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Review content:
This is the second time we've eaten at 1808 Grill. The first time, the food was outstanding all around (we had a group of about 10 people and all loved their dishes), however the service was terrible (female waiter was extremely rude and inattentive to the female guests of our party).
This time however, we arrived without reservation on a Saturday night. I understand the vagaries of what to expect under such circumstances, even so, my low expectations were not met.
We were advised that we could sit and eat at the bar. That seemed fine to us, however, in the 25 minutes we were seated at a bar table, we saw our server once: the moment she dropped off our drinks and scurried away before she could hear me request a glass for my beer. I though perhaps she had other responsibilities in the dining area, but the only place I could see her go was into the kitchen and then back to the bar to complain about back pain.
After waiting 25 minutes, I finally asked the hostess to find seating in the dining area (which was clearly available that late in the evening). She finally returned 5 minutes later with a table.
Our server this time was delightful, the food however, was hit and miss. The missus ordered the NY strip, which was a perfect, and we shared an uninspiring flat-bread pizza. I, on the other hand, went against my better judgment and ordered the gnocchi with braised rabbit, instead of the braised short rib. Bad idea. The rabbit itself was delicious, but whatever acrid, translucent gravy they drizzled over the dish was absolutely putrid. I can think of no other way to describe it, except as hot-lemon bleach. The gnocchi were burned, and tasted only of whatever burnt vegetable oil they were cooked in.
Of the listed elements of the dish (braised rabbit, roasted fennel, mustard greens and ghocchi), only the rabbit and greens tasted pleasant. The rest of the dish and it's wretched sauce were complete culinary disasters. It's the type of food I wouldn't even give to a dying sh1t-house rat.
Will I return to 1808 Grille? Absolutely. But I think I'll stick to the beef and pork, and stay far away from everything else.
Pros: Great atmosphere, creative menu
Cons: Bar service, host staff
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