Artisan's Restaurant — Restaurant in Toms River

We had a horrible experience today for Easter brunch. It was me, my 96 year old mom and her caregiver. When we got there we were taken to a narrow booth with a step up which is very difficult with my mom frail using a walker. I asked about a different table that might be easier for her. The hostess left and came back close to 5 minutes later. We were left standing there (with us steadying mom) in the way of the servers.

Finally we were told they found a table for us in the back room at the other side of the restaurant. Again, my mom is 96 and uses a walker. Very close to where we were standing there were a bunch of open tables. I asked if we could have one of those but I was told no because people had reservations (I had a reservation too). We would’ve been closer to the buffet for my mom and the tables were right there.

I explained that it would be much easier for my mom to not have to walk as far and there were a lot of empty tables. I was told I should’ve let them know in advance that someone used a walker.

Really?? I was dumbfounded. I shouldn’t have to make the restaurant aware of a walker for an elderly woman in an area that has a very large senior population.

I was also told that I should make a plate and bring it back to her. My response was that my mom should be able to look at the food and decide what she wants.

On our way to the back table I past yet another open table and again was told that people had reservations (me too).

Finally we got situated. I ordered a $14 cocktail with no alcohol that I could discern. We walked to the buffet (too far for my mom).

What a disappointment. For a $50/head brunch I expect more than an omelette station, a foil tray of scrambled eggs, a foil tray (almost empty) of greasy bacon and a tray of pancakes.

The lunch portion was no better. Foil trays - penne with red sauce, white sauce pasta with beef tips (not at all appetizing looking), chicken franchises and fish. I asked and was pointed to a salad.

No meat. No vegetables. No waffles. These aren’t luxuries at a buffet. It was like a cheap catered lunch from the local pizzeria.

After the meal we asked for clean silverware for dessert (ours was covered with sauce and cheese) and I was told they are running low on silverware. (The restaurant was only 1/2 full).

Desserts were no better. Horrible. Crème brûlée (I suspect frozen), cake and chocolate mousse (the only good thing we ate.

The bill with 20% gratuity that wasn’t nearly in line with the service we received. Usually a set tip is reserved for a large group. Not 3 people ant a buffet where the only thing our server did was bring us drinks and clean silverware.

Our bill for 3 of us was $218 and only one of us had a cocktail. The others had soda. We weren’t even given water without asking.

An extremely disappointing experience. Paid $218 for something that wasn’t worth $30.

EDIT 4/1 - I stand by my review. The tables I was pointing to were 4 seat tables - just like the 4 person table we passed on the way & the 4 person table we sat at.

I've never had to call in advance to say someone uses a walker. Toms River has one of the highest % of seniors in the state - an elderly person with a walker is hardly an anomaly.

I wasn't dumbfounded you had reservations, I was dumbfounded that my reservation was somehow treated differently. There was no attempt to accomodate a request as simple as can we sit at a similar open table closer to the buffet. That seems like common courtesy. If there were no empty tables I would understand better.

When we were there there were 2 omlette stations, scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon and later on, sausage. There was penne, pasta with "sirloin tips", chicken francaise, eggplant and fish plus a salad. There were 3 desserts - creme brulee, tres leche cake and chocolate mousse. Plus a selection of rolls and pastry.

I would gladly tip 20% (or more) for service that warranted it.

I'm sorry you are disappointed by the review. We were disappointed by the brunch. Hopefully the other 447 customers had a...

Title: Great place to dine, poor decision for large parties.

Overview: This is not a negative review - Artisans is a good restaurant and has good food. We would gladly eat here again as a family or small group (8 at the most). Just don't plan any big parties here. The main reason for my 3 star review is because of the seemingly bait and switch of the rooms for our party and our overall experience. The food was definitely the saving grace.

Experience: We've heard good things about the food at Artisans, and due to its proximity to the church, we decided to book them for the celebration following our daughter's baptism. When we originally met with a man (we are told he is one of the owners apparently), we were shown a spacious room in the rear of the restaurant. He was confident that it would easily hold our expected party of about 60-80 people, as each table back there was set comfortably for 12 people, and there were 6 tables presently set. We ended up putting down a deposit of $200 to hold the space for our party and work on the menu/ attendance. Once we made our decisions and received our RSVPs (70 people), we went to the restaurant to make our menu selections and final payment. When we got to the restaurant, we were told that another party had scheduled for the same day and they had more people - and so, our party would be moved to the front room of the restaurant. The front is divided into TWO separate rooms with a door in between! When we asked about the back room and how we were the first to book, they told us they do large parties up front all the time just fine. Now we had to decide on who we had to separate from our family and friends, and totally rearrange our seating just days before the event. Day of the party - Seating was TIGHT. The booths barely fit 4 people. We had to squeeze some people into tables to accommodate. They ran out of highchairs - despite us telling them beforehand that we would need 9 of them, we were assured that they had us covered. They ran out of plates at the buffet - there were more available (they had to go get them), but they didn't notice until 4 or 5 of us started to congregate at the end of the buffet, and we finally said something about waiting for plates. The wait staff asked our guests if they wanted any drinks from the bar, without telling them that it was a cash bar! We caught it pretty early, but we were presented with a tab for a table that had already left. However, considering we had a few no-shows, the management waived the bill, which was nice. Despite all the ridiculousness, our wait staff and hostess were very gracious and accommodating, and the food was very good. All in all, it was a chaotic experience, but again, the food ultimately saved the day - and that's what it's all...

Every year, I make reservations in Artisan’s for my family’s New Year’s Eve dinner and we have being loyal customers for many years and seeing the restaurant going thru diff ownerships/ managements, etc. So, this year we decided we wanted be more festive and I reserved our table in the lounge area! What a surprise and dissolution when the hostess took us to our table which was a bar height pedestal dining table. Immediately we felt the size and location of the table was not going to be a good choice for us to enjoy our New Year’s Eve celebration. Right away, I spotted this other table that was right behind us and I asked the hostess to pls consider to move us to that table. but hostess said that table was already reserved which I understood but still had the hope if I’d talk to the manger maybe they’d find a way to accommodate us but the manager did not sympathize with my request and flat out said sorry that table is already reserved and suggested to move us to the restaurant/dinning area which is the other side of the restaurant and of course that was not our first choice and I said no thank you. Fast forward, we stayed in that table and with the help of Tom our waiter that was very efficient and understood my point he helped the situation by making sure he’d take away any empty dishes and Martini glasses, etc. I just wanted to write this review and make public our experience with their hospitality. with the management. Our reservation was for 8:30 pm and we left 30 minutes before midnight and the fact is that NO ONE claimed the table I had asked for! I was not pleased with this situation! Before leaving, I wanted to speak to that manager and ask her why that table was empty still but no one was at the greeting area when we were ready to leave. Normally when you make reservations the restaurants will hold the table for 10/15 minutes and if you don’t show up or call they won’t hold your table no more but I guess the 25 dlls Artisans charges when you make your reservation you can still have the table booked for the whole night even though you don’t show up! POOR MANAGEMENT, what a disappointment WE will never go back for New Year’s Eve !! “””Poor Hospitality “”” What was not worth it for the PRICE we paid...