Fearing's Restaurant

02/22/09

Can't believe it!

by azeee at Citysearch

OMG, disapointed to put it mildly!!! As long time fans of Dean Fearing we believed that he could do no wrong. Well, our experiance last night was the definition of wrong. From being forced to wait in the overcrowded and LOUD bar for 45 minutes past our RESERVATION time for our table that just started our "relaxing" (sic) experiance. Then the true circus began, service failed miserably, then the food, ugh, while the dishes were imaginative and well presented the food was horrible. Spiced Filet tasted like liver, the Chicken Fried Lobster was overcooked and was more like chewing gum than food. The Black Bass, by a long margin, the worst piece of fish that I have ever had. We could not wait to leave. Speaking of service, the overpopulated staff were all stumbling over each other, breaking dishes, yelling across the restauraunt, bringing food back from multiple tables it was like watching a clown car of idiots. The final straw was as we were attempting to get out of this miserable, loud circus we waited very patiently for our bill, we then waited ten minutes for the bill to be picked up, we then recieve the bill with no credit card reciept. After waiting another 5 minutes I go to the server stand where a dozen or so reciepts were wadded up and asked, "has my credit card been run and if so can I please have a reciept". We FINALLY were allowed to leave and fought our way back through the SMALL OVERCROWDED LOUD bar.

Thank goodness for the four star Kraft Macaroni and Cheese when we arrived back home.

Dean, we hope that you can get the act together there and a little advice, we know that you are brilliant and have been so impressed with past experiences at the Mansion, please get back in the kitchen, organize the staff so they are not falling over each other and understand what good service is about and please lower the loud music or at least seperate out the wannabee bar goers and the people that are there to have a fine culinary experiance.

• Cons: Food, Service, loud small bar

01/04/09

Dean is in the house!

by ChefJB at Citysearch

I went for the New Year's Eve dinner (late seating) and was incredibly pleased. When we first entered through the hotel's main entrance and the Rattlesnake bar it was very crowded: Given that it was a holiday, I imagine that was not unusual. We were seated very promptly. The first course was a sampling of four different appetizers: soft scrambled eggs with Osetra caviar, a crab custard, fried oyster with dill potatoes, and smoked salmon on pumpernickle toast. I enjoyed the crab and oyster best. I found that they had the best texture and flavor. The eggs needed salt and the salmon was forgettable

(others at my table loved it.). Second course, fois gras with fig tart and apples. I cannot say enough good things about this dish. No misses there. Third course, lobster bisque...inedible. The lobster was a flavorless "cake" and the bisque itself was thick and grainy...off flavor that was slightly burnt/bitter. Just a strange dish. Main course was John Dory with lobster "thermador", potato gallet, and green beans. Fish was great - perfectly cooked but the gallet was greasy (more like hash browns from Waffle House). My dining partner had the Antelope. If it is one the menu ORDER IT. It alone is worth a trip. Dessert was a sampling of bites that were dissapointing except for the bananas foster bite. Yum. The portions were larger than expected and before the end of this meal I was full. The bread basket is ordinary except for the corn muffin. The wine list is exceptional as is the sommlier. Not stuffy, very helpful, very informed staff. Decor is flawless and the bathrooms live up to the hype - just lock the door. It is pricey ($685 for two - one bottle of wine) but not out of line with other fine dining establishments. (Les Halles, Restaurant August, Craft, Commander's Palace, Charlie Trotter's). If you can fit it into your itenery - go.

• Pros: Incredible dining rooms, wine list, and staff.
• Cons: In the mulit-dish courses there were misses.

12/07/08

Dean strikes out

by Saddly at Citysearch

Very disappointed in the quality of the food. The scallops were awful and the rest of the meal was just mediocre. There are many wonderful restaurants in Dallas, this is not one of them. I honestly do not know how Dean could put his name on this restaurant.

Thank god I was not with a customer.

• Pros: Nice decor
• Cons: Poor food and rushed service, overall bad experience