Had dinner at Mastros in Costa Mesa tonight for Valentines day. Dinner at Mastros is always great! Tonight however the restaurant seemed like they were going too fast.
WRONG TABLE CHOICE
When I made the reservation I told them I’d like a seat away from other couples. I also reminded them upon my arrival. What did they do? They sat me in the bar area!!!! I thought ok.... I have a reservation and it’s Valentine’s day and they sit me in the bar? Then it got worst… Even though there were several tables open... They sat another couple right beside my girl and I.... The other couple may have been 2 feet between our tables!!!!!
I could understand if the restaurant was busy but we arrived for a 5 PM reservation to avoid the crowd AND in an empty restaurant (they'd just opened) they cram two couples next to one another. I was distracted by the other couples conversation the entire time.
ASSEMBLY LINE APPETIZERS
The appetizers are usually perfect. In fact, I strongly recommend the crab stuff mushrooms and sautéed shrimp but not tonight. Both of our appetizers tasted like they were prepared cruise ship, assembly line style. You know the assembly line appetizers that were probably good when they were hot but by the time they arrive they are lukewarm.
THE LAW OF AVERAGES... Mastros GENERALLY does well.... Yet tonight they RUINED my holiday!!!!
I am a faithful Mastros customer. The food is usually good and the service is generally GREAT but in their haste to serve people fast food style, Mastros ruined a very special Valentine's day. It sucked... I am sitting there listening to the waiter talk about the success of the Valentine’s holiday to another waiter (I.e. We served 900 Saturday night, we are serving 950 tonight and 1000 people tomorrow) while my experience was very poor. The waiter did tell the other server… “It’s good but it wears on you…” Apparently the crowd from the night before left him exhausted…. Aren’t restaurants suppose to be enthused by large crowds? In a weird way, I felt sorry for the waiter but more sorry for me.
I recommend you go to Mastros on a slow night or even an average one but I can’t recommend you patronize them on a special, high volume holiday. The entres are great when they are served correctly. The bone in rib eye and fillet rock! The appetizers I mentioned are great 90% of the time. Tonight however Mastros let me down!
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