Me and 2 of my best friends were celebrating 20 years of friendship together and were really excited to have some dessert and cocktails at Speak. Unfortunately we weren't impressed and left after one drink/dessert. It definitely seems more of a restaurant than bar, as we came at 8:30 and it was dead. There was no live band which we were expecting and only 2 other tables occupied. There was some music playing but we had whisper or the entire place could hear our conversation which wasn't comfortable for a night out for drinks/fun. The front desk asked our password, but the hidden door was just wide open so not too exciting as a speak easy. The wine glasses were extremely dirty with hard water stains which isn't common in this kind of price range environment. We all loved our drinks but at $16-$20 a piece the environment made us tired and sleepy rather than a fun night out. We wanted to love it so much but it was not nearly as exciting as we'd hoped. I would be willing to give it another try maybe for a date night with the husband rather than a girls night out, but would hope for a more lively environment
J W
We enjoyed everything from the appetizers to the desserts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Adobo Rack of Lamb, Surf N Turf, Bang Bang Shrimp Bao
Cariann Bradford
I went in with the expectation of a cute little speakeasy environment, fun drinks and maybe upscale bar food. OMG!!!!!! Megan was an amazing server and helped guide us through the adventurers of their menu. We are 3 appetizers: Bang Bang Shrimp, Chicken Fried Lobster Deviled Eggs, and, my absolute most favorite, Roasted Wagyu Marrow Bruschetta. Not thinking the appetizers could be topped, the Rack of Lamb hit the table. The mint Chimichurri was the perfect balance for the juicy tender lamb. Death by Decadence is a perfect end to one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I will be going back and continuing on the best menu journey Megan will lead. Because Megan proved her worth when she brought out a whiskey drink with a marshmallow on fire!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Fried Lobster Bao, Adobo Rack of Lamb, Bang Bang Shrimp Bao, Bruschetta
TSmith
Cool place but way overpriced for the quality. Both my husband and brother ordered rack of lambs and one was decent but the other was very tough and fatty with little meat. Both were supposed to come with carrots and both got brussels sprouts. I ordered the lump crab and it was so fishy I couldn't eat it. The lobster deviled eggs were THE BOMB and worth every penny. We also got bang bang shrimp that was good and the meatballs were ok as well. The drinks were good, the highlight and most expensive part of the evening. 4 people at over 450 bucks and we just weren't 450 worth of impressed. The bartender was really good but it is a lot for just one person to handle and we sat at the bar so she was also our waitress. We spent most of our time waiting on our drinks. We were there for about 2.5 hours and had 3 drinks each. Food comes out relatively quick once you are able to place the order but it doesn't all come out at once so it was odd to sit and wait for the rest of our parties food to come out to start eating. Concept is cool and if you are just going to blow some money and have an Ok dinner, then go for it. If you want great food, go down the road to another restaurant...except for the deviled eggs!
Mark Hayden
The Lucky Cat secret restaurant was everything and more! The ambience brings you back to the 1920s, the service was fantastic, we ordered 10 different items from them menu and all were phenomenal. Ordered several drinks and they made great cocktails that looked and tasted great! Highly recommend this place!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef, Lobster Thermidor, 16oz Kerwee Red Wagyu
Diana W.
I must say we knew what we were getting ourselves into as far as price, it was our Anniversary, so we expect to pay for something amazing. This was...okay. I don't eat a lot so we shared a surf and turf (the 10oz filet with lobster wasn't available.) So, the 15 oz ribeye with lobster that included potatoes and carrots is what we ordered. It came out without the potatoes and we had to ask fir them, our server said, ill check the menu and if its included I'll ask for it. We knew that steaks were cooked based on the chefs preference, menu said rare to med. The wagyu steak was overcooked in our opinion, fully grey throughout. The lobster tail was a little tough. The carrot and mashed potatoes were the best things on the plate. The ceasar salad was good, the crab cake was good also, the key lime pie had a different texture and an aftertaste I just couldn't place. I had a lemon drop martini- it was well crafted. One off thing, no iced tea available at all...we're in Texas so it's just expected. Server was attentive, but when an entree is 100+ you don't expect to have dirty dishes lingering on your table for 15+ min. The atmosphere was clever but not as mysterious and fun as I'd hoped. There was not live music but it was a random thurs. Night and I think it would have been way too loud, our table was only 1 ft from the stage. It was something different to try. I doubt we'll be back as it wasn't amazing or special as we hoped it would be.
