Osage House Nightmare times 4

[Bill Babler]

You never really know about the service you will receive or the quality of the food at any of Bass Pro's restaurants except Hemmingways as it is most always good.  The Fish House in Branson can be fair to good or a total mess.  90% of the time Arney's Barn is not going to be good.  They  just have problems and you can see it from online reviews.

Their signature joint at Big Cedar is the Osage House.  This is at the top of the price level for the Branson area and the views, cannon and bagpipes are 4 star.  The food and service can be down right 1 star or even less.  We send people there as do the VRBO's in the area but the biggest group and now us are not recommending it any longer which is a crying shame.

For us last night was the nail in the coffin.  We sent two different couples and they both had just about the worst experience in dining that is possible.

Couple number 1 celebrating their 10 th.  1 steak and 1 chicken entree.  Service was very slow.  Steak was ordered medium rare and it came extra well done.  Fried chicken was ordered done and it came rare with blood on the inside.  Second steak came medium rare but was solid gristle.  The chicken that was sent back came hot as fire on the inside with hard crusty edges.  Wonder how that got reheated?  They  were offered a free dessert to share.  No price change on the bill $90.00.  They left the food and went down to Hollister to Little Hacinda had a great second supper.

Couple number 2 celebrating 14 yrs.  Both ordered the fillet and Caesar salad with a bottle of very expensive Cabernet to go with the steaks.  They were enjoying the view and just visiting.  They received water and not 7 or a 8 minutes later there entree arrived.  No salad no wine.  The waiter apologized and said he would be right back.  10 minutes later he showed up with 2 house salads not Caesar and no wine.  They again asked for the wine and he said he would be right back.  They then ate their cooling steaks which they said were good but more Longhorn steak house quality than 4 star restaurant quality.  They were cooked perfect.  They were never checked on again until the waiter came back and asked if they would like dessert.  No water refills and no wine.

They at that time asked for the bill and of course on the bill was the bottle of wine and the Caesar salad.  From what I understand it went ballistic at that point.  According to our friend that owns the VRBO she has had worse luck than we have.  I'd say we are 60% fine with them and 40% really bad.  We simply cannot be 40% bad especially on that type of deal any longer.

[Phil Lilley]

Reviews on Google and other venues get attention...  we watch them like a hawk and I know Becky does too.   If they get a few 1 and 2 star reviews, I bet heads will roll.

[Terrierman]

We were thinking of heading there for brunch today.  Now I am glad we didn't.  That's a shame because it used to be absolutely top shelf.

 

[Bill Babler]

Both Google and Trip Advisor have them with 3.5 stars.  There reviews are for the most part 2's on the food.  With enough 5's as they get high marks on the view and the other amenities with people just raving, if they did not have that view, the canon and the bag pipes they would have been out of business long ago, as the food is usually a nightmare.  Becky of course is a lot kinder than I am and she says they are much better in season.  Off season they are in trouble.  I could easy recite a dozen stories at least, that are just flat belly shakers.

If we go we usually just go to Devils Pool.  Their lunch menu is very good.  It was truly a shame that  Top of the Rock burned, I thought it was tremendous.

They have been pulling this the last 3 years at the Osage house, screw it up and give you a piece of pie to share.  We have got so many stories from our guest its simply amazing.  It's only about 10 minutes there from the lodge and we will send a couple of hundred guests a year there easy.  Or we did.

They also changed their entrance policy.  Now its $10.00 to get in and they only give back $5.00 credit if you make a purchase. I believe they call it a resort fee.  The second couple that did not get the wine were dressed to the Nine's and also got valet parking, another $10.00 so that just added to the peed off factor.

Never had a single complaint about Chateau and only a few about Level 2 and that is because Level 2 tries to sell you the entire menu plus the silverware.

That second couple was pretty much prepared to spend $300.00 and not think a think about it but the screw ups were just to much to overcome.

[Terrierman]

Before the fire was when it was truly top shelf.  Best pizza I've had this side of Bobby Flay's place in L.A.

[Bill Babler]

Your right it was just crazy good.  I think it was the pizza oven and the smoked chicken oven that burned the place down.  I always ordered the same thing that Marsha Lilley ordered when we went.  That girl just knows whats good.  On another note we used to get nothing but raves about the Worman House, it was expensive but the food was always top notch.

Another was the Candle Stick Inn,  never a complaint.  People would plan their vacation just to go there.  Becky and I used to do our anniversary there every year.  Fried Lobster or their grilled smoked Lamb Chops were simply crazy.  Best restaurant bar drinks anywhere, mixed to perfection.

[Bill Babler]

Number 2 couple went to Flat Creek tonight.  Quite a drive from here, 50 minutes and then a 1 hr. wait.  If they gripe about that food NASA there will be a problem as we have been there dozens of times and it is always simply fantastic every time.  It is truly a place that if you build it they will come.  It has no equal in the area except for maybe DeVito's in Harrison.

The new Flat Creek in Republic is packed starting 1 hr. prior to opening, till closing.  Just incredible to produce food in that quantity and quality.

[Terrierman]

We loved the Candle Stick.  Had several Christmas parties there when they were on top of the world, not just the top of Taneycomo.  Still dream of the scallops from there.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Been a time share owner there for years.  We haven’t been in the restaurants at BC after top of Rock closed.  Well we went to the others but got burned at all of them.  Go to little hacienda or pick up food to cook at harder house.  Dana’s nearly every trip there.  

[Terrierman]

Little Hacienda is a gem.