Well????
Local Restaurant Review / Discussion
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1154 Replies |
Last: 38 min ago by MsDoubleD81
It's honestly not that interesting
Unbelievable that they go all out with pricey food and a dress code and then have the menus be on tablets. That's tacky and sadly endemic of how badly restaurants as a whole have deteriorated, and a way for waitstaff to do less work while demanding ever-increasing tips.CN said:
Had dinner at De Baca the other night. TL;DR review: service and food very underwhelming for the price. Service will probably get better but I'm not sure about the food.
There's valet parking but by the time you get to it, you've probably already parked due to the layout of the parking lot. I don't think the poor valet guys are going to get much business.
The inside of the restaurant is nice and very metropolitan. The view outside and the outdoor seating looks nice. I found out about the dress code from here and we dressed business casual. There were quite a few people who evidently didn't get the memo but I didn't see anyone refused service. I hope they drop the dress code because it's stupid for a college town and to be frank, doesn't match the quality of the food or the offerings.
Service could've been better but I'm sure this will improve over time.
I'm a beer drinker and was disappointed in the beer offerings for a supposedly high end restaurant. The cocktails were different from what the wife is used to, but fine. The appetizers were OK but don't get the stuffed calamari, it was awful. Our server never asked us if we wanted soup or salad and we forgot about it until it was too late so I don't know if they're any good. Also, no bread or anything to snack on while you're waiting on appetizers.
I got the ribeye and the wife got sea bass. The ribeye temperature and sear were good but the flavor was nothing special. However, I made the mistake of getting my steak Oscar style. The crab meat was of poor quality and was slathered in what I'd guess is a hollandaise sauce that totally overwhelmed the steak. It could've even been imitation crab because it was so stringy and the sauce covered up the crab flavor. Also, my steak was already sliced a few times when I got it maybe to check the temperature? It was weird. The sea bass was very good but the steak was disappointing for the price.
We ordered sides but didn't realize our entrees already came with a side. It's not Christopher's level of composed entrees but we definitely would not had ordered sides had we known. So why didn't we know the entrees came with sides? Because their menus are iPad minis. You have to click on each entree to get more info.
For dessert we had bread pudding and chocolate mousse which were both very good. The wife commented that the desserts were much better here than the Republic.
The check came out to be about $300 including tip. Again, the food didn't match the price tag but I'd go back for the sea bass. Maybe I'll go back in a couple of months once they sort things out. It may seem I'm being uppity about the food and service but when you offer $50-100 entrees and want everyone to dress up, my expectations are much higher than a Friday night dinner at Texas Roadhouse.
Is there a bar at De Baca? I would consider going for drinks and apps to check it out if they will let me in dressed in khakis and a button down. But based on what I have read so far I'm not interested in their table service.
Yes there is. I trimmed that part out of my review because it was getting long but we were seated near the bar where there was a nice view outside. I was told the place was big because there was a whole other end of the restaurant with seating that I didn't see.
Nice view of what?
The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
Greenery--something different from parking lots and buildings.MyNameIsJeff said:The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
...and College Station / Kyle Field in the distance....MyNameIsJeff said:The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
and the blazing texas sun in the summer time, ouch
$300 dinner for two, fancy dress code, with a lovely view of the bar ditch. Noted. Break out the Michelin stars.MyNameIsJeff said:The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
Hornbeck said:$300 dinner for two, fancy dress code, with a lovely view of the bar ditch. Noted. Break out the Michelin stars.MyNameIsJeff said:The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
Don't forget IHOP in that view
PS3D said:Unbelievable that they go all out with pricey food and a dress code and then have the menus be on tablets. That's tacky and sadly endemic of how badly restaurants as a whole have deteriorated, and a way for waitstaff to do less work while demanding ever-increasing tips.CN said:
Had dinner at De Baca the other night. TL;DR review: service and food very underwhelming for the price. Service will probably get better but I'm not sure about the food.
There's valet parking but by the time you get to it, you've probably already parked due to the layout of the parking lot. I don't think the poor valet guys are going to get much business.
The inside of the restaurant is nice and very metropolitan. The view outside and the outdoor seating looks nice. I found out about the dress code from here and we dressed business casual. There were quite a few people who evidently didn't get the memo but I didn't see anyone refused service. I hope they drop the dress code because it's stupid for a college town and to be frank, doesn't match the quality of the food or the offerings.
Service could've been better but I'm sure this will improve over time.
