I love a good steakhouse and I have enjoyed going to some great places in some great cities.... New York, Dallas, Chicago, etc. Carvers is definitely trying to capture the same feel and ambiance. However it falls short in some areas, here is a summary: General appearance: 4 out of 5. Nicely appointed and attractive, with that typical dark steakhouse atmosphere. Tables are decently spaced and you don't feel crowded. Service: 2 out of 5. Initially started higher as the hostesses at the front were professional and efficient. However, our waiter either had too many tables or just wasn't on his game. We saw him quite rarely, and the food arrived by porters who didn't really know who the food was for and just dropped the food on the table for us to sort out appropriately. Even getting the check took an unusually long time. Drinks: 4 out of 5. Can't comment on the wine as we had beer (I know what barbarians) but they had a small number of drafts on tap but they were excellent. My wife had an excellent Wheat Ale and I had a Bass. The other draft beer on the menu was Guinness. Each beer was served in a specific glass to that type of beer and was cold and refreshing. Food: 2 out of 5. This is the part that was the most disappointing. I think I would have glossed over the service issues if the food had lived up to the expectations of a great steakhouse. It didn't. Appetizer was ok (baked brie) but really didn't demand much skill either. My wife had a Caesar salad where the greens weren't fresh. They had lost their crispness and were on the way to being limp. I had the clam chowder and while it was ok, it was oddly thick, and not necessarily in a good way. It was thick in the way that makes you wonder what was added as a thickener, corn starch? Didn't seem home made. Main course was prime rib for my wife and a Kansas City cut for me. Meat was cooked to the right "doneness" but the prime rib was quite average and the "Au jus" looked as if it was splashed over the dish at the last moment as it was everywhere on the plate (including the potatoes). The Kansas City steak was the biggest let down though. It was the special of the night and it has been the worst cut of meat I have bought at a steakhouse. It was 18 oz with bone in, but I would estimate I got less than 6 oz of good meat from it. What I did get of it didn't have great flavor. The bone wasn't the issue at all, it was the gristle that ran through the cut that really ruined it. Some is ok, but this what I would expect from buying a $10 steak, and not a $27 steak. Overall, I have seen steakhouses really knock out of the park all of these areas. If Carver's really wants to emulate the big city steakhouses as they claim, they need to go back to the basics and improve across the board.
(2)
Young P.
It's restaurant with Jekyll and Hyde service. They have good steaks and specials. However, their services are erratic. Sometimes, their services are spectacular and other times downright lousy. I guess you have to get the right waiter/waitress at the right time...
(3)
Jessica C.
At the very last minute, we decided to try Carver's for Easter dinner this year. The restaurant is nicely lit and decorated, the music is jazzy and the menu is standard steak and chops fare. We were told the restaurant was booked at 6pm but when we showed up at 6:15, it was not packed at all. We were seated right away and I found the hostesses to be pleasant. The service was great! Our waiter was very friendly, attentive, and kind to us and our child. We did not have to ask for anything, our drinks were filled immediately and our meals were served promptly and accurately. He even put a rush on our daughters meal, which was helpful. The food was good, nothing too special but not bad at all. I had prime rib and my husband ordered a NY strip. His was a touch salty, but overall the meal was total comfort food. The roasted garlic mashed potatoes were very good, and a huge portion which I took home. The salads were also huge, very fresh and probably our favorite parts of the meal. The prices were not too bad, I've certainly paid much more for WAY worse food on a holiday. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for less adventurous eaters, for taking older relatives in town to visit, or for someone who enjoys Fleming's, but on a less grand scale.
(4)
Huntting B.
Oh man...if one could only run out of here fast enough...it wouldn't be fast enough! Somehow this place was PACKED to the rafters when I came last time. I sat in the bar section to avoid wait for a table, the bar area wasn't too busy. The service was Retardedly slow...like short purple bus slow. The food...that's what really cinched it for me though. I can't even remember what my main course was anymore, but what sticks in my head more than anything was that my caesar salad was served on a warm plate. Oh yeah, and the creme brule tasted more like Flan than it did custard. For Shame...
(1)
Andres R.
Service was really good, all the staff seemed to work as a "team". Prices are a bit much for what you get. The food was good, had the chicken cordon bleau, mashed potatoes and spinach salad. We were a group of 4 and the food took a bit long as they weren't too busy. The bread they brought us was not good, almost tasted old. It's comparable to a J Alexanders so up to you if you want to drop that type of cash.
(3)
Paul B.
For Dayton, Ohio this is my favorite place to get steaks. I'm not sure why this place has gotten such poor reviews, but I've been very pleased every time I've gone. When I have had a problem, which is seldom, I've spoken to the manager and they've taken care of it. Not sure why other reviewers have had such problems. It can be noisy at times, though this usually has to do with the place being busy and it's hardly the fault of the restaurant. They do occasionally have a live band in the bar which can be heard in the main dining room. The food is always good and they have a broad selection of wines. The servers know the menu well and there are always specials if you get tired of the regular dishes. While it's not the greatest steakhouse I've ever seen, it's the best in Dayton in my opinion for the quality of the food, the service, and the value.
(5)
Josh F.
Great steak, great sides and appetizers, awesome wine list. S.C. (the person to review this place before myself) should have made reservations like typical diners do. Live music in the bar, and a traditional dark wood dining room. Not much more to say... just a great dinner.
(4)
Conor R.
Expensive, however this is some of the best steak in the area. I think its better than the other local favorite, the Pine Club. Service is almost White Glove, you can't see them and your cup is never less than half full. When ordering, try to stick to something Medium grilled so you can taste the full, luscious flavor. Their choices for Jazz music are not bad. If you want to impress a client, take them here!
(5)
Robert D.
Typical American steakhouse without much to get too excited about. The steak was good - while the appetizers/salad were a mixed bag. Appetizers Avoid the brie. Grilled brie was a cheap piece of brie slightly warmed on a grill served with a sweet pepper relish. If you're going to serve warm cheese, it had better be damn tasty. This clearly missed the mark. Blue cheese salad was heavily dressed with a considerable amount of bacon - what's not to like about bacon? Oh, except this bacon was flabby, chewy and missed the smokiness you expect. The tuna appetizer was excellent - yes, in Dayton, this was a very nice appetizer. Nice quick sear and quite flavorful. If steak out is your thing, you'll be fine. If you are looking for something outside of steak or for a more unique experience, Carver's is probably not your bag of tricks.
(3)
Sharon F.
