3801 Grand Way (Grand & Excelsior)
(952) 224-9494
www.mccoysmn.com
McCoys consistently delivers decent food with poor service. Likewise, they have a great beer selection that is poured by the shyest bartenders in town.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Pig and Fiddle
3812 W 50th Street, Minneapolis AKA (50th and France, Edina)
952-955-8385
That is one hell of a beer list, CHEERS!!!!
952-955-8385
That is one hell of a beer list, CHEERS!!!!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Butcher Block - "Smoking Section Please"
The Butcher Block – “Smoking Section Please”
The Dinner
I went to the Butcher Block the other night and it was good - not “knock
it out of the park” good, but good. We ordered the beef carpaccio to start, which was a generous
portion, and a little difficult to eat (a positive in my book, I like
pepper mill or salt shaker on the table (a little cocky maybe?). While we
enjoyed our carpaccio ,our server was outside puffing on a few
Parliaments. Nothing complements a good dish like the smell of
I’m a sucker for short ribs, so we did that for the third course. The
short ribs were decent, but starting to get a little dry. I still
enjoyed them though. The roasted potatoes with the horseradish aioli were a nice addition to the dish and I appreciated having something different than garlic mashed potatoes.
Dessert was horrible. The chocolate torta was dry and lacked flavor.
Apparently the chef knew it too, so he went to the newest trick in the
book and added caramel and sea salt. I guess we should have listened to our server when she recommended the torrone. Next time we know.
The Breakdown
Service: Besides inhaling a cloud of smoke, our server was pretty
Atmosphere: A good little date spot, but that windowless dining room is a real bummer on a beautiful evening in NE.
Carpaccio: Solid
Rigatoni Alla Norcina: Solid
Short Ribs: Decent
Dessert: Sucked
Overall, I would and will return for the carpaccio and pasta at
reasonable prices (especially when a trip to Surdyk's is also
involved), but it won't make my most-frequented list.
I went to the Butcher Block the other night and it was good - not “knock
it out of the park” good, but good. We ordered the beef carpaccio to start, which was a generous
portion, and a little difficult to eat (a positive in my book, I like
rolling up my sleeves for dinner). I’m a pepper guy and would have
liked to add a little to the carpaccio. I was surprised not to find apepper mill or salt shaker on the table (a little cocky maybe?). While we
enjoyed our carpaccio ,our server was outside puffing on a few
Parliaments. Nothing complements a good dish like the smell of
ashtray.
The second course was rigatoni alla norcina (house ground pork
sausage, truffle cream). A good dish, I’d order it again. The house ground sausage definitely elevated this dish above a run-of-the-mill pasta with sausage and the rich cream sauce makes it a great one to share.The second course was rigatoni alla norcina (house ground pork
I’m a sucker for short ribs, so we did that for the third course. The
enjoyed them though. The roasted potatoes with the horseradish aioli were a nice addition to the dish and I appreciated having something different than garlic mashed potatoes.
Dessert was horrible. The chocolate torta was dry and lacked flavor.
book and added caramel and sea salt. I guess we should have listened to our server when she recommended the torrone. Next time we know.
The Breakdown
Service: Besides inhaling a cloud of smoke, our server was pretty
good. She gave us several suggestions and was attentive. She seemed
to lack wine knowledge which would have been nice as I’m not to
familiar with Italian wines, although she made up for that somewhat by offering tastes of several bottles we were considering so that we could choose our favorite.to lack wine knowledge which would have been nice as I’m not to
Atmosphere: A good little date spot, but that windowless dining room is a real bummer on a beautiful evening in NE.
Food:
Carpaccio: Solid
Rigatoni Alla Norcina: Solid
Short Ribs: Decent
Dessert: Sucked
reasonable prices (especially when a trip to Surdyk's is also
involved), but it won't make my most-frequented list.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Pat's Tap
The food at Pat's Tap was much like the restaurant's name: generic and
generally forgettable. None of the food was particularly bad, but
nothing was memorable either. Most notable was the huge gap in
the level of service received in the bar area versus that which we
experienced once we were seated for dinner.
The night started off well. It was a weeknight during restaurant week and
when we arrived, there was a wait for a table. While waiting we considered
the options on the beer and wine list with a bartender who happily (and
without us having to ask) poured us tastes of every beer and wine we were
considering. What a treat to have a busy bartender be willing to go
the extra mile to make sure her customers were happy with their
drinks.
Contrast this with the comedy of errors that characterized our dinner
service. We were seated with the restaurant's regular menu - no
restaurant week menu in sight. Pet Peeve #1 of the evening: if you're
going to participate in restaurant week, do not make me go out of my
way to ask for the special menu. It makes me feel like you’re hoping to hide
that from me and I do not respect that.
generally forgettable. None of the food was particularly bad, but
nothing was memorable either. Most notable was the huge gap in
the level of service received in the bar area versus that which we
experienced once we were seated for dinner.
