"This experience, along with my previous visit to a Daily Candy Event, leads me to believe that Octavio Becerra might have overstayed his welcome at the Corporate Patina Group. It seems focused on the bottom line, and perhaps if the restaurant loses its buzz, they might reconsider their approach.
As for the review:
**Food: 3.5 stars** (possibly influenced by my expectation due to its reputation)
**Service: 1 star**, simply because that is the lowest rating I can give.
Six of us dined there yesterday, sharing several dishes along with a few bottles of wine. Here’s a quick rundown:
- **Porkfolio**: Excellent charcuterie that everyone enjoyed.
- **Cheese Plate**: Great selection with excellent Japanese tomatoes and some nicely sweet pickled fennel and apples.
- **Risotto with Shaved Black Truffles**: Very nice, though the risotto could have used a bit more cooking.
- The soup, a squash variety, was delicious and rich with butter.
- I had the sea bass, which was good but slightly overcooked.
- Tried the duck as well; it was decent but a bit dry.
- The house-made butter was fantastic.
- **Desserts**: The Valrhona chocolate pudding was overly sweet, the bread pudding similarly sweet, while the pumpkin crème brûlée was quite good.
Now, onto the service: it was chaotic and frustrating. Our waiter initially pressured us to order, showing impatience as we chatted and got to know a new member of our group. He treated us like we were inexperienced diners, sighing and acting as if we had never eaten out before. He even asked if small plates were unusual for us, which I found infuriating. He failed to mention any off-menu prices and seemed annoyed when I inquired.
While he eventually filled our wine glasses, it was after I had to ask him to do so. He then inquired if we liked everything, but in a tone that suggested he already assumed we wouldn’t be satisfied. When the check arrived, he was suddenly all smiles and eager for a good tip after his unprofessional demeanor. Despite having enjoyed my time with friends and not wanting to spoil the night, I smiled and said everything was fine, leaving him the standard 20% tip, though I felt he didn’t deserve it.
In total, we spent around $460, including wine, tax, and tip. While the food was good, it didn’t match the price point, and the poor service really brought the experience down. I plan to contact them about the disappointing waiter, but I’m also reluctant to invest my time when I feel that they have not properly trained their staff. Ultimately, I may just let my spending do the talking and skip the feedback."
