I visited Hatchell Hall last Friday to celebrate my boyfriend, and unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. I had been here years ago and remembered the food being absolutely amazing, so I was really excited to share that with him. This time, everything felt far from what I remembered.
The greeting at the door was the first red flag. The host only said “hi” with no warmth, no “welcome in,” and not even a simple “do you have a reservation.” When she couldn’t find my name, she didn’t ask if it might be under a different one or try to help at all. It felt very unprofessional for a place of this level.
Our waitress also didn’t seem friendly or engaged. I smiled and greeted her, but she didn’t respond the same way. No questions about whether it was our first time, if we were celebrating anything, or even a basic menu explanation. She dropped off the menus and walked away without any interaction.
Then came the food, which was the biggest disappointment. I spent close to two hundred dollars including tips and valet, and the quality didn’t match the price. • The corn bread presentation used to be charming, but this time it came on a plain plate with a big ball of butter on top, looking more like something from IHOP. • The ceviche did not taste fresh at all. Both my boyfriend and I noticed the same off taste. • The soup was okay, nothing special. • The shrimp and grits, meatloaf and mash tasted extremely simple, like food you’d get at an average diner rather than a nicer restaurant.
In general, the food didn’t taste freshly made. It used to tasted fresh and carefully made, so this was a huge letdown.
On top of that, the way the dishes were brought to the table felt unsafe and unprofessional. My boyfriend and I were sitting next to each other, and multiple times the staff reached between us from behind to place the plates. Bringing hot food from behind guests is unsafe and definitely not proper service etiquette.
Overall, I left feeling disappointed and honestly embarrassed because I wanted this to be a special night. My boyfriend was sweet and didn’t make a big deal, but he agreed the service was bad and the food was just okay.
Everything was delicious, the honey dates are a must try. Tom and Ash were super friendly and attentive as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan S
Old style, American setting with a twist of modern outside sitting. Wild west bar type inside. Food was great prepared and people wonderful.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carrie Yi
First time at Hatchet. First, the valet parking is too pricey. The food was good. However, the server was rushing me to sign the pos . Its super dark and I wasn't sure if I wanted to tip 18% tip n the waiter insisted me to sign pos without for me to give the correct percentage tip n figuring out my total bill!!! He was just standing and felt really uncomfortable n seemed he was just there for tips!!!! The waiter really didnt care about my table but the person who gave us water n constantly checking, he was good. Not going back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Jessica Davis
I walked into Hatchet Hall expecting it to be good, and walked out genuinely impressed. The food is thoughtful and full of flavor, cocktails balanced, and the atmosphere hits that sweet spot where it feels lively but you can still talk without shouting. What really elevated the night was our server — she was on it from start to finish, knew the menu, made smart recommendations, and paced everything perfectly without hovering. I’ve been to Dunsmoor, and honestly, Hatchet Hall gave me a better overall experience — maybe Dunsmoor had an off night, or maybe Hatchet Hall just runs a tighter ship, but either way, this spot surprised me in the best way and I’d absolutely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian Truong
Hatchet Hall is a must visit! They were able to host a team dinner for over 20 people, in a small intimate area towards the back of the restaurant.
