'town
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Dining/Vicarious-Farmers-Markets/freshfoodbanner/910297712_XTKqK-O.jpg)
Gastronomist and happy Riverside resident, Cari Sanchez-Potter takes MetroJacksonville's readers to the newest spot on the Avondale Lineup. Join her as she parses and peruses the selection of a seriously well designed brunch menu and reviews the dining selections.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jul-town
Mmmm... THIS I gotta try!
wow...Incredible review! May have to go to 'town this weekend!
Quotewe are far, far behind other cities
This should be on the Seal of the City of Jacksonville.
'town sounds great, can't wait to try it.
I love her reviews, but not sure what to make of this restaurant. Their food is bizarre and the prices are nuts....
I really do not get the complaints about price. If you get the 3 for $33 you will have plenty to eat and when I go to a place like Orsay or Aix I always spend more than that for an entree and 1 other item. It may not be cheap, but price is not a reason to complain about this place.
And the duck confit was very, very tasty!
Quote from: SPR Nole on July 05, 2010, 09:29:58 PM
I really do not get the complaints about price. If you get the 3 for $33 you will have plenty to eat and when I go to a place like Orsay or Aix I always spend more than that for an entree and 1 other item. It may not be cheap, but price is not a reason to complain about this place.
And the duck confit was very, very tasty!
What do you mean you don't get the complaint about price? Nobody goes to a high-end restaurant to order a super-cheap special with a side of nothing and an ice-water. That defeats the whole point of going! In the real world everybody is generally going to have an app, an entree, and some kind of cocktail(s) and/or wine.
So understanding that's the case, then the reality is that this place is pricey for what's delivered.
i have to disagree, chris. i've been there several times now. for about $40-45 i get two glasses of wine and more food than i can eat. the meal is excellent, the staff is great and it's a beautiful restaurant. if you want cheaper, you have to be willing to eat lower quality food in a lower quality setting.
Quote from: konstantconsumer on July 06, 2010, 02:41:55 PM
if you want cheaper, you have to be willing to eat lower quality food in a lower quality setting.
Now that is a crock of shit.
Quote from: konstantconsumer on July 06, 2010, 02:41:55 PM
i have to disagree, chris. i've been there several times now. for about $40-45 i get two glasses of wine and more food than i can eat. the meal is excellent, the staff is great and it's a beautiful restaurant. if you want cheaper, you have to be willing to eat lower quality food in a lower quality setting.
Well, again, let's be realistic here. That's $45 for ONE PERSON, which is actually pretty outrageous for this particular product. That comes out to roughly $60 a head, after you include tax and tip. But then you have to figure most people have a spouse, or a date, or kids, etc. etc. I don't think most folks don't go out to a nice restaurant to sit all by themselves.
So even by your own figures, a simple dinner for 2 adds up to the very same $100-$150 price point that everybody has observed with this place. That's pretty pricey. I also disagree that if I want lower prices I have to tolerate a crappy setting and bad food. That's not true.
As a case in point, IMHO, this place is really trying to channel/copy BBs vibe and style, but BBs has much better food at 1/2 the price. Orsay is also better and costs less. Ruth's Chris is, while admittedly a different type of dining, also better and costs about the same. There's a pretty long list of better places for less, actually.
Hell, some of the best meals I've had in this city were at dinner get-togethers where Stephen Dare happened to be attending and cooking, and then I didn't have to go to any restaurant at all. That guy knows his way around a kitchen. And I still can't get used to watching people buy shoes 10ft away from where I'm supposed to be eating. At least it sets you up for a great line if the meat's tough..."miss...sorry, but I think this was supposed to go to the other side" LMAO
My Wife, daughter and myself had the pleasure of dining at 'town Saturday night. In a word... Awesome! We were seated by Patrick (Manager) at the counter with a great view of the Head Chef... Scott, and his staff prepare and plate the food. I enjoyed watching them in action and conversing with the chefs. The food is great... the staff is great... the vibe is great. I will certainly return and recommend all to give 'town a try. I think you will enjoy!
Thank you Patrick and Scott! You have a great staff!
i'm glad someone else has enjoyed it, bridgetroll. it's my favorite place to eat now!
