Bad Experience at The Nook

[flowergirl]

The food at The Nook is typically good but the owner is arrogant and rude and for the second time we were charged for items which we never ordered. I wonder how often they do this and get away with it! When i politely told him he didn't even apologize and gave us a dirty look. He acts as if he is doing you a big favor by allowing you to eat in his restaurant, charges for any substitution and is just pompous and negative. There are too many better restaurants in L A that are happy for customers than to give this man another penny.

[JamesL]

I cannot believe it - the same exact thing happened to me. My husband and I had dinner there roughly a month ago. The food was very nice and was relatively affordable. My husband signed for the bill. When we left, he was perplexed by the total amount. We got home, looked at the menu, totaled the items we ordered and it was off by about $20.00. My husband called, spoke with Brian, and told him about the overcharge. Brian told him that the next time we visit we should mention this and they will buy us two free drinks. Yes, it is definitely a lesson in reviewing your bill but I find it very, very odd that this has happened to other people. This happens to me very frequently with hotels (especially lately) but not restaurants.

[rsmc]

I have to disagree as well. Brian (if that's his name) totally knows my name even though I only come in to get takeout every once in a while. He's been nothing but friendly and polite - I really enjoy the service that I get when I go there. Not to mention the food is always terrific.

I like the boiled peanuts as well. On another note, I'm still sad that the economy is so bad they've stopped their discount on getting food to go. Bummer.

[BunnieBear]

I've been there many many times and while I'm from North Carolina (where you can't drive to the beach without going by 50 boiled peanut stands), I don't care for them. If possible, they should be put on the menu like edamame--small fee for those who dig 'em.
Every time I've been there the service and food has been excellent--which is why I keep going back. When my parents are in town for a week, we usually go 3+ times, they love it so much!

[jrcheesesteak]

concur bunniebear, esp the mussels and burger!!

[Queequeg]

Count me as another one who has never received bad/arrogant/pompous service from the owner. Each time I've been there, he's been fine; in particular, given that I invariably pop in during the dinner rush, I appreciate the fact that he periodically checks in and tells me how much longer my wait will be for a table.

And the boiled peanuts are definitely a southern thing that you either love or hate. One of the best, and worst, experiences I had was when I was traveling through Biloxi, MS and pulled over at a boiled peanut stand. Without a second's though, I popped a blistering, fresh-from-the-oil-vat peanut in my stupid California mouth. Wowza, was that a burn.

[Servorg]

I can see them now: Boiled Peanut Aversion Therapy Centers burning mouths and saving taste buds across the country! ;-D>

[jrcheesesteak]

Ditto queequeg , lad1818, jdwdeville, and of course, my main man (or woman), nosh!!.. by the way, nosh ,i hope you join streetgourmetla, me and 20 others next tuesday at MC for a fiesta on centinela!!!

Seriously, i have eaten at the nook since it opened 4yrs ago, many many times, and brian has never been other than courteous, polite, kind, friendly,etc...i must admit,that in the beginning, in the first month or so, he seemed hassled, as any new owner would be, but he never was rude inattentive,or arrogant at all. I also admit that i have only had dinner there, so maybe the answer is to avoid lunch!!! or maybe he eats too many of his own peanuts in the morning!!!

[nosh]

What time is this Chowdown at Marisco Chente? Tues April 21?

[jrcheesesteak]

6 nosh...by the way, i took 2 of your suggestions in the last few days, and they were both dynomite!! you and many others touted BIG MIKES for c.s.or hoagie, and i now can honestly say after 20 yrs of searching here, that IM FINALLY HOME IN SOUTH PHILLY!!!! BOTH THE C.S. AND ITALIAN SUB WERE SUPERB, ESP THE ROLL...this is the wrong post to detail it,but ill warranty the quality to any of my philly or ny friends
then, tonite my lady an i tried your thai boom...excellent!!! youre the best nosh...keep on recommending!

[a_and_w]

Why do people keep calling this place "the" Nook?

[Ernie]

Same here, have eaten at Nook many times over the years and have never had a problem with the service. Given how busy it can get, I'm actually impressed how well the owner/manager and servers manage the crowds

[lad1818]

In my experience, the service at Nook has never been anything less than friendly and gracious, and the food has never been anything less than great.

Except, um, for those peanuts.

[flowergirl]

The service (wait staff) is great but the owner is rude, pompous and arrogant

[jdwdeville]

Could not disagree more!!!
I love this restaurant, love the service, LOVE the boiled peanuts (maybe it's a southern thing) , and feel that the ownership/management completely lives up to the idea of "Southern hospitality"
It is a bright spot in the neighborhood.

