2017 Sunier Fleurie

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Sounds like they're trying to be all things to all people. Does that imply they don't have a regular clientele (and so must fish harder)?

Newly-opened restaurant that probably doesn't have a regular clientele (yet).

I think we can all agree these people are not on our wavelength, but that doesn't mean they cannot also produce good food. And, in the Carolina part of the world, there aren't enough restaurants that tick every single box. (Some might argue that the phenomenal list at VLM's spot outshines the food)

For the NC crowd, I wonder what you think of Rose's Noodles in Durham? I really like them on all dimensions, although not a dinner place.

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by Rahsaan:


In SF at the moment and walked by Slanted Door yesterday and thought of you. More than ever, there are good things here but the city is becoming such a caricature.

Bourdain did an episode of Parts Unkowm on the changing character of SF. There’s also a current release film Last Black Man in SF that tells the story of one house and neighborhood as well as the changing demographics of the city.

Mark Lipton

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Sounds like they're trying to be all things to all people. Does that imply they don't have a regular clientele (and so must fish harder)?

Newly-opened restaurant that probably doesn't have a regular clientele (yet).

I think we can all agree these people are not on our wavelength, but that doesn't mean they cannot also produce good food. And, in the Carolina part of the world, there aren't enough restaurants that tick every single box. (Some might argue that the phenomenal list at VLM's spot outshines the food)

For the NC crowd, I wonder what you think of Rose's Noodles in Durham? I really like them on all dimensions, although not a dinner place.

So, we went to Hawthorne and Wood last night. We liked it. The list is terrible, but we sat at the bar and had good cocktails. Several of the staff, including our bartender, are familiar faces from the Durham restaurant scene. We were treated quite well and attentively, although it wasn't that busy and, as I said, we knew folks and we were known to them, so who knows. The food was good enough. Good enough concepts that just didn't quite hit the mark. We had fun though and will probably go back. We'll bring our own wine though. The list is atrocious.

I really like Rose's. It was my butcher (for pork at least) before they changed concept. I find the food really good, but beverages were tough. It isn't really a dinner spot, so we never go.

I like Mercato more than you do, but I think you are really, really wrong about it, especially as a vegetarian. Gabe has almost right of first refusal with the best farms at the market and does magical things with vegetables. We generally eat more from that part of the menu than pizza these days. But I think the pizza is easily my favorite around. It isn't Neopolitan (uses deck ovens), it's kind of it's own thing. I like that you can pick up a piece and it holds its structural integrity and I love most of the flavor combinations.

 

[VLM]

originally posted by MLipton:

originally posted by Rahsaan:


In SF at the moment and walked by Slanted Door yesterday and thought of you. More than ever, there are good things here but the city is becoming such a caricature.

Bourdain did an episode of Parts Unkowm on the changing character of SF. There’s also a current release film Last Black Man in SF that tells the story of one house and neighborhood as well as the changing demographics of the city.

Mark Lipton

We didn't go for my birthday this year because so many of my friends have left. It's not a viable place to live if you don't have an inheritance or tech dough.

 

[Rahsaan]

originally posted by VLM:

I really like Rose's. It was my butcher (for pork at least) before they changed concept. I find the food really good, but beverages were tough. It isn't really a dinner spot, so we never go.

I like Mercato more than you do, but I think you are really, really wrong about it, especially as a vegetarian.

Good to hear the convergence on Rose's. We've had tasty non-alcoholic beverages. It works really well as family lunch/afternoon outing and suits the sensibility of me and my wife really well. It always makes me very happy in that way. (My son is less enthused, but he's 8 and I'm paying, so that's not yet a big concern)

Not sure what I said about Mercato but we also like it a lot. I have a soft spot for Napoli but their opening hours are awkward so we've ended up at Mercato several times this spring. We used to be big fans of Toro but between Mercato and Napoli we are now less likely to go to Durham!

 

[VLM]

originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by VLM:

I really like Rose's. It was my butcher (for pork at least) before they changed concept. I find the food really good, but beverages were tough. It isn't really a dinner spot, so we never go.

I like Mercato more than you do, but I think you are really, really wrong about it, especially as a vegetarian.

Good to hear the convergence on Rose's. We've had tasty non-alcoholic beverages. It works really well as family lunch/afternoon outing and suits the sensibility of me and my wife really well. It always makes me very happy in that way. (My son is less enthused, but he's 8 and I'm paying, so that's not yet a big concern)

Not sure what I said about Mercato but we also like it a lot. I have a soft spot for Napoli but their opening hours are awkward so we've ended up at Mercato several times this spring. We used to be big fans of Toro but between Mercato and Napoli we are now less likely to go to Durham!

I thought you told me once that you liked Toro or Napoli better and I think that is an insane position. Maybe that was some other nut-job. [emoji]

 

[mark e]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by MLipton:

originally posted by Rahsaan:


In SF at the moment and walked by Slanted Door yesterday and thought of you. More than ever, there are good things here but the city is becoming such a caricature.

Bourdain did an episode of Parts Unkowm on the changing character of SF. There’s also a current release film Last Black Man in SF that tells the story of one house and neighborhood as well as the changing demographics of the city.

Mark Lipton

We didn't go for my birthday this year because so many of my friends have left. It's not a viable place to live if you don't have an inheritance or tech dough.

I think we got out just in time. I haven't been back since SFJoe's memorial there. But it seems so odd now. Just a rich man's playground.

 

[mark e]

originally posted by VLM:

originally posted by Rahsaan:

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Sounds like they're trying to be all things to all people. Does that imply they don't have a regular clientele (and so must fish harder)?

Newly-opened restaurant that probably doesn't have a regular clientele (yet).

I think we can all agree these people are not on our wavelength, but that doesn't mean they cannot also produce good food. And, in the Carolina part of the world, there aren't enough restaurants that tick every single box. (Some might argue that the phenomenal list at VLM's spot outshines the food)

For the NC crowd, I wonder what you think of Rose's Noodles in Durham? I really like them on all dimensions, although not a dinner place.

I like Mercato more than you do, but I think you are really, really wrong about it, especially as a vegetarian. Gabe has almost right of first refusal with the best farms at the market and does magical things with vegetables. We generally eat more from that part of the menu than pizza these days. But I think the pizza is easily my favorite around. It isn't Neopolitan (uses deck ovens), it's kind of it's own thing. I like that you can pick up a piece and it holds its structural integrity and I love most of the flavor combinations.

They did get good produce. No argument there. I tried the pizza a couple of times at the beginning and didn't really like it. Out of four dishes we tried once (two pizze and two veg sides) all were so egregiously oversalted that I never went back. I do not doubt that one can make changes for the better over time, though.