john237's Profile
99 Restaurants Cease Operations
It makes no sense to close a group of restaurants the week before Christmas. I'll make a predication here, you'll see more closing soon.
It's not as though the leases were up on all 5 units at once.
Closing a restaurant like that does not come without major expenses, there's leases to negotiate out of, there's utilities, taxes, insurance.
99 Restaurants Cease Operations
PA NJ and CT I think. Also closing O'Charleys.
Economy getting better, I think not.
Tip of the iceburg folks.
The "new" Bertucci's in Montgomeryville
Guiseppe's is almost at the corner of Rt 463 and Broad Street Lansdale. It's right next door to the train station, Fortuna I think is that stop.
You know who else has ok Pizza? Can't think of the name of the place but it's in the shopping center that Lansdale Meats is in. Spatola's, that's it.
Yes, I'm a fan of Nino's pizza, grew up eating it. It's the only place I get Sicilian from.
The "new" Bertucci's in Montgomeryville
I have two "go to" pizza places.
#1 Nino's Rt 63 Lansdale across from Big Lots. The best sicilian pizza, period.
#2 Vinny's Cowpath & Orvilla Road Hatfield. Good pizza and decent cheesesteaks.
The "new" Bertucci's in Montgomeryville
So I tried Bertuccis. Why? I asked myself the same thing, if I want good Italian or good pizza, there's plenty of local places to get it.
I'll sum it up, chain food, chain quality, and the staff over the top chain employees. I get it, the trainers give you a script, you parrot it. I had the same server "MER LOT". This restaurant doesn't make any sense to me.
One more cookie cutter, it a bag of cookies (Montgomeryville)
So as you're getting visually assaulted, where's any one of the 4 or 5 Managers (Kitchen, Front of House, Bar, Host or GM) at during this? Either clueless, complacent or complicit....
I shall never step foot in that establishment.
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Bertuccis
625 Cross Keys Rd, Sicklerville, NJ 08081
Blue Bell - Domenico's out... new resto opening 10/1 in old Blue Horse Inn space
Well?
Buona Via in Horsham
Anybody been there? Building is beautiful but I've never been inside.
Molly Maguire's In Lansdale - Very Disappointing
Not sure if you were trying to be facetious but, Junction House and Fifth Street pub are really not nice places bordering on not safe.
DRAFTING ROOM CLOSED PERMANTLY
Drafting Room in Spring house closed permantly today. Another casualty.
Replacement for Cresheim Cottage
Just by Cresheim Cottage today, NO activity at all.
Pork Shoulder?
Try Lansdale Village Meats on Broad Street, I guess techincally it's Hatfield. VERY reasonable, old school butcher shop.
La Tolteca in Towamencin shopping center
Donatos was a McDonald's concept. Did they all close?
Replacement for Cresheim Cottage
Maybe I somehow wasn't clear in my post. While we all agree some BYOs and well as full service restaurants can make great food and have great service, the point of the business is to make a profit.
Busy while definately an advantage, does not guarantee profitability.
I've owned restaurants, yes chains, god forbid, that did 1500 covers on a Friday night. That equated to 90K a week in sales, that's busy.
A place with ten tables, turning the tables 2x, equating to 40 covers in a night? I cook bigger meals in my kitchen at home.
Replacement for Cresheim Cottage
Many restaurants HAVE done well in the past. Many business do well in good economic environments. I'm not saying that BYOs do not/can not have great food and great service, I am questioning their profitability and long term economic viability.
I sound like someone who owns a "full service" restaurant? I don't know what else to call a sit down restaurant with food and liquor other than full service. Is there another term you feel is more appropriate?
Simply because I am knowledgeable on a topic doesn't mean I am involved in that business? Care to discuss insurance? finance? law?
At the end of the day beyond "great food, excellent service, well maintained dining room and kitchen, happy employees and regular customers" the goal of the restaurant is to make money, which many BYOs do not.
Replacement for Cresheim Cottage
You love BYOs because they have great food or because you can eat cheaply there in comparison to full service?
Many of the BYOs I know of opened as BYOs because of the cost of the liquor license. Shoestring operations, thinly capitalized do not thrive in downturns of the economy.
BYOs operating out of store fronts in strip centers, one step above the food court in the mall.
Replacement for Cresheim Cottage
As a matter of fact I do, do you have any idea of the COGS of LBW vs. the COGS of Food?
And for the record, if an establishment allows liquor to be served that are still liable for Dram Shop suits. As the restauranteur you are still responsible to ensure patrons are not leaving your establishment intoxicated. The same way if you provide liquor in your home. It's Host Liability.
So the idea that a BYO can avoid liability, and thereby do not require insurance, is ludicrous. Here's the real world facts, MANY BYOs and MANY smaller Bars, Taverns, etc, run without Liquor Liability Insurance. It is NOT required in Pennsylvania. It's a roll of the dice of the establishment's owner.
Replacement for Cresheim Cottage
Because there is no money in BYOBs, BYOBs will be a thing of the past. Restaurants need the LBW revenue to survive.
Wedding cake in Philadelphia?
Stock's Bakery in Philadelphia has the best pound cake in the city hands down. Decorations are a little limited to traditional.
From the Boot in Ambler - happily reporting back!
Third.
Mama D's on 611 is also better.
From the Boot in Ambler - happily reporting back!
FTB, food mediocre, ambiance LOUD.
Great bakery in Blue Bell
If you want REALLY good pound cake try Stock's in Philly. It's kinda funny though, think soup nazi of the poundcake world.
DeTerra Wine Bar - all I can say is wow!
San Marco, the most expensive thing on the menu is Filetto ai Funghi Selvatici $28.95
Bridget's I don't know, there is no website that I can find.
My point is, if I was spending $45/entree, Ambler is not the place I would go. My example of WaterWorks offers alfresco dining with views of Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Art Museum.
At $45 entrees, you better be a desitination point, you'll never survive as the "local place" In this economy, fine dining is have a difficult time.
Gwynedd, Ambler Pub Grub
Blue Bell Inn for the 70+ crowd only. William Penn has a nice tavern tucked away inside.
DeTerra Wine Bar - all I can say is wow!
$45 for a veal chop? $27 for chicken? $7-$15 for a glass of wine?
All I can say is wow, you could eat at Waterworks for less, the place may be nice, but WAY overpriced for the area, it'll be closed in less than a year.
It's Ambler, not Doylestown, sorry, just a fact.
Alba's announces $7.00 corkage fee
BYOB are having a very difficult time surviving. It's obvious to everyone the markup on alcohol, that's why restaurants make the investment in a liquor license.
I'm curious, what percentage does everyone think a well run restaurant makes in net profit?
Knife Sharpening - found - Philly burbs
Yes that's it. Sorry I knew it was around there somewhere. :)
Knife Sharpening - found - Philly burbs
Faraco Knife sharpening in Souderton area, They've been around forever.
