Lreda

I tried to listen but it doesn't come here in rural Morris Co. Sorry Rosie.

I'm glad you were happy with the choice you made. Isn't it nice to find a great place to celebrate a special occasion close-by? like gettin' more for your money. I have to get down here soon but I'm still trying to finagle a invite to Drake's new place in Rayway before the offical opening. I hear he's not happy with the 1st few dry runs. He's a top chef. Knowing his talent, the place will be 1st rate. Restaurant week in NYC is next week and I've got a couple of reservations there. Maybe the old-timers from Sonoma Grill can get together? ( Don't want to ISO, just bring it up. ) Can someone make Stage House a place for a visit for their Prix-Fix? Happy summer, Lou

If this is what Fox does to a potentially great show with a great premise, I shudder to think of what they will do with Kitchen Confidential... ←

This show's a joke. At least Rocco's show had a little drama. I'll finish this up tomorrow as I've Tivo'd this and am in the middle but this is sad. I also have to read the previous posts. but.............. EVERYONE looks dumb here. by the way, turning off the air conditioning? What working kitchen has air conditioning? The bloddy fans pull the cool air out. It cost tens of thousands to put a air conditioning unit that functions. P.S. ( Edit) I did like when the young kid came up to complain to Ramsey and he told him off. The best part is the French host escorted him back to the table with a wave of the arm. No way I make it past another episode unless I make some hash brownies.

Anyone been recently? I had customers who came in last weekend who said it was good. I might have to check it out this week.

Had lunch here a few weeks back and enjoyed it. Have to say though, I was recognized as was given a few luxury items on the house. Had crabcakes that were very good and a poached shrimp cocktail that was medicore. I had tuna for a main course and have to say I don't remember how it was prepared. The pastry chef here is the knock-out. They sent us 3 deseerts on the house that were extradinary. A little advise though, it ain't cheap. Im looking forward to going back to dinner here.

Another reason why I hate the chains. Can't beat it. I might have to go.....on second thought, perhaps a bunch of us should go. I, at least, would feel a certain sense of glee.

To be honest with you, I'd go to Stage House because of it's proximety. 22 West might not be a bad idea either. How about NYC? You're only 30 minutes away and being you don't really drink, driving won't be a problem. I'd be honored if you wanted us to cook your 5th anniversary celebration but we're most likely 45 minutes from you. Whatever your choice I wish you a wonderful celebration.

Either way it's a ridiculous comment.

[you have got to be the biggest whiner I've heard on here.......!! ←

Congrats to Nicholas, Melissa and their staff. P.S. I really mean it.

Hey! It must have worked! ← Er...congrats? If nothing else, we all know this will bring at least a few additional customers through your door, Lou! ← Every year this shit opens a new can of worms. How can a restaurant that's been open almost 11 years not be included with rating. I've called their NJ offices and can't get a answer. I must think of as new stratagy. Can I call the press and tell them I wish to be removed? The thought process shall begin now with a libation.

Knew that was too good to be true. Guess I'll update my signature line.

Thanks all, but the real credit goes to my head chef Fernando Corrente, his sous-chef Richard and on the grill Rueben. I just smoozed you all. Glad everything was up to speck. Now, after Mother's Day service, I'm gonna smoke a little, take a shower, have a glass or two of wine and go to sleep. Thanks, Lou P.S. When do we start the chapter of evil egulleteers? My guess is after I finally make into Zagat's

O.K. Just received a call from Zagat's telling me that I've "been voted" in for the 2006 edition coming out in two weeks and was one of the highest rated in the state. We'll see.... In addition for a $169.00 tab, I'll get a front door plaque and a crystal something or another stating our inclusion in the 2006 edition. This should be interesting.

I've avoided Mesa Grill for years because of my distaste of Flay's TV personality. On Weds, we ate at the bar. Food was very good, margarita's were excellent, especially the pear margarita. Cornmeal encrusted oysters with mango-jalopeno sauce were delicious. The best was the pulled duck and Stinger's right, only a small tortilla was chinsey. We had 5 apps, 4 margaritas, 3 gin & tonics and 3 glasses of wine ( Bartender bought us a round ) for only $140. A great deal. I'm actually lokking forward to going back or hitting his new place.

O.K. I've got a week before I have to finish my menu and think I'm going to leave well enough alone. I'll still include the starch and veg but offer sides such a augratin potatoes, creamed spinach, etc at a $3-$4 tariff. The only other option that I'm still weighing is I might offer the entree and give the customer a choice. Example: Shrimp & Scallops Creole 17/19(with rice) 5 days to go.

This is when you know our girl has become a star, she refers to herself in the third person. Much love, Lou

I've been jonesin for a while now and might try to sneak in early tomorrow. I figure if I get there a little before 5 pm, My girlfriend and I will get a seat at the bar. Both times we've eaten here we had early reservations and ate in the dining room, the 1st time upstairs and the 2nd downstairs. Ready for the pasta tasting menu and might sneak over to Irving Plaza to catch Erasure. God, I'm getting old.

Gotcha. So, overall, would you say it's worth a trip? A bunch of my friends and I want to go as soon as we get back from college as a kind of tacky Japanese food reunion of sorts. We're college kids who eat a lot of pretty much anything and would be going to the MP location. ← Dude, this is perfect for you guys. You'll get more than your monies worth. Bring a couple of cases of brew and go for lunch. You'll scuaff triple your money.

From past experience I've found that the last two weeks of April bring the 1st good batch of Soft Shell's the you have to wait until Memorial Day weekend for a batch that's equal. Late June begins the next cycle running through July. I don't serve Soft Shell's after that because the last few years I find the quality lacking.

We're going today at 4pm. WE want to watch The Masters and after all, I do have a restaurant to run so I'll sneak over for a hour and a half.

I'm re-doing the menu and had a question on preferences. This question doesn't apply to a typical Steak House menu where you order a steak and order ala carte your potato & vegetable. At The Grill, every menu item comes with either rice or potato & vegetable. Specials have starches and vegetable intergrated in the dish When dining would you: A: Prefer a dinner of let's say a Chicken & Scallops with wild mushrooms in a lemon & rosemary demi-glace served with rice and the vegetable of the evening which can be ratatouille or sauteed broccoli for example. Note the vegetable will be the same for all menu items. Cost, $17.00 or B: The same dish without rice & vegetable for $15.00 The reason: I'm getting sick of people not finishing their accompinments(sic). It seems like a waste of food. The sides are good. They don't sit on the steam table, we take care to serve it correctly but it seems customers want something EXTRA to come with a meal. I also serve a Amuse.

While I certainly do not condone the actions of the manager and to tell you the truth, if I found a customer to complain about a big mouth manager talking about customers in FOH, they'd be gone toot sweet. However.......... Gum on the table cause they're buzzed, feminine products flushed down the toilet with two disposals within arm's reach and 4 signs begging not to flush down the toilet, blah, blah, blah. These are things I have to deal with everyday. I'm a gardener, plumber, electrician and Mr Fix-It. It sucks to do extra work when people could be considerate. There's two sides to every story and if your service and food weren't great I'm sure you're friend's food wasn't sparking either. You can't get free cocktails because you heard the staff cracking on your hygenist. You did the best thing, you voiced your experience. Chances are most of us won't go.