The service was great and the food was yummy as well! The cornbread is a must try! The Branzino was very well done as well!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeramia Dupre
We had an amazing brunch and cocktails. The cinnamon rolls was amazing. I dont drink so I had a mocktail and it was literally the best drink I have ever tasted. No exaggeration. Its called Parking lot Paradise. The manager was nice enough to get their bartender to email my wife and share the recipe. We live in Sacramento so I can't just go back to get one whenever I want but now I get to have it at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alison
The food is great and the atmosphere is fun and lively! Would definitely go back again!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Moses
Hatchet Hall exceeded all expectations! The food, service, and atmosphere are all on another level. Every dish felt carefully crafted with top-quality ingredients and skillful execution. The roasted vegetables and smoked meats were absolutely delicious. The staff were friendly and professional, offering great recommendations for both food and drinks. The wine list was impressive and well-curated. The rustic interior, soft lighting, and open kitchen made the whole experience cozy yet elevated. Prices are fair considering the quality and creativity of the menu. This place truly captures the art of fine dining. Five stars without hesitation
The food is good but omg the service is horrible. Our waiter a guy with a hat, was so unpleasant he literally ruined the vibe. Is being a snob and looking down at your guests a requirement for this job, if so he nailed it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Mark Goldsmith
Went to the Old Man Bar which is at the end of Hatchet Hall so this is a review for that and not Hatchet Hall itself. The Old Man bar has a very cool vibe. On Sunday and Mondays, they only serve cheeseburgers but their cheeseburgers are really good. They have a ton of whiskeys so if that's your thing, you will not be disappointed. Good prices and very, very friendly staff. My only complaint was that the background music seemed excessively loud.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Luisa F
We had a great time at this restaurant. The food was excellent, their corn bread is out of this world, and everything we ordered was perfectly prepared. The atmosphere is pleasant, and the service definitely makes you want to come back. Thanks to Hatchet Hall for a lovely evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sheila Collins
The food and service were very good, but the attitudes about no changes and having to order all food at once (ie we couldn’t put a salad order in first) were very off putting. Honestly if I knew the restaurant had a “no modifications or substitutions” policy, I would not have made a reservation there, even though I didn’t actually want or need any for what we ordered. That type of policy is pretentious and rude.
Also it was SO loud. They could benefit from some kind of sound insulation.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Justin Klosky
Always one of the best meals on the west side since I can remember being here. I’ve now lived in this neighborhood for 13 years and I always remember Hatchet Hall being a staple. It’s just gotten better. From the quality of the food, the kind service, and atmosphere unlike most places. Hatchet Hall always delivers. You’re gonna drop a dime, but that’s fine. Be there cause you wanna be and because you need to be. Enjoy it, the cornbread even tastes better the next day.
I visited Hatchell Hall last Friday to celebrate my boyfriend, and unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. I had been here years ago and remembered the food being absolutely amazing, so I was really excited to share that with him. This time, everything felt far from what I remembered.
The greeting at the door was the first red flag. The host only said “hi” with no warmth, no “welcome in,” and not even a simple “do you have a reservation.” When she couldn’t find my name, she didn’t ask if it might be under a different one or try to help at all. It felt very unprofessional for a place of this level.
Our waitress also didn’t seem friendly or engaged. I smiled and greeted her, but she didn’t respond the same way. No questions about whether it was our first time, if we were celebrating anything, or even a basic menu explanation. She dropped off the menus and walked away without any interaction.
Then came the food, which was the biggest disappointment. I spent close to two hundred dollars including tips and valet, and the quality didn’t match the price.
• The corn bread presentation used to be charming, but this time it came on a plain plate with a big ball of butter on top, looking more like something from IHOP.
• The ceviche did not taste fresh at all. Both my boyfriend and I noticed the same off taste.
• The soup was okay, nothing special.
• The shrimp and grits, meatloaf and mash tasted extremely simple, like food you’d get at an average diner rather than a nicer restaurant.
In general, the food didn’t taste freshly made. It used to tasted fresh and carefully made, so this was a huge letdown.
On top of that, the way the dishes were brought to the table felt unsafe and unprofessional. My boyfriend and I were sitting next to each other, and multiple times the staff reached between us from behind to place the plates. Bringing hot food from behind guests is unsafe and definitely not proper service etiquette.
Overall, I left feeling disappointed and honestly embarrassed because I wanted this to be a special night. My boyfriend was sweet and didn’t make a big deal, but he agreed the service was bad and the food was just okay.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Absolutely amazing meal, with a great ambiance!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cornbread, Deviled Eggs, Elk, Ceviche
Everything was delicious, the honey dates are a must try. Tom and Ash were super friendly and attentive as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Old style, American setting with a twist of modern outside sitting. Wild west bar type inside. Food was great prepared and people wonderful.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time at Hatchet.
