Had 8pm reservations on a very rainy Friday night. At about 7:50pm while just arriving in Red Bank we received a phone call giving us a heads up that our table was just receiving their desert so our table wouldn’t be ready till about 8:15. No problem at all but I appreciated the courtesy call since there is little room to wait, especially if your not the only table waiting. Kudos for knowing how to manage your space.
Once again the meal and service was excellent. Once we arrived we requested our previous sever because she was so good, unfortunately we weren’t in her section but the server we had was equally as good.
Apps: homemade tortellini with peas - grilled asparagus
Everything was excellent again. I’m putting this food quality on par with Drew’s, I’m that impressed. The pork chop is the best I’ve ever had, so tender it practically melts in your mouth.
The sear on the scallops is so intense you expect them to be over cooked like a diner, but inside they are perfectly tender.
The skate…(who would ever think to eat a skate wing!!) while as polar opposites of anything in the world I find appetizing was actually good. It was a tad too fishy for me - but that’s just me - not a criticism of the dish, the flavor was excellent. It was prepared in a francaise type sauce and my wife thoroughly enjoyed it.
Desert was a mousse type special with a marshmallow topping and the caramel thing we had last time. Both were very good.
Very happy and this is going into my steady rotation of places I frequent.
@paryzer although we have never met from everything I have read of yours this place is right up your alley. Grab a nice amarone and take the infamous Mrs. P here, you will thank me.
Yes @NotJrvedivici This place looks right up our alley. I have been drooling over everyone’s reviews. I only wish it was closer. Maybe we can shut the place down one night and do a HoDown. I wonder what they would charge to rent the restaurant for an evening. I have to move closer to Central Jersey. I have to see if I can try this for an early dinner on a Sunday. I see they open at 4 on Sunday. I just hate the GSP traffic this time of year.
If you’re looking for an early taste of summer, two must haves are the apps - tomato tartare and the just-shucked English peas. I can’t get over how flavorful both dishes were. The entrees were solid as always, but those apps!!
We finally made it out to Semolina for our first, and unfortunately last, time. I was really looking forward to this restaurant after reading all of the raving reviews. It’s a shame, but the outstanding food was ruined by the horrible VERY RUSHED condescending service by our server from hell Karen. Talk about eat it and beat it. She couldn’t wait to get rid of us. We have never been treated with such disrespect. I guess I shouldn’t of mentioned that we came from 1 hour away up North. They must really hate the Bennies down south I purposely made an ungodly reservation of 4PM and requested a larger 4 top so we could relax and enjoy our dinner before it got crowded. When we got there at 4 PM I asked if we could possibly have a larger 4 top. Right away Karen says, we are fully booked but we might be able to squeeze you in, but you HAVE to leave at 5:30. I said no problem. So of course Karen seats us at the shittiest 4 top by the front door and hostess station, where all of the workers congregated all night long and whispered in front of us. Of course when we left there were only 3 tables taken and we could have sat anywhere. Karen then pressured us to order everything up front in this empty restaurant. I gave her a couple of appetizers to put in while we decided on entrees but she would ‘t even put the appetizers in until I gave her the entrees 5 minutes later. I tried to tell her we don’t want to be rushed and don’t want the entrees on top of the appetizers and she said don’t worry the meal will be paced accordingly. So after we had our appetizers I asked Karen to wait a few minutes before firing up the entrees, and she basically said it’s too late (or tough shit). So of course as Mrs. P gets up t go the bathroom they are coming out with the entrees as an F U to us. So what would have ben an excellent scallop entree was ice cold by the time she got back with the overhead fan blowing on it. So we got served 2 appetizers, a pasta dish, and 2 entrees in barely 45 minutes, or 15 minutes less than it took us to drive there. We still had another 45 minutes before our deadline of 5:30. Karen says don’t worry you can take your time. I told her this is already our last course, it’s too late now.
It was a real shame because this chef is extremely talented, but I think we will stay up North where we are treated with respect. What a difference between our dinner at newly opened restaurant Bloom, where everyone was so friendly, didn’t rush us, and the owner kept coming out to see how we were enjoying our dinner.
As far as what we ordered, we started off with an excellent sungold tomato tart, and a so so stuffed zucchini blossom that wasn’t fully fried. We also had the excellent chittara with Maryland blue crab, and basil pesto. For entrees I had the awesome pork chop (which I can see why everyone is raving about it). Mrs. P had what would have been an awesome scallop dish if they didn’t purposely bring it out as she was going to the bathroom. The full descriptions are on the attached menu.