The food was PHENOMENAL! Everything was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Shout out to Chef Tommy! What a great and humble guy! Me and my wife had a great time. We dressed for the occasion, and SPEAK did not disappoint! We WILL be back! The decor and ambiance was awesome! The staff was beyond nice. Great service, great atmosphere, and even greater staff!! Again, Chef Tommy thank you and Amber for making our evening one to remember! Until we meet again! You will NOT be disappointed with your experience at SPEAK! God bless!
Bobby “Bobbykolls” Kolls
I started writing a review but I fell asleep writing it. The food was that great it I was placed into a food coma it was that good. They really know food! The bone marrow is a direct reflection of that. The richness of the marrow was complimented by fennel slaw. The keylime pie and the creme brulee deserve it's place on the dessert menu. The star of the show was the wagyu beef. Cooked to perfection. I thought I knew food. They know on a much deeper level and their menu reflects that. Anyways back to sleep.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef, Surf N Turf
Anthony Perez
If you're under 50 and not white, you'll be ignored.To preface, I have been to the best and finest in almost every major city in the US. When we heard there was a "fine dining" speakeasy in our backyard, we couldn't wait to try it out. Also to note, I'm 6'2", Hispanic, and have everything but my face and head tattooed (something this place clearly doesn't see much of).I arrived with my wife and once sat at the bar, we waited 15+ minutes for anyone to even acknowledge our presence, even though the (clearly overwhelmed) bartender was making drinks about 8 inches from us. This was a bit of a shock as its a small space that filled sits maybe 40-50 people. Once we finally were able to place a drink order, we were handed our drinks quickly and my attempt to order an appetizer wasn't heard. A server finally came over (its been 25+ min at this point) and asks if we would like an appetizer - I order the bone marrow bruschetta - to which he replies "Oh, have you ever had bone marrow?" as if he wasn't expecting that order from someone who looks like me.At this point, I'm not going to make a scene, I just leave money on the bar to cover our two drinks and walk out.I'm sure the food is good, from what I saw coming out it was plated well and looked good. But based on the way we were treated, I couldn't get myself to spend a dime here.There are plenty of restaurants and speakeasies within a 30min drive that I can give glowing recommendations for.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
LarryL
The Food and Service are Excellent. The Restaurant Theme is a Fun Idea with People Dressing up. But it seems like the Host Desk is tired of Introducing the whole theme of the Restaurant. They don't play along. And the Entry Waiting area definitely needs some decorating help.
If you're under 50 and not white, you'll be ignored. To preface, I have been to the best and finest in almost every major city in the US. When we heard there was a "fine dining" speakeasy in our backyard, we couldn't wait to try it out. Also to note, I'm 6'2", Hispanic, and have everything but my face and head tattooed (something this place clearly doesn't see much of). I arrived with my wife and once sat at the bar, we waited 15+ minutes for anyone to even acknowledge our presence, even though the (clearly overwhelmed) bartender was making drinks about 8 inches from us. This was a bit of a shock as its a small space that filled sits maybe 40-50 people. Once we finally were able to place a drink order, we were handed our drinks quickly and my attempt to order an appetizer wasn't heard. A server finally came over (its been 25+ min at this point) and asks if we would like an appetizer - I order the bone marrow bruschetta - to which he replies "Oh, have you ever had bone marrow?" as if he wasn't expecting that order from someone who looks like me. At this point, I'm not going to make a scene, I just leave money on the bar to cover our two drinks and walk out. I'm sure the food is good, from what I saw coming out it was plated well and looked good. But based on the way we were treated, I couldn't get myself to spend a dime here. There are plenty of restaurants and speakeasies within a 30min drive that I can give glowing recommendations for.
ChrisA
I had a great first visit to Speak for my birthday. The atmosphere was delightful, but there was a very loud group of women seated close to our booth. This is no fault of the establishment. Besides their loudness overall it was a great evening. I'm glad to have a place like this in my hometown of Rockwall and will be returning.
Lacey M.
