Welcome to the first installment of Love/Hate '08, our series of year-end reviews.
Topping of our list of resolutions for 2009 is covering the great food scene here in Chattanooga, so naturally we're starting the series with food. Join Wayne and the gang as we look back fondly on some of the year's best lines from Janet Wilson's Chattanoogan.com restaurant reviews.
11. They had the front door to the restaurant standing open, which I don’t think is a good thing as it allows flies to get in.
10. To me, “salad” was a bit misleading as I expected a salad rather than the small, warm, grape-sized tomato slices that were placed around the edges of the plate.
9. This is a standard, round, paper plate full of chips.
8. There is a laundromat next door, but the Food Lion center in front of them is almost completely empty (including Food Lion), so they are not getting the grocery-shopping traffic they should.
7. I am told they have the best coffee in town by a “coffee-holic”, but since I didn’t have any, I can’t tell you from experience.
6. By the time we got back to our table, guess what was there? The dip!
5. Only one of the doors was unlocked so I’m not sure what that reasoning is, but we opened the door on the left and entered the brightly painted restaurant.
4. I did almost slide off the stool, as the tall seats are backless and very slick!
3. The interior of the restaurant looks nice and I like how they have made a separate area for the hostess station.
2. I think this was a first – Wayne didn’t go back for seconds!
1. Our server was very cordial and we did not have a language problem.
josiahq on Dec. 30, 2008
Like Hemingway if he never left home. Food criticism at it's most pedestrian. Would be funny if it weren't THE "restaurant review" in town. I keep waiting for her to mention going home and watching her new Riverdance DVD.
Please find a foodie who can write for Chattarati asap.
Bill Colrus on Dec. 30, 2008
I HATE HATE HATE the word "foodie."
Otherwise, we'll look into it...
John Hawbaker on Dec. 30, 2008
Never fear, Josiah. I'm already on the case.
David Morton on Dec. 30, 2008
I'm not sure anyone we know could compete with the magic above, though. I just don't want Josiah to get his hopes up.
Robert T. Nash on Dec. 31, 2008
Perhaps Mr. Roe can lead by example and write and publish a restaurant review that is informative, entertaining and literate...replete with a mention of his love of Sufjan Stevens music downloads.
terran on Dec. 31, 2008
Does watching Top Chef qualify you to be a food critic?
Bill on Dec. 31, 2008
I always kinda wished Wayne would branch off and do his own reviews, or maybe he and Janet could do a point/counterpoint.
Either way, "This is a standard, round, paper plate full of chips" is the greatest single line ever written in the history of the English language.
David Morton on Dec. 31, 2008
I'm a big fan of 6:
"By the time we got back to our table, guess what was there? The dip!"
Bill on Dec. 31, 2008
...and so was the salsa.
(badoom boop)
freweds on Jan. 6, 2009
Lets get this guy blogging again.....
http://chattacookery.blogspot.com/
Janet's problem is she doesn't write negative and she doesn't spend more than $6.50 a plate.... I like the reviews of the dives but we also need someone a bit more sophisticated.
David Morton on Jan. 6, 2009
That's a great site. Thanks for the tip, @freweds
Faye on Feb. 22, 2009
I have read Janet's negative reviews (Blacksmith's Bisto, for example)and think she is fair and reasonable. I don't always agree with her, but it may be the lack of good restaurants play a part.
drew on Feb. 23, 2009
That chattacookery.blogspot is well done and fun to read.
Shalett on April 26, 2009
yeah, and"to die for";"pass away"...
Brandon on July 1, 2009
Janet's review are a joke...What qualifies her as a food critic, the fact she stuffs her face?
P. Jackson on July 2, 2009
Though it may be liberally biased, as some on this forum may point out, this is what a review looks like:
http://events.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/dining/reviews/01rest.html?ref=dining
I welcome and usually read Janet's thoughts, but learn very little of what I want to know. How about an idea on beverages? Just simply tell me about the draft or wine selection, even if $32 for a sauvignon blanc bottle is unthinkable to the reviewer. Take a wine class at Chattanooga State. Please. You know, continuing education. Partner with an interviewer to learn about the chefs/owners. What is their mission or philosophy?
This may be a tall order for her low-budget moonlighting operation, but the days of our restaurant scene being defined by The Loft are well behind us, as should be the days of the village food guru penning reviews that read like a church bulletin announcement. We no longer go to Atlanta to simply have dinner. We could really use a writer who has learned a bit in some credible kitchens.
Brady Stone on Aug. 10, 2009
If she gives a bad report...then it is probably a great place to eat.