By RYAN CORMIER
After hearing that Conley Ward's Steakhouse would change its name to C.W. Harborside next month, I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked in Tuesday night, dutifully arriving on time for my 7 p.m. reservation.
The changeover isn't set to take place until mid-May, but with promises of a new menu and lower prices, would I be walking into a restaurant in the middle of a messy transition?
My friend and I were quickly handed menus and the waitress announced it was "City Restaurant Week," guiding us to the special $35 prix-fixe menu in the back. We soon had a basket of fresh, hot crusty rolls and our drinks on the table.
All was well.
I started with a tasty mixed green salad - a small pile of baby lettuces, tomatoes, cucumber, croutons and onion. My friend went with the heartier iceberg wedge: a thick chunk of iceberg with a homemade blue cheese dressing and smoked bacon bits. (There was barely a drop of dressing left on his plate when he was done, so there were clearly no problems with the salad.)
For my entree, I decided on a non-steak dish. I was served a large portion of crab and gnocchi drenched in asiago blush sauce and topped with cheese shavings.It was rich. It was filling. And it had plenty of crab -- no skimping here. Sure, there were a few pieces of crab shell here and there, which can be shocking while eating a soft dish like gnocchi, but a few stray shell bits are expected.
About three-quarters through, I seriously thought about having the rest wrapped up to take home. And for a big guy, that doesn't happen very often. But I soldiered on and polished it off, making for a long evening of feeling too-full.
My friend went for what should be Conley Ward's strong suit: filet medallions and shrimp topped with an orange teriyaki glaze and a side of potatoes au gratin. The potatoes were soon topped with a big spoonful of butter thanks to my friend who I had thought was on a diet. (I guess not!)
His two medium rare medallions were cooked to perfection -- a bright red middle -- and the pair of healthy-sized shrimp were a perfect compliment. It was exactly the quality of meat and shrimp you would expect from good steakhouse. Towards the end of the meal, a second Bacardi and diet Coke showed up next to my plate. I had ordered the first one when we arrived, but this drink came out of nowhere.
The waitress must have read the confusion on my face."Didn't you order this?" she asked.
"No," I told her.
"Well, it's yours now," she said, realizing her mistake.
She even gave me a pity laugh when I asked her if she was trying to get me drunk. (When our tab came, neither of the mixed drinks were on the check, which came to $95 after tip.)
I rarely eat dessert, so I had little room left for my Kentucky butter cake that was soon staring back at me. It was a tower of hot, buttery cake beside a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a dollop of whipped cream. It sat in a puddle of strawberry syrup, next to a few sliced strawberries and topped with a vanilla wafer.
It was too much to pass up. Needless to say, it was possibly the best part of the entire meal and I paid for it the rest of the night, even though left about a quarter of it on the table when I left. My friend went with the Bailey's Cheesecake and once again, nary a crumb was left. (He later sent me a text message on the way to his work noting that he was driving with his pants unbuttoned thanks to the three-course monster meal he had just socked away.)
Earlier in the evening as we began to eat our entrees, a manager stopped by to making sure everything was to our liking. And considering the sweeping upcoming changes at the restaurant, my concerns about possible problems with the food or service turned out to be unfounded.
From the looks of things, all is well at Conley Ward's as they prepare for a new era as C.W. Harborside, which officially begins May 15.
Contact Ryan Cormier at 324-2863 or rcormier@delawareonline.com. Read his pop culture blog at www.delawareonline.com/pulpculture.
40 comments:
"a pity laugh..." ah, you're used to that, Cormier...
nobody wants to hear about your boy friend's unbuttoned pants...not that there's anything wrong with that
cut to the chase, cormier. did you have sex with the waitress who was liquoring you up or not?
He gave her the tip.
Just the tip.
They must have improved their staff and kitchen or the reviewer has no idea what he is talking about. I was there for the last time in August. The service was so poor, and we were one of four tables in there. The sauteed spinach was drenched in uncooked wine and the fish smelled like fish...big mistake. The manager didnt even take anything off the menu. We left there insulted and felt they were very unprofessional. My family and I have reviewed food publically in the NJ and NY area for 3years now. Conley Wards is certainly at the bottom of our list. Or, possibly it was the manager at the time not doing his job.
To the Phantom Reviewer of New Jersey and New York Restaurants: I've been watching this blog since the beginning of the week, hoping beyond all hope to hear intelligent comments about the offerings of City Restaurant Week. Reading your post prompted me to post a response.
You clearly were looking for something for free at the time of your last visit, since you were so quick to dismiss the abilities of the manager at the time, yet you trashed the restaurant and its food?? If your issue was with the food and/or service, why didn't you mention anything to management, who could have done something about it at the time? Too often, people like you and your family get high and mighty when dining and forget that restaurants are like delicate ecosystems- they're often independently owned and you can't apply the same savage tactics re: complaints as if it were Walmart.