My wife and I went for the first time and dined with another couple. We all had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed every one of the dishes. We all split a couple of the 3 for $33 prix fixe plus a cheese selection and it was the perfect amount of food. $70-75 for four is not a bad price. If it hadn't been for the 2 bottles of wine plus a few beers (the Abita was quite tasty;), our total tab would have actually been quite reasonable. Town uses all quality, fresh and local ingredients and that is what we need more of in this town. It was the perfect amount of food and, as much as I like leftovers, it was refreshing not to have so much food on our plates that we HAD to take it home. Since their approach to fresh and local ingredients is very green, I'm assuming that they also offer biodegradable to-go boxes like E St does now.
Quote from: floridaforester on July 12, 2010, 10:58:24 PM
If it hadn't been for the 2 bottles of wine plus a few beers (the Abita was quite tasty;), our total tab would have actually been quite reasonable.
Most folks have cocktails, beer, or wine with a nice dinner, so excluding that from the total price is kind of like saying "
if I hadn't ordered an entree, then the total tab would have been reasonable." And speaking of that, your party only ordered 2 entree menu items and a cheese plate and then split that among 4 people. Even after you excluded the drinks, tax, and tip, your bill was still $75.00 for what really amounted to just the food in a dinner for 2.
I still think this place is mega-overpriced...
It's funny how different perspectives can be. I find the place to be a steal.
Let's do the math - without Brian's help on this one.
From the Grocery Store (assuming that the fridge is empty and I'm feeding 2):
(2) 10 oz. tenderloin - $18
(1) bunch asapragus - $5
(1/2) lb. red potatoes - $2
(2) btls decent wine - $40
(1) bag charcoal - $8
(1) btl lighter fluid - $5
(1) pk salt & pepper - $2
(1) btl olive oil - $6
(2) hrs of my time (varies from person to person) - $130
Total for me to cook steaks at home - $216 (before tax & tip)(doesn't include washing any dishes)
I think that I'll take my chances with an 'EXPENSIVE' restaurant @ $120 for 2 people.
You see what you want to see.
@non-redneck
You can do better than $20/bottle for incredible wine. You can get phenomenal Argentine malbecs for under $10 and I know a great Chilean merlot that drinks like a cab for under $12 as well. Bonus for not having to drink typical new world, fruit forward wine. *yawn* I like Cali/Oregon wines, but they've gotten boring and overpriced. South America is where it's at....
Oh, and your labor costs @ $65/hr to cook are too high. You're fired. LOL
Love me some 'town...maybe tonight.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on July 14, 2010, 12:28:28 PM
Let's do the math - without Brian's help on this one.
From the Grocery Store (assuming that the fridge is empty and I'm feeding 2):
(2) 10 oz. tenderloin - $18
(1) bunch asapragus - $5
(1/2) lb. red potatoes - $2
(2) btls decent wine - $40
(1) bag charcoal - $8
(1) btl lighter fluid - $5
(1) pk salt & pepper - $2
(1) btl olive oil - $6
(2) hrs of my time (varies from person to person) - $130
Total for me to cook steaks at home - $216 (before tax & tip)(doesn't include washing any dishes)
I think that I'll take my chances with an 'EXPENSIVE' restaurant @ $120 for 2 people.
You see what you want to see.
Your math's off.
I get a flat of 4 or 5 1.5lb T-bones from Costco for a smidge over $20, and the other problem with your post is that with the exception of the meat and asparagus you'll never use all those items up on a single meal. Almost all of it will be left over to last through months of cooking at home. So your actual cost, even assuming you can find meat that overpriced to stick with your numbers, is the $23 for the steak and asparagus, plus maybe $3 total worth of the other items that you used on that meal. So $26...
As to the wine, a bottle of wine that really costs $20 is probably going for $60 on town's wine list, so you just lost some ground and went backwards on that one. When you back out the markup you would have paid on that bottle of wine at town', you've already saved more than the entire $26 you spent on food.
As far as your time, wtf's up with that? Everybody's time is worth money, but if I'm sitting at my dining table or sitting in a restaurant, my time is being taken up either way. One way I'm waiting for my own food to be done, the other way I'm waiting for town' to finish making my food. Either way, my time is spent waiting on food, right?
By that logic should town' pay me for eating there, since 2 hours of my time is worth more than the meal?
Why are people nickle and diming a restaurant. If you don't like the prices then don't eat there.
