Amazing food, but disappointing first impression
I tried this restaurant for the first time yesterday with a friend, and the food was absolutely amazing… easily the highlight of the experience. Everything we ordered was delicious, and I’d happily come back just for the food.
Unfortunately, our interaction with the host (who I believe is the owner) really soured the visit. We had a reservation for three, but one of our friends got sick and couldn’t make it. We tried to contact the restaurant beforehand, but there’s no phone number listed, so we had no way to update the reservation.
When we arrived on time and explained that it would just be the two of us, the host seemed visibly frustrated and said it was “unfortunate and a problem.” He mentioned that he now had to give us a table for four and that parties of two should normally sit at the bar. I was a bit confused since it wouldn’t have been an issue at other restaurants. We also would have been perfectly happy to sit at the bar, but without a way to contact the restaurant, we had no way to adjust things in advance.
While we were seated, we overheard the owner at the host stand mentioning the situation to another staff member, which felt a little uncomfortable. We also noticed he thanked other guests as they were leaving, but didn’t acknowledge us when we left.
I completely understand wanting to operate at maximum capacity, but the attitude made us feel unwelcome and really took away from an otherwise great dining experience. The food is fantastic, and hopefully, the front-of-house experience becomes as welcoming as the servers are.
Edit: Feb 8th 2026
I’d like to add some clarification following the owner’s response, as several incorrect assumptions were made.
First, I am not Chantel, and I was not the person who made the reservation. One member of our party became sick unexpectedly. We were unable to modify the reservation online, did not want to cancel our existing plans, and couldn’t find a phone number to contact the restaurant to explain the change in advance.
When we arrived, we completely understood that a reservation change could be frustrating. The issue was not the policy itself, but how the situation was handled. If the policy had been calmly explained, we would have been more than happy to wait for bar seating or even walk away. Instead, we were met with scoffing and visible frustration.
Since the decision was ultimately made to seat us at a table, all we expected at that point was the same courtesy and respect shown to other guests. Unfortunately, that did not feel like the case, which made the experience uncomfortable and avoidable.
It’s also difficult to hear that other guests were turned away when the decision was made to seat us anyway. Standing by your policy in the moment would have prevented that frustration altogether. Even if all three of us had attended, walk-in parties of four would still have been impacted by capacity. Clear communication and open dialogue can still lead to a positive experience on both sides.
Regarding Staff Only, that reservation was canceled because my friends were continuing their evening without me after dinner. Plans change, and drawing conclusions about guests’ intentions or honesty based solely on booking activity can easily lead to incorrect assumptions.
I fully understand the challenges of running a small restaurant and maximizing seating. At the same time, respectful communication and consistency matter, especially once a decision has been made to seat guests.
To be clear, the food was excellent, and our server was truly great. Google reviews are meant to reflect honest, balanced experiences, not just five-star ratings, and my intention is simply to share feedback so future guests know what to expect.
Posted 2/8/2026