Love this place! When I lived in Cleveland there was a Carvers that I would go to every once in a while. They closed and I never understood why, the food was always very good. Being new to this area, I wanted to go somewhere that would satisfy my seafood craving and my husband's steak craving. The first thing that I must say about Carver's is that the staff is very very nice and the service was excellent. I had my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon by Sterling, hubbby had the Wicked Wing IPA. For dinner I had the mixed green salad with lobster tail and green beans and hubby had the caesar salad with prime rib and green beans, everything was very good. I am not into sweets but hubby ordered the peanut butter pie alamode, he said it was peanut butter heaven. The only reason that I did not give 5 stars is because although the lobster tail was very good, it was on the small side. My husband is from the New England area so I am spoiled by having very large, fresh, lobster tails. After dinner he smoked a stogie on the patio as the sun set. Perfect ending to a perfect evening. If your like us where one person loves seafood and other loves steak, this is a nice place to go, everybody is happy at the end of the meal.
(4)
Gregory S.
NY caliber steak house with mid west charm. Excellent setting, jazz always playing, soothing lighting, classy, low noise, generally no kids and make reservations. Excellent steaks and wines - non regrets ever with the chefs recommendations. Perhaps the BEST service in Dayton. Caution - VERY EXPENSIVE.
(5)
Bryan W.
They have a pretty extensive wine list and your standard cuts. they even have a rack of lamb and or lamb loin chops. the prime rib was well seasoned and is cooked to your liking. only small complaint was the calamari appetizer. it barely had any sauce on it. when you have lightly fried calamari, the sauce is generally what elevates it, but there barely was any. overall, great experience, will be back.
My husband and I decided to try carvers for their Easter Brunch special. We heard its the place to go in town, so we figured this would be a nice place for the occasion. Honestly, I felt like we were just at Denny's.... An 80 dollar brunch for Denny's service and ambiance. Antiquated decor, the bread for the eggs Benedict was like white wonder bread, the butter was country crock, the crab cakes had crunchy crab shells in it & loaded with salt. YUCK! The mashed potatoes were good though. The hostess staff was not very friendly and never brought us a high chair so we stood for 15 minutes with our child until someone else offered help. Ridiculous. Never going back.
Overpriced menu, not the friendliest servers and service was REALLY slow, we had to ask for refills of our drinks every single time, and the REALLY BAD singer from the bar overpowered the dinner conversation at the table - all the way in the back of the restaurant. (think bad asian karaoke from the movies - this is what the singer sounded like - it was so bad, we were playing the - what song is he butchering now game at dinner). The saving grace? the food was good and they were able to accomodate a large (11) party in less than 10 minutes. But I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to go back here.
We tried Carvers during Taste of Dayton week. No complaints here! Great service, delicious food. Creme brulee was the best.
(4)
Joey L.
Carvers in Dayton never fails to disappoint. Great food. Stiff drinks. Friendly service. This is a true staple to the local restaurant scene.
(4)
Chris R.
This as my second time here and I was disappointed. Service was a little slow. The salad was really not good ( should be the easiest part right ? ). The steak was good but the sure gratin definitely a few days old and reheated. Not a bad ambience but not sure I will be back. Several steps from being somewhere to recommend.
(3)
M M.
We were excited to go to this place for happy hour. Waiter and manager were impatient and rude when we complained about our glasses and silverware being dirty. I will never go back to this place.
(1)
Kathy P.
I had been to Cravers a couple years ago and found it to be outstanding. My boyfriend and I decided to go there last night for a New Year's Eve special treat. We were very disappointed with the food. We both had the filet and found it to be pretty tasteless. The salad and soup was just ok, nothing to write home about. We discussed on the way home if it had changed ownership. We won't be going back again. It is about 40 minutes from where we live. Next time we will try Flemings.
(2)
Elizabeth R.
Carver's is going downhill, I think. Or maybe it was the day. Anyway, they still get three stars because my steak was cooked perfectly, and that's what makes a steakhouse. So, we had reservations for a party of 6, and our table was ready when we got there at 7 on a very busy night. Service was slow, but friendly. Our waiter was very timid, which may have played a part in the speed of service. He had the tendency to stand near the table and not say anything or approach us, so until we noticed him and gave him our full attention, our drink orders were not taken, we didn't get refills, etc. He was very knowledgeable however, and gave good recommendations. The house red wine sucked. I mean, like poison bad. Maybe that's the plan, to get you to order the better wines, and if it is, it worked. I usually only order house wine when I'm too busy talking to read the menu, but trust me, read this list. My salad was only ok - it was a balsamic dressing over romaine, with bleu cheese and bacon. The bacon was a little to Baco-like for me, and the balsamic was really tart - I think I had perma-pucker for the rest of the night. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the au gratin potato side was decent. I'd get the steak again, but not the salad or side, most likely. We had asked for coffee with dessert, and when the coffee came, there was no creamer, no sugar, and the dessert was about gone. Boo. Then the checks. They took forever, they were wrong (and there was only three checks for 6 of us). And it always seems like the checks come, and the server disappears for ages. You have no more wine, your food coma is about to kick in, and you spend 10 minutes waiting for them to reappear. If all you want is a steak cooked well, you should definitely eat here. If you are looking for a little more, maybe not. They get three stars because of the perfectly cooked filet (which was what I was there for), but the rest of the experience was less than memorable.
(3)
Ryan M.
We went to Carvers as a group of 9 for an employee dinner. I read the reviews on here beforehand and was a bit weary but the location wasn't my choice so I tried to go with an open mind. 14oz of prime rib later I'm finding you can't always believe what you hear. They did a great job from start to finish. Maybe this was different from others experience because we went on a Thursday night but never once were we frustrated with the service. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was very good and that seemed to be the consensus at the table. Towards the end of our meal there was a gentlemen who came in to play live music and did some wonderful covers. The reason I gave it 4/5 is because the Creme Brulee was, in fact, pretty awful. The prior reviewer was very accurate in saying it's more similar to Flan. Other than that everything was superb. Give these guys a chance if you're looking for a nice cut of meat and good atmosphere!
(4)
Shannon K.
We tried Carver's for the first time when we got a $10 coupon in the mail, and we keep on coming back. We did not try it for the longest time because we though that it was going to be really overpriced, but it was a nice surprise that their prices are really reasonable. My husband and I always order steak...I get New York Strip and he gets the Filet Mignon. Both look and taste great. The wait staff is always nice and well informed about the menu. They have a great wine menu too!!!
(5)
Gordon B.
