Tallulah Review (Birmingham, MI)

[sixelagogo]

Really disappointing experience at Tallulah's this Thursday....

Service: Annoying. Our waitron kept referring the the sommolier as "the Som" and I was training as a "som" as well...well, for heavens sake, is it that hard to say "sommolier" ...too casual, but i digress.

My date had wine spilled on him by our waitron (holes in the outdoor table mean spilling wine is a super NO NO)...waitress saw that she had spilled, but said nothing, just continued to pour.. That's some "som" training you've had. My date moved the wine to the furthest away spot to avoid being poured on again.

Food: I had the trout from the regular menu, my date had the special barracuda...We shared the charcuterie plate:

Charcuterie: Cappicola good, prosciutto sliced way too thick, and soppressata decent. Accompanying crackers were stale. ($12 for 3 slices of each meat + pickled onions and stale crackers)

Trout: Accompanying mach salad was LOADED with sand...not just one grit on one leaf, but every single bite crunched with dirt...Really??? I'm paying $28 for dirty lettuce? Finally got ahold of my waitress, told her about the sand - plate was wisked away, to be replaced 5 minutes later by clean (yet completely undressed) salad and tasteless trout (salt, anyone???)...Would have loved if she would have asked "can i get you something different, seeing as how we totally screwed up that one"...no such queery. and no apology/inquiry from the management. Dirty lettuce is unforgivable.

Date had Barracuda - tasty...served with sunchoke puree (very good) and another different salad.

Best part of the our experience: the bus boys (ours was on top of things, much more so than our waitress) and wine.

Would have stated for dessert but after the meal, we opted out of dessert.

Total bill, sans tip: $133
Our Grade: C -

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Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro
155 S Bates St, Birmingham, MI 48009

[boagman]

I'm thinking that you're a lot kinder than I would have been. Sorry it wasn't a pleasant experience for you, but to put a positive spin on it for you: at least you've saved me the trouble of trying the place out! :)

[VTB]

Sixelagogo,
I’m sorry you had a clearly bad overall experience at one of the more important meals during your visit to our city. I take some solace in your mention that at least your date’s fish came out nicely (so you don’t think we’re a 100% certainly clueless for having reported good Tallulah experiences).

Thanks for providing DETAILS backing up your perspective. Hopefully these will make what I think is a good restaurant one that is more consistently better.