'town

[simms3]

Tried 'town for the first time this weekend.  I was very very disappointed.  I tried the "Mkt Fish" dish, which happened to be red snapper.  Fresh fish prepared well is my favorite ideal food, and I do consider myself a seafood connoissuer.  Don't ask the price because I don't know, but it could not have been that much and frankly should have been comped.

Instead of red snapper, out came salmon over a bed of 'some' spinach, some asparagus, and a ton of mushrooms.  I kindly asked the waiter if it was salmon before I took a bite (it was really really obviously salmon...smelled like salmon, same consistency, and that fake pink farm raised salmon color).  I basically gave him an out to take it back without the dish being ruined (thought maybe someone else ordered salmon and it was a mixup).  He flat out told me that red snapper that they had was actually very red and that he had never seen it before.  I told him that it looked strikingly like salmon and even had a salmon smell, and he replied that he had seen salmon that appeared white before and that he was often surprised by the color of the meat of fish.  At that point I just wanted to eat, but I'll never go back.  My parents' dishes were alright, but nothing spectacular, and for supposedly being a local produce originated restaurant I could not discern where any of the food came from (the salmon was definitely frozen, cheap, and farm raised).

I topped off the meal with coffee, and maybe I just had a sour taste in my mouth from the restaurant, but the coffee wasn't even that good.  Dessert for $7?  Nah, we went home for homemade Swedish torte cake which was probably better than any of the rather plain desserts on the menu.

Another thing to note: we know Benham Purcell.  She is a very nice, entrepreneurial girl, and we thought since she owned the building and all that 'town was her operation, too.  I thought maybe she just had some investors.  Our waiter told us that Benham had nothing to do with 'town, which dispelled everything I thought about that restaurant, so now I really have no reason to go back if it isn't even related to someone I know.  I got on the Duval Assessor's site, but it is not working so I could not look up the owner (and no more subscription to Realquest ).

Bottom line:
-bad service
-mediocre food
-felt...odd?
-doesn't live up to its purported organic, local reputation

[ChriswUfGator]

Tried 'town for the first time this weekend.  I was very very disappointed.  I tried the "Mkt Fish" dish, which happened to be red snapper.  Fresh fish prepared well is my favorite ideal food, and I do consider myself a seafood connoissuer.  Don't ask the price because I don't know, but it could not have been that much and frankly should have been comped.

Instead of red snapper, out came salmon over a bed of 'some' spinach, some asparagus, and a ton of mushrooms.  I kindly asked the waiter if it was salmon before I took a bite (it was really really obviously salmon...smelled like salmon, same consistency, and that fake pink farm raised salmon color).  I basically gave him an out to take it back without the dish being ruined (thought maybe someone else ordered salmon and it was a mixup).  He flat out told me that red snapper that they had was actually very red and that he had never seen it before.  I told him that it looked strikingly like salmon and even had a salmon smell, and he replied that he had seen salmon that appeared white before and that he was often surprised by the color of the meat of fish.  At that point I just wanted to eat, but I'll never go back.  My parents' dishes were alright, but nothing spectacular, and for supposedly being a local produce originated restaurant I could not discern where any of the food came from (the salmon was definitely frozen, cheap, and farm raised).

I topped off the meal with coffee, and maybe I just had a sour taste in my mouth from the restaurant, but the coffee wasn't even that good.  Dessert for $7?  Nah, we went home for homemade Swedish torte cake which was probably better than any of the rather plain desserts on the menu.

Another thing to note: we know Benham Purcell.  She is a very nice, entrepreneurial girl, and we thought since she owned the building and all that 'town was her operation, too.  I thought maybe she just had some investors.  Our waiter told us that Benham had nothing to do with 'town, which dispelled everything I thought about that restaurant, so now I really have no reason to go back if it isn't even related to someone I know.  I got on the Duval Assessor's site, but it is not working so I could not look up the owner (and no more subscription to Realquest ).

Bottom line:
-bad service
-mediocre food
-felt...odd?
-doesn't live up to its purported organic, local reputation

Tell me about it Simms! I spent 3 pages with everyone was arguing with me how great this place is. I don't friggin' get it. Some of the best places have gone out of business, and people are raving about this overpriced middle-of-the-road place and it's honestly just not that good. It's perplexing. I guess that leads me back to my ever-present suspicion when it comes to discussing restaurants online, that half the discussion winds up being the owner/manager/friends/employees/etc shilling for the place.

Anyway, as a minor side note, I have to say this is your 3rd or 4th post in the last day or two that summed up my thoughts on something better than I could. I guess you and me have come a long way.

[simms3]

Haha, I suppose

[mtraininjax]

If you don't like it, head on down to Applebee's and Outback and live in chain central. Apparently a few others and I are the only ones keeping 'town alive. The food is great, service is fantastic and Patrick is a great manager.

[simms3]

Heh, just because a restaurant is independent does not mean that restaurant is any good.  I returned to mention something positive that I had just remembered about the restaurant, but your comment made me snicker a little.  BTW, there are some chains that are very successful because they are very good (and serve up what the people want...part and parcel of a successful restaurant).

I just remembered that 'town had these little tater tots that were to die for.  They were the only "really good" thing about my otherwise disappointing dish and phenominally deceitful service (I ordered snapper, out came salmon, and the waiter tried to tell me it was really snapper...I mean I have never seen anything as pitiful at a restaurant...and I'm a nice customer...I didn't send it back, though I gave him the opportunity to take it back).

