09/21/09

Terribly disappointing

by hsleeny1

Went here based on glowing recommendation from friends, but was terribly disappointed. I get the local food sourcing, sustainable farming, pure food, and even the standard 10% gratuity, but the food was just sooo mediocre. Went on a Sunday afternoon and ordered a bunch of dishes, including the 'Smokehouse Sunday' which has ribs, pork belly, lamb ribs, hot links and sides. The pork belly was so salty that it was inedible, the lamb ribs as dry as a dog toy, grilled corn cooked only on one side. The hot links and spare ribs were pretty good but overall, it was just poor execution for charging such a high price.

I applaud the effort to provide food in a socially conscientious, responsible way, and I'm even willing to pay extra for it. But the food was just inexcusably bad. Probably won't be eating here again.

• Pros: Locally sourced food, sustainable practices
• Cons: Too pricy for mediocre food

04/20/09

An Unpleasant and Disappointing Dinner Experience

by D92124

Not recommended. We found it extremely overpriced for what you get. There is a difference between expensive and overpriced. We've had some wonderful experiences at a few expensive restaurants, but the meal, evening and overall experience were worth it. Overpriced restaurants offer 1 star experiences at 4/5 star prices, as in this case. There were no redeeming qualities here. We had the same negative experiences reported in other reviews. Our order was mishandled,i.e. we didn't get something we had ordered; the food generally was not quite bland, but nearly so; the one piece of bread was hard, nearly stale, served without butter or dip; service generally was quite poor; portions of some things are quite small like salads and soups ( and some cost nearly $10); service was slow, unresponsive,not very friendly; one side dish had nearly no flavor nor taste at all; and prices overall were out of sight. And the tip policy is generally not normal nor acceptable as a US practce, although it is common in some other countries, and especially being told how much the gratutity must be (not should be) (not a tip by their definition). Nonsense. Overall, the dining experience here for us was sub-par (close to unsatisfactory) in almost every respect. Overall, small local diners even do a much better job. And other restaurants seem to value your business, but not here (other reviews refer). We learned one very valuable lesson: check the reviews before going to a new restaurant.

• Pros: Clean,not noisy, and well lighted, nothing else.
• Cons: Bland meals, poor service, overpriced, tip policy, lots more

03/30/09

I Promised NEVER to return

by MarcusMax

Very over priced menu. Food quality is average, service slow (25 minutes - order to table food delivery) and one lunch was not correct. Best yet, as our check is delivered you’re informed of an automatic 18 % gratitude. When I questioned their demand for a tip, the server assure me they "deserve it" and their police is posted at the bottom of the paper menu. Yes they did remove it under the condition we would not return, NO problem, I promised never to return. With this attitude and arrogance this restaurant won’t last long.

• Pros: Nothing good here
• Cons: Bad attitude, Over Priced and tell you how much to TIP!

02/27/09

a different kind of restaurant

by citylostandfound

what's with all the fake 1 star reviews. looks like someone is holding a grudge. the linkery offers locally raised and farmed vegetables and meat. they offer unique dishes made with ingredients of known origin. from ground to plate, you know exactly what you are eating. they support local and small growers, farms, and ranches. because of this, yes, some prices are going to be higher than some factory farmed grade b mear of questionable origin trucked in by sysco. bearing all that in mind, if you are one who favors quantity and price over quality and cost, then by all means don't eat here.

as for the no-tipping policy, the linkery's philosphy is spelled out on their website in clear terms of why they do what they do and why they have the policy they do.

as for the food, it is good. i am not going to lie and say it's the best i have eaten. by depending on seasonal produce and what is available and fresh this week, the menu changes a bit much, and i believe that the restaurant never really gets into a groove with each dish. many times things seem a little half-planned. maybe if they had more time to perfect their dishes i would enjoy them more.

i would give them 4 stars alone for having cask conditioned beer. yum.

01/18/09

Disappointing

by escarlata21

I went there with two of my friends and all of us were very disappointed. The waitress was kind but it took her one and a half hr to bring our dishes. The menu was totally misleading, they try to make you think they make upscale, eclectic, different kind of food but when we saw our plates we all felt like if they were trying to fool us. Not a great taste, very expensive, bad service...I do not recommend it.

