The kitchen at Trois before the frenzy began.
Sure, we like to dine, and we like to share our opinions about places we eat, but we are not really “foodies” or snobs about this stuff. Case in point, it took us almost a year to finally make it to [tag]Atlanta Magazine’s “Best Restaurant for 2007[/tag] – Trois. Before I give my opinions about this experience, I feel I should say that we do not enjoy giving a negative review. We feel a little guilty. Ok – down to business. This place is NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, the “best” restaurant in Atlanta. And I feel a little sorry for them for having the burden of this label. But even if my expectations had not been raised by the various acclaims for this trendy spot, I would have noticed the failures of this place. A few small nit-picky things: place-settings were incomplete (missing a glass and some essential utensils, failure to give replacement utensils); failure to keep water glass full.
All can be overlooked by otherwise good service and/or excellent food. Alas, neither of these were present tonight. The appetizers were nice, a lump crabmeat thingy and a sampler for mid-town restaurant week, but then we waited almost an hour for our entrees. And they got them wrong. After waiting for them to get it right, we dug in. They were fine. No problems. But nothing to write about.
Our mediocre dining experience was nothing compared to what we witnessed around us. It was like watching the restaurant crumble before us. Every table around us had some problem. First, the solo guy in the booth on his cell phone complained that his Brandy was sour and headed for the door. Then, the guys next to us proceeded to have such an awful experience that they just gave up after an hour and left. Their entrees arrived before their appetizers then, after they sent back the entrees and waited 30 minutes for their appetizers, they got the wrong ones. It was a bad scene and the management was slow to respond. They wisely did not charge them for their drinks, but all they offered them was a weak offer for a future discount. No way those guys were ever coming back. The 4-top of elderly rich folk were also served their meals hours after they ordered it and without the necessary utensils. Really? Our seat near the open kitchen allowed us to listen as the wait staff reach a fever-pitch. All were clearly “in the weeds” and reeling from a poorly run machine.
Ok – and the moment you have all been waiting for – the toilet. The fancy toilet at Trois requires an engineering degree to flush. The sign on the door warns the ladies to “flush button on right” – but it took me 10 minutes to realize it was on the side of the toilet itself. Just stop trying so hard people. Give me a toilet I can flush, the food I ordered, and the fork I need to eat it. Seriously. My only positive recommendation – cool space, great cocktails. Get a drink at the bar then head to one of the many other far superior dining establishments in this fine city.
The un-flushable toilet at Trois.
Brutus gives it a mere one paw…
Brutus at the parade last year gave it 4 big paws up.
A view from the Sun Dial.
Me, Alison, Mom Judy in back, and Friend Jo Ann in front.
Brutus gives it 3 paws up (especially for the view.)