Gabriel’s Grille and Bar

In a word. Disaster!
We had a horrible experience due to ignorant and unprofessional staff and management.
Our party of 14 was celebrating a milestone birthday on Saturday, and planned to attend the comedy show at Bananas Comedy Club adjacent to the restaurant after dinner, so Gabriel’s was a very convenient choice.
Sadly we walked out angry and upset. We did not eat there at all, and missed out on the comedy show at Banana’s.
We called the early in the week for Saturday at 5pm reservation for 14, and they asked
if we were part of the comedy club dinner package which cost $ 25.50 ($ 30 with tax and tip) package was a steak, chicken or fish entrée, a salad desert, tea or coffee.
Gabriel’s told their comedy dinner package was not flexible, and it could not be modified to accommodate the 6 vegetarians in our group. So rather than have 6 of us pay 180 for salad. we opted to dine off the regular menu which had various soups, salads, pastas, and entrees to choose from.
It was at this point they told us that Gabriel’s does accept reservations for nights when there is a show. But, they also said it would not be an issue since we were arriving at 5:00.
We repeated that we were a party of 14, and again were told «not a problem, don’t worry».
So, long story short (I Know… too late), we arrive Saturday promptly at 4:50. waited in line for 15 minuets. No maître d’. When he did arrive, he said they could not seat us (as we all stared into the empty restaurant) and he walked away to the kitchen.
The conversation went like this:
Us: But wait. we called you said you could seat us
Him: No. That was not me. Do you have their name?
Us: No. But is was one of your staff they answered YOUR phone.
Him: That is irrelevant anyway. We can not seat you. We are booked.
Then he walked away to the kitchen, hid for several minutes. Came out. Saw me. And did a 180 back to the kitchen for a few more minutes.
I was finally able to confront him, since he needed to seat the other dinner guests that were arriving.
By then it was 5:30. The manager of the comedy club arrived and revealed the awful truth: Gabriel’s has a contract with Bananas. They do not take reservations if there is a comedy show because all seats are reserved for the comedy dinner package. NO WALK-​INS.
OMG. How simple it would have been to explain that on the phone.
Gabriel’s please. You should never allow someone to answer the phone if they do not understand the dinner policies. You should not give the public the impression that they will be seated easily without a reservation, when in fact they will not be seated at all!
What could Gabriel’s have done?
1. Given us the correct information over the phone.
2. Not acted as if we were lying about getting the wrong information.
3. Taken an iota of responsibility.
4. Offered even the most cursory apology.
5. Taken an interest when I told them my story would be posted on Unilocal. (Yup. Here it is!)
I have never dined in their restaurant and can not comment on the quality of the food. However, based on my experience yesterday, I imaging that they focus is on moving bodies in and out with little regard to quality of service. And only care about maximizing their the profit on the $ 25.50 comedy club dinner.
Gabriel’s showed a lack of concern, and offered no meaningful resolution to the awful situation that they played a direct part in creating.
Based on my experience, I would warn anyone interested to STAY AWAY from GABRIEL’s.

Really nice inside. Better than most «nice» hotel bars.
Lots of different specials all throughout the week. Cute Bartender and a clean staff
And I hear the Sangria at Bananas is great. Bet u could get it here.

The most honest bartender told us the wings weren’t fresh was all frozen, grill checked was dried and hard associate liked the steak special.

Amazing service and attentive staff! Your cup of coffee will be filled and you so will your stomach. The food is ok but the service will make you want to come back. Come in for a royal treatment.

Food was well prepared. Wait staff very attentive and friendly. I only wish the menu had more choices. Overall a great experience.

I staggered in here after a long nasty drive from Philly. I was stressed out to the max! The bartender informed me it was PRIME RIB night. I could get a full prime rib dinner including desert and a glass of house wine for less than $ 20!
My meal came out quickly and my prime rib was cooked as requested. My sides were fresh. My house wine was fine. Everything was a notch up from typical hotel food.
It was one heck of a deal for $ 20. Three stars!

Went here as part of a dinner/​comedy package at Bananas and while it was an enjoyable experience the food was average.
Food: 2 and a half stars: We had a 3 course meal that started with a salad with a flavorful balsamic vinaigrette. Tasty but nothing out of the ordinary.
The steak was terrible one of the worst I have ever had. Way too much gristle and not enough meat. The garlic herb butter barely salvaged it.
However, the mashed potatoes were by far the best I have ever had outside of my mothers. Just enough skin in the potatoes and lots of butter to created a wonderful variety of textures. It is the only reason this place gets 3 stars.
The Ice cream was standard for a dessert but a huge portion. Nice way to end the meal.
Service: 3 stars. Service was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Slightly awkward however.
Atmosphere: 2 and a half stars. The restaurant is located in the hotel of the lobby so its a slightly busy and rushed atmosphere.
Conclusion: Not really worth going to considering its in a hotel but you must try the mashed potatoes once. its worth it just for that

2.5 stars.
We recently went here as part of a dinner/​comedy package with Banana’s Comedy Club, so we were promised a salad, a choice of four entrees, and a choice of desserts de jour for approximately $ 22.00. I was anticipating a wedding-​type menu option — steak, fish, chicken and pasta options. The quality was mostly mass-​produced-​wedding quality as well.
What we received was a salad, choice of three entrees — chicken, steak or salmon, and a choice of desserts. My group ordered each of the three entrees.
Salad: good, yummy smokey dressing.
Steak: not great. Mine was fine if a bit overcooked, but one of the steaks at the table was filled with gristle. The steak was supposed to be paired with onion rings and veggies according to the menu, but came with veggies and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were really good, even though they kept the skin on the potatoes. The veggies were a bit undercooked.
Chicken: overcooked, but paired with an amazing mushroom sauce.
Salmon: good, cooked properly, not anything unusual.
Desserts: choice of cannoli, ice cream, cheesecake (or a chocolate cake for an additional charge). Everything was okay (HUGE portions).
Overall it was convenient to have so close to the show, service was pretty good, and the price was about right for what you received.

«NO. I NEED THIS ROOM FOR THE CLUB!» I was told when I asked for a table.
«So…I can’t eat here?» I asked
«You can eat here, but you must smumble-​mumble…»
«What?»
«SIT AT THE BAR!!»
Not the warmest reception, but a freak October snow storm kept me from leaving the hotel, so sit at the bar I did. Right away I noticed that no matter where I sat, I was subjected to a bone-​chilling gust of wind everytime someone opened the door. I also noticed that the very next group of people who came in not ten minutes later were seated in the dining room. Turns out the comedy club decided the cancel the performance that night, leaving the dining room free. Not that anyone offered to let me sit there, despite the fact that no one had taken my order yet. In fact, it was about twenty minutes before the server even noticed that I was there. To be fair, she was the only waitress on duty that night, and was doing her best, but even after the kitchen sent someone out to help, service was still incredibly slow.
The food was decent, but there was no desert menu (the server – if you could get ahold of one – was supposed to tell you what they had), and they didn’t know what an irish coffee was (any place in the northeast offering a full bar should have at least one person who knows how to make an irish coffee – it’s baily’s and coffee for goodness sake!)
Anyway, I could see that they were just unprepared for the crowd of hungry people trapped in the hotel that night (even though they supposedly had enough on board to handle the crowd from the comedy club), and I think I would have given this place another star had the host not been so rude (not a good first impression). All in all, I wasn’t impressed.