08/21/09

A Restaurant With Bad Customer Service

by chinina

Came to Abacus which coincidentally fell on Restaurant Week. This review comes from somebody that is in the restaurant industry.

To make reservations, I had to give a credit card number to be charged $25/person in case of no show. I asked the hostess if Restaurant Week menus were offered at 5PM and she repeated the $25 no show policy. Thanks for answering my question.

We ordered the RW 3-course meal and also did the wine pairing which was an extra $30 more. We also tried the Lobster Shooters that are so popular (another $20) and found it to be different, but not as great as everyone else has been raving. Fried, chewy lobster soaking in sake cups of orange colored sweet n'sour sauce.

The food was good, not spectacular and I guess the incident that taints this whole experience was when the hostess (an older lady) came to our table during the main course and informed us that we were taking too long to eat and "As stated to you on the phone, we need to have the table back for another reservation." First of all, no one even mentioned that we were being timed, they were too busy making sure I knew the no-show policy. Secondly, we spent a good deal of money so far and you're going to tell us to rush through our main course, dessert and wine accompaniments? I don't care how classy or exclusive you think your restaurant is, that is rude in all etiquette circles. Perhaps they need to re-think how they're scheduling their tables to allow ample time for their guests to enjoy their food.

The food was good, not great. The attitude needs to be checked. Abacus needs to be honored to have guests, not the other way around. And this one experience has made me not want to come back ever again.

• Pros: The GOOD food, not great, but good.
• Cons: Told us to eat faster so they could give our table away

08/05/09

unrealized potential

by cmk1126

Here's the problem with Abacus: they cut too many corners. Sorbet isn't a course, but they count it as one. So I was given 8 courses rather than the 9 promised on the menu. And the single cheese plate was not adequate for a table of 6. Also, last visit I got a nickel-sized portion of foie gras (most other tasting menus give at least 4 times that much). The service isn't particularly friendly or prompt. The wine recommended wasn't particularly good. The food was pretty much OK, with occasional flashes of inspiration. The prices are out of line with the quality of food. Etc. There are much better places in the price range, and I intend to visit them instead.

• Pros: occasionally very nice food
• Cons: doesn't provide value

03/22/09

Over Rated!

by Morena

Decided to try this place because the reviews on this page were not too bad. The ceasar salad was really, really good. Then things progressively started to go downhill. The food was brought to us by a server who was really confused on who had ordered what. The lobster shooters were cold and plated in really weird little shot glasses - hence Shooters, I know- I never knew trying to eat the little buggers would be so much work. We were left unattended for very long periods of time after each course. . the icing on the cake had to be when I went into the ladies room. It looked like a hot mess! The counters had water all over them, could not set my bag down, the stalls... well, let's say someone forgot to flush..Oh my! .... It was not all that they made it out to be. The bill, well let's say I hope they take the extra money and hire someone to clean those bathrooms...YIKES! Not what I would expect walking into this place.

• Pros: Food presentation
• Cons: No attention to detail

03/09/09

Abacus...How Disappointing

by ReedDallas

Put me in the column of reviewers that say this is a highly overated restaurant that does not deserve its 'Five Star' Zagat rating. We were a party of two and we had booked our reservation a month in advance. The service was horrible. A party of sixteen booked a reservation one hour before being seated and our waiter, who happened to be the Wait Captain, was incapacitated when this party of sixteen was seated in our section. He was serving twenty people single-handed. We were having the nine course chef's wine pairing with a fixed price of $300.00 plus tax each. It was a dinning nightmare. The wines were served from 'Splits' and the waiter was so harried that he would open the wine and pour them immediately; as a result, the wines were so tight that over half of them never opened-up and were either tooth-ache sweet or just this side of turpentine. Certainly not worth the $600.00 we paid for an advertised Five Star "Wine Pairings" experience. The restaurant manager and the waiter kept apologizing citing the economy as the reason for the poor service, ironically not enough customers, and offering to give us " the experience we should have gotten on our next visit". Fat chance that is ever going to happen. The restaurant was as noisey as an internet cafe and had the ambiance of one, with all the I-Phone and Blackberry's going off. The service was so bad that the plates could not be handled when served due to the long wait on the keep-warm shelf. Kent Rathbun promises a five star backyard barbeque experience, and, on that promise he delivered: After the first three fish courses which were delightful, everything tasted like pasty grits and liquid smoke. On the plus side, the presentations were beautiful when they arrived. Most often the nine courses were served by impersonal kitchen help. My suggestion is that if you are one who has to find out for themself, as I am, go lightly and stick to a menu selection and select your own wine from their wine list.

