Nathan

"You are also certain that if you were part of a "snuggly couple" the place would certainly have broken their policy and accommodated you." I never ever said they would break their policy for a couple. I said that they would try to accomodate (quite likely considering the number of cancellations that everyone had....I posted an article to that effect up the thread)....

well, without going 60 blocks... I've never not been seated at the Bar Room...and I've eaten there close to 15 times...I always proceed straight to the bar and tell the bartender that I'm planning on eating...they put me in the next seat that opens up. actually, most restaurants refused to take solo reservations on Wednesday. I checked. quite frankly, your London Bar experience was my expectation. they didn't meet that.

you know I've realized that the very concepts of "special days", "special menus" and "VIP tables" urks the heck out of me. I hate star-f___ing in every aspect of life, I hate contrived occasions to make money off of people with expectations that are invariably dashed (I heard a great story the other night about the massive amount of couples that were fighting late at Balthazar on Wednesday night).... I want food. I want creativity. I want quality. and I'm willing to pay for it. oh, and I want it every day of the year.

the steak tartare is quite good. can't speak to the others since when I go to Balthazar I'm generally in a mood for the "classics"... (the duck shepherd's pie is superb) the frites are some of the best in the city (if not the best). if there is one word that most definitely and clearly applies to the food at Balthazar, it is "consistent"

somehow, I was 99% certain that they were not going to be closed for a private party on Wednesday night. somehow, I am 100% certain that they didn't do the number of covers they had booked (some people here are apparently oblivious to Wednesday's weather). somehow, I knew that if I couldn't eat at a Danny Meyer restaurant I wasn't going to be able to eat anywhere (other than a steakhouse)... edit: like I said, I am completely certain that they would have bent over backwards for a couple who had expected to eat at the bar on V-day. what was apparently "unreasonable" was to expect the same consideration for a solo diner.

furthermore, historically Danny Meyer has made his name by offering decent to very good food at a bit higher price point than his direct competitors...(for the same level of comfort food) but justifying that premium by the service provided. for precisely that reason, draconian and ill-considered policies are more egregious in a Danny Meyer operation than at a BRGuest restaurant.

"I believe that diners are often quick to assign blame to a restaurant for a less than perfect dining experience when in fact, the problem is due to unreasonable expectations and assumptions on the diner's part." In almost three years and 1,534 posts on egullet, this is the first time I have complained about the service at any restaurant.

I understand that my expectation that a restaurant would actually be in the business of serving food is "unreasonable." It is also apparent that it is "unreasonable" to expect to have a nice dinner on one's birthday anywhere in NY if one's birthday happens to coincide with a "make money off the rubes" day. edit: "Could the restaurant have done something to assuage that irritation even though they were in no way obligated to do so?" I'd say that the amount of money I've spent in Danny Meyer restaurants should have some bearing in whether they were under any "obligation"....frankly, I would have been a lot less offended if they had also closed the bar to un-reserved patrons...that would have been more honest than..."we're more than willing to take your money...but we won't feed you."

I use Kirsch as well...especially if you're doing the sweet pineapple version....Heering at that point just makes it cloying.

of course it's b.s. (at the popular restaurants). heck, as I pointed out on the EMP thread, they'll do more covers on a regular weekend (a. they'll turn fewer tables; b. couples sitting at four and six tops). the whole thing is cynical.

I think the last one was.

budget? including food, wine, tax and tip.

you'll be full. have a light lunch. you'll be fine.

ok, I lied..one quick response to robert40: I'm not claiming that the couple would get to eat at EMP (though considering the weather last night they almost certainly would have)...but I am claiming that the staff would try. someone would check the seating book. someone might ask the kitchen. someone would offer to check GT...etc. edit: to reemphasize the weather point, people were cancelling all over the place: http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_045145934.html

