What are the initial thoughts on César?
I went last week and while the food was good to excellent (a few excellent, a few good but nothing “all time great”) it’s clear they have a lot of kinks to iron out.
I initially booked at 8:15 (table, counter was booked). I put in the notes that I’d take a counter if they had an opening, as I like to see the action . I got a call a week before my reservation offering a table at 6:45 or counter at 5:00 — I declined and said I’d keep the 8:15 given my schedule. The guy said that 8:15 was no longer an option that they were consolidating to one seating in the early weeks. However when we got there at 6:45 only one couple was seated at the counter, and it didn’t fill the entire night.
The service was … odd? I saw several dishes served while people were in the restroom and some stacking of dishes, either where two came out at the same time, or a second was served before the first was complete. It wasn’t consistent, my table didn’t have that, but several around us did.
One of the chefs served one course and apologized profusely for there being no silverware on the table and told a waiter to grab some. The waiter came over with the silverware and said here is the silverware you asked for … but we hadn’t (it looked to me like a finger food course, and no other tables had silverware). The waiter seemed very confused the chef would have asked for silverware.
The staff was polite and attentive (I must have gotten 10 birthday wishes) but a little disjointed.
Overall it just felt like the staff hadn’t gelled at all. There’s definitely potential but if he gets more than one star this year it will be on reputation.
Lastly — no menu??
What have others experienced?
by jm44768