What’s in a name?

[LuFins Dad]

Back at our old address (or maybe even the one before) @Aqua-Letifer and I went off on the evils of “The Silver Diner”, a chain of supposed diners that had been taken over by some foodie chef and had gone off the rails. The argument that I made was that a real diner gives you a 50/50 chance that the cook’s cigarette ashes are in your eggs, and would never describe in detail on the menu it’s “delightful Garlic Aioli”…

Last weekend, I had the fortune/misfortune of going back… They have now removed the jukeboxes from the table, and the restaurant has a full blown cocktail bar. They don’t even pretend to be a diner at this point The menu items only has a handful of “diner” items, and is instead surrounded by Thai Cauliflower Quinoa Pasta and Braised Boneless Short Rib. On our visit, Karla had flatiron steak medallions (that rivaled anything from the top end chophouses), Luke had lump meat crab pasta, and I had Buffalo Chili Huevos Rancheros… Karla washed down her Flatiron with a mojito, Lucas had an Old Fashioned, and I had a local craft beer. Finley had the most Diner-like meal with silver dollar pancakes and hot chocolate…

So here’s my conundrum… The food was as good as can be… I will gladly eat more… But I am also terribly offended by them continuing this farce of being a diner. A diner is a very real and wonderful place, and this place isn’t that. So, do I stand by my morals, or go get another plate of those awesome Buffalo Chili Huevos Rancheros?

[jon-nyc]

I’ve eaten there a number of times. When my dad was still alive we’d eat brunch or lunch there when I came to town.

I would welcome the change. It’s more in tune with todays tastes. But I get your point.

[LuFins Dad]

It’s like getting a great cheeseburger in an incredible Jewish Deli..:

[89th]

Do you not eat Pizza Hut because it's not actually a hut?

[89th]

Do you not eat Ruby Tuesdays because it's a Thursday?

[89th]

Do you not eat Five Guys because there's a chick?

[Mik]

@LuFins-Dad said in What’s in a name?:

It’s like getting a great cheeseburger in an incredible Jewish Deli..:

Yes..the authenticity problem. I can see it, but if the food is better, well, it's just better. I could overlook the dishonesty, since almost all restaurants are shams in one way or another. It is better than a restaurant that purports to be upscale, chef-driven, farm to table, whatever, and is just food service crap.

[Aqua Letifer]

@LuFins-Dad said in What’s in a name?:

Back at our old address (or maybe even the one before) @Aqua-Letifer and I went off on the evils of “The Silver Diner”, a chain of supposed diners that had been taken over by some foodie chef and had gone off the rails. The argument that I made was that a real diner gives you a 50/50 chance that the cook’s cigarette ashes are in your eggs, and would never describe in detail on the menu it’s “delightful Garlic Aioli”…

Last weekend, I had the fortune/misfortune of going back… They have now removed the jukeboxes from the table, and the restaurant has a full blown cocktail bar. They don’t even pretend to be a diner at this point The menu items only has a handful of “diner” items, and is instead surrounded by Thai Cauliflower Quinoa Pasta and Braised Boneless Short Rib. On our visit, Karla had flatiron steak medallions (that rivaled anything from the top end chophouses), Luke had lump meat crab pasta, and I had Buffalo Chili Huevos Rancheros… Karla washed down her Flatiron with a mojito, Lucas had an Old Fashioned, and I had a local craft beer. Finley had the most Diner-like meal with silver dollar pancakes and hot chocolate…

So here’s my conundrum… The food was as good as can be… I will gladly eat more… But I am also terribly offended by them continuing this farce of being a diner. A diner is a very real and wonderful place, and this place isn’t that. So, do I stand by my morals, or go get another plate of those awesome Buffalo Chili Huevos Rancheros?

DO NOT SLANDER CHEF YPE.