Cause we all need a lil' controversy

I had told some friends that I would shoot the next person that tried this whole 'drama-as-entertainment' thing.

Guess what? It works the opposite of what one would think- it damages readership. People get ticked and stop coming here...

With all of the experts tossing around ideas, nobody wants to post thier ideas- it inhibits creativity.

I've grown as a person on this one- and have realized this to be true: 'All that' kills this place, promise.

1. I've always rated Wicks as "well-made pizza tuned to teen-age taste buds."

2. Joe's was controversial from the start because the city reached out to a bland franchise when it first began the Riverfront development.

3. Initially Molly's was splendid and gave the Rover some real competition, but it seems that Molly's somewhere along the way decided to put its emphasis more on drink than on food.

1. Robin hit it: appeals to teens. One's tase for pizza, like bbq and several other dishes, is developed early; in other words, people who were brought up on Chicago deep dish will always like it, while those brought up on NY folded slices will never understand. Similarly, those brought up on cheap Wick's pizzas with lots of "stuff" on them and loud rock in the background will always feel that is the best. Such is the way of the world.

2. Joe's (yes, I have been there) is very very similar to Red Lobster in terms of menu and food and pricing. True, it's pitched to the masses, but depending on what you order it's not as overpriced as all those who haven't eaten there are claiming. If you really like 30 bland shrimp, a half-pound of smallish tasteless crab legs, and steamed bay scallops for around $22 it can be wonderful! I don't go there, but I don't go to Red Lobster either (and a LOT of people go to both). One thing those who love Joe's and Red Lobster have in common: they don't frequent this board!

3. Others have commented on Molly's better than I could.

I don't think there's much controversial about this thread. In fact it's pretty much milk toast. And yes many of the colorful personalities have flown off for a variety of reasons for which I'm not privy.

It's ironic that Kingfish had a presence on the river at 6th and River Road forever but during the rehabilitation of the waterfront they installed Joe's. Never been - can't imagine I ever would.

I think designer cupcakes are overpriced nonsense. There, I said it.

This translates into information, but is getting a bit boring.

Stop we when I'm lyin.

Nah, I wouldn't think of it. Meanwhile, here's a link to some truth-telling.

http://louisvillebeer.com/blog/2012/06/01/domestic-yes-and-no/

Dude...That reads like one of Shane's novels. If somewhere in that article I was named as the Defendent in a lawsuit, just say so and I'll go back and read the whole thing. Otherwise, I'm a busy man...Write me a one paragraph summary and have it on my desk first thing Monday morning.

My 2 cents...
1. Wicks Pizza...ehh ok nothing to get excited about, would stop when they had a location out Dixie...think it is closed , not sure
2. Joes Crab Shack ...ate there a time or 2 when they first opened, have not been back...much better fish at the little bar on Flintlock off Dixie
3 Molly Malones...again used to love this place but even at first never thought it was quite as good as the Rover....still my pick for that stretch of Bardstown Rd has to be O'Sheas...love their Rueben

and on Jerry vs Greg I vote Greg ...well really I don't cause I live in Bullitt Co but you get it.

Chick-fil-A.

That's how you get the natives stirred up. If they actually served Bud Lite, HotBytes would hit Defcon 1! Only cockroaches would be left.

Dude...That reads like one of Shane's novels. If somewhere in that article I was named as the Defendent in a lawsuit, just say so and I'll go back and read the whole thing. Otherwise, I'm a busy man...Write me a one paragraph summary and have it on my desk first thing Monday morning.

I'll let John Steinbeck do it, and in a sentence:

“Learning to read is probably the most difficult and revolutionary thing that happens to the human brain and if you don't believe that, watch an illiterate adult try to do it.”

(Steinbeck was a writer)

and on Jerry vs Greg I vote Greg ...well really I don't cause I live in Bullitt Co but you get it.

You want him? We'll be more than glad to send him out to you!

(Steinbeck was a writer)

Yes...and a very long winded one as I recall. He must be one of your favorites.

Yes...and a very long winded one as I recall. He must be one of your favorites.

Naw, my fave is The Bibliophobe's Bazooka Joe Pocket Tolstoy, reviewed here:

http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist ... phobia.htm

Come to think of it, maybe the problem is not fear of books, but fear of length.

So, let the counterattacks begin, but would love to hear some others call out places that seem to have undue reverence.

I'll "byte"... though I don't usually like to pan the local businesses. I must say two of your three mentions, Molly's and Joe's, I wouldn't consider to have undue reverence on the food front.

Papalinos--Seems like people either love or hate this place. The pizza is a little too sugary and/or acidic for me.

Seviche--Worst restaurant experience I have had in Louisville. Perhaps the service quality on the day we went was a fluke, but they were grossly understaffed. We ordered all of the seviche on the menu and found it good but unremarkable. For the $$ I expected more, especially on the service side.

Cumberland--I like the cask beers, but a high % of the everyday drafts seem to have a metallic taste to them.


...to end on a positive note: None of these places seem to be hurting for business!

Paul I'm really sorry to hear that! Did you talk to any of my Managers? I never heard anything about this. At any rate, we definitely failed on your experience. Please allow me to have you in on us. We are better then that experience! Please try us again and let me make it a better experience. if you make a reservation, let them know I invited you in to make up for such a horrible experience. I'll look into the service issues.

Sincerely
Anthony Lamas

Ok, here's a reason Wicks is a go to for me...I work downtown and occasionally am charged to buy pizza for the group I work with. I purposely avoid Papa Johns/Dominos/Pizza Hut and try and support local. I called Papalino's pizza for delivery last week (Wednesday) and when I got to the drink order I got a "sorry dude, we don't have but three diet coke cans left". Seriously? I'm trying to place a $150 pizza order and you can't cross the street to Walgreens, buy a couple six packs of Diet Coke and upcharge us? Nope, sorry for your luck. So I cancel that and call Wicks. As usual they seemed to have no problem with the large order, and as always were on time and the order was correct. Is their pizza the best? No, it's better than the chains, but sometimes it comes down to service over savor...

My two cents, from a degraded book reader's perspective:

Wick's is the odd one out on this short list. It is locally owned, and isn't so much over-rated as sometimes held to a standard it isn't trying to attain. Wick's knows what it is, and what it wants to do. Wick's does it quite well. I find that perfectly acceptable.

When Wick's came to downtown New Albany, I was reminded that yes, there are pizzas I personally like better; to each his or her own. But Wick's is good value, the service there is solid, and there's an energetic vibe. Does it appeal to a more youthful clientele, especially later in the evening? Of course. Not my cup of saison, but not a problem, either, because it brings an up-and-coming demographic into downtown, rather than see it lost to the plasticized chain-land on Veterans Parkway.

Wick's has been a great addition to downtown New Albany, and just as great a customer for our NABC beers. As for Joe's Crab Shack, it is an entirely unnecessary cookie-cutter concept -- and when it comes to Irish pubs, I'm an Irish Rover loyalist and always will be.

Come to think of it, maybe the problem is not fear of books, but fear of length.