Rowhouse Restaurant and Catering

Well to me those of you that have "traveled" and say that this is the best place you have eaten then the food world has much to be desired for. I will not "bash" the cook or his place of business because of the shear fact he is still in business. Would I call it fine dinning? NO. Just so the readers know I am a judge for the James beard foundation and yes I do travel, and eat, and give awards. I happen to have family in Topeka and suggested we go there. His concept is clever and I can see how people enjoy it. On to the negative. The waitstaff was a bit bothersome to the fact it was like a parade of people bringing me dish after dish. One person should be able to handle the few tables in there section. That way i know for sure who my waiter is. The food... I try not to be to harsh, but if your in this business you had better be able to handle the criticism."small bite" means your staff or you does not know what it is really called, and is supposed to be ONE bite not two or three. The fish as one writer wrote did have a freezer burn taste to it. The beef tough and low grade. The side dishes lacked in the salt and pepper department. My over all feelings of the rowhouse left me disappointed and longing for a true halibut dish. I have seen chefs come to tables, roam the dinning room, and get back to work, it seemed to me this guy wanted a pat on the back.I do feel his techniques are sloppy and unprofessional witch to me would be a slap in the face to a professional especially having a foodie article in your local paper.Overall feelings would leave me with these words. Home cook acting as if he has made a food network t.v. show. 1/2 star for clever. This is just my opinion witch I get paid for.

Based on my many experiences at RowHouse, this establishment continues to WOW me. The restaurant takes many efforts to cater to the guests. When I made my reservation, I informed them my wife was vegan… when we showed up that weekend, the chef had prepared modified dishes for her (the trio of sorbets was outstanding!). We were incredibly impressed. On our second visit in, our server remembered my name AND even remembered the type of wine that I liked. She knew I liked a red zinfandel that was not very tannic, and recommended a delicious wine that was not on the list--service like that is HARD to find.

In most fine dining restaurants I’ve been to, you rarely (if ever) see the chef. Here, the chef usually brings at least one course to the table or stops by to say hello. He seems to be pretty familiar with what his patrons want on the menu and typically delivers just that—which is why dishes like Charred Octopus or Foie Gras probably won’t make an appearance. Who can blame him? There is a month during the year ( not sure which month, though) that they experiment with more world cuisines; definitely worth trying out!

To me, pricing for dinner seems cheap once you consider everything. Ordering a salad, appetizer, entrée, and dessert at any other restaurant in town or abroad would yield a MUCH higher tab with LESS variety. Us RowHouse patrons are getting a bargain!

I would recommend making reservations ahead of time, though. We walked in on a whim one weekend and there weren’t any tables open until 8:30pm. VERY disappointing at the time, but we learned our lesson.

This place is a true Topekan gem.

RowHouse is handicap accessible! When you call to make a reservation, usually the first thing they ask is if stairs are a problem. There is parking in the back of the building and a sidewalk that goes thru the amazing garden they have out back. Then the sidewalk goes to the back door, no stairs. I have seen many people in wheelchairs, walkers and canes use this entrance. Just let them know and they even save a parking space for you!

Emily,

Presuming you are from one of the coasts, as your statements have clearly demonstrated a disdain for those from the Midwest, I find it fascinating that you have discredited a culture or way of life (even a geographical identification) for what you may deem a disagreeable set of circumstances during a meal.

Have you worked in food service? You are the absolute worst kind of a customer a restaurant could have. It is within your right to critique a restaurant. But to blame a culture or way of life for what you might have felt lacking in a meal truly marks you as one of the most ignorant types of human beings that exist.

Further, you have gone so far as to personally attack an individual who (given our country’s economic circumstances) successfully operates his own business and employs an exceptional staff. If you wish to leave a meaningful review on a newspaper website, please consider doing so in a respectful manner.

You have used a platform from which you ironically separate yourself to spout opinions in an ignorant manner. And, with your reply to Mr. Jenkins' statement only two hours after he made it, periodically check mentioned platform, as if looking for a fight. My guess is that you either own a competing restaurant in town and are operating under an alias, or simply cannot get any one, anywhere, to listen to the nasty things that come out of your face.