Upscale steak place in Dayton, Ohio. Attractive surroundings, standard menu of steaks, chops, seafood, etc. Upscale dressy. Men--probably no jeans, definitely no shorts. Women--designer jeans fine, slacks better. On this particular night, we started with Bruschetta as appetizer. Great choice! Bread was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Presentation was top notch with 5 slices arranged in a stat-shape on the plate. Topping was plentiful, and as my wife pointed out--actually warm! She also really like the fact the tomatoes tasted like tomatoes. Plus, did I mention--it was warm. Definitely a keeper. Next were the salads--in our case spinach salad with honey mustard dressing. Outstanding--tasty without going overboard on the dressing. Also with the salad came the loaf of bread. Exceptionally good. I had the prime rib (standard cut) which was cooked to perfection and had a mountain of mashed potatoes on the side. My wife had (and this is what made the evening) the "Dueling fillets" with two medallions and two different sauces. Excellent choice as the meat was flavorful and sauces rich without being over bearing (one was a Bearnaise sauce, the other a whiskey sauce). I have seen previous reviews complaining about the service, and here is my take--our server "Larry" was attentive without being overbearing, friendly and willing to make suggestions without forcing anything. He explained everything we questioned. Where he really shined was when my wife's order came out undercooked (she ordered her steak medium-well, came out medium-rare). No argument, Larry took one look and it was back to the kitchen. Oddly enough the second time was just as medium-rare (go figure). Again, back to the kitchen, and this time the manager delivered the plate with his sincere apology. Larry appeared and they both waited to make sure it was as we requested (no drop and run here!). It was--ideal and not the same old cut of meat cooked a third time. After we finished, Larry appeared again to inform us dessert would be on him, not just my wife's, but both of selections. We didn't ask, he offered (I agree it was the right thing to do, but the way he presented it conveyed the idea that they recognized the inconvenience and wanted to make it right). Dessert was creme brulee (flawless) and peanut butter butter cream pie (rich and very good). Overall, it is hard to image that getting an order wrong would somehow enhance the evening, but the way Larry handled the issue certainly scored major points for Carver's. Despite the problems, there was no interruption in our evening, and it did not devolve into a case of me sitting there eating in front of my wife--they handled it perfectly. We will be back.
(4)
Joseph H.
Went here instead of the Chop House. Big mistake. The waiter was rarely seen. When we did not order wine he did not offer anything else but water. My filet mignon was not cooked correctly. The bread was tasteless. The chicken nuggets for the kids must have been cooked in year old grease they were so dark. The noise level was so high you couldn't converse with the person next to you. I don't care how many awards you won, that's the last time I'll go there.
(3)
Annie C.
Carvers is a great restaurant for the Dayton area when you want a really great steak, nice appetizers and cocktails/wine. The restaurant is intimate and friendly and offers patrons a wide array of menu options. One of my favorite appetizers is the baked brie with chutney. I would omit the roasted garlic with it as it is way too strong. The service here is always great. The staff is very attentive and willing to do what it takes to make your experience enjoyable. This time I visited with a large group of 12, and 3 of us ladies decided to order the Salmon topped with a basil mustard seed spread. The spread was way too salty and overpowering so that you could not even taste the salmon. I also had the mashed potatoes and again, they were way too salty and rich. I love rich foods, but these were over the top rich- drenched in butter, garlic and salt. I feel as though they are covering up the natural flavors of their food. In the future, I would avoid their seafood options and go for the steak which is what they do best. 2 gentlemen in our group raved about the steak being the best they'd had in our area.
(4)
Marty R.
Had a great experience at carver's. The steaks and sides were excellent! I have paid much more for lower quality at other steak houses and the service here was outstanding. Has the feel of an old steakhouse although in a new facility. I will most definitely go back when I am in the area.
(4)
Cindy A.
Thought we would try Carver's for a special occasion - our anniversary. Atmosphere and service was above average. Shrimp cocktail appetizer was fresh and reasonably priced - $10. Entrees ~ have had better, they were mediocre; baked potatoes were just that - was expecting a little olive oil and sea salt on the skins - just plain. I had Chicken Portabella entree - just OK. Hubby had prime rib ~ not as tender, etc. as expected - again, mediocre at best. Overall, not worth the $71 bill with $15 tip left. Won't be on our list of places to re-visit.
(2)
Erin W.
Ate Thanksgiving dinner there....wonderful experience! Bill was our waiter...polite, attentive, personable! Brian helped and was just as great! Surf &turf for dinner...steak was perfect. Romaine salad...delicious. Next time I'm in town, I'm definitely coming back!
(5)
Erick C.
Terrific formal atmosphere with a comfortable edge to it. Staff was attentive without being intrusive. Key Lime Pie martini with graham cracker crust rim was one of the best drinks I've ever had and I've worked in the bar business for 20 years. Shrimp cocktail sauce wasn't as horsy ( horseradish ) as I liked till I noticed they had also delivered a side dish of extra so as to add to our liking. Smart. New Zealand lamb chops were the best I've ever had and hell I'm Greek so I should know. Pricey=yes worth it= hell yes
(5)
Ashley H.
We went tonight for our 3 year anniversary. My boyfriend wanted to give it 5 stars, and I wanted to give it 3 so we went in the middle with 4. Here's my reasoning: Pros - excellent service. Our waiter, Bill, was very friendly and quite helpful. Our steaks were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The garlic mashed potatoes are to die for. Fuzzy martini was decent. Cons - the asparagus was $8, had nothing special done to it, was underdone, and there was zero presentation. The chocolate cake was SUPER dry - however Bill did give us that on the house after inquiring why we exchanged cards and we told him it was our 3 years. Overall - the steak was as expected for the price, but there was no presentation, and basically everything minus the steak fell a little short for me. With that said - I will probably be back...the creme brulee did sound delicious.
(4)
Pasquale R.
*2.5 Stars* For a supposed upscale steakhouse in Dayton this place was disappointing. We made reservations just in case but the place wasn't all that busy. It still took them a few minutes to seat us when we got there which was perplexing since there were several large tables unoccupied. Once seated we were pounced upon for our drink order. Hey buddy, can you let us settle in and take a look at the wine/drink menu before you ask...sheesh. Once we decided on drinks it was a good 10 mins before he came back around. Should have known. Once ordered (go with the flight of wines, Cab's. It's a good price and you get to sample 4 diff ones), the drinks took a lengthy time to arrive. We should have ordered out apps with drinks but didn't figure the wait would be a while. We ordered a few different apps to sample (calamari - ok, not great Hot & Spicy Shrimp -- eh, definitely had better and were small). With each steak you get 1 potato and a salad which is generous considering their prices aren't all that high. The salad was ok as well (I guess you get the picture so far). The apps didn't take all the long to come out but the actual meals did. I opted for the Texas Chile Rib-Eye. It was good but I have to admit they put way to much oil on it. It almost was to a point where it was excessive and you can feel your arteries clogging up. The steak was cooked just right but it didn't make up for all the oil. After a long wait for them to clean up the table when we were finished (going on 2.5 hr meal), we ordered some dessert. It wasn't all the memorable so I don't recall what I tried. Plus there were about 4 different ones on the table. Food: Not upscale steakhouse quality but decent. Service: Not good. Especially since it's an upscale steakhouse. Atmosphere: Dark and quiet. Cost: Not very expensive and you do get a good amount of food for their lower than expected prices.
