The coldest evening since last winter and they nonchalantly lead us to a table outside and act as if it's the most natural thing ever. The heat lamps above (one didn't work) did not combat the wind. I kept imagining how uncomfortable this would be for people on a date who were too timid to actually say anything.\r
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Moreover, the table was misaligned, and needed some adjustments to keep from teetering over. They ""fixed"" it by shoving a napkin under a leg, which worked for about 5 minutes. They continued to seat non-protesting customers (probably from the disbelief that they were seriously being sent outside) in the backyard as we ordered some very unimpressive food.\r
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The ""fondue"" was some toast with a ranch dressing like dip, hardly fondue and completely ridiculous. The macaroni and cheese with ""overnight tomato"" was tiny, really just amazingly small, and it had a piece of tomato on top- nothing to include in the description of the meal, as it was a mere garnish. The chopped salad with ""Autumn vegetables"" was 8 dollars worth of onions and corn with some more ranch dressing. Everything we ordered was small, boring and expensive. For 4 people, we paid $180.\r
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The waitstaff was supercilious, didn't bring water even when reminded 2 times and bumped into us repeatedly as they squeezed past to bring food to other cold diners. They even asked us to move our handbag (to help what?) and still bumped us every time they passed.\r
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Ultimately, I found this to be the most annoying restaurant I've been to in New York in a decade. The portions were so stupidly small, it was shameful. Most shocking was the way they just seated everyone outside as if it were absolutely normal and acceptable, when they knew it wasn't! They even gave us some stupid button/pin when we left: ""Polar Bear Diner Club- Home Restaurant- Fearless eaters under the heaters."" SHAME ON THEM!\r
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