Please, please check out the armeniac's comments on that thread with all the comments below. I am still LOLing inside (I know that doesn't make any sense)
It is kinda harsh to come in with a hangover and read this. However, it's nice to get people talking and it really all comes down to my subjective opinion, which is obviously all reviews are. Yes, you can bring more or less knowledge to the table (I bring as much as I can and I care and I pay attention and I read) and a more or less sensitive palate, that's about it. I'm no supertaster, which is probably why I'm drawn to cuisines with strong and spicy flavors. I stand by my review. The seafood soup that Liv had was like 18 dollars and she said it tasted freezer burned and I agreed. I HATE writing negative reviews. Who would enjoy it? Maybe somebody, but I know BAR doesn't, either.
My hangover resulted from an evening that started at Bows. I had a glass of the gamay with a shared roast beef sandwich and the squash "meatball" sandwich. Then I had a glass of the sparkling vouvray. They were both delicious, as were the sandwiches and the side salad. Then, we went to Luna's because AR was hosting the comedy night. Some of it was rough. It was my first time (well, since Francois Fly) seeing Keith Lowell Jensen perform and he was funny. Then, a nightcap at Simon's was really the culprit. If you ever hear me saying "Maker's on the rocks" yell "NOOOOOOOOO!!!" and slap it out of my hand. That's a sure sign that things have gone too far. No, j.k., it was fun and it's not much of a hangover.
26 comments:
I'm also concerned because these comments highlight the fact that I used the adjective "careworn", which I also used in my review that's about to come out. Oops! It's my way of trying to be nice about a place that's kinda trashed or faded.
Simon's is a hangover factory.
Megami strikes me as a place that has a lot of strong positive memories associated with it for some people. Everyone has those places they love so much they've ceased to be objective. June could bring me a terrible plate of wienie royal & I doubt I'd even notice. I loved Fumy's (or was it Fumi's) unconditionally even though it was mainly just kind of funny. I think Sal's in West Sac rules even though plenty of people I know think it's gross. Ditto Rickshaw (RIP).
I would no doubt get annoyed if any of those places got trashed in a review. But what I wouldn't do is get all harsh & assume the writer doesn't know anything about food or that they went to the place with an axe to grind or my personal pet peeve: suggest that "maybe they should go to the French Laundry" or something equally absurd as if any food reviewer is lame enough to expect something like that at every meal.
I read the Bee comments on BAR reviews & I can't believe the wild accusations that fly. I appreciate the passion that people feel about places like Megami but that can be channeled in to a sensible response (like what Matias wrote) without being so harsh.
That said, I vow to go to Megami in the next few weeks & see if I get served something better than the slop they served me many years ago on my first (and last) visit.
-miller
Oh man, a sal's diss. I'll go on record and say i've had nothing but 100% good times at Sal's. I want a taco from there right now!
-omf
Sals has a sign on its door right now saying that it may have to shut down if business doesn't pick up.
I saw that sign. They should make another sign that says "Ignore most of the overpriced menu. Order 2 tacos & gorge yourself on chips & salsa". I always get a laugh at the 'Sal's #1 Deal' which is probably the worst deal on the menu.
-miller
Megami, where I got taco sushi, really with salsa on it, about 4 years ago and never went back. People are very attached to the place, my family used to go there weekly till we figured out it's pretty lame. Good call Beks!
C'mon, Grunewald, you're being way too sensitive. You've been invited out for a free dinner by two obviously charming people, one of whom knows how to properly use the subjunctive mood (no, I'm dismissing the possibility that he might be a serial killer, but if he is he is a civilized one, dammit). A re-review gauntlet is being tossed at your feet. You should be jumping for joy. That article practically writes itself. Midmo could use a bit of frisson once in a while.
--knowcebo
*I'm NOT dismissing, obvously.
