LizR

Holy moly!! I was looking online just now because I have the EXACT same problem with the oven door on my 30" Blue Star. Ours, too, is obviously out of whack from us yanking on the door to get it open. The sticking hinge got progressively worse and worse, and then last night we were unable to open it all all until it cooled down. Because we had food in there, we did yank it open but not super, super hard. Now I see that the metal on the side of the door is warped. I am really, really depressed to read your post. Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away. I need my oven. I am going to be super mad at Pritzer-Painter if I can't get it fixed by then. This door problem is an on-going issue. When we first had it installed, the local distrubuter incorrectly attached the door, and both cabinet fronts on either side of the oven melted a little. Arrgh!!

Took me a while to see this!! I am sure you have figured it out by now, but just remove the burner grates and wash them in the sink. You can even scrub them with steel wool. Putting them in the dishwasher works ok, but if there is a lot of grease cooked on it is best to scrub by hand. I have a new Bluestar question: The outside of my oven gets pretty darn hot. Like beginning-to-melt-the-plastic laminate-finish-on-my-kitchen-cupboard-doors hot. I am a bit concerned because the interior of the cabinet walls that abutt the sides of the oven get quite warm. As far as I know, there is no required clearance between the oven and the cupboards. I finally called Bluestar yesterday and they told me that the outside of the oven can get as hot as 140 degrees. Is this too hot to have up against pressboard? They also indicated no need for clearance between cupboard and oven wall. Anyone else with this sort of issue or experience? Am I worrying about something I don't need to worry about? Otherwise, I love my Bluestar.

You ever try roasting a pepper on an induction hob? ← MobyP, Maybe I'm mistaken, but I've always understood the difference between an open burner and a sealed burner is the fact that spills and overflows can't seep down into the inner guts of the cooktop or range. I have sealed burners on my DCS cooktop, yet it's still an open flame. I have no trouble roasting a pepper on my cooktop. I think that you are misinterpreting what is being discussed. ← Just to chime in late here - the stuff that "seeps" down onto the inner workings is very easily cleaned up by taking off the burners and the grates. There is even a pull out plate beneath the burner area for easy clean up. Part of the beauty of this range is that there is not a lot of "inner workings" to get dirty. Very basic and simple. A joy to use and actually quite easy to clean.

Are you serious! I am going to be in Atlanta in Jan and after looking through all the reviews, decided I had to eat here.. Oh well, back to planning. ← How about Joel? Am I the only one on here who has had several negative experiences at Rathbun's? Not terrible, just not up to the hype.

Thanks for the info. That helps a lot. I think you got a great deal, by the way. I have been quoted 3350 for the four burner. Wonder how I could find a floor model in Atlanta? I'll look in to it tomorrow.

I don't have one...yet On paper, their specs are better than Viking or Wolf. But I haven't done a test drive yet. The most obsessive discussion of Blue Star ranges I've found is on the Garden Web Appliance Forum. At the moment, they are up to thread #19 devoted solely to Blue Star. Posts vary in usefulness, everything from hands-on experience with the range to installation issues. Most of what I read makes me want one. ← Thanks for the Garden Web tip. Just makes me want one more... Happy cooking!

The last place I lived (a rental apartment) had an old Garland--a residential version, installed decades before they discontinued making non-commercial ranges--and I loved it, even though it was old. The burner configuration is really efficient. It's why Blue Star is high on my list of "wish list" ranges--it's the Garland under a new name. And 22K burners are the highest I've seen among other residential models. Good ventilation required. ← Good timing for this thread. After living without a hood for four years (!) I am pricing Blue Star ranges. I would just get the 30 inch combo, but it seems like a pretty nice stove. It would have two 22,000 BTU burners and two 15,000 BTU burners, convection oven, and a 1850 degree broiler. Anyone have one of these? I am feeling like they might be a bit better quality than Wolf or Viking. Rosengarten on the BS brand: http://www.prizer-painter.com/pages/articlepageone.html

Thank you for your kind words. The whole Soto thing was just so sad in the end, especially when it was evident that he was really stressed and not having a good time. I am hearing good things about Taka, though.

