Black Labrador

Doesn't Recommend

Texas Tyke

Joined 2 years ago

Fishing for compliments. As an Englishman wandering in to a new pub in the States is always an adventure and I always look for the good things to pass on to fellow travellers. My trip to the Black Labrador left me searching for plusses.

The service was polite and prompt, and the waitresses outfits were charming, but that's about it.

I went for a standard British meal of Fish and Chips. I should have tried their Shepherds Pie !

From their size, the fish were apparently goldfish, not cod (and tasted more like pollock), the batter was too thick and not cooked in hot enough oil, and the 'chips' were fast-food fries. Very disappointing, especially for $13. Not much above Long John Silvers, I'm afraid.

Advice : if you do eat with the dog, try something else....

Doesn't Recommend

Loves2EatOut

Joined 2 years ago

Management, service, and experience are horrible. I've had to deal with the manager Armando on several occasions. His customer service and etiquette can be compared to that of a construction worker. I am truly shocked that this place continues to stay open. If it wasn't for the location and good beer selection, I'm sure it would close down in a week.

Doesn't Recommend

piperpiper

Joined 5 years ago

BAD FOOD AND OWNERSHIP. I

Doesn't Recommend

user500

Joined 3 years ago

One of the worst. Was at the Black Lab today for the 2nd Time in as many months. On my first visit, a Saturday about 7PM. I was with a group of about 20-25, that had reserved the Churchill room. Meals were preselected and paid for When we got there, the room was not ready, however they seemed to be doing a brisk business in the other areas. OK, they were a little busy, maybe, we got there a little earlier than they expected. The room was set up, in a unorganized way, with our help. The food was good, served slowly but OK. Then today again we had the Churchill Room reserved. We entered, no one there to greet anyone at the front door. Again we were a group of 20 -25. Some like myself had been there before we knew where the room was and went on in. About half of the party wandered out side and in the restaurant until one of the group rounded them up and showed them where to go. We filled the room. We were all seated, No Black Lab. employee in sight. Then a young woman came in to the room from the back, looked at all of us and left. A few minutes later she and another server appeared and started handing out menus & taking orders for beverages. The drinks came quickly. I was with a group that was seated in the middle of the room. They handed out the menus to all that were seated against the walls and windows and left. After about 20-30 minutes they returned and started taking orders from those that had been given menus. We were left sitting. They took orders from those with menus, picked up the menus and felt. After a few minutes, I got up, went to the front entrance,stop a server in her tracks, with a tray in her hand, and asked her to please give us menus. She apologized for missing us, gave us the menus, Then she immediately wanted our orders. We hadn't even had time to read the menu. Told her so,and she went on to do others things. We made our decisions and we sat there. We had to hail a server to take our order. She did and then we sat. The orders of all the other were delivered, they started eating. We were sitting. One or two tables, that had small children, got served first, then the others . We sat. The tables with the children finished, paid their bill and left. We sat. We flagged down a waitress and asked if she could please take out order.The remainder of the room were almost finished with their meals, we were sitting with no food. they were clearing tables when ours arrived. My food was room temperature at best, the others at out table said theirs were on the verge of being cold. We were so hungry and had waited so long we were afraid to ask that they take the food back and warm it up. The woman across from me had pancakes and the butter did not melt on them. If the food had been hot I would not be writing this because it was good. We were finished and ready to leave and had to again ask one of the staff for our bill. Then we had to sit again and wait for that. I was really tempted to just walk out, but I did not. I paid exactly what was on the check and left. This might be a good restaurant if it was organized a little better. They knew we were coming both times and both times they did not seem to have enough staff or people that cared enough to try . I do not plan on going back.

Recommends

KitchenInc

Joined 3 years ago

British cuisine. Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron?. The Black Lab delivers everything you could want in a British pub, specially, a large selection of British beers. It is one of the few places where you can ask for "a pint of the black stuff" and they'll actually know what you're talking about (Guinness for those who don't). Their black and tans are superb, as only a true British pub can deliver. But the absolute best thing about the black lab is the location. For those of you that have never been there, it almost feels as though you've been transported to London, cobbles and all.

A huge chess set adorns the outside and is always fun, specially after a few "pints of plain" (again, Guinness). By this time, though, you'll probably be ready for a spot of supper, and this is where the Black Lab shines. Order the Shepherd's Pie, the Bangers and Mash, or the traditional Fish and Chips and you'll start to wonder how it is possible that British cuisine has such a bad rep. I can't think of a meal I would rather have when I'm drunk than a big plate of shepherds pie, and a big plate it is, my SO and I usually share one plate and are more than satisfied.

While the prices might not be exactly cheap, they are certainly better than the city's only other British pub, The Red Lion, and when you taste the magnificent food offerings, you'll understand why the prices are such, and feel like you're getting a bargain.

Doesn't Recommend

NoBS

Joined 3 years ago

So So. From a true Brit.

Ground beef instead of Lamb in the shepherd pie? mostly cool whip with little to no custard? Adding 20% to our check for a party of 5 is a sure way to eliminate any chance of expressing your dissatisfaction of bad service.

Recommends

Sheredan

Joined 4 years ago

Awesome Shepherds Pie. They have the best bloody mary, I enjoy all the meals on menu, They have the best brunch on sunday and I just love this place. Great atmosphere and relaxing outdoor seating, its a great place

Recommends

goesout2eatalot

Joined 4 years ago

what an enjoyable place to eat. I fell in love with this resteraunt and have always enjoyed coming in!! The wait staff is adorable with there outfits and sometimes efficiant with there service, but its kinda hard to get great service when they are having to deal with rude customers who think that the whole world revolves around just them!! Its seems that if you come to a place like this you would understand that well good food always takes time to cook and will be cost more than a buck (thats what makes it fresh and delicious) but some people ruin the experiance for others when they are constantly being rude to the wait staff. If your having a bad day please go somewhere else or go be with your self and don't ruin it for everyone. I have always enjoyed coming to their establishment it just seems that lately they have been getting down right unclassy individuals coming in. Please don't come unless your going to be patient and classy, not rude and tacky..and if you don't have the money for good food, don't ruin for everyone around you and go down the street to the jack in the box or burger king its only three blocks over along with the rest of the FAST FOOD places.. thank you girls(staff) for always being wonderful and keeping a smile on your face and ours!!

Doesn't Recommend

Born

Joined 4 years ago

You Will Get Sick, Do Not Eat here!. A group from work went to eat fish and chips at the black labrador, the fish was breaded in what looked like corndog batter. Three of the people in the group ate fish and chips while the forth one did not. A few hours later all three people were throwing up and stomach pains, the whole night and the company had three people with sick leave the next day. I called the manager, and he denied that it was his fish and chips (we did not eat anything else, and only the people eating the fish and chips got sick). Obviously we are NEVER eating at the black lab again

Doesn't Recommend

houstonbubba

Joined 4 years ago

Weak food. They have a beautiful building, outside (in front of the pub) is great when it's warm or the sun is shining. Just don't expect to get nice food. The fish & chips and the beef Wellington are a joke. The salads are hit-and-miss. Mussels, burgers and sandwiches are O.K. Pity, this could be such a nice place!