The Linkery (yeah, one more time) - SD
San Diego doesn't get mentioned much in the New York Times when food comes up. But it did today in their sunday Magazine section which was devoted to food, by way of an article about The Linkery. Here's the link - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/mag...
The rest of the sunday Mag section offered some other interesting reading about food as well. Worth taking a look.
(List mods - I am going to post the link above to the Not About Food Board as well since it deals with tipping. Please let us discuss a local restaurant on the local board. Thanks.)
By DiningDiva
on Oct 12, 2008 06:24 PM
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A post about this was started here and moved to the Food Media and News Board today, DD.
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So how is the food at the Linkery, who cares about the newfangled tip practice, but at the end of the day is the food itself good?
Also, what other restaurants are good? The restaurants mentioned on the website for the Linkery sound pretty good, but then again he may be giving a shut out to his friends.
Is the Bud's Louissiana Food Shoppe still there?
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Bud's has re-opened in Tierrasanta.
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Where's Tierrasanta? I'm not too familiar with San Diego, beyond the Gaslamp Qtr,
Petco surroundings, and La Jolla.
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Interstate 15 North of the stadium...(which is at I-15 and I-8)
I-15 to Clairmont Mesa and East about a mile to Santo Road. It is on the SE corner strip mall.
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The food at The LInkery ranges from good to very good, but can also be a bit inconsistent. And it isn't always about the food. Sometimes it's about the source(s) and sustainability of the ingredients. Do a search of the board and you'll turn up lots of information about The Linkery and it's food.
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Is it true that near the Linkery along 30th, there are a bunch of great restaurants/
Also, has anyone been to SF's Toronado bar that recently opened up in San Diego/
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30th St. has some incredible gems from Adams Ave all the way down to Juniper in South Park with some additional gems on various side streets.
Yes, the SD Toronado is open. Excellent beer. None of the charm of the original location, but 3 pints of Pliny the Elder, meh, who needs charm...
DD, yep saw the piece in the magazine. Showed it to my wife and the only thing she could comment on was the bottom of the receipt - $168.00 -- for what looked like lunch for 3. She reminded me that's why we don't go to the Linkery. She has a point...
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yeah, i thought it might have been lunch for two even.
but weren't at least half the items on the $168 bill for alcoholic beverages.
since i'll be a tourist, i gues it's worth at least one try.
here's another thing on the 18% service charge, that is still tipping in my opinion. a mandatory enforced version of tipping. i would just rather they included it in the already expensive entree prices. Soon enough they will add a water charge and eco-friendly charge to the menu too. And that sausages sandwich will go from $14 bucks per (and already pretty pricey if you ask me) to about $25 with all the extra charges.
So in conclusion, I believe the Linkery is not a neighborhood restaurant, but is it worth it and good enough as a destination restaurant?
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Kevin,
I'm a bit biased since it is in my neighborhood and I'm not a fan. I like the Linkery for the fact they've been responsible for gentrification in my neighborhood.
I'll echo another poster that Hamilton's is my go-to place as well for a pint. I like the selection at the Toronado but in reality all I need is one tap of good craft beer and Hamilton's offers me plenty to choose from with a nice neighborhood ambience. If you see someone reading a book wih a boxer and a mutt, stop by and say "hi."
Desitnation restaurants I can suggest, are The Better Half, Cafe Chloe, C-Level (I love love love the view).
If you want to experience 30th St. however my picks would be do down to University to 35th and order some street tacos from the Mariscos German truck, walk it off by making your way back down 30th to the Toronado and finish off with dessert at Heaven Sent.
Have fun!
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Along 30th you'll find: The Linkery, Ritual Tavern, Urban Solace, Apertivo, Lefty's, Jayne's Gastropub, Vagabond (meh), Rebecca's (coffee), The Daily Scoop (ice cream and cupcakes), Toronado, Hamilton's, and I'm sure others I'm forgetting right now.
Yes, Toronado recently opened on 30th pretty close to The Linkery. I'm still not sure if the atmosphere has settled in but the beer selection is great. Alternatively I prefer Hamiltons which is a few miles south on 30th; not quite as many taps but just as good of a selection (probably better for local and specialty beers) and a better atmosphere.
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Yep, you forgot Rancho's Mexican. The prices are reasonable, attentive and fast service, and tasty, healthful food. Has Jayne's made any big changes in their menu or variety of options?
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I'm not sure if Jayne's has changed much. I probably haven't been there in a year or so for whatever reason so take that suggestion with a grain of salt.
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I recently had a beef carpaccio at Jaynes that was excellent.
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I went last night with a friend and everything we had was deilicous but I left dropping 80 dollars for 2 and still hungry. My only criticism of the food was the tripe and farro dish I had.There was hardly any tripe in it and almost all sausage. The soy grilled green beans brought out were outstanding as was the tres leches flan with fresh guava. I like the atmosphere and idea behind it, I just wish I could go more often!
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Was there for lunch today. Love the place and concept but I think I am done ordering the sausage. I just feel their prep leaves them too dry, and some of the flavor profiles are a little funky. I am going to stick with other menu items. My better half has been ordering off the "other bits" part of the menu with good luck, except for today. He ordered the country fried pigs ear sandwich on fresh bolillo with black pepper mayo, arugula and tiny tomatoes. Flavor was great, but forgot how much cartilage there is in that part. We would have been there for 2 hours if he chose to chew through the whole sandwich. Specialty item, just should have thought it out and ordered differently.
The new meat counter looks promising with beautiful pork belly bacon from various sources, whole country ham and house smoked whole mexican halibut. Was going to invest in some of the bacon, but everyone seemed too busy after our lunch to help us out.
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We've moved a digression about cooking and making your own sausage to the Home Cooking board at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/587626
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I like the Linkery but it's pretty clear they lie on their receipts when they claim they don't accept tips. All they do is automatically charge you an 18% tip which really irks me because I want to control whither I give a tip or not. If I get good service then I tip generously but if the service sucks then they get stiffed.
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The Linkery is up front about the mandatory service charge - you can't leave less, and if you leave more they give it to charity. It's non-discretionary, so it's not a tip. You may not like the policy, and you certainly can choose not to go there because of it, but it's not a lie - it's perfectly open and honest how it works.
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Just bump the posted prices by 18% and post "Gratuity included" then.
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Was that addition worth bumping a 3-year old thread?
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The Apple Of War will not be denied.
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