End Cut (west Park)

End Cut is truly outstanding. We tried nearly everything on the menu, and it was all wonderful. The atmosphere was delightful, and the service was impeccable, with the meal pacing being just right. The filet was incredibly tender, the ribeye was exceptional, the old fashioned cocktails deserve a perfect score of 10 out of 10, and all the desserts were superb. I also found the prices to be quite reasonable. End Cut offers more than just a meal; it's a complete experience. Service: Dine-in.

**Dining Experience:** Dinner **Food Rating:** 3/5 **Service Rating:** 3/5 **Atmosphere Rating:** 3/5 The meal was satisfactory but didn't quite stand out. The service was decent, though there were times when it felt a bit inattentive. The ambiance was average, providing a comfortable space but lacking a distinctive charm. Overall, it was a decent dining experience.

We called two hours in advance for a reservation, and the chef said there were no tables available until 7:45. When we arrived, we were greeted by a parking lot riddled with huge potholes and clearly neglected. Parking was a nightmare. The ambiance walking in was nice, but then the chef admitted he had taken our reservation knowing there were no tables available (seriously?). Bold move! I turned to my date and guessed we’d have to wait for a full table turnover, and sure enough, 45 minutes later, I was right. Not once did they offer us a complimentary anything to make up for it. We sat at the bar while waiting, and we could hear the chef berating his staff in the kitchen—clearly a sign that morale was low, and it seemed like the chef was a hothead who was difficult to work for. The pianist was wonderful and the only reason we didn’t walk out. Once seated, we found out we had to pay for bread, which we did, and it was good. The coconut shrimp appetizer was flavorless and over-fried. The lobster chowder was decent. I ordered another martini for my date before our bottle of wine, but they were out of four different bottles that I requested. Not surprising! Our waiter never brought the martini. I tried to remain polite to the staff, but at this price point, the service was unacceptable. When we ordered the porterhouse steak for two, we were shocked to learn they hadn’t had that item on the menu for a year. The excuse? It’s too expensive to reprint the menus. What a cheap owner! Our entrees eventually arrived, and instead of the porterhouse, they had combined two different steaks on the platter to give us the ‘experience’ we were after. The steak was indeed very good, but overall, I’ve never encountered such a disorganized staff and a cheaper owner/chef. I will not be returning. Having worked in some of the finest restaurants in NYC, this place is a joke. Parking was atrocious as well—no lines, people parked haphazardly blocking each other. With all the money they’re making from their ridiculous prices, they really should invest in upgrading the parking lot.

While we were browsing the menu, a gentleman approached our table in a rather rude manner. He claimed to be the one who took my reservation and insisted he had only mentioned offering cake slices and candles, not a whole cake. Although he said he wasn't looking for an argument, I reassured him that I might have misunderstood. My daughter and her husband found his attitude unpleasant—no one was arguing, but I decided to let it go since I had another cake waiting for her at home. The hostess returned to apologize, and I reiterated that there had been a misunderstanding, mentioning that it was our first visit and we were celebrating my daughter's birthday. After we ordered, my son-in-law remarked on how rude the chef had been. I could sense the unfriendliness but didn't want it to ruin our evening. As the night progressed, the hostess checked in with us again. I shared my feelings about the rudeness, expressing that I wasn’t looking for an argument, but he seemed confrontational. She clarified that he was indeed the chef and owner. To the chef/owner: First, yes, I asked about a cake. Second, please be more cordial both on the phone and in person; after all, I could have been a food critic. Third, I wasn’t being combative—you were. However, I do want to highlight that our waiter and the hostess were both excellent. I also found it strange that the hostess wasn’t wearing a mask when we arrived but put one on halfway through our meal. As for the food, we ordered several appetizers: ricotta and rolls, octopus, and shrimp. For the main course, we had filet mignon, salmon, prime rib, and cod. Overall, the food was decent; the octopus and shrimp were outstanding, and my husband enjoyed the filet mignon. My son-in-law thought the cod was amazing, while my daughter liked the salmon, although it was slightly mushy. I ordered the prime rib well-done, but it was burnt. The total bill came to $351 for four people. After dinner, our waiter asked if we wanted dessert, but my daughter declined due to her earlier experience with the chef. He did bring out four cannolis, which I believe were complimentary, but by then, I was ready to leave. To the chef/owner, please try to be more gracious with your patrons; they are essential to your restaurant's success, and there are many dining options available. Would I return? Probably not. I work hard for my money, just as you do, and I don’t appreciate receiving rude service from an owner. Overall, we managed to have a good evening despite the unpleasantness, which I didn’t want to spoil for my daughter. On any other night, I might have walked out. I can easily spend my hard-earned money elsewhere.

From beginning to end, my dinner experience was flawless. The food surpassed all my expectations. The indoor ambiance was ideal for conversation, and I particularly liked that Chef Jordan makes a point to visit every table. I've never had a disappointing meal here! I also love dining outdoors when the weather is pleasant. Food: 5/5.