe and asked to talk to the chef because I was nervous to trust the servers after the near life or death accident with the chips. I wanted to talk to the source so there was no room for miscommunication. I was denied the chef but given the owner. The owner came over to our table and goes “which one of you has the allergy?” Very terse and rudely. I explain my allergy and he tells me my food is safe and that there are no peanuts or soy (I said sesame not soy) in any of his food. He’s practically yelling this at me. Tables are all watching and listening. I told him I was just told the chips were fried in peanut oil. He tells me that’s wrong and storms off to check for himself. He comes back to confirm they have peanut oil to fry things and tells me to just not eat fried food. My pork has a fried onion ring on it. I asked him to take it back and remake it without a fried onion because hello peanut oil. A different server comes with the exact same pork where they just removed the onion ring. There is literal residue from the onion ring on the pork. She then snaps at me that she did what she was told and it’s not her problem. I was not trying to be difficult. This isn’t a preference it’s life or death. If I eat peanut anything I will go into anaphylaxis. We decided to cancel our food because there’s now no way I’m eating anything out of a kitchen that is that chaotic. After my husband cancels the order, the owner comes back out and practically slams a new pork meal down in front of me and tells me it’s safe and to eat it. The whole thing was very humiliating and callous. For the owner to not even know what’s in his own food is unacceptable. For him to yell at me and make me feel bad for having an allergy is incredibly insensitive and rude. And in front of our friends and the entire restaurant. The owner could not have cared less about my allergy and did not take it seriously at all. If I hadn’t continued checking I could have died. I’m very disappointed and disheartened by the lack of care displayed tonight. I will never be returning or recommending this place. The owner shouldn’t be running...

I had been so looking forward to experiencing this restaurant. We were seated outdoors promptly and enjoyed a beautiful meal on the 20th of October during the Antiques Week in Round Top/Warrenton. Tho the experience was really pleasant, I had the most unfortunate situation regarding being overcharged. This problem could have been avoided by management who should have remedied this by following through after my phone call on Monday October 23. I spoke with the manager who answered the phone and I told her I was overcharged $10 on a $57.15 bill applied for a lunch for 2 people with one beer and tea. The bill should have been 62.15 but I was charged 72.15. She explained to me their credit card machine was problematic. She assured me she would take care of the matter and call me back within the next day or so as I called during lunch. I was totally fine with this and anticipated viewing my credit card statement with the $10 credit but nope. So I called again on Wednesday afternoon and spoke with an employee who took my info and said she would let the manager know I had called about the unresolved situation. Friday the 27th rolls around and still nothing. So again I called, an employee answered, I asked to speak to a manager and I was kept on hold for north of 19 minutes and finally hung up as I realized they were not going to take my call. At around the 4 minutes while I was on hold, someone was messing with the phone on the other end. To me leaving a customer on hold during lunch is beyond. We tried calling back numerous times the entire hour which was only answered with a busy signal. I wonder how many customers tried calling during that time. Its really too bad that after all my attempts, over a $10 overcharge, while we loved the restaurant, we will not be back bc I don’t enjoy being taken advantage of. I hope the management won’t reply with the same excuses I have read here, like we’re human, it’s antiques week, we’re busy, the credit card machine is inaccurate, or try and argue with me. Everything I stated in this review is documented. Also, if you ask me to email, provide an email bc I noticed you told someone else to email you but there is no email address on your website. MANAGEMENT please recognize that your customers are also human, and honestly having to keep the task of getting a $10 credit for an overcharged lunch on my suspense list is quite ridiculous, it’s literally like a job. Most people who come to your restaurant are drawn to the beauty of the area and the care you have taken to provide a lovely environment and delicious food BUT this experience with the management is...

This place is a definitely strong 4.5. We had a very nice experience.

The interior is cute with a clean and friendly atmosphere. The waitstaff are very friendly with a good knowledge of the menu items and experience tasting the menu items (important).

The mixed drinks are fairly unique and very well done. Delicious and not over done. The whiskey offering is light especially with respect to scotch they are ok, but no real top shelf offerings, which are ok. A little overpriced for the whisky. Overall nice place for drinks and descent wine offering.

The appetizers are delicious, especially the brussel sprouts. Very well done. The meals were also delicious and had really good side dish offerings. The small salads are enough for a full meal for some lighter eaters after an appetizer. The burgers are very well done and tasty with some really good fries. Their lamb chops were very good and juicy. You will not go wrong there. Also the gruyere potatoes were very nice. The sweet potatoes were also good. The haricot vert ( green beans) were just ok.... if you are going to use the proper French to describe the beans, you need to have the actual think French beans, not the very thick ones. You can step those up with some garlic in butter on them. The mango chutney was very good and combined well with the chops. Again the salads were very good and the chicken accompanying it was very juicy... well done in keeping the side meats juicy and delicious.

Only comment is that they need to bring a real knife for meat plates, can’t use the butter knife. In addition they should change out the silverware after the appetizer and not leave it on the table for the main meal. I tested this as We left the silverware on the finished plates and the wait staff did not take them until we had removed the silverware - just that note to the manager when one moves to finer dining.

The ceiling in one main dining area has tree roots that do not seem to fit. Interesting, but needs something else. Just looks like cut trunks. The other room with branches looks pretty cool and seems to match. They have a nice sitting room prior to the bathroom that it cool for family photos and sitting for a chat.

The bathrooms were very clean, but had an odd smell (maybe sewer problems) that was sort of mitigated but the scented candle. It was not too bad and really not a big deal.

The exterior is very nice and delightful to walk around as is the whole town.

Thank you for a...