I really wanted to love this restaurant. The concept is so fun, and I love Ramen Head and Sloane's so much, I was sure the owners had made a great experience here at Speak. Unfortunately, I was way off. I'd love to think the problems I witnessed tonight don't normally plague this place, but I don't know how they couldn't possibly be a consistent issue. First and most importantly, there's a huge safety issue. I saw 3, yes THREE people trip and fall while being directed to their table. It's dark in there, and the unused stage presents a huge trip hazard. There are so many tables shoved into this small space that it makes it impossible to navigate the room. Beyond the trip hazard, I didn't see anyone from the staff do anything to help the people that had fallen, or make any effort to insure it didn't continue to happen. We didn't stay long (I'll get to that shortly), and to have seen the same incident occur three times in what was probably an hour was appalling. How this restaurant has not been sued yet is astounding to me with an issue like that. My husband and I have never had such a bad experience that we decided to leave before ordering our main meal. It took 20 minutes after being seated for anyone to even greet us and pour waters. We ordered drinks and an appetizer, which took close to another 30 minutes to arrive (and our drinks were served several minutes apart from each other). We decided we didn't want to give another dime to this less than ideal experience , so we paid our bill and went and had dinner somewhere else. The decor is kitschy and tries to be something fun, but ends up feeling more like one of those Instagram pop up shops that's only made for fun pictures and thrown together in some empty commercial space. It feels dank and dirty, especially the entrance. For the prices they're charging, the experience is severely lacking. The entire staff needs retraining, from the hostess to the waitstaff. While everyone was friendly, the callous attitude towards three people tripping and the wait times was enough to make us get up and leave. I'm saddened because I had such high hopes. Knowing the care and attention the owners put into their other restaurants, I'm left wondering what on earth has gone wrong here. I wish we'd had a better experience. My husband and I run a local food blog and would have loved to have showcased this, but would never in good conscience direct anyone to Speak.
Brandon
The food and atmosphere was absolutely amazing. Everything by we had was delicious. I will say, there could be a little more attention to detail. For the scale of the food and ambiance, little things like cleaning water spots on wine glasses before they come out to a table, or actually requiring the password, would go a long way. Also, for a reservation only establishment, it would be nice if the servers knew who the guests were and if they are celebrating anything. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary but nobody said a thing, or even asked if we were celebrating anything special. This is what sets apart fine dining and just an expensive restaurant. Also, the menus were outdated and in rough shape, and the drink menu was in a photo album that was picked up from Walmart I'm sure. All in all it was good but it could have really been great. One more thing. Watch out for the stage when you walk in, my wife smoked it and so did like 6 other people.
Atmosphere was nice. Service was just a little slow but good overall. Chairs for the high top were not very comfortable. If there were chairs that could support your back, it would be far better. Drinks were absolutely delicious.
Me and 2 of my best friends were celebrating 20 years of friendship together and were really excited to have some dessert and cocktails at Speak. Unfortunately we weren't impressed and left after one drink/dessert. It definitely seems more of a restaurant than bar, as we came at 8:30 and it was dead. There was no live band which we were expecting and only 2 other tables occupied. There was some music playing but we had whisper or the entire place could hear our conversation which wasn't comfortable for a night out for drinks/fun. The front desk asked our password, but the hidden door was just wide open so not too exciting as a speak easy. The wine glasses were extremely dirty with hard water stains which isn't common in this kind of price range environment. We all loved our drinks but at $16-$20 a piece the environment made us tired and sleepy rather than a fun night out. We wanted to love it so much but it was not nearly as exciting as we'd hoped. I would be willing to give it another try maybe for a date night with the husband rather than a girls night out, but would hope for a more lively environment
We enjoyed everything from the appetizers to the desserts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Adobo Rack of Lamb, Surf N Turf, Bang Bang Shrimp Bao
I went in with the expectation of a cute little speakeasy environment, fun drinks and maybe upscale bar food. OMG!!!!!! Megan was an amazing server and helped guide us through the adventurers of their menu. We are 3 appetizers: Bang Bang Shrimp, Chicken Fried Lobster Deviled Eggs, and, my absolute most favorite, Roasted Wagyu Marrow Bruschetta. Not thinking the appetizers could be topped, the Rack of Lamb hit the table. The mint Chimichurri was the perfect balance for the juicy tender lamb. Death by Decadence is a perfect end to one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I will be going back and continuing on the best menu journey Megan will lead. Because Megan proved her worth when she brought out a whiskey drink with a marshmallow on fire!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Fried Lobster Bao, Adobo Rack of Lamb, Bang Bang Shrimp Bao, Bruschetta
Cool place but way overpriced for the quality. Both my husband and brother ordered rack of lambs and one was decent but the other was very tough and fatty with little meat. Both were supposed to come with carrots and both got brussels sprouts. I ordered the lump crab and it was so fishy I couldn't eat it. The lobster deviled eggs were THE BOMB and worth every penny. We also got bang bang shrimp that was good and the meatballs were ok as well. The drinks were good, the highlight and most expensive part of the evening. 4 people at over 450 bucks and we just weren't 450 worth of impressed. The bartender was really good but it is a lot for just one person to handle and we sat at the bar so she was also our waitress. We spent most of our time waiting on our drinks. We were there for about 2.5 hours and had 3 drinks each. Food comes out relatively quick once you are able to place the order but it doesn't all come out at once so it was odd to sit and wait for the rest of our parties food to come out to start eating. Concept is cool and if you are just going to blow some money and have an Ok dinner, then go for it. If you want great food, go down the road to another restaurant...except for the deviled eggs!
