McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks

190 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 https://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/location/mccormick-schmicks-atlanta-ga/

Reservations through OpenTable

Valet available in hotel parking

I was disappointed.

I am not out to draw blood with my review – let’s talk through my experience.  Things happen and I am not ready to pass judgment with a single visit.  So, let’s talk through what worked and what didn’t.

First. McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks is in the Omni hotel.  I spent $30 on valet for a two hour meal.  I don’t think normally this would have irritated me so much, but it was like salt in a wound after an average night of dining.  For Nikolai's Roof and other hotel based restaurants, comping parking is the standard not the rule.  So, my first little irritation.

The atmosphere is incredible.  McCormicks is decorated with dark wood trim everywhere.  The combination of leather and wood screams fine dining.  I walked in expecting to have exceptional service complimented with exceptional food.

The patrons were a mix of families and daters.  I confess, I was kind of surprised by the number of families.  My parents would never bring us to a restaurant like McCormick’s, granted we were 3 wild boys with the attention span of a puppy.  People's attire ranged the gamut.  I saw a group celebrating – I guess a birthday and they were dressed like they were ready for ballroom dancing that evening.  I was a little intimidated with my jeans and button down shirt.  In truth, I was fine.  Several tables were dressed as I did – embarrassment averted.

Our server was pleasant and I ordered a cocktail while I looked at the menu.  I confess that I am not always the most patient person in the world – but, my thumb rule is 10 minutes for a cocktail and 30 minutes for an appetizer.  Any longer and little alarm bells start going off in my head and I start watching a little critically.  I like to watch the floor – is the hold-up from the service staff, the kitchen, or the bar.  Since COVID, there were several businesses that struggled hired and seemed to be perpetually understaffed.  I recognize that some things are just out of your servers control.  At least keep people informed – the bar is a little backed up, let me check on your cocktail.

My martini took 20 minutes – that was the next time I got to see my server.  The floor had several private booths that were out of my sight.  I am not sure where they went.  My friend and I ordered appetizers and dinner and it was close to 45 minutes before their appetizer arrived - mine never did.  I was starving at this point, so another mild irritation.  As we were waiting for our entrees, I noticed that there wasn’t any floor activity.  For a period of 15 minutes, I did not see a single drink or plate of food being delivered.  It was like dining in the Bermuda Triangle. I will say their "perfect martini" was pretty damn good in my book.

I ordered a plate of scallops served over green pea risotto.  The scallops were perfectly cooked, so hats off to the the seafood cook.  The risotto was a little firm for me.  I was always taught that risotto should flow on the plate.  This was a little solid – more like a green pea brownie.  Perhaps, I am being a little overly critical – the risotto did have a good taste, but the pea was a little overpowering and it was hard to distinguish green pea risotto from a thick split pea soup.

Normally, I would have ordered a glass of wine or another cocktail, but I really did not have the chance.  I think our server came by a total of 4 times that evening – 2 being to drop off the check and grab my credit card.

I had an opportunity to speak with the front of the house manager.  I admitted I was a little disappointed with my experience.  I did not offer any details, other than I expected a little more from a restaurant that is trying to position itself as a fine dining establishment.  I got the perfunctory please come back and let us earn your business response.  It felt like a routine – it felt like trying to make an apology from a person not empowered to fix the problem.

The holy trinity of fine dining is great food, exemplary service, and a niche atmosphere.  McCormick falls short with good food and fair service.  The atmosphere is classy and sophisticated, but it’s not enough to mask the shortcomings.  My take is that it is too much like a hotel restaurant and not a great restaurant.  There are too many places nearby to recommend McCormicks, even if staying in the Omni hotel.  

I will give McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks in Atlanta another shot in hopes it was just an off night.  I would love to discover it was just an off night.  Stay tuned. I finished the evening off at Red Phone Booth Atlanta, where I finally got my second cocktail.