$30 for $40 Deal at Black Pearl
Yelp Deals
What You Get
- A voucher redeemable for $40 at Black Pearl.
- Two options for redeeming your voucher: Print out your voucher, or redeem on your phone with the Yelp Mobile application.
Important Restrictions
- Limit 1 voucher(s) per table.
Additional Restrictions
Promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. After that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid, less any value you may have received. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Only 1 certificate(s) can be purchased for own use. Up to 3 can be purchased as gifts for others. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.Reviews for Black Pearl
- 0 friends
- 2 reviews
We ate here twice because we want to support local businesses, but both times it was a strange experience. The first time, we thought maybe they were getting started, so we gave it another try. Unfortunately, they hadn't improved since then. The people running this place are super-nice, but seem like they need a basic Restaurant/Hospitality 101 class.
The ambiance here could be nice. But the huge dining room is dead empty. Other restaurants nearby are packed. No ambient music and the TV is blasting in the corner. The chef herself came out and turned a CD player on. There is a space that looks like it might be for bands to perform, with a pile of PA equipment just sitting there. My wife and I were the only ones there.
The decor is classy, and this corner space is prime real estate in Mount Airy. I know, because I've looked for rental space here before. I can't help but feel sorry for them, their rent must be astronomical.
The waitress was really sweet, but rocky at best. Their wine glasses had "disappeared" and she offered us champagne flutes or water glasses for our wine. Fine, but how do you lose a whole supply of wine glasses? She didn't know how to open the wine bottle, broke the cork and made a mess. She then filled our glasses with half the bottle. No water and no bread, butter, etc. to keep us busy during the wait for our food.
There is a mystery man who hangs out a lot. He wanders around, watches YouTube videos at the front desk, and watches TV at the bar. The bar itself would be a nice feature, except the restaurant is BYO so it serves no purpose. He just kinda sits there and stares out into space.
Black Pearl claims to be soul food, but the menu is confused with things like pizza and spaghetti. There are about fifteen offerings, until we ordered. We were informed that half of the menu was unavailable. The waitress came out two more times and canceled our order because they didn't have our second and third choices, either.
The appetizers were okay, but unimaginative - fried lumps of oyster meat, served with a cocktail sauce. Mussels shucked and put in a saucer full of olive oil, served with garlic bread.
The surprising thing was that the entrees were very well done. Proportions are huge. Tender, sticky ribs the size of a dinosaur. Turkey wings, which are fall-off-the-bone delicious, with a side of Mac and Cheese. The Collard Greens are done beautifully.
The chef seems to have some skills. It's just that the professionalism is sorely lacking here. So many people think it's easy to start a restaurant, and do absolutely no homework. The industry is tough, sad and unforgiving. If these guys don't get it together, it might be too late.
- 27 friends
- 84 reviews
We had a completely bizarre experience eating here Wednesday. They were out of everything from chicken to sodas. The server insisted the collards were vegetarian, but then with further probing in the conversation, said they're made with turkey stock. We were surprised when salads arrived since the menu hadn't said our meals came with salads. Apparently they don't, and halfway through the server came back to say that we weren't supposed to get those, they'd been for another table. The wait was crazy long. My dish turned out wonderfully...catfish stuffed with plenty of crab, fresh zucchini that was well seasoned and some baked mac and cheese. It was even garnished attractively. My husband's on the other hand was terrible...the sirloin burger was a pre-manufactured tiny burger cooked grey all the way through on a cheap, plain bun and some disappointing potato salad. I think we'll need evidence of some real changes of getting accustomed to how to run the business smoothly before we'll go back.
The restaurant is huge. There's tons of seating. But there's no sign on the restaurant, months after their opening--just a chalkboard out on the sidewalk. So I hadn't known they'd been open until I read about it online. Apparently not many other people knew either. There were only two other tables of diners the entire time we were there (a loooooong time) and a number of passing pedestrians came by to check out the menu in the window and peer in at the empty place.
Giving them the second star because my meal was very good, so I'm hoping they have the potential to come up and grow into being a good addition to the neighborhood.
