Christopher's Prime + Sonoma Wine Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

Got the groupon deal to try this steak house out for a nice night out and really wish I could get my money back. I don't usually write reviews but I felt this place deserved one for the huge disappointment. First off this place is way overpriced for the lack of quality of food and portions. Granted it seemed to be a little more of an upper somewhat scaled dining experience but it is not worth it at all. Do not waste your money here. Ruth Chris steakhouse as well as others are by far better in food quality and definitely service. The service was horrible as the waitress when we asked what a simple dish entailed was clueless in her explanation. She was literally overwhelmed even on a night where there was hardly any business. We spent almost 3 hours there, half of which was waiting for service. First I ordered a steak with added shrimp scampi and specifically stated to have my steak cooked medium which meant warm pink center. The first cut into the steak and it was bright red with blood on the steak knife. I asked to have the waitress take it back as I stated how is this medium cooked it's pretty much rare as medium means pink center not red. Also the menu stated $15 for shrimp but on the bill it was $18. Definitely overpriced as i had 3 pieces of shrimp. So I waited another 15 minutes for her to return with the same steak that was now overcooked. Mind you we had already been waiting 30 minutes or so after we ordered our food for it to come. So already annoyed and hungry I just said screw it and then asked her for some A1 steak sauce to make up for the poorly prepared steak. At this point she helps another table and starts chatting it up for another 10 minutes and then goes to get them their drinks etc... By this time 20 minutes or so had passed and my steak was now cold when she finally brings a small dish of steak sauce and I was like why not bring the frikkin bottle and then makes an excuse about being so busy and whatever when no it was empty and she clearly started BSing with another table instead of taking care of what I asked her to first. Anyway being so hungry I just managed to eat the steak and make the best of it to try not embarrass my date. Once we were done eating we waited for another 15 minutes for the waitress to ask for the bill and mentioned our Groupon which she wrote the redeem code and took my credit card. She returned with the bill when I noticed she hadn't added the groupon discount which at this point I just wanted to pay and get out of there. We got a hold of another waitress and explained what happened in which she tried making an excuse like oh she may have forgot and I'm like how she wrote the damn redeem code on the receipt. So the other waitress takes the bill and tells our waitress about the mistake in which she's all oh I thought I did and then has the other waitress fix the mistake. I'm all what a liar, if you did add the groupon code it would have shown on the bill which you printed out before handing it to me to sign. Anyway we finally get our bill corrected after another 10 minutes of waiting and I usually give generous tips because I myself have worked in the food service business and know how rough nights can be. But being we had another event to attend, we had to cancel because of how much time was wasted at this steakhouse so mind you my date night was ruined, so I decided to not leave a tip. I won't mention the waitresses name as I'm not looking to get her fired but she knew I was pissed.

Please do not waste your time or money at this place. It is probably the reason for the groupon offer as they cannot attract steady business as the food quality is not great and way overpriced. Service is horrible as the waitress was not attentive or seem to care. Spending almost 3 hours at a restraunt was ridiculous. If you want to spend the money and time for quality steak go to Ruby River or Ruth...

