Secrets of the City

I agree on Senor Wong — it’s hit or miss.

Hey justpbob, I wanted to email you something but I’m not sure if you check your email address listed in your profile. Could you email me with the address that you actually check?

I’ve been to Señor Wong a few times now and I have to agree. It’s hit or miss. Some stuff is great, some stuff is poor… every time I visit.

One time the drinks were great but there was only a few darts for the dart board and there were not any spare tips.

One time the food was quite tasty but the Sake was overpriced and way too small portioned.

One time service was slow, one time service was fantastic.

Hit or miss is a good way to sum it up.

–I’ve Senor Wong, and it’s really not all that impressive.

–Scott McGerik is the 1st person I’ve heard praise Red Stag’s decor. The most common description I hear of it is “randomly cobbled together”.

–Tamales on the mall = what I’ve been demanding for several years.

–Compared to what they’re used to making, Mannys is hurting for business. First they cut your entertainment $$$, then they cut your travel $$$, then they cut your job.

We went to Obento-ya on Como just N. of Dinkytown on Sat night. The sushi was B-, the yakitori was an A, limited beer and wine, friendly service, very well-done interior given the small space.

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced out-of-the-way place for date night, you can do a nice dinner for 2 for under $60.

We went to Red Stag last night for the second time. Both times the food has been very good. Service was pretty slow though.

The level of talent in the Red Stag kitchen is B+ on a bad day, and a straight A on a good day. Based on my experiences with her other 2 area dining facilities (I hesitate to call BLB a restaurant) Kim Bartmann (who I’m sure is a great person) is in the C range as a restauranteur. It’s not been a surprise to read, in every single review, that experiences at Red Stag are generally good in terms of food (with a lot of head-scratching regarding the constitution of the menu) and that service ranges from aw-shucks friendly incompetence to complete indifference.

We tried Senor Wong a few times as younger friends wanted to go there. . . and they were buying. . . but never again. The service is so inconsistent, as is the food.
And thanks, City Pages, coffee would be nice.

Finally checked my yahoo mail account and got back to you, brandi.

I love Red Stag. And not just because it’s a LEED certified restaurant. We went the day after Valentine’s Day so they only had their V-Day menu, which was good but not what I wanted. The next time I went and was able to choose off the menu, it was even better.

service ranges from aw-shucks friendly incompetence to complete indifference.

You have to wonder if the BLB servers trained in the Red Stag servers. Never have I had such consistently poor service as I’ve had at Bryant Lake Bowl.

Call me nostalgic, but I preferred BLB in the Roger-the-Badass-Pinsetter-don’t-you-fucking-drink-that-beer-on-this-side-of-the-seats Era. I don’t go there anymore because there are too many people like me there.

service ranges from aw-shucks friendly incompetence to complete indifference.

That reminds me of a review of Good Day Bakery in Citypages a couple of months ago. A buddy of mine is a server there and the review said the service ranged from grandmotherly to openly hostile. Derek was pretty sure he served the guy for the openly hostile critique. Something he’s very proud of.

It’s hard to find openly hostile service in this town…there’s plenty of incompetence, but the closest you’ll get to hostile is passive-agressive snottiness.

I once tried to order a soy latte at Moose & Sadies and the Barista started mooing at me until I changed it to skim.

The chick who runs The Colossal Cafe is openly hostile and down-right bitchy but the food she makes is so divine it doesn’t bother me a bit!

In both cases I suspect they are biased against me because I am a “breeder.”

Must have made you feel right at home, actually. If you expressed half the angry/sassy tactless wit in real life that you did here, you’d tell the barista that you were lactose intolerant and that he could go dry hump an air void.

The dude who runs True Thai is hostile, particularly to Jews. At least in my and my friends’ opinions.

How does he feel about the Irish?

It’s hard to find openly hostile service in this town…

Not from my experience.

The guy who runs True Thai was dickish to me, but it was seemingly because I had the gall to confirm my carry-out order with him. Nothing to do with my ethno-religious background.

In both cases I suspect they are biased against me because I am a “breeder.”

Who knew?

A Jewish friend and her family sat in the lobby waiting to be seated at True Thai while others who arrived after, with the same size party, were seated. They were completely ignored.