Quote from: TheProfessor on July 14, 2010, 04:08:43 PM
Why are people nickle and diming a restaurant. If you don't like the prices then don't eat there.
Because two posters want to argue with me that a restaurant getting hundreds of bucks for dinner for 2 is such a steal.
And by your own logic, if you don't like this thread then don't read it, right?
I'd like to read it if something constructive were written.
Hundreds of bucks for dinner for two? Maybe my perspective is way off but $100 for two people for a nice dinner seems, frankly, cheap. In NY you'd be lucky to eat for $100 at a halfway decent place.
And that is the point really. Jax is flooded with affordable, quick and easy blah/blech places to eat. What we lack are "Special" places... memorable places. A place for a first date, anniversary, guest from out of town. Comparing prices at a Diner with what you could purchase and prepare yourself is silly and should not even be part of the discussion.
I cannot eat at Orsay or 'town or bb's or Aix every time I go out to eat. Those places compete for my "lets go somewhere special" dinner.
'town is an awesome addition to Jacksonville's dining scene and I recommend it to everyone. :)
Not to keep this argument alive, but I thought I'd share my bill from last night @ 'town - dinner for two:
1 Eggplant Brushetta $5
1 3 for 33 deal $33 (we shared the chop salad, scallops and hangar steak...all were phenom)
1 Glass of Notro Torrontes $7
1 Glass of Tormaresca Neprica $8
2 Espresso $6
$63.13 tax included. Service was excellent so my bill finished @ $80.
Considering the food/service/atmosphere, I think that's a steal.
Just my opinion though.
Quote from: RockStar on July 21, 2010, 10:30:08 AM
Not to keep this argument alive, but I thought I'd share my bill from last night @ 'town - dinner for two:
1 Eggplant Brushetta $5
1 3 for 33 deal $33 (we shared the chop salad, scallops and hangar steak...all were phenom)
1 Glass of Notro Torrontes $7
1 Glass of Tormaresca Neprica $8
2 Espresso $6
$63.13 tax included. Service was excellent so my bill finished @ $80.
Considering the food/service/atmosphere, I think that's a steal.
Just my opinion though.
Honestly it isn't my goal to bash this place. But this is the second time I've had to point this out in this thread, if the only way you can make a place sound reasonable is by splitting a meal between multiple people, then that is pretty much my whole point here in a nutshell. The only people who have given a cost rundown in this thread have both been forced to split meals to make the place come out sounding reasonable.
Most people order separately, and the truth is that your bill would have been much higher if both members of your party had each ordered separately. And $6 for a plain espresso is nuts. So's $7 for a class of Notro, I don't think that Argentine property even produces a selection that sells for more than $5-$6 for the whole bottle.
I not trying to keep this debate alive, either. And I am probably being too hard on the place, as if people are willing to pay the price then who am I to judge? Everyone is entitled to their preference. But it is certainly a bit humorous that the only people saying the place is reasonable are all ordering the special and then splitting it in order to keep the bill barely under $100. I am not out to knock the place, this all started way back at the beginning of the thread when I said I just didn't understand their price point and the debate kind of ran out of hand from there. But I do still stand by my observation.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on July 05, 2010, 10:34:07 PM
Nobody goes to a high-end restaurant to order a super-cheap special with a side of nothing and an ice-water.
AND
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on July 05, 2010, 10:34:07 PM
So understanding that's the case, then the reality is that this place is pricey for what's delivered.
Sooooooo, now I'm confused. Are you expecting inexpensive or high-end?
In my line of business, not the restaurant industry, I can give my customers 2 out 3 things -everytime - without question. They have to choose 2 of: Quality, Cost & Speed of Delivery. I think the same applies here.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on July 22, 2010, 03:44:07 PM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on July 05, 2010, 10:34:07 PM
Nobody goes to a high-end restaurant to order a super-cheap special with a side of nothing and an ice-water.
AND
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on July 05, 2010, 10:34:07 PM
So understanding that's the case, then the reality is that this place is pricey for what's delivered.
Sooooooo, now I'm confused. Are you expecting inexpensive or high-end?
In my line of business, not the restaurant industry, I can give my customers 2 out 3 things -everytime - without question. They have to choose 2 of: Quality, Cost & Speed of Delivery. I think the same applies here.
