Ray M.

I've really wanted to support The VIne, but it's difficult due to yet another bad experience. My teenage daughter and I wanted to have a celebratory meal last night (a Saturday) so at 5:50 we phoned The Vine, asking for a reservation. They don't take them of course, but the host said it wasn't too crowded and to come on down. We arrived and put our name and phone number in at...6:15 or 6:20 at the latest. (and told it would be about a 25 minute wait.) All tables were taken, and they offered us the chance of sitting out in the back patio (they have another menu there, space heaters, etc.) We declined and the hostess said she'd call my cell when a table was ready, and while it was freezing outside, we went shopping since some stores were open until 7:00. We came back a half hour later and she said there was no change but perhaps some tables would be opening soon. We went out shopping again, and she called us so at 7:10, we were seated. We were starving and had waited approx. 50 minutes to get a table. The layout of the tables last night was as follows: 4 cozy booths, 1 long table (seating a family of 8), and smaller combinations of 2 to 6 people for a total of 10 places to sit. I feel there are too many people in too small a space. Because of the crowd, it's difficult to walk anywhere, as people spread out and the noise level is almost unbearable. We were seated at a small table next to the wall, inches away from the party of 8 (4 adults, 4 toddlers). In hindsight, I should've held out for a booth, but who knows how much longer we'd have to wait? Our tiny table became crowded eventually with glasses, and an appetizer we ate without napkins and silverware until we asked and received them. The evening progressed, and now sitting here I'm depressed writing about everything that's wrong with this restaurant. Let me start off with the good: I LOVE the food. It's incredible and we were thrilled with most everything we put in our mouths. Appetizer to dessert were amazingly delicious. And to be fair the prices match the food; it's not overpriced. HOWEVER, I can't say one more good thing about The Vine! The service? Forgetful, apologetic, guilt ridden. The ambiance? Don't make me laugh...we were at a tiny table screaming at each other just to be heard because the noise was too much. The party of 8 were incredibly rude (the toddlers constantly ran into our table). And why not? They were inches from our plates! We miserably ate our meals and looked forward to leaving. When the party of 8 left, another large group of adults came in, sitting down at the table before the harried wait staff could clean it. In stead of holding them off and in an attempt to move quickly, one of the staff dropped a large bottle of water while cleaning. So he had to get down and clean it up; about half the water remained under the table along with the trash of the party of 8. It was comical; like a study on how NOT to run a business. I kept longingly looking at the patrons in the booths; they're not spared the noise, but they have more space and they're not sitting on hard chairs for hours like we were! I guess frequent patrons are used to this, but when this restaurant used to be Essaney Restaurant, it was never this awful. Was this one bad night? Since they're re-opened as The Vine, we've tried dining there on a few occasions with the same feedback: great food, lousy experience. After dessert and paying our bill, we left at 8:45 (2 and 1/2 hours after we arrived!) and the shock of the drop in noise level from the restaurant to the street made us both laugh. It was a stressful, comedic, noisy evening; memorable only because it was so bad. I would LOVE to love this place (and did when it was under previous ownership) but I have a sense the new owners like or accept what they've created. Such a mess of a meal. Would I return? I guess if time passes and I forget how bad this last experience was, I will! Sorry, Vine, but do put some thought into what your customers are experiencing.