What a magical evening at Coach Grill, truly a masterclass in how not to run Dine Out Boston.
We made a reservation a full week in advance for Dine Out Boston and were promptly seated at Table #22. Things started off promisingly enough: one drink, two appetizers (tomato bisque and a lettuce salad) from the Dine Out Boston menu, plus three entrées, braised short ribs and marinated steak tips, ordered rare, from the Dine Out Boston menu, and a lamb pappardelle.
Round one: our waiter returned to clarify that braised short ribs cannot be served rare. Yes, because it is braised. We only wanted the steak tips in rare. But good to know. Thanks for checking.
Round two: he came back again to let us know they were out of steak tips. (A bold move during Dine Out Boston, but it’s alright, things happen, and shipping can be a problem following a blizzard) We pivoted to the rosemary-crusted rack of lamb, medium rare.
The tomato bisque arrived relatively quickly. And then… nothing.
Fifty minutes after sitting down, which was forty minutes after ordering, we were still enjoying the ambiance, our drink, and an increasingly philosophical relationship with the bread basket.
Finally, three entrées appeared at once. The short ribs were average. Half of the pappardelle was thoughtfully pre-cut into charming two-inch fragments, ideal for anyone who fears long pasta. The rack of lamb, ordered medium rare, arrived rare enough to potentially rejoin the flock.
And the salad? Ah yes. The invisible salad. It never arrived. We can only assume that when the steak tips were declared extinct, the salad was quietly taken off the order as well, without anyone consulting us. Communication is overrated.
To their credit, we spoke with the manager, and she waived the lamb rack and the lamb pappardelle (Yes, we did love lamb). We paid for one Dine Out Boston menu and our drink.
Did we leave satisfied? No.
Did we feel inclined to order more food after a 50-minute wait and a surprise entrée roulette? Also no.
We were among the first guests seated that evening. It might have helped to cross the steak tips off the menu before service, or at least inform guests proactively instead of mid-order. It also might have helped to confirm whether we still wanted the salad rather than silently deleting it from existence.
Mistakes happen. Shrugging when they happen is a choice.
So here we are at home, thoughtfully finishing the last head of lettuce in our fridge.
All in all, a comically unforgettable Dine Out Boston experience at the Coach Grill. Memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Negroni: C-
Short rRibs: C
Lamb Pappardelle: D-
Rack of Lamb: Returned, ordered medium rare, served bloody rare
Tomato Bisque: B+
Salad: F - missing in action
Service: F - lost with the salad