Hilarious New York Times review about Guy Fieri's new Times Square Restaurant

[Princess Dolly]

I used to travel on business with folks who would get to a new town for the first time and say, "Let's go to the Olive Garden tonight". :facepalm

 

[snapppyd]

I've gotten sick twice eating at Olive Garden, never again

 

[alex9179]

What I will never understand is why people would visit a place like NYC and then go to a commercially branded, cheesy, mediocre restaurant when there are so many amazing, authentic and unique places to eat there. Places where you can get delicious and well prepared food with a wide range of prices.

I know. When DH and I went to visit his parents, who lived near New Orleans, they took us to Landry's. The food was fine, but I had hoped for a non-chain food experience. That said, next time we go I want to visit one of Emeril's places (not a chain, but not necessarily authentic) that serves poulet rouge. I had that at V&A's recently, and was transported on a magic chicken ride. I can't believe the stuff we buy at the grocery is even remotely related.

After reading Guy's response, I never want to read anything written by him again. That was painful.

 

[phorsenuf]

I never liked Guy Fieri. His shows are just too loud and obnoxious, as programs centered around food, for my taste. I love watching the Food Network, but his personality really turns me off.

The gold tipped spiky hair, the glasses on the back of the head, the pretend macho attitude, the ugly clothing, the fake cooking show, the boring recipes, the premature mid-life crisis car, the constant shoveling of food in to the mouth, complete with questionable grunts and moans regarding the 'awesome' flavors, the annoying, overly loud voice... must I continue...?

NO! Please!!!!

 

[soccerdad72]

Ironically, the reviewer might have done him a favor (at least in the short run). The restaurant got free publicity (albeit not good pub) and those tourists who might not have tried the restaurant in the first place might actually give it a try just to see if the obnoxious NYT writer was wrong.

Granted, if the food and service ends up being as bad as the reviewer said, over the long run, the place won't last a couple years.

 

[FergieTCat]

A few years ago, I met Guy after a taping of "Guy's Big Bite" in New York City. He stood by the door and said good-bye to each and every audience member, which I thought was a nice gesture.

Just wanted to put that out there. Maybe his New York City restaurant is misguided, but he seems like a genuine person.

 

[cornflake]

Exactly!

I don't know if this is the same critic, but here's a review of a restaurant that the New York Times LOVES:

All in all Daniel remains one of New York’s most sumptuous dining experiences. And while it yields fewer transcendent moments than its four-star brethren and falls prey to more inconsistency, it has a distinctive and important niche in that brood, a special reason to be treasured.

I don't know why the critic bothered to go to Guy's restaurant in the first place. He KNEW it wasn't going to be a culinary masterpiece.

While I agree a Times Square monstrosity isn't likely to have edible food, maybe he felt you never know - and maybe the pr suggested this would have great food.

The Times doesn't only review chichi places. They review holes in the wall, little joints, etc. That sort of thing was really pioneered by RR but it's been kept up. If it's an awesome basement noodle house, it's an awesome basement noodle house. It doesn't have to be expensive classic French cuisine to get a stellar NYT review at all.

This mess sounds like what one would expect, but 'tis funny.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've gotten sick twice eating at Olive Garden, never again

These same folks refused to eat anywhere South of the border. We always had to go back to Texas for supper. I enjoyed the days when I was on my own and could eat with the locals

 

[frndshpcptn]

Ironically, the reviewer might have done him a favor (at least in the short run). The restaurant got free publicity (albeit not good pub) and those tourists who might not have tried the restaurant in the first place might actually give it a try just to see if the obnoxious NYT writer was wrong.

Granted, if the food and service ends up being as bad as the reviewer said, over the long run, the place won't last a couple years.

Well, I live in NYC and almost never go to Times Square. But after all this hubub - I think we are actually going to venture over and try the place this weekend. Just to see for ourselves.

Had all this NYT review publicity not happened, I'm not sure I would even know this place opened. So, yes, the review is definitely driving business I think.

