Last weekend, we went to Brio Tuscan Grille in South Park. We were celebrating the birthday of a 16-year-old young man and had reserved a table for 16. The morning of our dinner, Nathan received a call from Brio to confirm our reservation and to ask us if we'd like the small, private dining room, or if we'd prefer being out in the main dining area with some tables put together. We chose the small dining room. I was very impressed with their asking which we wanted. I know they can't always give patrons the option but it is nice to know that when possible, there is a choice.
When we arrived, we realized we'd made the reservation for one too many and only needed 15 place settings. Our servers, Mandy and Phyllis had no problem with clearing away a seat, nor did they act miffed at one less cover from which to generate income.
I recognized Mandy from a couple of months earlier when we had eaten there at a table of 20 for a Charlotte Tweetup. I was glad to have her as our server again as I had been neglect in blogging about her good service from that earlier visit, plus she was already familiar with my allergy card. It's the ever-important list of ingredients that I am allergic to. Spices, foods and the warning that even touching my food with a contaminated hand or utensil can send me to the hospital, are all written on my allergy card.
Mandy and Phyllis gave us some time to look over the menu and select some appetizers as most of us already had a drink we'd brought to our table from the bar. They came back, we picked a few items, and Mandy asked me for my allergy card to take to the chef. Moments later, Chef Ben Hedges came out to talk to me about what would be safe for me to eat. Nathan and I always appreciate when a Chef does this and the other adults at the table were very impressed, too. Not all restaurants have a Chef who will take time away from the kitchen on a Saturday night to come out and talk to me.
I had been interested in a dish with lobster and crab but he was concerned about Old Bay seasoning being a problem. The last time I had dined at Brio, I enjoyed the Pasta Alla Vodka without the pancetta. Since we knew it was safe and could be made vegetarian style without the ham, I ordered it. So did two other adults (but with the ham).
The food came out and it was delicious! Everyone raved about each dish. Nathan had ordered a dish with beef tenderloins and mashed potatoes. He loved it! The other couple that had the Vodka pasta I ordered were thrilled with their choice.
Mandy and Phyllis did a great job. They were attentive without being obtrusive. Mandy was very on-the-ball with our drinks and in helping me select a wine with my dinner. When it was time for dessert, the only complaint any of us had was that there are too few selections of full sized desserts. They have these tiny tea cup sized portions and they can be a little unsatisfying.
I'm mad at myself for forgetting I had coupons out of the Citipass Coupon book for a free entrée with the purchase of an entrée! We could have saved the price of two because I went through the trouble of getting one coupon out of a friend's book! I can't believe I did that, considering how the economy is and so many of us are on a budget…I'm sure anyone else would feel the same. I'm still kicking myself. Sure, I still have the coupons for another time, but I'm not sure when we'll get back. As much as we enjoy Brio, it can be a bit pricey and we tend to reserve it for either special occasions or use it as a rare "splurge."
Overall, I highly recommend Brio. They take great care of me, someone who is NOT easy to feed because of my allergies, vegetarianism, and I'm rather picky when it comes to service. After spending 20+ years in food and beverage, I know how things should run in order to go smoothly. The staff at Brio always provides a great dining experience and the food is fantastic! A+
When we arrived, we realized we'd made the reservation for one too many and only needed 15 place settings. Our servers, Mandy and Phyllis had no problem with clearing away a seat, nor did they act miffed at one less cover from which to generate income.
I recognized Mandy from a couple of months earlier when we had eaten there at a table of 20 for a Charlotte Tweetup. I was glad to have her as our server again as I had been neglect in blogging about her good service from that earlier visit, plus she was already familiar with my allergy card. It's the ever-important list of ingredients that I am allergic to. Spices, foods and the warning that even touching my food with a contaminated hand or utensil can send me to the hospital, are all written on my allergy card.
Mandy and Phyllis gave us some time to look over the menu and select some appetizers as most of us already had a drink we'd brought to our table from the bar. They came back, we picked a few items, and Mandy asked me for my allergy card to take to the chef. Moments later, Chef Ben Hedges came out to talk to me about what would be safe for me to eat. Nathan and I always appreciate when a Chef does this and the other adults at the table were very impressed, too. Not all restaurants have a Chef who will take time away from the kitchen on a Saturday night to come out and talk to me.
I had been interested in a dish with lobster and crab but he was concerned about Old Bay seasoning being a problem. The last time I had dined at Brio, I enjoyed the Pasta Alla Vodka without the pancetta. Since we knew it was safe and could be made vegetarian style without the ham, I ordered it. So did two other adults (but with the ham).
The food came out and it was delicious! Everyone raved about each dish. Nathan had ordered a dish with beef tenderloins and mashed potatoes. He loved it! The other couple that had the Vodka pasta I ordered were thrilled with their choice.
Mandy and Phyllis did a great job. They were attentive without being obtrusive. Mandy was very on-the-ball with our drinks and in helping me select a wine with my dinner. When it was time for dessert, the only complaint any of us had was that there are too few selections of full sized desserts. They have these tiny tea cup sized portions and they can be a little unsatisfying.
I'm mad at myself for forgetting I had coupons out of the Citipass Coupon book for a free entrée with the purchase of an entrée! We could have saved the price of two because I went through the trouble of getting one coupon out of a friend's book! I can't believe I did that, considering how the economy is and so many of us are on a budget…I'm sure anyone else would feel the same. I'm still kicking myself. Sure, I still have the coupons for another time, but I'm not sure when we'll get back. As much as we enjoy Brio, it can be a bit pricey and we tend to reserve it for either special occasions or use it as a rare "splurge."
Overall, I highly recommend Brio. They take great care of me, someone who is NOT easy to feed because of my allergies, vegetarianism, and I'm rather picky when it comes to service. After spending 20+ years in food and beverage, I know how things should run in order to go smoothly. The staff at Brio always provides a great dining experience and the food is fantastic! A+
