Great ambiance for great dining
The views, atmosphere, service - all are top notch at Piney Dell. We went there for nostalgic reasons and had the absolute best meal of our 10 day trip around Yellowstone. We sat enjoying our meal while watching Rock Creek roll by, peaceful and relaxing. Can't think of a nicer mealtime away from home.    [12 Aug 2006 23:01:44]

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Recommended Dishes: halibut, sirloin steak

     ­Rosemary French   

Are their problems at Old Piney Dell?
Old Piney Dell has been a favorite of ours over the years, but our most recent visit there on July 7, 2007 was a disaster.

The evening started with the waiter describing that night's Special as "a 12 oz. NY steak with 6 breaded shrimp". We were considering the Special until it was delivered to the table next to us, with 3 rather than the represented 6 shrimp. When the customer asked where the other 3 shrimp were, he was told that he was given large shrimp and if they had given him 6 shrimp they would have been much smaller. Not only was he shorted on shrimp, he told the waiter that his steak was stone cold. The waiter told him that they were short handed in the kitchen and having lots of problems.

This spooked us a little, so we decided to order an appetizer, see if it was decent and then decide upon ordering an entree. We ordered the Blackened Shrimp with Smoke Jalapeno Aioli. After a long delay, they arrived, lukewarm, but with an excellent flavor, the aioli having just the right amount of fire. We decided we would chance entrees but pulled the waiter aside and discussed the need to get the food to the table hot. He assured us he would do better.

I ordered the walleye with wild rice pilaf and my wife ordered the 8 oz. beef filet with port-roquefort sauce. Again, after a very long wait, our orders arrived. My walleye was excellent with a nice wasabi tartar sauce, but instead of rice pilaf, I received three lonesome looking half slices of red potato and sweet potato strung across the plate. My wife's meal was a disaster. Rather than beef, she was served bison (another menu choice) that was very gamey. When she told the waiter it was bison, he insisted it was beef. He asked "Does it taste gamey" and she said it tasted so gamey it was inedible, which it was. The waiter simply said "Oh" and walked away.

Shortly thereafter the same waiter brought the dessert tray out to another table next to us and went into a prolonged description of one of the desserts. He was convinving enough that a number of the diners at the table ordered the dessert he had described. He then told them "We are out of that one"!!!.

In addition to the inedible food, we received no bread, no water refill and had to wait nearly a half hour for a second glass of wine.

They certainly were not swamped that evening, since at 7 p.m. there were approximately six 4 tops of diners.    [08 Jul 2007 20:25:15]

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     ­Prairie Diner