Bubba Gumps

[Not Afraid]

What happened at Napa Rose?

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

What happened at Napa Rose?

(1) Surly barman in the lounge
(2) inflexible chef with regard to preparing a vegetarian meal as all the fish dishes were prepared with chicken stock in some form or another (no kidding). So a vegetarian meal was made of salad and the veggies sides. Roasted veggies, with, the inexplicable addition of steamed broccoli.
(3) one of the servers spilling a half empty plate down my back. We were seated near the chef's bar seating, so they were serving and removing plates over the barrier instead of table-side and when we asked to be served table side the server (not our waiter) made a face and rolled her eyes. No metion of the stain on the back of my blouse. And I did not see her nameplate, unfrotunately.
(4) My dish was inedible, monkfish with lobster sauce and gnocchi. The sauce was revolting, and the gnocchi so overcooked they were gum paste and the fish was killed not once, but 3 times over. I'm not a fussy eater, but it was truly a dish to be avoided. Our server, to his credit immediately came over asked if all was good and removed the plate without question. He also hustled to get me my second choice (which was my first, should always go with first choice) within moments (and delaying service for another guest I am sure) but by then I was not terribly hungry any longer.
We got our bill, the monkfish was not there, but not even an offer of a dessert to finish on a high note. It just was a bad evening and I feel like I'm whining. But for $300, you'd think we'd come out happy and satisfied.

I was more upset that the inflexibility of the chef. I mean, you can go to PF Chang's, Applebee's Ruby Tuesday and ask for a special vegetarian plate and they will usually bend over backward without issue. All they offer is a vague pasta dish, after they've already told us they steam and cook the pasta using chicken stock in the water?? Huh? Frankly, and correct me if I am wrong, the chef in any decent place would come out and say, certainly, leave it to me, no worries, I will make something special for you. And we would have been appreciative and gladly paid for it. Not so the Napa Rose, or there was a terrible mis-communication. Our waiter, he was lovely and tried hard, but he was swimming upstream. I did make a point to compliment him in the letter, it was not his fault and it sounds silly writing it down.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I was more upset that the inflexibility of the chef.

This is one of the primary reasons I haven't wanted to go to Napa Rose. Particularly with Tom's PKU/protein allergy, it seems that they refuse to go out of their way to aid vegan diners. Our money would be better spent at, say, Bouchon in Santa Barbara - where, despite no vegetarian items on the menu, their off-menu dishes personalized to our tastes and their fresh ingredients made for our tastiest meal ever.

I wonder if it's the chef's feelings about vegetarians that make Napa Rose such a bad option? I know some chefs pooh-pooh cutting meat out of a diet - but I like my hubby's brain as-is, thanks!

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

This is one of the primary reasons I haven't wanted to go to Napa Rose. Particularly with Tom's PKU/protein allergy, it seems that they refuse to go out of their way to aid vegan diners. Our money would be better spent at, say, Bouchon in Santa Barbara - where, despite no vegetarian items on the menu, their off-menu dishes personalized to our tastes and their fresh ingredients made for our tastiest meal ever.

I wonder if it's the chef's feelings about vegetarians that make Napa Rose such a bad option? I know some chefs pooh-pooh cutting meat out of a diet - but I like my hubby's brain as-is, thanks!

See? This is exactly my point, in any other place, they would have cheerfully done something special and made you happy to be there.

I do not know anything about the chef and his views on food, but I was shocked at this lack of accomodation, not only from a 4 star place, but from a 4 star place at Disney.

Anyway, mentally making a note for Bouchon in Santa Barbara.....