Calistoga

[quote="Mark R] Not that we're untrusting but we are suspicious when the first post from a new member is highly positive for a restaurant that in general the reviews are not glowing for. [/quote]

I don't know who the "we" is but suspicion regarding an egg salad sandwich borders on the pathologic. There have been 3 or 4 threads over the past couple of days where new posters are "called out" because that gave a review or impression that varies from the majority. Guess what....taste varies. I don't care if their brother-in-law busses tables at said restaurant, they groom the owner's dog, or sit together in Sundsay school. This place is about as welcoming as a poke in the eye with a sharp stick at times.

Mark,
Members of this forum have only become suspicious because several times recently we've had a new poster post a very positive review for a restaurant only find out later that they are associated with it. The fact that the post of profile contained no information including location just added to the suspicion as did the fact that she just happened to see someone looking at HotBytes while there. Also it's interesting that the poster questioned about the first case this weekend has not responded to defend herself thus even raising more suspicion. Heck even sometimes posters have been here a long time are even questioned when the defend a restaurant, like I was in a Selena's thread! I don't see any harm in raising the question as long as it's done in a civil manner. Maybe some of us are more suspicious than we should be but we depend on honest opinions to make our dining choices.

It's interesting that on some other thread the person calling the "new" poster out had a total of 11 posts.

One earns respect with time....a new poster's impression may be worth nothing, but I think we ought to give them the benefit of the doubt. The really dubious ones always surface in a relatively obvious way.

Now I am normally not suspicious, but she registered this morning at 8 and posts tonight at 8. maybe something to this................

I had a very nice visit this weekend in Louisville Kentucky. I was in town visiting some business friends for the pre-holiday get togther we always have before our hectic holiday flight schedules take place.
We decided to try this Calistoga concept based upon a recomendation of a friend who works in the area. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. Based upon the pictures on their walls, colorful menu and electronic order boards I knew I was in for a filling sandwich. While I was there I noticed the person sitting next to me had the "Louisville Hot Bytes" website up on their computer. I saw the picture and review of food so I asked him what was the function of the website. He told me it was a place where you could write about and give your reports on restaurants, either good or bad. So I decided to share my story with you.
The second thing I noticed was that there was no waitstaff! I live in a very progressive food city and have noticed that more and more of the local restaurants have done away with waitstaff and have begun focusing on the back of the house and the product that they put out. Is this new to Louisville?
I believe the term is expiditer (spelling?)
I decided to try the Egg Salad sandwich and a coke. Egg Salad in the South is as common as a "Hot Brown" is to Louisville. We are very particular about our egg salad sandwiches so much so deviled eggs get judged as well!
I can tell you that the egg salad sandwich at Calistoga was perfect. Perfectly portioned, cut in half and topped with a fresh tasting and looking piece of leaf lettuce and a fresh slice of tomato. There was no dark tips on the lettuce and there was no tomato core in the tomato. Did someone in the back have my best interest in their hands. I dont thinsk so, I think somone cared about the product they were producing. THE BEST PART OF THE MEAL WAS THE FRESH TASTING EGG SALAD.
Put it all together the bread, lettuce, tomato, egg salad, bag of chips, 2 napkins and a tray liner....... I walked away happy!
For what I paid and what I recieved I will surely visist Calistoga again. I encourage each of you that read this website to try it to and think about what you just ate instead of accepting hearsay!
Remember hearsay is not admisable in a court of law nor should it be on "LOUISVILLE HOT BYTES".

Hope you had a very nice visit to Louisville Phyliss, and thanks for taking the time to participate on the forum. Egg salad is a favorite of mine and I may just have to give them a taste. Hope you contribute more in the future of your culinary adventures here and share some of your towns best kept secret eating spots.

Ed

It's interesting that on some other thread the person calling the "new" poster out had a total of 11 posts.

One earns respect with time....a new poster's impression may be worth nothing, but I think we ought to give them the benefit of the doubt. The really dubious ones always surface in a relatively obvious way.

Mark,
Although it's true that I am not a frequent poster, it's not my first day here either. If the board clock is correct, you've only been here five months longer than me...I just happen to spend more of my time lurking and enjoying the wealth of information here.

Anyone's opinion is welcome to me. I may not agree with it, but that's what makes life interesting. What I don't care for are Public Relations-101 pieces crafted to look like opinions...that's trying to "fix the game." My opinion (for what it's worth) is that if you personally or professionally benefit from the information that is being presented, then full disclosure is in order.

As a serial lurker, I find this to be one of the best run forums that I spend time for a high ratio of reliable, honest opinions and info vs. spam, corporate shilling, and viral marketing junk...I hope it will continue to stay that way.

On another note, I've heard from friends that "very progressive food city" is a wonderful place to visit, as the (insert random foliage here) is absolutely gorgeous this time of year.

