Darker Than Blue Grille

DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS!!!My friend made reservation for 2 @ Darker than Blue Grill @ 413 N. Charles St., black owned restaurant. Located in a part of the city where parking is hard to found. This is was a birthday dinner, both of us are over 70 and for us to take our time to support them was a disappointment.Reservation was called in for 4:30. She was there on time, I'm looking for parking. She called me @ 4:37 to tell me they just inform her of a 10 min. grace period, which means our grace period ended at 4:40. I parked in a garage around the corner run to the restaurant, run the front steps to find out because I arrived 3 mins late @ 4:43,they wouldn't honor our reservation. Also did I mention there was only 11 people in the entire place. Three minutes late, but they forgot that one of the party was there on time, why didn't they seat her. There's no sign that says the entire party needs to be present to be seated. We actually ask could we seat at the bar, she said no because the bar seats are reserved too. We tried to help this black owned business, but I was very disappointed about their customer service. She was rude.DO NOT SUPPORT THIS BLACK OWNED BUSINESS!!They don't tell you their policies when you make reservation. Most established gives you a 15 minute grace period.

Sad! Sad! Sad! I've been here 3 disappointing times. Let's start with the silly reservation policy, you have to make reservations but each time I've been to the restaurant has been almost empty no more than 3 couples. The staff including the host who was also the owner were DREADFUL, just rude and a bit ridiculous. We made reservations but there was no parking so we were late. I decided to go in while my husband continued looking for parking and thought to myself walking in...we can sit at the bar if there aren't any tables. Question- they don't take walks so why wouldn't there be any tables? Walked in and the host/ owner was clearly giving another couple a hard time and I looked around the place like why??? It's only 2 other couples in here. SMHSo, I explained that we had a reservation but were late because it no parking. The host/ owner was like well we don't seat you if you're late but sit at the bar and we'll see what we can do. I was again thinking...but there's hardly any one here, but I said ok, thank you (going along with the ridiculousness) then I take a seat at the very small and weird bar???? A few seconds later he comes back to me and says "if your ENTIRE party isn't here, we'll have to cancel. I said what? I'm here. It's two of us and my husband is parking the car. He goes into this very unprofessional speech about how the entire party has to be here to be seated.... Which I totally understand if I had a party of 8 BUT 2, are you kidding me?!!!!! I kindly got up, pushed the "mini" bar stool under the "kitchen counter height" bar andturned to him and said, "just cancel it now, I'm leaving and will never be back here. This is ridiculous." He was like great!!! I walked out called my husband who couldn't understand what happened so he called the restaurant. The host/ owner answered, my husband asked what happened, then asked to speak to the owner. The host got indignant announcing he was the owner. I couldn't have been more surprised...he was wearing a tee shirt and did crack one smile while I was there, at ANYONE. Here's the best part...he invited my husband back to the restaurant to meet him outside!!! What-in-the-ham-sandwich is going on????!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!!The atmosphere in that place is so uptight, no professional or enthusiasm, they have crazy hours and the service is POOR., POOR, POOR!!!They don't deserve any stars as far as I'm concerned....the owners should shadow other successful businesses and restaurants around town because he has no idea what he is doing at Darker Than Blue!!!! Save your time, money and appetite because you with be disappointed with this place.

First off, we called to make reservations for 6:30 but was told we couldn't it had to be @6:45pm. We got there early for parking and the place was empty...we waited til our reservation to go in cause we were all stuck of why we had to make reservations. We sat in front with the view of the street. The host gave us menus and explained everything for the chefs specials. I went with the seafood creole. I stuck to water after we asked about drinks and were told they could try to make anything we asked. Yeah I'll stick to someone simple, water. Ok so the bread , came out. It was cornbread in a mini skillet with a scoop of sweet tato butter and that was freaking delicious. It was so good we crushed it and ordered another one($7 for each after the first one). We thought the food was going to be on point after the cornbread, shhhhhh, were we wrong. So 2 of us ordered the seafood creole, picture posted. The salmon was good, the spinach was average, the rice was raw, there were 4 shrimp and a sprinkle of crab meat, the sauce not creole at all but more like spaghetti sauce. I asked for new rice cause whose eating raw rice, the new rice came out and was mushy. The waiter started getting annoyed by one of the girls in my party and the attitudes were going back and forth between them. They were both in the wrong!!! I wouldnt recommend going here unless you just want some banging cornbread. I gave the 1 start for the cornbread other than that I wouldn't have given it any stars.

