Wood35 Restaurant & Bar ( Med Grill )

Summer 2011, I frequented a bar restaurant now called Wood35, formerly MED Bar and Grill. I was attending the birthday celebration of my best friend, an event that was planned from weeks earlier. This is a short explanation as to why I will never again eat at Wood35 or any of the establishments associated with it. 1- The reservations were made a week in advance and never was the host made aware of any 'restaurant policies.' 2- The reservations were confirmed, twice. And again, never was the host made aware of any 'restaurant policies.' 3- We were a group of about 30 people, so Wood35 had ample opportunity to make tips without begging for money. You're probably scrunching your forehead in confusion, trying to figure out what I'm referring to... I'm getting to that. So, as is in fact customary when a reservation involves a large group, we were informed that we wouldn't be seated until the majority of our group arrived. So we waited, drank and chatted at the bar. A waitress informed us that our table was ready and proceeded to direct us, however the table was not ready, as the busboys were still setting the table. So we waited around the table. Not that big of a deal, but frustrations mounted by the end of the night... After we're comfortably seated and reading the menu, we're approached by a waiter who proceeds to take our orders. I order the gnocchi, which costs $17.00. I am told that I need to order something else. But this is what I want. I am told that I can order the gnocchi, but I also must order an appetizer, as my bill must be a minimum of $30.00, excluding alcohol. I say, really? Why? I am told that this is 'restaurant policy.' I say ok, show me where it says that on the menu. [Note: The menu was that of the OLD restaurant MED Bar and Grill, not the new Wood35...] The waiter tells me its not yet on the menu as they are in a transition period. I say ok. Where is it on the website? Or how come this wasn't mentioned to the host when she made the reservation? The waiter tells me to hold on, he will go get the manager. So the manager comes and he explains to me the same nonsense about it being a 'restaurant policy.' I have no problems abiding by policies, THAT I AM MADE AWARE OF IN ADVANCE. For all we know, this policy began that night when all 30 of us walked through that door! I kindly yet embarrassingly tell the manager that I do not have enough money to purchase both an entree and a meal. He says thats too bad because that's 'restaurant policy." So I said I won't be eating. Needless to say, everybody at the table and in the restaurant is hushed, trying to figure out what's going on, but it is what it is. I can't pull money out of anywhere! So the waiter continues to take orders while the manager walks away. Generous offers came pouring in (thanks, guys!) from friends and from people I barely knew alike, offering to pay the difference, but in my opinion, that was not the point. Nor should I be discussing my financial situation with a waiter. And though I completely disagree with the policy, that is also besides the point; a policy has to be clearly marked somewhere, ANYWHERE other than from your lips to my ears. And I don't believe that Wood35 accomplished that. After all the orders were taken, a waitress comes up to me and asks me if I still want the pasta. I ask her, if I order the pasta, am I going to get a bill for $17 or for $30? She says only the cost of the pasta. So I said yes. Apart from that shady incident, another sour spot for the evening was the service. Granted, there were ample waiters, waitresses and busboys handling our table for the evening but it as poorly organized. The bread was served along with a set of three dips. Except that we didn't really know exactly what they were so, naturally we asked a waiter. He explains that the first one was a type of salad dressing. Huhn... cause it looked and later tasted like a type of flaked and seasoned fish. The next he explained was hummus and the third, well, he just didn't know and would get back to us. [Note: I don't know if he ever did give us a response to that, but if the waiters don't know what's being served, who is supposed to know? Given that people can have various allergies and intolerances, it's vital for staff to be properly trained to know what is being served on each menu item.] At other restaurants serving large groups, usually the table is divvied up between the staff, to ensure coverage but also to avoid confusion and repetition. I alone was asked three times if I wanted fresh pepper and fresh cheese for my pasta; I'm sure I wasn't the only one. Another thing that I believe properly trained waitstaff should know is not to touch a person's plate until they specify to you that they're done. It's proper etiquette. Same thing goes for touching cutlery and cups... Lastly, because it was a birthday event, a cake was ordered for the birthday girl, and that was pulled off without a hitch. But nobody else was offered dessert. Nor coffee or tea, which is customary at the end of a meal. And for those who may ask, yes there was a dessert menu. Now, I can admit that after the initial shadiness of their 'restaurant policy' creeping up, I was moreso critical of my experience at Wood35 than I probably normally would be at an eatery, however, I do not feel out of line writing this review, as it is still good for someone who is considering going there to know how I was treated while I was there. In addition, the service at Wood35 became the topic of the night, and I am not the only person who felt as though this was an experience that I do not want to repeat. My bill came up to $19 and change. I gave them $22, which in my opinion, and in this scenario, was me being generous. Despite the hiccups regarding the location, the birthday event was indeed a success, because as one person put it at the end of the night, it's not the location, but it's who you spend it with that matters most! And I spent it with friends, new and old, as we celebrated a lovely birthday girl! [Note: There are 5 restaurants associated with this and they are: BICE, Primadonna, Kabana, Otto and Cavelli, all of which, has been agreed by the group in attendance at this birthday party, not worth the hassle!]