Plonk

This is a wine bar.  

It was my choice to have a cocktail, but they sounded awesome.  I had the cucumber infused vodka cilantro one and it was good, creative for sure, but not great.  Not sure what was missing actually.  The wine selection was good.  Expect to pay big city, as in NYC, prices here, which I was surprised by in a smaller town.  

They have 2 menus. Lunch and dinner.  The both looked good but I did not eat here.  Tables around me, it's pretty crowded, got food and it looked good.  Since plates were cleaned I think it was enjoyed.  

The tables are very close together, and they seem small for more than two, maybe three people, yet I saw 4 at some.  

The servers are very peasant here, that's for sure, but they seem a little distracted, harried, or simply overwhelmed, I'm not sure which.  This is a place where people actually were shirts with collars (guys) and dresses (cute summer ones, but you get the idea) for the ladies.  There were no flip flops in the place that I saw, and the visible tattoos were mostly reserved for the staff.  In fact, now that I think about it, the clientele were all nicely dressed, one might say well healed, but the staff was a little casual.  No biggie, but somewhat striking after the visit.

Sit outside in back.   That's where the locals sit (I was told by locals anyway).  

I'd come back here for sure, but would want to make sure I got a better cocktail for the price.

Good drink and bar tenders obviously know their craft.  Problem is this place is quit large and staff is not experienced or managed well enough to provide even mediocre service.  This was Monday night a although bustling not slammed.  In two hours we got one round of drinks.  After total frustration requested close out and ended up having to stand at station get tab so we could pay.  Multiple passes, eye contact, verbal requests and after all that got "Oh sorry boss, I got caught up talking wine.".  The worst kind of cocktail waitresses is one that picks favorites, dismissive to others, and at the end of the day who goes out to be treated like that.  I would rate lower but the product was tasty even if the price was high and the service poor.

Plonked yet? Give it a shot. I am giving it another chance. So far so good. I ordered a drink and the bartender corrected my pronunciation of Glenmorangie.  I was wrong to say Glen-more-rang-ee. But he also pronounced it wrong saying glen-mor-anj. Like it was French. It's actually glen-MOR-anjee.  Either way if your smarter at spirits than the customer your not. Becuase they are still a customer. Disagreeing with their opinion is a bad idea. It's their opinion. Giving them the facts when they ask is okay if they ask.

Waiting on the food.

Bartender redeemed himself by going to check up on the chicken I ordered. It's taking a while. But such is the nature of chicken. It takes longer than a thin steak. About as long as a 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch steak.

Chicken came out. Adobo chicken with corn salsa and some sort of bean mixture. The chicken was very good. Nice presentation as well. The corn salsa was good. But the beans were a bit bland. Ok very bland. And a bit crusted on the top like I got the ones that form the crust at the top after being under a heat lamp. Overall the food was 3.5 stars out of 5.

The service by the bartender went from 2.5 stars to 4. He kicked onto high gear.

The atmosphere is always nice. 4 stars out of 5.

Doing better. The price is 2 stars out of 5. Too expensive guys. 15 to 20% less would be perfect.