Bubba Gumps

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I remember eating a dessert crepe there, too. It was wonderful. Did you have that?

No, I had a savory, NA and I brunched.
It was yummy and I would eat there again in a heartbeat

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

And so when going to Fisherman's wharf, you might get a good meal at Bubba Gumps, but you could have the same meal in Chicago. Visiting some of the other one-of-a-kind seafood restaurants allows you to experience something that truly belongs to the city.

The trouble is, if you have a foreign Bear and Stoat, in SFO, they might just think that oh, let's see... Joes Crab Shack was in fact a one-off unique restaurant. (which is what we thought)

Foreign people don't got a lot of no chains to go by.

Now I DO feel touristy.

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Oh boy, it sure was good!

I do like LB, a lot!

Thanks Hon, I like you a lot too !

[Not Afraid]

What happened at Napa Rose?

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

What happened at Napa Rose?

(1) Surly barman in the lounge
(2) inflexible chef with regard to preparing a vegetarian meal as all the fish dishes were prepared with chicken stock in some form or another (no kidding). So a vegetarian meal was made of salad and the veggies sides. Roasted veggies, with, the inexplicable addition of steamed broccoli.
(3) one of the servers spilling a half empty plate down my back. We were seated near the chef's bar seating, so they were serving and removing plates over the barrier instead of table-side and when we asked to be served table side the server (not our waiter) made a face and rolled her eyes. No metion of the stain on the back of my blouse. And I did not see her nameplate, unfrotunately.
(4) My dish was inedible, monkfish with lobster sauce and gnocchi. The sauce was revolting, and the gnocchi so overcooked they were gum paste and the fish was killed not once, but 3 times over. I'm not a fussy eater, but it was truly a dish to be avoided. Our server, to his credit immediately came over asked if all was good and removed the plate without question. He also hustled to get me my second choice (which was my first, should always go with first choice) within moments (and delaying service for another guest I am sure) but by then I was not terribly hungry any longer.
We got our bill, the monkfish was not there, but not even an offer of a dessert to finish on a high note. It just was a bad evening and I feel like I'm whining. But for $300, you'd think we'd come out happy and satisfied.

I was more upset that the inflexibility of the chef. I mean, you can go to PF Chang's, Applebee's Ruby Tuesday and ask for a special vegetarian plate and they will usually bend over backward without issue. All they offer is a vague pasta dish, after they've already told us they steam and cook the pasta using chicken stock in the water?? Huh? Frankly, and correct me if I am wrong, the chef in any decent place would come out and say, certainly, leave it to me, no worries, I will make something special for you. And we would have been appreciative and gladly paid for it. Not so the Napa Rose, or there was a terrible mis-communication. Our waiter, he was lovely and tried hard, but he was swimming upstream. I did make a point to compliment him in the letter, it was not his fault and it sounds silly writing it down.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

I was more upset that the inflexibility of the chef.

This is one of the primary reasons I haven't wanted to go to Napa Rose. Particularly with Tom's PKU/protein allergy, it seems that they refuse to go out of their way to aid vegan diners. Our money would be better spent at, say, Bouchon in Santa Barbara - where, despite no vegetarian items on the menu, their off-menu dishes personalized to our tastes and their fresh ingredients made for our tastiest meal ever.

I wonder if it's the chef's feelings about vegetarians that make Napa Rose such a bad option? I know some chefs pooh-pooh cutting meat out of a diet - but I like my hubby's brain as-is, thanks!

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

This is one of the primary reasons I haven't wanted to go to Napa Rose. Particularly with Tom's PKU/protein allergy, it seems that they refuse to go out of their way to aid vegan diners. Our money would be better spent at, say, Bouchon in Santa Barbara - where, despite no vegetarian items on the menu, their off-menu dishes personalized to our tastes and their fresh ingredients made for our tastiest meal ever.

I wonder if it's the chef's feelings about vegetarians that make Napa Rose such a bad option? I know some chefs pooh-pooh cutting meat out of a diet - but I like my hubby's brain as-is, thanks!

See? This is exactly my point, in any other place, they would have cheerfully done something special and made you happy to be there.

I do not know anything about the chef and his views on food, but I was shocked at this lack of accomodation, not only from a 4 star place, but from a 4 star place at Disney.