The tots were creative...they weren't like what you would think of when you order tater tots and I wish my whole meal consisted of them rather than the wrong piece of crappy fish over a bowl of mushrooms from God knows where (supposedly from around town but you would never know).

[ChriswUfGator]

If you don't like it, head on down to Applebee's and Outback and live in chain central. Apparently a few others and I are the only ones keeping 'town alive. The food is great, service is fantastic and Patrick is a great manager.

Oh gimme a break, I don't eat at Applebees. And that doesn't make 'town a good restaurant.

If I want decent food and service for 1/2 the price, and with none of the attitude, I go to Orsay. We have already hashed out what's wrong with 'town during the last 3 pages, so I won't slog through it again. It's more bullet points than I care to make anyway. If you think it's wonderful, then by all means continue dropping $200 for a thimbleful of mediocre food and wine off the bottom shelf at TotalWine. I guess somehow someone could probably spin that as "buying locally."

Frankly, the whole vibe surrounding 'town reminds me of Bungalow on Park. The product isn't far off either.

[mtraininjax]

Bungalow has been closed for over a year. Next thing we'll hear how you detested Preservation on the curve as well. Every restaurant has bumps in the beginning, every one of them. But the good ones persevere and make it through with the support of the local folks. Surely all the dishes, exluding the beloved Tater Tots, cannot be bad. Next time you get something from 'town that is not what you ordered, ask Patrick, the manager, he'll make it right. The owners of Orsay eat at 'town on a regular basis, they love it. Ask Crystal next time you are in Orsay, she and Brian enjoy 'town.

I can drop 200 bucks anywhere for dinner, but sometimes less is more. 'town is a winner, even if the cuisine does not sit well in your pallet.

[BridgeTroll]

Heh, just because a restaurant is independent does not mean that restaurant is any good.  I returned to mention something positive that I had just remembered about the restaurant, but your comment made me snicker a little.  BTW, there are some chains that are very successful because they are very good (and serve up what the people want...part and parcel of a successful restaurant).

I just remembered that 'town had these little tater tots that were to die for.  They were the only "really good" thing about my otherwise disappointing dish and phenominally deceitful service (I ordered snapper, out came salmon, and the waiter tried to tell me it was really snapper...I mean I have never seen anything as pitiful at a restaurant...and I'm a nice customer...I didn't send it back, though I gave him the opportunity to take it back).

The tots were creative...they weren't like what you would think of when you order tater tots and I wish my whole meal consisted of them rather than the wrong piece of crappy fish over a bowl of mushrooms from God knows where (supposedly from around town but you would never know).

If I had the same experience as yourself... my assesment would have been the same as yours.  I have eaten at 'town three times and have had a good experience every time... same with Orsay.

[ChriswUfGator]

Bungalow has been closed for over a year. Next thing we'll hear how you detested Preservation on the curve as well. Every restaurant has bumps in the beginning, every one of them. But the good ones persevere and make it through with the support of the local folks. Surely all the dishes, exluding the beloved Tater Tots, cannot be bad. Next time you get something from 'town that is not what you ordered, ask Patrick, the manager, he'll make it right. The owners of Orsay eat at 'town on a regular basis, they love it. Ask Crystal next time you are in Orsay, she and Brian enjoy 'town.

I can drop 200 bucks anywhere for dinner, but sometimes less is more. 'town is a winner, even if the cuisine does not sit well in your pallet.

First off, Jonathan owns Orsay. Secondly, about 'town, if I were getting the industry discount it wouldn't feel like I'm not getting what I'm paying for, so naturally restaurant employees will have a different (and usually more forgiving) take on things than those of us paying full freight and expecting a commensurate experience. And at 'town, not getting it. Look, everyone is entitled to their opinion, including me. Just saying, this place is not high on my list.

And since you mentioned it, Preservation Chophouse did suck donkey balls. I gave that place like 10 second chances, because I wanted to like a neighborhood steakhouse (we don't have another one in Riverside) but it was just never any good. They couldn't prepare a steak properly, ever. And that smoked salmon and herb-infused cream cheese Napoleon appetizer sticks out in my memory to this day as the most disgusting thing I've ever eaten. Who came up with that awful idea? What a terrible combination of flavors. Always limp asparagus, watery cocktails, and consistently horrendous service. So let me guess, naturally you must have loved the place? Considering it closed within 4 months of opening, I really must have been off-base and the only one who didn't like it?

And I brought up the comparison to Bungalow on Park because there are quite a few similarities to 'town, especially with making claims that their food is local and organic. I don't consider Sysco salmon local or organic. People can tell the difference you know. If the place is such a winner, why the need to falsely hype it like that? If it were that good, the product would stand on its own. I don't see L'Espalier or Graycliff making such claims, though if they did they would actually be true. Their product simply speaks for itself. This shouldn't be acceptable just because it's Jacksonville.

[simms3]

Well I totally agree with Chris once again that Preservation was doomed to fail and I had a similar desire to see it succeed (Everyone did...people went just to support).  Having the kitchen upstairs with the wait staff walking plates down a flight was mistake number one (and a difficult mistake to avoid I imagine).  Haven't been to Ruan, but perhaps that building isn't the best building to hold a restaurant?

[mtraininjax]

Ruan is great, people should get out and experience Jacksonville. Jon and Black Sheep own the building, but the restaurant has multiple owners, pretty sure Crystal and Brian have a piece of it as well. Regardless, I've seen Jon at 'town as well. Restaurant trade discount or not, cash is cash, and if the product was as bad as you say it is, no one would go. It has a great location, great bar, and it is getting its liquor license, so I doubt it is going away anytime soon.