The Lucky Cat secret restaurant was everything and more! The ambience brings you back to the 1920s, the service was fantastic, we ordered 10 different items from them menu and all were phenomenal. Ordered several drinks and they made great cocktails that looked and tasted great! Highly recommend this place!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef, Lobster Thermidor, 16oz Kerwee Red Wagyu
I must say we knew what we were getting ourselves into as far as price, it was our Anniversary, so we expect to pay for something amazing. This was...okay. I don't eat a lot so we shared a surf and turf (the 10oz filet with lobster wasn't available.) So, the 15 oz ribeye with lobster that included potatoes and carrots is what we ordered. It came out without the potatoes and we had to ask fir them, our server said, ill check the menu and if its included I'll ask for it. We knew that steaks were cooked based on the chefs preference, menu said rare to med. The wagyu steak was overcooked in our opinion, fully grey throughout. The lobster tail was a little tough. The carrot and mashed potatoes were the best things on the plate. The ceasar salad was good, the crab cake was good also, the key lime pie had a different texture and an aftertaste I just couldn't place. I had a lemon drop martini- it was well crafted. One off thing, no iced tea available at all...we're in Texas so it's just expected. Server was attentive, but when an entree is 100+ you don't expect to have dirty dishes lingering on your table for 15+ min. The atmosphere was clever but not as mysterious and fun as I'd hoped. There was not live music but it was a random thurs. Night and I think it would have been way too loud, our table was only 1 ft from the stage. It was something different to try. I doubt we'll be back as it wasn't amazing or special as we hoped it would be.
The food was PHENOMENAL! Everything was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Shout out to Chef Tommy! What a great and humble guy! Me and my wife had a great time. We dressed for the occasion, and SPEAK did not disappoint! We WILL be back! The decor and ambiance was awesome! The staff was beyond nice. Great service, great atmosphere, and even greater staff!! Again, Chef Tommy thank you and Amber for making our evening one to remember! Until we meet again! You will NOT be disappointed with your experience at SPEAK! God bless!
I started writing a review but I fell asleep writing it. The food was that great it I was placed into a food coma it was that good. They really know food! The bone marrow is a direct reflection of that. The richness of the marrow was complimented by fennel slaw. The keylime pie and the creme brulee deserve it's place on the dessert menu. The star of the show was the wagyu beef. Cooked to perfection. I thought I knew food. They know on a much deeper level and their menu reflects that. Anyways back to sleep.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef, Surf N Turf
If you're under 50 and not white, you'll be ignored.To preface, I have been to the best and finest in almost every major city in the US. When we heard there was a "fine dining" speakeasy in our backyard, we couldn't wait to try it out. Also to note, I'm 6'2", Hispanic, and have everything but my face and head tattooed (something this place clearly doesn't see much of).I arrived with my wife and once sat at the bar, we waited 15+ minutes for anyone to even acknowledge our presence, even though the (clearly overwhelmed) bartender was making drinks about 8 inches from us. This was a bit of a shock as its a small space that filled sits maybe 40-50 people. Once we finally were able to place a drink order, we were handed our drinks quickly and my attempt to order an appetizer wasn't heard. A server finally came over (its been 25+ min at this point) and asks if we would like an appetizer - I order the bone marrow bruschetta - to which he replies "Oh, have you ever had bone marrow?" as if he wasn't expecting that order from someone who looks like me.At this point, I'm not going to make a scene, I just leave money on the bar to cover our two drinks and walk out.I'm sure the food is good, from what I saw coming out it was plated well and looked good. But based on the way we were treated, I couldn't get myself to spend a dime here.There are plenty of restaurants and speakeasies within a 30min drive that I can give glowing recommendations for.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The Food and Service are Excellent. The Restaurant Theme is a Fun Idea with People Dressing up. But it seems like the Host Desk is tired of Introducing the whole theme of the Restaurant. They don't play along. And the Entry Waiting area definitely needs some decorating help.
