Happy rainy, soggy Friday.
This is the day for reader mail. Got a dining question? Email it in or add it to the comments and we'll try to answer your queries. Here's what on your minds so far:
QUESTION: Not a question, but an observation. We went to Harry's Seafood Grill (101 S. Market St.; Wilmington Riverfront; 777-1500) on a recent Thursday night. What a gorgeous setting, great food...but we will NEVER go back there. The noise level/din was horrendous. Even our waiter could not hear us giving our order. You would think that, with all the money spent on this place, they would have consulted with someone who specializes in acoustics. What a shame. J.
ANSWER: J, I called Xavier Teixido, who owns the Wilmington Riverfront restaurant with executive chef David Leo Banks, and shared your concerns.
“They are right,” Teixido said, offering his apologies. He said the bar area, which has several tables, is “a hard space and that room can get loud, primarily on Thursday or Friday nights.”
Teixido has consulted with sound engineers who told him that 40 percent of the space would need to be covered for the noise to be muffled.
But not everyone hates the din. “There are people who want it noisy, bustling and loud.”
Teixido said that the carpeting in the main dining room was replaced last week “and I even had them put an extra pad on it.” If anyone is ever unhappy with where they are sitting - especially in the bar area, Teixido said “please let us know. We’ll be happy to move you.”
Restaurateurs have said it over and over: They want patrons to speak up - when they're at the restaurant - and voice your concerns, not when they leave. If it's a restaurant that cares about its customers, they will try to accommodate you.
J, since you enjoyed both the food and the setting, I say you give Harry’s another chance.
QUESTION: Hi Patricia ~ About 2-3 months ago, you reviewed a restaurant in Chester County, Pa., (possibly the Unionville area) that sounded like an Irish pub. You described it as small, decent food; a place that is known to locals but gets a good crowd on the weekends. Can you tell me the name of the restaurant and its location? I thought I saved the review, but I cannot find it anywhere. It sounds like a fun place to try. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. Linda Brinker
ANSWER: Linda, I believe you’re thinking of The Whip Tavern, (1383 N. Chatham Road, near Coatesville, Pa. (610) 383-0600 or www.thewhiptavern.com) a snug, 42-seat English style pub in the hinterlands of West Marlborough Township. Don’t try to find this place on a foggy night - like we did on our first visit. You’ll get hopelessly lost. And don’t go on a Tuesday - the tavern is closed that day. Beer is served at the pub, but The Whip is actually a BYOB restaurant. You can bring your own wine, but a $2.50 corkage fee will be charged. Cigarette smoking is permitted after 9 p.m. (This is a Pennsylvania tavern.) Get the Welsh rarebit, a warm blend of melted English cheddar and Stilton cheeses swirled with Smithwick's Irish Ale and served with crostini for dipping. The mushroom soup is made with locally grown mushroom in a porcini broth. Owner K.C. Kulp says the kitchen turns out Shepherd's pie with ground lamb, regulars love the Guinness lamb stew, and the toad-in-the-hole – or sausage baked in Yorkshire pudding – is now offered as an entree instead of an appetizer.
This is the day for reader mail. Got a dining question? Email it in or add it to the comments and we'll try to answer your queries. Here's what on your minds so far:
QUESTION: Not a question, but an observation. We went to Harry's Seafood Grill (101 S. Market St.; Wilmington Riverfront; 777-1500) on a recent Thursday night. What a gorgeous setting, great food...but we will NEVER go back there. The noise level/din was horrendous. Even our waiter could not hear us giving our order. You would think that, with all the money spent on this place, they would have consulted with someone who specializes in acoustics. What a shame. J.
ANSWER: J, I called Xavier Teixido, who owns the Wilmington Riverfront restaurant with executive chef David Leo Banks, and shared your concerns.
“They are right,” Teixido said, offering his apologies. He said the bar area, which has several tables, is “a hard space and that room can get loud, primarily on Thursday or Friday nights.”
Teixido has consulted with sound engineers who told him that 40 percent of the space would need to be covered for the noise to be muffled.
But not everyone hates the din. “There are people who want it noisy, bustling and loud.”
Teixido said that the carpeting in the main dining room was replaced last week “and I even had them put an extra pad on it.” If anyone is ever unhappy with where they are sitting - especially in the bar area, Teixido said “please let us know. We’ll be happy to move you.”
Restaurateurs have said it over and over: They want patrons to speak up - when they're at the restaurant - and voice your concerns, not when they leave. If it's a restaurant that cares about its customers, they will try to accommodate you.
J, since you enjoyed both the food and the setting, I say you give Harry’s another chance.
QUESTION: Hi Patricia ~ About 2-3 months ago, you reviewed a restaurant in Chester County, Pa., (possibly the Unionville area) that sounded like an Irish pub. You described it as small, decent food; a place that is known to locals but gets a good crowd on the weekends. Can you tell me the name of the restaurant and its location? I thought I saved the review, but I cannot find it anywhere. It sounds like a fun place to try. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. Linda Brinker
ANSWER: Linda, I believe you’re thinking of The Whip Tavern, (1383 N. Chatham Road, near Coatesville, Pa. (610) 383-0600 or www.thewhiptavern.com) a snug, 42-seat English style pub in the hinterlands of West Marlborough Township. Don’t try to find this place on a foggy night - like we did on our first visit. You’ll get hopelessly lost. And don’t go on a Tuesday - the tavern is closed that day. Beer is served at the pub, but The Whip is actually a BYOB restaurant. You can bring your own wine, but a $2.50 corkage fee will be charged. Cigarette smoking is permitted after 9 p.m. (This is a Pennsylvania tavern.) Get the Welsh rarebit, a warm blend of melted English cheddar and Stilton cheeses swirled with Smithwick's Irish Ale and served with crostini for dipping. The mushroom soup is made with locally grown mushroom in a porcini broth. Owner K.C. Kulp says the kitchen turns out Shepherd's pie with ground lamb, regulars love the Guinness lamb stew, and the toad-in-the-hole – or sausage baked in Yorkshire pudding – is now offered as an entree instead of an appetizer.
1 comment:
My wife and I ate at Harry's Seafood the first week it was open. Our experience was so bad we have never returned. The evening started bad when we were seated 45 minutes after our reserved time.The table was on a walkway and we were constantly jostled by wait staff. The noise was so loud we could not hold a conversation. When we said something to the waiter he became rude and surly. While the food was well prepared the noise and lack of professionalism by the staff far outshone the food. When I spoke to the manager about our poor experience, she blew me off with an attitude of so what.
Post a Comment