I'm a frequent Guest at Carvers and each time is always a pleasant experience! From the minute we step into the restaurant with the sincere hostesses to the experience at our table. Our server is always genuine and helpful. Never a complaint! The prime rib is honestly the best in town with a side of their sherried mushrooms that are absolutely to die for! If im not getting the steak, I ask for their vegetarian menu which has one of my favorite pastas, the "Pasta Primavera" which is an alfredo pasta with mixed greens. Definitely delicious if you're not into meat. Their drinks are also nice and not too pricy! Also try the spinach salad which (as well as many other salad options) comes with each entree. Overall a great place to visit with family with a nice family and friends atmosphere.
(5)
Jason S.
Terrible service, average food - Our server, "Jamie" ruined our celebratory meal right from the start. She took drink orders after we waited too long, and then walked away like she had more important matters to tend to. The place was barely full. She took 15 minutes to return with drinks, and in the meantime, we grabbed menus from the shelf ourself, because we were never presented with them. She returned with the drinks, never apologized, and never took the wine glasses off the table. When she left with our order, we placed the glasses behind us on the shelf. Our appetizer of calimari took 20 minuteds, and it came out incredibly greasy. I was told by previous customer that they usually fill the plate, but ours was half filled with chopped cabbage as a filler. The steaks were dry, underseasoned, and poorly cooked. We had selected med rare and med on all the steaks, and the med rare was too red, while the med was basically a med well. We will never go to this place again.
(1)
D. T.
I have no idea what everyone is complaining about! this is dayton Ohio! this place rocks! I am literally here every single day, which for a white dude like myself is a lot! If you walk into the bar, look for me, drinking and eating alone, wiping away my tears of shame and sorrow in between bites of their amazing Bar Burger (its like $5 during happy hour!!!). the prices are really good on drinks too ($7 for a martini!!!). you cant compare this place to REAL steakhouses. this is Dayton Ohio! I live at home with my mom so this place is definitely my sanctuary. A place to get out of the house and come have good food, drinks (lots of them because I am a borderline alcoholic and by borderline I mean full-on), and some jazz music. Problem is I have to get my mom to believe that "Carvers" is something work-related when she pays my credit card bills. I told her its like Kinkos and I get copies made there for work. Problem is I got laid off 3 weeks ago and still havent told her. Ah well....I am just glad for Carvers! Where everybodyyyyyyyy knows my nammmmmmmme!! well not really....
(5)
Pamela B.
In town on business- after a long, tiring day- Went to Carvers at the recommendation of my hotel, and with a coupon for free appetizer or dessert in tow. I went with the free App- Crabcakes- which were GREAT- a little spicy, mostly crab, not greasy- yummm. I ordered the 8oz Filet Medium- came out a TINY bit too rare- but better too rare than too well in my opinion. They offered to cook further but I declined as it was mostly fine and delicious. I left about 2 bites of RARE of the plate- so no biggie. Manager came to be sure I was fine and I assured him I was. Side salad was great- I chose the romaine which came with a little blue cheese as well as roasted peppers and onions and a balsalmic vinegrette. Very delicious. With the steak I had asparagus with bearnaise on the side. Also a glass of delish cabernet- Rodney Strong. Nice that steak came with sides and a salad versus everything ala carte. I sat in the dining room despite that fact that I normally sit at the bar when dining alone on business- it seemed a little loud in there after a long day- but did look like a nice atmosphere that I would have enjoyed another day. I would definitely return and recommend.
(4)
Brian C.
Great food and great atmosphere! As a side note, our server was amazing! She was very personable and attentive to our every need without making us feel cramped, she was awesome! Even told us when she would be working next if we wanted to come back and to ask for her, that was pretty cool in my opinion! Like I said, the food was really good, a little pricey for what it is but no complaints really. My only issue was that the band was a little loud and made it difficult at times to hold a conversation, we did choose to sit in the lounge area so partially our fault I suppose. Overall we had a great time and would come back.
(4)
Danette M.
Went on a pretty non busy day... Went with my boyfriend who was waiting for his sister and his brother in law. We waited at the bar to get drinks and it definitely took a while for us to get service. After finally getting a drink the rest of our party arrived, and apparently they were regulars so we actually got pretty decent service. The food tasted great, but I'll admit I've had better for the price.
(3)
Gerri H.
Very good steaks and seafood. Love the atmosphere of an old style restaurant. Service was excellent and loved the live band in the lounge!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rick R.
I love a good steakhouse and I have enjoyed going to some great places in some great cities.... New York, Dallas, Chicago, etc. Carvers is definitely trying to capture the same feel and ambiance. However it falls short in some areas, here is a summary: General appearance: 4 out of 5. Nicely appointed and attractive, with that typical dark steakhouse atmosphere. Tables are decently spaced and you don't feel crowded. Service: 2 out of 5. Initially started higher as the hostesses at the front were professional and efficient. However, our waiter either had too many tables or just wasn't on his game. We saw him quite rarely, and the food arrived by porters who didn't really know who the food was for and just dropped the food on the table for us to sort out appropriately. Even getting the check took an unusually long time. Drinks: 4 out of 5. Can't comment on the wine as we had beer (I know what barbarians) but they had a small number of drafts on tap but they were excellent. My wife had an excellent Wheat Ale and I had a Bass. The other draft beer on the menu was Guinness. Each beer was served in a specific glass to that type of beer and was cold and refreshing. Food: 2 out of 5. This is the part that was the most disappointing. I think I would have glossed over the service issues if the food had lived up to the expectations of a great steakhouse. It didn't. Appetizer was ok (baked brie) but really didn't demand much skill either. My wife had a Caesar salad where the greens weren't fresh. They had lost their crispness and were on the way to being limp. I had the clam chowder and while it was ok, it was oddly thick, and not necessarily in a good way. It was thick in the way that makes you wonder what was added as a thickener, corn starch? Didn't seem home made. Main course was prime rib for my wife and a Kansas City cut for me. Meat was cooked to the right "doneness" but the prime rib was quite average and the "Au jus" looked as if it was splashed over the dish at the last moment as it was everywhere on the plate (including the potatoes). The Kansas City steak was the biggest let down though. It was the special of the night and it has been the worst cut of meat I have bought at a steakhouse. It was 18 oz with bone in, but I would estimate I got less than 6 oz of good meat from it. What I did get of it didn't have great flavor. The bone wasn't the issue at all, it was the gristle that ran through the cut that really ruined it. Some is ok, but this what I would expect from buying a $10 steak, and not a $27 steak. Overall, I have seen steakhouses really knock out of the park all of these areas. If Carver's really wants to emulate the big city steakhouses as they claim, they need to go back to the basics and improve across the board.