[smfoodie]

I too had an awful experience with the owner. About a year ago I stopped in for lunch. The restaurant wasn't that full, but since I was alone, I didn't want to occupy a table and asked to be seated at the bar. The owner was doing some paperwork at the oppostie end of the bar and it was obvious that he was annoyed that I was sitting at the bar. It was so uncomfortable that I have never returned.

[Densible]

Ditto. I had lunch there about 3 weeks ago and he was so dismissive and rude -would not/could not make eye contact with us either. Been there for dinner and never had anything but good attentive service by others.

[a_and_w]

Not that this excuses anything, but he may have been annoyed that you sat at the bar because there's a whole communal table available for solo diners. Were you offered the latter option?

[smfoodie]

There was a large party seated at the communal table, so I didn't want to feel like I was crashing their lunch. If he didn't want people seated at the bar, he should have told the hostess not to seat anyone there.

[nosh]

Just to be fair, I have eaten at Nook many times and have taken guests there. I have always found the food to be excellent, the service good, and the prices a great value for relatively high-end dining (though the shortribs went up significantly on the most recent menu). They have always been very accommodating when asked to substitute various sides, when they could. I know it can sometimes get crowded in there, especially when people are waiting to be seated, but I have never been treated less than graciously.

[scurvy]

I've had only good experiences and excellent food when I've been to The Nook. I make a point of going there whenever I find myself on the westside.

This is the first complaint I've seen about the place other than someone being disappointed in the fries a while back. Even in that instance the chef or owner ended up involved in the chowversation and promised to do better.

[a_and_w]

Just to clarify, are we talking about Nook on SM Blvd in the strip mall?

[Servorg]

You don't suppose they have it mixed up with the Thai massage place in Van Nuys " The Tranquility Nook, do you? (And I always figured they left off the "ie" on the end of Nook when it comes to that place).

[flowergirl]

Yes, The Nook in West L A. I believe it is the owner - the bald man. It is really rather stupid business to treat people this way.

[Servorg]

I guess we have been 4 or 5 times over the years, and while I think the boiled peanuts they serve as a little amuse are vile I have never had any of the issues that you posted about.

-----
Nook Bistro
11628 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 9, Los Angeles, CA 90025

[a_and_w]

LOL! Perhaps Nook should advertise a "happy ending" to every meal? I'm not wild about the boiled peanuts either, but I've never had bad service at Nook -- the owner is always polite and accommodating. BTW, a friend tells me the shrimp-grits are back on the menu. Woo hoo!

[mollyomormon]

Wahoo! I just checked their website and they do appear to be back. That is fantastic news!!

[ElissaInPlaya]

Yes, the shrimp grits are back - as of last night. And, the peanuts are still disgusting.

But, the rest of the meal was lovely. I think the service, location, food and values are hard to beat in this neighborhood.

[PinotPlease]

What is up with those boiled peanuts? I've had some great lunches there, but those things seem like something dredged out of the gutter and in numerous lunchtime visits I've never seen anyone eat more than one, make a face and then push them away. Do they recycle the same 5 dishes of those things? Do they have some government subsidy to convert them into biofuel in the back room? They're heinous, what's the deal?!

[silence9]

I believe boiled peanuts are a regional southern treat, yes?

[PinotPlease]

They may be a "southern regional treat" but from my informal survey over a few visits, it seems like they're taking the bulk of them back to the kitchen and (hopefully) the dumpster/compost pile. I don't know anything about the manager/owner that people seem to have issues with, but it seems a bit bull headed/not very fiscally sound to offer a free appetizer that the majority of patrons don't seem to appreciate. It's not my money, or maybe it is, now that I think about it. I'd rather pay 2 bucks less for my arctic char wrap and have 'em put the peanuts on the menu for people who just can't live without the little, brown, slimy suckers. This isn't a diss on your observation, but I'm just sayin'...

[PandanExpress]

Wow, I love the boiled peanuts. The BF and I can't stop eating them when we're there. But maybe boiled peanuts aren't for everyone.

[soniabegonia]

I like them too. Texturally, they're more like firm beans. I think it's about expectation -- if you're expecting crunchy peanut texture, it will seem gross. I think the flavor is good and the texture, while unexpected, is not offputting if you go at it without preconceived ideas about what it should be.

[alliebear]

They taste like the boiled peanuts I've had in Georgia. You either love them or hate them IMO.

[flylice2x]

Is it the manager / Owner that makes this a bad place?
Poor service or over priced or bad food?

You would think that people would complain about being charged for items that they didn't order, but most people just look at what they owe instead of going over items they ordered on the bill.