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Rush, Rush, Rush ...
In less than the span of one week I sought out two locally owned restaurants in
which to dine, "Blackbird Café" at 50th and Bryant in South Minneapolis and "Pop
- A Neighborhood Restaurant" at 28th and Johnson in Northeast Minneapolis.
Blackbird Café has been open about a year, but a recent evening was the first visit
for my dinner companion and myself. We arrived shortly after 5:00 pm on a
Thursday and were shown a table straight away. The seating was as familiar as
an old church pew. Oh that's right it was a church pew. Having never dined at
this restaurant, I was immediately struck by the number of antlers mounted on the
walls; everything from antelope to moose. These were juxtaposed with brightly
colored paper lanterns, Gothic chandeliers and gilded mirrors. You can draw your
own conclusions.
Four or five tables got to share one wine list while others were being printed, but
fortunately, we were able to have our own dinner menu. After a few minutes to
peruse, we chose to split the Caesar salad with a few lovely anchovies on the
side. The salads arrived on a plate hot enough to warm the romaine. I didn't
know I had ordered a wilted salad but then again I'm not sure that was their
intent. My companion ordered the seed & mustard crusted pork loin with stone
fruit & wild rice pilaf and I ordered the Duck Rillettes with Maytag blue cheese
and fig chutney.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish the salads before the entrées arrived.
Obviously as six o'clock rolled around they were ready to turn the table, though I
had called ahead requesting a reservation. The overall experience overshadowed
the food that we had ordered. It was indeed unfortunate!
Within the same week we were driving to "Pop - A Neighborhood Restaurant"
and called on the way again to ask if they took reservations as it was about 7:00
pm. I'd been to "Pop" several times prior but can never remember if they take
reservations or not. They don't by the way. It took a little longer than usual to
get from Bret's Table to our destination as the 35W Bridge over the Mississippi is
usually crossed, but like everyone else in the Twin Cities we're finding new ways
to get to where we are going.
Having arrived just before 7:30 pm, we were promptly seated in front of the open
kitchen and given our menus and wine list. I was salivating for the Pan-Seared
Salmon and roasted red pepper, tomato, Artichoke Heart and Crab Risotto with
Leek confit, but alas that was the one entrée that was sold out that evening. Back
to the menu for a second choice and assured that the pork was indeed tender, I
decided on the Achiote marinated pork tenderloin and sautéed chorizo-cornbread
polenta with Ancho chili sauce and cranberry relish. Not being able to make up
my mind, the waitperson allowed me to taste an Argentinean Malbec and Pinot
Noir from France and suggested a Grenache from Spain which I agreed with her
paired the best with the Pork.
Anticipating a relaxing evening after a busy day with the plumber, electrician and
carpenter in the house, it did not come to pass. Our Caesar Salads arrived
followed too soon by our appetizer of Shrimp and Black bean fritters with chipotle
and guasaca (Venezuelan avocado condiment) dipping sauces. I thought the order
should have been reversed but it wasn't the end of the world.
I did ask the waitress to slow down the entrées as I was enjoying the salad and
wanted to enjoy the appetizer as well. That suggestion was not heeded as the
entrées were presented no more than 5 minutes later. Asking why they arrived so
soon, we were told that the chef wanted go to a concert and therefore was
pushing the orders out. I cannot say that that was the comment I wanted to hear
at that point in the evening.
I would have rather been told when we called before our arrival that they were
not taking anymore reservations. Or after we had sat down, the waitperson could
have mentioned that the chef had a commitment and made a suggestion of
ordering a sandwich thus lessoning the expectation that this was not going to be a
two hour meal. Needless to say dinner was about and hour and totaled close to
$80 for 3 people with only one glass of wine served.
In the span of 4 days and patronizing two locally owned restaurants my
experience at each was much less than what I had hoped or desired. I'd be
interested in hearing of your experiences concerning service when you dine out.
In the meantime, keep seeking out the locally owned and return to those that give
you pleasure and a memorable experience.
