Restaurant Reviews for Opus |
Underwhelmed
Dated:Wednesday February 1st 2012 at 01:00:58 PM |
| Reviewer: Denisa Keith from Birmingham, Alabama with IP: 97.67.101.130 |
3 stars: Service
2 stars: Food
5 stars: Atmosphere
3 stars: Overall
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The location and atmosphere were great. The food was not. They had an impressive menu but the quality just was not there. There were bread plates on the table but no bread was served or offered. We ordered two appetizers but no appetizer plates/flatware were brought so we used the bread plates and the main course flatware. Our appetizers were deconstructed oysters and quail. The deconstructed nature of the oysters highlighted the fact that it was not well seasoned. The cream base had no taste, the spinach we okay but not seasoned. The quail was cooked well but had no flavor. I ordered the special which was seared scallops with caviar/tuna and gouda grits with chargrilled asparagus. The food arrived barely warm, not hot. There were four scallops and they were spread out like points on a compass. The plating was a bit unimaginative. There was no trace of gouda in the grits which looked like they had been plated with an ice cream scoop. The asparagus was good but not warm enough. The desserts were limited to strawberry creme brule, strawberry bread pudding and two flavors of cheesecake (one of which was strawberry). I had the strawberry creme brule but it had not be carmelized on top so it was more like strawberry pudding with cold melted caramel on top. It didn't taste bad but it wasn't what I was expecting. Also, no dessert forks or spoons were offered so between us we had enough unused salad forks for the dessert. It was not awful, but it did not deliver on the level it should have based on the menu/pricing. Our server was friendly but did not take notice that we needed plates for the appetizers and clean flatware for the desserts. The polish that is needed for a fine dining experience was just not there and the food just did not live up to the expectation based on the menu and pricing.
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The Duck was devine
Dated:Friday September 9th 2011 at 09:42:44 AM |
| Reviewer: Janice Howard from Northport, Alabama with IP: 76.18.124.11 |
5 stars: Service
5 stars: Food
5 stars: Atmosphere
5 stars: Overall
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Visited Opus on Thursday night and enjoyed everything. We had a Chef's Playground
Menu and the food was magnificent. The menu was six courses and was delicious.The
service was very attentive. The atmosphere was very up beat and not stuffy.It was
a place you could go and relax.I will be back.
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Great Food and Enviroment
Dated:Thursday September 8th 2011 at 08:31:18 PM |
| Reviewer: Harry Matos from Tuscaloosa, AL with IP: 166.137.10.199 |
5 stars: Service
5 stars: Food
5 stars: Atmosphere
5 stars: Overall
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Opus is a great restaurant , 5 star quality, & 5 star service
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Meh?........Ouiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!
Dated:Sunday May 29th 2011 at 08:17:00 AM |
| Reviewer: Julian from Tuscaloosa, Alabama with IP: 68.200.238.53 |
5 stars: Service
5 stars: Food
5 stars: Atmosphere
5 stars: Overall
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As a professional diner that eats out 3-4 times per week, I think I have eaten in every restuarant in this town. I travel extensively and have also eaten at some very high end places in the SE. On a scale of 1-10 and compared to other fine dining places in Tusc and elsewhere, Opus ranks 8-9 (very high) since there is no such thing as a 10 that I've found. The place is beautiful, the white tablecloths were very impressive, and the food served at the right temp and presentation.
I had the Duck, rare, with mandarine reduction as my main dish. I started with the house Salad, ended with cheescake (made in house). All scored high (fresh tasting is important to me).
The service, surprisingly professional. A university student, (from what he told me) waited on me and he did a great job. The entire staff attended to me needs. In a word: attentive.
Lastly, I'm a wine snob, or at least I like to think I am. Opus won a Wine Spectator award for selection and varietal. I drink Pinot Noir: they have a lot of Pinot Noir. They did not disappoint. Opinion? Top rank wine list, perhaps the best Pino list I've seen.
Overall, Opus is terrific and wonderfully refreshing for the Tusc area. If you can appreciate fine dining and enjoy great wines, you will probabaly also like it.
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Meh.
Dated:Tuesday February 8th 2011 at 04:37:53 PM |
| Reviewer: Sandra Livingston from Tuscaloosa AL with IP: 69.244.18.11 |
4 stars: Service
3 stars: Food
4 stars: Atmosphere
3 stars: Overall
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It was ok. We avoid chain restaurants and try to only patronize locally owned establishments, but Opus was overpriced and the food was average. It was like they were trying to hard to be special without any imagination - come on a white BBQ pork chop and beer batter chicken? There was nothing on the menu that would compel us to go back. We'll head back to downtown Tuscaloosa next time we want a nice dinner unless Opus starts producing something worthy of its prices. Let's have more locally sourced foods with a more eclectic cuisine.
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Amazing! Everything was perfect - I would recommend to anyone visiting or who want to be pampered.
Dated:Wednesday December 29th 2010 at 01:52:51 AM |
| Reviewer: Bill Rothman from Tuscaloosa, AL with IP: 68.62.121.221 |
5 stars: Service
5 stars: Food
5 stars: Atmosphere
5 stars: Overall
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We were so glad to see a restaurant go back into downtown Northport and hoped it would live up to everyone's unrealistic expectations of Northport. Opus delivered on all points.
