Oriole

Oriole exceeded our expectations, which was no easy task because our expectations were high. Our reservation was relatively late (8:30pm) and, as someone who tends to go to bed early, I was concerned about that. Turns out, I needn't have been; once the experience began, time was irrelevant. From the moment we entered the reception area until we departed, the service team at Oriole treated us like visiting royalty. Don't mistake that, though, for stuffy ambiance; service was both sophisticated and approachable. Every person we encountered was friendly, informative and engaging. This staff clearly prioritizes connection with their guests. I loved hearing stories about the winemakers featured in the beverage pairing. Oh, and the food. The food is beyond compare. If you appreciate depth of flavor, creative combinations and exquisite plating, you will be a fan of each course Oriole crafts. Truly, dining at Oriole is better classified as an experience than a meal. In my personal Facebook post, I described it as flawless and wholly phenomenal. I stand by both of those descriptors. If ever I have an opportunity to dine here again, I will not hesitate to book.

Mind blowing food, minute attention to service, friendly, warm staff, a calm, happy kitchen. The wines were outstanding and perfectly paired. Nothing short of perfection. This was the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Do not miss it. My only question is, why doesn’t Oriole have a third star?

Do not waste your time or money at Oriole. For a two Michelin star restaurant, it was atrocious, especially when it came to the service. I treated my brother, along with family members, to a birthday dinner here, and it was unapologetically ruined. Not only was a birthday card theatrically presented to my brother at the table with a completely wrong name, but the way Ian (head of service for our table) rectified it, was by putting no name at all on a new card and slipping it silently back on the table. Cringey and classless. A more serious situation though, was the staff’s lack of attention to detail and care when it came to my food allergy, even though I had alerted them prior to the visit, and reminded them verbally prior to being seated. The audacity to have the first course served with ingredients I’m allergic to, makes it unbelievable this is a two Michelin star restaurant. If it wasn’t for my brother catching the mistake when the ingredients were being read aloud by the waiter, I could’ve spent the evening in the hospital, or worse. The response from the staff was “oh sorry, you were the one with the allergy?”. Unacceptable. After prepaying for the meal, and adding on cocktails and the additional truffle pairing, I essentially made a $3,600 donation to this restaurant, since we didn’t receive the experience that would be expected at this caliber. When I alerted Daniel Harrington (Director of guest relations) and Ian about our experience at the end of the meal, the response was giving me their business card and saying they’d “investigate further”. It’s been 48hrs and no word. If you want a special occasion ruined, and for the staff not to care, go here.

Dining at Oriole was a delightful experience! The atmosphere is different and super pleasant! The staff is attentive and efficient! The food is delicious and prepared with care! The wine pairing was very good! And at the end I even had the opportunity to talk to and congratulate Chef Noah Sandoval!