Park & Orchard Restaurant

11/09/09

I won't be going back.....

by music muse at Citysearch

I have been dining at Park and Orchard for years. My daughter likes to go there because she is a vegetarian. The past few times we have visited, I felt that the place had gone down a little, but this last visit was the end! We visited last night to celebrate my daughter's birthday (remember this fact, it's important).

We were seated promptly and even though there was hardly anyone in the restaurant we got a seat right by the kitchen. Ughhh...not wanting to appear difficult, we stayed.

The waiiter came over with menus after we had been waiting five minutes, no big deal. We ordered martinis and they arrived promtly. So far, so good.

The waiter seemed VERY eager to take our order. He must have come to the table at least five times. When we finally ordered our meal, I made a point of telling him, " We are not in a hurry - we'd like to eat at a relaxed pace. Please do not put our order f or entrees in until we have finished our salads". His repsonse,"No problem".

So as we are eating our salads, out come our dinners. The gentleman who was delivering our meals was not our waiter. And before he tried to put our meals down, he tried to take away our half eaten salads. I politely told him that we were not through with

our salads, and asked him to take our food back.

I called our waiter over and explained what had happened. He apologized and said that it wasn't his fault. He put our ticket to the side, but the kitchen staff grabbed it...yuh, right.

When we finished our salads, I asked if they would please re-deliver our meals. My husband's was too hot to eat, mine - cold. So my dinner went back to the kitchen for a second time,while my family ate.

When we completed our meals, we ordered an after diiner drink and a piece of pie for my husband and me to share. My daughter, always weight conscious, skipped dessert. I'd say we'd taken about 3 or 4 bites out of our pie, when the waiter appeared, said, "I forgot - we have a special occasion" and whisked our dessert away. A few minutes later, he reappeared with our half eaten pie, a candle stuck in it. Oh Lord, how tacky.....

This meal was well over $100...probably approaching $150 with the tip. The food was OK but the service was just awful! I have never felt so rushed in a restaurant in my life. There is simply no excuse for such poor service and carelessness. In these times of economic hardship, restaurants are closing left and right and vying for the patronage of those who have discretionary funds. I'd prefer to spend my money somewhere that appreciates my busniess. And as I said earlier - I won't be going back!

• Pros: the martinis were good
• Cons: see below

04/09/09

answer to Greedy owner review

by vtwinguy at Citysearch

just read a review on my favorite restaurant and it seems very harsh and unrealistic. the reviewer wanted the waitress to not charge him for things that she was supposed to charge for? isn't that stealing? not charge him because it was him? is that fair to all the other customers? would you want someone working for you that was not doing their job?

if your answer to any of these is yes i would want to have an employee stealing from me, then you can agree with this reviewer, but i have been there many times and this restaurant will do absolutely anything you ask. I am not surprised the owner did not want this customer back.

• Pros: wide wide variety on everything
• Cons: sometimes seems a little rushed

01/16/09

I agree with the last reviewer

by stoswald23 at Citysearch

I have been going to the P & O for 17yrs (at least), and I must say I have never had a complaint. However come of late I can clearly feel the strain between staff and ownership. Everyone has it hard now, but when I go out I dont need to be reminded of it. The staff is more than helpful (for the most part). Hopefully they will be able to pull it back together, and remain the 'institution" we all remember.

• Pros: service good, food ok

11/11/08

greedy owner who overcharges for food and doesn't care if you come back or not

by northjoiseydood at Citysearch

I have been eating at Park and Orchard for sometime on Saturday evenings. I like potatoes with my dinner as opposed to rice. I have told the waitstaff everytime that I would like to substitute potatoes instead of rice which most meals come with. Everytime the waitstaff has complied with my request. I had a waitress this Saturday that never waited on us before. I asked for potatoes and she said there would be an additional charge of $2.95 for the potatoes. i explained that i never paid extra for potatoes before and since she was adamant, i asked to speak to the owner. I explained to the owner and he said if he knew who substituted potatoes for rice without charging they would be fired. He said its the restaurants policy to charge extra for potatoes. It wasnt the extra three bucks for the pottaoes but more the principal. In these tough economic times, it seems greedy to chage extra for potatoes. I apid for the potatoes but will never eat there again. as far as the food goes, its average and nothing special. After my meal was finished, I told the owner that I would never be back and he didnt care. I'd recommend Risotto house or Paisiano's on Park Avenue in Rutherford instead.

• Pros: none really. food is just average
• Cons: greedy owner and miserable waitstaff

06/21/03

Amazing Taste & Portions

by rexsally at Citysearch

The best damn restaurant in the NY/NJ/Conn metro area. The quality, portion and price far exceed any other establishment in the area.

From the Appetizers to the Main Dishes to the Infinite Wine List and Amazing Deserts (Key Lime Pie and Carrot Cake are First Rate!!), The Park & Orchard is first rate!!

• Pros: Great value, Easily acessable
• Cons: None

12/16/02

No red meat but great anyway

by johanswg at Citysearch

An outstanding menu with great variety. Although the chef avoids red meats, you won't even notice that unless you are in the market for steak for two or something of the sort. The wine list is outstanding as well. The tables can be crowded and the ambience noisy. No reservations taken and waits can be long if you arrive after 6:30 so plan to go early.

• Pros: menu variety, wine list
• Cons: crowded, expensive