CA Trip 2

Very nice hotel. I would stay here again.

It is a little different from most restaurants. You order first, get your own plates/silverware/napkins, and find your own seat. If you ordered a soda, you have to get that yourself too along with your own refills. When you place your order they give you a laminated piece of paper with a number on it so the server knows where to take the food. I asked if it was ok to sit outside and they said yes (the weather was just too gorgeous not to sit outside). However, even though I told the person who took the order I was going to sit outside, the server didn't know and it took her a while to find me. My drink wound up arriving with the pizza, which took 15-20 minutes. Once they bring the food that was it. Never saw the server/waitress again. So someone like me who ordered a glass of wine it would be tough to get a refill or tack on a soda to the bill unless I went back in and ordered it. Since I was dining alone, I wouldn't want to leave my food just sitting there. I got the Aloha Pizza (Hawaiian = Ham and Pineapple) and it was very good. If you get the breadsticks, make sure to get the marinara as they are a little dry and overly garlicy. I didn't get it because I didn't realize the marinara was a separate item and a separate charge. Since none of the staff visited the table after the food was delivered make sure if you are dining alone and plan on taking leftovers home, then you might want to get a a box prior to seating yourself. I was lucky and about an hour after being there a bus boy finally came out to start clearing the tables where people had been gone for more than 30 minutes and I was able to get him to bring me one. I would say the food was worth going back, but I might sit inside next time to see if the service is better.

The service was excellent. When I arrived I was told it would be a 45 minute wait unless I wanted to sit at the bar or on the patio. The bar was packed being a Friday evening so since the weather was gorgeous again I checked out the patio and found it almost deserted. The waitstaff was very friendly and by seeing the way they interacted with the other tables that had customers at them it appeared the customers were regulars. I had the Victoria cut filet "crowned" with Blue Cheese. It was cooked perfect and was very delicious. The food came out pretty quick for being so packed inside. By the time I left, and I took my time eating, I noticed that a group of people that arrived the same time I did but wished to sit inside were still waiting for a table. So there might be an advantage into checking out the patio if it's nice outside.