tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post1462262378779874572..comments2023-09-27T04:07:05.950-04:00Comments on wine me, dine me: Review: Arnold'sJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14911168030162240860noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-21210728465652738372008-05-04T03:18:00.000-04:002008-05-04T03:18:00.000-04:00That's pretty awful, Jackie. I try really hard to...That's pretty awful, Jackie. I try really hard to support independents, as you can tell-- but that said, if a restaurant does business just because they've been around for 140 years, and not because the food is edible (that pork was AWFUL), that's not great either. If they did a killer burger, sandwiches, salads and soup, it would be great. That said, the night we were there, it wasn't busy at all-- so maybe people are getting the idea that the food isn't fantastic.<BR/><BR/>As far as chains I do like, I like McCormick and Schmick's, Rusty Bucket, City Barbecue-- they tend to be smaller (Applebee's? Blech!) and do what they do right.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14911168030162240860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-72840877693670254282008-05-04T01:07:00.000-04:002008-05-04T01:07:00.000-04:00Sorry, but if a chain nails what they do, they des...Sorry, but if a chain nails what they do, they deserve my money more than a business that thinks it is entitled to my custom by mere virtue of being independent. It's a fiercely competitive marketplace out there, and patronizing sub-standard establishments because they're locally owned doesn't do any favors for local *customers* or the businesses themselves, in the long term. "Innovate or die" is a message that doesn't get through when people are caught up in a feel-good fug of righteous spending. Thus, the likes of Arnold have little reason to improve upon their culinary offering, because people will show up and eat anyway. "Hey, it's not a chain!" Yes, and it also sucks - thanks to enabling customers. <BR/><BR/>That said, Arnold's has a great atmosphere, and part of the huge disappointment with them is that the potential is massive. I mean, it's not hard to do a good burger. It's not difficult or expensive to produce a killer French onion soup (indeed, that sort of thing is a kitchen manager's dream, as it can be partly prepared ahead of time with no adverse effect on the quality of the result). Don't try to get fancy with provincial ideas of "gourmet" platings and dishes. The really valuable local angle would be to just do straightforward, solid food that people around here love. Maybe someday they'll get it.<BR/><BR/>(If this comment wasn't so long, I'd tell you about the time the manager at Arnold's <I>scolded</I> Joe Wessels, loudly and nastily, because the waitress messed up his order. I haven't been back since I saw that dramatic display of customer disservice.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-37544007865021280792008-05-03T11:13:00.000-04:002008-05-03T11:13:00.000-04:00Sorry to hear. I don't get there as much any more ...Sorry to hear. I don't get there as much any more but I have never had an issue, I had the Greek pasta fall and it was good, last couple of times I was in for lunch, had a fish sandwich and it was OK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-83414843594154900622008-05-02T09:50:00.000-04:002008-05-02T09:50:00.000-04:00i agree w/ everyone. arnold's is a good place to ...i agree w/ everyone. arnold's is a good place to go for drinks but the food generally sucks. i think once i had a good spinach and artichoke dip there, but ordered the same dish a few other times and it was bland and boring. another time i had lunch there and everything on the plate was tan and square... gross.lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02757412748648257783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-65624374184883975642008-05-02T09:36:00.000-04:002008-05-02T09:36:00.000-04:00Upon further thought (and some discussion with Ter...Upon further thought (and some discussion with Terry), I think I'd rather go to a "high end" chain than Arnold's. If you offered me a free meal at McCormick and Schmicks or a free meal at Arnold's-- I'd take M&S in a heartbeat.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14911168030162240860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-37999496689434395532008-05-02T09:28:00.000-04:002008-05-02T09:28:00.000-04:00I have to agree with you, we ate at Arnolds two ye...I have to agree with you, we ate at Arnolds two years ago and I was a tiny bit upset about the quality and quantity of food vs. how expensive it was. I don't totally hate chains, they have thier place, that said I'd take a Big&Tasty over Arnolds. I was starting to consider giving it another go, but I'm glad you saved me money.<BR/>Thanks Winemedineme! ;-D<BR/>Awesome place for a beer though.5chw4r7zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00635910297238841220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-62197161337963691712008-05-02T09:03:00.000-04:002008-05-02T09:03:00.000-04:00Sadly, I've never been there. I've also heard bad...Sadly, I've never been there. I've also heard bad reviews about their food. I'll go in one of these days for beer and fried green tomatoes though. mmmmliberal foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556426291754301119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-44535015795564911522008-05-01T15:39:00.000-04:002008-05-01T15:39:00.000-04:00I'd totally rather go there than a chain. And I f...I'd totally rather go there than a chain. And I figured, vudutu, that you'd like the Greek pasta.Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14911168030162240860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-36012417847441028382008-05-01T15:38:00.000-04:002008-05-01T15:38:00.000-04:00It's good bar food, the Greek pasta rocks. I would...It's good bar food, the Greek pasta rocks. I would rather go there than a chain, the best part is, no ?!$^#%7 TVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-3901259151289622192008-05-01T10:25:00.000-04:002008-05-01T10:25:00.000-04:00Arnolds is just fine for some snacks, and a beer. ...Arnolds is just fine for some snacks, and a beer. But a fine dining experience it is not. I never go with high expectations of the food, so I am never disappointed ;)Chris Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00515781796690431306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-68734795315969253002008-04-30T15:29:00.000-04:002008-04-30T15:29:00.000-04:00I have only eaten there one time and ordered a ham...I have only eaten there one time and ordered a hamburger. The atmosphere is nostolgic, but I think I will deem it as a place to get a drink and NOT a meal.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06389762997402723006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-32171976262945878102008-04-30T15:02:00.000-04:002008-04-30T15:02:00.000-04:00Every time I've eaten at Arnold's I've felt like t...Every time I've eaten at Arnold's I've felt like the food was lacking, its a fun place with a good atmosphere to go have a few beers but I don't go there to eat anymore.Jaimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00227652350468289282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148531084084343844.post-91267748443975215902008-04-30T13:48:00.000-04:002008-04-30T13:48:00.000-04:00I'm with you on on oversized plates and ice-cream ...I'm with you on on oversized plates and ice-cream scooped potatoes. In fact, when I see scooped potatoes, I think "cheap" like they are trying to make sure I don't get more than they calculated I should...which makes me wonder where else they skimped on my meal.The Phantomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04295727782709275018noreply@blogger.com