What's up with Bonfire?

[Wicked Esurient Sybarite]

Hey all, recently grabbed dinner at Bonfire in the Park Plaza Hotel near the Arlington T stop. What's up with this place? It was Friday night, it was restaurant week, and it was dead. The actually wasn't half-bad, but the cocktails were not well made at all. Even though they overcooked my fish, it was still a tasty plate of ingredients. We've had good luck at Olives before, so we were expected the same from a Todd English establishment, but it ended up being fairly disappointing. I hadn't really ever heard anything about it, but, still, was expecting better.

Anyone have any input on this?

[MC Slim JB]

Someone made an amusing suggestion to me today: "They ought to let Ming Tsai open a place in the Bonfire space to see if he has the chops to make it in the big city."

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[macadamianut]

It's a good suggestion and I agree.

[hotoynoodle]

'letting ming tsai" do that isn't the same as him wanting to do it. i know years ago he did look at some city spaces, but that was before he was on tv. he's now got 2 shows, books, merch, etc, etc.

[MC Slim JB]

The only possible explanation is a lawsuit over the name from La Fogata ("The Bonfire"), a tiny Colombian/Venezuelan/Mexican place outside of Maverick Square in Eastie.

I understand that Bonfire was a money-loser from almost Day One, long expected to be pole-axed. English is first and foremost a businessman, after all. I think it got the most scathing review I'd ever read from Robert Nadeau in the Phoenix.

I'll miss the tacos at the bar, the one no-nonsense, old-school bartender they hired last year, and not much else. Probably my least favorite of the local English concepts, pretty terrible in the dining room.

Wonder what the odds are that the Park Plaza will bring in a local chef for the next concept in this location, instead of another national chain operator like Todd?

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[hotoynoodle]

my understanding is his contract was up and saunders had no desire to renew since english was so expensive and you are correct that the place only ever bled red ink.

last time i was there we were the only people at the bar (for about 2 hours) and there were 2 parties in the dining room. waiters tripping over one another with nothing to do but check their cell phones while leaning about.

[typhoonfish]

We had the wagyu burgers $25. They were undercooked and mushy. Worst $25 burger I've had.

[hiddenboston]

They're keeping the Bonfire name for now, I believe, but that's about it. I think the menu will be changing, though not sure to what extent.

[NahantNative]

This may be an absurd question, but is it even worth it to go to this place for $1 Taco tuesdays?

[hiddenboston]

To a cheapskate like me, $1 anything sounds worth it, but I can't really comment since I haven't had them there.

[Jolyon Helterman]

I think the tacos are excellent, but then I also have had good luck with the burger.

[Gabatta]

Second the burger, and it is more than big enough for two to split with a few tacos to start. I'd never eat in the dining room there, just a burger or tacos at the bar. They also have some of the best onion rings around. And yes, the $1 tacos are undoubtedly worth it, if you take away the burning need to hate all things English.

FWIW Bonfire is about as busy in there now as it has been since they opened. it hasn't dropped off, it just never took off.

As far as the English bashing is concerned, we went to Figs in C-town the other night and it was as good as ever. Also, we have been very happy with our last few Olive's visits. You have to take the good with the bad I suppose.

[greygarious]

English has become the Nero of chefs, fiddling around on TV while his kitchens burn.

[StriperGuy]

Todd English has jumped the shark. He's rather sell cookware on QVC.

[hotoynoodle]

lol, no, he's been forced to jump ship.