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We are constantly on the lookout for new and undiscovered meals, from Michelin-starred restaurants to tac… (More)
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Bummer!
If one cannot manage a restaurant effectively, the endeavor is doomed to failure regardless of good the menu offerings are.
With a track record of premature closings, this comes as no surprise.
Regardless of why it closed, it’s still sad to see a restaurant go out of business. Upscale Mexican restaurants are going against the grain. Customers expect certain ethnic food (Mexican, Chinese, etc.) to be cheap. Even in Los Altos. Until next time…
“Customers expect certain ethnic food (Mexican, Chinese, etc.) to be cheap.”
Though labor intensive, Chinese and Mexican food should be reasonably priced considering the actual ingredients.
And the same applies to pasta dishes. I will not pay over $15 for a plate of spaghetti.
“With a track record of premature closings, this comes as no surprise.”
Every chef aspires to run his/her own operation but not everyone is cut out to do so.
Maintaining ‘artistic integrity’ and business responsibilities are natural counterparts.
If one is gifted but cannot run a business, they should work for an entity that has the capital to sustain periodic losses.
Lastly, raising prices to accommodate revenue loss is a surefire path to failure.
Another reason for the current restaurant failures is that there are too many ‘fusion’ stylists out there trying to lump different types of ingredients and cultural foods together.
We do not need absurd blendings like Japanese/Mexican, French/Chinese, East Indian/Italian and all of the other hairbrained concoctions.
Most people want real food, not the eclectic offerings seen on ‘Chopped’ and other cooking shows.
Mexican restaurant menus (including rice, beans, and an entree aka combo) should always be priced at $14.50 or less regardless of the chopping involved and/or the ingredients used (including camarones aka shrimp).
To charge more is an insult to the paying customer.
Chinese food should also be a cheap dining option because all you are getting are some vegetables and a few scraps of meat + some arcane seasonings.
Like lawyers and dentists, we have far too many restaurants in the SF Bay Area.
One less = no major loss.
When it comes to Mexican food, most diners want a combo plate, unlimited chips & salsa, and a pitcher of margaritas or a good Mexican beer.
Foo-foo esoteric cuisine is best reserved for the likes of Chez TJ, Greystone/CIA, and the French Laundry where one pays more but gets less.
For countless folks, Red Lobster is their ‘go to’ restaurant for moderately-priced seafood as Olive Garden is for Italian, Chevy’s for Mexican, Chili’s for TexMex, PF Chang’s for Chinese, the Shogun for Japanese, and Sizzler or Outback for steak.
Fair prices and a standardized menue is why the aforementioned outlets are more successful than the overpriced restaurants spouting fusion, noveau cuisine, and celebrated chefs that no one but epicurean snobs have heard of.
After all the fuss when they opened I was looking forward to eating there. What a disappointment. Lousy food and high prices. My friend also thought it was awful.
My spouse and I ate at El Alto three times — including opening week and about three weeks ago. Every time it was excellent food, and an even better hospitality experience. The portions were not large — and I didn’t myself think they were small but others apparently did (relative to price) but I was not looking for a second meal in a take-out box.
It always seemed busy to us. And people were certainly having a good time.
If people don’t think Mexican food should ever cost more than $15, then of course they should not go places where it costs more. But El Alto seemed busy enough with people who WERE willing to pay more. Would be interesting to know if they had repeat customers or is my spouse and I were unusual.
Or maybe there was something else going wrong (food costs, staffing, investors, etc.). I hope there will be more reporting on the actual reason if that becomes known (vs. gossip, or people like me and others speculating..)
Still miss Jardiniere in SF, right across the street from Davies Symphony Hall. Dinner there plus a concert with Michael Tilson-Thomas conducting. Pre-pandemic of course.
Too bad those days are long over.
“Days are long over”.
They are indeed. The insane overreaction and response to Covid has forever changed our society. The loss of independent businesses, reduction of service, inability to get good staffing.
Days long over.
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