The Dimon Estate — Restaurant in Town of Riverhead

UPDATED - Response to Chris Kar: We really appreciate the thoughtful response and your points are completely valid, but we are not going to take the review down at this time. Unfortunately, the businesses are still very linked; folks who are planning an event or wedding come here for reviews, and there are many other wedding and event-related reviews still here from past years. Also, as you mentioned, Matt is still financially invested in The Dimon Estate. I think it's fair for potential diners to know the character of the person who their money is benefitting. This review is not about the quality of the food or cooking, which we know is very good. We obviously still welcome you or Matt to reach out in a non-public forum to properly address the situation at any time.

Original Review: The short version is that we booked Jamesport Manor Inn/Dimon Estate/Christopher Michael Catering for our wedding in 2022, but they were disorganized, then incredibly rude and greedy, and ultimately cancelled everything on us a few months before our wedding date, with no reasonable explanation, apology, or compensation. People who treat customers this way do not deserve your business.

Here’s the story: we booked Jamesport Manor/Dimon Estate in June 2021 and were so excited to get married there. Fast forward to May 2022 and a sound ordinance was passed in the town of Riverhead that made it very difficult for them to host events. This led them to cancel the venue for all couples in summer 2022– but they promised to still cater at a discounted rate and provide rentals, as well as help everyone find new venues. We rebooked a new venue that they suggested and proceeded as planned.

Then, they canceled everything else (catering, rentals, bathrooms, etc) on us a few weeks later. The excuse was that a chef quit, so they did not have enough staff. But catering and rentals were not cancelled for any other couples (I know because I joined a FB group with many of the other affected brides), and when we called to talk to Matt Kar, he basically told us that we had no right to ask any questions and that we shouldn’t be upset— because while we were losing a wedding, he was losing his business. Our wedding planner and new venue also asked questions, but Matt evaded them as well. We tried to ask for just the rentals (sans catering) since the chef was the issue, but Matt refused.

Well, a little bit of internet sleuthing, and it’s very clear that they were double booked on our date for at least one year prior, and that Christopher Michael catered the other wedding at a new venue. We have not been given any reasonable explanation from Matt, but I can only assume that they made a mistake and then chose the more lucrative wedding to cater, then tried to cover it up by making up an excuse about their chef quitting. We were first ignored, then berated and yelled at by Matt Kar for asking very reasonable questions over the phone. We received no compensation and almost had to cancel our wedding.

Matt Kar, while admittedly a good chef, is a disorganized mess with poor communication skills, who will not make an effort to help you or be reasonable if it’s not beneficial to him. And while Dimon Estate is owned by Matt’s son now, we also hold him responsible. We dined at the restaurant and got a long, personal tour from Matt’s son just a few weeks before the first cancellation email, at which point it had been clear for months that they would likely need to cancel weddings for the summer. And yet, no one said a word. I assume this was because they didn’t want to nullify contracts and lose money until they knew for sure that they would not be able to host weddings (but this was at the expense of all the couples who had to replan weddings at the last minute). All it would have taken for us to let it go was a sincere apology and admission of their mistake, but we never received that from anyone. I hold the entire family/business responsible and recommend you do not trust them or give...

The Caesar salad was reinvented, and not for the better: the dressing was anything but Caesar, no croutons, "fried" anchovies, seriously? Bib lettuce?? Even stranger.. very disappointed. A staple that does not need reinventing! The miso glazed cod was a baked cod over rice soup, bland and unsavory.. The chef did not taste the food before serving it or there was no chef at the kitchen. Will definitely not come back during the week. Perhaps it is better on weekends. Stay tuned.

Following up on the owners comment: To the owner! Loved your reply! 😳100% defensive : you failed twice, 1-trying to serve enjoyable food. 2: not being able to accept your failure. Grow up man, the client is what keeps you in business. Your food is not enjoyable. I have nothing to gain in posting. You have everything to lose in being reactive. I was so disappointed, that I wrote the review while paying your full bill for bland and disappointing food as I could not wait to let you know!

2nd edit. After reading the reviews, and the owner's responses, I downgraded my review to 2 stars: Chris, you are pathetically rude and a sore loser. Your patrons have nothing to gain by posting reviews except to grade your restaurant. Now, I will also grade your personality: 1 star. And for that alone, I will NEVER return not because of your bland food but because you are a unlikable person that does not deserve my support.

Final edit: pal, you are sore loser and a real jerk! I despise your attitude. I downgraded to 1 star based on your attitude towards your customers who criticized your food. I pity your staff as they must hate you, working for a jerk like you and given your lousy attitude towards...

This is an updated review as of yesterday. What a great change!

We joined another couple for dinner and had an absolutely outstanding meal. Starting with very cool cocktails, a bourbon creation with Tumeric and a chocolate mint leaf, everything was just lovely. The asparagus risotto appetizer was beautiful to look at and delicious. The duck wings were perfectly prepared. For main courses, we had the Duck Breast, the Filet Mignon, Grill Shrimp and Fried Fluke. All were artfully served, great sized portions and completely yummy. We saved room for the homemade cheese cake, which had a delicious chocolate crumb crust and a layer of chocolate on top, paired with drizzles of mango and salted caramel.

Our server was very attentive and professional. The bartender helped out and checked if we were enjoying ourselves. All in all I would completely recommend Dimon Estate for an upscale meal that's worth trip to lovely, quaint Jamesport.

The experience was quiet different from my last visit to this establishment, when it was still called the Jamesport Manor Inn: "This has been a favorite dinner place for my husband and I but after last night, I’m not so sure. Friends from NJ came to the NoFo and we made reservations at the Jamesport Manor. From the moment of our arrival, it’s as if the staff wanted the table vacated. Our meals were so average. The cheesecake was terrific but a bill of close to $400 for four people ( and only one round of drinks ) and then to be told they need the table (2 hours and 15 min meal) when other tables were available seemed rude."

We will go back and bring...