The first "ladies' night" with free sushi Thursdays at Steel Restaurant and Lounge on May 25, 2017 seems to have met choppy waters, leaving some customers hungry and frustrated.
Reader Misty Moore emailed with an unfortunate report: The event was canceled, mid-service. As of 9:20 p.m. the night of the event, the Facebook event page confirmed the cancellation.
Steel had announced eight days beforehand it would offer a full-sized roll of sushi to women who ordered one beverage, alcoholic or non, between the hours of 5 and 10 p.m. on Thursdays beginning May 25 at its newly-redesigned Oak Lawn restaurant.
Disgruntled customer Moore told GuideLive via the email that she and her friends were required to purchase at least two drinks to get the free sushi, though the restaurant had previously required a one-drink minimum. Her group waited, she says, close to two hours for service for the sushi before finally leaving without eating.
In writing our preview article, we asked if the sushi was really free -- and, with a rep's confirmation, we told readers it would be. We also reported that the event would last from 5 to 10 p.m., but some customers say they were told the deal ended at 7 p.m. upon arrival.
Ten social media comments and reviews on Facebook and Yelp detailed similar experiences.
Steel Restaurant and Lounge issued a release on Saturday addressing what it calls a "miscommunication in our team that affected the quality of our guests' dining experience."
/guidelive-pegasus.imgix.net/img/photos/2017/04/18/Vietnamese_Shaken_Beef.JPG)
In the statement, Steel management apologized for the "mixed message and slow service." They have invited guests to give ladies' night a second chance on June 1. It confirms that the special will continue on upcoming Thursdays and that sushi will be free for women who purchase a single beverage, alcoholic or non.
"At Steel, we promise superior service and excellent experience for our customers and will do everything we can to prevent this mistake from happening in the future," the statement says.
The 17-year-old restaurant recently re-opened after renovation, and over the years, it has maintained a positive reputation among devoted fans. The statement calls the restaurant's guests "valuable," and says the restaurant is eager to "hear feedback and improve."