644904 Sat Aug 15 13:30:34 -0700 2009 6 9 New Orleans 0 4949166 but then I ate at Restaurant August. Wow, that place blows Stella out of the water. Don't get me wrong, I am a longtime fan of Stella and Boswell. But August is so on-point it hurts. I mean the wait staff is perfect. Glasses are always full, wait staff never in the way. Oh, my new favorite dish? The 5 course tasting menu. Sat Aug 15 13:30:35 -0700 2009 1101934 The Collapser 1 4953163 Everyone has a different experience. My own at August was unfortunate, but not because of chance or expectations. Just a series of bungled interactions, disappointing 86's and missed opportunities. In the end, though it was not the kind of night we went out for, the whole thing became comical. No one was on point, let alone deserving of praise. On the other hand, I have never been disappointed by the food or service at Stella! Never had a server run down the 86 list to me, never ordered or wanted to order something listed on a menu only to be told they were "out" of it, never poured the wrong waters. While I much prefer August's interior, barring the fiddly silverware service at Stella!, I would always choose Boswell, and tell people all the time it is probably the best thing going in the city. So, that is an alternate perspective. Mon Aug 17 10:49:10 -0700 2009 4949166 1101992 sayorette 2 4953202 Agree 100% on both counts, right down to the "fiddly silverware service" at Stella! My wife and I refer to it as "The Dance of the Silver" and laugh about it to this day. The "Grilled Cheese Sandwich" dessert, at Stella! is still something that my wife raves on. Duck Five Ways was right up there, for me, but Brigtsens' soft-shells overtook that, for me. So, another perspective. Mon Aug 17 11:00:41 -0700 2009 4953163 56780 Monch 2 4955316 Point of Clarification: I'm not anything close to a newbie in the area of dining out, but could you please explain what you mean by '86's'? I have never heard the term used in this context before. Thank you. Tue Aug 18 06:22:20 -0700 2009 4953163 10258 Fydeaux 3 4955352 In case sayorette doesn't get back, I'll chime in. To "86 the fish special" means to inform the waitstaff to alert the customers that the restaurant is out of that dish. "We don't have anymore of the fish". I've heard varying versions of the etymology of the term. One is here: http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-eig1.htm Hope that helps and hope I didn't step on you, sayorette. Tue Aug 18 06:34:16 -0700 2009 4955316 56780 Monch 4 4956529 Not at all. You got it. It is restaurant jargon. I apologise for being mystifying, Fido. Tue Aug 18 12:24:17 -0700 2009 4955352 1101992 sayorette 5 4956858 Thanks both of you for clearing that up; that's actually what I would have thought, but the way you wrote it had me thinking it was something in addition to the list of sold-out items. Tue Aug 18 13:53:08 -0700 2009 4956529 10258 Fydeaux