Fiance and I played hooky from work today and decided decided to go to David Drakes for lunch. Upon arrival, after looking at the menu, I'm guessing the GM was passing by, and asked if we had any questions about the wines. My fiance said she knows what she wanted (a 2004 Pinot Noir), and I asked for a pairing recommendation for the potato gnocchi. He suggested an Australian Shiraz, cool. So he heads around the divider and I see him whisper something to the waiter, that wasn't just "here is what they want". So waiter comes, pours my fiances glass, then pours a taste in my glass. (i wasn't paying attention, but fiance said he tasted both of our bottles, we were sitting in the room to the right, next to the fireplace where the bottles were) I taste and it was ok (just OK to my non-wine-developed palate, shame on me), he pours my glass. I go to take a sip and notice a fruit fly in it. Upon closer inspection, there were probably 2 dozen dead fruit flies in my glass. I'm assuming based on taste and where the bottles were. It was a bottle that has been opened since at least yesterday with no cork (as all the others on the mantle) No apology or apologetic tone, but I was offered another glass and I said Id have anther glass of the Shiraz if he is going to open another bottle, which he did, 100% difference in taste as well. No worries, things happen. Our table was in the corner by the fireplace and there must have been dozens of fruit flies buzzing our heads the entire lunch. Food was good, not Nicholas good, but good, I had the Gnocchi and fiance had Duck Confit Salad for first and I had the Short Rib risotto for second while fiance had the Skate Wing. She really enjoyed her Skate, I liked my gnocchi, and the risotto was so-so. For the second, I asked for a wine recommendation and was recommended a wine, I apologize for not remembering the name, however if I can remember (and anyone knows the menu) it was one of the last two 25$ glasses. Horrible (almost undrinkable to me) glass, I wish he would have let me taste THIS one....or told me how different it was, no worries again, I chalk that up to me not being a wine aficionado. I left half the glass. Cheese plate for dessert that was ok. I hate to assume, the GM and the waiter both knew the bottles and wine were bad and they were trying the pawn what was left of them off on me, and even though it's hard to get that thought out of my head, I will, however, upon receiving the check (145$) I was very surprised they didn't at LEAST comp the 12$ glass of wine! I'm not "that guy" to haggle a check or send a glass of wine back especially after him tasting it I assumed they weren't bad bottles, so I didn't and left probably more than 15% but I can say based on this experience I'll stick to Nicholas next time and it is going to be tough for me to give it another chance. The food just wasn't that great. While we were there there was another customer, a female who also seemed to have a bad experience and was "that guy" asking for the owner/GM. I know it's lunch, not dinner, and I probably SHOULD have said something but...
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