Anyway, mentally making a note for Bouchon in Santa Barbara.....

[Ghoulish Delight]

Availability of a selection of non-chain restaurants was one of the big draws of the city of Orange when we were looking to purchase property. While there are chains that I will eat at, I feel much happier eating at independent establishments with unique character.

I'm less picky regarding retail, as long as the products are of good quality. Thus, I'll shop at Target and Costco and such. KMart, and WalMart I avoid because I perceive their merchandise to be generally of lower quality.

I would shop for clothing at more independent locations, however I don't have the budget for most boutique stores, nor the patience to seek out the affordable ones. Though I tend to hold off buying suits until my dad is in the mood to spend a day in the garment district (partly because of the great deals and partly because he always ends up paying for at least one suit for me. Who am I to argue?).

As for Bubba Gumps across from Disneyland? I don't fault the business decision, but it still depresses me that there is no business incentive to risk an independent establishment. It's pathetic that the choice is "high price" or "medium price chain." It's even more pathetic that people value price (as in, "It costs more, therefore it must be better")/image over actual food quality. I've mentioned before the sad story of our favorite Italian restaurant in Irvine. Down the street from a very mediocre chain-style place, where the food was blander and the prices higher, and yet the little independent place with wonderful food (no tentacles or eyeballs, just delicious southern Italian cuisine) and reasonable prices was always empty and eventually went out of business. Sad.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Availability of a selection of non-chain restaurants was one of the big draws of the city of Orange when we were looking to purchase property. While there are chains that I will eat at, I feel much happier eating at independent establishments with unique character.

I'm less picky regarding retail, as long as the products are of good quality. Thus, I'll shop at Target and Costco and such. KMart, and WalMart I avoid because I perceive their merchandise to be generally of lower quality.

I would shop for clothing at more independent locations, however I don't have the budget for most boutique stores, nor the patience to seek out the affordable ones. Though I tend to hold off buying suits until my dad is in the mood to spend a day in the garment district (partly because of the great deals and partly because he always ends up paying for at least one suit for me. Who am I to argue?).

As for Bubba Gumps across from Disneyland? I don't fault the business decision, but it still depresses me that there is no business incentive to risk an independent establishment. It's pathetic that the choice is "high price" or "medium price chain." It's even more pathetic that people value price (as in, "It costs more, therefore it must be better")/image over actual food quality. I've mentioned before the sad story of our favorite Italian restaurant in Irvine. Down the street from a very mediocre chain-style place, where the food was blander and the prices higher, and yet the little independent place with wonderful food (no tentacles or eyeballs, just delicious southern Italian cuisine) and reasonable prices was always empty and eventually went out of business. Sad.

Have you eaten at Watson's Drug on the circle?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Have you eaten at Watson's Drug on the circle?

It's where we take almost all of our guests the first time they visit us. CP works at the library that's practically across the street, she's likely eaten 90% of their menu items.

And it's called "The Plaza" (even if it is a circle).

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

What was the beef (just asking out of curiosity)?

Fixing a menu was like pulling teeth with these people. Initial phone calls were made over a week in advance, the menu finally got set the night before. No adjustments were permitted because "We would have needed more time for that." No beverages for at least ten minutes after being seated, no coffee served or offered with dessert. One guest's meal was not to their liking and no wait staff came to the table to make sure things were okay, the meal was never fixed. Despite the fact that the reservations and subsequent phone calls all mentioned that an anniversary was being observed, only the restaurant host acknowledged the anniversary. Zero mention from the wait staff, even as coffee-less dessert was being served.

I will say that a nice meal was enjoyed, don't get me wrong. The evening just didn't rise to the expectations one has of Disney, and certainly not the expectations one has when spending that kind of money. I mean, a new outfit was bought, for goodness' sake!

Actually, kudos must be given to the host, who went above and beyond in maintaining the surprise aspect of the evening. I have no idea how many guests were actually fooled into thinking we were going to Storyteller's, but the host maintained the deception even as we were "waiting for our table in the more comfortable Napa lounge."

All in all, without a serious talk with restaurant management, I won't book the Napa again for any similar gatherings. :upsidedownsnap: