North By Northwest Restaurant & Brewery

Doesn't Recommend

ella b.

Joined 5 months ago

Unqualified General Manager = HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!

General Manager Ben is inexperienced and unqualified to be a manager!!!

This was our first visit. My husband & I attended a birthday celebration on Wednesday evening, Dec. 12. We arrived with the guest of honor and her family at about 7:30pm. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by all of her friends who were enjoying drinks at the bar. Within minutes we were seated in the dining room. This is where the chaos began...

10 seats instead of 20 were reserved at this very busy restaurant. Our party began with 13 & increased to 20 within about 30min. After 5min & no service, my husband waved at a server ( who didn't respond) & asked our bus boy if we could order a drink. Another 5min passed, still no server. General Mgr Ben came to our table to organize more seats and my husband told him that we were not getting any service. Ben responded, "Take it easy." (Great response, Ben!!)

Without arguing, we went to the bar and got our drinks. Twenty minutes later, we were ready for our 2nd drink. We gave our server the signal that we wanted to order. He acknowledged us and then we watched him take orders from 3 guests at our table & walk away. (He was taking orders from our table, 2-3 guests at a time!) Shortly after 8pm, the server FINALLY took our drink order only to return empty handed. He said he was told NOT TO SERVE US!! I WAS FLABBERGASTED!!! He didn't explain why but i didn't bother arguing. Instead, i went back to the bar.

Guess what? The bartender told me to go back to my table and order from the server!! Finally, General Mgr Ben met me at the bar & explained that they refuse to serve my husband because he was being aggressive with the server. (Since when is waving a server for service considered aggressive?!) I told him that my husband was not aggressive...he was just trying to get service. I further explained that the server was not doing a good job...taking only 3 orders at a time when he should be taking everyone's orders (yes, all 20 guests!) Ben responded with "don't tell me how to run my staff" & then he threw his hands up & said, "It's not my fault your party reserved 10 instead of 20!" (WHAT??) "I'm a guest here, not the organizer," I said, "& it doesn't matter how many people arrived, WE NEED SERVICE!"

Here's the KICKER...

Ben continued with "Go back to your table, take a seat, order some food and then we'll serve you a drink." (WOW!!! The GM is telling me that I HAVE TO ORDER FOOD BEFORE BEING SERVED A 2ND DRINK??) I WAS APPALLED!! I said to Ben "you're a GM & this is how you speak to your guests? I'm from the hospitality biz & our GMs would NEVER speak to a guest this way!" Ben concluded with "if you don't like it you can leave!"

PRICELESS!!!

Obviously, I left. I fetched my husband and apologized to our friend, the birthday girl, who agreed that service was horrible.

* Note that I have over 10 years experience as a Catering Mgr in fine dining. I have organized thousands of events with average guest count of 50. Situations where more guests arrive than planned are extremely common! As a GM, Ben should have assigned more than 1 server to our table to assist with initial drink orders. If no server was available, then Ben should have taken drink orders himself. Team work!! Instead, Ben left us dry with one inexperienced server who took 30 min to take drink orders. His actions are a perfect example of someone who is incapable of managing a restaurant of this magnitude!!

Doesn't Recommend

Katie J.

Joined 5 months ago

This place was way too expensive and not worth it.

Recommends

amandathepanda512

Joined 2 years ago

Trivia Night Baby!. I'm so happy they have trivia here, I live right across the street! Not only are the drink specials great, the trivia is super fun. Name that tune round is my favorite! PS. I love their beeeeeer :)

Recommends

FadedGray

Joined 4 years ago

Memorable food & atmosphere. - it's Yummy!

- able to accommodate large groups with ease

- plenty of variety in food and drink to please everyone

- rustic, lodge like atmosphere

- ample parking

Recommends

Tess C

Joined 4 years ago

mixed thoughts. The menu never changes. Issues with an overly salty pizza. Love the bartenders!

Recommends

Kat1965

Joined 4 years ago

We love this place--special memories. My husband and I were engaged and married at NX so we feel especially connected to this place. The staff is so nice and George's (Executive Chef) menu is so good. You can always find something tasty to dine on.

Recommends

gbutchko

Joined 5 years ago

Most Excellent. The service staff is as good as is gets and their seasonal brews keep things interesting in a really good way. Saturday and Sunday brunches start early (10:30) so if you have kids the timing is perfect.

For brunch the baked Huevos Rancheros, Breakfast Sandwich, Club Sandwich and my personal favorite on Sunday - the Meatloaf - are well worth the trip. The Chicken Fried Chicken special on Wednesdays ranks way up there as well...

Recommends

jessbug

Joined 4 years ago

Great Happy Hour!. Tried NXNW for happy hour for the first time and will definitely make it a regular stop! The half-price appetizer menu was full of good options that pleased our entire party. I especially recommend the spinach, capers and artichoke dip and the roasted garlic bulbs.

As for the beer, I can't rave enough! I had never been to a microbrewery before but after my experience at NXNW, I will certainly make it a point to go again and again. Their pale ale and hefeweizen were particularly tasty. A few of my friends were not beer drinkers, but certainly were not left out. The frozen margaritas and peach bellinis also on the happy hour menu were delicious!

Great food, great beer, great service!

Recommends

peppermint81

Joined 5 years ago

Great food!. Amazing food......simply delicious....been here 3 times...

1st time: Shrimp scampi...amazing!

2nd time: Rotisserie chicken...delicious

3rd time: Cedar plank salmon....yummy

Will go again n recommend everyone..

just that its too crowded during lunch hours....evenings are better

Recommends

78745

Joined 4 years ago

always consistent. I come into eat here everytime my family is in from the north. Just recently I had to bring in a party of 15 and had an absolutely wonderful experience. All of my family loved their food and the atmosphere. Even though it is a brewery it is never really loud or barlike. It feels like a family lodge. I get to eat here only a few times a year and everytime the food and the service is outstanding and always consistent. The people who work there seem to really enjoy their jobs and almost everytime a manager has stopped by my table to ask how everything was. It is warm and cozy restaurant with a style of food original from anything else in Austin. The menu is extensive and the pricing is perfect. I would always recommend this restaurant to locals and out of towners!!! A+