Biltmore, Newton
Went to the Biltmore yesterday for lunch. Fried pickles - yummy; ribs - so-so; medium rare hamburger - well done and grey (pre-cooked??); glass of rose - $10!!!; fries - delish. Great service - place empty - won't go back.
Waiting to hear of old management/chef's new place - hopefully it's in Newton or Needham.
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I wish I'd researched before going! I had an unpleasant experience with my family at this restaurant yesterday - which was a Sunday. My mother-in-law took us to dinner with my husband and three children. We walked in at 5 pm and were the first group seated in their back room. We ordered and then waited.... and waited. Three other groups were served before we were. When we asked why so long, the waitress told me :"you ordered the roast chicken and that generally takes from 25-30 minutes to prepare." I said if "I had known that I never would have ordered that - we have three small children with us". I asked her to please bring out the rest of the food, not to hold it all up for my order. She offered no apology, instead implying that I should have known that my chicken would have taken that long! The childrens' ravioli came out at 5:45 and then mine at 6. It was underdone, even! Then she had the audacity to include a 20% gratuity b/c it was a party of 6!!!! (3 adults and 3 children). In hindsight, I should have insisted that my mother-in-law not pay the gratuity. I spoke to the manager who was apologetic but offered nothing. We left soon after that. We live less than 10 minutes away so it is a shame that we will not be returning. It is DEFINITELY not worth it.
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re: YFK
MC Slim JB
Mar 10, 2009 06:39 AM
This is really a sad story. That place was extraordinary when it opened, and then the owner gutted everything great about it, firing his chef and FoH management (the soul of the place), purportedly because he wanted to "attract more of a college crowd". Wonder how that's working out for him.
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re: MC Slim JB
Bob Dobalina
Mar 10, 2009 06:59 AM
The college crowd that lives near Newton Upper Falls? What's that, Mount Ida?
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re: Bob Dobalina
hiddenboston
Mar 10, 2009 07:09 AM
I don't think very many college kids even know where Newton Upper Falls is.
In a weird way, I'm almost yearning for the "original" Biltmore to come back. Yes, it was a crummy little dive with Schlitz and hockey games on the tube, but it was a slice of old Boston, and it had a loyal following of locals as well as folks who worked nearby (including myself, who went there often after softball games).
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re: hiddenboston
Bob Dobalina
Mar 10, 2009 07:26 AM
What about Virgilio's Echo Bridge Restaurant? That still doing well around the corner? I've only been a couple of times several years ago when I was in the area, but thought the food was pretty decent.
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re: Bob Dobalina
hiddenboston
Mar 10, 2009 07:40 AM
That place is still open? Hmmm, maybe I'll go there this week (or Dunn and Gaherins).
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re: hiddenboston
Bob Dobalina
Mar 10, 2009 07:42 AM
Found this random blog post from November 2008 - so sounds promising.
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re: Bob Dobalina
hiddenboston
Mar 10, 2009 07:51 AM
Interesting....thanks for the link! Heh, so it is comparable to Greg's, huh? Well, I won't hold that against them (actually I don't mind Greg's all that much).
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re: hiddenboston
Bob Dobalina
Mar 10, 2009 08:56 AM
To paraphrase a dear friend: "Bob Dobalina likes to find the hidden gems, but sometimes...they're just hidden."
Echo Bridge is definitely a qualifier for hidden - my dear friend would think it ends there, but that blog post sounds like it's as I remembered it as a great value place with good chow. Hope you get over there.
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re: Bob Dobalina
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