I was another member of the U.E.'s recent party to TFL, and wanted to briefly add my two cents. Start with the fact that our service at TFL was less attentive than the service I got at Urasawa three days earlier, and Urasawa doesn't even have French-style service. But I think the U.E.'s remarks really downplay the horrible nature of the service that we got. U.E. has listed some of the specific incidents that were experienced, but I really felt that there was almost active disdain towards our party on the part of the main server. This is hard to capture in a bullet-pointed list, and so perhaps U.E. felt a need to report things more objectively. Here's my subjective view of the matter. As the U.E. mentioned, I chose not to drink right away (the other people in our party ordered beers to start). We had gotten lost on our way to TFL (the inevitable result of my being behind the wheel), and had spent an extra hour-and-a-half baking on the Oakland Bridge (there, and then back again -- whoops, wrong turn). At the point I walked into the restaurant, I was extremely dehydrated. I am also a lightweight, and I didn't want to get drunk with the amuse. (Ask the U.E.: this is very possible with me!) So I decided to stick with water until I got hydrated. I mentioned to the serving staff that I would probably order wine later on in the meal, but that I wanted water to start. Suffice to say, I felt harassed every time they came by. They could have asked nicely whether I wanted anything yet, but every time I said, "Not now" I felt -- by glance and inference -- that I was committing a major faux pas. There was no actual eye-rolling, but I felt horribly uncomfortable the whole dinner. I really wanted to order the Tokaj at the end of my meal; I adore Tokaj, and I almost always order it for dessert when I see it. But I hate feeling pressured, and I'm a contrarian, and so I felt almost obligated to forgo alcohol at that point. I had expected our experience at TFL to be similar to our experience at Trotter's or Tru in Chicago: great French service, impeccably prepared food, and a pleasant environment in which to celebrate our several points of celebration. I've joined U.E. for some of his eating binges (in fact, I appear in some of his photos on Flickr! Look closely!), and I have to agree with his assessment -- my meal at TFL was the least pleasant meal at a top-flight restaurant I have ever had.