Restaurantji Recommends
If you're under 50 and not white, you'll be ignored. To preface, I have been to the best and finest in almost every major city in the US. When we heard there was a "fine dining" speakeasy in our backyard, we couldn't wait to try it out. Also to note, I'm 6'2", Hispanic, and have everything but my face and head tattooed (something this place clearly doesn't see much of). I arrived with my wife and once sat at the bar, we waited 15+ minutes for anyone to even acknowledge our presence, even though the (clearly overwhelmed) bartender was making drinks about 8 inches from us. This was a bit of a shock as its a small space that filled sits maybe 40-50 people. Once we finally were able to place a drink order, we were handed our drinks quickly and my attempt to order an appetizer wasn't heard. A server finally came over (its been 25+ min at this point) and asks if we would like an appetizer - I order the bone marrow bruschetta - to which he replies "Oh, have you ever had bone marrow?" as if he wasn't expecting that order from someone who looks like me. At this point, I'm not going to make a scene, I just leave money on the bar to cover our two drinks and walk out. I'm sure the food is good, from what I saw coming out it was plated well and looked good. But based on the way we were treated, I couldn't get myself to spend a dime here. There are plenty of restaurants and speakeasies within a 30min drive that I can give glowing recommendations for.
I had a great first visit to Speak for my birthday. The atmosphere was delightful, but there was a very loud group of women seated close to our booth. This is no fault of the establishment. Besides their loudness overall it was a great evening. I'm glad to have a place like this in my hometown of Rockwall and will be returning.
I really wanted to love this restaurant. The concept is so fun, and I love Ramen Head and Sloane's so much, I was sure the owners had made a great experience here at Speak. Unfortunately, I was way off. I'd love to think the problems I witnessed tonight don't normally plague this place, but I don't know how they couldn't possibly be a consistent issue. First and most importantly, there's a huge safety issue. I saw 3, yes THREE people trip and fall while being directed to their table. It's dark in there, and the unused stage presents a huge trip hazard. There are so many tables shoved into this small space that it makes it impossible to navigate the room. Beyond the trip hazard, I didn't see anyone from the staff do anything to help the people that had fallen, or make any effort to insure it didn't continue to happen. We didn't stay long (I'll get to that shortly), and to have seen the same incident occur three times in what was probably an hour was appalling. How this restaurant has not been sued yet is astounding to me with an issue like that. My husband and I have never had such a bad experience that we decided to leave before ordering our main meal. It took 20 minutes after being seated for anyone to even greet us and pour waters. We ordered drinks and an appetizer, which took close to another 30 minutes to arrive (and our drinks were served several minutes apart from each other). We decided we didn't want to give another dime to this less than ideal experience , so we paid our bill and went and had dinner somewhere else. The decor is kitschy and tries to be something fun, but ends up feeling more like one of those Instagram pop up shops that's only made for fun pictures and thrown together in some empty commercial space. It feels dank and dirty, especially the entrance. For the prices they're charging, the experience is severely lacking. The entire staff needs retraining, from the hostess to the waitstaff. While everyone was friendly, the callous attitude towards three people tripping and the wait times was enough to make us get up and leave. I'm saddened because I had such high hopes. Knowing the care and attention the owners put into their other restaurants, I'm left wondering what on earth has gone wrong here. I wish we'd had a better experience. My husband and I run a local food blog and would have loved to have showcased this, but would never in good conscience direct anyone to Speak.
The food and atmosphere was absolutely amazing. Everything by we had was delicious. I will say, there could be a little more attention to detail. For the scale of the food and ambiance, little things like cleaning water spots on wine glasses before they come out to a table, or actually requiring the password, would go a long way. Also, for a reservation only establishment, it would be nice if the servers knew who the guests were and if they are celebrating anything. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary but nobody said a thing, or even asked if we were celebrating anything special. This is what sets apart fine dining and just an expensive restaurant. Also, the menus were outdated and in rough shape, and the drink menu was in a photo album that was picked up from Walmart I'm sure. All in all it was good but it could have really been great. One more thing. Watch out for the stage when you walk in, my wife smoked it and so did like 6 other people.
Atmosphere was nice. Service was just a little slow but good overall. Chairs for the high top were not very comfortable. If there were chairs that could support your back, it would be far better. Drinks were absolutely delicious.