Whoa! This may sound weird but as I was having dinner on Sat it suddenly popped into my mind that I’ve never heard an unhappy review from you. This does soften the blow of not being there for me though! What a frustrating experience!!! I’m annoyed for you.
Thanks @gracieggg . I’m sorry for the rant. I am usually very mild mannered and polite, but I was so frustrated after driving 1 hour and being rushed for no reason in an empty restaurant at the ungodly hour of 4PM. It’s a shame because the food was excellent but we couldn’t really enjoy it. I was more upset for Mrs. P who was pretty much fuming and upset the whole meal, and barely said 2 words. She was even more upset that I left a 20% tip and wanted to take some money back for the horrible service. I tried to take things in stride while we were there. I’m sure it would have been a wonderful dining experience if we didn’t have the server from hell.
Sorry to hear you had a bad time. I haven’t been here yet so I can’t comment on the place. One thing I can guarantee is that you just met a bad apple. There is no way this lady knew you were not from central nj. You just happened to get a bad server.
This place was on my list but I might stick to a few of my favorites now.
I’ve also noticed the same with Eli’s reviews, always quote
Enthusiastic. This must have been truly terrible to warrant such a review. So sorry to hear. I feel like mr and mrs p get a Bennie pass for sure.
Thanks Johnny and Mr. Met.
Well the server did know I wasn’t from Central Jersey because I told her we drove an hour to get here from North Jersey, and was excited to try this restaurant from the rave reviews I read on Hungry Onion. She was familiar with Hungry Onion. Has anyone ever had Karen serve them?
Johnny, I wouldn’t let my review prevent you from trying this place. It is worth it for that pork chop alone. Just don’t let Karen serve you
Yes, I usually feel if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it, although I did have that bad experience at La Griglia We also usually go to our regular places each month where they know us and treat us like family.
Yowza. I’ve never met Eli in person, but that must have been some experience to write a review like that. I apologize for my sister town treating you poorly.
We were at Semolina last week for the first time actually. Our server Brandt was amazing, the food generally excellent. Our gripe was with the loud table next to us. (seated at the Eli table, we were the next 4 top at the window ) Not just loud talking, but the kind of innocuous, hideous, “you’re great, no you are, well you are so humble, yes I am aren’t I” blather you get from entitled twenty or thirtysomethings. It definitely put a damper on the evening, and in an otherwise empty 5pm restaurant I’m not sure why they, or anybody, was sat right next to us.
That said, the food was excellent. I would not order the steak again as I didn’t care for the quality of the meat which I found tough, nor whatever topping they slathered on top, ymmv on that.
Eli, as I said on your IG post, it’s really a shame; EVERY diner, regardless of how far they’re travelling, should get the same treatment at a restaurant. Semolina has been on my radar but this certainly makes me think twice about going there. That said, I noticed that you didn’t tag their account in your IG post, which you can still edit if you want to. I’d be very curious to see how management would handle this–that would tell me a LOT.
@paryzer Sorry to hear of your experience, especially as I’ve been one of Semolina’s cheerleaders. I’ve been three times since May with Karen my server on each visit and received consistently good service. I hope it was nothing more than an “off day,” but even so it shouldn’t have ever impacted your visit. Ever.
Eli, You should not have had to put up with the “server from Hell.” Why didn’t you speak to the manager?
Starting at the get-go… When a patron asks for a table change, the decision whether to honor that request is made by the maitre d’ or, if there is none, the manager. Never the server! And it’s unheard of for a server to have the authority to limit your stay.
The server’s disgusting “tough shit” attitude re: your request to slow things down was totally unacceptable. When Mrs. P.’s plate arrived while she wasn’t there, the least they could have done was cover it so the food was not stone cold when she returned. In other restaurants, I’ve seen plates covered when a diner is unavoidably absent when a course is served. Though in your case, it could probably have been avoided if you had spoken to the manager.
Finally, what really shocks me is that you left a tip! And not a down-graded tip, but 20%! Since a tip is a reward for quality of service, imo, your experience there is a perfect instance where a zero tip was justified. So, why did you “reward” this person — and so handsomely— who ruined your meal?!
