RSS FeedUnsolicited Advice
It’s said those who can, do and those who can’t, criticize. That saying will no doubt ring true for many reading this post, nonetheless we have a few ideas that should be easy to implement to make some of our favorite establishments even better.
Can’t say enough good things about the food, service, and atmosphere of this establishment. But Bistro D’OC has one glaring deficiency in our minds and that is the beer selection. Of the three taps they have only two are in use and the best of those two is Stella Artois (some days it’s warm Stella). Bistro D’OC should be the ideal PQ setting for Chimay and Kronenbourg 1664. I have no doubt these beers would cost Bistro D’OC more than what they’re currently offering, but I bet they’d sell a lot more beer. When we go to Bistro D’OC we go for the food and grudgingly accept the beer. If they had Chimay on tap, we’d spend a lot more time at the bar (and spend a lot more money).
A lively restaurant with great truffle frites and an amazing private outdoor area. But the outdoor happy hours leave us feeling more like we’re at the Georgetown waterfront than Penn Quarter. Who wants to wait in line with 40 strangers for half an hour to get a drink? Poste could make their outside experience much more pleasant with multiple cash-only beer stations. These need be nothing more than a cooler filled with Miller High Life; a cheap fix that would make a world of difference at 6:30 on a Friday night.
This one is really nitpicking, but a year or so ago Gifford’s stopped serving ice cream sundaes in the sundae/banana split boats. Now sundaes come in the regular ice cream cups. We know how petty that sounds as a complaint, but using the cups means there is barely any room for the toppings once the cup has been filled with ice cream. We admit that’s because Gifford’s using a healthy scoop, and we appreciate that, but it was always tastier when served in the boat.
Another one that’s just a slight complaint, but we’ve always been surprised that Teaism doesn’t serve sandwiches on the weekend. They’re popular enough and sell out early Monday through Friday, we just wish they’d offer a selection for us on Saturday and Sunday as well.
We can’t be the only ones who think we have great, simple ideas to make our favorite neighborhood businesses better (we imagine many of you have ideas about how to improve this blog). What easy changes would make a big difference to you?
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Comments
Couldn’t agree more with Bistro D’Oc — for my money, the best restaurant and best chicken in the city.
I *love* the real maple syrup that Teaism serves with the french toast and I know real maple syrup is another level more expensive than your garden variety Log Cabin syrup (which I also like). Teaism does neeed to prominently (i.e. in print) let patrons know ahead of time that an extra container of syrup costs $2 or they need to double the rather small sized plastic container they provide. barring that, I will bring my own syrup or run across the street to CVS and buy some Log Cabin to bring with me so I can sully my pancakes my way.
I echo the praise for Bistro d’Oc and Teaism. As noted, the Bistro is uniformly excellent. (I’ve never had a beer there.) Love Teaism’s French toast!
If you’re going to recommend that Bistro D’Oc improve its beer selection, I see no reason to give Poste a pass to serve Miller High Life. I like the idea of cash beer bars, but why not stick a few Victory beers, or Flying Dogs in there with the imports?
Thundarr: I can only answer by stating a personal preference and trying to keep costs down for both Post and the consumer (me). When I’m outside at their happy hour (these are not the patio seats rather the standing area next to those) I want cheap, easy drinking beer. Sure they could serve mama’s little yella pills but I’d get charge $10 a can. I’d rather pay $4 for a high life.
Now when I sit at Poste’s bar or eat at a table, I want to be able to order better beer.
Serving Miller High Life out of ice chests on the Poste patio would do more to turn into the Gtown waterfront than waiting 5 or 6 deep for a decent beer at the bar.
am i the only one who wants tangy sweet for breakfast…i wish those guys would open a wee bit earlier…
xoxo
I figure that if you’re going out for a couple drinks — especially in as nice a space as Poste’s garden — why not pony up a couple extra bucks for a quality beer. You’re absolutely right that Penn Quarter should not be another Georgetown waterfront. One way to keep that from happening is to raise the bar higher than High Life. Otherwise, I’m stuck in line for 30 minutes trying to buy a decent beer, while you’re roaming the herb garden with the Champagne of beers. In that situtation, I don’t know who’s worse off.
I’m going to make this my last Poste-beer reply but here goes. 1. I like high life. 2. Assuming I have 3 beers outside i’ll take $12 in high lifes over $25 or more for other brands. It is all a matter of personal taste (you may rightly be questionng mine at this point).
Doesn’t Brasserie Beck serve (high quality) beer on its patio from portable taps? No reason why Poste can’t do the same.
Don’t change the selection at Poste but add another bartender or two! The line is ridiculous and could be remedied by more people so that people can be served more quickly.
sb – me too! I could not find Tangy Sweet’s hours online and was craving it in the a.m., only to walk over and find out they do not open until 11! I am often dehydrated in the morning (whether or not I had a drink the night before), and a dish of yogurt or a smoothie does the trick to make me right.
If it’s where the beautiful people are, I must’ve recently been to a different Georgetown waterfront. The one I went to was full of shirts unbuttoned way too far, hairy chests proudly displaying gold necklaces, bright-colored tube tops and a stench of Drakkar. Or maybe I just have a different definition of “beautiful”.
Last Saturday our party of four tried to avoid the outdoor mess that is the courtyard and instead opted (for the first time ever) to take a seat at a small table indoors, in the small “sunroom” type area between the dining room and the courtyard. The service here couldn’t have been worse. The hostess informed us that someone would be by shortly to take our order. After ten minutes, we got up to find someone. We were told that someone would be over immediately. We asked no less than FOUR times for a server at our table over the course of 30 minutes. Of course, we had no hope for a second round, but when we asked for our check, it magically appeared within five minutes. We left without even finishing our drinks.
Jetsettrdc’s comment is exactly why I have always believed Poste to be the absolute most overrated place in Penn Quarter.
Everyone I know likes to go there and enjoy its atmosphere. But, the entire place is terrible. If you are going for one drink, which your friends have waiting for you when you get there, then it is fine. But, if you plan to sit or grab a drink on your own, then you should avoid this place at all costs.
I’m I the only one that thinks the music at Bar Louie’s is too loud? I’m I also the only one that thinks that their food could be improved upon 100%? Why can’t they have good food? I’ve tried several items, but can’t find a reason to visit them again, although I like the location alot.
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Teaism — your french toast is amazing. So please, please, please allow your patrons who are coffee addicts to bring in some outside coffee to drink with their breakfast since you have no coffee on the menu.