"Even if your business lunch isn't a potential deal maker or deal breaker, the right choice of restaurant can mean the difference between an efficient exchange and a wasted hour.
Distractions caused by poor service and bad food can set an unwanted tone, and of course, the ability to communicate is essential. As for me, I seek a setting where my fellow diners and I can have a conversation not overheard by others, nor drowned out by them.
The large seating capacity of The Chop House allows the restaurant to accommodate both large and small parties, providing guests the opportunity to get business done over lunch without an excessive commitment of time. The four dining rooms permit a large meeting to be held in either of the last two rooms, complete with a glowing fireplace and privacy curtains. The one in the back is the most private and has the added feature of a pull-down screen if the meeting includes a PowerPoint presentation.
The Chop House offers service that is both professional and unobtrusive, just the way I like it - none of this, "Hi, how are we doing today?" In the past year or so, the menu has been refined to offer smaller portions and a lower price. My experience suggests that the "Down Size" portions, as they refer to them, are quite sufficient for lunch. The daily luncheon special is known as the Featured Lunch of the Day, and they also offer a Fresh Catch of the Day. To honor the restaurant's name, you can expect more than a few meat dishes, and they deliver with lots of beef and pork, along with chicken and lamb.
On my last visit, my guest ordered the Caesar Salad with Salmon ($4.99 + $5.99). She found the salmon to be ample in size, mild in flavor and cooked to perfection. The Caesar can be served alone or with chicken ($3.99) as well. However, the Caesar dressing was heavy-handed both with the garlic and the Parmesan cheese.
I ordered the Featured Lunch of the Day ($8.99) and was served two homemade blue crabcakes with a choice of one side item. The crabcakes were good, but they would have benefited from more crab and less filler. Unfortunately, this is a frequent complaint. I chose the sugar snap peas as my side, and found them to be good and crunchy, and lightly seasoned.
The other sides, of which I have had many in the past, are a sweet potato, fries, baked potato, rice pilaf, mashed potatoes, burgundy mushrooms, cheese grits and broccoli medley.
We finished our meal with a decent cup of coffee. Recent visits to the Chop House, less than three miles from Main and Lime, re-affirm my appreciation of this venue for the business luncheon. Especially since the no smoking ban, meeting in the bar offers comfortable booths, tables and added privacy not found in the main dining rooms. The one distraction is the two televisions flanking the bar. The good news is they are usually silent.
The Chop House is a fine business luncheon destination with its easy access, excellent service, good food, efficient kitchen, moderate prices and a comfortable setting. This one is no deal-breaker."