Trappe Door, Greenville, SC--I shaved my legs for this?

[Jeff C.]

I kid, of course. I leave the leg-shaving to my wife, who has considerably more expertise. Anyway, we were sorely disappointed by our first visit beyond the Trappe Door. We liked the subterranean atmosphere--very European, I suppose, if not Belgian. Great selection of Belgian (and Belgian-style) ales, both on tap and in bottles. In fact, the drink menu alone is the size of a small phone book. About the food: the Buffalo Oysters appetizer was good, but the oysters were teensy (about the size of a quarter). The Farmhouse salad with orange sections, bleu cheese, and spiced pecans was delicious. Unfortunately, the evening went to hell from there... I had the Bleu and White Moule Frites. The sauce was bland, the frites only passable, and of the two dozen or so mussels in my bowl, fully a third of them were unopened. Attn. Trappe Door: UNOPENED MUSSELS SHOULD NOT BE SERVED, esp. when you are charging 17 bucks. (I complained and received a measley four dollar discount.) My wife had Beer Battered Cod and Frites. The fish was slimy and oversalted instead of crispy. I also wouldn't swear it wasn't frozen. It was about this time some dude who was not our server rushed by and snatched our beer glasses away without a word--no "Would you like another beer?" or "Are you finished with these?" Nuttin'. By then we were in no mood for whatever dessert offerings they had, so we paid the check ($42 before tip) and went down the street to Luna Rosa for some yummy Blood Orange Sorbetto. (The perfect palate cleanser after a meal of crappy seafood.) So there you have it, kids. I'd love to think this was an off-night, but what restaurant management with any sense brings its B-game to Friday night dinner service?

[danna]

Ah!....the pleasures of dining in Greenville.

Snark, aside, I'm sorry to hear that about the mussels, 'cause that was the only thing I was ever planning to get there. (fortunately lunch is cheaper) Were the ones you could get to decent?

Glad the pricey sorbetto helped you salvage a bit.

[Jeff C.]

Since you asked: They tasted fresh enough but were kind of stringy.

That sorbetto is good stuff!

[Scirocco]

man, I wonder what has happened because that is not what we experienced at all. Our mussels were the largest we have been served out at any restaurant and super tender. Cost cuts maybe?? Of course, it's been six months since we've been there. so sad. They had been the best mussels we've had out until we tried the Admiral's recently and even then, the Admiral's only squeaked out ahead of Trappe Door by the thinnest of margins.

[Jeff C.]

Maybe they're using a different supplier?

[Scirocco]

I wondered that too....

[beth1]

Thanks for the info. You may have saved me from a substandard meal. I'm headed that way in a week.

[Scirocco]

Wow! So sorry to hear that. Our oysters were good sized. That mussels experience is totally inexcusable. I completely agree - you do not serve unopened mussels. I remember being upset that a couple of mussels I got downstairs at Flying Frog in A'ville were unopened. I felt ripped off. I would've been royally pissed if I'd gotten the bowl you did. Our white and bleu sauce was good too. Sounds like a major drop in - well - everything. Except maybe the beer. Of course Cod ain't native 'round these parts, so I'd be shocked if it wasn't frozen and probably pre-battered. I agree their fries aren't great, but I did warn you about those. :) glad you ended the night on a good note!