I'm a beer drinker and was disappointed in the beer offerings for a supposedly high end restaurant. The cocktails were different from what the wife is used to, but fine. The appetizers were OK but don't get the stuffed calamari, it was awful. Our server never asked us if we wanted soup or salad and we forgot about it until it was too late so I don't know if they're any good. Also, no bread or anything to snack on while you're waiting on appetizers.
I got the ribeye and the wife got sea bass. The ribeye temperature and sear were good but the flavor was nothing special. However, I made the mistake of getting my steak Oscar style. The crab meat was of poor quality and was slathered in what I'd guess is a hollandaise sauce that totally overwhelmed the steak. It could've even been imitation crab because it was so stringy and the sauce covered up the crab flavor. Also, my steak was already sliced a few times when I got it maybe to check the temperature? It was weird. The sea bass was very good but the steak was disappointing for the price.
We ordered sides but didn't realize our entrees already came with a side. It's not Christopher's level of composed entrees but we definitely would not had ordered sides had we known. So why didn't we know the entrees came with sides? Because their menus are iPad minis. You have to click on each entree to get more info.
For dessert we had bread pudding and chocolate mousse which were both very good. The wife commented that the desserts were much better here than the Republic.
The check came out to be about $300 including tip. Again, the food didn't match the price tag but I'd go back for the sea bass. Maybe I'll go back in a couple of months once they sort things out. It may seem I'm being uppity about the food and service but when you offer $50-100 entrees and want everyone to dress up, my expectations are much higher than a Friday night dinner at Texas Roadhouse.
Do you enter your order in the tablet, or is it just a digital menu? If it's just a digital menu, then I'm not sure what the complaint is.
I find it funny how many of y'all hate on a restaurant all because they asked you to not wear shorts and flip flops. I'll probably never eat there, but glad we are starting to have more options above Roadhouse and Olive Garden for steaks and Italian.
These are the places that we visit in order of frequency.
Shiraz
Nam
C&J
Mooyah
Fish Daddy's
Frida's
Cilantro
Marfa
Less frequent due to price.
1860
Napa Bistro
Christopher's is our special occasion place. Service is tough to beat.
Shiraz
Nam
C&J
Mooyah
Fish Daddy's
Frida's
Cilantro
Marfa
Less frequent due to price.
1860
Napa Bistro
Christopher's is our special occasion place. Service is tough to beat.
Average Joe said:PS3D said:Unbelievable that they go all out with pricey food and a dress code and then have the menus be on tablets. That's tacky and sadly endemic of how badly restaurants as a whole have deteriorated, and a way for waitstaff to do less work while demanding ever-increasing tips.CN said:
Had dinner at De Baca the other night. TL;DR review: service and food very underwhelming for the price. Service will probably get better but I'm not sure about the food.
There's valet parking but by the time you get to it, you've probably already parked due to the layout of the parking lot. I don't think the poor valet guys are going to get much business.
The inside of the restaurant is nice and very metropolitan. The view outside and the outdoor seating looks nice. I found out about the dress code from here and we dressed business casual. There were quite a few people who evidently didn't get the memo but I didn't see anyone refused service. I hope they drop the dress code because it's stupid for a college town and to be frank, doesn't match the quality of the food or the offerings.
Service could've been better but I'm sure this will improve over time.
I'm a beer drinker and was disappointed in the beer offerings for a supposedly high end restaurant. The cocktails were different from what the wife is used to, but fine. The appetizers were OK but don't get the stuffed calamari, it was awful. Our server never asked us if we wanted soup or salad and we forgot about it until it was too late so I don't know if they're any good. Also, no bread or anything to snack on while you're waiting on appetizers.
I got the ribeye and the wife got sea bass. The ribeye temperature and sear were good but the flavor was nothing special. However, I made the mistake of getting my steak Oscar style. The crab meat was of poor quality and was slathered in what I'd guess is a hollandaise sauce that totally overwhelmed the steak. It could've even been imitation crab because it was so stringy and the sauce covered up the crab flavor. Also, my steak was already sliced a few times when I got it maybe to check the temperature? It was weird. The sea bass was very good but the steak was disappointing for the price.
We ordered sides but didn't realize our entrees already came with a side. It's not Christopher's level of composed entrees but we definitely would not had ordered sides had we known. So why didn't we know the entrees came with sides? Because their menus are iPad minis. You have to click on each entree to get more info.
For dessert we had bread pudding and chocolate mousse which were both very good. The wife commented that the desserts were much better here than the Republic.
The check came out to be about $300 including tip. Again, the food didn't match the price tag but I'd go back for the sea bass. Maybe I'll go back in a couple of months once they sort things out. It may seem I'm being uppity about the food and service but when you offer $50-100 entrees and want everyone to dress up, my expectations are much higher than a Friday night dinner at Texas Roadhouse.
