Chef's Table At Sorrento's - BANNER ELK

I've dined here twice with my family, and both times have been fantastic. This restaurant has a formal atmosphere, and the staff is attentive, ensuring you enjoy the best dining experience possible. We never felt rushed, and I truly mean it when I say the food is the best I've ever had in my life. And don’t get me started on the desserts! They create an entire show while preparing your dessert, so if you visit for dinner, make sure to save room for dessert—you won't regret it. The food and desserts are simply out of this world. I highly recommend this place, especially for special occasions; it guarantees a memorable and enjoyable experience!

The dining experience may vary based on personal expectations. We made a reservation to celebrate my husband's birthday on a Saturday evening and were looking forward to the enticing menu. We arrived about 15 minutes early, but ended up waiting a considerable time past our reserved slot for a table. During that time, we sat in the lobby and were subjected to the sounds of a live singer and a rather boisterous crowd. While the singer was undeniably talented, the enthusiastic drunken sing-along by others left much to be desired. The noise level made it impossible to hold a conversation and would have made it difficult to enjoy our meal as a family among strangers—it felt more like a wedding reception atmosphere. After our lengthy wait, we kindly requested the hostess to seat us in Sorrento’s, which she did. Unfortunately, it was nearly 9 PM before we were able to order drinks. While I appreciated the comforting Italian food, the overall experience fell short of the fine dining ambiance I had envisioned for my husband’s special day.

I was really disappointed with this restaurant. Initially, we were seated outside in a walkway leading to the upstairs patio, overlooking the noisy waiting area filled with loud children. While the noise isn't the kids' fault, we had chosen this place for a nice dining experience. After we requested a change, they did move us, but unfortunately, our meal fell short of expectations. I ordered the salmon and my husband had the filet, and we both had the chopped salad, which was actually the best part of our meal. They got my husband's order wrong, and his steak was cooked well past medium rare. My salmon was dry, chewy, and lacked flavor, and the mashed potatoes were just... plain potatoes. There are much better dining options in the area. They promote an upscale experience, but the food does not deliver. The service was also below average.

We heard the reviews of this restaurant and were happy to get a last minute reservation. I wish I had read the reviews here before reserving however. It’s more of a bar feeling than I’d prefer and too loud of an atmosphere then I was seeking. I prefer not to hear cackling women at the bar and be in an environment where I can’t hear myself talk. The waiter could hardly hear us give our order It’s my fault for not doing more research on the restaurant and from the pictures online I has assumed it was more continental and quiet. Aside from That the singer was very talented and kept the crowd engaged. The menu options were varied and all was delicious. The flambé dessert man performed his own show which was delightful! Definitely order a flambé if you go!

Not a great experience. We made reservations 11 weeks ahead of time for our dinner. We were seated 20 minutes late. Our party of six was seated at a square table designed for 12 so having a conversation was difficult. During our entire evening no one apologized for the delayed seated or the less-then-ideal table design. The dessert cart was stored next to our table, which was frequently used along with a wait staff cabinet. The food was good, but overpriced. The singer/music was good, but too loud for the room size. We will not return as there are better choices for us in Banner Elk.