(2)Young P.
It's restaurant with Jekyll and Hyde service. They have good steaks and specials. However, their services are erratic. Sometimes, their services are spectacular and other times downright lousy. I guess you have to get the right waiter/waitress at the right time...
(3)Jessica C.
At the very last minute, we decided to try Carver's for Easter dinner this year. The restaurant is nicely lit and decorated, the music is jazzy and the menu is standard steak and chops fare. We were told the restaurant was booked at 6pm but when we showed up at 6:15, it was not packed at all. We were seated right away and I found the hostesses to be pleasant. The service was great! Our waiter was very friendly, attentive, and kind to us and our child. We did not have to ask for anything, our drinks were filled immediately and our meals were served promptly and accurately. He even put a rush on our daughters meal, which was helpful. The food was good, nothing too special but not bad at all. I had prime rib and my husband ordered a NY strip. His was a touch salty, but overall the meal was total comfort food. The roasted garlic mashed potatoes were very good, and a huge portion which I took home. The salads were also huge, very fresh and probably our favorite parts of the meal. The prices were not too bad, I've certainly paid much more for WAY worse food on a holiday. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for less adventurous eaters, for taking older relatives in town to visit, or for someone who enjoys Fleming's, but on a less grand scale.
(4)Huntting B.
Oh man...if one could only run out of here fast enough...it wouldn't be fast enough! Somehow this place was PACKED to the rafters when I came last time. I sat in the bar section to avoid wait for a table, the bar area wasn't too busy. The service was Retardedly slow...like short purple bus slow. The food...that's what really cinched it for me though. I can't even remember what my main course was anymore, but what sticks in my head more than anything was that my caesar salad was served on a warm plate. Oh yeah, and the creme brule tasted more like Flan than it did custard. For Shame...
(1)Andres R.
Service was really good, all the staff seemed to work as a "team". Prices are a bit much for what you get. The food was good, had the chicken cordon bleau, mashed potatoes and spinach salad. We were a group of 4 and the food took a bit long as they weren't too busy. The bread they brought us was not good, almost tasted old. It's comparable to a J Alexanders so up to you if you want to drop that type of cash.
(3)Paul B.
For Dayton, Ohio this is my favorite place to get steaks. I'm not sure why this place has gotten such poor reviews, but I've been very pleased every time I've gone. When I have had a problem, which is seldom, I've spoken to the manager and they've taken care of it. Not sure why other reviewers have had such problems. It can be noisy at times, though this usually has to do with the place being busy and it's hardly the fault of the restaurant. They do occasionally have a live band in the bar which can be heard in the main dining room. The food is always good and they have a broad selection of wines. The servers know the menu well and there are always specials if you get tired of the regular dishes. While it's not the greatest steakhouse I've ever seen, it's the best in Dayton in my opinion for the quality of the food, the service, and the value.
(5)Josh F.
Great steak, great sides and appetizers, awesome wine list. S.C. (the person to review this place before myself) should have made reservations like typical diners do. Live music in the bar, and a traditional dark wood dining room. Not much more to say... just a great dinner.
(4)Conor R.
Expensive, however this is some of the best steak in the area. I think its better than the other local favorite, the Pine Club. Service is almost White Glove, you can't see them and your cup is never less than half full. When ordering, try to stick to something Medium grilled so you can taste the full, luscious flavor. Their choices for Jazz music are not bad. If you want to impress a client, take them here!
(5)Robert D.
Typical American steakhouse without much to get too excited about. The steak was good - while the appetizers/salad were a mixed bag. Appetizers Avoid the brie. Grilled brie was a cheap piece of brie slightly warmed on a grill served with a sweet pepper relish. If you're going to serve warm cheese, it had better be damn tasty. This clearly missed the mark. Blue cheese salad was heavily dressed with a considerable amount of bacon - what's not to like about bacon? Oh, except this bacon was flabby, chewy and missed the smokiness you expect. The tuna appetizer was excellent - yes, in Dayton, this was a very nice appetizer. Nice quick sear and quite flavorful. If steak out is your thing, you'll be fine. If you are looking for something outside of steak or for a more unique experience, Carver's is probably not your bag of tricks.
(3)Sharon F.
Love this place! When I lived in Cleveland there was a Carvers that I would go to every once in a while. They closed and I never understood why, the food was always very good. Being new to this area, I wanted to go somewhere that would satisfy my seafood craving and my husband's steak craving. The first thing that I must say about Carver's is that the staff is very very nice and the service was excellent. I had my favorite Cabernet Sauvignon by Sterling, hubbby had the Wicked Wing IPA. For dinner I had the mixed green salad with lobster tail and green beans and hubby had the caesar salad with prime rib and green beans, everything was very good. I am not into sweets but hubby ordered the peanut butter pie alamode, he said it was peanut butter heaven. The only reason that I did not give 5 stars is because although the lobster tail was very good, it was on the small side. My husband is from the New England area so I am spoiled by having very large, fresh, lobster tails. After dinner he smoked a stogie on the patio as the sun set. Perfect ending to a perfect evening. If your like us where one person loves seafood and other loves steak, this is a nice place to go, everybody is happy at the end of the meal.
(4)Gregory S.
NY caliber steak house with mid west charm. Excellent setting, jazz always playing, soothing lighting, classy, low noise, generally no kids and make reservations. Excellent steaks and wines - non regrets ever with the chefs recommendations. Perhaps the BEST service in Dayton. Caution - VERY EXPENSIVE.
(5)Bryan W.
They have a pretty extensive wine list and your standard cuts. they even have a rack of lamb and or lamb loin chops. the prime rib was well seasoned and is cooked to your liking. only small complaint was the calamari appetizer. it barely had any sauce on it. when you have lightly fried calamari, the sauce is generally what elevates it, but there barely was any. overall, great experience, will be back.
(4)Dawn M.
We went last night for Christmas Eve. My father in law always took everyone so it has been a tradition for the past ten years. The restaurant is a cozy, well decorated steak house great for large groups to intimate dining. We ordered a variety of steaks, garlic mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, mixed vegetables and spinach salads. For dessert most of the table ordered creme brûlée with fat blueberries. Very classy place. One of the owners stopped by to ask if we were happy and got an unequivocal good response.
(5)Bridget O.
