The Continental: User Reviews

After waiting years to try out The Continental, I finally did last Friday night. I made dinner reservations in advance for two. Our table was waiting when we got there, but we had to wait 15 minutes before our server acknowlegded us. Prior to that, three other staff members walked past to tell us our server would be right with us. None offered to bring us water or drinks.

Finally, our server came and we ordered our drinks, appetizers and entrees all at the same time for fear of having to wait even longer. We chose The Continental for this outing as it was rated as having the "best" Mojitos in Des Moines. While the drinks did not disappoint... the size of the glass was not up to par. Much too small.

For appetizers, we ordered the blue cheese and honey glazed crostinis and the carpaccio. The crostinies were tastey, but the honey was a sticky mess, compounded by the fact that the cheap paper napkins that our silverwear were wrapped in provided absolutely no help. Cloth napkins would have been nice and highly expected of a restaurant of this caliber.

The carpaccio was a miniscule wrap of raw beef swimming in a vat of soy sauce and oil. There were only five bites and no season, no flavor. (Note: Francesca's on Bryn Mawr in Edgewater, IL knows how to make Carpaccio and how to present it!) This was a pure disappointment.

For entrees, we both ordered the only steak on the menu. My companion asked to have no mushrooms on his and when it arrived it had no topping at all. My steak had mushrooms and sauteed onions. They could have at least put the onions on both steaks to add some texture and moisture... as both steaks were very poor cuts and full of grissle. It was like chewing a piece of leather. I almost choked several times trying to eat it. The only redeeming quality was that the steak actually had some pleasing flavor to it.

The entrees came with "new potatoes", but instead we both received golden potatoes that had absolutley no flavor and no seasoning. Spuds from a box would have been a vast improvement.

Lastly, we asked our server if they had creme brulee or tiramisu for dessert. She had no idea what was available for desert and had to check with the ktichen. After waiting ten minutes for her to come back, she proclaimed they did not have what we inquired about (because this was an Italian restaurant, not French she snapped), we decided to pass. What she did have to offer we less than appealing, so we kindly asked for our check.

In total, our bill came to just over $90.00. For this price, I can think of a dozen other local restaurants that would have had better service and much better food. The prices at The Continental seemed quite reasonable on paper, but failed to deliver in quality making this venue a poor value. If the staff on-hand would have been friendlier or actual gave the impression that they cared, it would have been a more pleasant experience. We won't be going back, nor recommending this establishment again.

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As the owner of The Continental, I am writing in response to billsampson577. I am also shocked and appalled that someone would publicly post a personal attack on a local small business and on an individual. Too many times, people hide behind their computer and anonymously defame and deride in a public venue. It is absolutely shameful. Be a man, "Bill Sampson" and deal with your personal issues like a man. You never called The Continental to complain, nor did you send an email. I'm positive you know how to use a computer, because you set up a fake facebook page and used a pseudonym to publicly post on Metromix. It's not easy to run a business ,employ people and support a family. So, next time, "Bill Sampson"; log off the computer, use your real name and be a man.

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I've been frequenting The Continental for a while now, and my love for this place keeps growing. I've lived in New York City, well Brooklyn actually, and Chicago. The Continental would fit right in in either place. They are always on top of their game. If you find yourself in the mood for a great cocktail, then this is the place to go. If you are looking for a fruity martini, then go anywhere else. The drink menu here is full of classics and new creations. I suggest the Bobby Boucher. You will never go back to drinking a cosmo again unless you find yourself in 1995.

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I love this place. Where else can you get a Caipirina and the best duck you will ever have while checking out live jazz on a Saturday night? Whoever wrote those bad reviews, and I suspect they are bogus, must be crazy.

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Friday night, my wife and I stopped in to get a few drinks and appetizers. The business was steady at most. Ten minutes after we sat down, our server came over to take drink orders. She seemed nice and asked me what kind of vodka I perferred in my gimlet. So far so good. Fifteen minutes later my drink arrived but turned out to be mostly lime juice and ice. My wife's port was corked, and when she pointed this out to the bartender, (our server had vanished), the bartender said "it was because they don't sell that much of it, so it must just be stale." My wife did get a martini for the same price, but the bartender kept giving us dirty looks as if we had ruined her evening by being such horrible customers. I said nothing about the gimlet and just drank ice water. Twenty minutes later, two of our appetizers arrived. The Bbq shrimp was very good, so no complaints. The chipotle hummus was nice but either needed way more hummus or fewer pita chips. Neither one of these dishes should have taken more than five minutes to "create" even if the place was packed, which is was not. We did occasionally see our server, but only as she was frantically running back and forth between the kitchen and bar, never carrying a thing. We finally pinned her down long enough to ask about our third appetizer, the seafood & spinach brie en croute. Ten minutes later, it arrived. Plate presentation was very nice, but it went straight down hill from there. The spinach was just a green wad and we never did find any actual seafood bits anywhere. Two of the three portions had only a very small amount of melted brie left in them. The third had a nickel sized piece, which still had the rind on it. Ten more minutes until our server appeared. We asked for and received our bill - ten minutes later. Anticipating another long wait, I had my credit card ready and practically tackled our server when she finally gave us our bill to keep her from vanishing. An hour and a half after we walked in, we left and went somewere else to redeem the evening. My wife and I have both worked many years in restaurants and have never had a worse experiece. This place could be and was very cool, but it seems those days are long gone. We will never ever go back. I'd rather go to McDonald's.

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The Continental is one of my favorite spots for Happy Hour. They have creative and unique appetizers-most for half off during happy hour. Its a cool place with exposed brick and local artwork. Its not a very large spot, as its long and narrow. I recommend grabbing a booth in the back for a cozy and intimate atmosphere.

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Went for lunch. Only ones in the restaurant. After placing our order, it started to get busier. However, it took over 40 minutes to receive our food except for one of my dining companions, who received her food after every one else was finished eating. The table next to us was served before her (even though they came in after us) and my dining companion almost didn't get her pita wrap but protested when she saw the other table being served a pita wrap. Our drinks were never refilled. It took 17 minutes from the time we received our bill to the time we paid, even though we ended up going to the bar to pay since it had been 10 minutes and the waitress still hadn't come back to pick up the checks. No apology, even though the other table received free cake (we didn't even get that).

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I have been to the Continental a few times for cocktails, but tonight was my first time actually eating there. We stopped by to meet friends for happy hour, and I was so pleased! Together we ordered a plethora of appetizers, all at great prices-garlic capped mushrooms, spicy meatballs, pomegranate toast, bruschetta and olive cheese pastries. All were seriously delicious-but the garlic mushrooms were by far my favorite! They were marinated in a butter, garlic sauce but the best part was the lemon juice that was mixed in giving them a refreshing bite! The atmosphere is classy and swanky with the exposed brick, dark booths and modern art-yet surprisingly comfortable and laid back.

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This place is great to go for a low-key date with your significant other. You can cozy up in a booth, and it is dark enough that you can have an intimate dinner/drink. This place can also be good for larger gathering, as the table in the back can get rowdy. My one complaint - the bar quite often is understaffed, and getting a drink when it is busy can be a hassle, and take 15 minutes. The small plates are good, although many items are typical and uninspired.

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I go here probably once a month. The blackened chicken sandwich is awesome...and well priced under $10. I've always had good service too. I'm someone who drinks a lot of tea when I go out...and the servers were always on top of it. This is one of the best spots Downtown.

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