Say it ain’t so, Doc! Your Cantina disappoints

Exactly the response I expected from Brett Davis. Classy, non-defensive, accepting responsibility and promising to do better. Brett is a class act, and I am sure he will whip this place into shape in no time.

Really? It seems like every post from this guy has been defending their mishaps and screw ups. He nearly calls diners stupid for not understanding refried black beans instead of saying yeah sorry black beans are pasty and thick when you refry them. Because, guess what, black beans ARE pasty and thick and not usually very good as refritos.

Exactly the response I expected from Brett Davis. Classy, non-defensive, accepting responsibility and promising to do better. Brett is a class act, and I am sure he will whip this place into shape in no time.

Really? It seems like every post from this guy has been defending their mishaps and screw ups. He nearly calls diners stupid for not understanding refried black beans instead of saying yeah sorry black beans are pasty and thick when you refry them. Because, guess what, black beans ARE pasty and thick and not usually very good as refritos.

I certainly agree he also seemed quite defensive about why Robin didn't like their Salsa and Guacamole.

I also appreciated the response. I still contend that they probably opened before they were ready with the Derby week on the horizon, then flopped. Given their prior experience, I'll try it, but will wait until mid-summer.

Their menu changes and adjustments remind me a bit of Havana Rumba Express on Bardstown Road. They quickly changed, trying to different menu/service formats before settlng on what they are now, which is basically like their other two locations. They've done well after what was, probably, six months of up and down expecations.

Hope this serves as a wake up call to really start making some changes. Love the locale and see the potential.

Ditto..

Well, it wasn't all bad: "flavorless cilantro" - that sounds like the best cilantro ever!

[Robin Garr]

Well, it wasn't all bad: "flavorless cilantro" - that sounds like the best cilantro ever!

It was intended as a complaint.

Heard from a pretty food-savvy friend who ate at Doc's yesterday. He said he found the food quite good, and the service was fine. Here's hoping things are improving!

[Robin Garr]

Heard from a pretty food-savvy friend who ate at Doc's yesterday. He said he found the food quite good, and the service was fine. Here's hoping things are improving!

Keep us posted, Jeff and everyone. If they do turn the corner, I'll certainly go back.

The place is massive. It's tough to maintain order and consistency in a place so huge. Almost no amount of pre-op training can prepare you for 400 people at once.

I cringed reading this review. They'll figure it out.

I think it would have been more fair if the review was done a few months down the road to let the new restaurant work out the kinks. I usually don't patronize a new restaurant for a few months for this reason. I don't agree with giving a brand new place bad press like this, especially a local when they haven't have time to get their ducks in a row. Just my opinion.

[Robin Garr]

I think it would have been more fair if the review was done a few months down the road to let the new restaurant work out the kinks. I usually don't patronize a new restaurant for a few months for this reason. I don't agree with giving a brand new place bad press like this, especially a local when they haven't have time to get their ducks in a row. Just my opinion.

Here's the deal: I almost always allow a month for duck-organizing. That seems fair. After that, they're fair game. In this case, the negative buzz was so loud that I felt obliged to check it out.

Also, I hope this doesn't sound mean, but although I like a lot of folks in the business locally, I don't review to make them feel good. I review to let the dining public know what's up, as fairly and as honestly as I can. Sadly, the trajectory here was so startling that we really needed an authoritative voice rather than leaving the public discussion to the Yelpers.

I usually don't patronize a new restaurant for a few months for this reason.

This is how local businesses go out of business.

I usually don't patronize a new restaurant for a few months for this reason.

This is how local businesses go out of business.

I support local restaurants by trying to eat at locals as exclusively as I can. I just don't rush to a brand new restaurant when they first open. When I go is obviously up to me.

There was quite a buzz that Doc's was packed. Such a big restaurant, a new concept, being brand new and being packed was a clue to me that things may not be great there yet. Along with feedback from diners that had posted reviews it was common sense that this place wasn't hitting on all cylinders yet.

It was easy enough to figure that out myself before this review. This review hurt the business much more than me waiting for them to work the kinks out. The review wasn't in the CJ which has a much higher circulation and online audience which would have hurt the business even more. I guess they can count their blessings for that.

The restaurant decides when they are ready to open their doors and merit earning the public's money. No one else makes that decision for them. These guys weren't rookies, they know the score. Bad reviews are never good news but at least they know now where they dropped the ball and where they need to improve as oppose to the public simply "staying away in droves" . (Apologies to Mr. Durocher.)

[Robin Garr]

The review wasn't in the CJ which has a much higher circulation and online audience which would have hurt the business even more. I guess they can count their blessings for that.

Actually, that's not true. The CJ used to have that kind of influence, but its shrinking circulation and failing overall interest have pretty much flushed it. Or is this a troll?