Do you enter your order in the tablet, or is it just a digital menu? If it's just a digital menu, then I'm not sure what the complaint is.
I find it funny how many of y'all hate on a restaurant all because they asked you to not wear shorts and flip flops. I'll probably never eat there, but glad we are starting to have more options above Roadhouse and Olive Garden for steaks and Italian.
Digital menus suck. Period.
You can't look at several things at once, often have to click to see any details.
I walk in and request a printed menu and if they can't provide, I seriously consider going somewhere else and have done so in the past
trouble said:Hornbeck said:$300 dinner for two, fancy dress code, with a lovely view of the bar ditch. Noted. Break out the Michelin stars.MyNameIsJeff said:The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
Don't forget IHOP in that view
What if I want to stare at the Korean church parking lot?
Isn't there an intervening bank being built? Can't have too many of those.maroon barchetta said:trouble said:Hornbeck said:$300 dinner for two, fancy dress code, with a lovely view of the bar ditch. Noted. Break out the Michelin stars.MyNameIsJeff said:The Tower Point detention pond.maroon barchetta said:
Nice view of what?
Don't forget IHOP in that view
What if I want to stare at the Korean church parking lot?
It's just a digital menu, you order through your server. After looking at their website again I'm starting to think that the asparagus that was included with my steak was mistakenly included so ordering a side was necessary.Average Joe said:
Do you enter your order in the tablet, or is it just a digital menu? If it's just a digital menu, then I'm not sure what the complaint is.
I find it funny how many of y'all hate on a restaurant all because they asked you to not wear shorts and flip flops. I'll probably never eat there, but glad we are starting to have more options above Roadhouse and Olive Garden for steaks and Italian.
Food is very subjective and I would've just said I think the steaks are better at The Republic and it's kind of expensive for what you get. But if you're going to charge $50-100 for entrees and ask men to put on a jacket, I think you should expect extra scrutiny and I just don't feel like they match up to the level of dining you'll experience at other other places in town like The Republic or Christophers.
From pictures posted on Yelp it looks like they have a physical menu available, at least
All the pictures I've seen on Yelp are from their soft opening or their own staff.
It looks like they a $22 flat iron if I ever want to check the place out. That would require me to put on pants, though.
And real shoes
He might be able to get in with thesetrouble said:
And real shoes
Little fancy for me. May have to set up a go fund me.
The obsession with this new restaurant is very strange.
halibut sinclair said:
The obsession with this new restaurant is very strange.
Nice upscale restaurant opens
Locals tear it apart from the first day
Later, restaurant closes from lack of business due to bad reviews
"Why can't we have any nice places besides Christopher's and The Republic??????"
Hush.
Hornbeck said:
Hush.
And Whisper?
FlyRod said:General Jack D. Ripper said:
I miss Hebert's.
That pot roast po boy OMG.
The pot roast po boy at Poches is so good. Definitely give it shot. I have never tried their seafood. I got that the first time I went and the couple times since. Eventually I will try something else
I'm skeptical but I will try it. That Hebert's po boy was a thing of beauty.
maroon barchetta said:halibut sinclair said:
The obsession with this new restaurant is very strange.
Nice upscale restaurant opens
Locals tear it apart from the first day
Later, restaurant closes from lack of business due to bad reviews
"Why can't we have any nice places besides Christopher's and The Republic??????"
"We need more local places. Too many chains."
So your viewpoint is "even if it's awful we must bend over backwards and ignore its flaws, because it's local"?!?maroon barchetta said:halibut sinclair said:
The obsession with this new restaurant is very strange.
Nice upscale restaurant opens
Locals tear it apart from the first day
Later, restaurant closes from lack of business due to bad reviews
"Why can't we have any nice places besides Christopher's and The Republic??????"
No viewpoint.
Just an observation based on history.
Just an observation based on history.
Certainly in the last 15 years there have been notable failures including a restaurant owner who used to come by here quite regularly and pick fights. Be honest though...which promising local restaurant in recent memory (let's say, 2005 or later) deserved better and really didn't get a fair shot?maroon barchetta said:
No viewpoint.
Just an observation based on history.
I can think of at least 3 and although they deserved better, I think their demise were kind of self inflicted. Here are 3 that I still wish were around: Cafe Eccell (Northgate edition), Madden's, and Veritas.PS3D said:
Certainly in the last 15 years there have been notable failures including a restaurant owner who used to come by here quite regularly and pick fights. Be honest though...which promising local restaurant in recent memory (let's say, 2005 or later) deserved better and really didn't get a fair shot?