Two odd experiences...

I feel that there is sometimes a level of "hip" that is attached to places and people rave about them regardless of the actual experience. I think most of the regulars here manage to avoid that trap, but there are a few local places that I have taken issue with (ahem... North End Cafe) and gotten pummelled on the old forum.

In fact, I'd be a little surprised if my mention of that particular place didn't start a torrent of "I just ate there for the 400th time this week and have never had anything but four star service and food, you need to get your taste buds checked" replies which is why I understand the posters reluctance to name names.

The wonderful thing about food is that you use your senses to experience it and those experiences are different for everyone. One person's Seviche (my favorite) is another person's Cheddar's (ick).

Don't feel bad because you didn't love the restaurant. Go find ones you do and enjoy them frequently, opinions of others be damned!

opinions of others be damned!

Not imposed. Hear ye, hear ye.

there are a few local places that I have taken issue with (ahem... North End Cafe) and gotten pummelled on the old forum.

I LIKE North End Cafe, but I've never had anything there to rave about; and I certainly don't think they serve a better breakfast than Lynn's. Just my opinion, though.

I would like to know where they were and what happened.
How did management handle the concerns.

Was there a food fight? Were the dishwashers smoking dope out by the dumpster? Were there two servers having a lovers spat in the dining room?

Were the line cooks singing the X rated version of lemon tree?

Just curious, stranger things have happened.

[Robin Garr]

... there are a few local places that I have taken issue with (ahem... North End Cafe) and gotten pummelled on the old forum.

In fact, I'd be a little surprised if my mention of that particular place didn't start a torrent of "I just ate there for the 400th time this week and have never had anything but four star service and food, you need to get your taste buds checked" replies which is why I understand the posters reluctance to name names.

Chris, stand by for a pummeling!

No, seriously, though, I'm a little puzzled because pummeling is not our style. It's certainly true that if someone posts a negative review of a popular place, discussion will ensue. But I went back to the old forum, found the thread that I think you're talking about, and reviewed it carefully. It seems that some of us said, "Huh, a shame you had such a bad meal, maybe you caught them on an off night," and others said, "Yeah, North End has a real consistency problem." I couldn't find any posts that questioned your taste buds or that treated you impolitely in any way.

Maybe there was another thread? Here's a link to the one I'm talking about, and it seems to me that the thread shows the forum at its best:

Disappointed for the first time... Chris M, 28-Mar-2005 19:18

Am I missing something here? Was there <i>another</i> North End thread in which you were more roughly handled? Pummeling is commonplace on a lot of Internet forums, but I try to discourage it on the ones I administer.

I would like to know where they were and what happened.
How did management handle the concerns.

Was there a food fight? Were the dishwashers smoking dope out by the dumpster? Were there two servers having a lovers spat in the dining room?

Were the line cooks singing the X rated version of lemon tree?

Just curious, stranger things have happened.

LOL!!! I WISH! At least humor would have been involved...First off I wish for everyone who has commented to understand that my reluctance to post the actual incidents has nothing what-so-ever to do with what anyone here might say, good gosh, the comments on this forum are what keeps me reading this everyday!!! It's my soap opera, if you will. No, my reason was to unnecessarily post negative comments about popular restaurants out of respect for the small business owner. On the other hand, in neither incidence did I actually see the owner or the manager. This post will be quite long if I try to tell both stories at once, so it shall come in the installment version (my boss really likes it when I actaully get some work accomplished during the day...) First story will likely be written at lunch - join us then to find out the first of who did what to who when and why!

north end can be really good, but is inconsistent as hell...it's rarely great...and I'm the one who's always defending the establishment!

(the new black bean cake salad is the bomb tho!)

I thought the food ayt North End was excellent and innovative in the beginning and then slowly became more pedestrian and less exciting. In that first year or so, the multitude of small plates of very tasty and varied dishes made for a fun dining experience.

I feel that there is sometimes a level of "hip" that is attached to places and people rave about them regardless of the actual experience. I think most of the regulars here manage to avoid that trap, but there are a few local places that I have taken issue with (ahem... North End Cafe) and gotten pummelled on the old forum.

In fact, I'd be a little surprised if my mention of that particular place didn't start a torrent of "I just ate there for the 400th time this week and have never had anything but four star service and food, you need to get your taste buds checked" replies which is why I understand the posters reluctance to name names.

The wonderful thing about food is that you use your senses to experience it and those experiences are different for everyone. One person's Seviche (my favorite) is another person's Cheddar's (ick).

Don't feel bad because you didn't love the restaurant. Go find ones you do and enjoy them frequently, opinions of others be damned!

North End is like cocaine, it's best the first time and then gets worse as it goes along. My problem with North End is the service. I have had some of the worst service in the city there.

... there are a few local places that I have taken issue with (ahem... North End Cafe) and gotten pummelled on the old forum.

In fact, I'd be a little surprised if my mention of that particular place didn't start a torrent of "I just ate there for the 400th time this week and have never had anything but four star service and food, you need to get your taste buds checked" replies which is why I understand the posters reluctance to name names.

Chris, stand by for a pummeling!

No, seriously, though, I'm a little puzzled because pummeling is not our style. It's certainly true that if someone posts a negative review of a popular place, discussion will ensue. But I went back to the old forum, found the thread that I think you're talking about, and reviewed it carefully. It seems that some of us said, "Huh, a shame you had such a bad meal, maybe you caught them on an off night," and others said, "Yeah, North End has a real consistency problem." I couldn't find any posts that questioned your taste buds or that treated you impolitely in any way.

Maybe there was another thread? Here's a link to the one I'm talking about, and it seems to me that the thread shows the forum at its best:

Disappointed for the first time... Chris M, 28-Mar-2005 19:18

Am I missing something here? Was there <i>another</i> North End thread in which you were more roughly handled? Pummeling is commonplace on a lot of Internet forums, but I try to discourage it on the ones I administer.

Well Robin, by pummeled I didn't necessarily mean it HAD to get ugly, just an overwhelming display of opposite opinions. I"ve seen it get ugly before, and personal.

Like here...

http://www.myspeakerscorner.com/forum/index.phtml?fn=66&tid=68274&mid=585200

I wasn't trying to offend anyone with my comment, just support the posters decision to not name names.

And yes Robin, you generally do a good job of policeing things, as is shown by the thread I linked above.

Oh Paul So....i miss that guy

im still dying to know about these bad experiences...

Me too! I keep checking in to see if Carolyne has written the full story yet.

I'm nervous!

I am on the edge of my seat about these places. It could be any two places. She says they are expensive and raved about. Well, I don't know what is expensive to her and a lot of restaurants are raved about. Logic says that it's easy and should be deduced to about 6 restaurants. Like Seviche, Vincenzo's, 610, Oakroom, Le Relais, and Equus. I think those would be expensive enough and well talked about enough to be considered.