They knew you'd be there? Because, other than Seeger's, these restaurants are generally pretty busy when I'm there. I've not been to Seeger's since the re-do, and since there are fewer tables now he may be managing to fill them. ← Point blank, Soto moved because the Atlanta market did not challenge him. He tried to do something challenging, but the prix fixe menu did not go over well from a business standpoint. Atlantans aren't ready for 4 hour meals with $100+ price tags. ← To be fair to Atlanta diners, Soto mis-managed the prix fixe transition badly. I went three times and saw scores of clueless, casually-dressed walk-ins turned away with a comment like "we are full tonight". No one explained the concept to them, there was no singnage outside explaining what had changed, etc. A little more TLC and info would have made a big difference, I think. They should have had some flyers, like a sample menu, to hand out to those they turned away. They also were going after a somewhat different demographic, and they should have spent some money taking out ads trumpeting their changing format. A choice of, say, two different tasting menus would also have been a good idea. If folks didn't want to sit through the 17 courses, why not offer them 10 for a lesser cost. Plenty of restos do that. Also, it really did suffer from timing issues at times. Don't get me wrong, I think that the first prix fixe meal I had at Soto was one of the very best of my life, and I emailed all of the local reviewers in an attempt to get them to cover the omakase so that he would have some more patrons. All I am saying is that they could have done a better job in explaining it all.

I think that Landmark is open late maybe even 24/7. As I said though, not sure since I haven't been there. With all due respect, the breakfast places that Voodoo mentions are not at all within walking distance of downtown, even though they are very good. Sorry.

Actually, though I wouldn't personally recommend the Sundial for a meal, the bar is a great place to visit, particularly at sunset: the bar rotates (about 45 minutes for a complete turn, if memory serves) and offers great views of the city and surrounding area. You have to buy a drink, of course, but it's a pretty good deal considering. ← After lurking for a long time, I finally "applied" to post here after reading all of the negative comments that Sundial has been getting. I am in no way affiliated with the restaurant, but I wonder when the last time folks who are not recommending it have visited the resto? My husband works downtown and knows someone who knows the "new" chef, so we went late last year. It was actually pretty good. I think the chef is a former employee of Canoe. I'd suggest that people try it before dismissing it as a tourist trap only worthy of a drink at the bar. It certainly was better than a lot of other similarly priced ATL restos. Especially if you don't have a car and are staying downtown. Thanks. ← The only reason I said to avoid the Sundial was purely on price. 8 of 10 entrees were well into the $30+ range, While the food sounds better it is still overpriced and she is working on a budget- so its out. How about adding a suggested place snce you haven't agreed with ours... remember cost is a factor on this one. Help us out here since you live in the neighborhood you gotta know some good places that can fit the bill ← Fair enough! I don't want to come off as negative. Not sure if there are open for dinner, but these places come to mind, especially for lunch: Rosa's on Broad St for pizza Calypso Cafe on Walton near the court house, Jamacian Fleur de Lis (not super cheap, but probably do-able for lunch, at least) in the Healey building. French Landmark Diner for Greek food (have not been but have heard good reports) Ted's is actually not too bad for lunch. Delicious clam chowder and good house salad. Folks also like their burgers. Loaf and Kettle, also in the Healey building, for soups and sandwiches Gibney's Pub on Peachtree Center for chili-slathered burgers and dogs (yum) Busy Bee, 810 MLK Jr Drive, for classic southern soul food Might also be fun to head down to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market on Edgewood. There are a lot of individual vendors and some snack foods/sandwiches. As for the Sundial, I didn't remember them being so very expensive (entrees $30+). If that is the case, I agree that it is overpriced for what you get. Heck, that is more expensive than great places like Joel. I tried to look on the Sundial website but the "menu" link is broken. What an awful website, by the way!! I still think lunch there would be affordable. My main point with them is that they are (or were) trying to shed the "tourist trap" image and do some more interesting food. The chef is Chris Hall, formerly of Canoe.

Ted's is cheap? For what you get, it is good, but hardly a bargain. Same with eatZi's, Alon's, and Star Provisions. Also, I like Rolling Bones, but as far as I can see, no one has mentioned that this is still a sketchy neighborhood. If I was coming from out of town, and looked at a map, I might conclude that I could walk there from my hotel. Not the best idea. By the way, I live near that neighborhood, so I am just saying...

Actually, though I wouldn't personally recommend the Sundial for a meal, the bar is a great place to visit, particularly at sunset: the bar rotates (about 45 minutes for a complete turn, if memory serves) and offers great views of the city and surrounding area. You have to buy a drink, of course, but it's a pretty good deal considering. ← After lurking for a long time, I finally "applied" to post here after reading all of the negative comments that Sundial has been getting. I am in no way affiliated with the restaurant, but I wonder when the last time folks who are not recommending it have visited the resto? My husband works downtown and knows someone who knows the "new" chef, so we went late last year. It was actually pretty good. I think the chef is a former employee of Canoe. I'd suggest that people try it before dismissing it as a tourist trap only worthy of a drink at the bar. It certainly was better than a lot of other similarly priced ATL restos. Especially if you don't have a car and are staying downtown. Thanks.