Rick Erwin's Eastside — Restaurant in South Carolina

We came here for a special date, and there way more ups than downs. However, there were more downs than the last time we were her3.

We started in the bar having a couple of drinks before our table was ready. We had arrived early specifically for this purpose because our last time there, the bar was fantastic. For the first ten minutes, our bartender was doing way too many things to be attentive. We got a couple of drinks, that were delicious. There was a marked difference when Kevin came in from what I assume was a pre-meal meeting. It's not that the other bartender wasn't good, she simply had far too much going on.

When we sat, our waitress, Paige, was great! We've had her before and she, somehow, remembered us from months ago before we even said anything. However, the table we were sat at was barely large enough for all of the glasses, silverware, and other settings. Additionally, it was wobbly. Wobbly tables are okay at Denny's, not at Rick Erwin's.

We ordered two appetizer courses, specifically asking for them to come out individually, but they came out together. Not a big deal, but it did make us feel rushed. We asked for the second appetizer to be returned to the kitchen until we were ready, which they did. When it came back to the table later, however, its condition led me to believe that it was simply set aside until we were ready instead of being prepared fresh. This was evident from the barely warm and slightly soggy, yet somehow still delicious, flash fried artichokes.

Dinner was good. My wife's scallops were excellent! Oh my goodness, the corn and potatoes it was served over were delectable. I could have eaten an entire bowl! My Delmonico, on the other hand, was simply okay. I ordered it rare, but it came out almost raw. The meat was also much tougher than I feel a ribeye steak should be. There could also have been more seasoning, although that's simply a preference thing. When I can cook it the next morning to have with my eggs and still have it be rare, it was undercooked. Kudos on the Brussels sprouts, though. They were wonderful!

Dessert. Man, dessert. I ordered the chocolate croissant bread pudding and it was incredible. I would go back just to order that, again!

I can't say enough about Kevin, our bartender. After dinner, we returned to the bar to let him know how our evening went, as he had asked us to. He was clearly disappointed to know that the evening hadn't lived up to our expectations. It was nice to feel that he actually cared!

All in all, we will absolutely be back. I would like to see a couple of improvements, however. Bare minimum, fix the wobbly tables. Additionally, hosts and hostesses should be cognizant of the customers they're seating. As a very large man, perhaps it wouldn't make sense to seat me at the smallest table in...

From the Top: We arrived 30 mins after they opened and there were only two other parties in the entire establishment. (4 people total) They asked if we had reservations, which I intended to do, but did not. We were asked to wait in the lobby area until we could be seated, while four employees stood at the front desk. We were seated about 10 minutes later and Grant was our host. Grant was great at informing us about off the menu options. We ordered crab cake and oysters as the first appetizer. They were great. For our second we ordered she crab soup and a salad. They both came in a timely matter and they were both good. Then everything falls apart. Almost two hours later we were asked if we were ready for dessert. Well the answer was no because you forgot to bring us our entree! At this point the restaurant is pretty busy but not overwhelming at all. The power goes out because of a storm but shortly returned. Grant was shocked and thought we were joking...we were not. I assume they thought it was appropriate to bring the floor manager out to apologise and make an excuse about a shift change.... And he'll make everything "RIGHT". Our entrees came out about 10 - 15 mins later. It was good except for the lukewarm mashed potatoes. We ordered the center-cut filet mignon with lobster and the other entree was the ricotta ravioli. We finished with two vanilla creme brulee dishes. Rick Erwin greeted everyone in the restaurant including us. How did they "make everything right" you ask? Good question. They simply brought out the food we waited over 2 hours for and dropped off a hefty check. Did they comp the glass of wine? Nope. Did they wish we'd come back to give them a second chance? Nope. Did I leave a 15% tip just because...Yep. Again, the food was great...when it came. In fact, so food, I may turn a blind eye to the...

Meal and service were EXCELLANT!

Our biggest complaint was the LOUD music. When we arrived 70's music was playing loudly in the background- not the Eagles, Bob Seger or even Kool & The Gang more like a Grand Funk concert. My sister and I (who grew up in the 70's) made a joke about trying to remember the steps to the Hustle, but were horrified with the idea that our elderly, sweet, white-haired mother might ask us what being "built like a Brick House" means during our meal. This music would be fine in a Applebee's or or neighborhood bar, but was VERY unexpected in a nice steak house with a dress code.

It was more than a little disturbing to be cutting into your beautifully cooked filet mignon with a Jimi Hendrix guitar solo playing LOUDLY in the background it definitely took away from the fine dining experience. Conversation was COMPLETELY drowned out by the music and as the restaurant filled up the noise level went higher.

Management stopped by our table during the dessert round and when I mentioned the music situation, she was kind enough to turn the music down, it immediately made a HUGE difference. The whole restaurant dropped in noise level- it was lovely.

Because the food and service was so good we will try dining there again, but if the music is that obnoxious next time we will turn around and leave. Who enjoys a meal when you can't hear each other?

We are new to the area and went to dinner last night to see if the venue would be good for my parents 60th Anniversary dinner celebration (18+ people) coming up. The location, parking, staff and the food was VERY well done, but the music ambiance needs...