I’VE NEVER just walked out of a restaurant I was intending to review, and frankly, I never expected to.
But it happened at the Feisty Lamb, the new brunch and international “tapas” spot on West Burnside opened this summer by former Top Chef contestant Micah Edelstein (who was booted after three episodes in season three). Our party of two waited for 10 minutes to be seated, despite the small restaurant being maybe 70 percent full at 10:30 am on a weekend.
Once seated, we waited. And waited some more. Our water glasses were kept full by a girl who appeared to be no more than 12—Edelstein’s daughter, I presume—but after 30 minutes of sitting, we didn’t even have coffee. Forty minutes on scene and still no coffee and no ETA. Sitting under the brightly painted walls with umbrellas hanging from the ceiling (the interior screams Monica and Rachel’s apartment, down to the softly playing Hootie & the Blowfish) we just couldn’t do it anymore—not without some caffeine. We canceled our order and peaced out, without an apology or goodbye from the chef or the sole harried waitress.
Restaurants have bad days, and this anecdote would be a footnote in a review of a place that otherwise redeemed itself. In this case, the Feisty Lamb has a few wonder dishes, to be sure, but the bristliness of the atmosphere, slow service, small portions, and high price don’t recommend it.