My husband and I decided to try carvers for their Easter Brunch special. We heard its the place to go in town, so we figured this would be a nice place for the occasion. Honestly, I felt like we were just at Denny's.... An 80 dollar brunch for Denny's service and ambiance. Antiquated decor, the bread for the eggs Benedict was like white wonder bread, the butter was country crock, the crab cakes had crunchy crab shells in it & loaded with salt. YUCK! The mashed potatoes were good though. The hostess staff was not very friendly and never brought us a high chair so we stood for 15 minutes with our child until someone else offered help. Ridiculous. Never going back.
(1)Denise W.
Decided to check Carvers out for a date night at the last minute. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Calling ahead for a table is definitely recommended, especially on the weekend. The ambience in the restaurant is of an older steakhouse but with charm and much class. It is a restaurant not meant for small children, as it is a bit costly, and has a older adult clientele. They have a very extensive wine an steak menu that sets them apart from many restaurants in the area. I ordered a white sangria, prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and a French onion soup starter. Everything was great! The soup came out with crispy onions on top, which is unlike many onion soups I've had. I couldn't stop eating the potatoes. No need for any additions as they were seasoned perfectly. My prime rib came out perfectly med rare as I like. My date had a traditional Cesar salad, a Kansas strip, & loaded mashed potatoes. His salad was great, so don't opt out of the sardines unless you have to. The steak was cooked perfectly. Though he did say he wished it was a little more marbled and a little less fatty around the edges. His potatoes were perfect as well. To close our great meal we shared a creme brûlée. It was just toasted enough and had a smooth, chilled vanilla custard. Our only complaint was the extremely low lighting. Though it added to the ambience it did make reading the menu and seeing our food difficult. We will certainly be returning to Carvers again. Sans kids.
(4)Kimmy M.
Overpriced menu, not the friendliest servers and service was REALLY slow, we had to ask for refills of our drinks every single time, and the REALLY BAD singer from the bar overpowered the dinner conversation at the table - all the way in the back of the restaurant. (think bad asian karaoke from the movies - this is what the singer sounded like - it was so bad, we were playing the - what song is he butchering now game at dinner). The saving grace? the food was good and they were able to accomodate a large (11) party in less than 10 minutes. But I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to go back here.
(3)Leo L.
Not worth it. I went here with some friends for business. I was informed that the place was not good due to the inconsistency of their meats. I was eager to try this place anyway. Appetizers consisted of a calamari dish which was bland. I had several pieces because I was starving and tried to see if maybe a few of the pieces just didn't have enough seasoning, but every piece i ate just didn't have enough seasoning. The second app was a shrimp cocktail which was good. It was just shrimp and the typical red dipping sauce. Average. I got the ceasar salad which was below average in flavor; the parmesan cheese was a bit rubbery for some reason. My main entree was the 1.5 lb Porterhouse steak cooked to medium-rare. Slicing the fatty edge of the steak was tough! I figured the toughness may just be the outside, but working my way to the middle was no better. That was probably one of the toughest medium-rare steaks i've ever had. For dessert we had creme brûlée to go. My friend and i were given a small to go container that had our dessert. I opened mine it consisted of what appeared to be leftover brûlée. There was the top sweet crusty portion that was broken to what appeared like shattered glass and then a very small THIN layer of the custard part, and maybe about 5 blueberries. It was just a flat sad piece of dessert. I looked at my friend's and his was at least 1.5 inches in height and had a good portion. I called the waiter over and showed him my piece and asked why mine had so little and my friend had a good decent amount. The waiter stated that's what it's supposed to be and left quickly trying to clear the table. I was honestly expecting him to add more of the dessert but that was not the case. My friends were also surprised. When i got home, i showed the dessert to my wife and she was asking what the food was. She chuckled once i told her what it was. We ate the creme brûlée and the taste was decent. Not worth the money.
(2)M A.
We tried Carvers during Taste of Dayton week. No complaints here! Great service, delicious food. Creme brulee was the best.
(4)Joey L.
Carvers in Dayton never fails to disappoint. Great food. Stiff drinks. Friendly service. This is a true staple to the local restaurant scene.
(4)Chris R.
This as my second time here and I was disappointed. Service was a little slow. The salad was really not good ( should be the easiest part right ? ). The steak was good but the sure gratin definitely a few days old and reheated. Not a bad ambience but not sure I will be back. Several steps from being somewhere to recommend.
(3)M M.
We were excited to go to this place for happy hour. Waiter and manager were impatient and rude when we complained about our glasses and silverware being dirty. I will never go back to this place.
(1)Kathy P.
I had been to Cravers a couple years ago and found it to be outstanding. My boyfriend and I decided to go there last night for a New Year's Eve special treat. We were very disappointed with the food. We both had the filet and found it to be pretty tasteless. The salad and soup was just ok, nothing to write home about. We discussed on the way home if it had changed ownership. We won't be going back again. It is about 40 minutes from where we live. Next time we will try Flemings.
(2)Elizabeth R.
Carver's is going downhill, I think. Or maybe it was the day. Anyway, they still get three stars because my steak was cooked perfectly, and that's what makes a steakhouse. So, we had reservations for a party of 6, and our table was ready when we got there at 7 on a very busy night. Service was slow, but friendly. Our waiter was very timid, which may have played a part in the speed of service. He had the tendency to stand near the table and not say anything or approach us, so until we noticed him and gave him our full attention, our drink orders were not taken, we didn't get refills, etc. He was very knowledgeable however, and gave good recommendations. The house red wine sucked. I mean, like poison bad. Maybe that's the plan, to get you to order the better wines, and if it is, it worked. I usually only order house wine when I'm too busy talking to read the menu, but trust me, read this list. My salad was only ok - it was a balsamic dressing over romaine, with bleu cheese and bacon. The bacon was a little to Baco-like for me, and the balsamic was really tart - I think I had perma-pucker for the rest of the night. The filet was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the au gratin potato side was decent. I'd get the steak again, but not the salad or side, most likely. We had asked for coffee with dessert, and when the coffee came, there was no creamer, no sugar, and the dessert was about gone. Boo. Then the checks. They took forever, they were wrong (and there was only three checks for 6 of us). And it always seems like the checks come, and the server disappears for ages. You have no more wine, your food coma is about to kick in, and you spend 10 minutes waiting for them to reappear. If all you want is a steak cooked well, you should definitely eat here. If you are looking for a little more, maybe not. They get three stars because of the perfectly cooked filet (which was what I was there for), but the rest of the experience was less than memorable.
(3)Ryan M.
