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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 25, 2014 13:36:01 GMT -5
 Clip, not so sure about that cause there are family operated businesses in that area not too far from that bar who are doing great. Look at Ventura's restaurant for example and Joey's. Both are in bad sections and people still flock to their restaurants. Both have been there in the same locations for many years now and both are very successful. You also have other bars like Rick's Place right around the corner from the problem bar that has been there for years and is a great, fun, little bar for all ages to enjoy. RJ and I stop there often to have a "soda" with the owner Rick Dorsagno. I tended bar for Rick for many years and I still enjoy visiting with Rick and my old customers. I guess it boils down to what class of people you "allow" your business to attract.  |
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 25, 2014 13:39:10 GMT -5
Oops, don't know what happen. I posted twice but I actually didn't. lol! I think I have ghost in my computer. 
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Post by Clipper on Jan 25, 2014 14:38:37 GMT -5
I don't believe that business about the ghost in the computer. Are sure that you aren't just getting senile and repeating yourself, hahaha!  |
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Post by Clipper on Jan 28, 2014 12:35:31 GMT -5
The OD is reporting that Two J's has had their license to serve alcohol suspended due to the latest homicide. That will most likely be the end of the place as it is presently known. Hopefully someone will lease or buy it and put a much better and safer venue in the building. What does Utica need? Hmmm let me think about it. Oh yeah, how about a nice family run Italian Restaurant? Those seem to be fading fast and I am always up for a "non- Olive Garden" Italian dinner. Anyone living in Utica that patronizes Olive Garden, Pizza Hut, and Little Ceasar's should simply be ashamed of themselves with all that GOOD and authentic Italian cuisine available. LIttle Ceasar's $5 Hot and Ready is nasty. It was probably hot and ready three hours ago.  |
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 28, 2014 15:03:14 GMT -5
Clip, we do enjoy a change of menu once in a while. RJ, I, my sister and brother-in-law went to the Olive Garden last week for the first time here in N.Hartford and I must say it was very good. I had the egg plant dinner (my favorite dish) and it was excellent. The taste was comparable to any of the Italian restaurants here in Utica but cheaper in price.The four of us each did the dinner special for two and RJ and mine bill came to only $25.49 which included all the garlic bread and salad we could eat plus a choice of one appetizer. We chose the mozzarella fried balls with a sauce dip. Ya can't beat that kiddo. Have another confession. My favorite all time pizza place is O'scugnizzo but my favorite specialty pizza is Pizza Hut's "Meat Lovers" pizza. Can't get enough of that one. 
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Post by Clipper on Jan 28, 2014 15:58:49 GMT -5
Glad you enjoyed Olive Garden, the Taco Bell of the Italian Bistro world. Three varieties of canned sauces, and an assortment of pastas. Kathy and I have been there for lunch for the soup and salad specials, but for Italian dinner entrees I will stick with Kathy's home made or with a reputable family owned place called Giovani's in Kingsport Tn. Olive Garden does have a wonderful soup called zuppa toscana that is wonderful for a quick lunch with bread sticks and several helpings of their salad, but their dinners always remind me of something that was frozen and thawed or popped in a microwave.
As for Pizza Hut, we finally have a decent alternative to that crap also. A fellow from NY opened a NY Style pizza shop downtown and he makes a great pie. He makes his own Italian sausage, and sauce made with imported plum tomatoes cooked down and seasoned just right. He is also the first place I have found here that uses REAL Mozz that comes in balls and is sliced and laid on top on the pie rather than shredded processed stuff sprinkled lightly. The last time we were there he even made me a Utica style pizza with the sauce going on the top like Joe's or O'Scugnizzo's. He tried a slice himself and liked it.
Pizza Hut has a niche in the fast food world. Buying a pizza there is like going to Ponderosa for a steak though. It is not an authentic or high quality product. We ate plenty of Pizza Hut pies over the years that we have been down here and at a loss for a real NY style pie.
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 28, 2014 21:56:29 GMT -5
Each to their own. I must not be the only one who thought the Olive Garden in N. Hartford is good cause no matter what time of day you go there it is packed. If my favorite dish, egg plant, was not as good as my own or comparable to any Italian restaurant in Utica, believe me, I would say so and would never go back but that's not the case. I will return.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 28, 2014 22:09:45 GMT -5
Their parking lot stays full here too, but mainly because there is not many other places to go for Italian Food. The best thing that Olive Garden has going for them is their salad, bread sticks, and comfortable chairs.
