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Where Will it All End - Guy Fieri to Open Restaurant in Times Square


weinoo

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I have mixed feelings about the NYT review.

On one hand, the disturbing menu descriptions certainly make the restaurant sound like a hillbilly Applebees with a raging meth habit. On the other hand, why would the NYT review what is clearly a tourist trap aimed at patrons who are looking for a hillbilly Applebees with a raging meth habit?

Personally, I find the 2.5 star average for Yelp reviews far more damning. There's a disgusting all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant (think about that for a minute) near my office that managed a three star average on Yelp.

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I wonder, has anyone we know eaten there?

Weinoo, you're in the neighborhood; You should take one for the team and go on a fact-finding visit.

I trust Pete Wells implicitly...also, I never go north of 14th Street.

I wonder, has anyone we know eaten there?

Weinoo, you're in the neighborhood; You should take one for the team and go on a fact-finding visit.

Heck, to see your review of it, I'll happily stand you a couple of drinks (or a fifth of Jack?) first, to get you suitably primed for the experience!

I'd prefer to have a few watermelon martinis.

J. Daniels? ewwwww

But probably in keeping with the joint.

I'll bet they have a couple of high-priced bourbons at least.

I wonder, has anyone we know eaten there?

Weinoo, you're in the neighborhood; You should take one for the team and go on a fact-finding visit.

We have a motion and a second. I call the question even though that's not really proper procedure.

See - that's the problem; I need proper procedure.

And also an interview with him on the Today Show.

So are we going to begin a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for weinoo's trip there?

I'll take the kickstarter for a visit to my cardiologist and gastroenterologist after it's all over. Also, my shrink.

Mitch Weinstein aka "weinoo"

Tasty Travails - My Blog

My eGullet FoodBog - A Tale of Two Boroughs

Was it you baby...or just a Brilliant Disguise?

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I have mixed feelings about the NYT review.

On one hand, the disturbing menu descriptions certainly make the restaurant sound like a hillbilly Applebees with a raging meth habit. On the other hand, why would the NYT review what is clearly a tourist trap aimed at patrons who are looking for a hillbilly Applebees with a raging meth habit?

Personally, I find the 2.5 star average for Yelp reviews far more damning. There's a disgusting all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant (think about that for a minute) near my office that managed a three star average on Yelp.

This is sort of...troubling; I misread 'On the other hand, why would the NYT review what is clearly a tourist trap aimed at patrons who are looking for a hillbilly Applebees with a raging meth habit?' as 'On the other hand, why wouldn't the NYT review what is clearly a tourist trap aimed at patrons who are looking for a hillbilly Applebees with a raging meth habit?', and I found myself thinking that made perfect sense. My perception of the patrons of NYC tourist traps seems to have hit bottom and begun blasting operations to get a bit lower.

Mitch, sorry I was unable to help you enrich your medical posse while i was in NYC ;)

Michaela, aka "Mjx"
Manager, eG Forums
mscioscia@egstaff.org

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  • 4 weeks later...

Here's what Helen Rosner (of Saveur) said about Pete Well's review and why it was important:

http://everydayforev...-and-guy-fieri/

Wells explains how the review came about here:

http://www.poynter.o...ris-restaurant/

Anthony Bourdain's take on the place:

http://www.esquire.c...sult-1349103254

http://www.hollywood...r_Town/44320544

New York Serious Eats' take on it:

http://newyork.serio...op_serious_eats

A commentary on scathing restaurant reviews:

http://www.bonappeti...nt-reviews.html

As for that "Today" show segment where Fieri defended his place, it did seem like NBC bent over backwards for Fieri, IMO and that of others. Here's what one journalist had to say about that:

http://www.tampabay....rk-times-review

Amongst other things, it seems Fieri considered 4 visits to his place to be suggestive of a "secret agenda" on the part of Wells. He clearly has no idea how professional restaurant reviewing is done, unless he was trying to blow smoke into the Today show's viewership [since most would *not* go to a place 4 times if they found their first experience horrible, I would speculate. :-) ].

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Passport to Flavortown: A random Guy Fieri Menu Item Generator

http://rvcc2.raritanval.edu/~tmcc3535/guy.html#

Some examples:

Crispy McNuggies

Sensibly shot McNuggies with live octopus

Guy-Talian Fillet Mignon

Lovingly burned fillet mignon with poblano peppers

Morgan's McNuggies

Rapidly sad McNuggies with scooby snacks (pot brownie)

Chipotle Dog-corners

Apathetically baked Dog-corners with tofu

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"There is nothing like a good tomato sandwich now and then."

-Harriet M. Welsch

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  • 3 months later...

Just in the name of fairness, a couple not so scathing reviews:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nadiaarumugam/2012/11/20/i-tried-guy-fieris-times-square-restaurant-and-i-liked-it-well-some-of-it/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/post/guy-fieris-times-square-restaurant-not-that-bad-actually/2012/11/19/615b5968-3270-11e2-9cfa-e41bac906cc9_blog.html

I kind of fall into the camp of it's a tourist place in Times Square. If you want really good, go elsewhere, that's not its mission.

But I'm not offended that it exists. I'll go elsewhere.

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Please can someone explain the problem with Guy Fieri? We have only just got the Food Channel and, to be honest with you, we both love Triple D, maybe not for the reasons he would like, but we enjoy his energy. I live and cook in the lovely NE of Scotland and sometimes his sheer joy inspires me to get back to the griddle and have some fun! Now I am talking from 40 years in catering and the fun went out of it long ago, sadly. I am a fan of Ottolenghi et al and try selling that to wee Scots on a cold day.

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Please can someone explain the problem with Guy Fieri? We have only just got the Food Channel and, to be honest with you, we both love Triple D, maybe not for the reasons he would like, but we enjoy his energy. I live and cook in the lovely NE of Scotland and sometimes his sheer joy inspires me to get back to the griddle and have some fun! Now I am talking from 40 years in catering and the fun went out of it long ago, sadly. I am a fan of Ottolenghi et al and try selling that to wee Scots on a cold day.

From my point of view, I don't want anyone's knowledge of food to come from a cartoon-like character who thinks everything he tastes is "money," although by now he's made tons of it.

If it makes you inspired to cook, then by all means that's a good thing.

Mitch Weinstein aka "weinoo"

Tasty Travails - My Blog

My eGullet FoodBog - A Tale of Two Boroughs

Was it you baby...or just a Brilliant Disguise?

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  • 1 year later...

IMHO- There is something wrong with a $49.95 appetizer.

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"As life's pleasures go, food is second only to sex.Except for salami and eggs...Now that's better than sex, but only if the salami is thickly sliced"--Alan King (1927-2004)

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  • 2 years later...
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