EATS

Posted by Tony @ 8:57 PM Wed, Mar 19, 2008

Regarding the review on Rise, agree with almost everything and would add that the restaurant brings some fresh food and decor to a town filled with uninspiring restaurants. Anyone who hasn't tried their souffles is really missing out.

Posted by J @ 9:42 AM Thu, Mar 20, 2008

I am disappointed that the review of the Village Burger Bar didn't mention the lack of good service at the counter, or the chipped dishes they give you. They are lucky that they are situated where they are and don't need to brush up on these things.

Posted by Jayson Bales @ 10:47 AM Thu, Mar 20, 2008

I saw your review of Rise No. 1 and while pretty accurate, I thought I’d share my own experience with you briefly. My wife and I eat out quite a bit and have managed to get to know many of the chefs and food folks around town somewhat. I don’t know what that qualifies me for but I said it anyway.
We went to Rise one Wednesday evening about 8pm and got in and though the service was slow and leisurely, it all worked okay because it had the whole “French café lingering feel about the evening” and we had a table. Key phrase: We had a table.
A couple of weeks later we went back on a Friday night. We got there at 7pm and put our name on the list. We knew the wait would be awhile and we had planned for it as a friend was having a show at an art gallery down the block in Inwood Village. That same red-headed girl told us no problem; that she would have a table for us around 7:45pm and she took my card and said if I wasn’t back by that time, she’d call me on my cellphone when my table became available. She reassured me 8pm at the latest.
Okay. No big deal. We went to the art show and came back promptly at 7:45pm. She informed me then they would turn the tables soon and that it would be about 15-20 minutes. Cool, I thought. I informed her we’d wait right outside the door since it was a nice evening outside and the sitting area was crowded. At 8:35pm, we were still waiting and had been told 3 more times we were next. However, we watched people walk in(not in a group six) after us and everyone sitting in the sitting area be seated in that entire time.
So, here’s what I think happened. They ignored us arriving at 7pm and getting on the list and then in their disorganization, they sat others before us that arrived after us. This kind of inefficiency in the front of the house doesn’t work when your restaurant seats only about 50 people anyway and leans itself towards a lingering experience because of the whole “wine bar and soufflé” thing. To make matters worse, the waitstaff is inefficient and slow. They need runners. It wouldn’t take but 2-3 more roving waitstaff and service and table turning would be sped up I would guess by an average of 15 minutes a table. When you allow a table of ladies to eat dessert, take the dessert away and finish drinks, then sit for five minutes and then place orders for coffee, you aren’t doing your job as a waiter. This isn’t the French Room, The Mansion, or York Street. It’s a casual bistro with casual prices. And they won’t make any money if they don’t turn the tables over more than twice in a night.

Their service and front of the house management is poor in my opinion, which is why it will be sometime before I’ll go back. That’s a shame because the food is good, the wine list is affordable and fun, the atmosphere is unbelievably cool, and the price is right.

Posted by Lee @ 12:06 PM Thu, Mar 20, 2008

Rise is nice, but I wish they would serve something crunchy with the souffles (or else maybe I should order better). Eating a mushy souffle as an entree, with nothing else providing a texture contrast was pleasant for only a few bites.

The Rise salad and the apricot dessert souffle are both awesome.

Posted by CAM @ 3:35 PM Thu, Mar 20, 2008

I recently visited Rise and found it rather pedestrian. Tables are small, of dark formica with stains and very close together. Wine is served in "recycled" wine bottle bottoms. The personality-less bartender was formerly with Grand Tastings. The "souffle" over the escargot was superfluous. The chef was inflexible with attempted souffle modifications. The mushroom souffle was bland with merely pureed mushrooms. No sauce was added to either this or the special souffle for the evening. The apricot dessert souffle was very flavorful. A disappointing experience overall, certainly not to the caliber of savory souffles I have had at other establishments. I encourage the restaurant to expand quickly before the newness wears thin and Rise1 goes the way of the crepe and fondue fads.

Posted by Mike holmes @ 7:30 AM Fri, Mar 21, 2008

Will someone explain how the reviewer comes up with the final star rating? If you read the Old Hickory review not looking at the star(s) at the top you have a highest end charging steakhouse that can't cook an allegedly rotted moldy steak coupled with poor service with overcharges on the bill.

How in the wide world of sports does that garner two stars?

Posted by Camille @ 7:54 AM Fri, Mar 21, 2008

I recently dined at Rise and I too would like something crunchy to eat with the meal. I ordered the blue cheese souffle and half way through I could have dumped it on a crispy lettuce wedge. The chocolate souffle was delish!

Posted by Richard @ 8:36 AM Fri, Mar 21, 2008

Have dined at a couple of times at Rise and find an excellent addition to the dining scene and the neighborhood. It is intimate and very European. Part of the challenge right now is that it is gotten such good buzz that it is overwhelmed. That should die down over time. In the meanwhile, one needs to be flexible, avoid peak times, and be ready for a great price/value experience

Posted by Lisa @ 2:11 PM Fri, Mar 21, 2008

Is there more than one Old Hickory? I have been there several times and have never had a less than stellar experience. Food and service have always been outstanding. And yes, I have been more than once since the chef change.

Posted by Jason @ 4:19 AM Sat, Mar 22, 2008

I think that the review of Old Hickory was right on the nose. The only reason most locals go to that place is for the fantastic cheese presentation and the bar. I have been in numerous times where my dinner was absolutely horrible. Only to return in the hopes that the wait staff would possibly be as helpful as the maître fromager and bar staff.

My advise, if you go sit by the bar and have Thomas come to you. A much better experience in my opinion.

Posted by Linda @ 12:22 PM Sat, Mar 22, 2008

re Old Hickory Steakhouse. Like a lot of movie reviews that leave you wondering if the writer even saw the same movie you saw, I feel the same way about Old Hickory. What restaurant is Kim talking about? This restaurant offers an amazing selection of absolutely delicious, perfectly prepared dishes and I've always had absolutely caring and efficient service. What an odd review!

The guy at the table next to us came back for the second time in 1 week before his return to California! And he's obviously not the only one who has enjoyed repeat visits.

Posted by Tiffany @ 11:33 PM Sat, Mar 22, 2008

OlD Hickory is Over priced for the quality they offer. I agree with the review from Kim and the comment by Jason. Maybe if they want a good review they should train their servers like they trained their bar staff and Cheese guy.

Posted by steph @ 12:05 AM Tue, Mar 25, 2008

amen to the person above that mentioned how the counter staff think they are all high and mighty. They are total snobs that think they are cool because they are located in some "fabricated village". Seriously, even their bus boys think they are these hipster icon's with lame cookie cutter hair and more dye jobs then your 6th grade math teacher.

The food is ok, but not a burger to write home about. I will admit their sweet potato fries are pretty good when not over cooked.

It stinks for people that work around that area and need something quick. There is no competition around west "village", and I used that term loosely (since you can't just fabricate a "village" like this is NYC or something).