Paper & Pencil — Restaurant in Town of Ticonderoga

Really wanted to like this local restaurant - but not only did it seem like it was being run by people who had never run or worked at a restaurant, but by people who had never actually been to a restaurant. Came in with a reservation and was seated quickly - we were a large party but there were only 2 other 4-tops occupied. Then the trouble began. First, it took about 15-20 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were there. We finally called a waitress over and she took a drink order. About 15 minutes passed and the three sodas showed up (two with NO syrup so essentially colored soda water). Another 15-20 minutes passed and finally started getting cocktails. Mine was 100 proof - no tonic, all gin, completely undrinkable - even Johnny Depp would send that one back. Other cocktails seemed fine. We asked for bread and water and pretty quickly two small trays of what appeared to be tiny scraps of bread pieces from other tables were cobbled together - about 6 pieces of crust - at this point we asked if we could order appetizers and the waitress said she'd be right back but then disappeared into the kitchen for another 15-20 minutes. When she resurfaced we decided that we had better order apps AND entrees before she vanished again. It was at this point she informed us that 3 of the 6 entrees were unavailable. So we all quickly regrouped before she could flee the scene and ordered what was left on the menu. She headed to the back and another 15 minutes passed before she returned to inform us that actually one of the remaining entrees had only 1 serving left. So 2 people reordered what can only be described as "on the fly" entrees made up of what ever sides and meat was remaining in the back. Some people ordered more cocktails and they showed up at some point. We are now 1.5 hours into this ordeal. Another 30 -45 minutes go by and finally the apps start showing up - but not everyones! The crab cakes were cold but good and the shrimp was fine. Then another 20-30 minutes pass and the entrees start to arrive. All were cold - the "medium rare" steak they put on the "made up" mac and cheese dish looked to be cut up shriveled side pieces from someone else's steak. My "Apple Walnut Salad' came with no walnuts, brownish sliced apples, a couple of leafs of lettuce and some triangle sliced american cheese. At this point it was just funny - completely inedible. I pushed it to the side to keep my undrinkable cocktail company. People ate whatever they could stomach and we decided to get the check - but no one ever came back. Finally, someone went searching for employees and found them all drinking at the bar. Nice. Meanwhile, tables full of old food sat on the other two tables collecting swarms of flies. So gross. In all, we spent 3 of the longest hours in this place sitting in the most uncomfortable chairs we've ever sat in - pretty sure most left with varying degrees of sciatica and spinal cord injuries. It seemed as if the employees were there under duress - like a group of hostages working against their will to serve people they despised. Over priced horrid food, horrible service - but really pretty bathrooms. This experience was like an episode of Twilight Zone where we were suspended in time. I wouldn't have been surprised to find that 30 years had passed when we got outside - we were all the same age but everyone we knew was 30 years older. If you dare to go here, bring your own...

I will start and say that the food I ate was great, and I would like to believe that everyone working there had good intentions. However the service in the restaurant was probably the worst I have ever experienced.

We came in with a 10 person reservation, and were seated at a table which barely fit 7. We asked for another 4 person table to combine with the other and were not brought one for another ten minutes. There was one menu and the waitress came to take our food orders without first bringing more menus, water, or the drinks we had ordered. After some time we were given water, but only half the drinks we ordered (and none of the drinks we ordered from the bar. We had to leave the table and go to the bar). When we asked for the drinks we hadn’t been served, our waitress returned with one lemonade (we ordered 4) and left.

Our table was very hungry so we all ordered appetizers, and some of us even ordered multiple. About half of these came out after 45min and were great. But, 4 people at our table weren’t given any. We assumed they were coming shortly but they never came. After another 35 minutes some of the entrees came out along with two of the appetizers that hadn’t been delivered before. We again alerted our waitress that some appetizers hadn’t been delivered and she assured us that they would solve the problem (which never happened).

Then after half the table had eaten their entrees we alerted the manager that 5 people had been given no entrees and some had only had appetizers. She looked amazed, took down all the orders that hadn’t arrived, and assured us she’d fix the problem. Then she returned and tried to show us video tape of us eating and claim that two of our party who had only been served appetizers were in fact served entrees.

To accuse us of lying about the food we received is one thing, but even if that had been true there were still two people who had received no entrees and they were aware of it. We explained to her that the food she was claiming to be steak on the video was in fact an appetizer that had arrived at the same time as some of the entrees, but she would not believe us. We were so fed up at this point that we asked for the check and the food we hadn’t received to go so we could just leave (it had been over 2 hours at this point).

Then after more waiting the check came out with all of the food we had ordered (which they had record of in their POS), but the items we hadn’t received were still included. This is the part that amazed me because they had entered all of our orders correctly, and yet only 60% of them ever made it to our table. We looked over the check and debated what to do for some time and then a different man came out with a different bill which had the items we didn’t receive taken off (the difference of about 200$). We asked if we would receive the entree that hadn’t come out we’re told the kitchen was closed and we’d have to leave.

I’m thankful this person corrected the bill for us in the end, but every problem we had could have easily been solved during the meal and wasn’t. And on top of that two of our party were told they were lying, and the other three were told they’d receive food and never did.

Like I said the food was great and I hope they can resolve these service issues, but as it stands they need some...

We understand this is a soft opening.

However this was the worst experience I have ever had at a Resturant. I have never been more upset leaving an establishment.

We waited for 20 mins to receive just water. The owner finally came over and stated sorry for the delay we will comp you an appetizer. (Nice gesture but we never got comped an appetizer) After getting water it took another 10 mins to get a Qoors lite. One individual from our party got a scotch and sour which was horrible. Nothing but sour mix.

The poblano stuffed pepper was awful dry and sweet. Just a strange app.

Our server maybe checked in with us 2 times the entire time. We arrived at 7:35 did not get out until 9:15

I got a crab tomato bisque soup that was served cold. They were nice enough to comp this. While eating apps etc we got told there were no mashed potatoes left and had to choose another side. Please keep in mind there were only 3 sides total this being the only starch.

After the soup we waited another 20 mins for entrees. I got a NY strip that was terrible it had no flavor and it was the fattiest NY strip I have ever had.

One of the craziest parts of the experience was a gentleman in a sharp suit walking around looking at everyone and doing absolutely nothing but walking in circles. With attempt to be polite we said have a good night while leaving the building and got nothing but turned back and crickets.

Please keep in mind I never leave reviews. However this was just all around awful service and terrible food. You can’t spend 1 million plus on a resturant and say you’re having a soft opening and then have it be horrible and pay $250.00 plus for a 4 top. Also please keep in mind we were the only people in the dinning room at the time.

I want new Resturants to exceed and prosper especially in Ticonderoga but this was as rough...