scout909's Profile
Farm House What?
Wow is this a dud! I don’t get it that this is a Zagat 26. This reveals the problem with "neighborhood" restaurants. You get the Neighborhood to vouch for a mediocre at best place and Zagat buys it. Staff is completely unprepared with no knowledge of the menu. The chef seems to focus on cafeteria style entrees. Lots of breading, more starch on the side and no creativity what so ever. I guess the neighborhood likes overpriced flavorless food. I strongly recommend a car ride to Addison, Brasserie, Bastide, Market or Arterra to experience something more worthwhile.
Details on the 12/31/10 tasting menu:
Amuse Bouche – dry with no hint of cheese and cold
Onion tart – dough had not been prepared properly and turned into cereal. No flavor
Foie gras – Nice paring with persimmon but the veins where left in the Foie and the cardboard it was served on was dry.
Mushroom crusted Cod – This was a copy of fish and chips from elementary school. Cod topped with a large amount of oily breadcrumbs (no sign of mushrooms) the veggies were nice.
Dessert – who cares after this meal!
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Arterra Restaurant
11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130
Farm House Cafe
2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
Thanksgiving Dinner Near Palo Alto
Thanks ceeskat. Was visitng last weekend and had a nice brunch at Mayfield. I'll check it out
Thanksgiving Dinner Near Palo Alto
Coming in for a 5 day Holiday with our daughter. Looking at Madera for Thanksgiving (but very expenisive!) Any thoughts?
Also whats new that we shoud try. Loved Calafia this weekend.
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Calafia
855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA
Madera
2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
One night near O'Hare
Staying at the Hyatt regency and looking for dinner. Burgers and Dogs would be great or something Chowish! Thanks
Joao's Tin Fish - Liberty Station SD
Living in Pt. Loma we have been twice. Both times were very disappointing. First the service is weak. Even with just two or three table occupied(whichi is the most I'v ever seen) they can’t get it right. Second the food is weaker. Fish and chips greasy. Sliders like little burnt rocks. Finally, I think it is very displeasing to see old tuna fishing footage being played over and over showing tuna and dolphin being slaughtered.
LaGiostra in Monterey any good?
Don't even think about it. We tried it with high hopes and were sorely disappointed. Bland food and very rude staff.
Chowish near Cal State Long Beach
Looking for something for dinner Saterday night party of 9. We will be sitting down around 5:30 so maybe that gives us some tasty options
Thanks
How Does Subway Stay in Business?
BECAUSE THEY ROCK! They do it day in and day out. I don't know how they could go wrong. They cut everything daily and everything is just so fresh! Consistency is hard to find and one place to find it is Subway.
Artisanal...."are u kidding me?"
I am sure they have dishes that are worth while. But for me I will not waste my time and money on "whats if's"
There is nothing like a great pairing of wine and cheese. But I can go to Whole Foods and get a great pair for a fraciton of the price and enjoy it in a place that is not so cramped its "asses to elbows"
Artisanal...."are u kidding me?"
I love my chowhounds but where did it go wrong for this place? I'm in NYC for the week and after much study of all you great hounds I made my reservations. For my third night it was to be Artisanal. I am so glad I have two more days. I need to re-invigorate my palate and try and brush off one of the worst meals (for the money) I have ever had!
You told me it was about cheese, so I ordered Cheese. And all I got was "we are out of that and out of this" and when they brought me what they had it was five small lonley pieces of oddly cut cheeses. Worst of all...nothing to stimulate the flavors of the cheese. No honey, fruits or homemade jams.
You told me to get the gougures. I did and they were very well made but cold!
You told me the wine list was superb. It was but I never received my selected glass when the cheese arrived. I waited and waited hoping I would have wine with cheese. But No...at Artisanal, its here is the cheese........"are you finished?"...."here is your wine"
Finally I must comment on the dining room. I will leave you with this. I feel sorry for the young couple who had just received their overpriced bottle of wine only to have it end up in the lap of the lady caused by the buttocks of the other lady trying to squeeze into her sardine can like seat.
I'm affraid Zagat got it right. Zagat rated it a 23. If you know Zagat a 23 to me equals crappola!
Artisinal recieved a 23!
By the way, Sfoglia, Lupa, OTTO, Aburiya are all fantastic! Thanks for the great ones.
Family in NYC looking for chow
Great! we love mac n cheese. Dim sum sounds great too! I will try for a reservation at Babbo.
Family in NYC looking for chow
My family will be staying in the CIty at The Benjamin (125 E 50th)hotel for 6 nights in late July. We will have all day Saturday and Sunday to walk the City and eat! The next several days we will be visiting colleges and returning for dinner in the evenings. Looking for great food and reasonable (for NYC) prices. My family (mom, dad and two girls 11 & 15) all love chowhoundish food. For example we love Lupa for lunch. I have looked over the previous post but thought I would start a new. Thanks for your thoughts
Your restaurant in San Diego where you always order the same dish
Please check out this thread!
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/359078
best restaurant in san diego
Please check out this thread! http://www.chowhound.com/topics/359078
SDRW - Pampelmousse Blah!
Thank you all for your response. My wife and I have lived in San Diego since we were kids. We travel extensively and always love to return home. The one thing we crave is great food! Creative, inventive and inspiring. We research before we travel( Chowhound rules!) and savor our finds when we find them. Pampelmousse is a splinter in the San Diego food scene. I have taken the time to look into the background of this "establishment" and I have nothing good to report. So I will refrain. My conclusion is simple to all that savor the best in dining out....pick another place in San Diego. I could go on but I will again refrain!
My message to Pampelmousse...Don't renew your lease!
SDRW -- Tapenade La Jolla (another long one)
Thanks for the great review. I wish I had kept my reservation at Tapenade vs Pampelmousse.
SDRW - Pampelmousse Blah!
What a disappointment! This was my second time to Pampelmousse Grill and after the first I was not in a hurry to return, But, its restaurant week and so we thought we would give it another chance. Simply put it was a waste of money.
Here’s the program. They seat you and then inform you of the “specials: which all carry a increased charge over the $40 restaurant week price fixe. SO, for foie gras it’s an additional %15 and for the steak entrée it’s an additional $20. So by the time you have what the chef thinks is special you’re at $75 buck per person. Then comes the ultimate in your dining “experience.” When you finish they have already added a 20% tip to your tab. Apparently this will occur during the entire week.
The ‘show case” menu for the week is much uninspired, and just plain lousy. The shrimp/crab first course was died out, over sauced with a thick sauce and sitting on top two anemic pieces of asparagus. The “Kobe burger” was merely one hunk of salty meat, slapped on a dried out bun. I guess they think that since there a truffles in his dish it make it gourmet! The truffles were not earthy and aromatic but rather pungent and exuded a unpleasant odor. The deserts where blah!
You still have time to cancel your reservations and go to an establishment that is truly showcasing their cooking.