We arrived late to our reservation and to my delight, they held our table for thirty minutes even though they were on a wait. I couldn't believe it when we were sat immediately after walking in. I called to let them know we were running late and they said so problem. + #1
Our server greeted us quickly and told us about the specials and asked if were were having wine with dinner. I said yes and he proceeded to show us the finest wine list I have ever seen in Tuscaloosa. He took us to a table in the middle of the dining room that had several different wines and gave us a tasting right there. I felt I was in Tuscany or some equivalent because that kind of service is simply not found in this town. We selected an Oregon Pinot Noir and paired that with their studded mushrooms. All beautiful thus far: + #2
For our salad, we both had something called the grilled Caesar salad. Apparently this is a proprietary item and consisted of a the actual part of the head grilled over a fire and then served with their home made dressing. Whatever it was, it equaled a home run for both of us. + #3
I ordered the filet au poivre; my guest the salmon. I tried the salmon as well and both items were fantastic. The serving sizes were perfect for the plate and the presentation was also beautiful. Our waiter was very careful in the presentation and extremely knowledgeable. Again A+ - + #4
We finished up with a home made cheesecake and creme brulee with coffee and espresso. The creme brulee cup may have been a bit too big but the consistency was superb. Most restaurants do not serve this dish that large but we felt it was a bonus for us. Again, no complaints on our part; we just ordered too much food. + #5
Lastly, our server presented the check after I said we were finished. He gave me the bill and asked me to let him know when I was ready. I told him to wait and I would give him my card right then. He took the bill and returned it within two minutes. He thanked us for our business and wished us well for the holidays even calling me by my last name (retrieved off my card presumably). Either way, we were both impressed with his level of consideration. + #6
Overall, I would recommended Opus to anyone who wishes to have an enjoyable evening, served by professional waiters, and those of us who can appreciate good service. This place is different than all the others in the area in their decor, level of service, and menu presentation. Better than all the rest? Perhaps not; just different and thankfully so. Being a resident of Northport, we are so glad they are here. A+ across the board. 7 stars ******* out of seven. (or 5 on this board)
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Worst service I have ever hhhad
Dated:Wednesday December 8th 2010 at 09:40:43 AM |
| Reviewer: Jo Ann Burkhalter from Tuscaloosa with IP: 74.248.129.55 |
1 stars: Service
1 stars: Food
1 stars: Atmosphere
1 stars: Overall
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This restaurant treated us like we were lucky to be dining with them and not the other way around. They were rude (including the chef) and we vowed to never set foot back in the place as we all decided that there are too many good restaurants in the city to give this one any of our money. We left and went to Epiphany and had a great meal. Our party of 4 will never go back.
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Amazing Food!
Dated:Thursday November 25th 2010 at 06:55:38 PM |
| Reviewer: Daniel Lyndon from Tuscaloosa with IP: 74.248.149.198 |
5 stars: Service
5 stars: Food
5 stars: Atmosphere
5 stars: Overall
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The food presentation, taste, texture, quantity and quality were incredible. I had the dinner special, it was a bacon wrapped turkey mignon (amazing). The New Orleans Bread Pudding was out of this world. I don't know who the chef is but I applaud him. I highly recommend this place. I'm pretty sure it is hands down the best food in the city.
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High Hopes; A Bit Disappointing
Dated:Tuesday November 2nd 2010 at 04:59:13 PM |
| Reviewer: Neil Dietsch from Tuscaloosa, Alabama with IP: 99.0.56.85 |
2 stars: Service
4 stars: Food
4 stars: Atmosphere
3 stars: Overall
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Opus is a newly opened restaurant in a quaint section of Northport, Alabama. It's decor is spacious. It's not the intimate, romantic setting you will find at Kozy's nor does ir have the touch of elegance that Epiphany has, but it is pleasant.
The menu struck me as similar to Epiphany's but a little pricier and less creative. I wondered if it's owners (the same people who own Kozy's) were trying to make inroads in Epiphany's niche. Since my impressions of Kozy's are generally positive, I was hopeful that there new restaurant would match up in quality.
My grilled Ceasar salad was a great starter, original and tasty. However the other diners at our table who ordered a salad featuring a warm tomato were both disappointed with the tasteless tomato that was served. Of the three entrees ordered the pork tenderloin and shrimp got good reviews. My wife and I ordered fish with asparagus. The fish was battered and fried quite nicely. However the portion of fish that I got was quite small. The asparagus consisted of four stems total on top of a small layering of mashed potatos. Cost: about $25! (We had a friendly debate about whether mashed potatos was a suitable accompaniement for a fine dining fish entree; our guests-both native born southerners thought it was fine; those of us with palates developed further north thought is was too reminiscent of diner fare.
Service was poor. When the appetizer was cleared and silverware removed, the next course was served. We had to point out to the server that we needed utensils. Our main entree sat for three minutes while he took his time getting them. We had to get his attention to order a second drink. We had to ask to get water refilled. When serving he reached across the table in front of one diner to place the food on the table instead of moving around to the side of the person. He was pleasant but clueless.
We were running late for the theatre and could not get a check in a timely manner. I finally got up from the table to talk with the manager. He said he would get the check. I asked him to add 15% for the tip (feeling that was overly generous for the service quality). It took almost ten more minutes to get the check. When it came it had a 20% service charge. I marked up the check on the way out the door and handed it to the hostess explaining that I was overcharged and asking her to have the check adjusted to what I agreed to pay. She said she would. Of course she didn't and the credit card bill was run for the full amount.
Perhaps Opus will get its act together, but other reviewers will have to let you know whether that happens. I won't be going back any time soon.
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