Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant — Restaurant in Town and Country

Shockingly Poor Experience at St. Louis Cooper’s Hawk — Longtime Members Treated with Disrespect

I’ve never written a review before, but after what my family experienced at Cooper’s Hawk in St. Louis, I feel compelled to speak out.

We waited over an hour and a half for our food. My husband eventually approached the assistant general manager, Joe, to ask what was going on. Rather than addressing the issue professionally, Joe was extremely rude — he crossed his arms, refused to listen, and even told my husband he “needed to be quieter.” That kind of dismissive and condescending behavior is completely inappropriate, especially from management.

Joe said he would check on our order, but when he returned, he told us it would be “a lot longer.” Strangely, at that exact moment, a server came out carrying all of our food — piping hot. Joe stopped her, told her to return everything to the kitchen, and told us we would not be served. I asked, stunned, why our kids — who had waited nearly two hours — couldn’t eat the food. Joe’s explanation? “Because it’s cold.” The plates were so hot the server had to put them down quickly — his claim made no sense.

My husband, understandably frustrated, left to cool off in the car. I stayed behind to try and understand why our food was being withheld. Instead of resolving the issue, Joe told me and my daughters we needed to leave. He even threatened to cancel our Wine Club membership — which we’ve held for over 15 years.

The next day, my husband called to speak with the general manager, Will, hoping for a more rational response. Unfortunately, Will was just as dismissive. He defended Joe’s behavior, fabricated details about what happened, and told us we should “find a different Cooper’s Hawk to go to” because we were no longer welcome at this location.

In all our years of dining out — and we dine out almost every meal — this was by far the worst customer service experience we’ve ever encountered. Not just poor service, but blatant disrespect and hostility from those in charge.

This location has long had a reputation for subpar service, mediocre food, and high management turnover. While we’ve seen a few excellent temporary managers come and go, it’s clear now that the current leadership is not only unprofessional but actively hostile to guests — including loyal Wine Club members.

To Cooper’s Hawk corporate: you have a serious problem at this location that demands urgent attention. We continue to enjoy the brand and have had great experiences at other restaurants, but the St. Louis Cooper’s Hawk is damaging your reputation.

Absolutely...

I come here often as I'm a Wine Member! However, the 1st time coming alone for a lunch date for & with myself. I'm not a drinker however, I'm a Wine Member for my clients as it's a great place to come for meetings ect. The pics show what I had: Salmon & Wasabi mashed potatoes (lunch special) and To-Go my favorite Ellies Chicken Paccata (Lunch Special) I'll always give this place 5 starts. However, Lunch was not what I'm used to when it comes to food. My food was warm (the warm as it could have been sitting out for 10 min) and the salmon which looked done but when I took my fork to fork a slice to eat, I noticed the middle layer not fully cooked (that pink not-done look beforenits cooked). I reserved the bar seat for 11am. 11am is their opening time. So maybe the cook was...well not ready. But moving forward, if I do a lunch for myself or for my clients I'll be reserving an hour-ish after they open their doors. Just to make sure the food is actually cooked and hot. Just an FYI. Overall though, I ABSOLUTELY ❤️ this place & it's not a deal breaker so I'll be back. The bar tender and my waiter, Tee, that brotha did an AMAZING job and he definitely knew his wines! Thank goodness because I sure am clueless. Great dude & tip your hosts folks! Before I left, I noticed it had 7 bottles sitting on my account to pickup. It's the Holiday Season so picked up all 7 of my wines! Definitely will be using as Stocking stuffers for my clients😎🍷 I cant remember the ladies name that was so kind handling my pickup wines order. She had to be in her 60's. THANK YOU! I'll find her name and update it here on thus post.

I wanted to try this place out but wasn’t aware that I needed a reservation. The nice lady at the front placed us near the bar area which was unexpected but nice. I was with my son so this outing was special for me. Outstanding customer service However, when the food came out!!!! I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants in St. Louis but this food was better than all the places I’ve visited yet!!! The lemon chicken pasta dish, the shrimp appetizer, the wine...I’m on off season so when I get the opportunity to eat food other than it being meal prepped it is huge deal!! I will...

A group my friends and I came here for our prom dinner on May 3rd. I always enjoy coming here—the food is delicious and the ambiance is so nice. ROBERT was our waiter and he is one of the best! Give this man a RAISE!!! So attentive, so kind, amazing manners, and so handsome! What a looker! Can’t wait for the next time I come here—hopefully I get to see Robert again! Thank you Cooper’s hawk! Here’s a play-by-play: From the moment we were seated, Robert transformed our dining experience into something truly exceptional. His warm, welcoming demeanor immediately put us at ease, and throughout the evening, his professionalism, attentiveness, and charm stood out in every interaction.

Robert possesses that rare combination of efficiency and genuine hospitality. He anticipated our needs before we could voice them, never letting a glass go empty or a question go unanswered. His knowledge of the menu was outstanding—he offered insightful recommendations with enthusiasm and helped each member of our party find something they loved. He described the dishes with such passion and precision that it felt like we were embarking on a culinary adventure curated just for us.

What truly sets Robert apart is his impeccable timing and balance. He was always present when we needed him, yet never intrusive. He checked on us regularly with a warm smile, ensured every dish arrived at the perfect temperature, and handled special requests with absolute grace and zero fuss. His ability to read the room and adjust his energy to match ours made the experience feel deeply personal.

Robert’s positive attitude was infectious. Even during a busy evening, he remained composed, upbeat, and patient. It’s clear he takes immense pride in his work, and his passion for excellent service is nothing short of inspiring. By the end of the meal, we weren’t just grateful for a great dinner—we were genuinely uplifted by his presence.

If there were a gold standard for hospitality, Robert would define it. I would return to this restaurant again and again just for the pleasure of being served by him. He is, without a doubt, a shining star in your team and deserves every bit of recognition for making our night...