The Rosario 1859 House

We live locally and have eaten here on a few occasions. It's been, just OK. This weekend, we had dinner there again and the food was the worst I have had at any restaurant in a long time. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

I went in for a couple drinks and sat at the bar.  The bartender was very friendly and courteous.  This place has been around a long time and I hope it is around for a lot longer.

Don't go here!

I hate to write that line in what could just be a "bad night"...but you can read the other reviews and decide.

I went here on a Saturday night, and the place had very few patrons (could this be an indicator?)

I had the baked Chicken wings appetizer.  Very tasty!  (without being fried!)

Then I had the scallops.  The meal took forever to come.  Then the scallops came overwhelmed with breadcrumbs.  (I wanted "light crumbs".)

I scraped off the ton of breadcrumbs and found a scallop.  The scallop was a tad chewy...I figured, OK....I have had overcooked, or over refrigerated scallops before...sometimes they can be a tad chewy  (Not the best, but heh, I figured I would live with it.)

After the 2nd one...I realized that there was something wrong with the scallops!  It had a taste that reminded me of some kind of cleaning fluid (?).  Not sure why.  It didn't have the taste of over-ripe fish....it had a "chemical" taste to it.  Was it me?  I asked someone on the table to try one...they put one in their mouth and spit it out.

To their credit, the waitress took it back and didn't charge me for it.  (I felt bad for the nice waitress.)  But that was my whole meal!  So after waiting forever for a meal, I left their without eating.  The waitress did not offer anything else....or offer to correct it.  (I probably would have said no to another meal, since the first one took so long, and I just wanted to get out of there.)

I also thought the price tag was a bit presumptuous.

The onion rings that came with the meal seemed like they were frozen onion rings from a package.  (Not home made or anything close.)

The 1859 has always been a nice meeting spot in Methuen, with a fireplace and good comfort food.  Like another poster said "The owner is incredibly friendly, and waitress the patrons are generally polite."  

When we left, I looked into the kitchen and saw a couple of young guys (18-19 years old?).  Were they running this kitchen?  Are any adults in charge?

Stopping in for a drink?  Maybe.  Stopping in for a meal?  I don't have the time, patience, and money to waste on a meal that doesn't meet the minimal requirements.  

Do the owners know anything about running a restaurant?  Or are they people who had the false idea that a restaurant "might be fun to own"?

Are they simply subsisting on their liquor license?  

Don't waste your time or money.

Any questions, private message me.