Crane & Pelican Cafe
127 S 2nd St, Le Claire, IA 52753, USA
Accommodating Gluten-FreePeople are saying
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Dimitri Spencer
Went with my fiance to try out the restaurant, as we're looking into caterers for our wedding, and we had heard Crane & Pelican was great. The atmosphere is great! Service wasn't bad by any means, though I think the two servers could have used another hand once guests started coming in for dinner.
The food was not good. I honestly should have left after the second bite. I got the pecan salmon, it came with a side of green beans, and rizzoto. The green beans must have been soaking in a vat of oil. I have NEVER had green beans like this. I understand too much butter, and that's forgivable, but I mean soaked through with oil. I should have just stopped there, but I didn't want to appear rude, so I finished them. The rizzoto? Genuinely so bland it was almost tasteless, other than a strange sour flavor that was reminiscent of dawn dish soap. I took two small bites, and I wish I didn't. The salmon was cooked very well, though. Perfect. But when I ordered, I guess I neglected to realize the salmon would be completely covered in blueberry syrup with pecans? It wasn't bad, per se, but I still can't fathom how those are supposed to taste good together.
My fiance got the gluten free, vegan pasta salad. I don't know what the name of the dish actually is, but it's just pasta salad with those gross checkpea noodles with random bits of broccoli and avocado. We've both had a fair few gluten free, and vegan dishes. There's no reason it should have been so bland. The first taste was simply off putting. It was gross. Not like it needed salt, but it needed to be reconsidered as a dish all together. I felt so bad for her I tried to give her some of my salmon, but she doesn't care for pecans, and is not big into fish. She tried to force herself to get through some of it, but ultimately she couldn't.
Of all the items we got. The bread service, and the summer sangria were just about the only two things worth their cost. I genuinely do not mean to be rude to the chef, the staff, or anyone there at all. We were quiet, didn't make a scene, and waited until we were outside to talk about how we both felt. We both agreed. Never going back. I paid, and left a 15% tip. I usually always leave a 20% but I just genuinely could not bring myself to. I don't know if something went wrong with our meals, or if there was some mistake while they were prepared, but I genuinely cannot believe this place has a 4.6 star rating, while serving food like this.
Now it's been about 3 or 4 hours since going, and we're both nauseous. I don't think we have food poisoning or anything, for myself, I feel it was the absurd amount of oil I consumed, and the sour soapy taste of the rizzoto, as for my fiance, I think it was just simply how off, and sad the pasta salad tasted.
I won't pretend to have the most refined sense of taste, but both my fiance and myself have eaten quite a wide range of foods, in a fair few places across the US. This was simply not good. It made me feel sick.
This restaurant has great potential, the presentation, and the atmosphere, and the staff were all great, but I genuinely think some menu items need attention. Maybe partner with a survey company, and offer 20% off, or a free drink at your next visit for giving feedback, on the receipt. The chef is obviously talented, and cares about their work, I just cannot see how the average person would enjoy the items we ordered. I'm sure there are other items on the menu that are much better. We specifically chose items available on the catering menu, as we were taste testing for our wedding dinner.
The food was a genuine 1 or 2/10. But I do believe with some adjustments and reinvention this restaurant could be a regular date destination for my future wife and myself. I do hope to see a few changes, and I hope no one takes this review as an attack. I am just trying to give honest feedback.
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