Came in for dinner. Was sat next to the bar in a weird room that seemed like a sports bar with 2 huge bright TVs. Not super consistent with $50-$60 entrees but decided to give the benefit of the doubt. Ordered a glass of wine but after being told by the hostess (who was super nice and I had no issues with whatsoever) that the state of Utah requires some kind of food be purchased alongside the alcohol, I brought this up to the waiter— I expressed I’d get the ribs with Kimchee as a starter. He then says “If you’re only ordering this to go along with the alcohol, don’t worry— so long as there’s an ‘intent to dine’ then there isn’t a problem.” So I say “ok— thank you! I’ll wait for my guest.” Then he brings my glass of wine and says “Those ribs are almost finished.” I didn’t want to turn it into an argument of he said she said so I left it at “Oh no! Has the kitchen started that yet?! Because if not, I was hoping to wait for my guest to see what they were wanting to order.” He acted confused and put out and like he had to intercept the order. I said if they need to intercept food that had already started cooking then to not worry about it and I’d take the food. Honest mistake. He insisted it was fine. Even expresses that it’s not anything to worry about and that he’s certain someone else in the restaurant will have ordered the ribs or at least will order them soon so they can just be given to another patron. (This comes into play later, seeing as how I likely ended up ‘the other patron’) I chocked all of this up to miscommunication but the whole dinner is honestly just several awkward exchanges— one after another. I’m unsure as to why things needed to be so awkward and wondered if it was because maybe I hadn’t adhered to the dress code if there was one? But I was next to a 60 inch TV playing Grey’s Anatomy and another playing ESPN 2, so I ultimately resolved that it wasn’t my attire. My guest arrives, and to my embarrassment, orders the ribs starter. I try to joke about this and apologize profusely and laugh this off but he just keeps awkwardly insisting that it’s fine, while his body language says otherwise. It arrives, without Kimchee as stated on the menu, and they’re shockingly dry. I thought at that point that it was safe to assume that the ribs that were previously requested from the kitchen sat under a heat lamp until they were requested again. Honest mistake again— I accept this as a hazard of dining out and a hazard of the miscommunication. Because the atmosphere is so awkward and uninviting, we ask for our food to go. I ask if the salmon has the skin on. He says yes. When we open the containers, no skin and...a long blonde hair is embedded in my salmon. Pictures to follow. See photo of me holding my salmon 4 inches from my fingers. I am not a magician-- This is merely a gross Christmas ornament. The $40 steak is rubbery and flavorless. The salmon, hair aside, which I foolishly chose to try to still eat in hopes of salvaging the $150 dinner, is dry and just dissolves in a bad way as soon as it’s bitten into... not in a buttery melt in your mouth kind of way— but a flaky, dry, ash in your mouth kind of way. To be fair, the Brussels were ok flavor wise. The potatoes weren’t much more than what I could make at home. All in all, I was embarrassed to have taken someone there, and disgusted to have spent $150...

So, this may be a pretty long review but wanted to give you the whole experience we had. First off, when we got there, we sat at the entrance for at least 2-3 minutes before someone acknowledged we were there.(Not that big a deal, but again, wanted to mention our whole experience). We were sat and I noticed right away, the background music was what I would equate to FM 103.5 here in Salt Lake City which is a classic rock station. Now, I actually listen to the station and like that kind and a little heavier music, but not what I would expect at a nice restaurant. Our waiter came and was really nice. He did seem a little nervous and based on a couple of other things I'll explain later, may have been new. He suggested a couple of appetizers and we went with the Brie. It came and it was DELICIOUS. I would also recommend it. My wife ordered a bottle of wine and I was actually impressed with the waiter as he knew to have HER try it before pouring both glasses since she was the one that ordered it, although he did fill up her glass quite a bit for the tasting sample. My wife ordered a salad and I ordered the clam chowder. Both again, very good. We both ordered steaks and ordered them medium rare(The only way to eat a steak if you ask me) Well, mine ended up being closer to medium well and my wife's was more medium. This part to me is unacceptable when you are at a steak restaurant and a high end one at that and they can't get your steak right. The waiter came over to see how the steaks were. I said "Well...." and pointed at my steak. He looked at it and said something to the affect of "Well, that doesn't look medium rare." I agreed. Now, I'm not one of those people that sends back food. I could deal with the steak and after him insisting several times about sending it back and getting me another, I just told him it was fine and I was serious about it. Well, he must have told the manager because he came over a short time later, apologized and also offered to send it back. Again, I told him it was okay. He then informed me that dessert would be on them tonight and he would take off 25% of our bill. I thought that was a great way to make up for it. I again told him it wasn't necessary but he insisted. After dinner, we ordered a couple of after dinner drinks. My wife ordered a glass of champagne and I ordered a cognac. Well, the waiter brought both drinks. And this is where the lack of experience again came into play. The cognac was cold and the waiter even said "Oh, I guess this is supposed to be warmed up, you want me to bring it back?" I thought it was weird since he was telling me that, why didn't he just warm it up before bringing it out. I dealt with it. My wife's champagne was also served in a white wine glass which we thought was weird. I know both of these things are minor but again, I wanted to mention the whole experience. Overall, most of the food was good and a lot of minor things again for a high end steak house that were off. I appreciated them taking 25% off and giving free desserts and we still tipped the waiter 20%(based off before the 25% was taken off the bill) but I think we'll stick with Ruth's Chris which we've been to several times and...