I just returned from yet another disappointing trip to the Hamilton Inn. My wife and I have continued to hold out hope that this place will one day live up to the promise that its great location and décor would lead you to believe it has. But as we all know a great restaurant is all about the details and unfortunately the Hamilton Inn has focused on all the wrong details. They have created a great atmosphere, but a completely lack luster menu, which seems like a mix and match of somebody’s favorites foods (obviously somebody who has a thing for lobster because it is featured in at least three of the menu items). They do a decent job with some of the basics like cheese burgers and fries, but have managed to royally F’ up in most other areas by veering from incredibly pedestrian pasta choices (penne vodka) to seemingly random seafood inclusions like shrimp po-boys. Even though the menu appears to have been created by somebody with a serious case of ADHD and a complete inability to look beyond their own tastes the food is usually prepared well by what seems like an experienced kitchen staff. Where the Hamilton Inn goes incredibly awry is in their hiring of clueless front of the house staff. They have an excellent team of runners, bar tenders and bus boys, but for whatever reason seem to only hire waiters with no zero restaurant experience (and fair complexions). I hope that other people in the neighborhood will read this review and choose to patronize any of the other excellent dinning establishments in the area (Madame Claude’s, Skinner’s Loft, Soul Flavors, The Embankment or La Conguita) and that this place goes out of business so the location can be taken over by a professional operation.
more