I (not Jewish) have been treated rudely there a number of times by this dude. Unfortunately, the Thai woman who also works there is sweet and wonderful. But he insists on working the front…

I was actually glad when he put up the Bush for President sign. I had a real excuse to stop going (I didn’t hear about my friend’s experience until after, that would have stopped me too.)

Raindog, you’ll be welcomed with open arms, among other things, at Pi.

They must be muslim.

I love when people fight unthinking bigotry with bigotry that requires even less thought, Maz.

That has got to be the most ridiculously useless “review” of Manny’s I’ve ever read. She orders veggies and kir, and then has to write about how they gave her an empty plate and sneered at her? I hope someone jizzed in her Hollandaise sauce. And this person writes a food blog?

You make it sound like she was compaining, Bx. I think you misread the tone of the article. The author said the “sneer” was one of disappointment that she wasn’t ordering meat, and she found the empty plate pretty funny.

The only complaint I had about Manny’s was that they charged $14 for a Stoli Martini (poke, poke, Max!). Highway robbery for mid-level vodka, IMO.

That really is too much to pay for a Kangaroo.

In both cases I suspect they are biased against me because I am a “breeder.”

Let me guess: Pit Bulls? Or are you creating some kind of vicious half mammal/half reptile thing in time the RNC Convention?

Saber Toothed Tigers?

Have the neighbors called the cops about strange noises coming from your basement?

Anyone who orders a latte deserves some level of harassment, as far as I’m concerned. You’re holding up the coffee line.

And that is why I only eat @ Manny’s when somebody else is paying for it. That’s the American Way, my friends.

Large Soy Latte, thank you very much.

And, harrass away cuz’ I push the button – every time without hesitation and giggle after doing so:

Button Pushing Coffee Mascot

I enjoy the soy latte as well. Lactose intolerant, thankyouverymuch!

I think both of you should be buying coffee in a separate line so that people who simply want them to splash some coffee in a cup so we could go about their business could do so.

Then we don’t have to wait in line for your complex that is more dessert than coffee!

The Rat has spoken

I think people should stop pretending that bitter bean water is potable.

Then we don’t have to wait in line for your complex that is more dessert than coffee!

The Rat has spoken

They make you wait? Really? Cuz the counter folks at the Starbucks in SLP just turn around and pour it, rather than making the barista do it. You would actually get your coffee before me.

Oh, and I don’t put any syrups in my lattes, so I’m not sure what would be dessert-y about it.

I think people should stop pretending that bitter bean water is potable.

Much like anythink with a bitter aftertaste, it’s an acquired taste, Max.

Complex. You’re confusing us with the double tall half-caf latte w/two shots of caramel, half shot of vanilla no whip crowd.

Plus, I’ve been buying my coffee at the same place long enough, they have it ready for me when they see me pull up. Neener!

max…I put a jigger of bourbon and a little cream in my morning coffee mug…that smoky sweetness of the bourbon cuts the acidity of the coffee perfectly. you should try it.

I like how you think.

Complex. You’re confusing us with the double tall half-caf latte w/two shots of caramel, half shot of vanilla no whip crowd.

There’s about a dime’s worth of difference.

I give a break to espresso, because I drink it myself. That’s it. Coffee. Espresso.

Let’s go, here.

Good lord that sounded so Ron Burgundy.

How much time difference is there between saying “venti soy latte” and “venti house blend, no room for cream?” Maybe you should just make your coffee at home, Rat.

Those drinks are noisy, too.

Rat: If this annoys you, then you need some heavy duty yoga classes to help you chillax.

Someone should tell “Le Rat” that the screams are coming from inside his own head.

Being a former Barista, before there was even such a name for schlepping coffee, I sympathize with the dude or dudette behind the counter and I always over tip for my over-priced coffee drinks even when confronted with snarkiness. that’s how The Raindog66 rolls.

Thanks KC, for the tip on the GOP Loving True Thai. I had my suspicions that they were Neocon operatives all along. They will get no more of my $$$ to fund the right wing killing machine. That guy at the counter is the husband of the owner and he’s just probably bitter about living in his wife’s shadow. One time I heard him say to a Jewish friend of mine “Jew eat?” Not “Did you eat.” but “Jew eat?”

