Based on the dinner crowd last night at Wheatgrass Seafood and Steaks, people are excited to participate in Cheyenne Restaurant Week. Unfortunately, the promotion also exposes one of the biggest weaknesses in the Capital City's fledgling dining scene.

The recently re-branded restaurant inside the Historic Plains Hotel was packed last night. According to the manager, they had "four times" as many customers than they expected. And it showed.

Rick Roddam, Townsquare Media
Rick Roddam, Townsquare Media
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While the Restaurant Week deal, which featured two four-course meals for $30, was outstanding, the waitstaff struggled to keep up. Several times, I witnessed servers running to and from the kitchen to manage the hungry crowd.

Their effort notwithstanding, the Wheatgrass, and many other local restaurants, just aren't ready for an event like Restaurant Week. Unlike Fort Collins and Laramie, Cheyenne doesn't have a pool of young college students willing to wait tables or work in a kitchen.

The manager confided that they've had difficulty recruiting employees, claiming that a recent Craigslist ad only brought in one qualified candidate. In a business where first impressions matter, many customers, some of whom waited nearly an hour for their entrees, won't be back to give them a second chance.

Coconut Shrimp was one of several appetizer options on their Cheyenne Restaurant Week Menu.
Coconut Shrimp was one of several appetizer options on their Cheyenne Restaurant Week Menu.
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Although the portions were excellent, the food was just okay. Maybe on another night, when the staff wasn't scrambling to serve nearly 100 customers, it may have been better.

Still, I wonder if a restaurant that specializes in seafood is the best concept for the Plains Hotel. Tourists coming to Cheyenne want to experience a taste of the old west. A menu featuring elk, bison, venison, locally sourced walleye, pitchfork fondue and even rocky mountain oysters would probably fare better during the summer months.

Lemon Chicken was one of several Restaurant Week entree choices
Lemon Chicken was one of several Restaurant Week entree choices
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Hopefully, they'll turn it into a success. You won't find a better venue anywhere in Cheyenne. In the meantime, if you know someone looking for a job in the restaurant industry, Wheatgrass could definitely use the help.

Desert was the best part of the menu. Both the tiramusu and bread pudding were excellent.
Desert was the best course. Both the tiramusu and bread pudding were excellent.
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Cheyenne Restaurant Week continues through Saturday at 14 local eateries. My next stop is dinner tonight at the Morris House Bistro. Maybe I'll see you there. Bon Appetit.

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