You know? The GOLDEN RULE??
If you were so sure and proud of your public reviews of restaurants, you might have left your name and a link to your postings. Alas, you reek much worse than the fish you describe, and are just as dubious.
Unfounded poor service? How bout screwing up the drink order. The place is still a dump. Read the reviews on TripAdvisor.com (hint hint)
New name! (C.W. Harborside) New Management! New Attitude! New Chef! New Pastry Chef! New Lighter Fare Menu on the Patio! Patio Grand OPENING Thursday, May 22nd!With all the restaurants in Wilmingto closing, let's make sure this beautiful Riverfront Spot rocks on! My last visit was phenomenal! The new GM (can't remember his name?)explained all the changes on the horizon and I can't wait to see! I heard MOnkey Bus is the band playing the GRAND opening! Can't wait!
CW Harborside? Where is the Harbor? On toxic Christina River. Went up there to see what these "idiots" were trying to do.
Re-invent themselves??
In this economy?? Place sucks ---always has. Slow bartenders are too busy talking and stealing.
Penelopes? They think that deck is going to carry them all year. What a dumb name...but then again those idiots running the place do the opposite.
They dug their own grave from the beginning. Ignorant owners.
Same staff--a bunch of lazy losers with a nasty attitude!!
Word on the street in Wilmington is.... Pure and blatant stupidity. Lousy food--slow service and ridiculous prices.
Lock the door and go away. PLEASE !
THANK YOU !!!
New changes on the horizon ??
Their first attempt at a "Steakhouse Concept" bombed. I hope the "new owner(s)" know what they are doing.
For starters.......where did they come up with that stupid name "Harborside". Penelopes?? Duh. Uh. Duh.
The new website that they are advertising does not yet exist, and the old one contains only an image of the print ad they published in the News Journal. Not a good start.
I was very impressed the first time I ate at Conley-Ward's -- the best filet mignon I have ever had, including steakhouses in New York, DC, Miami, etc. The sides were atrocious, though, which is fairly inexcusable, as it's not THAT hard to make mashed potatoes without dumping a pound of salt into them, is it? The service the past couple of times has been pretty bad. The last time I was there, fire alarms kept going off throughout our meal and would stay on for a good 10 minutes at a time. If it's cheap enough I might try it again one night after a Blue Rocks game, but I expect more out of a steakhouse that what they have offered, and even the once-mighty steaks have fallen in quality.
Dear Anonymous......what did you expect from a bunch of "nit wits" in charge.
We both ordered a filet. It did not meet our expectations. The sides were "cold and tasteless". Service was slow. You would think they would know better? Rock bands, Hip-Hop DJ's....it just dont mix. But then again, another futile attempt to be "something" they know little or nothing about.
We wont be back. Period.
C W Harborside, what a difference. Beautiful cocktail waitresses (harborside girls) i think they had 8 bartenders working friday night the service was fantastic unlike the rude and arrogant bartenders up the river at Harrys. The lounge furniture was like something out of south beach and the flatbreads were to die for. can't wait to go back
CW Harborside--the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. Even during the week! Great music and dancing for all ages. Service is phenomenal and food is exceptional. Great place to chill and meet friends and family for an enjoyable evening outside. Don't know or care what others seem to say where negativity prevails, but each time I go to this establishment it is better than the last time I was there.
we used to go to conley wards for our anniversary dinner every year so we decided to give cw harborside a try and you know what it was the best meal ever. my steak was awsome and my wife loved the sea bass. the deck is beautiful with lots of flowers and they have cool outdoor furniture. the best part was i could only afford to eat there once a year but we had dinner and drinks for $63 now i can afford to eat there more often.
Sounds like a couple of ex lousy bartenders are jealous. Their bitchin because they don't work at the best restaurant in Wilmington.
new menu much more affordable..
flat bread was the perfect appetizer to go with drinks out on the deck.
thoroughly impressed with the changes of the former 'steak house'. as expected, the steak was delicious as well as the sides and sauces that accompany the dish. after a satisfying dinner, my wife and i enjoyed cocktails on the new lounge chairs while the band played. good atmosphere, good food, and will become a regular summer dining spot.
perfect after work 'happy hour' spot any day of the week! the tapas menu provided the perfect portions and the specialty drinks have a nice summer feel.
Now I can afford to take my husband out to dinner where he will actually enjoy his meal! We had an intimate dinner in the dining room and already booked reservations for our anniversary.
1.It is funny how the people running the place write their own reviews. Look at the "date and time stamp". Yeah....like people are going to believe this malarky??
Grow up and get over it......your place sucks.