@paryzer. I too am sorry you had such a terrible experience at Semolina. I was there at 8pm on Friday night and Karen was our server, as she has been for our last few visits. She is always very professional and attentive with the best attitude. Semolina is one of the few restaurants that honors reservations. There seems to be empty tables when we get there, yet they turn away walk-ins to honor their reservations.
We’ve sat where we’ve been assigned- in that four top next to the host stand, in the window four top, or in the back…who cares? To me, it’s about the food, not about where we’re sitting.
Every server we’ve had at Semolina requests that we give them our entire order up front- this helps with the pace of the food coming out of the kitchen. Perhaps your wife’s bathroom timing wasn’t the best-once the food is fired they’re going to bring it out when it’s ready and hot.
We all do the same thing here on Hungry Onion, give our opinions good and bad about restaurants. However, I found your review an unnecessary personal attack on the server. Naming calling and vulgarities directed at a single person isn’t called for here. Let’s keep it more professional.
Thanks Roz. Unfortunately there was really no manager there. The hostess couldn’t’ have been more than 18 (and not a mature 18). It looks like Karen was running the show. It was her way or the highway, and we were too far away to leave or go someplace else.
Mrs. P was very upset that I left such a nice tip and was ready to take money off the table, but I always try to stay classy.
Thanks everyone for your concern. Please don’t let me discourage you from going to Semolina. This was probably an off day. The food was really excellent (as you can see the beautiful presentations from my pictures). I just wish we could have enjoyed it more, but we were put in a bad mood from the beginning (which ruined our appetites) and it didn’t get any better. I could see the rush (but not the attitude) if we were dining prime time at 8 on a Saturday night, but this was at 4PM in an empty restaurant on a Sunday.
@sockster I apologize about my unprofessional rant. If you have seen my previous posts, I am always very kind and professional. Whenever we dine out we are always very polite and appreciative of the staff. We are very friendly with the servers at our regular restaurants, and they always look forward to our visits. I was more upset for my wife. As far as her bathroom timing not being the best, she got up to go to the bathroom right after we ate our appetizers, not expecting our main course to be rushed out immediately. They were bringing out the food as she was walking towards the bathroom. As far as placing your full order up front, that didn’t help much with the pacing I told her right after we finished our appetizers to please wait a few minutes before firing up the entree, but she said it was too late. She could have told the chef to hold off. I also told her in the beginning to please not rush the entree out immediately after the appetizers, and she assured me that it will be well paced. However, after the entrees came out she said I didn’t say anything and this is how they always do it (one course immediately after another). She then said to take my time (even though I was just served my last course within 45 minutes).
I purposely made an ungodly reservation of 4PM and requested a larger 4 top so we could relax and enjoy our dinner before it got crowded. When we got there at 4 PM I asked if we could possibly have a larger 4 top. Right away Karen says, we are fully booked but we might be able to squeeze you in, but you HAVE to leave at 5:30. I said no problem. So of course Karen seats us at the shittiest 4 top by the front door and hostess station, where all of the workers congregated all night long and whispered in front of us. Of course when we left there were only 3 tables taken and we could have sat anywhere. Karen then pressured us to order everything up front in this empty restaurant. I gave her a couple of appetizers to put in while we decided on entrees but she would ‘t even put the appetizers in until I gave her the entrees 5 minutes later. I tried to tell her we don’t want to be rushed and don’t want the entrees on top of the appetizers and she said don’t worry the meal will be paced accordingly. So after we had our appetizers I asked Karen to wait a few minutes before firing up the entrees, and she basically said it’s too late (or tough shit). So of course as Mrs. P gets up t go the bathroom they are coming out with the entrees as an F U to us. So what would have ben an excellent scallop entree was ice cold by the time she got back with the overhead fan blowing on it. So we got served 2 appetizers, a pasta dish, and 2 entrees in barely 45 minutes, or 15 minutes less than it took us to drive there. We still had another 45 minutes before our deadline of 5:30. Karen says don’t worry you can take your time. I told her this is already our last course, it’s too late now.
What a frustrating experience!!! I’m annoyed for you.
) Not just loud talking, but the kind of innocuous, hideous, “you’re great, no you are, well you are so humble, yes I am aren’t I” blather you get from entitled twenty or thirtysomethings. It definitely put a damper on the evening, and in an otherwise empty 5pm restaurant I’m not sure why they, or anybody, was sat right next to us.