The night started off well. It was a weeknight during restaurant week and
when we arrived, there was a wait for a table. While waiting we considered
the options on the beer and wine list with a bartender who happily (and
without us having to ask) poured us tastes of every beer and wine we were
considering. What a treat to have a busy bartender be willing to go
the extra mile to make sure her customers were happy with their
drinks.
Contrast this with the comedy of errors that characterized our dinner
service. We were seated with the restaurant's regular menu - no
restaurant week menu in sight. Pet Peeve #1 of the evening: if you're
going to participate in restaurant week, do not make me go out of my
way to ask for the special menu. It makes me feel like you’re hoping to hide
that from me and I do not respect that.
While my dining companion was away from the table, no less than three
different servers came to ask me if we had a tab at the bar we needed
to pay. Although I think that's something a quality restuarant just
knows, as a casual neighborhood spot, I was willing to overlook the
question the first time. And possibly the second. Definitely not the
third.
On our server's recommendation, we started with the zucchini cakes and
the pork belly skewers. While zucchini cakes would not normally jump
enjoyed the lightly fried cakes served with lemon honey aioli. The pork
belly skewers were nicely flavored but could have used another element to
cut through their inherent fatiness. In addition to the restaurant week
appetizers, we wanted to try Pat's tomato soup, which was served with
cheesy crackers. To my taste, the soup was more smoke than tomato and it
wasn't my favorite version of this classic.
Before we had a chance to finish our apps, our entrees arrived. belly skewers were nicely flavored but could have used another element to
cut through their inherent fatiness. In addition to the restaurant week
appetizers, we wanted to try Pat's tomato soup, which was served with
cheesy crackers. To my taste, the soup was more smoke than tomato and it
wasn't my favorite version of this classic.
Pet Peeve #2: I have never heard a good excuse for bringing out a table's
entrees while they are still eating their appetizers. If you have
one, I'd love to hear it. Entrees of a warm spinach salad with smoked
chicken, egg, feta and mustard vinaigrette and a turkey burger with
whipped feta, lettuce, tomato and onion were...fine.
Izzy’s ice cream for dessert was good... it always is.one, I'd love to hear it. Entrees of a warm spinach salad with smoked
chicken, egg, feta and mustard vinaigrette and a turkey burger with
whipped feta, lettuce, tomato and onion were...fine.
All in all, here is the breakdown on Pat’s Tap after one visit (I’ll go anywhere
3 times before I make my final decision).
Bartender: Super fantastic
entrees well before apps were finished was extremely annoying. Besides that,
several servers watered and helped clear our table.
Food:
Zucchini Cakes - GOOD
Pork Belly Skewers - worth a try
Turkey Burger - okay but messy
Warm Spinach Salad - lacked flavor even though it was over dressed
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Valentine’s Day:
14 Things We DON’T Love About Servers
14. Ignoring a Mistake
Mistakes happen. You
press a wrong button, the kitchen is behind, or a bartender is backed up. In case you’re wondering, I did notice. I’ll be quite forgiving if I hear an apology,
and if appropriate, you comp a glass of wine or dessert for me.
13. Not Bringing Fresh Silverware
If my silverware is dirty and on a dish you’re picking up,
PICK IT UP. It’s not like you’re the one
who is washing it.
12. Failing to Recognize Regulars
I don’t need a lot of attention (I’m lying) but a simple
smile or “welcome back” goes a long way.
11. Not Picking Up
the Check Promptly
When I put my credit card down, assume I’m ready to leave
even if I’m not (see #5).
10. Not Checking in After Food has Been Delivered
My steak may suck, it may be awesome. If it sucks, I wanna ask you for a side of
béarnaise to make it better.
9. “I haven’t tried
that…”
Epic Fail.
8. Claiming to Love Everything on the Menu
Every dish is not the best dish you’ve ever had. If I want your opinion, give it to me
straight.
7. Talking to Other Staff Members When I Need Something
Yeah, you just slept with Matt the bartender and that is hot
news, but I have needs too.
6. Constantly Upselling
If it’s not my birthday or I didn’t get promoted today. I may not want to spend a month’s rent on
dinner. Please don’t make me feel guilty for not
adding the lobster tail to my steak.
5. Not Refilling Water and Coffee After I’ve paid
“Hello…I’m still here…I might even come back.”
4. Having to Ask if There are Specials
If there are specials, I want to
know. Period.
*Gold
star if you also tell me how much the specials cost.
3. Courses Coming Out
on Top of Each Other
It’s not a race.
Under no circumstances do I want to see my main course before I’ve
finished my salad.
2. Letting My Glass Go Empty
Hands down, the easiest and most obvious problem to solve as
a server, likewise the most neglected.
1. Dropping the Check Before Asking if I Need Anything Else
I might be about to order a Louis XIII (okay, usually it’s a
coffee). If you drop the check too soon,
you’ll never know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)