Are you a selfish 'hound?
Are there chowhound-worthy places that you know of, but do not disclose on these boards for fear that those places become even more crowded and impossible to get into without waiting upwards of an hour?
I'm a bit conflicted.
I feel like not posting about these wonderful places is somehow an affront to the Chowhound ethos.
Yet, I know if I keep these undisclosed treasures to myself then at least I can keep the crowds to a manageable critical mass and still be able to get a seat at a popular time.
Goodness, what's a 'hound to do ...
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There's another strange phenomenon of New York restaurants. If a celebrity or two are sighted eating in some place and the media writes about it, soon the restaurant becomes known as a "hot" place and that also brings in a new group of people, who I guess want to eat where the celebrities are eating. I don't know. This happened with the Spotted Pig. That was a good restaurant, very popular, well reviewed, always full but you could get a table, and it went on like that for about a year or two. Then it became known as a place to see stars, or maybe it just plain became more widely known -- to a different group of readers -- and it became impossible to get a table.
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Being mentioned on this board does not necessarily bring out the hordes. Everyone on this board loves Spicy Mina, the Indian place in Woodside, Queens, but every time I go there the place is empty. It's so sad. Yet, on the rare occasion when a Chowhound finds a good new place that wasn't already known to the critics at the Village Voice, NYT, etc., I'm sure they take note. (Who found the Burmese Cafe first? VV or CH?) I try to recommend good places whenever possible. However, there is one place I have never posted about on Chowhound. It's already well known, crowded, and a neighborhood favorite. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but I fear it could get hyped as "trendy," and then it might not be as enjoyable any more. This happens with many good restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn because of the sheer number of people here. Good places (that are also affordable) are just mobbed.
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mollyomormon
Jun 27, 2007 11:10 AM
What a tease! As a fellow LA hound I, of course, think you should share... ;)
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re: katkoupai
stellamystar
Jun 25, 2007 03:39 PM
I do tell people about good places because I feel it rewards the people who work hard for their restaurants. Also, I tell people when the places are bad (Service, price, quality) because I feel that hard working folks shouldn't waste their money at least without prior warning
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The Dairy Queen
Jun 25, 2007 02:01 PM
Yes, I am a selfish hound: I want my favorite little mom and pop restaurants to succeed so that I can continue to eat there--so, I tell everyone I know about them. Then I just try to learn the "off-peak" times to eat there. The places that no one knows about, even fantastic places, can go out of business if they don't get enough word of mouth. I've seen too many of my favorite places go under for lack of business --it's not in my selfish best interest to keep these places a secret from my fellow 'hounds.
~TDQ
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It's not an "undisclosed treasure" if it's already crowded. So it won't become "even more crowded and impossible to get into" just from your talking about it on CH.
On our local Board, the places mentioned have already made it into the local blogs, they're in the data bases of the magazines and newspapers, and reviews are on google.
I look to CH for opinion of frequent posters whose tastes I might trust. So give us the benefit of yours, please.›2 Replies-
re: MakingSense
Scrapironchef
Jun 25, 2007 12:46 PM
In the words of the immortal Yogi Berra, "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded".
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re: Scrapironchef
Being crowded, sadly, doesn't mean it's any good. There's a few places here that are always packed with the local scenesters who swear by the food but they'd eat anything to see and be seen at the right places. Beer goggles work with food too.
Is it even worth bothering since there are so many other alternatives? My fellow CHs will tell me!
Love that Yogi wisdom! Thanks!
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Honestly...yes. Although in SF every place is known and has been posted on the web somewhere and any place notable is never a secret. I've also mentioned my undisclosed treasures in CH threads, I just won't write a full review so I don't feel so bad.
Some of these places would probably get odd responses and 75% of the readers wouldn't get it. Example: a place commonly referred to as "Pork Chop House" in SF Chinatown. Great pork chops, roast pork but served with frozen veggies (peas and carrots), often weird gravy and jello for dessert...really cheap.
I will however tell or take a friend to any of these places...and I really believe any place worth knowing about in SF and the Bay Area is known...very hard to keep a food secret here.
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Honeychan
Jun 24, 2007 08:46 PM
If I really love a resto, I can't shut up about it! I tell my co-workers, I chat in my blog, and here. I think becoming a regular in a place makes it easier to get in, get fantastic service...If there is a bit of a wait..I'm qute patient- alot more than my husband. He's more than likely NOT to tell others, so the crowds stay managable to his convience factor.
Being selfish dosen't really benefit anyone, does it? I mean, if nobody wants to spread the good-word about a great place, they might go out of business, then what? They could have the most fantastic food, but if nobody knows about them.....I'm like a happy parent, when a place I love and spoken really highly of is BUSY. Maybe i'm deluding myself, but I like to think I might have -a little teeny-tiny- bit to do with helping it!
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