Trevia Taylor
Last night, I dined at Epic Chophouse in Brier Creek with two friends. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful, and the ambiance was great. Our server was kind, attentive, and responsive, which we truly appreciated. Unfortunately, several issues throughout the evening left us disappointed. Before arriving, we reviewed the menu online, but once seated we quickly realized the in-house menu did not match what was advertised online. That was our first red flag. We ordered drinks, and I started with a Black Walnut Old Fashioned. The server asked if I wanted it smoked, and I said yes only to later discover on my bill that there was a $3 upcharge for the smoked option. I then ordered a second drink, the Maple & Flame, which was also smoked and again came with a $3 charge. My issue isn’t the fee itself, but the fact that the additional charge was never mentioned upfront when I was asked if I wanted the drinks smoked. When our entrées arrived, everyone at the table noticed that certain items looked overly charred. I ordered the 104 Ribeye. While I’m no stranger to a good char on a steak, I am a stranger to a steak with a burnt aftertaste. I mentioned this to the server, who implied that was how it was supposed to taste since the steaks are grilled. A manager later came over and echoed the same explanation. I politely explained that while grilling can add char, a steak should never taste like the tools used to cook it. I chose to replace my steak with a NY Strip, which ended up being underwhelming. For dessert, we ordered two one to share at the table and one to take home. The cookie skillet we shared was also disappointing, as the consistency and flavor didn’t quite come together. When we received our checks, we noticed a 20% gratuity automatically added to a party of three. The gratuity itself wasn’t the issue it was, again, the lack of transparency. If a 20% gratuity is added to every check, that should be clearly stated in writing for guests to see ahead of time. Overall, we made the best of the evening, but Epic Chophouse needs to do a better job with menu accuracy, transparency around added fees, and the overall quality, taste, and presentation of their food. Based on this experience, the restaurant didn’t live up to the expectations set by its reputation.