It is a tough choice, but I am guessing the latter.

Went on a Wednesday and was able to sample everything. Easily one of the best meals I've ever had. The tenderloin was cooked perfectly, and I now have a new favorite fish. The atmosphere was clever, and the service was perfect.

I've been fortunate enough to dine at high end restaurants on 4 different continents. Emily, you're just a bitch. Lose the attitude and go squat out another kid. If you'd take enough time to pull your head out of your a$$, you could read the chef's blog on this VERY SITE, where he happily details his experience and life travels. Nitwit.

There is a problem with handicap accessibility So I am denied the experience as there si no way to get up or down any stairs

I have not eaten at the Rowhouse for a while in part out of a lack of trust for the menu. Let's not get it twisted, what Greg Fox is doing for downtown Topeka is nothing short of tremendous. Greg certainly cares about the face and culture of Topeka especially downtown Topeka, and supporting local establishments. Plus, the Rowhouse truly is a wonderful, intimate location to enjoy dinner. Great smells, sights (smiling and sometimes friendly wait-staff), and sounds fill the air of the Rowhouse......but in the end these things seem unable to make up for a lack luster and flavor on the menu.
To Greg's own admission he makes it known on his website the process he takes at picking menu items is a little hap-hazard......to his fault, the times I have been there felt like that.
The dishes tend to be rushed, and repeating, with nothing on the plate that wows you. The lack of quality and unique ingredients do not seem to fit the price tag. I went their for New Years and the main course was an odd layout of steak, blue cheese and a "trio of potatoes" What I received was medium-well beef with a couple of blue cheese crumbles, and three partially cooked hunks of various potatoes. They tasted bland, and were cumbersome. I was horribly dissapointed for the $50 price. The other time later on, it was the same thing, overcooked fish, lack luster deserts (creme brule without the carmel crust!) and a disastorous salad.

I say all this to warn those who are on a budget that the ambiance of the Rowhouse is great, and if you're not a "foodie" will proably enjoy the experience. But if you want to be wowed by presentation, flavor, and overall asthetics sadly Rowhouse/Topeka still has no answer for the likes of Lawrence and Kansas City.

I think it's sad that one server can give an entire restaurant a bad reputation. I was a server in Topeka for over two years. I've worked at Johnny Carino's, Texas Roadhouse, and Bullfrogs Live. What I've noticed throughout my experience is that no matter how great everything else is, the server is what determines the overall experience.
However, if this is just a bad server that was experienced during A Tale of Two Restaurants, then I'd give RowHouse another chance. Recurring behavior such as this is usually noticed, and action is taken. Also, my guess is that the server kept the mistakes to themselves which is why no apology from a higher authority was received.
Also, if there is ever something wrong with your food, you need to let the server know. Servers can't read minds. If you tell the server that nothing is wrong, the server is going to believe you unless there is something that is obviously wrong. The first commmentor was right-it's a two way street-guests need to speak up if something is wrong.

This is Topeka's best kept secret. Make reservations early because this place fills fast since the number of tables is small. You can't get this grade of food without going to the East/West coast. Service is unbeatable and the chef delivers your food to your table. Very private, romantic setting in a 2 story Row House. Menu completely changes every week, so you have a new reason to visit often. This is a must visit if you are a foodie!

My husbands friend encouraged us to try the Rowhouse and I must admit I was not entirely thrilled with the idea. I have long been a picky eater and I thought for sure they would have nothing I would enjoy. But I must say I was very pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. From the moment we walked in we were just blown away by it all. The waiters were absolutely wonderful. I can't remember the last time I came across a wait staff this friendly. And the food, ahh, the food, was exceptional. From the appetizer to the chocolate creme brulee for dessert, I must say was one of the best meals we have ever had. My husband and I are completely sold on this restaurant and can't wait to go back for our next experience. If I could give it more than five stars I would.

Sorry you had a bad experience. I would suggest you try it again, as I have been there multiple times and it is just amazing. The chef bring the entrees to your table and the service is always great, but never uptight or stuffy. I have recommended it to people in Kansas City, as even with the gas prices, it is still cheaper than similar places there.