First, the valet parking is too pricey.
The food was good.
However, the server was rushing me to sign the pos .
Its super dark and I wasn't sure if I wanted to tip 18% tip n the waiter insisted me to sign pos without for me to give the correct percentage tip n figuring out my total bill!!! He was just standing and felt really uncomfortable n seemed he was just there for tips!!!!
The waiter really didnt care about my table but the person who gave us water n constantly checking, he was good.
Not going back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
I walked into Hatchet Hall expecting it to be good, and walked out genuinely impressed. The food is thoughtful and full of flavor, cocktails balanced, and the atmosphere hits that sweet spot where it feels lively but you can still talk without shouting. What really elevated the night was our server — she was on it from start to finish, knew the menu, made smart recommendations, and paced everything perfectly without hovering. I’ve been to Dunsmoor, and honestly, Hatchet Hall gave me a better overall experience — maybe Dunsmoor had an off night, or maybe Hatchet Hall just runs a tighter ship, but either way, this spot surprised me in the best way and I’d absolutely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hatchet Hall is a must visit! They were able to host a team dinner for over 20 people, in a small intimate area towards the back of the restaurant.
The service was great and the food was yummy as well! The cornbread is a must try! The Branzino was very well done as well!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had an amazing brunch and cocktails. The cinnamon rolls was amazing. I dont drink so I had a mocktail and it was literally the best drink I have ever tasted. No exaggeration. Its called Parking lot Paradise. The manager was nice enough to get their bartender to email my wife and share the recipe. We live in Sacramento so I can't just go back to get one whenever I want but now I get to have it at home.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is great and the atmosphere is fun and lively! Would definitely go back again!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hatchet Hall exceeded all expectations! The food, service, and atmosphere are all on another level. Every dish felt carefully crafted with top-quality ingredients and skillful execution. The roasted vegetables and smoked meats were absolutely delicious. The staff were friendly and professional, offering great recommendations for both food and drinks. The wine list was impressive and well-curated. The rustic interior, soft lighting, and open kitchen made the whole experience cozy yet elevated. Prices are fair considering the quality and creativity of the menu. This place truly captures the art of fine dining. Five stars without hesitation
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The food is good but omg the service is horrible. Our waiter a guy with a hat, was so unpleasant he literally ruined the vibe. Is being a snob and looking down at your guests a requirement for this job, if so he nailed it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Went to the Old Man Bar which is at the end of Hatchet Hall so this is a review for that and not Hatchet Hall itself. The Old Man bar has a very cool vibe. On Sunday and Mondays, they only serve cheeseburgers but their cheeseburgers are really good. They have a ton of whiskeys so if that's your thing, you will not be disappointed. Good prices and very, very friendly staff. My only complaint was that the background music seemed excessively loud.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
We had a great time at this restaurant. The food was excellent, their corn bread is out of this world, and everything we ordered was perfectly prepared. The atmosphere is pleasant, and the service definitely makes you want to come back.
Thanks to Hatchet Hall for a lovely evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and service were very good, but the attitudes about no changes and having to order all food at once (ie we couldn’t put a salad order in first) were very off putting. Honestly if I knew the restaurant had a “no modifications or substitutions” policy, I would not have made a reservation there, even though I didn’t actually want or need any for what we ordered. That type of policy is pretentious and rude.
Also it was SO loud. They could benefit from some kind of sound insulation.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Always one of the best meals on the west side since I can remember being here. I’ve now lived in this neighborhood for 13 years and I always remember Hatchet Hall being a staple. It’s just gotten better. From the quality of the food, the kind service, and atmosphere unlike most places. Hatchet Hall always delivers. You’re gonna drop a dime, but that’s fine. Be there cause you wanna be and because you need to be. Enjoy it, the cornbread even tastes better the next day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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