Big disappointment at the Oregon Grille(long)
My husband and I recently celebrated our 7th anniversary. We have always tried to go out to a new restaurant for our anniversary. After much debate we decided to try the Oregon Grille. It gets good reviews consistently and is always talked about as being "the special occasion restaurant". Now I will say this before I go on, my husband is a chef and I used to be in the restaurant business before I had the kids. We are very adventurous and always very excited about trying any thing new. We both thiought that the Oregon grille was a "safe" choice. Nothing exciting just good food.
We arrived at 7 for our dinner on a wednesday night. It took a very long time for our waiter to bring us drinks and then menus.
I had been craving a mozz. caprese and also ordered pork tenderloin with polenta and mushroom ragu. my husband ordered the smoked duck with grit cake. app, a salad with blue cheese and chicken and a softshell with something and zucchuini ribbons. The food took a little long in coming out. My caprese was stacked napolean style. The red onions on top where very wilted and the mozz. had obviously spent some time on the tom. in the walk in as it had all smushed and melded together and tasted of old onion. the duck was tasty not too smoky and not over cooked but the grit cake was frozen. Yes frozen solid on the inside! We told the waiter who apologized and took the plate away. The salad arrived and had many pieces of wilted lettuce. My pork was over cooked and rather tough but the mushroom sauce was good. the polenta served its purpose but did not stand out. At this point in the meal I was very dissapointed and didn't even pay attention to my husbands crab, I do remember that the zucchini ribons tasted like they had been brined in old bay. At the end of the meal our waiter brought the check, didn't take off the duck app. and gave us his business cards (huh?) (he's a mortgage broker). Maybe our expectations were to high but we were very dissapointed. For what they charged for that meal I expected outstanding food and quality and service and got none of those things. The Oregon Grille won't be our speacial occasion restaurant ever again.
-
-
re: pleiades
I agree completely with everything people have said on this discussion. I went to Oregon with my family for brunch. I had made an reservation for 11 am. when we got there all doors were locked and we were standing out in the rain. When they did finally open up, the host was very rude and condescending to us. The decor is stuffy. It has a snooty equestrian club feel to it, with no natural light as their shutters are always closed. The food was decent, but outrageously overpriced. The whole dining experience was uncomfortable as we listened to a neighboring diner (either very very old, very very rich,or both) complain about where she wanted to sit. I got the eggs florentine, which was almost cold. My partner got the shepherd's pie, which was nothing to rave about although we did appreciate the chunks of beef rather than ground. The only thing going for that place at that time was our kind waiter. But we will never go back there again. Too expensive. Too snooty. Dated menu and decor concept. Mediocre food for the price.
-
-
I don't particularly care for the Oregon Grille either (although their yeast cake for dessert is to die for). I've been to other restaurants where Mark Henry was the executive chef and he has so much more to offer than what you get at OG. His light is truly hidden under a barrel.
The food has been average and the service, efficient but cold. I'll go, but only when someone else is footing the bill.
›1 Reply -
I think jck hit the nail on the head all around.
IMO if you're 'Baltimore County Old Money' or some other sort of regular (e.g. WBAL's Ron Smith who always espouses their virtues) you probably get treated well. Otherwise, Oregon Grille is just another expensive steak. Been twice, likely never again.
The Prime Rib never fails me.
Thanks,
Kevin
›1 Reply -
-
