Gothamist: Dining Industry Doing Even Worse Than Expected

OttoBloggo

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:35:29 -0500

Well, according to the "OpenTable" index (my own coined term) it is still impossible to get a decently-timed, or in many cases--ANY--reservation at the city's hot spots. So I can only assume things are fine. When I can go on OpenTable and book a table at PerSe or Gramercy Tavern, then I know the world's gone to hell in a handbasket.

JenChungsBra

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:27:55 -0500

Ms. Capuano should have thought about this stuff years ago before she dropped out of school and started cranking out the kids.

inoyourider

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:44:01 -0500

Plenty of reasonable places if you know where to look (hint no tourists, hipsters, or suits around)

Snoopy

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:04:22 -0500

You can't beat "street meats" for fine dining at an affordable price. Unfortunately no liquor is sold at those locations.

virgil

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:40:29 -0500

Anyone who looks to the NY Times for useful consumer tips in the middle to low income bracket is wasting their time. I love the paper, but it's definitely aimed at the affluent. Which ain't me. There's a whole lot of good food in this city, but you have to look for the deals. And that's part of the fun, I think.

EastRiver

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:36:47 -0500

When Bennigan's filed for bankruptcy the WSJ reported that since 1990 the population of the US has increased 20 percent while the number of restaurants increased 40 percent.

Snoopy

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:18:28 -0500

A fancy Argentinian restaurant has just adopted a happy hour. $9.00 for what they call a "well" drink. In bar speak it's called the speed rack. That's the stuff like "Old Kentucky" bourbon, "Old McTavish" Scotch, and "Old Moscow" vodka is used with lots of ice. Thanks people.

Ronkonkoma Ondinnonk

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:40:32 -0500

We who have lived on Smith Street for a long time saw its rapid transformation from a wasteland to a sprawling pubcrawl certainly saw this coming. I agree with cucarachita. Mind your karma.

whitecastlerock

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:02:58 -0500

Most people who live in the city are discovering this little room that has been collecting cobwebs for years. Yes, it is called the kitchen. It has a refrigerator and a stove and a sink-everything they need to make the same meal at home for a fraction of the price...

hazenyc

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:14:02 -0500

I have definitely noticed that: 1- getting a table at usually hard-to get places is becoming easier 2- especially weekday nights.. normally bustling places are 1/2 empty or more 3- staff pushing Specials extra hard 4- service & staff have DECLINED overall in attentiveness, experience, and knowledge of the food..

TK

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:04:12 -0500

Felix and JDS convinced me. Give me my dollar back.

John Del Signore

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:42:35 -0500

Thank you, Felix Hoenikker. Truth be told, I was trying to work in a little "waitressing is the number one occupation for female non-college graduates in this country" but... it didn't work out. Anyone got a tiny violin?

mdev

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:11:12 -0500

But if half the tables are empty, do you think the waiter would rather have a 15% tip or no business at all?

cucarachita

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:46:23 -0500

People, if you can't afford to tip 20%, stay home, or eat at cheaper restaurants. Waiters need money too.

NannyState

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:12:02 -0500

When the Times fails to make that $400 million payment to its creditors in May, Frank Bruni will really be doing some "recession dining". It'll be ALPO and crackers over a steam grate.

7train

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:02:55 -0500

#6, that was pretty funny. But, guys, I'm sure the purpose of this article was to show people to get a good bang for your buck while still enjoy fine dining style. You can always get cheaper table service if you, let's say go to an ethnic restaurant in the boroughs.

Shinobi Shaw

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:43:28 -0500

#5 you mean because with a recession in the midst, people would be more incline to drink? Hey, when you're poor, only the most foolish would spend their income on $10-15 dollar drinks.

kcin122

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:26:17 -0500

ive never in my life spent 100 dollars on a meal

glennQNYC

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:05:42 -0500

It is definitely easier to get a table lately.

Felix Hoenikker

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:32:34 -0500

Toby...Toby...Toby... Toby Wong...Toby Wong...Toby Chung...fuckin Charlie Chan.

edEx

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:20:01 -0500

There's to much shitty expensive restaurants. Survival of the fittest...

ides_of_march

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:08:34 -0500

"He set himself the task of spending less than $100 ..." I love it when affluent, out-of-touch elitists try to relate to the peasants. They have absolutely no clue.

Snoopy

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:52:11 -0500

Bruni when you can find a decent place where two can eat for $25 including drinks and tip then you can amaze me. Some families of four exist on a food budget of $100 a week. It's surprising the bars are doing so poorly. You would think they would do better.

Phineas Gage

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:40:12 -0500

Dinner for under $100? Wow, that is fucking amazing, Mr. Burns. You have truly found a way to relate to the unwashed masses. Under $100. Jesus fucking Christ.

ides_of_march

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:38:44 -0500

People would have more money to spend on restaurants and nightlife if they could keep more of their paychecks instead of it going to taxes. That's why tax increases kill the economy and tax cuts improve it. Economics 101. Yet we keep voting in socialists.

chris lee

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:33:47 -0500

I am sorry the bar and restaurant business is ENTIRELY oversaturated. Add to that the fact that you can't smoke or dance in bars and you have a boring NYC nitelife.

Shinobi Shaw

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:31:18 -0500

It's not surprising, back in 2007 when I was practically going out to eat with Friends every weekend, the restaurants were JAM PACKED all the time (barely any seats). Then around Summer of '08 I started to notice a startling sharp decline, I would see many restaurants half-empty on a Friday night. The sharp decline overnight is quite troubling, I have to say.