Lockett's Kitchen - Menu

It’s been many years since my wife and I had gone out on New Year’s Eve and after this experience it may be years before we attempt to again.Before I get into t... read more It’s been many years since my wife and I had gone out on New Year’s Eve and after this experience it may be years before we attempt to again.Before I get into the review I want to say that I don’t know how to review the evening without sounding petty. We had been to Lockett's Kitchen on numerous occasions and seen the flyer for New Year’s the last time we dined. The service and food is always excellent. We had booked the 5:30 seating, and this should have been my warning for the evening. I had called several times to book the evening and after a few days of no response to my voicemail I was almost ready to just give up. I got the return call a few days later and booked the seating. No explanation as to why it took so long to get back to me, or that the restaurant was having a problem.We arrived at 5:30 and were seated immediately, again the service was great, our drink order was taken and everything appeared normal. However, it was almost an hour before we were able to place our dinner order, and then another half hour before the first course arrived. We then waited quite a while before the second course arrived. We questioned the waitress if there was problem and she informed us that the restaurant had had a flood a couple weeks prior and was working from a secondary kitchen. I really felt for the wait staff and the kitchen, but I wish I had known this before we arrived. It seems they had lots of time to contact the guests for the evening to let them know there may be an issue. We had traveled quite a distance in a snow storm to be there and would have probably still come, but we would have been prepared for the wait. After the second course we again waited until almost 8pm for the main course to arrive 2 ½ hours after we were seated (BTW 8 pm was when the second seating was to begin … they also had no idea there was a problem, and waited at the coat check, bar area for what must have been an hour for some people).Although the waitresses were excellent we just had a feeling (and it was our own thinking) that we should be rushing through the main course, and at that point my wife actually didn't even want the main course anymore it had been so long. We even asked for our dessert to go because the second seating were all standing waiting for the first seating to leave, so a relaxing coffee and dessert was out of the question. Lockett’s is not a cheap restaurant and New Year’s is like any place, you pay a little more for the evening…. It doesn’t feel very good to put out the money we did on the meal and drinks and feel like we should be leaving. Then to put a topper on the evening, when we went to pay we found out that there was only once Interac machine working so we would have to wait until it became available before we could pay the bill. Perfect end to the evening.All in all a very disappointing evening, which was unfortunate. I’m sure for the restaurant they made more on drinks being served because it took so long to get the food, and they would have made a few on the drinks served to the people who had to wait for an hour to get to their 8pm seating. I’m not sure what I expected but maybe an apology from the owner for the wait time, or a complimentary champagne drink for the inconvenience, anything … but we got nothing.I really like the restaurant and the food as well as the service, but this has left a very bad taste in my mouth (pardon the pun) and I really don’t think I would return. I again don’t want to sound petty, I understand that this flood could not have happened at a worse time for the owners, but look at it from our side. We had dished out $300+ for the evening and were not told there was problem …. Then waited forever for the food to arrive, again without an explanation until we asked. I have no idea what time the 8pm people were seated but I can’t imagine they would be too happy as well. I’m sure there will be a review from one of them very shortly.

Knowledgable friendly service, relaxed atmosphere and eclectic menu .Wine by the glass too expensive. Need to work on background music, non existent Appetizer w... read more Knowledgable friendly service, relaxed atmosphere and eclectic menu .Wine by the glass too expensive. Need to work on background music, non existent Appetizer wasn't quiet hot enough and main course was decent but one of those "wouldn't order it again " situations. Would try it again for sure as I understand the menu changes frequently. A dessert menu would be a bonus so we couple read and ponder options available.