Nathan, obviously you found the experience frustrating. But I think if you give your reaction some consideration, you might reconsider your approach. We know that it's not in your nature to say it's your birthday and you'd like to be accommodated. You've also said it's not in your nature to write a letter of complaint. Apparently, on the night of the incident, it also wasn't in your nature to speak to a manager. But it seems it is in your nature to pursue a public attack and boycott of all Danny Meyer establishments, including claims of discrimination, because one employee wasn't prepared to give you your way on a holiday. That puzzles me. It almost seems like you're choosing to complain rather than do anything then or now to give anyone a chance to address the problem. It sounds like the bartender had been told by the kitchen, "No food orders at the bar tonight." That just doesn't seem so bad. I'm sure nobody meant you any harm. To the extent there's anything to be upset about, I think you should really be trying to resolve it with the restaurant directly. I'd be interested to hear what the management has to say, and whether they're willing to do anything to accommodate you. ← they were given a chance. I told them that I was trying to eat dinner. they made no attempt to help me with that goal. Danny Meyer's internal employee manual specifies (at least it once did) that "if a customer asks you for directions to the bathroom, this means they probably have not been to the restaurant before. You will walk them to the bathroom instead of merely giving directions." That's the customer service ethos he purportedly aspires to. I'm sure there's probably also a section of the manual that says "If a customer makes a request that cannot be accomodated, you will attempt to suggest alternatives." Apparently this doesn't apply to solo diners on hallmark holidays. edit: but I've made my point...I'll shut up now. a. they instituted a sucky policy last night. b. they didn't feel like they had to accomodate me. I'm certain that they would handled it differently with a couple.....especially on V-day. I think that blows.

show of hands? who, other than Eatmywords, thinks that the staff at a Danny Meyer restaurant on Valentine's Day would not attempt to find a solution for a couple who arrived expecting to eat at the bar? anyone?

You tried to eat brunch at 11 a.m.? This isn't Naples (Fla). of course it was about the ambience...that's my point. the vast majority of bar dining is solo....a couple they would have attempted to find a solution for. we both know that.

See, this is where I'm surprised to hear you, of all people, arguing about this. We both usually seem to agree that policies are policies, and just because YOU don't like a policy's effect on YOU, you can't expect them to change it in your case. They decided to suspend bar service for the night: not for singles, not for solo diners, but for EVERYONE. The dewiest, most snuggly couple in the world, cute as two puppies, would have been denied food service at the bar last night. Obviously, its effect on you was unfortunate. I can see your not liking it. I just can't see holding it against them as a slight. I mean, how could it be a slight? It was a generally applicable policy. The only group it was aimed at was "people who want to eat at the bar". That hardly raises any flags. ← oh come on. like they wouldn't have attempted to accomodate a "snuggly couple" last night! they would have told them to wait for a cancelled table, called GT or something of that nature. and we both know it. (I'm sure that if I'd whined and said "but it's my birthdayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy" they would have bent over backwards too....but that's not my nature.) as for this, "See, this is where I'm surprised to hear you, of all people, arguing about this. We both usually seem to agree that policies are policies, and just because YOU don't like a policy's effect on YOU, you can't expect them to change it in your case." I think we both argued the opposite way on the minor/wine issue.

It's different because clearly the intent would be different (more covers than the kitchen could handle......or more bar business or something). Since those reasons did not apply last night....I do think that it is credible that they were simply holding the restaurant for couples. more importantly, if that happened I would expect them to make suggestions/accomodations (put me on a list for a cancelled table....call gt or something)...every restaurant does this. EMP did not last night.

well, yes they are. it's your choice whether to give them your business anyway. (personally, I find the idea of VIP tables and times offensive......though I understand the economic rationale behind star-f__ing. but it still pisses me off... holding tables and times for regulars I understand). I, for one, will not be giving DM my business.

1. of course it's not a legal issue. 2. have you ever known the bar at EMP to be packed? on any night? I haven't. and it certainly wasn't last night. 3. it probably was about the exact amount of covers. a. of course, with the weather I'm sure they had cancellations. (and that was forseeable three days in advance). b. one diner doesn't throw that off. c. they made no effort whatsoever to accomodate me. that really grates.

you really think they do more covers than Friday or Saturday night? I doubt it. longer meals last night. probably no one trying to dine after nine. and I'm not even mentioning the weather factor. ← to amplify this....the point of V-day and NYE menus is to maximize revenue per cover....which necessarily decreases the number of covers....

clearly discriminatory in effect.

I had the Royale a couple years ago. I never understood why they don't offer these items year round instead of their (or along with) tepid regular menu.

you really think they do more covers than Friday or Saturday night? I doubt it. longer meals last night. probably no one trying to dine after nine. and I'm not even mentioning the weather factor.