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| Blogs > rm_RI_Goddess > Rantings of a Goddess |
Pretentious Restaurants
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Pretentious Restaurants I have always considered myself the type of person who enjoys nice things in life. I keep myself well maintained (pampered as my husband would tell you) and keep my house well maintained. When we go out for dinner we aren't much for the proverbial "fast food restaurants" and we like the nicer bars and pubs if that is what the evening brings. I have to admit however, there comes a point where restaurants are just WAY too pretentious for my taste. Last night we went out with a couple of friends that we hadn't been out with in quite some time. They recommended Up River Cafe which is considered an American Bistro in Westerly (I am sure some of you Rhode Islanders will know of it). I had never been there before so of course was willing to give it a shot. We arrive at the restaurant at about 8PM...it is right along the river in Westerly so I am sure during the day it is quite a lovely view. I couldn't see much at night however. You walk into the place and it is quite rustic in nature...the bar is immediately off to the right and there is a "hallway" that leads towards the restaurant area. Kind of reminded me of the inside of a ski lodge in some ways. We were told it would be about a 15 minute wait for a table. We were actually seated 55 minutes after we arrived. That did not bode well with my husband of course since he tends to get very impatient when he has to wait that long to be seated. At this point I am thinking to myself that the food better be absolutely extraordinary after a wait like that. The waiter arrives at our table and proceeds to offer us drinks and tell us what the dinner specials were. The dull roar of the crowd and the soft-spoken nature of the waiter prevented everyone except my husband from hearing the specials of the evening...it seemed this was definitely not starting out well. He also hands us menus which are kind of unique. It was two pieces of printed paper attached to a board (yes you read correctly...a board) with a type of twine. The food on the menu ranged from the "pizza of the day" and/or a hamburger to filet mignon and sea scallops. Appetizers (which they actually called "small plates") were anything from eggplant sticks to macaroni and cheese. It was just a very eclectic menu to say the least. Anyway, I ended up ordering the potato soup as an appetizer and the filet mignon as my main meal. My husband on the other hand had a pulled pork sandwich and french fries (see...eclectic choices). The soup came out and I have had very good potato soup in the past at several different restaurants. This one, however, looked quite unappealing to say the least. It was nothing more than a reddish brown saucy consistency with a few specks of white (which ended up being some sort of cheese like a gouda I believe). It tasted about as bad as it looked. I took two spoonfuls and could eat nothing more of it. Other appetizers which came to our table included the macaroni and cheese and the eggplant sticks. The macaroni and cheese looked delicious but it was disguised by SOOOOO many spices that it didn't remotely taste like macaroni and cheese....and I am not talking about the kind you get from a box...I am talking about macaroni and cheese made from scratch. Even my husband commented that my homemade mac and cheese is about 10 million times better than this was...hehehe The eggplant sticks had practically no taste whatsoever. Needless to say most of the appetizers went back almost the way the came....next...main course. Mind you, we didn't eat much of our appetizers so we are quite hungry by this point. My main course arrives on a HUGE rectangular plate...literally about 10 inches long by 7 or 8 inches wide....and in the very center of the plate is this little piece of filet mignon on a round "potato cake" all set on a small bed of spinach and the rest of the plate is used for the "drizzling" of sauces...you know the deal...the restaurants that feel "presentation" is everything and minimal amounts of food for exorbitant prices are the way to go. Nothing much they could do wrong with the filet...although the chef didn't quite get medium rare right. The potato cake didn't have much flavor and the spinach was slimy (and I typically love spinach). One of our friends that we were with also got the filet as well, another got the scallops (three relatively small scallops on top of a fish cake also drizzled with sauces) and my husband as I said got the pulled pork sandwich which was the SMALLEST sandwich I have ever seen in my life...served with french fries which were undercooked and that slimy spinach on the side. All in all the whole experience was quite the disappointment and believe it or not, with tip, the bill came out to just over $200 (and no that wasn't mainly spent on alcohol...two of us had one mixed drink, one of us had one beer and one of us had soda). Needless to say the restaurant was WAY too pretentious for my taste and I will not be going back there again. At least I can say I gave it a shot and if anyone ever asks if I've been to Up River Cafe, I can say "Yes indeed I have and IT sucked"...hehehe Well that's it for now....the sun is shining and it is time for me to get outside and do something productive....have a great Sunday everyone!! AM      |
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5/18/2008 10:46 am |
Almost up until the price you described a place here in town called the Woodcutter. Its got that rustic feel and the menus are exactly alike. They have everything from hot wings to filet. However, for four people you would have gotten out under $100 and actually enjoyed the food. The best thing on the menu that I've had and I go a lot with work is the peanut butter chicken. Sounds strange I know, but very good. Ive tried to make it at home, to no success! I am more of a low key, hole in the wall type girl when it comes to food. Ive found they have the best value for what you get. We have one called the Burger Barge and Im not sure how it continues to stay open with all the health code violations they have. But it is by far some of the best food you will ever have! Three of us can eat there for under $20 with drinks!!   
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That sounds awful Annamarie but I am amazed that you left a tip after a terrible meal like that. Also the chef must have realised that there was something wrong when the plates went back.... I would have complained to the Manager and offered to pay for the drinks and left after the first course. You should write to the management to let them know how bad the service is as they cannot improve if no one complains.
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5/20/2008 6:05 am |
My god DID u not complain???????? I wud have done      
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1/24/2009 10:19 am |
  Time to call The Hells Kitchen people and run them through the wringer !! My taste in food runs from tame to wild but my budget remains tame so if I am spending two hubdred dollars than I better get my moneys worth !! I am sorry you all got screwed in a bad way Sincerely keith/kalamazooing
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