We went to Carvers as a group of 9 for an employee dinner. I read the reviews on here beforehand and was a bit weary but the location wasn't my choice so I tried to go with an open mind. 14oz of prime rib later I'm finding you can't always believe what you hear. They did a great job from start to finish. Maybe this was different from others experience because we went on a Thursday night but never once were we frustrated with the service. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable. The food was very good and that seemed to be the consensus at the table. Towards the end of our meal there was a gentlemen who came in to play live music and did some wonderful covers. The reason I gave it 4/5 is because the Creme Brulee was, in fact, pretty awful. The prior reviewer was very accurate in saying it's more similar to Flan. Other than that everything was superb. Give these guys a chance if you're looking for a nice cut of meat and good atmosphere!
(4)Shannon K.
We tried Carver's for the first time when we got a $10 coupon in the mail, and we keep on coming back. We did not try it for the longest time because we though that it was going to be really overpriced, but it was a nice surprise that their prices are really reasonable. My husband and I always order steak...I get New York Strip and he gets the Filet Mignon. Both look and taste great. The wait staff is always nice and well informed about the menu. They have a great wine menu too!!!
(5)Gordon B.
Upscale steak place in Dayton, Ohio. Attractive surroundings, standard menu of steaks, chops, seafood, etc. Upscale dressy. Men--probably no jeans, definitely no shorts. Women--designer jeans fine, slacks better. On this particular night, we started with Bruschetta as appetizer. Great choice! Bread was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Presentation was top notch with 5 slices arranged in a stat-shape on the plate. Topping was plentiful, and as my wife pointed out--actually warm! She also really like the fact the tomatoes tasted like tomatoes. Plus, did I mention--it was warm. Definitely a keeper. Next were the salads--in our case spinach salad with honey mustard dressing. Outstanding--tasty without going overboard on the dressing. Also with the salad came the loaf of bread. Exceptionally good. I had the prime rib (standard cut) which was cooked to perfection and had a mountain of mashed potatoes on the side. My wife had (and this is what made the evening) the "Dueling fillets" with two medallions and two different sauces. Excellent choice as the meat was flavorful and sauces rich without being over bearing (one was a Bearnaise sauce, the other a whiskey sauce). I have seen previous reviews complaining about the service, and here is my take--our server "Larry" was attentive without being overbearing, friendly and willing to make suggestions without forcing anything. He explained everything we questioned. Where he really shined was when my wife's order came out undercooked (she ordered her steak medium-well, came out medium-rare). No argument, Larry took one look and it was back to the kitchen. Oddly enough the second time was just as medium-rare (go figure). Again, back to the kitchen, and this time the manager delivered the plate with his sincere apology. Larry appeared and they both waited to make sure it was as we requested (no drop and run here!). It was--ideal and not the same old cut of meat cooked a third time. After we finished, Larry appeared again to inform us dessert would be on him, not just my wife's, but both of selections. We didn't ask, he offered (I agree it was the right thing to do, but the way he presented it conveyed the idea that they recognized the inconvenience and wanted to make it right). Dessert was creme brulee (flawless) and peanut butter butter cream pie (rich and very good). Overall, it is hard to image that getting an order wrong would somehow enhance the evening, but the way Larry handled the issue certainly scored major points for Carver's. Despite the problems, there was no interruption in our evening, and it did not devolve into a case of me sitting there eating in front of my wife--they handled it perfectly. We will be back.
(4)Joseph H.
Went here instead of the Chop House. Big mistake. The waiter was rarely seen. When we did not order wine he did not offer anything else but water. My filet mignon was not cooked correctly. The bread was tasteless. The chicken nuggets for the kids must have been cooked in year old grease they were so dark. The noise level was so high you couldn't converse with the person next to you. I don't care how many awards you won, that's the last time I'll go there.
(3)Annie C.
Carvers is a great restaurant for the Dayton area when you want a really great steak, nice appetizers and cocktails/wine. The restaurant is intimate and friendly and offers patrons a wide array of menu options. One of my favorite appetizers is the baked brie with chutney. I would omit the roasted garlic with it as it is way too strong. The service here is always great. The staff is very attentive and willing to do what it takes to make your experience enjoyable. This time I visited with a large group of 12, and 3 of us ladies decided to order the Salmon topped with a basil mustard seed spread. The spread was way too salty and overpowering so that you could not even taste the salmon. I also had the mashed potatoes and again, they were way too salty and rich. I love rich foods, but these were over the top rich- drenched in butter, garlic and salt. I feel as though they are covering up the natural flavors of their food. In the future, I would avoid their seafood options and go for the steak which is what they do best. 2 gentlemen in our group raved about the steak being the best they'd had in our area.
(4)Marty R.
Had a great experience at carver's. The steaks and sides were excellent! I have paid much more for lower quality at other steak houses and the service here was outstanding. Has the feel of an old steakhouse although in a new facility. I will most definitely go back when I am in the area.
(4)Cindy A.
Thought we would try Carver's for a special occasion - our anniversary. Atmosphere and service was above average. Shrimp cocktail appetizer was fresh and reasonably priced - $10. Entrees ~ have had better, they were mediocre; baked potatoes were just that - was expecting a little olive oil and sea salt on the skins - just plain. I had Chicken Portabella entree - just OK. Hubby had prime rib ~ not as tender, etc. as expected - again, mediocre at best. Overall, not worth the $71 bill with $15 tip left. Won't be on our list of places to re-visit.
(2)Erin W.
Ate Thanksgiving dinner there....wonderful experience! Bill was our waiter...polite, attentive, personable! Brian helped and was just as great! Surf &turf for dinner...steak was perfect. Romaine salad...delicious. Next time I'm in town, I'm definitely coming back!
(5)Erick C.
Terrific formal atmosphere with a comfortable edge to it. Staff was attentive without being intrusive. Key Lime Pie martini with graham cracker crust rim was one of the best drinks I've ever had and I've worked in the bar business for 20 years. Shrimp cocktail sauce wasn't as horsy ( horseradish ) as I liked till I noticed they had also delivered a side dish of extra so as to add to our liking. Smart. New Zealand lamb chops were the best I've ever had and hell I'm Greek so I should know. Pricey=yes worth it= hell yes
(5)Ashley H.
We went tonight for our 3 year anniversary. My boyfriend wanted to give it 5 stars, and I wanted to give it 3 so we went in the middle with 4. Here's my reasoning: Pros - excellent service. Our waiter, Bill, was very friendly and quite helpful. Our steaks were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The garlic mashed potatoes are to die for. Fuzzy martini was decent. Cons - the asparagus was $8, had nothing special done to it, was underdone, and there was zero presentation. The chocolate cake was SUPER dry - however Bill did give us that on the house after inquiring why we exchanged cards and we told him it was our 3 years. Overall - the steak was as expected for the price, but there was no presentation, and basically everything minus the steak fell a little short for me. With that said - I will probably be back...the creme brulee did sound delicious.