2. Be careful what you say about Harry's Seafood & Harrys Savoy Grille. Xavier Texido has built his businesses into being Icons in Delaware. Furthermore, he will be there long after "your" gone. But it was "ok" that you were up there spying on his business. Also, you are jealous of his success while you are paying rent(that you are behind on) for a place that will never ever succeed.
3.The truth of the matter is.... all of you are clueless about whats happening, but what else is new? Do you expect that deck to carry you all winter? It won't and the place will be barren once again this Fall just as you were last year.
Do yourselves a favor...Lock it up and go away.
4. Lovely and talented Harborside girls??? Talented at doing what?
Stop writing your own reviews and making up bullshit !!!
5.Kudos to DEAN WARD for leaving !!
"Your ship has already Sunk".
A couple of ex-lousy bartenders?
Bitchin' because "we" do not work anymore at the Best restaurant in Wilmington? Keep dreaming you losers !!!!
Well.....your place is by far the worst restaurant in Wilmington and I am glad I "ripped you off" while I was there. Ha! Ha! You jerks.
I was there last weekend, and i had a blast. The band rocked, and the service was fine. Looking forward to the next time "what your mama said" plays. Great time had by all.
If you ripped them off, and your glad. That only means your a dirty thief. How do you sleep at night knowing your a loser who has to steal. I wouldn't listen to you if you were the last person on Earth, let alone give any meaning to your review of anything. You are a LOSER.
Went there this past Saturday Night on 6/21.
"John McNutt Trio" .....YUK !!
Alot of people (including us) left because they said the band sucked. We left and walked up to "Harry's Seafood". Place was 'packed' without music.
You need to "concentrate" on your restaurant ...not these stupid rock bands.
YOU WANNA CALL ME A DIRTY THIEF?
THE "TWO BIGGEST CROOKS" STILL WORK THERE AND HAVE BEEN GIVING AWAY DRINKS(AND STILL ARE) LONG BEFORE YOU TOOK OVER.
SINCE THEY WERE GETTING AWAY WITH IT ........ I DID TOO !!
HA HA HA HA HA HA .....YOU LOSERS!!
Sounds just what a dirty thief would say. If one does it, why can't I. Cause it's wrong you thief. In life you just don't do those things. Grow up, and stop thinking stealing is O.K. ever!
Re:Thursday Night-July 17th.
My company "Qualcomm" took all of employees out for Happy Hour. There were 30 of us.
These TWO STUPID WAITRESSES WITH THEIR "BOOBS" HANGING OUT WERE WAITING ON US.(This is not what people....especialy women with money & class want to see)
WE COULD NOT GET A DRINK!!!!!!!
WE ALL LEFT BY 7:45 AND I PROMISE WE WONT BE BACK. YOUR PLACE SUCKS AND THE "SERVICE" IS JUST AS BAD AS IT WAS LAST YEAR. I PLAN ON TELLING EVERYONE AT DUPONTS ALSO NOT TO GO THERE EITHER! WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE IS AN "ASSHOLE" AND HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON. YOU PEOPLE NEED TO GIVE IT UP!!
I walked thru your Dining Room to use the Ladies room.....NO ONE in there either. Worse than last year.
You hire stupid people who are poorly trained ....you get stupid results!!
>>Thank you for "choosing" CW Harborside<< ????
Yeah....that was a "bad" choice.
For a women with money and class, you sure use DUMB words. "Sucks" "Asshole" "Stupid". I would think IF you had money, and class you could come up with more CLASSY words. You only wish you had money, and or class. The two girls that where waiting on you or very nice, and hard working people. You don't even know these girls, nor there background. You have no right to call them anything. From your blog i can only think your the stupid one. Only wishing you had bodies like those girls once in your life. Grow up if you have money, and or class. Since you don't have any, i think you won't.
To all of you that have read down this far I apologize. I did not realize that our establishment had such a far reaching and personal effect on people.
My name is Joe Van Horn, and I am the newest General Manager at C.W. Harborside. An employee brought this blog to my attention and after reading the 29 comments I thought I should at least attempt a reasonable response.
After years of unsuccessfully (for a multitude of reasons) running as a steak house, ownership decided it was time to make a change. I was hired in May and since then we have made a lot of changes. Some have worked and some haven't, but as C.W. Harborside we have made ourselves more accessible to a wider range of clientelle.
Offering entertainment more often has expanded our operation longer into the evenings on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Drink specials and our Tapas & Raw Bar menus have made us more affordable, more frequently to a client base that may not be able to afford dining here on a regular basis.
Our patio, has thrived this summer, during a trying economy and we hope to carry that success back indoors come this fall. We have said good-bye to many staff members (some who have anonymously blogged above), but have welcomed several new kitchen and service team members who are placing a new emphasis on food and service. We will be introducing a new Sunday Brunch Buffet come September, that will bring back memories of the brunch I once ran at The Columbus INN! Entertainment will continue inside, but won't start until later in the evening, in an effort to follow a great dinner, instead of interfering with one!
