We tried the Seasons 52 in Garden City. It is located attached in the Roosevelt Field Mall. As any one who has been there, it is always a crazy mess going there. Parking is a challenge. There are too many people. It all makes for quite an experience.
Seasons 52 has generally received positive reviews so we figured we would take a stab. The dining room is laid out nicely and they do a brisk business. Not a free table to be had. The service was surprisingly good, even beyond our expectation. They hit all of our requirements.
They asked about our drinks and refills. Answered a bunch of questions that we asked. Followed up on our meal to see if we wanted anything else. They were very attentive and professional. Have to give them the thumbs on it.
We really enjoyed the wine options. You could have 3, 6 or 9 ounces. This was a welcome site. I just wished more restaurants would take this flexible approach.
On to the meal option. For those who are unaware, Seasons 52 has a seasonal menu that changes during each season. This makes sense on why they call a seasonal menu. I do not get why they call it seasons 52 since there are only 4 seasons and 52 weeks. They seems to kind of mash these concepts up and offer it to the public.
We started our meal with one of their specialties, a Margharita Flat Bread. We were disappointed in this flat bread. It basically tasted like a cracker but not in a good way. We started to worry because if you start with their specialty and you do not like it then what is going to happen next. Maybe we should have quit and moved on!!
But we soldiered on and had a Chicken Tortilla Soup. This was one of the better soups that I have had. It had just the right amount of kick with chunks of chicken. I could not have asked for anything better. Our confidence was restored.
On to our salads, we were unimaginative and ordered two Caesar Salads, one with chicken and the other with shrimp. The chicken came as a whole chicken breast. I would have preferred it chopped in pieces. The shrimp was definitely tastier and the preferred choice. The Caesar dressing was nothing special and it continues to remind me that great Caesar Salads are a thing of the past. I do miss the tableside preparation and I have to remember not to order it again. So that I will not be disappointed. Did you ever like something so much that you continue to order but you end up being disappointed. This is the way I am with a Caesar Salad.
My overall impression of Seasons 52 is that they deliver a quality dining experience led by an excellent professional service staff. Their menu options will offer diners a broad range of options. But the food quality is unfortunately average.