点评:Premium prices without premium food, wine or service
The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard has an attractive setting, but the experience fell well short of what its prices and presentation promise.
At this price point, I expect white tablecloths, not visibly scuffed and scratched tables. Loud music better suited to a Miami Beach nightclub did nothing to improve the atmosphere.
The disappointment began with booking. Searching for a table for one showed no availability, but changing the search to two brought up tables. Solo diners should not have to game the reservation system to get a seat. The menus on the restaurant’s website and OpenTable also did not accurately reflect what was available.
For a restaurant at a winery, the lack of wine knowledge and transparency was particularly disappointing. The menu descriptions offered little useful information. My waiter claimed every wine was made from grapes grown on the property.
Growing grapes and making wine are two different things. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying grapes and producing wine from them. But where are those grapes grown? Which wines come from the estate, and which use fruit brought in from elsewhere? These are basic questions a winery restaurant should be able to answer clearly and accurately.
Tell customers where the fruit comes from, put meaningful information on the wine list and train the staff to explain it.
I tried the more expensive chardonnay, listed at $46 a bottle. It was pleasant enough: pear, oak, and a hint of buttered popcorn. Easy to drink, but hardly complex or memorable. Had someone told me it was an $6-$8 bottle of California chardonnay from a gas station or grocery store, I would have believed them. I honestly think Barefoot would be as good or better. I would much rather put that money toward a good chablis or Finger Lakes dry riesling.
The experience seemed more focused on selling the surroundings than offering a serious appreciation of wine.
The scallops themselves were excellent. However, they were overshadowed by far too much polenta and a sweet sauce or glaze. The plating was cluttered with the scallops practically hidden beneath everything else.
Service was average at best. I was largely ignored even though the dining room appeared no more than 40 percent full. After dinner, I was never offered dessert or coffee.
There was also a 2.5 percent credit- card surcharge that had not been disclosed to me before the bill arrived. At these prices, that was an irritating final touch.
For comparison, my bill at The Bistro was $92 for one entree with two sides and two glasses of wine. At Bender’s downtown, two glasses of wine, an appetizer and a main course cost $70.85. The wine, food and service at Bender’s were all vastly better.
Honestly, I left thinking Outback could have delivered an equally satisfying — or better — overall experience.
Gervasi charges for an upscale dining experience. Scuffed tables and poorly informed wine service do not justify those prices.
翻译:高价却无高质的食品、葡萄酒与服务
Gervasi Vineyard的Bistro环境倒也不错,但实际体验却远远达不到其定价与宣传所承诺的水平。
以这样的价格,我本期望看到白色的桌布,而非满是划痕与磨损的桌子。震耳欲聋的音乐——那种更适合迈阿密海滩夜店的曲调——也丝毫未能提升用餐氛围。
失望始于预订环节。我想单独订一张桌位,却发现根本没有空位。不过,当把搜索条件改为“两人”时,便出现了相关表格。独自用餐的人不应非得耍些手段来绕过预订系统才能获得座位。该餐厅官网及OpenTable上的菜单也未能准确反映实际提供的菜品。
对于一家位于酒庄内的餐厅而言,其对葡萄酒知识的匮乏以及信息的不透明实在令人失望。菜单上的描述也几乎没有提供什么有用的信息。我的服务生声称,这里的每一款葡萄酒都是用酒庄自产的葡萄酿造的。种植葡萄与酿造葡萄酒是两码事。购买葡萄并以此酿造葡萄酒完全无可厚非。但是,这些葡萄是在哪里种植的?哪些葡萄酒是用自家庄园出产的葡萄酿制的,哪些则使用了从其他地方采购的葡萄?这些都是一家酒庄餐厅理应能够清晰、准确回答的基本问题。
应当告知顾客葡萄的来源,在酒单上提供实用的信息,并培训员工予以讲解。我试了那种标价46美元一瓶的较昂贵的霞多丽葡萄酒。口感还算不错:有梨子的香气、橡木味,还有一丝黄油爆米花的味道。喝起来挺顺口的,但既不复杂也留不下什么深刻印象。如果有人告诉我这不过是一瓶售价6到8美元的、在加油站或杂货店能买到的加州产霞多丽,我也会信的。说实话,我觉得Barefoot品牌的酒同样出色,甚至更好。我宁愿把这笔钱用来买一瓶上好的夏布利酒或手指湖地区的干型雷司令。这次体验似乎更侧重于推销用餐环境,而非真正让人领略葡萄酒的魅力。
扇贝本身非常美味。不过,过量的玉米粥以及甜味的酱汁或糖衣盖过了扇贝的风味。摆盘也很杂乱,扇贝几乎被其他食材完全遮盖住了。
服务顶多只能算一般。尽管餐厅里的顾客不超过40%,但我几乎被完全忽视。餐后也无人为我提供甜点或咖啡。在账单寄来之前,我并未得知还有2.5%的信用卡附加费。以这样的价格来看,这一费用实在是个令人不悦的“点睛之笔”。
作为对比:我在The Bistro消费了92美元,只点了一份主菜、两份配菜以及两杯葡萄酒。而在市中心的Bender’s,两杯葡萄酒、一份开胃菜和一份主菜的总价仅为70.85美元。Bender’s的葡萄酒、食物以及服务品质都要好得多。
说实话。离开时我在想,Outback本可以提供同样令人满意——甚至更出色的——整体用餐体验。
Gervasi收取的费用是针对高端餐饮体验的。可破旧的桌子以及不专业的葡萄酒服务根本配不上这样的价格。