The Homestead Restaurant + Lounge at The Eldred Preserve — Restaurant in Town of Highland

So sad to write this review. I started coming here about 2 years ago after they had recently re opened, and had great experiences the first year. So much so, that everyone who came to visit me was taken to the homestead, because of how beautiful the environment is and how great of a time it’s been. I must have brought 10 or 12 different groups of people and family here over the last 2 years, not including all of the times I’ve come with my boyfriend.

Unfortunately, our last meal there will be the last time we go, or suggest it, unless they make some changes. I also gave them 4 passes for awful meals before realizing it wasn’t a one off.

First, the cocktails are awful. For the shear beauty and magnificence of the actual interior of the bar and restaurant, I don’t think they hired someone to do the bar to the caliber it should be. It took 10 minutes to be noticed when we were 2 of 6 people at the bar top, another 10 for orders to be taken, and then what we were brought was wrong.

During fall of last year I had a drink that was supposed to be rimmed with caramel and sugar. It was dipped into drug store caramel that solidified to taste and feel like plastic.

The main issue… the food. As previously stated, the first year of coming here the food was great. It’s actually really upsetting to have to post this in hopes of changes being made, because it was such an amazing atmosphere and fun place to go.

My mom and I ordered soup, it was so salty that we both took one bite and pushed it to the side. I love salt, this tasted like someone accidentally dumped the container in. The waitress came and asked if we were ok, we said yes, but we don’t want the soup and she can take it. She said nothing else, took the untouched soup, and walked away. It was still on our bill. That’s ok, since we didn’t ask for it to be taken off, but when a table has completely full dishes and says they don’t want them… it should be taken off.

The pork chop was dry and bland. So dry, that it was a struggle to swallow. This was another dish that there was one bite taken from, and pushed to the side. We tried 3 other nights to have dinner, and each time the fish tasted like it was frozen, and the other meals were so heavily salted that it was disgusting.

When I left the night I took my mom, we went to get pizza, because we were both starved.

I really hope they look into elevating their food and drinks. For that space, Applebees quality will not result in...

It is the kind of special occasion place you go for your birthday. Last night it was mine. The grounds are gorgeous and the dining room is grand and important looking. The setting overall is generous and quite large. We were promptly greeted and seated at a nice table, overlooking the well cultivated setting of grass and water and forest. It felt special. The food, however, was nothing to write home about. The service was well meaning but slow and disjointed; water and drinks had to be asked for more than once. The raisin bread in a big basket was dismal. We had smoked trout dip. It was tasty but had an overabundance of cream cheese. The farm to table garden salad was small and looked like it was from Denny’s: a few pieces of indifferent lettuce with big slices of onion and carrots on top with a ranch dressing that was more like thousand island. Then came the crab cakes and duck confit. Two big crab cakes were good; they were on top of a bed of white stuff we later learned was risotto; it was gooey and weird, and tasted like it had been made the week before. Two big duck legs were good but the sauce seemed like it came from a jar of raspberry jelly. The meat should fall off the bones of a good duck confit but here you had to wrestle with it; nonetheless quite tasty. The list of wines by the glass was extensive and well priced. The dessert was the best: a chocolate and caramel torte that was rich and sublime. We had a lovely evening but we like to eat well. I thanked my wife for taking me out to a grand dinner and we agreed that we probably would not return. If the food was great, we might want to go back, but it wasn’t. The place has a corporate and big event kind of vibe. Intimate it is not. A friend did say that the Sunday happy hour was fun; a...

I am very disappointed in the Mothers Day Brunch 2024, and with the lack of understanding of how big an issue it was and nothing was done to make it right. My family took me here, a place we have been several times, and each of those other times were wonderful. The waiter was excellent on Mothers day, the food was not. I got very sick later in the day after eating here. I had the salmon dish (it looked like a frozen sad piece of salmon)and luckily I only ate half of it. I had no food other than the Homestead on this day so it could not have been from anything else that I was sick. Going to the doctor sick. Food poisoning sick!! Spoke to Asst. Manager finally. He was sorry I was sick. He did say there is a new chef and to come back and try us again. Really? What I went through after eating there means I will never return. It was an awful experience on a special day. Not even a "complimentary cocktail" was offered to help bring me back. Just a lack of really caring. My husbands prime rib was gray looking and gross as well. We spent a good amount on food that was not fit to come out of that kitchen and be consumed. So sad.

7/1/24 UPDATE Just wanted to let everyone know what happened after I received the response and did what the "owner" requested. I left 3 messages and called at least 4 times trying to reach someone. NO ONE returned calls, no one who answered phone bothered to give me any information on when I could reach him. I gave them time and every opportunity so I guess that are not really as concerned as they say. After all this I can say for sure that I will not be...