One person's sounds like a serial killer is another person's sounds like a colossal bore. Also just wondering, but how passionate would these rebuttals be if the negative review had been written by a woman? Because some of that comes off to this reader as straight up mansplaining.
good one, anonymous commenter. I've really been put in my place. You're right, sexism doesn't exist, I realize that now.
I'm being sensitive because it bums me out that some people think I would enjoy ripping on a downtrodden (should have used that instead of careworn) establishment run by nice people? May I never be so insensitive that that wouldn't bother me.
So what I'm hearing you say, this reader, is that you think the two gentlemen are boring and maybe even a bit chauvinistic. Maybe you're right, but what has that got to do with my main point that this is a great story opportunity? Let's not lose sight of the fact that there is vintage Mercedes involved in all this.
But whatever. I'm obviously not going to be able to argue this point. It's like mansplaining a joke. Never works.
Grunewald! I was trying to encourage you, not put you in your place. I comment here to say amusing things to people in my community, not to piss them off. Jesus, was that comment really that rough? It sort of annoys me when people write "sigh" to signify silent resignation, but sigh
--knowcebo
I got a comment in 4 parts:
1. That fish was freezer burned and cooked to a toughness that was unbelievable. I rarely get excited about Japanese cuisine in Sac as opposed to sushi I think in part because there aren't many places who do it well. Akebono, Zen Toro in Davis, and Hana Tsubaki are tops though.
2. If you decide to take Matias up on his offer I wanna go!
3. If I ever slap a drink out of you hand it means I'm stewed enough to require the same treament. Just an FYI for future reference.
4. The anony-troll is back!
I can't show my face in there, are you kidding?
I think you should just stick with The French Laundry.
-miller
costume! costume! costume!
Are you calling me a troll, Liv Moe? And what do you mean by "anony-troll is back!" First of all, I'm not anonymous. I've never made it any secret that I'm Jeff McCrory who writes under the name knowcebo (my blog name). Second of all, I comment here all the time. I never left!
I'm hardly ever at a lost for words, but anything I say now will just come off as trollish. It's sort of a catch-22.
So let me just wish Grunewald and Liv Moe and everyone else happiness and good cheer.
--knowcebo
I'll dress up like a super snide person who can afford the French laundry.
sorry Knowcebo, your comment was really confusing and you didn't sign it that time, if that one was you. I really couldn't understand if you were making fun of me or what.
There were two anonymous comments. It took me a while to figure out. The second one was Jeff, the first one (not the Sal's one) was not.
gbomb.
P.S. I eat at Megami about once a month, I get the mustard chicken and I love it. Those of you who know me know that I think chicken is gross, so that is high praise indeed. But I agree with Scott, part of the reason I love Megami is that it was my first Japanese food ever. When I worked at the crest, we went there quite a bit and it had to have been affordable because I was pulling in a hefty Crest salary.
At Sal's I get the fish taco (it's grilled!) and love every bite.
I'm no expert on Japanese food but I enjoy the grub at Megami's. What I really enjoy though is hi nice they have always been to my nephew who, while still in single digits, loved going there. He was always promised that the dragon in his dragon roll was fresh caught. Haven't been there in quite a while but when I was a regular they never showed me a bad time or fed me a bad meal.
Oh, and thanks for coming out to the show. Yeah, it go awkward at times for sure. I'm glad you thought I was funny. I'm beating that fucking routine to death as I prepare for some auditions so it feels pretty stale, but I like it alright. Alec is a goddamn genius, and I'm totally sincere. I think he is incredible.
Wow, you got told off by Art Scotland! If it's the same one, he's the recently retired presiding justice of the Third District Court of Appeal. (He's told me off many times, too, but not for my opinions about food.)
Interesting. At least important people think I'm a snide idiot. That's something?
Back in the day (I don't know about currently) Megami was pretty beloved by the downtown legal crowd so it's probably one of his spots. I've had really good lunches there and some not so great ones. When I went there regularly, they only had sushi on days when the grandma was there to make it.
Post a Comment