• Pros: ambient
• Cons: Misleading menu, bad service, expensive,

10/11/08

no tipping? not really...

by Laura92101

why call a tip a diffrent name and brag about it? table service, what? It's still a tip, they just decide for you how much is it going to be!!! the waiter was quick to point out they don't take tip. Oh noooo, they would not dare to take extra money from you. what a unique restaurant! so honest! He did not bother to mention 18% "table service"... no class

• Pros: ambience
• Cons: tip (table service) fraud

09/09/08

Service is horrible

by sc220

Our last experience at the Linkery was very poor. We'd been to the old location a few times and generally enjoyed our experience, but felt the menu was a little limiting for my wife who doesn't eat meat. We were hopeful of the new location because it had an expanded menu and a fun location, but we couldn't have been more disappointed.

We had 3 groups (tables) in our party, and each group had bad experiences... for example: one group had a rude waitress, 2 groups had people whose food order were never put in (one of our friends went hungry because he was still waiting when we all had to go), and we all got hassled us about simple requests (replacing a glass of tap beer that was flat, asking for more chips to go with some dip, etc.).

Out of courtesy, one of our party followed up with the owner a later date to give our feedback as we'd like it to be a good restaurant, and his response was, and I quote "No thanks, you're not welcome to return." And we were not rowdy or impolite to the staff. We simply had reasonable expectations.

So y'all, take it from the owner... you're not welcome.

• Pros: ambience
• Cons: service, owner doesn't care about customer feedback, food expense for what you get

08/05/08

don't expect much but high prices and poor portions

by lwortman

Well don't expect many link options at the Linkery... In fact don't expect much at all. First, the selection of links is pathetically small. With a name like that I was expecting everything from beef, chicken, and even chocolate chip links... well there menu had about 5 options, and they were out of two... Second, don't expect your appetite to get suppressed here. The potions are so small what you think is just a sample is the real deal... not even two bites of sides do they provide, and the burger, ha, the golden arches offers more beef. Well, just when you think your dinning experience could not get more disappointing, you get the check which they automatically add a 18% gratuity too (does not matter how many people were in the party)! I am not really surprised, they probably thought this was the only way to get any compensation for they lack of culinary expertise.. Reviewing their menu and seeing the excess amount of beer options they offer and lack of link options, one would think there would be some major restaurant name changes... All in all if you really want a great link and be filled up properly go to Costco where for 1.50 you will be more satisfied than any trip to the Linkery.

• Pros: Open Late
• Cons: The whole experience

06/12/08

Unforgetable....but I'll try to forget my experience

by Craigers1210

When they brought my $18 entree my friend asked me if that was going to fill me up. I said NO! For $18. I expected more than an appetizer on my plate. The would not allow me to make a subsitution for a vegetable, so I paid for something I didn't eat, so that made the meal even smaller. The didn't have a clear soda like sprite or 7-up, so I had to have a coke, which is not my preference. The have a small sign as you enter, and if you are not looking for it you miss it, but it reads - "We DO NOT accept tips. But an 18% gratuity is already added to your bill". So tehy do accept tips and you pay 18% even if the service is worth WAY LESS. They should make that note on the menus or at least on the tables. It might explain in advance why thier prices are so HIGH! I will not go back, nor will I refer any one to the Linkery. Small portions, over-priced, poor selection, no substitutions on some items so you leave what you don't want on you rplate and still pay for it. TWO THUMBS DOWN!

• Pros: None
• Cons: You want the whol list or just the top 10

Slow food mecca anchors North Park's local dining scene, with an ever-changing lineup of sustainably produced beef, produce and boutique wine and beer.

by Erin Chambers

In Short
In true farm-to-table style, The Linkery's menu reads more like a collection of short stories than a list of dishes. Every piece of meat has a history, salads come with a special local garnish and winemakers usually get a personal visit from the Linkery's owners before their blends make the list. The Linkery first became known for their wide selection of fresh sausages made onsite daily and house-cured meats like bacon and ham. Today, offerings vary from their famous burger with an oozy egg in the middle, to whatever's fresh from a handful of natural meat or poultry farms or local produce growers. Local beers are also carefully considered, with several craft selections available daily.