Lost Frontier - Thorntown

Our table of three went last night to celebrate a birthday. Off the bat there was concern because absolutely no measures were being taken into consideration regarding COVID 19. It was still open seating/seat yourself and all tables were available to use. Because the front room had two tables already seated and three dirty tables we sat in the back room. After waiting five minutes, we again told the server we were back there, got our own menus (still the plastic sleeved, reusable menus, uncleaned) and silverware. After another five minutes the server came to take our food and beverage order. We had went on a Saturday specifically for the prime rib dinner, however it was unavailable so we all ordered the ribeye dinner. It took more than ten minutes for two beers and one soda to be delivered to the table. We waited more than thirty minutes for food to arrive to our table. When it did arrive we had never received our salads. The table next to us had waited twenty minutes for an appetizer of mushrooms that arrived cold, without dipping sauce, plates, or even napkins. The ribeye dinner is to come with a baked potato; ours came with a potato cut in half NOT BAKED. A nearly raw potato! I went back towards the kitchen to ask for the manager, at which time I was told by the staff of three that no manager existed. They stated that there was no one in charge, therefore they were all in charge. I explained to the one acting as server that he need not make or bring our salads, as I watched him take cash for a pizza order and immediately touch lettuce. No hand washing, no gloves. At that point hygiene standards had been called into question far too many times for my liking. I again asked for the manager. One cook informed me that his number was available in the front room, I could take a picture of it and call him. Yet, none of the three were able to provide the name or number of a manager or owner. One cook informed me I could just leave. Of the three teen to twenty somethings working, all were incredibly rude and again had no standards for food handling no gloves, no hair coverings, and poor attitudes. We left having not eaten and informed them since the food was not cooked, that we wouldn't be paying. As we left the table of 7 that had the cold appetizers left because they had watched their food set in the window for twenty minutes and also witnessed the handling of money and food with no hand washing or gloves. The table of 9 in the back room also left without having their food served. There has been a line of guests waiting on carry out orders, which after witnessing the hygiene standards left without food. The table in the front room had left after having drinks and never receiving food. What could have been a profitable night for the Lost Frontier surely cost the budget for the evening, and more so ensured that those that visited last night will not be returning.

I really try not to give restaurants 1 star as there is usually at least one positive part of the experience. However, when an owner is bragging about new management and asking the community to give them a try and my experience is this bad, I think 1 star is warranted. Please note that in the Yelp message from the owner it mentions a suggestion box WITHIN the restaurant as a means for communication. I would have loved to give the owners an opportunity to respond to my poor experience before writing a review, but my meal was Carry out and I live 20 minutes from the establishment. It doesn 't appear they wish to hear from customers as they don 't even have the message feature enabled on their FB page just the suggestion box. So, to my experience... pretty simple really. The food was inedible. Husband and I both ordered breaded tenderloins (which come with fries) and according to the menu a pickle, but there were no pickles. Husband also chose to try the onion rings. To start, the portions of fries were not much more than 2 oz. Onion rings, on the other hand filled a large square styro container. But... they were interspersed with fries no care at all for presentation. So why was the food inedible? Grease. Lots and lots and lots of it. The fries were saturated, the breading on the tenderloins was saturated, the onion rings were saturated. I 've attached photos. I attempted to blot enough grease out of the tenderloin (see photo of paper towel the second one used, by the way) to attempt to eat it, but the meat was tough and chewy so it was a wasted effort. 4 bites and I called it quits. As far as trying the fries.. look at the photo. Didn 't happen. I did attempt the onion rings and took one bite. If you could get past the grease there was no flavor or seasoning. They were not accompanied by any sauce that might have made up for that, either. Note the glistening of the grease on the tenderloin in the photo this was AFTER I blotted it and it sat a few more minutes while I attempted to eat the other half. Bottom line, there is no way a cook wouldn 't see how greasy the food was (clearly the fryer temp was too low) nor notice all the fries in the O rings. Quality is not a priority at the new Lost Frontier and apparently the owners have no desire to have you speak directly to them.

A+ food for thorntown! Nice to have as a local option instead of having to drive to Lebanon!

We love the food and the service here! We r new in town, though we grew up here! Love the steaks and the huge baked potatoes!!! Tenderloins yum!!!!

Burgers are always good, grilled tenderloin is great. Sub sandwiches are worth a try too, and the Pizza King pizza is awesome! Wife likes their salad, fish sandwich and chicken salad sandwich! Eat there practically every Friday evening in the summer since we camp just outside of town! Staff is always great also!