Dandelion - Restaurant — Restaurant in Town of Shandaken

Once a local favorite of ours, Dandelion has unfortunately lost its charm. Despite a hardworking and clearly overextended waitress handling the entire dining room and bar, the service felt rushed and chaotic. Given the huge demands on the solitary waiter, it was no wonder it was always difficult to get her attention, forcing us to resort to the crude tactic of arm waving. Her rushing about made us feel that any minor request -- such as filing a water glass - was interruption.

The food server and table setter, who could have stepped in to help out, remained disengaged, robotically sticking to their apparently narrowly defined tasks.

Also odd was food server’s manner of simply plopping down the plates on the table with a seemingly begrudging look on his face. And the complimentary dessert for our guest of honor felt like a rushed gesture for us to wrap things up rather than a thoughtful touch. One less table to tend to, I guess.

The food: 3 out of our 4 dishes were good, but the big let down was the "pesto" rigatoni -- bland and utterly lacking in flavor. The sauce had none of the vibrant, herbaceous notes you expect from a proper pesto -- no garlic, no pine nuts, not even a hint of basil. What rushed waiter failed to explain to us was that the dish was an arugula pesto -- no basil in it at all -- an no other flavors to compensate.

Seating-still uncomfortable. At first, we thought we had lucked out when we were seated at the only 4-top without the dreaded backless benches. However, we immediately noticed that the chairs were significantly below standard height, making for an awkward dining experience. A simple fix like adding cushions could easily solve the issue. But when we asked for a cushion or pillow, our request was met with a laugh.

While I understand the staff was overwhelmed, a restaurant of this caliber should know when to prioritize quality over quantity and limit the number of reservations it takes. But I also got the feeling the waitress didn't want the help, so she wouldn't have to share the tips -- but that's not fair to customers looking for a relaxed meal with attentive, considerate service.

After many great experiences in the past, this visit was a letdown, and with so many other options around, I’m hesitant to return unless I hear through the grape vine that management has gotten the message to fully staff the restaurant and give their guests a truly fine-dining experience, commensurate...

Dandelion offers a welcoming atmosphere that immediately sets a positive tone for your dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance strikes a nice balance between casual and refined, making it comfortable whether you're grabbing a quick bite or settling in for a leisurely meal after a day of exploring.

The menu features solid, well-prepared dishes that deliver on expectations without necessarily exceeding them. I opted for one of their pasta dishes, which was generously portioned and attractively presented. However, I found the seasoning to be heavy-handed – the pasta was noticeably oversalted, which masked some of the other flavors in the dish.

What impressed me most was how the wait staff handled this issue. When I mentioned the saltiness, they were genuinely apologetic and quickly offered to remake the dish or suggest an alternative. This level of attentive, professional service really elevated the overall experience and showed they care about customer satisfaction.

As the primary dining option for guests staying at the Eastwind Hotel, Dandelion could easily rest on its captive audience. Instead, they've created a restaurant that stands on its own merits. While the food may not be destination-worthy, it's certainly satisfying and well-executed. The combination of pleasant atmosphere, reliable cuisine, and excellent service makes for a dining experience that leaves you content, if not...

The service was great - one of the few restaurants near the Full Moon resort that was open Tuesdays. The entree was a Halloumi salad very delicious especially the strawberries and the dressing. My wife had the brick chicken and this was good size and also delicious however the accompanying vegetable was not great. I had the fish and while it was sitting on a delicious salad the fish was such a small portion for the price - I mean small like a child’s serving. The dessert was a Lemon slice which was amazing we both loved it so much and the accompanying cream delicately balanced the tart of the lemon. The ambience of the place was reflective of the setting. But what made the night was the amazing service from the moment we walked in until the moment we left we have nothing but high praise. Suggestions - with the chicken have some baked vegetables and for the fish at least three portions if they are going to be that size. I would go back for the salad and dessert and the service. I hope the chef can make the changes and then it...