What I've stated is abundantly clear; In my opinion the price outruns the product. What's so confusing?
These are small farms, mostly organic. They aren't subsidized by big brother so OF COURSE its more expensive. But the savings are in less gas used to move resources around and eating organic food has tremendous health benefits, thus lowering health care costs. I will gladly pay for the REAL cost to produce food and the saving of resources and reduction in health care costs.
Imagine the impact if just 10-20% of our restaurants committed to sustainability.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on July 22, 2010, 03:34:29 PM
Quote from: RockStar on July 21, 2010, 10:30:08 AM
Not to keep this argument alive, but I thought I'd share my bill from last night @ 'town - dinner for two:
1 Eggplant Brushetta $5
1 3 for 33 deal $33 (we shared the chop salad, scallops and hangar steak...all were phenom)
1 Glass of Notro Torrontes $7
1 Glass of Tormaresca Neprica $8
2 Espresso $6
$63.13 tax included. Service was excellent so my bill finished @ $80.
Considering the food/service/atmosphere, I think that's a steal.
Just my opinion though.
Honestly it isn't my goal to bash this place. But this is the second time I've had to point this out in this thread, if the only way you can make a place sound reasonable is by splitting a meal between multiple people, then that is pretty much my whole point here in a nutshell. The only people who have given a cost rundown in this thread have both been forced to split meals to make the place come out sounding reasonable.
Most people order separately, and the truth is that your bill would have been much higher if both members of your party had each ordered separately. And $6 for a plain espresso is nuts. So's $7 for a class of Notro, I don't think that Argentine property even produces a selection that sells for more than $5-$6 for the whole bottle.
I not trying to keep this debate alive, either. And I am probably being too hard on the place, as if people are willing to pay the price then who am I to judge? Everyone is entitled to their preference. But it is certainly a bit humorous that the only people saying the place is reasonable are all ordering the special and then splitting it in order to keep the bill barely under $100. I am not out to knock the place, this all started way back at the beginning of the thread when I said I just didn't understand their price point and the debate kind of ran out of hand from there. But I do still stand by my observation.
$6 was for 2 double espressos. So $3/each.
Quote from: RockStar on July 22, 2010, 06:02:22 PM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on July 22, 2010, 03:34:29 PM
Quote from: RockStar on July 21, 2010, 10:30:08 AM
Not to keep this argument alive, but I thought I'd share my bill from last night @ 'town - dinner for two:
1 Eggplant Brushetta $5
1 3 for 33 deal $33 (we shared the chop salad, scallops and hangar steak...all were phenom)
1 Glass of Notro Torrontes $7
1 Glass of Tormaresca Neprica $8
2 Espresso $6
$63.13 tax included. Service was excellent so my bill finished @ $80.
Considering the food/service/atmosphere, I think that's a steal.
Just my opinion though.
Honestly it isn't my goal to bash this place. But this is the second time I've had to point this out in this thread, if the only way you can make a place sound reasonable is by splitting a meal between multiple people, then that is pretty much my whole point here in a nutshell. The only people who have given a cost rundown in this thread have both been forced to split meals to make the place come out sounding reasonable.
Most people order separately, and the truth is that your bill would have been much higher if both members of your party had each ordered separately. And $6 for a plain espresso is nuts. So's $7 for a class of Notro, I don't think that Argentine property even produces a selection that sells for more than $5-$6 for the whole bottle.
I not trying to keep this debate alive, either. And I am probably being too hard on the place, as if people are willing to pay the price then who am I to judge? Everyone is entitled to their preference. But it is certainly a bit humorous that the only people saying the place is reasonable are all ordering the special and then splitting it in order to keep the bill barely under $100. I am not out to knock the place, this all started way back at the beginning of the thread when I said I just didn't understand their price point and the debate kind of ran out of hand from there. But I do still stand by my observation.
$6 was for 2 double espressos. So $3/each.
My mistake, that price is fair.
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
Quote from: simms3 on November 29, 2010, 05:55:29 PM
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.
Haha, I suppose :)
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.
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).
Quote from: mtraininjax on November 29, 2010, 06:50:34 PM
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.
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.
Quote from: simms3 on November 29, 2010, 10:25:05 PM
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.
Quote from: mtraininjax on November 30, 2010, 12:26:55 AM
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.
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?
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.