In less than the span of one week I sought out two locally owned restaurants in
which to dine, "Blackbird Café" at 50th and Bryant in South Minneapolis and "Pop
- A Neighborhood Restaurant" at 28th and Johnson in Northeast Minneapolis.
Blackbird Café has been open about a year, but a recent evening was the first visit
for my dinner companion and myself. We arrived shortly after 5:00 pm on a
Thursday and were shown a table straight away. The seating was as familiar as
an old church pew. Oh that's right it was a church pew. Having never dined at
this restaurant, I was immediately struck by the number of antlers mounted on the
walls; everything from antelope to moose. These were juxtaposed with brightly
colored paper lanterns, Gothic chandeliers and gilded mirrors. You can draw your
own conclusions.
Four or five tables got to share one wine list while others were being printed, but
fortunately, we were able to have our own dinner menu. After a few minutes to
peruse, we chose to split the Caesar salad with a few lovely anchovies on the
side. The salads arrived on a plate hot enough to warm the romaine. I didn't
know I had ordered a wilted salad but then again I'm not sure that was their
intent. My companion ordered the seed & mustard crusted pork loin with stone
fruit & wild rice pilaf and I ordered the Duck Rillettes with Maytag blue cheese
and fig chutney.
Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish the salads before the entrées arrived.
Obviously as six o'clock rolled around they were ready to turn the table, though I
had called ahead requesting a reservation. The overall experience overshadowed
the food that we had ordered. It was indeed unfortunate!
Within the same week we were driving to "Pop - A Neighborhood Restaurant"
and called on the way again to ask if they took reservations as it was about 7:00
pm. I'd been to "Pop" several times prior but can never remember if they take
reservations or not. They don't by the way. It took a little longer than usual to
get from Bret's Table to our destination as the 35W Bridge over the Mississippi is
usually crossed, but like everyone else in the Twin Cities we're finding new ways
to get to where we are going.
Having arrived just before 7:30 pm, we were promptly seated in front of the open
kitchen and given our menus and wine list. I was salivating for the Pan-Seared
Salmon and roasted red pepper, tomato, Artichoke Heart and Crab Risotto with
Leek confit, but alas that was the one entrée that was sold out that evening. Back
to the menu for a second choice and assured that the pork was indeed tender, I
decided on the Achiote marinated pork tenderloin and sautéed chorizo-cornbread
polenta with Ancho chili sauce and cranberry relish. Not being able to make up
my mind, the waitperson allowed me to taste an Argentinean Malbec and Pinot
Noir from France and suggested a Grenache from Spain which I agreed with her
paired the best with the Pork.
Anticipating a relaxing evening after a busy day with the plumber, electrician and
carpenter in the house, it did not come to pass. Our Caesar Salads arrived
followed too soon by our appetizer of Shrimp and Black bean fritters with chipotle
and guasaca (Venezuelan avocado condiment) dipping sauces. I thought the order
should have been reversed but it wasn't the end of the world.
I did ask the waitress to slow down the entrées as I was enjoying the salad and
wanted to enjoy the appetizer as well. That suggestion was not heeded as the
entrées were presented no more than 5 minutes later. Asking why they arrived so
soon, we were told that the chef wanted go to a concert and therefore was
pushing the orders out. I cannot say that that was the comment I wanted to hear
at that point in the evening.
I would have rather been told when we called before our arrival that they were
not taking anymore reservations. Or after we had sat down, the waitperson could
have mentioned that the chef had a commitment and made a suggestion of
ordering a sandwich thus lessoning the expectation that this was not going to be a
two hour meal. Needless to say dinner was about and hour and totaled close to
$80 for 3 people with only one glass of wine served.
In the span of 4 days and patronizing two locally owned restaurants my
experience at each was much less than what I had hoped or desired. I'd be
interested in hearing of your experiences concerning service when you dine out.
In the meantime, keep seeking out the locally owned and return to those that give
you pleasure and a memorable experience.
| August 2007 |
Correction -
Blackbird Café as only
been open about a
month as of August
2007, not one year as I
state in my article.
Blackbird Café as only
been open about a
month as of August
2007, not one year as I
state in my article.
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