Over the weekend, I ate at the Flagstaff House for the first time. Nestled on the side of a mountain, 600 feet above the city of Boulder - the views are spectacular. The food - spectacular. The service - spectacular.
Complimentary appetizer after complimentary palette cleansing sorbet after complimentary “Happy Anniversary” dinner plate after complimentary mini-loaf of bread for breakfast the next morning - in never ended. The menus had special custom messages printed on them!
In the end, even though I would heartily recommend The Flagstaff House to others, I probably wouldn’t go there again. Why? I’m not really comfortable being waited on like that. I’d rather mix my own tuna tartar. I’d rather have a few more uninterrupted minutes gazing out the window or engaging my guest than have yet another one bite course delivered and then cleared.
Anyone else feel out of place in these types of restaurants?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Flagstaff is in a dying league of its own for sure (generational thing for them IMO, and once the boomers are gone, their relevance goes to zero). In general the “ballet service” thing isn’t so interesting to me either. I definitely like fine dining though… just not when it hits nuisance levels.
I’m ok with being pampered like that because at the end of the night your dinner for 2 is $160 before you count the $20 bottle of water or tip. Its like you’re saying you rather not get a massage because somebody is working your sore spots.
Whole point of this place is to be pampered, as long as you’re prepared (mentally and financially) for this, there isn’t much of an issue.
@Jud To a certain extent I agree - but many of the people dining there were having a special occasion (Birthday, Anniversary, etc)…could they live off of that sort of thing?
@Stepan True - I’m not sure I’ve ever been pampered that much anywhere. Thankfully, we agreed to “or would tap water be more appropriate?”
Ahhhh - but the view and the martinis! Happy late Anniversary!