The ambience and service was top notch! Really attentive and the place had a great vibe and music. The food on the other hand...was not good. The shrimp and grits were a big disappointment. I got three shrimp and the grits were clumpy and not season. This whole dish was swimming in grease. The entree was bbq chicken that tasted like the most generic brand of bbq. The collards greens that came with it were bad and not seasoned as well. This place is not worth the price of the dishes.

Reservations required. There are no substitute items unless you order a side separately. We had already reserved our place here, so we were set. The people are very friendly, and it appears to be a Southern/Cajun mash up. Modern setting, a bit of flashy decor well placed and overall classy. We ordered The Prime Rib, Blackened Fish, and Cajun Salmon. Cornbread for the table. The prime rib was delicately spiced and cooked to perfection. Very tender, very flavorful. Red mashed potatoes and asparagus delicious. Cornbread was lightly gritty but buttery and moist. The blackened catfish was really good and done Cajun style. The Cajun Salmon was well executed, boasting sweet meat and spicy flavors contrasted. This place is very nice for dates. I would suggest you book ahead. Dress casual but nice. Moderate pricing. I'd recommend a visit to see for yourself.

The person answering the phone to take reservations is extremely rude! Should've went with my gut but we went anyway and I will say the food was pretty good! The server was not friendly, didn't smile .. just blah! I don't see why so many ppl keep coming to a place that CLEARLY does not need customers because if they did they would treat us with a little more respect and kindness.So sad to see them turn away soo many parties of 2 because they didn't have a reservation. The restaurant had 3 other couples that's it. I would love to come back to try different items in the menu but I can't deal with the rudeness of the staff / owner. Not worth it. All of the negative reviews I read are spot on!!!! Smh

First time here. It is by reservation only. We came because I saw they had beef ribs and it was a request of my date, got there to find they were daily specials and that day was not the day. The server talks fast, and couldn't hear us, or maybe the music was up a little loud. I like that it wasn't overly crowded and there was spacing. The space is very nice and intimate. The food, it seems accommodations are not available, no alterations can be made, so I was a little sad about that. But the food over all was very good. That cornbread though, baaaayyyybeeee! It's delicious, I'd go back just to eat that!!!! Very good! I told a lot of people about it, and they said they would try it out too.

We came in on a Sunday for the brunch buffet. The restaurant itself is neat and well designed. The staff was pleasant though the young lady attending to the omelette and waffle station appeared to be overwhelmed as she was preparing them for the entire restaurant (two floors) as well as helping to turn over the buffet items. Thus it took quite some time for waffles and omelettes to come out and she forgot a couple of people's orders. The waiters also forgot drink orders as well which I'll chalk up to there only being two of them. A suggestion would be to have two omelet stations so that one poor soul isn't being pulled in 100 directions and increase the serving staff. The food was a mixed bag. I tried a little bit of everything...*Takes deep breath*The sausage patties were what you'd expect, the grits were runny and bland (or rock hard and bland depending on the batch), the curried chicken was tasty, the green beans were devoid of flavor, the fried chicken wings were not well seasoned, the greens were outstanding, the fried fish was mildly seasoned, the mac and cheese was either very good or extremely salty, the waffles were fluffy and scrumptious, the biscuits were perfect in texture, and the gravy was savory. As you can see, there are quite a few options. The consistency isn't constant and some items were duds but you cannot deny the value. The entire brunch is $42.50 a person and includes bottomless mimosas. It's hard to beat that in the city! The verdict is that Darker Than Blue is worth a visit for brunch. You're likely to find at least a few foods that resonate with you. And if you don't, just start knocking back those mimosas until you forget about it.

We enjoyed a most wonderful dinner at Darker Than Blue last night!!!!The server Kyle was so friendly and the service was perfect. The food was delicious!!!!!!!!We were too full to order dessert but the choices looked good!The owner introduced himself- such a charismatic and warm guy.We will be back! Loved the ambiance.

The owner was rude and disrespectful to an older group of women attending his establishment for a birthday event.