text: Ugh!!  \n\nA 25 min wait greeted us before anyone recognized our presence.  We were offered complientary champaigne in consideration.  Who drinks champainge??\n\nWe were allowed to order wine prior to hearing of the chef's feast, which offers a wine pairing.  That's dumb.\n\nWe ordered a meat/cheese plate.  It contained head cheese.  Hmmmm.  Overpriced and oversalted.\n\n30 min later our salads came.  The salads were ok and unfortunately the highlight of the meal.\n\n35 min later our main course came.  Overcooked, uneventful, lame.\n\nI can't drink alcohol and ordered water.  Twice I was left w/ no water for extended periods.  Both times I was foced to ask for water.\n\nThere were no hand towels in the unisex bathroom.  It's no fun to dry your hands using toilet paper.\n\nThe \"best\" part was saved for last.  Quiessence automatically adds an 18% gratuity, which is OK assuming the service is at least adequate.  It wasn't.  Further, as our waiter dropped the bill, he explained the 18% \"goes to the house\" and anything additional we might addd, though not required, is most appreciated.  Egad....why does the house need a service charge w/ the magnificent margins they charge for their normal food service?  And why do they put their staff in the position of shaking down their patrons for tips?\n\nAlthough it's a very nice, calming setting, I found myself wanting to leave after the first appy.  Food, service and ancillary were simply terrible.  Stay away.  You'll spend your $175 for 2 much better most anywhere else.