Very late dinner reservations

[EJRothman]

I just scored a reservation at Django for may 9th.

The only times they had available were 5:30 and 10:00. 5:30 is really early for me, so I took the 10:00. Is there any downside to such a late reservation.? I.e. running out of something, or some other problem I can't forsee.

I want this experience to be as good as it can be, so let me know what you guys think.

-Eric

[herbacidal]

i'd say there is a downside, yes as far as the possibility of them being out of something. i do think they are smart enough in the kitchen to be able to plan for something to minimize that happening.

i also think the upside of it is that if you are relatively flexible about what you eat, he would also be willing to just cook for you off-menu based on whatever might be available, if you wanted.

since they change the menu ofte and continue to get acclaim regardless of specific menu, you can be reasonably sure that it will be good, because they are used to cooking new things and thinking up new selections.

allowing you to test him a little more, although that might be better for a second time than the first time at a restaurant.

[Suzanne F]

Downside: you'll end up having to eat a meal in between lunch and dinner. But that might not be so bad.

Upside: they probably won't need to turn the table after you. Of course, they might eventually want to go home, but . . .

I'm assuming you don't have to be at work bright and early on Saturday.

[Holly Moore]

I've never done this, but I'm wondering if you called mid afternoon for that evening's specials, if Django would be willing to reserve your entrees along with your table. That said, I'd probably just share Herb's hope that if the menu was somewhat depleted, the chef (risk - he already may be gone for the night) might offer to cook "just for you."

[Stone]

Does the restaurant serve Gypsy food? In tribute to Django Reinhart?

[EJRothman]

I'm assuming you don't have to be at work bright and early on Saturday.

Friday, May 9th is the last day of finals and the last day of my Junior year of college. I don't intent to do anything on Saturday.

Holly: I like the idea of calling ahead that afternoon and reserving my food. I do hope the chef will still be there. I guess there's a better chance on a Friday night than a weekday night.

My next task is to figure out the proper wine to accompany this meal. Said wine must be both A) within a College student's budget; and B) available for purchase at the oh-so-wonderful PLCB. Suggestions?

-Eric

[KatieLoeb]

My next task is to figure out the proper wine to accompany this meal.  Said wine must be both A) within a College student's budget; and B) available for purchase at the oh-so-wonderful PLCB. Suggestions?

Eric:

Do you have a car or know anyone that could give you a lift 8 minutes into NJ? Head over to Moore Brothers Click HERE and bring them a copy of your menu. Every single salesperson is a trained sommelier and will be delighted to assist you in your quest for a fabulous dining and wine experience. And they have lots of wines for the budget conscious.

If you really are stuck with only PLCB choices and you already know what you're ordering, PM me in advance and I'll give you my best suggestions for what I know is available at 12th & Chestnut.

Enjoy and good luck with finals!

[EJRothman]

My next task is to figure out the proper wine to accompany this meal.  Said wine must be both A) within a College student's budget; and B) available for purchase at the oh-so-wonderful PLCB. Suggestions?

Eric:

Do you have a car or know anyone that could give you a lift 8 minutes into NJ? Head over to Moore Brothers Click HERE and bring them a copy of your menu. Every single salesperson is a trained sommelier and will be delighted to assist you in your quest for a fabulous dining and wine experience. And they have lots of wines for the budget conscious.

If you really are stuck with only PLCB choices and you already know what you're ordering, PM me in advance and I'll give you my best suggestions for what I know is available at 12th & Chestnut.

Enjoy and good luck with finals!

I may be able to get someone to give me a lift to Jersey. I'll work on that - thanks for the tip. I'm not sure of what I'm ordering yet as this dinner is three weeks away. Can I somehow get a copy of Django's menu this far in advance to select my dinner?

As I will be celebrating the end of Junior year as well as spending my last day in Philly for a few months, I hope this meal lives up to expectations and runs on all cylinders.

Thanks for the help!

-Eric

[newguy]

Don't be afraid to call the restaurant a few times during the day of, and days leading up to, in order to see if you can land a cancellation for earlier that day. Works a lot of the time.

[herbacidal]

i like holly's suggestion also.

not that ambitious myself, plus i like figuring things out at last minute, but that's just me.

so, is that all you're planning for your last weekend, a dinner? saturday afternoon, you should start drinking, so that you don't end until well into sunday.

that last day, is that still called may day?

vaguely recall that from something or other when i was hanging around the campus.

[EJRothman]

I'm actually going home to New York on Saturday (parents coming to pick me up) so drinking the day away might be a bit difficult. It's not called May Day - the last week of school is just finals and some people finish their exams early (anywhere from May 2nd-May 9th). Upon finishing the year, people don't really stick around, they get the hell away from school as fast as possible. Unfortunately I'm stuck here until the bitter end.

We do have a thing called "Hey Day" here at Penn. It's a celebration for all Juniors (rising seniors). The idea is that all Juniors wear the same red "Hey Day" shirt, get drunk by noon, gather at one end of campus for a brunch, then at 3:00 we march up campus with wearing styrofoam hats and carrying canes - which are used to beat College Hall.

Fun for all involved!

(This was quite off-topic, but oh well)

[joanmlau]

We had 9:30 reservations recently, and were seated at 10:00 (we were told of the delay), the last of the evening. We closed the place around 11:45. Granted that we have only our solitary experience there, and Holly makes a WONDERFUL suggestion to preorder, but we had no trouble getting any of our 4 entrees, 3 appetizers, 1 soup, the cheese plate, and 2 desserts.

The good thing about being there late is that it quiets down quite a bit and you don't have to talk so loudly to your own dinner party. We never felt rushed, even though they began to re-set the other tables for the next day, and in fact, they were quite friendly after all their work was done and we had the chance to engage them in a bit of conversation about the restaurant.

And since 9:45 is close to my bedtime, I pestered them every 5 days for the three weeks prior to our reservations and every other day the week of our reservations (and to be truly annoying, twice the day of our reservation) to see if I could move our time up to ANY time that Saturday besides 9:30. By the end, their comments were, "oh hi again, Joan. No, sorry, we still don't have openings any earlier, but I promise we'll call you."They told me at the time I made my reservation that they would put me on a waiting list, but I wasn't entirely sure. When I finally arrived at the restaurant I was quite apologetic about my behaviour, though there seemed no need to be...they were very understanding and nice about it.

Edited May 8, 2003 by joanmlau (log)