Disappointed in the service at the Peabody, but good food at Napa

So many times I have seen the sign on Sand Lake Road for Rocks and Napa, the new bar and restaurant at the Peabody hotel on International Drive. After months of saying we have to go there, after seeing ads in Orlando Style magazine, and reading reviews on Scott Josephs web site (http://www.scottjosephorlando.com ), we finally picked an afternoon and went to lunch.

I made a reservation on Open Table, mostly due to the fact I love Open Table and think it is one of the best inventions and also because I am trying to bump up my points. A reservation was certainly not necessary for a week day lunch in the middle of summer.

I had never been to the Peabody, and as a long time Orlando resident (my dad was a construction worker who helped build it years ago) I have always thought it was one of our cooler luxury hotels, so I was pretty excited to be going inside. We pulled up to a very busy and crazy valet area. We sat, we got out of the car, we looked around, and we waited and waited. Not one of the many valet hosts wanted to help us. Did I mention it was busy and crazy? It was so awful we almost left. If I had been checking in or staying at this property, I would have been so upset that this was the way I was starting my vacation. Finally, someone walked by and we grabbed him to park our car. I did not feel good leaving my car in his hands or that this was going to be a good experience. There was no, “Where are you heading?” “Do you need directions to the restaurant?” “Have a nice day.” Nothing!

The interior of the hotel was beautiful and it was easy to find Napa. We walked up to one of three hostesses’ and a very empty restaurant. Napa is beautifully decorated with wood and soft colors. There are a lot of wine boxes and bottles used throughout the restaurant. As someone who loves wine; I liked it. I could not wait to see the wine list. A very nice and nervous server approached us, there was only one other table in the place and it was a party that had 3 or 4 kids and they sounded like a hundred. Thankfully they were finishing up so we would not have to hear that for long.

The wine list was varied with a good price range. We were happy with our selection BV Tapestry I think is was 2002. Our server could not open the wine, I am not sure why but a bartender came over to open it and he didn’t really know what he was doing. He almost broke the cork and didn’t present the bottle or have us taste it. I think she (the server) may have been too young but it could have been because she was so nervous. I hope that restaurant gets busier so they have more practice. I would have opened it myself if I knew they didn’t know how.

We ordered the Kobe Beef Hamburger with wild mushroom ragout, aged cheddar and truffle fries as well as Roasted and Smoked Capellini with blue crab. Both arrived promptly and were very good. The burger was cooked correctly, tasty and delicious. The Blue Crab Capellini was tender and sweet with a lot of great flavor. However, I don’t think either dish or service would warrant a return visit. It was a nice lunch, but I would have gone through less hassle and had better food and service at a number of Orlando establishments.

After lunch, we wandered up to Rocks bar that we see advertised everywhere as the ”new place to be“ ultra-lounge. It took a while for one of the three bartenders to decide who would be the lucky one to help us. That always makes you feel good when the staff has to argue about helping guests.

So we chatted for a while and had a drink. It is a very lovely area, low couches and tables, warm lighting and carpet, rich colors and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the pool. Unfortunately, the lack of guests and staff make it a place that I am not putting on my list to go back to any time soon.