 

[FergieTCat]

Well, I live in NYC and almost never go to Times Square. But after all this hubub - I think we are actually going to venture over and try the place this weekend. Just to see for ourselves.

Had all this NYT review publicity not happened, I'm not sure I would even know this place opened. So, yes, the review is definitely driving business I think.

I found the dinner menu:

http://guysamerican.com/menu/

It sounds overpriced, but no worse than Planet Hollywood or the Hard Rock Cafe. I might eat there just to see if it lives down to the hype, but I'd hate to end up spending a lot of money on bad food.

 

[lucas]

I found the dinner menu:

http://guysamerican.com/menu/

It sounds overpriced, but no worse than Planet Hollywood or the Hard Rock Cafe. I might eat there just to see if it lives down to the hype, but I'd hate to end up spending a lot of money on bad food.

Just checked out the lunch menu sandwiches. VERY overpriced!

 

[NotUrsula]

I know. When DH and I went to visit his parents, who lived near New Orleans, they took us to Landry's. The food was fine, but I had hoped for a non-chain food experience.

I'm presuming that the one they took you to was indeed part of the chain, but since you didn't specify which Landry's, I just wanted to mention that the one in Breaux Bridge is the original location, which opened as an independent restaurant in 1947 (though the building is new; the original was a wing built onto the family home.) There are dishes on the menu there that do not show up in the franchised locations. Older locals around Lafayette tend to forget that Landry's has now been franchised, and many still think of it as a local place.

That said, next time we go I want to visit one of Emeril's places (not a chain, but not necessarily authentic) that serves poulet rouge. I had that at V&A's recently, and was transported on a magic chicken ride. I can't believe the stuff we buy at the grocery is even remotely related.

FWIW, I've never seen Poulet Rouge on the menu at any of Emeril's 3 restaurants in New Orleans. However, I do know that you can normally get it at Stella, or at Revolution at the Royal Sonesta -- both of them do it very well. (Stella is owned by Scott Boswell, and Revolution is co-owned by John Folse, who has operated a kitchen farm for his restaurants for a very long time.)

 

[lucas]

Saw the story on cnn.com:
http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/11/15...-review-that-flamed-his-restaurant/?hpt=hp_t4

 

[frndshpcptn]

I found the dinner menu:

http://guysamerican.com/menu/

It sounds overpriced, but no worse than Planet Hollywood or the Hard Rock Cafe. I might eat there just to see if it lives down to the hype, but I'd hate to end up spending a lot of money on bad food.

Expensive. And not a huge fan of most of the menu - plus am Gluten Free which is limiting. But DBF really want to go, just for the fun of checking it out after all this media attention.

Wonder if they'd let me order from the kids menu? That looks reasonably priced!

Definitely trying the Garlic Fries. The wings don't look awful.

Told him that I want to go to the Harry Potter exhibit at Discovery Center as part of our date night - since we are actually going over to TS, we may as well take advantage.

Will report back after we go!

 

[Squirlz]

Just checked out the lunch menu sandwiches. VERY overpriced!

It's Times Square. Everything is much more expensive. Any time you see an ad for a restaurant special you'll see fine print that says "Higher in Hawaii and Times Square".

 

[alex9179]

FWIW, I've never seen Poulet Rouge on the menu at any of Emeril's 3 restaurants in New Orleans. However, I do know that you can normally get it at Stella, or at Revolution at the Royal Sonesta -- both of them do it very well. (Stella is owned by Scott Boswell, and Revolution is co-owned by John Folse, who has operated a kitchen farm for his restaurants for a very long time.)

Thanks for the clarification. After dining at V&A's, I looked up information about this chicken and his restaurants were one of the few in my region identified as customers-it wasn't an exhaustive search by any means. At least New Orleans is within driving distance for a weekend trip. I'll put Stella and Revolution at the top of the list! I dream about that chicken.