10/23/09

Events Coordinator is Aweful - Food Mediocre

by Event Coordinator

I am an event planner who formerly worked as the catering and events manager at a fine dining restaurant in the Galleria.

On the request of my client I booked a private event in the primavera room.

I have hear from others that they were not very impressed with the food so I was hesitant to have such an important dinner with them.

From the moment I called to plan the event the Events Manager Ivonne was always rushed and did not try work with me on the menu but I accepted that and moved on because my client wanted to do the event with them. We arrived and the room looked lovely and the service staff was excellent. However, that is where anything I have good to say stops.

The salad soup combo was mediocre and served on a small plate and the presentation was nothing to write home about. We served the choice of a fish or filet to our guests. Another events coordinator ordered the fish and I ordered the steak. She said her fish was aweful and my steak as well as everyones at our table was severly undercooked. I personally did not want to complain because I did not want to cause a scene at such an intimate dinner but I was higly embarassed. I just had a few bites and left it.

The only good thing about the dinner was the chocolate cake for dessert.

The next morning my other event coordinator was so sick she was in the bathroom half the day. The other meting planner was so sick she threw up.

We had a 12 hour conference that day so I was too busy to even call and talk to anyone.

However, after working an event the last two days and barely getting any sleep I returned to the office to check my e-mails this morning and recieve a bill from the restaurant as we were having it direct billed to our account. I decided to call Ivonne, the events coordintor and she was very defensive and told me that she was in the kitchen watching them plate the food.

I have worked in this industry for 12 years and have experience as a Restaurant Events Manager and if I had been at the restarant i would have greeted my client and not just stayed in the kitchen

She did not seem to care that several people were ill and proceeded to tell me that the restaurant does not have a general manager and that they had 300 people in for lunch and everyone was too busy to talk to me.

I have never had to write a bad review before but I feel that this is an instance where it was very necessary.

If you like dealing with rude events coordintors who apparenlty don't care abour repeat business or your guests - take them here!

• Pros: Pretty Space and Good Service
• Cons: Food and Rude Events Manager

10/01/09

Give them a chance! :)

by lattelady

I think too many people jumped to rating this place too soon. This restaurant is not yet 2 years old, and most of the reviews were written soon after the grand opening. By now, they have straightened out the kinks.

I sampled a variety of dishes during Restaurant Week, and everything was really delicious. The waiter was friendly and attentive. We had a great experience at the Grove! :)

• Pros: atmoshpere, food variety, view

09/18/09

So-So

by jftvette

Certainly a place I will not patronize again. Shrimp Brochette was poorly presented and tasted very fishy. Very small portions (3 medium sized shrimp).

• Pros: Attentive valet parking, not crowded
• Cons: Price, menu selection