12/26/08

Abacus—Tasteful Art!

by KurtWvS

We love the design of this place.. and the design of everything they present. Tastes so so SO good! This is one of the most respected and best downtown restaurants in Dallas P-E-R-I-O-D. My friends esteem all people who work here. Is it expensive? Yes, like so many on its level. Do they earn their way to the top of your list through hard work, attention to detail and excellence? Yes. Chef Kent Rathbun is a warmhearted, disciplined and extremely creative commander. Hey, he has got to be to keep pulling it off as he consistently does year after year. His following will tell you this as well. Kent is a sharpshooter that aims to please and he even opens up his lovely home for his guests.. as well as his Texas-sized-generous heart. (I only mean sharpshooter as he goes for perfection in several areas and seems to attain it). Give it a try, but be careful ’cause it's romantic to the hilt!

• Pros: The unique ambience, attentive service and excellent quality
• Cons: slightly pushy with their lobster shooters (we don’t drink)

10/14/08

Eclectic five-star dining in a stylish atmosphere on McKinney.

by Contributor

The Scene
The open layout includes plush indigo carpets, champagne-colored walls and burnt-orange ceilings, creating an urbane and chic canvas. Miro-inspired fabrics cloak semicircular booths. Fresh orchids, sexy lighting and noise-effacing fabrics make for intiate dining, even on a packed Monday night.

The Food
Lobster-scallion shooters are a signature; fried lobster dumpling and warm red chili-coconut sake sauce, downed in one shot. The ahi tuna roll is presented in a beautiful yin-yang pattern. Corvina sea bass on vegetable couscous excels; the crisp outer edge and delicate meat sing with chive oil and crisp vegetables. Beef with lemongrass is spicy and sensuous, marrying skinny rice noodles with chili-basted prawns and asparagus. Mac and cheese with truffle oil and prosciutto is mandatory.

06/18/08

Great food and service

by scarletmars

I called for a last minute reservation for an hour later. The hostess asked if it was for a special occasion and it was for my husband's birthday. We were seated promptly and the waiter was very nice. We had the lobster shooters (which are ok) but the Duck 3 ways was the best dish I've ever had. I would go there just to eat that (but I just saw on their new menu that they don't have it). even my husband who hates duck, loved it. It's been awhile since we were there so i don't remember what the entrees were but i know we had no problems with them. the service was attentive. then they bought out a free dessert for my husband's birthday and also they printed a menu with "happy birthday Kevin" on it with Trey's signature(he was the chef who was on Top Chef). I thought it was a very nice touch, since a month before we went to Shinsei, where the other Top Chef contestant works, and it was such a horrible experience.

• Pros: great food, great waitstaff
• Cons: it's pricey, but not for fine dining

05/30/08

Great food, good service

by mkwright4

This was a very solid dining experience. We had several appetizers, including some interesting salads and really good foie gras. The steak I had was very tasty, with a truffle mashed potato that was good, but the texture wasn't quite where I'd want it. Their lamb was out of this world and the other sides were top notch.

Service was very good, if once or twice a little inattentive. But nothing we had any problems with. Great help with the wine -- they actually gave us a bit better bottle for the same price as the one I ordered. It all made for a very nice night out and highly recommended.

• Pros: Great food, with a few outstanding highlights
• Cons: Pricey

02/28/08

The best in Dallas

by br549007

My wife and I ventured to Abacus after seeing Trey on Top Chef. It was an instant for winner for us. We especially loved their nine course wine pairing, which was phenomenal. We love it considering it is high end, the food is fantastic and we can dress to the nines if we want, but we can also dress down a bit as well. This is one of our staples when we want to be pampered.

01/17/08

Disappointed........

by dobie88

I thought about it for a week, but after a second try at Abacus, I have to share my disappointing experience. Scenario: party of 8, friendly greeting by manager to birthday girl, great wine service by our waiter. Then the 30 minute wait till our orders were taken. The 40 minutes till our "small plates" came out. And they were small. How about 1 ravioli and 1 small link of meat for $16-18? Then the 50 minute wait till our "big plate". Overcooked, small portion, and salty sauce masked the natural flavor of the sea bass. I've never had sea bass so well done.

I guess being a foodie, I expected a returned trip to Abacus to be memorable and food worthy of a 5 start title. I think management should focus on the timing and quality of their dishes more.

• Pros: Nice ambience, valet only
• Cons: Long wait for meal, salty dishes