While I miss a couple of dishes there, I really prefer the left loving Grand Pad Thai anyways. They have the best Lefty Radical Spring Rolls in town! Plus their Phuck the Pad Prigin’ Police is a savory gem.

You make it sound like she was compaining, Bx. I think you misread the tone of the article. The author said the “sneer” was one of disappointment that she wasn’t ordering meat, and she found the empty plate pretty funny.

I didn’t ‘misread’ anything. I interpreted it one way, you interpreted it another. Neither of us may be correct. That’s what is called an OPINION. I thought what she wrote sucked, and yeah, it did sound like she was complaining. That is the way I interpreted it, not the way I ‘misread’ it.

Thank you.

did I misread that, or was BX complaining?

wha?

I agree True Thai is nothing special anyway – I live near it but almost always prefer to drive into St. Paul for Pad Thai Grand Cafe – much better!

And soy lattes taste better than cow milk lattes. I put soy milk in my regular coffee too – much better!

Rat: If this annoys you, then you need some heavy duty yoga classes to help you chillax.

He should try hot yoga.

Yeah, you actually did misread that, Bx. Not all opinions are valid. Sorry if that upsets you.

No, actually I didn’t misread it, Max. “Misreading” is when someone mistakes a ‘there’ from a ‘their,’ or ‘raise’ from ‘raze’.

I interpreted the tone and meaning differently than you did. Deal with it!

And her opinion of Manny’s is just as “invalid” as mine – if that’s OK with you, since you’re the one deciding….right?

Oh and don’t mistake “invalid” as in non-valid for “invalid” as in a sick person in bed….because THAT would be “misreading.”

You misread it because she wasn’t complaining. Misread as in “to misinterpret or misunderstand.”

How do I know you misread it: Pretty funny that they still felt the need to garnish my empty plate& although it didnt stay empty long!

That’s the part of the story where she says its funny, rather than she’s annoyed.

What the hell? Why are we all so crabby about a food review?

Because we didn’t get are Mondays out earlier today?
Or we missed nap time.
Either.

MNSpeak Weekly Todo list:

Case of Mondays √
Circular argument √√√
Puns
Thread completely derailed √
Racism √
Someone quits MNSpeak…
Someone who quit MNSpeak returns under new name √

*are = our
Naptime.

Misread as in “to misinterpret or misunderstand.”

DING DING DING DING DING

I’ll take the category “what I should have said in the first place” for a thousand!

*rolls eyes*

Aw. She’s colicky.

Aw. She’s deleted.

You really can’t help yourself, can you?

Wait, back to food.

I liked Senor Wong; service was acceptable but not fabulous, happy hour food quite good, mock duck tacos yummy, sake WAS overpriced. Both times I had rock star parking right in front.

Red Stag totally agree, good food, poor service. A friend was there on Friday and had absurdly bad service.

Where on Nicollet Mall are the tamales or Manny’s tortas? I’ve got to get over there this Thursday.

Would someone please explain the attraction of Manny’s? Having been there several times, and only when someone else’s corporate credit card was on the line, it appears Manny’s exists solely so wealthy west suburbanite males can puff out their chests, say “I just had a 32 ounce porterhouse at Manny’s” and think they just did something “cultural” and masculine. News flash fellas: there’s better steakhouses in the Twin Cities, and what passes for “humor” at Manny’s isn’t funny. The place is tired and screams pre-dotcom crash economic excess. I feel like someone should be giving me the hot tip on “pets.com” everytime I have to go there.

Better steaks are readily available at St. Paul Grill, Capital Grille, Jax, Kinkaid’s, Morton’s, Ruth’s Cris and any number of other places. And far and away the best steak I’ve had in the Twin CIties was at Gianni’s, so all you Lake Minnetonka types should skip Manny’s, save twenty minutes on 394 and a fill-up on your Escalade, and try the food right there in Plasticland. I mean Wayzata.

Plasticland was a great band.

Pop Op Drops!

wha?

»» Submitted by dMx at 2:53 PM on May 12

That made me laugh out loud, whoever you are.