Review: The Green Well

The first time I wrote about The Green Well, in 2008, I received a comment from a “Chef C.” asking me not to write a review so soon after the restaurant’s opening- with so little experience under their belts, he implied, it was not fair to criticize the uneven service and food. Five years later the service still has serious ups and downs and the food is just as chancy.  Some nights your server will be a true veteran with impeccable timing and grace. On others one finds ignorance of food and drink, carelessness, and even hostility.

My last meal at The Green Well was one of the better ones in terms of service. The floor was not so sticky I tripped; the bartender did not give me the stink-eye for requesting change on a twenty; the server did not refuse to correct a short beer pour. (All have happened on other visits.) However, the food was problematic as per usual. Out of a table of six we had two fabulous dishes and one good salad, but also an over-salted special, disappointing fish tacos, and steamed mussels with garlic so raw it crunched. On a good night the mussels are perfect: plump shellfish in a white wine broth dotted with sweetly soft whole cloves of garlic. This time the garlic made the broth bitter and yet the whole dish seemed wan. 

Through all of this, The Green Well is a pleasant place to eat. It is cozy in the winter and has a lovely patio in the warmer months. It is always a good bet with my adult family because the menu is a nice mix of hearty meat dishes and thoughtful vegetarian options.  On good nights you find hugely enjoyable food in a comfortable atmosphere. Others you come away wishing you hadn’t spent so much money on a disappointment. Here’s to hoping The Green Well improves training and consistency. When they do, I’ll be there every month.