I am sure that we will continue to fall short of our expectations at times, but I ensure everyone that we will continue to strive to build an operation that may one day rival that of my good friend, Xavier Texiedo's. (Harry's Savoy & Harry's Seafood) Until that time I hope that all of you will join us on that journey and "take a walk on the harborside."
Hope to see 'ya on the patio!
Smokin' Joe Van Horn
General Manager - C.W. Harborside
Attn: Joe VanHorn-General Mgr.
There seems to be some propensity or obsession with the person who responds to these blogs. Our company(Quallcom) was picking up the happy hour tab. So we all decided to go. All I said was "the service was not up to par & Sucked" Whoever responded, attacked me and said...you "only" wish you had bodies like them,etc.,etc. Yeah -- a bunch of BIMBOS. Well let me ask you this. Does this person have a 401k? Does this person have a pension at the end of his/her career? Does this person have health insurance/dental/eye glass programs provided by your restaurant? Well I copied and pasted your reponse and sent it to my co-workers. If this is the way you get your "jollies" off attacking spending customers--so be it. This fall and winter you will only wish you had "our business and $$$"
Remember- the correct response should have been....."Please come into my restaurant, introduce yourself, tell me what was wrong and let me make it right". You will find out some day the value of the American Dollar and wish you had it. The only reason people go to that Patio/Deck is because it is Summer,outside & default.I guarantee- we will spread the word and you will have "NO BUSINESS". Lets see how you make it for the next 8 months. Unless you are counting on those ignorant big-mouth blabbers who talk soooo loud from "Barclays" who think they own the place. They are RUDE JERKS!!! Meanwhile.......See you up Harry's Seafood !!
The place has turned into nothing but a bunch of PUNKS !!!!
Wow so obvious who posted the negative comments..
Was just in for lunch and couldn't believe that it was the same place that I read about on this blog. It was very clean, not very busy, but the food and service were really very good!The patio was closed, looked like for the winter. The server, Rob, was very informative, maybe a little too friendly, trying like heck to get us to come back for their Sunday Brunch. He made several references to the Columbus Inn, which my wife and i always loved. I don't know what all of the hard feelings are about, but I believe that I will go back for Brunch and continue to make my own decisions.
CW Harborside might as well close their doors. They've lost Quallcom's business...how will they manage without the patronage of all 5 Quallcom employees? Someone needs to stop being so bitter. Please,go to Harry's, I'd rather not have someone like you putting a damper on my Happy Hours. Especially since apparently I'm an
"ignorant big-mouth blabber who talk soooo loud from "Barclays" who think they own the place. They are RUDE JERKS!!!"
Sorry we don't live up to the high standards of Quallcom. I'm crushed.
Never had a problem getting a drink there, the servers are great, and I would be very happy if you remained at Harry's. CW is a nice, convenient place to unwind after work.
Funny how I stumbled upon this site !! I was reading all the comments these people write and I agree wholeheartedly about what they say. You people ruined what was a "CLASSY PLACE" to go. My daughter and I went there Wednesday nite (Thanksgiving Eve) expecting to see at least a crowd....yeah,there were about 4 people in there. We walked in and I said to my daughter "what is this noise" Chers' Playground ??.
Whoever is booking the entertainment in there has their head up their "Arse". Furthermore, the consensus among what used to be the "regular crowd" from Wilmington is that it was a "fun spot to go" last summer and year 'round for that matter until you fools brought in these bands who appeal to these young 20 something to 30 something dirty looking slobs. Are you trying to copy those Dewey Beach Bums??? If you think they are going to carry your place this fall and winter ...you are dead wrong. You had some great entertainers there last year who drew alot of people.
We tried it this summer and it "sucked big time" and I assure we will never go back. After reviewing your website, it appears you will do anything to get people in there. If you can't get them in there on Thanksgiving Eve......you are done!! Your prices are too high and the servers are beggars. You people have pissed alot of people off with this change you made. You should have been patient and left it alone.
Judging by your extreme and inproper use of quotation marks, you're the same person from Quallcom who wrote the review earlier. Get over it.
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Went to CW Harbor on my birthday, Fri. 13th., with my boyfriend, my sister and her boyfriend and we had a very good time. It wasn't as expensive as I've heard it was, there was no problem gettin our drinks or food and they had a dj that night that played all our bizarre request that we had. I am truly looking forward to another night out there and very interested to see how the summer months are as well.
Everyone is glad that the DUMP>>C.W. Harbor "ShitSide" finally closed....It was full of a bunch of DRUGGIES~LOW-LIFES-Alcoholics, CRUM-BUMS & SCUM BAGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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