Not sure if you have read this ‘catty’ review in the Gargoyle Leader on March 19, but it seems someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed before going to eat, here’s some highlights of the review(?);
The small portions are just right for my appetite, but may be met with disdain by those who favor larger servings, especially considering the cost.
Because golly, who cares about taste and quality these days, I don’t care if it tastes like an old shoe, as long as I can get stuffed on $4.99.
The new décor features orange graphics reminiscent of the 1960s. I wasn’t a big fan then, not a fan now,
And who cares what what a skinny old washed up reporter thinks about interior design? It’s called using complimentary colors and has nothing to do with the 60’s.
Oversized flower arrangements punctuated the space, which offer an organic but slightly jarring feel. Orange poppies blend nicely with brown autumn foliage, but poppies bloom in spring.
Actually plastic flowers bloom all year.
I have avoided writing about the review, because I guess I have never taken the Gargoyle Leader’s restaurant reviews very seriously, ever since Jana ‘Cupcakes’ Farley gave four stars to the Pizza Ranch in Tea, or complained she wasn’t getting waited on at a deli counter. But it seems there has been quite a bit of buzz on the internet about the review, and how truly pathetic it was. The Secret Fork is a blog that has been around for about a year reviewing restaurants, and they rip the review apart, here is some highlights;
Some of you may recall my previous post about the deplorable job the AL and reporter Dorene Weinstein did with a review of Sai Gon Panda.  I swear, they need to start getting it right, or get out of the business of doing this altogether.  ”
Ms. Weinstein stuck a three-pronged fork right in the eye of 26 Grille with her review:
- The service was a bit lacking
- The food was “off”
- The decor sucks
Regardless how experienced individual staff members might be, it takes a while to knock the kinks out of a new place. Â Cut them some slack, you idiots.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go see how many references I can find to things that are “piping hot”, “yummy”, or “gooey” in a few dozen copies of Food & Wine or Gourmet. Â “Piping hot.” Â For Pete’s sake.Have a good weekend. Â Fork the Argus Leader.
I write to share my disgust with the food critique in the Link insert.
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Specifically, I found the Thursday, March 19, article disheartening. I am immediately puzzled with the fact the Argus Leader reviews restaurants above all other business types. You do not publish a plumbing review or a grocery store review. Restaurants are, apparently, a point of fascination to your writing team.
I wish they would – there is a lot of robbers out there, especially some of the arborists involved with the blanket code enforcement and Project TRIM.
could be helpful if it gave the reader a factual description of the business. The reader could then decide for him or herself if the product type, if the price and if the ambiance is the sort that he or she enjoys.
Exactly! That is the point of a review. Tell us the size of the portion and the price, then we will decide if that is too expensive or not.
Why would the Argus Leader opt to publish negative stories about locally owned and managed businesses?
They do it everyday while sucking up to the franchises and big box stores. I have often said about Sioux Falls, “Over 400 restaurants and no place to eat.” Locally owned ones are usually the best ones for quality, and ambiance. Sometimes the service is a little off, but I have never had a bad meal at a locally owned restaurant.
Why not highlight small local business regardless of type and regardless of the product they sell? Why not amend your restaurant review and instead have a local business highlights section? Tell us about the local business men and women that work tirelessly to infuse our community with jobs and keep their door open despite the economy. I understand to write for a “reaction” generates sales. You have, however, lost future sales at my house.
And they wonder why subscriptions are in the toilet . . .
Speaking of forks. Has anyone tried the Hartford Steak CO Tavern? Whether it’s a filet, prime rib, or roasted sirloin steak, it’s great. The price is right and the beer is cold.
Went yesterday for the Sunday brunch. Boththe wife and I had the Andouille hash. I loved it – the flavors all mixed well and the andouille sausage added just enough heat to make me want more. I wouldn’t call what I got on my plate a “south dakota-sized portion”, but I was full by the end anyway – but not miserable. The biscuit served with the entree was awesome too – big and crumbly, not too buttery or tough, and served with raspberry jam that actually tasted like raspberries.
Service was good throughout and our food came out quickly. Loved the new decor – they really did a lot of work opening it all up.
I’ll be back sometime for dinner and drinks.
Never trust a restaurant reviewer who gives four stars to a Pizza Ranch.
Err… My review was for Grill 26.
Sorry I missed you, I had the day off. Those Biscuits are good!
Just one question: Is it a requirement to be a hipster if you’re employed there?
I will refrain from comment.
Seriously, do they give out chunky black-rimmed glasses as part of the uniform?
Well all the former barista’s from Starbucks have to find jobs somewhere don’t they?
Sorry about that wild apostrophe. Should have read “baristas”.
In any case, Weinstein doesn’t impress me with any of her work. Maybe we should write reviews of the Argus Leader columnists and let them know how it feels in return.
That would make a great letter to the editor, but I doubt they would print it.
I had my chunky glasses before I started working there, but I could use an extra pair.
Yeah, the only reporters I like from there are Jay K. and Johnathan Ellis, I also like Oklerlund’s editorial columns. I used to laugh at Beck’s too, until Wild Bill threatened him with a lawsuit, now his columns suck.
In any case, Weinstein doesn’t impress me with any of her work. Maybe we should write reviews of the Argus Leader columnists and let them know how it feels in return.
We could rank them all on a scale from gooey to yummy to piping hot.
The ‘piping hot’ category would get Zero and 3/4 stars. And the ‘off’ category would be a 5 out of 4.
The comments under her review were all negative. Not one person agreed with her. Makes me wonder if she reads them, and if so, if she’s planning on writing some sort of column in defense of her reviews.
Personally, I can’t wait for her or Janna Farley’s review of the new Taco John’s going into the gas station a few blocks from my house.
“We stopped in on Taco Tuesday and were surprised that more people weren’t taking advantage of the 99 cent tacos and Free car wash with a fillup. I ordered the bean burrito and my friend got choco taco and a pack of Pall Malls. The choco taco was cool and refreshing and so were the cigs.”
They must have written a bad review about the Corn Palace concession stand to:
http://www.areavoices.com/mitchell/?blog=47370
Consequences, Consequences.
I had a bison meatloaf sandwich at Buffaloberries on Phillips Ave. with tomato soup. Now there’s a place worth writing about. Three generations of the Johnson family run it. Great decor (B&W photos by one of the chefs) and art prints. Unusual beverages, neat meeting places and the foods are actually healthy and good for you as well as tasty. Try it out, it’s just south of Minerva’s (which I like too).
I like that place to, good lunches. I had the Wasabi Tuna Salad, delicious!
They have a Buffalo Meatloaf Sandwich at the Grille to.
I enjoyed Buffaloberries too. Good food that’s actually healthy.