Bistro Tallulah

My husband and I are avid diner's ...we are in restaurants about 3x a week.



After reading all the positive reviews, my husband and I really wanted to dine at Bistro Tallulah. Because it is a small restaurant, it is very hard to obtain reservations unless you want to dine late at night. We tried 3x to dine here,but everytime that we called the only seating available was very late in the evening. Finally, my husband was able to get us a reservation for us this past Friday at 6:30.



We arrived at Bistro Tallulah 12 minutes early. There was a table for two available and another table for two appeared to be in the process of paying their bill. We were greeting by a waitress who was obviously annoyed that we were early and told "well...your table isn't ready yet. So if you want, you can sit at the bar." I am able to get over a rough start like that....but what happened next was really unacceptable.



The bartender was a young lady who did not appear to be thrilled that we sat down at her almost empty bar. She barely addressed us. We did receive the wine list after a minute or so. My husband decided on a chianti, I chose a cabernet sauvignon. The only other couple at the bar ordered some merlot. Here's where it gets ugly. I have never seen this done before. The bartender actually measured the wine in 3 oz portions using a measuring cup that was not rinsed. Meaning she measured and served the merlot, she then measured and poured my husband's chianti and then did the same with my wine. All in the same measuring cup. I was sick!! Not what I would expect from a restaurant touting itself as upscale. Certainly not what you would expect from a chef/owner claiming to have graduated from Johnson & Wales. It was also hinted that we should settle at the bar for the wine, rather than adding this to our check. Why? Was the bartender pushing for her tip?



While we were sitting there, a party of four came in and asked for their table. I overhead they had a reservation that they made two weeks ago. There was some muffled conversation but it was obvious that the restaurant lost their reservation. At that point, I told my husband that I was starting to have a bad feeling.



The last straw was that we were told that our table was ready, we got up to follow the bartender who was going to seat us and she said "oh..it's actually not ready yet." I couldn't believe what I was seeing but the staff was actually putting a table very close to the kitchen window...almost in the middle of the walkway to the bar and other tables. Meaning, no quiet dinner...we would be in the flurry of activity of the kitchen and waitstaff throughout our dinner. What made it worse was there were two tables for (2) available. They could have easily sat us at one of those.



My husband was as disgusted as I was. He shot me "the look" and we walked out...and will not return. We have money to spend...and will glad patronize establishments who actually remember you are the customer and welcome you warmly. The food could have been excellent but it is obvious that the service at this establishment is terrible and the staff ...very inexperienced.



Chef Shawn? Are your eyes open?