Diplomat Steakhouse - Sacramento

Regrettably, we chose to dine here for the first time after passing on our usual steak restaurant downtown. It took 1 hour to receive our meal during what appeared to be a relatively not so busy evening (Saturday night . When spending a certain sum of money on what one would expect based on the menu selection and pricing, it is assumed that the food, especially the steak, is going to be of a prepared with exacting standards, cooked exactly as requested, and served within a reasonable period of time. Each of these fell far short of those assumptions. The steak was not close to being prepared as requested (well-done v. medium is not difficult to ascertain and had to be returned for fine tuning. Our fries were missing an advertised ingredient (truffle oil , the advertised separate addition to the steak consisting of sautéed onions and mushrooms were merely chopped and placed on top of the steak with no hint of ever coming into contact with heat to sauté them, and the cup of lobster bisque soup (which was delicious , had more lobster in it when compared to the side of lobster mac and cheese dish. The crab cakes were delicious as well as the mixed vegetables. Suffice it to say that we will not be returning here after spending more than a couple of hundred dollars (for 2 people, not including tip, dessert, coffee or spirits. Cost not being a complaint, we were sadly (understatement disappointed in the abilities of the kitchen and the time in which it took to serve our meal, in light of the cost and sparsely populated dining room. The waiter was great, but he was dependent on the kitchen which in our view, utterly and miserably failed him and us. We should have stuck with our usual and well-known go-to steakhouse a few blocks away closer to the Golden 1 Center where, for years, we have never been disappointed, about anything.

For the price you pay for a plate and a beverage your better off at another restaurant. Service was slow and the food did not reflect the price in the slightest. Ambiance was the only thing going for this restaurant.

1st/last time dining here. 6pm dinner res for our anniversary before 8pm concert 6 blocks away. Arrived on time, seated promptly by hostess. Patiently sat 25 min before server (or anyone) acknowledged us. Ask server for drink menu/wine list and 2 glasses of table water w/ lemon slice. +10 min for 2 waters via bus boy; no lemon but let it go as thirsty. +5 min server brings our drinks and takes order for soup/salad and entrees (had to prompt server to share evening’s specials). Server then ignores us for next 25 min. +10 min, chef abruptly brings my wife her entree yet no sign of our starters; chef was heavily perspiring and in no mood to pause for Q’s. +15 min, wife able to politely flag server and inquire about missing starters and my entree; server deflects as 1st/2nd courses mix up. +10 min, still no sign of starters or my entree, wife’s glass empty. Now 7:15pm, short on time to make concert. +5 min stroll to bar myself to request the manager since server absent. Bartender claims to be a manager so briefly explain unfortunate situation and ask for check. +5 min for head chef to come out and confront us at our table as at to what problem is. Calmly explained and chef said we’d need to wait for server to present us adjusted check—zero apology, just attitude. +5 min, server says will box my food, I decline and re-request our check plain and simple. +5 min, check comes for drinks and my wife’s entree; server was sure to note adjustment for missing starters and my entree as a special gesture. Paid our check in full and left. Appalling experience. Restaurant clearly struggling yet unconcerned about swindling its patrons. Restaurant 30% full yet observed 3 other tables nearby face similar experiences

What I observed was, service was slim to none throughout the restaurant.

We had a great lunch at the Diplomat. Aaron, our server, was very attentive. We really appreciated his level of service.