Regular Customers WILL NEVER RETURN
My wife and I have been patronizing this restaurant for over 10 years, since it was known as Jonathans. When it was purchased by new owners last year, we were optimistic, especially after our first dining experience there. However, we have visited three more times over the past 8 months, and every experience has been progressively worse.

Our visit before last, we waited for nearly 90 minutes for our food. The owner came to our table and TOLD US that if we were upset now, it wasn't going to get any better, because the food we ordered (rare prime rib) was not even close to being rare. Can you imagine?

Last night, we were told there would be a 5 minute wait. After waiting for a full hour, we were finally seated. Then, we waited over 20 minutes before a waiter came to take our order... only after we complained. I ordered the escargot appetizer. My wife ordered the medium rare Prime Rib special with french onion soup and I ordered rare Prime Rib with the caesar salad.

I ordered my standard cocktail - a grey goose martini "cold, dry, up and dirty." It took them 10-15 minutes to bring out the drink. When they did, I had to scratch my head and wonder who the heck had made it, especially since they have been known in the past as a martini bar. It was as if they had simply poured the vodka and olive juice into a glass and served it. I know my martinis, and I can say with certainty that this drink was neither shaken nor stirred. They didn't even bring out olives until I asked three times!

As usual, the food was extremely SLOW. My salad was a real disappointment, especially considering I paid EXTRA for the caesar. It was half the size of any side salad I have ever been served. The Escargot was still pretty good, although they have cut out several ingredients, and are really scrimping on the presentation. (Remember, I have been eating this for YEARS) While the flavor of my wife's french onion soup was good, the cheese had obviously been melted in a microwave.

When our entrees arrived, my rare prime rib was barely medium rare, and my wife's medium prime was definitely well done. Both of us had ordered the garlic mashed potatoes, which were practically inedible. Disgusting. I'm a pretty good cook myself, and I don't know how you screw up mashed potatoes, but they really did. The meat was tasteless. It really was a terrible meal. Again.

What really was the kicker was the bill. Our server was aware that our food was wrong (he used the excuse they had run out of more rare cuts of meat, but this was the special and it wasn't even 7:00 PM) and that we were unhappy. Additionally, when we had the problem of being seated and not seeing our waiter for 20 minutes, we had been promised that the restaurant would pay for "one of our meals." When we got the check, we noticed that they took our son's MACARONI & CHEESE off as a comp ($5.00) and charged us FULL PRICE for everything else, including $7.00 for the crappy martini.

There was a time where Jonathans/Macullens had the best prime I had ever eaten... ANYWHERE. (And I am pretty well travelled, and enjoy eating out at fine restaurants) While the price was high, it was worth it to me. In fact, the food and service at Jonathans/Macullens was what inspired me personally to learn to cook and inspired my love of fine cuisine. However, I am very sad and sorry to report that the swill served up here and the poor service offered isn't worth a fraction of what they charge. The facility is showing its' age, the restaurant is dirty. The staff and management are either unwilling or unable to provide the experience that was once available, and the new ownership is truly running this once fine establishment into the ground.

Whenever we are there, I see many people turned away when there is available seating. I hear constant apologies for the quality of food. I would predict Macullens will probably be out of business soon if nothing changes. We'll never return to Macullens.    [28 May 2006 13:14:31]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: None.

     ­Anonymous