Loie Fuller.... FAIL!

[Jennifer Luxmoore]

1455 Westminster Street, Providence
Date of Visit: Saturday October 17th
Website: www.loiefullers.com
Price: $$$$


Loie Fuller is a beautiful restaurant that serves what seems to be upscale American food. We’ve heard wonderful things about it and were excited to try it!

We didn’t decide to go out to eat until 8:10, so we arrived at 8:20 on a Saturday night. We were told that a few tables were finishing dinner and that if they didn’t have dessert we’d be sat soon, but if they did it would be about a 30 minute wait. We were fine with that and sat at the bar and ordered a Framboise Lambic…a light fruity red beer.

About 20 minutes into our wait a table of 4 left. We were excited that we were going to be seated, or so we thought. We weren’t. Apparently Loie won’t seat 2 people at a 4 top. We waited another 30 minutes for a 2 top to open up while that one sat empty and 2 other couples came in and were also waiting.

When we were sat, no apology for the wait. The waitress came over and asked about drinks and we said we were all set; we just had one at the bar and needed food first before another drink. Then she said with an attitude, “We have a (?clam?) soup tonight. So you want to order?” Uh.. We did. I ordered the spring onion ravioli in a brown butter and balsamic reduction with a side of sautéed spinach and my husband ordered the lamb cassoulet. Some bread was brought to the table and then we didn’t see anyone or any food for another 35 minutes. Cassoulet is a stew… not a made to order item. Ravioli is prepped ahead of time and quickly boiled. Sautéed spinach… a couple of minutes… there is no way on earth that these dishes should have taken 35 minutes to make.

My husband said he would have forgiven the time span if the food were any good. It wasn’t. His stew…was dry. He was picking hard beans out of his mouth and it looked like the stew came from the bottom of the pot. My ravioli was good, but the texture of the pasta was slightly hard, like it had been sitting for a while. The spinach was bad… I like salt, I’m a salter… but this was really salty and sitting in a pool of oil.

We were really disappointed and will not be going back. We left there 2 hours after we arrived had really bad service and really bad food.

Price: The entire meal, for 2, was $48, drinks at the bar was $14 plus tip.

[lucia huntley]

I have eaten at Louie Fuller's more times than i can count. I have out of town guests whose first choice is Louie Fuller's. We have yet to be disappointed by a meal or service...whether at the bar or at table. We have tried a variety of entrees [ tho not the ravioli!}, and brunch. Not disappointed yet. Maybe an off nite??
Lucia

[Malyna]

I think the draw of Loie Fuller is that they served more upscale food but not as pricey as other restaurants.... I think you should give them another shot. I've had some good meals there.

I went there this past Thursday and also ordered the ravioli. Mine was a little too al dente as well!