Bender's Tavern

alayna adams

Came here for lunch today. We were seated right away. No one approached our table for 5+ minutes. We had no menus to look at during that time. Finally, someone brought us over a lunch menu and water. We both ordered salads. 18 dollars for a chicken Cesar salad. I wish I would have taken a photo. While the taste was fantastic, I was still starving after my meal. Half of a thin slice of chicken, 3 dainty croutons, and 5 LETTUCE LEAVES. No exaggeration at all. I have never experienced such little food for a price like that. I would say I was paying for the experience, but that is not accurate either. I would have been embarrassed as a waiter or waitress to set a plate down in front of a paying customer like this. Do better

Craig

When you reach a top tier price point, you expect a certain level of service, food presentation and taste. Benders fell short on all. Our server Natalie seemed nice and accommodating like any server but then I realized she clearly plays the game the way the tavern wants her to. I had a strip steak with a lobster tail. This was a 60 dollar plate. I have had better at red lobster for much less. For sides I had broccoli and what is supposed to be their specialty fried brown like potatoes. When I first sat down and my wife and I ordered we were so excited. I was telling my wife in front of our server Natalie that Benders was a staple in the town and we should enjoy. I was very wrong. The 19 dollar lobster tail was more like a single jumbo shrimp the steak was not bad but nothing special at all. The potatoes tasted burned and greasy and the broccoli was over cooked and mushy and the side of mushrooms we ordered were obviously canned. When I mentioned these things to Natalie she simply shrugged it off by saying other people like the food this way and as far as the mushrooms she implied I was correct about them being canned by saying had they been fresh they probably would charge more. She said she would share my feelings with management and in a "fine dining establishment" you would think they would comes out and address the situation and make it right. NOPE! Natalie simply returned with two small ice-cream desserts that were supposed to sweeten the deal as she put. They did not, I left highly disappointed. Again at this price point I can't help but compare to lalas on the lake, capital grill, the bistro at gervasi and many other places that earned my praise. I will never return and you should avoid this place and spend at a place that cares about the level of service and overall dining experience. It was a waste of 180 bucks.

Shakti Dancer

We came in yesterday earlier in the evening, it wasn't busy. I let the server know it was our first time and I wanted to know what he enjoyed from the menu. He gave a few very generic examples of the most popular items, in a robotic fashion, and seemed to talk to us like we weren't worth his time, sort if like we were ignorant, clueless, rednecks.. He did the bare minimum the entire time. I wanted to ask more questions, but he was very short, almost condescending, and didn't feel comfortable doing so..It was very unwelcoming. We ordered appetizers which were very good, so good I ordered the bay scallops for an entree. As an appetizer they were amazing, but the dinner was the same size for twice as much money, and this time they were soggy and tasted of raw flour. A true disservice to the scallops. Once again, because of the way the server acted, I did not feel comfortable complaining, feeling like he would think we just wanted free stuff. No manager ever came to check on the table. We may have stayed for dessert, but a obnoxious table was seated right beside us (mind you the restaurant was only a quarter full), so we just asked for the check. This place wasn't worth the hype it gets.

Paula Gorsuch

Such a awesome dining experience. I don't know what was better, the atmosphere, the history or the food. We went for lunch and it wasn't the ordinary menu. it was excellent. It was difficult to decide. I had a Corned Beef Reuben. The corned beef was thinly sliced with crisp sauerkraut, cheese and a special sauce. One of the best I ever had. Other meals at our table were fried oysters, linguine and a broccoli cheese quiche. Can't wait to go back.