Blackberry Farm

»Blackberry Farm

My wife and I took a weekend and Blackberry Farm recently. We were last there in 2004. The place is as beautiful as ever, but we felt that the staff is not as sharp as it was five years ago. They are still focused on the guest, but the wait staff was less knowledgable about the food they were serving though they were happy to go find the answer. Just less professional.

Specifically, when we...+READ My wife and I took a weekend and Blackberry Farm recently. We were last there in 2004. The place is as beautiful as ever, but we felt that the staff is not as sharp as it was five years ago. They are still focused on the guest, but the wait staff was less knowledgable about the food they were serving though they were happy to go find the answer. Just less professional.

Specifically, when we asked for Devonshire cream we were served 1/2 and 1/2. We ordered duck for two one night and it was very tough, I mean very tough. My wife gamely asked for a steak knife and after 10 minutes of searching one was produced. The steak knife was still not up to the task of cutting very tough duck. Guests at the next table were unable to eat any of their duck. (I did eat some of it as I hate to waste food.) We were told that three ducks were served then they pulled it. Pretty big mistake as I think they should test what they serve.

The waits for service were longer than I remembered.

The Barn is nice, but I prefer the dining room in the Main House. Just a matter of preference. Main has has more of a New England feel and is cozier. The breakfasts, lunch and brunch that we had in the Main House were outstanding. I wonder if the chef there is not better than the one in the Barn.

Despite the disappointments, there is no other place in the South like Blackberry Farm.

Will we go again? We will see in a few years, but there is little room for error when you are paying between $1,000 and $2,000 per night.-COLLAPSE (by ChuckK, created December 10, 2009)