(4)Pasquale R.
*2.5 Stars* For a supposed upscale steakhouse in Dayton this place was disappointing. We made reservations just in case but the place wasn't all that busy. It still took them a few minutes to seat us when we got there which was perplexing since there were several large tables unoccupied. Once seated we were pounced upon for our drink order. Hey buddy, can you let us settle in and take a look at the wine/drink menu before you ask...sheesh. Once we decided on drinks it was a good 10 mins before he came back around. Should have known. Once ordered (go with the flight of wines, Cab's. It's a good price and you get to sample 4 diff ones), the drinks took a lengthy time to arrive. We should have ordered out apps with drinks but didn't figure the wait would be a while. We ordered a few different apps to sample (calamari - ok, not great Hot & Spicy Shrimp -- eh, definitely had better and were small). With each steak you get 1 potato and a salad which is generous considering their prices aren't all that high. The salad was ok as well (I guess you get the picture so far). The apps didn't take all the long to come out but the actual meals did. I opted for the Texas Chile Rib-Eye. It was good but I have to admit they put way to much oil on it. It almost was to a point where it was excessive and you can feel your arteries clogging up. The steak was cooked just right but it didn't make up for all the oil. After a long wait for them to clean up the table when we were finished (going on 2.5 hr meal), we ordered some dessert. It wasn't all the memorable so I don't recall what I tried. Plus there were about 4 different ones on the table. Food: Not upscale steakhouse quality but decent. Service: Not good. Especially since it's an upscale steakhouse. Atmosphere: Dark and quiet. Cost: Not very expensive and you do get a good amount of food for their lower than expected prices.
(3)Barrett H.
I tries this place during restaurant week (reduced prices). I had the romaine and blue cheese salad (average), filet mignon, and creme brûlée for desert. The filet was cooked perfectly. One of the few steak resuarants that actually cook something medium well instead of one increment lower. The port it was cooked with took away from the taste a bit. Au Gratin potatoes were excellent. Desert was fabulous. The bread was also fantastic. The overall environment was aesthetically appealing, however the chairs were a bit less than comfortable. The service was choppy, but the staff attitude and beauty was superior. The wait on service most likely stemmed from sitting in the lounge area without a reservation.
(4)Bree C.
I'm a frequent Guest at Carvers and each time is always a pleasant experience! From the minute we step into the restaurant with the sincere hostesses to the experience at our table. Our server is always genuine and helpful. Never a complaint! The prime rib is honestly the best in town with a side of their sherried mushrooms that are absolutely to die for! If im not getting the steak, I ask for their vegetarian menu which has one of my favorite pastas, the "Pasta Primavera" which is an alfredo pasta with mixed greens. Definitely delicious if you're not into meat. Their drinks are also nice and not too pricy! Also try the spinach salad which (as well as many other salad options) comes with each entree. Overall a great place to visit with family with a nice family and friends atmosphere.
(5)Jason S.
Terrible service, average food - Our server, "Jamie" ruined our celebratory meal right from the start. She took drink orders after we waited too long, and then walked away like she had more important matters to tend to. The place was barely full. She took 15 minutes to return with drinks, and in the meantime, we grabbed menus from the shelf ourself, because we were never presented with them. She returned with the drinks, never apologized, and never took the wine glasses off the table. When she left with our order, we placed the glasses behind us on the shelf. Our appetizer of calimari took 20 minuteds, and it came out incredibly greasy. I was told by previous customer that they usually fill the plate, but ours was half filled with chopped cabbage as a filler. The steaks were dry, underseasoned, and poorly cooked. We had selected med rare and med on all the steaks, and the med rare was too red, while the med was basically a med well. We will never go to this place again.
(1)D. T.
I have no idea what everyone is complaining about! this is dayton Ohio! this place rocks! I am literally here every single day, which for a white dude like myself is a lot! If you walk into the bar, look for me, drinking and eating alone, wiping away my tears of shame and sorrow in between bites of their amazing Bar Burger (its like $5 during happy hour!!!). the prices are really good on drinks too ($7 for a martini!!!). you cant compare this place to REAL steakhouses. this is Dayton Ohio! I live at home with my mom so this place is definitely my sanctuary. A place to get out of the house and come have good food, drinks (lots of them because I am a borderline alcoholic and by borderline I mean full-on), and some jazz music. Problem is I have to get my mom to believe that "Carvers" is something work-related when she pays my credit card bills. I told her its like Kinkos and I get copies made there for work. Problem is I got laid off 3 weeks ago and still havent told her. Ah well....I am just glad for Carvers! Where everybodyyyyyyyy knows my nammmmmmmme!! well not really....
(5)Pamela B.
In town on business- after a long, tiring day- Went to Carvers at the recommendation of my hotel, and with a coupon for free appetizer or dessert in tow. I went with the free App- Crabcakes- which were GREAT- a little spicy, mostly crab, not greasy- yummm. I ordered the 8oz Filet Medium- came out a TINY bit too rare- but better too rare than too well in my opinion. They offered to cook further but I declined as it was mostly fine and delicious. I left about 2 bites of RARE of the plate- so no biggie. Manager came to be sure I was fine and I assured him I was. Side salad was great- I chose the romaine which came with a little blue cheese as well as roasted peppers and onions and a balsalmic vinegrette. Very delicious. With the steak I had asparagus with bearnaise on the side. Also a glass of delish cabernet- Rodney Strong. Nice that steak came with sides and a salad versus everything ala carte. I sat in the dining room despite that fact that I normally sit at the bar when dining alone on business- it seemed a little loud in there after a long day- but did look like a nice atmosphere that I would have enjoyed another day. I would definitely return and recommend.
(4)Brian C.
Great food and great atmosphere! As a side note, our server was amazing! She was very personable and attentive to our every need without making us feel cramped, she was awesome! Even told us when she would be working next if we wanted to come back and to ask for her, that was pretty cool in my opinion! Like I said, the food was really good, a little pricey for what it is but no complaints really. My only issue was that the band was a little loud and made it difficult at times to hold a conversation, we did choose to sit in the lounge area so partially our fault I suppose. Overall we had a great time and would come back.
(4)Danette M.
Went on a pretty non busy day... Went with my boyfriend who was waiting for his sister and his brother in law. We waited at the bar to get drinks and it definitely took a while for us to get service. After finally getting a drink the rest of our party arrived, and apparently they were regulars so we actually got pretty decent service. The food tasted great, but I'll admit I've had better for the price.
(3)Gerri H.
Very good steaks and seafood. Love the atmosphere of an old style restaurant. Service was excellent and loved the live band in the lounge!
(4)