CHARISSE KC

Reviews 4

SH

She is Disappointed

My husband and I went to this French Restaurant 2 weeks ago for our date night. We were excited. Had a sitter and were good to go. Upon arrival, we found a great parking spot in front of the restaurant. We werent sure if we needed to feed the meeter because it was the weeke nd. We put what quarters we had in the car and thought we would ask a hostess if the meeter needs more on the weekend or if weekends are free. Upon entering the restaurant, we waited to be seated. After waiting a quite a while to be seated, a tall slender short haired brunette with a nose ring walked to the greeting area, gave us a dirty look and nastily asked us how many in our party. I asked her if the meeters need to be fed on the weekend or if they are free in KC on the weekend. She nastly informed me that she did not know and looked me up and down in a judging strange way. She seated us without saying a word and walked off. We sat there for a good 15 minutes and no one came to get our drink order (15 min is a long time with no knowledge of who your server is or a drink order). Meanwhile a male waiter was serving the table next to us regularly. I got up against my husbands wishes and went to ask the woman who seated us if she knew who our server was and she said unkindly and begrudgingly , "Its me." I said Ow. She said Ill be over in a second. (The whole time she was just standing at the food window (or whatever that area was). I went back to the table. Told my husband it was her. He said he thought she was being nasty and has attitude. We both started wondering why she wasnt serving us. My husband is Black and I am Caucasian. We began to wonder if she was stereotyping or racially profiling us and not wanting to serve us. It was the most weird awkward situation. I have never seen it before. She was not busy and was not serving us.Literally just standing around in front of us. She then came to the table and rudely and nastily asked us for our drink order(this is after I went searching for our server after waiting 15 minutes).. The look on her face was very uninviting and unpleasant. Really just giving us a dirty look while she spoke to us. I Tried to roll with it and move forward. I asked nicely if they have flavored Mojitos. She paused a long time staring me down with a rude pause and said "We dont have fruity drinks here." In an oddly nasty tone with a look of disgust as if I was below her. She was so weird in her interactions. It couldnt be made up it was so apparent that she was purposefully being mean and nasty to us. She did not offer me options of drinks and just acted like standing there and talking to me was the last thing she wanted to do. We gave a drink order. As she walked off we started to discuss her behavior and treatment towards us. It all felt so uncomfortable. We decided to leave. We got up and as we were leaving we informed her that we would not be staying. She then looked surprised all of the sudden as if she had no clue why. I can not explain how rude and nasty she was. I have never seen such a disgusted look from a server towards a patron. Very strange. Very unprofessional. My husband called the restaurant and informed a manager of our bad experience. The manager said he knew the server my husband described . My husband said the manager did not sound surprised or seem to care much at all. We will never go back. We will never suggest anyone goes there after receiving this horrible experience. I dont know if she is racist or just a nasty person in the wrong profession but the service was the worst I have ever experienced.

HO

howard lotven

Firstly, we regularly participate in restaurant week. We do so for two reasons. One, our personal connection to two of the charities. Two, to find new restaurants to enjoy. Each year we usually find one to two new restaurants to add to our list, and unfortunately at least one on our never return to list. Unfortunately, Charisse is on the latter. Charisse bills its self as “(old French)/ new American” “a touch of France right here in the Midwest”. When I think of a French Bistro, I think of intimacy and being slightly romantic. This Charisse is not. It is stark with tables too close and uncomfortable. And the space is noisy. More akin to a hip bar/restaurant in Westport with bench seating and long high-top tables. We did receive a friendly greeting from the hostess. And were asked 3 times if we wanted more than water. From there the service was dismal. The lady serving the tables to our right was attentive and appropriate. Our server was slow and indifferent. You know you service is bad when the table that is seated next to you well after you, finishes their meal and is gone before you get dessert. It took over 10 minutes for the server to return to take our money and close us out after our table had been cleared. Yes, the 10% tip sir was due to your service and not because we are stingy. As for the food, D. Frist course, house salad with champagne vinaigrette. Odd, ours had a balsamic vinaigrette that was over dressed to the point that we had a puddle of dressing in the bottom of the bowl when finished. I like balsamic vinaigrette, but this was too much. Second course, Chicken Provencal with frits. Chicken was cooked well, but overly spiced to the point all you could taste was salt. Same with the frites and the frites were luke warm and mushy. Dessert was Apple Tart with berries, vanilla ice cream and caramel. This was inedible. The tart, which I believe was supposed to be puff pastry was undercooked and raw. The caramel was flavorless and tasted like it came from a bottle. Too the owner/management, I am not interested in returning and will not accept a free meal as an apology. This is not the purpose of this review.

CO

Courtney Wellman

I wanted to like this place so badly and was so disappointed. My girlfriend and i sat at the bar for a drink. The bartender barely greeted us by saying "Kitchens closed. Were only serving drinks." I asked if they were about to close because i immediately felt like i burden and was told, "We dont close for a few more hours." Go over the drink menu. I thought Charisse would be a wine bar. I had expectations of like maybe Tannin. There was only maybe 6 different wines by the glass. Everything else was bottles. I ask for one of the whites in which i was told, "Were out of that one." He doesnt suggest anything, but instead turns around and walks off. My girlfriend and i had one drink and left. The whole thing was uncomfortable. The staff wasnt friendly at all. As servers, we were so disappointed in the service.

JA

Jacob Jantzer

The food was amazing. Our favorites were the saffron mussels, duck wontons, rack of lamb, and beet salad. The meal was very reasonably priced for the quality of food (we has a glass of wine with each course), and the portions were generous - we staggered out stuffed to the gills. We brought 2 kids under 3 and sat outside. Not exactly typical for fine dining, but the staff was accommodating and we felt very welcome. I will recommend to anyone looking for a very delicious, somewhat upscale meal.