LAURRAPIN

Reviews 4

AL

Alan Deffenderfer

Ive been a patron of Laurrapin for almost a decade now. Ive watched this establishment evolve. I even have a "points card" I was eating here so much at one point. There are many things to like: local food, nice staff, and the occasional dish thats new and good. This was my favorite local place to eat for a long time. Unfortunately, I cant say that anymore. Its not that its too popular or crowded to eat in the open seating area most evenings, which is true; The last time I was there I wondered about my own safety if an emergency happened given the sheer number of people crammed into the bar and open seating area. If someone had called the fire marshall, I wondered if they were violating the maximum occupancy for the building. Because Laurrapin is so popular and crowded, both its service and food have suffered. But the reason Im writing this review is not how crowded it has become and the ill affect that has had on service and food. Its that the last time I was there I watched the staff pull together two tables for a large party behind us on the wait list not too long after I had asked where we were on the wait list. It was clear they were deciding to put the larger party in front of us given how many times the staff pulled the tables apart and put them back together with floor managers seemingly directing the activity. Eventually it become clear they were going to seat the larger party and bump us despite the fact we were next and had been waiting (standing in a crowded ramp by the bar with little kids stepping on my toes and staff bumping up against me with plates of food for the bar) for an hour. We were told the wait was about 30 minutes when we checked in. I understand wait times are a guess, but seating a larger party before us when there was no sign of another table getting freed up for a long time was a choice. Fortunately, we also had a choice and found another place to eat. Leaving a restaurant after an event like this is something Ive done maybe two or three times in 25 years. The food and atmosphere are still nice things for Harford County, but its always a gamble if its worth the noise, crowd, wait and unpredictable service and food quality for an evening meal. Lunch is not as crowded, but its an expensive lunch. Make a reservation and hope for the best.

RE

Rebecca Morrison

Im not one to write a bad review however tonight experience was extremely disappointing especially for the laurrapin. My husband and I frequent as do one of the couples we met there. My parents have never been. Tonight we met my parents and the other couple there. To make a long story short our waitress never brought my meal. After 5 minutes of dropping off the good she returns and I ask about my meal. 5 more minutes pass and she comes back and states it was her mistake and she forgot to put it in. Now that my entire party of 7 have spent 10 minutes eating why in the world would I want a meal that would take at least another 10 minutes to get and that I would eat alone and have entire party finished and waiting on me. The bill was brought and not even a comped drink. I have worked in the restaurant business and not doing something for a pretty significant mistake is poor customer service. I took the check to the manage and she asked what drinks I had. I had 2 drinks which the manager took off. My entire parties dinner was screwed up and you comped 2 drinks that cost your restaurant probably $1.. very poor customer service on their part. I have worked in the restaurant business and know that there was more to be done . $250+ on dinner so it sure isnt about the money... its about the poor waitress and poor management .. my grandson got an immediate headache when he walked in do to the smell. And one persons veggies were just drenched or soaked in olive oil so much so they couldnt be eaten. Bringing my parents for their first experience there and meeting a couple who is moving and the entire night was ruined.. we would have stayed for an additional drink or 2 if the entire experience wouldnt have ruined the meal. My parents and other couple went up the street for drinks and my husband and I went on our way home so I could eat something... very disappointed!!!!

BE

BeerGuy Bob

Ok, so this place was a favorite dining and happy hour haunt of mine in 2011, and I do still love the food. Since my initial review in 2011, theyve started serving draft beer, which is a small (6 taps at most), but outstanding offering of local (e.g., DuClaws or Evolution) and other top notch craft brews (e.g., Deviant Dales or a Unibrou offering). Thats where the good news ends. First off, their pints are served in 14oz fake pints, and Ive found that only one (of the many) bartenders will actually pour you a full glass. The standard pour (from all but the bleached blond dude) will include an inch of foam that essentially turns your 14oz "Pint" into a 12oz pour. That might not seem like a big deal to some, but when youre paying $8 for that beer, in a po dunk, nowhere town like Havre de Grace, MD, thats beyond my threshold. In addition to that subtle rip off, you might want to check your bill at the end of the night. Twice now (actually twice out of the last two times Ive eaten at the bar), Ive been charged full price for my 1/2 price happy hour apps. Both times I had to ask for an itemized bill, which for some reason they dont automatically give you when you have a tab at the bar, only to discover that I had been charged full price (e.g., $10 for 4 small stuffed mushroom caps). Now, I dont like feeling like a cheap jerk and having to point this BS out to the staff, but Im also not one to just let someone rip me off. Their response? Oops, sorry let me fix that. Which they did. But how many patrons (who probably had a few, or arent really paying attention) have they ripped off? Bottom line: If money means nothing to you, then this is your place to go in Harford Co. MD. Otherwise, suggest you keep on going till you get to a more reputable establishment.

JO

Joelle Nealy

Ive only been here once, and would be interested to see how a more thorough experience would change my ratings, but here goes: The decor is cute, the service was okay - friendly but not the most attentive; the day I went, the Ravens game was on and the response of those watching it at the bar was inescapable (your take on whether thats a positive or a negative obviously depends on how you feel about the Ravens and football in general, I suppose). Of the four things that were ordered by my party, the food varied greatly in quality. The cheese platter was amazing. Best cheese platter ever. Great selection of cheeses, and some really interesting additions like pickled onions. My friends enjoyed their sandwiches and both the regular and sweet potato fries were excellent. However, my veggie sandwich (a take on falafel) was dreadful. So bad, in fact, I can only conclude that they hate vegetarians. Or no one in the kitchen has ever tasted that dish? I dont know, but it was bad. So, if youre a vegetarian - fill up on cheese. If youre vegan - my condolences.