Best regards,
Chris

I tried Calistoga with my fiance' the other night. I can't say I was impressed. We generally like Panera Bread, so were hoping this would be similar. The concept is similar, but it can't compare to Panera in quality or value. They are very overpriced. My fiance' and I did the pick 2. We both got the chicken pesto cordon bleu, mine with the loaded potato soup, his with the chili. We ended up spending $21 just for that and a couple of sodas (compare to $16 for essentially the same thing at Panera). The cordon bleu, while it looked appealing enough on the menu, came out with a bread that barely resembled what was pictured. I did enjoy the grilled chicken, but the rest was just dull. There was no flavor at all to the pesto. The loaded potato soup was fairly good- about on par with Panera's, but the chili wasn't anything I'd want to order. My fiance' let me try it, and it was all pretty much just beans, and was overly sweet. There was no spice to it at all. Chili doesn't have to be blazing hot, but it should have SOME spice to it. We ended our meal with a blueberry scone, and a chocolate cookie bar with coconut on top, which came to around $6. The cookie bar looked good- nice and moist, and my fiance enjoyed it. The scone was lackluster. It was about the size of two hands stretched out side by side, and in total, there were 5 blueberries in it. There was no flavor to it at all, and I gave up on it. I won't be back. It was a waste of money. The food was just too bland and overpriced. I'll still with Panera Bread.

Stacey,

Welcome to the Forum! Nicely done negative review- gave me info about WHY you didn't care for it and concrete examples. Thanks!

DEb

Well, just to add more fuel to the fire...Colleen and I had lunch there before we went on vacation and had a similar disappointing experience as well.
We went at the height of lunch time at about 10 past noon and after perusing the menu I got 1/2 a Pressed chicken chipotle sandwich and loaded potato soup while Colleen ordered french onion soup and some sort of forgettable salad and was informed they were out so she ordered chicken noodle. After choosing a seat we waited for our lunch when the person expediting called my name to inform me that they were out of chicken noodle soup. The bells in my head went off immediately wondering how can you be out of two soups at lunch time? I asked what they DID have available and chose tomato basil.
When we received our food I Immediately noticed that the press grill had not been cleaned properly in some time because my grilled sandwich contained lots of black grill "funk" but nothing to suggest chipotle of any sort.
and the temperature of the soups would be described as tepid at best...Needless to say, not worth another visit from us with so many other better dining options around.

I walked away happy!
For what I paid and what I recieved I will surely visist Calistoga again. I encourage each of you that read this website to try it to and think about what you just ate instead of accepting hearsay! Remember hearsay is not admisable in a court of law nor should it be on "LOUISVILLE HOT BYTES".

Phyllis,
Those of us that participate regularly in this forum depend on other posters opinions of restaurants in making our dining choices. We have a camaraderie amongst us and generally trust each other's opinions. It's interesting that you gave the best review of Calistoga by far for your first post and also made the remark about hearsay. Not that we don't believe your post but it would be nice if you would confirm that you have no connection to the restaurant. Also it would be nice to hear your comparison of it to some other local venues since we have no basis for comparisons to where you're from (or even know it since you didn't include it in your profile).

Not that we're untrusting but we are suspicious when the first post from a new member is highly positive for a restaurant that in general the reviews are not glowing for.

Sounds like my suspicions of this poster were correct. There hasn't been a single positive review from any poster since hers nor has she returned to the forum to post again. It's a shame that some restaurants feel they have to plant good feedback here to promote themselves. On the other hand it's certainly a tribute to this forum (and to Robin) that people think it's important to have positive feedback here.

calistoga its the one next to bazo's?

All these bad reviews are disheartening at best. I haven't been in to try Calistoga yet, but I was very excited when they opened. Their building is a beautiful addition to that corridor, definitely improving that corner. It's such a bummer that their food is not on par with their decor. Despite all the bad reviews, I'm sure I'll still meander in there at some point to give it a try.

Re: Mark - I'm not weighing in on whether she was legit or not, but her review did say that she was in town for a short pre-holiday visit. If she's being truthful, she lives elsewhere, so why post again?

Of course, that begs the question, if she doesn't live here, why come to this site and post at all? I haven't been to Calistoga, but I can't imagine any Panera-esq place inspiring me to go online, find the local food forum in a place I visited for a few days, and post a 3 or 4 paragraph review.

I can hardley muster the energy to care one way or the other. I'm sure the place is packed at lunch because that area is so dense in terms of people working in the area.

I think Mark hit the bullseye. It's in the middle of multiple hospitals, and medical offices. And it's fast and clean. I was very excited at first to have more options, but I did find it funny that I had chicken tortilla soup the other day that had not 1 piece of chicken in it.