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It’s not like my blog was the only one in the state railing on Sioux Falls’ newest hot dog stand. Several blogs have complained, not only about it’s service and food, but about the concept all together. So now it is the Gargoyle Leader’s turn up to bat and they give the place 3 stars out of 4. At first you may be a little stunned, until you see who wrote the review, Dorene ‘Gooey’ Weinstein. This line alone says it all about her food review skills;

Crown your wiener with a choice of 24 hot and cold toppings available at 50 cents each.

Sorry, Dorene, I stopped Crowning Wieners as soon as I got out of prison.

My hot dog was tepid rather than hot.

Nothing like a lukewarm weiner

The roll was fresh and chewy

Yah just couldn’t get thru one food review without using that word, could you Dorene?

and the chili flavorful but not spicy, just how I like it.

What is up Gargoyle food reviewers and their love of bland spiceless food? I have often said, the thing I like the most about Parker’s restaurant is that the chef is not afraid to use some spices, but the Gargoyle railed on them about it a few weeks ago. I went in there for lunch a couple of days later and told my waitress my water was too spicy and to send it back, the cooks heard me and got a good laugh.

It’s time the Gargoyle got a food reviewer that likes to eat different food and understands good service.

10 Thoughts on “Once again the Gargoyle Leader proves they don’t know how to review restaurants

  1. Angry Guy on December 10, 2009 at 6:53 am said:

    Another AL FAIL on food reviews. Tepid dogs, chewy buns and bland chili get 3 out of 4 stars? Fuck that shit! They should fire that waste of space Dorene, or put her on the knitting beat where she belongs.

  2. Ever notice how they are really hard on nice restaurants and give them shitty reviews, but white trash places always get great reviews. Really tells you the class of people who are writing our local rag.

  3. Ghost of Dude on December 10, 2009 at 8:02 am said:

    What is up Gargoyle food reviewers and their love of bland spiceless food?

    They’re right in line with most of this town. I know people who think ketchup is spicy.

    For the record, Dorene, if your chili isn’t spicy, you’ve failed to make chili. It’s just meat sauce.

  4. You should taste Hos’ Chili Verde, unfckblvable! The only thing seh makes better is bean burritos, well, it is kind of a close tie.

  5. Costner on December 10, 2009 at 8:54 am said:

    Not that I agree with the review (or the reviewer) by any means, but there is nothing wrong with people preferring fewer or less spices being used.

    Taste buds differ – so there is no need for you to pull the elitist card and pretend those who prefer a lower level of spice on their food are somehow inferior.

    Frankly I prefer to taste the underlying food. I think chefs who rely upon spices to “sell” the dish are just being lazy. There are exceptions of course, but I find an abundance of spice merely masks the true flavors.

    I’ve seen chili with so much spice you couldn’t tell if the meat used was beef, venison, spam, or entrails from roadkill rabbit. Sure my tongue might be tingly and I might even have a little sweat forming on my brow, but I personally don’t find that to be a hallmark of a quality meal.

    Opinions vary. I might not like the AL food reviews, but if (and that is a big IF) they are written to appeal to their target demographic, then I can’t really fault them for it. We aren’t talking about reading the food section of The New York Times here.

  6. Ghost of Dude on December 10, 2009 at 9:45 am said:

    I’ve seen chili with so much spice you couldn’t tell if the meat used was beef, venison, spam, or entrails from roadkill rabbit.

    That’s why hot spices (and most french sauces) were developed. It masks the flavor of meat that went bad a week ago, or organ meats which tend to have an “off” flavor.
    There is a long spectrum between bland (like senor wiener’s chili – I’ve tried it) and thermonuclear drain cleaner. If it adds no flavor to your meal, why would you put it on a hotdog?

  7. Ghost of Dude on December 10, 2009 at 9:49 am said:

    Coincidentally, the last time I was visiting my wife’s relatives in San Antonio, we had a big party that invloved a lot of beer, BBQ, and Mexican food.
    I was one of two gringos in attendence. I was also the only on who used the really hot sauce on my food. It seems mexicans don’t understand why we gringos like our food so spicy. Actual mexican food isn’t terribly spicy.

    But if you ask for it that way at Inca or La Fiesta, they’ll happily make it for you.

  8. I was referring to flavorful spices, like Parker’s gumbo soup.

  9. anominous on December 10, 2009 at 3:47 pm said:

    Nice picture.

  10. I will never eat there again. The food was cold, poor service, they need to get there act together, you would think after being open for over 3 months they would have it together. I mean even the health department saw issues. They got a 91.
    Violations for last two inspections (if any), click on each violation for a description on how that violation impacts public health:

    Inspection Date: 12/14/2009 Total Score: 91
    Critical Violations
    4 points: COLD AND HOT STORAGE EQUIPMENT
    Cold holding unit in the facility being used for cold holding temp of 41 degrees F was not functioning adequately.
    Non-Critical Violations
    2 points: CONTAMINATION DURING STORAGE
    Food noted being stored on the floor in walk-in cooler
    1 points: TOILET FACILITIES
    Toilet room door noted not self closing.
    1 points: VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM
    An appropriate hood noted not provided over bun steamer.
    1 points: FLOORS WALLS CEILINGS
    Floors in the kitchen under and behind fryers and stove noted in need of cleaning.
    Inspection Date: 11/4/2009 Total Score: 96
    2 points: CONTAMINATION DURING STORAGE
    Food noted being stored on the floor in establishment.
    1 points: SINGLE – USE/SINGLE – SERVICE ARTICLES
    Cups and trays noted being stored on the floor.
    1 points: PREMISES
    Mops not hung.

    One was even for cold food. Geez!!

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