Pele's Wood Fire - Park and King

[Gonzo]

MAybe I was a little harsh last night about the brick...a 7-11 taquito won't put brick out of business...the 7-11 fruit cup might.

And Slurpees! Oh, Slurpees! A frozen Coke doesn't compare. Perhaps adding a little rum to a Coke Slurpee would help the demise of The Brick...

[IamAmerican]

I think you are on to something Gonzo...

[Dashing Dan]

I still like The Brick. 

I'm a little surprised about all of the negativism about The Brick on this thread.  I walk past there all the time and they receive plenty of fresh food deliveries, along with the occasional Sysco truck.

Also, I'm not so sure that I would go to an Applebees even if there was one here in Avondale.  I haven't actually eaten at an Applebees since 1996.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Can I point out one misnomer about Sysco - Getting Sysco deliveries is not a bad thing.  I don't know any restaurant that doesn't use them or an identical competitor.  The difference is what happens in the kitchen.

If the restaurant is buying pre-prepapared ingredients:  sauces, soups, marinades, stocks, etc...  Yes.  They are not doing any of us a service and they are slacking.

If the restaurant is buying raw ingredients and making all of the actual product in-house, then it's a totally different story. 

Sysco Alfredo = BAD.  Sysco Cream, Butter, Garlic, Flour, Salt, Pepper = GOOD

[IamAmerican]

I've had several negative experiences at the Brick. The food, to me, does not taste fresh (I would be surprised if most of the food is not prepackaged mixology and frozen goods. And, the service is typically really bad. Complaints about the food are not dealt with properly. Servers/expo'ers are more than okay with bringing out subpar food. My last experience there was with a friend who ordered a simple chicken sandwich which came with a wilted piece of lettuce and a half way rotted tomato. It was thrown on the plate with no care. It seems stupid to complain about tomatoes and lettuce but it goes a long way in explaining the restaurant to me. If they are willing to let you see the fresh ingredients on the rotting side then they are willing to cook with stale ingredients as well. It's a mediocre restaurant, at best, with a better then usual atmosphere. The only reason to go to the brick is when you are in the mood to sit out side in a quaint neighborhood. Sadly, I feel that way about Casbah and Biscotti's as well. Generally, let down.

[IamAmerican]

Sysco, is taking significant steps to make use of local farmers for local needs and has jumped on the organic bandwagon in many ways.

[IamAmerican]

but yes, Sysco Alfredo=bad.

[fieldafm]

Sysco, is taking significant steps to make use of local farmers for local needs and has jumped on the organic bandwagon in many ways.

Sysco is an invaluable food broker and has in fact revamped their distribution network to focus more on locally sourced food.  See graphic below courtesy of Fast Company.

However restaurants that do nothing more than reheat frozen foods from Sysco, charge you a ton of money for it all while offering sub-par service like the Brick does... deserve all the criticism they get. 

The Brick is good for seeing and being seen.  It's cool to hang out there on a Friday evening outside while enjoying a draft of Dukes and enjoying good company.  But the minute you order a meal from there... well, the story becomes decidedly different.

[IamAmerican]

Fieldafm, do you have a link for the chart? It's hard to read on the site. Thanks,

[IamAmerican]

Still readable...that's great what they are doing. I saw quick blurb about this on the web recently. I'm pretty impressed.

[ben says]

I've had several negative experiences at the Brick. The food, to me, does not taste fresh (I would be surprised if most of the food is not prepackaged mixology and frozen goods. And, the service is typically really bad. Complaints about the food are not dealt with properly. Servers/expo'ers are more than okay with bringing out subpar food. My last experience there was with a friend who ordered a simple chicken sandwich which came with a wilted piece of lettuce and a half way rotted tomato. It was thrown on the plate with no care. It seems stupid to complain about tomatoes and lettuce but it goes a long way in explaining the restaurant to me. If they are willing to let you see the fresh ingredients on the rotting side then they are willing to cook with stale ingredients as well. It's a mediocre restaurant, at best, with a better then usual atmosphere. The only reason to go to the brick is when you are in the mood to sit out side in a quaint neighborhood. Sadly, I feel that way about Casbah and Biscotti's as well. Generally, let down.

Interesting you mention Casbah....stopped going there completely. Just went back for the first time in 8 months, and, while I only had the falafel dish, it seems like their food was a tad revamped. Moist, fresh falafels, with a bit of spice.

On another note, amazing how easily these threads get off topic !!

[MusicMan]

Now open for coffee and pastries at 7 am. Had the fresh hot doughnuts at 8 30 am this morning, $.50 (thats 50 cents folks) each. Ate four ($2) and loved it. Free wi fi plus actual booths and tables to spread out in.  Excellent latte:)

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Now open for coffee and pastries at 7 am. Had the fresh hot doughnuts at 8 30 am this morning, $.50 (thats 50 cents folks) each. Ate four ($2) and loved it. Free wi fi plus actual booths and tables to spread out in.  Excellent latte:)

I guess whomever made yours actually put some steamed milk in it.

Mine was a good espresso with some foam on top, although not what I ordered.

[Ethylene]

Now open for coffee and pastries at 7 am. Had the fresh hot doughnuts at 8 30 am this morning, $.50 (thats 50 cents folks) each. Ate four ($2) and loved it. Free wi fi plus actual booths and tables to spread out in.  Excellent latte:)

I guess whomever made yours actually put some steamed milk in it.

Mine was a good espresso with some foam on top, although not what I ordered.

I hope you sent it back!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I hope you sent it back!

Go back and read my post on page 8.