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 28, 2014 22:29:00 GMT -5
Their parking lot stays full here too, but mainly because there is not many other places to go for Italian Food. The best thing that Olive Garden has going for them is their salad, bread sticks, and comfortable chairs. ....and egg plant parmesan. They're definitely not packed here for the same reason you stated. |
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Post by Clipper on Jan 28, 2014 22:43:07 GMT -5
Well, I have picked on ya for long enough about your traitorous behavior, going to a chain restaurant for Italian food. I am off to bed. Say hi to RJ for us. Do they have pork chop parmesan? That would be more up my alley.
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Post by dave on Jan 29, 2014 8:00:57 GMT -5
My wife says I'm crazy, but I think the best pot roast in town is at Denny's. Could be more to the serving, of course. There's no accounting for our taste buds.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 29, 2014 11:29:31 GMT -5
You are right Dave. Denny's does have an awesome pot roast dinner. Perkins also has good pot roast and one of the best restaurant prepared turkey dinners with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and a salad or veggie for only about $8 or so. I just can't get excited about the Olive Garden menu. Here it is well received because they don't know and appreciate what REAL Italian food is supposed to taste like.
I compare going to Olive Garden for Italian food to going to Long John Silvers for a seafood dinner or a fish fry. lol
Aside from that, I have to keep BZ on her toes and actively disagreeing with me. Wouldn't want her to get complacent. haha.
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Post by bobbbiez on Jan 29, 2014 14:36:08 GMT -5
Huh clip, it has nothing to do with wanting to disagree with you. When it comes to food everyone has different views on foods and restaurants. What you like I might not like and vise versa. Lots of people rave about Domenico's here in N.Utica. Since they opened they are always packed but they have also changed quite a bit and not for the better. The last few times we went there the steak was tough and full of fat. It was like chewing leather. They are still packed but we will not return. We received gift cards for Christmas to Applebee's and surprisingly the food was very good. I had never been to an Applebee's before but will return. Their steak was ten times better then the ones we had at Domenico's. The potion was not as big but the taste was so much better. Their salads and veggies were crispy and tasty. All was worth the price we paid. I guess it also depends on the locations and cooks at all restaurants. For example, The Outback in Florida is excellent but the one that opened up here in N.Hartford sucks. Really sucks! Big difference and very disappointing for us.
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Post by Clipper on Jan 29, 2014 15:00:52 GMT -5
Oh Bull BZ. Ya know you disagree with me just for the fun of it most of the time. Why should our restaurant preferences be any different.
We liked Domenico's when it was Jack Appleseed's. The food was good back then and has declined ever since. Chesterfield is pretty good, and has good greens as a side dish. You are right about Domenico's. We ate there the last time we were home, and it sucked. I had a ribeye that was tougher than tripe, and Kathy had a filet mignon that was tough and dry as a bone, even cooked medium rare. If you want an excellent steak, Beardslee Castle down below Little Falls has a wood fired grill, and they cook over apple wood most of the time. Their steaks melt in your mouth, but you pay a pretty good price for the high quality. I think our check for our last visit was over $50 for the two of us, plus tip, and that was before we moved South in 02. Coal Yard Charlie's in Rome used to have good steaks but we haven't been there in 5 or 6 years. Solsville Hotel in Solsville was always a great place for steaks, but I don't know if they are even still in business or serving food anymore. They used to do prime rib on weekends.
Appleby's is pretty good. They run specials here for an appetizer and two entrees for $20 sometimes. Nice for a quick dinner. A six ounce sirloin, a baked tater and salad, along with an appetizer is a decent bargain. We have Outback here too, and their blooming onion is a treat, but the quality of their meat and the serving size is not anything to write home about.
We also have a chain restaurant here called Fatz Cafe. They are known for their Calabash style fried seafood and good steaks. They also have the best chicken tenders in town, breaded with the Calabash style coating. Do they have a Fatz in your area.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2014 18:17:00 GMT -5
That is rather doubtful BZ. The family will probably simply lease the existing business to a new tenant. As someone said the other day, it will probably simply be sold or will be operated under a different name with the same people actually still owning it. Heck, in some cases the new tenants are allowed to operate under the current owners liquor license until they can apply for, and be approved for one of their own. Only time will tell, but I don't see any bright future for the place. Sadly, I don't really see anyone wanting to bring back a nice family style restaurant to that location either at this point in time. Clipper, it's doubtful that that location will ever be allowed to sell liquor again. Problem is a certain element of drug users, gangbangers, & lowlifes were allowed to take over 2 j's. And they'll return. It's beyond me why the State Liquor Authority didn't pull the license previously. You know, the days when you could just go to a neighborhood bar & have a few drinks with friends, etc. seem to be over in Utica. At least in certain sections. The scum element has taken over. It's a damn shame. |
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Clip, not so sure about that cause there are family operated businesses in that area not too far from that bar who are doing great. Look at Ventura's restaurant for example and Joey's. Both are in bad sections and people still flock to their restaurants. Both have been there in the same locations for many years now and both are very successful. 
