Comment Archives: stories: Chow
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
Scarpia, B: Of the ten reviews immediately prior to this one, one was a Sonoran-style restaurant and one could possibly be described as a "coffee shop." So, where are you reading all these reviews you're complaining about?
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
Wow, real French food in Tucson. Who would have thunk. It is a pleasure to read a review of a place that is not a coffee shop and doesn't serve Sonoran style food. Life being what it is I would forgive a little southwestern service to get an honest to goodness soufflé. To paraphrase Dr. Johnson, the miracle is that it exists at all. And lastly, thank God we didn't have to bear Garrett's comments on the frites.
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
Le Rendez- Vous is my go-to restaurant for French in Tucson. Always spot on pate, fish dishes and dessert. The wine list is adequate, I think it can accommodate a wide range of tastes and budgets. The service is my experience has always been good and the place so small that if it weren't it would be easy to track down some assistance.
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
Thanks PickyPalate. I've seen other reviews on this place. At first blush it seems the kind of place I would really enjoy, having been 5 years in Belgium including countless visits to France. The common thread seems to be service, lack thereof. No consistency. I've been so disappointed with restaurants in Tucson (a recent transplant) that I just can't bring myself to risk another let down by going here ... I'll await more consistency of reviews regarding the service before I venture.
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
I agree totally with this review. Having lived in Paris, my husband and I are fond of French cuisine and can tell the good stuff from the pretenders. This place has the good stuff. The service, though, is highly uneven. We went there recently for lunch and the service was perfect. We went again for dinner, and it was horrible. Most of the staff appeared to be utterly untrained college students who preferred to mill about with other servers in the back rather than attend to the paying customers.
One other comment is that it seems rather wrong to review a French restaurant without reviewing the wine list. This seems to be a frequent omission in restaurant reviews in the Weekly. It's particularly egregious when the restaurant is French, a culture in which dessert is optional but to dine without a glass of wine is unthinkable.
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
I love this place! You must have had the pate on an off night because it is usually superb. We have always enjoyed convivial service and excellent food. Try the bouillabaisse on Friday...yum!
Re: “Noshing Around”
Brio Tuscan Grille was just too expensive. How often are you going to go to an Italian restaurant and spend $100+ for a dinner for two? In my case, it was just once.
Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
I have had the pleasure of dining there since it opened. The food has alway been exceptional. The service wonderful.
The Bistro is a welcome addition
Re: “Noshing Around”
So is the Guadalajara Grill on Wilmot not owned/operated by the same folks doing a booming business on Prince Road?
Re: “Noshing Around”
Go to the Sausage shop on west prince. Jackie reviewed a little while ago. You will find what you are looking for and more.
Re: “Noshing Around”
I stopped by Sausage Deli the 1st day in their new building. By chance I was in the area and recalled having seen it previously reviewed. I grew up on the farm and I was really looking for, well, sausage, real sausage. Smoked, linked, fresh/ground. A variety of some sort. None. Nada. I inquired and I guess they do have a day during the week when there might be a "sausage sandwich speacial." What? The same ol' standard stuff u can buy in the grocery store? Anyway, I turned 'round and left, sorely disappointed. No reason for me to return. Please change your friggin name from "Sausage" to just plain Deli.
Re: “Tiny, Hidden and Hip”
I agree too, Rita. A friend, my daughter and I had 'brunch' at Liv toward the end of the Sunday Farmer's Market (first warm day after some really cold ones) and found the food quite passable but the staff and their execution of orders to be spotty at best.....ditzy really describes it well. I am out and about a lot and usually looking for a quick bite and some Wifi. It'll be a shame if the owners don't listen up and fix their issues and they go away; Tucson has many great options. I'd like to see this one last.
Re: “Tiny, Hidden and Hip”
I couldn't agree with you more, Rita. I have had breakfast and lunch here and the service was slow and the dishes weren't served at once. For breakfast, a Mexican egg dish arrived 20 minutes before the bagel and lox! At lunch, a soup and sandwich came out at least 10 minutes ahead of a second order, a salad.
The staff is friendly, but they seem disorganized and ditzy.
Jodi Goalstone
Re: “Slow and Sub-Par”
I used to LOVE Tony's and eat there once a week. But sadly yes... sometime in the early to mid 90's I noticed a steady decline in freshness and flavor. I still do wish them the very best though, as their staff, and Tony himself are all really good people and super pleasant to deal with.
Re: “Slow and Sub-Par”
I agree this place does somthing the same way for so long that nothing will ever change I am afraid they will go out of buisness before they relize what they need to do. They accept no sugestions and reply with "I have been doing it this way for 25 years why would i change it" and YES most of all thier waitresses are in the WORNG field. one thing thing tho I do like the way it looks, and some of there food is great. But it is a land make and may stay forever with loyal customers.
Re: “For the Masses”
@ Thomas I have been to some of the places you mentioned and have found the best sushi here in Tucson. I have found some good places here but do agree to a point the service is very lacking. I recently went to a new place called the Wild Garlic Grille that is presenting as an upscale lunch and dinner place. I found a hair on my stale fondue bread and showed the waitress and she just said sorry. I was disgusted. I found the food mediocre at best. I will give the benefit of the doubt as a bad day perhaps but I am reluctant to return. I do think there are a few fine restaurants but for the most part Tucson could improve.
Re: “Slow and Sub-Par”
I wouldn't expect a Chicago style Italian beef at a New York themed restaurant.
I even checked their menu on their own website and the word Chicago is not on it. http://tonysitaliandelitucson.com/menu
Re: “Slow and Sub-Par”
I have been a fan of this restaurant for 25 years! We just purchased the family size stuffed shells two weeks agon and they were fantastic.
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Re: “Odd Location, French Flavors”
Where I have been reading them? In the Tucson Weekly. I have been reading the TW for a long number of years and I have complained in the past about the TW wasting its reviewers' and readers' time in reviewing "coffee shops." How about the series of reviews of the places at Wade and Silverbell to start. I have neither the time nor the inclination to do your job for you. Get one of your under or non paid writer/intern/assistants to go back over the last ten years and see if I am not correct.
It is unfortunate that you have started off your tenure with a rant against a competitor, published Pedersen's rant against a former employer, and now find it necessary to challenge a generally positive comment.