urbanSTL

MattonArsenal wrote:Not sure if this has been mentioned, but it appears Jive and Wail in Maplewood has closed. So the downtown location represents a move, not a second location.

There's a reason.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2 ... yright.php

Hopefully the downtown location will learn to pay their bills.

Is there any reason to think the downtown version will be run any differently?

I have a feeling there is a lot more to this story.

Does anyone know how specific the signage regulations are for Wash Ave? I frankly have been very impressed with the majority of the signage along the Ave. I like the neon signs and they are really cool at night (obviously). The wrought iron supports and tasteful signs that many businesses have (like Rosalita's and Lucas Park above) are really good looking...

Maybe when Ceci's down the road a bit gets ahead in cash flow, they can improve the panel signage they use...

Maybe its the superficialness in me, but I hit the Dubliner initally because I love that Derby hatted fellow on the sign...and the Rosalita's sign has me really wanting to go in...CLEARLY, these places have to then deliver (Bob at the Dubliner gets my Harp's without even asking and the bangers and mash are really good (ive been there when the butchers bring in the whole pork and beef sides for the chef (just wanted to add another level of paren's)))...

The point is, as we all know, required for great marketing is a great first impression...The many businesses are doing a nice job of this IMO...

Friday was Opening Night. I was there with a good-sized party for dinner.

The bar was filled up, partially for people seeing the new bar, and partially because the rest of the restaurant is still being completed. The main dining room was still without its final tables. Still, they were able to cook up almost everything on their menu (although they didn't have empanadas ready, dammit). Being the first night, there were some issues with the food that I'm sure are fixed by now. Overall, the food's pretty good, but I'll pass on any "foodie" reviews to Bonwich.

I'll credit the service as being quite strong, from getting tables seated to making sure that we had plenty of chips & salsa while waiting. The design is quite well done, and when it's all ready they'll have a ton of tables and a private dining room in the very back.

Best part: They're going to have Mich Golden on tap!

For their first night being a Friday, they handled it quite well.

Gone Corporate wrote:Still, they were able to cook up almost everything on their menu (although they didn't have empanadas ready, dammit). Being the first night, there were some issues with the food that I'm sure are fixed by now. Overall, the food's pretty good, but I'll pass on any "foodie" reviews to Bonwich.

I look forward to be able to get a good (hopefully) empanada locally.

Gone Corporate wrote:Best part: They're going to have Mich Golden on tap!

One of ABI's better AB brews. When it came to AB, I've always pretty much stuck to the Michelob labels.

The Rosalita's space looks great in the pics...glad to hear the food is decent...I'm hoping its really good...the last Mexican/Tex Mex place down there, Beso, was a disaster IMO...but I don't like to talk outta school...

Now hopefully I'll get to walk for cruchy tacos and margaritas (when I get back) instead of jumpin in the Solstice and ridin to Chavas in Soulard (my fave)...

Now if we could get a good local bakery down there...a for real one...somewhere the ghost of P. Laclede would not be embarrassed about...the bread from Culinaria is fine...but I want somewheres to get fresh bread and an assortment of pasteries and look good while doing it...lol...im kidding about the last part...

RobbyD wrote:The Rosalita's space looks great in the pics...glad to hear the food is decent...I'm hoping its really good...the last Mexican/Tex Mex place down there, Beso, was a disaster IMO...but I don't like to talk outta school...

That's because the owner was more interested in cooking crack than tacos.

RobbyD wrote:Now hopefully I'll get to walk for cruchy tacos and margaritas (when I get back) instead of jumpin in the Solstice and ridin to Chavas in Soulard (my fave)...

Is that the old Mike & Min's? If so, then yes, it's a great place. Although, I'm still an Arcelia's man.

RobbyD wrote:Now if we could get a good local bakery down there...a for real one...somewhere the ghost of P. Laclede would not be embarrassed about...the bread from Culinaria is fine...but I want somewheres to get fresh bread and an assortment of pasteries and look good while doing it...lol...im kidding about the last part...

A bakery would be great, but I think it's a limited market and it would be hard to compete with Schnucks.

innov8ion wrote:We've had Allen's Bakery for a while now.

How do they manage to stay in business?

I thought they (Allen's) never got off the ground? Or was the bakery supposedly opening on Wash Ave. actually moving from another location?

I agree it would be hard for a bakery to compete with Schnucks...especially when I'm the first to grab an Italian loaf first thing in the door there (have i ever mentioned I LOVE shopping in that store)...but if there were a specialty bakery somewhere near by and was actually good, personally, I'd spend money there...When I lived just outside NYC in Hoboken, NJ, there was a great place thatd ppl would pop into for a snack or picking somethign up for dinner...Something authentic and ethnic could definitely give the big chain a run for its money...

...Im not sure what Chavas used to be, central, but its off of.....well I can drive there...lol...Id have to look it up...They make their margaritas with fresh fruit...and the selection is huge...a couple of drinks mixed up with fresh whatever plus really good mexican plus outside seating on a pleasant evening plus great friends...perfect...But its looking like Rosalita's might be a real option if the food is decent...I really like the location...

...And like I said before, I dont want to share my Beso story...but lets just say I wasnt even mad...just flabbergasted to the point of laughing at what I saw and heard...in the end I was sad really cuz I wanted to have good mexican that I could walk to......!

RobbyD wrote:I thought they (Allen's) never got off the ground? Or was the bakery supposedly opening on Wash Ave. actually moving from another location?

I'm pretty sure it was a joke.

RobbyD wrote:...Im not sure what Chavas used to be, central, but its off of.....well I can drive there...lol...Id have to look it up...

I just confirmed - yes, it's the old Mike & Min's.

RobbyD wrote:...And like I said before, I dont want to share my Beso story...but lets just say I wasnt even mad...just flabbergasted to the point of laughing at what I saw and heard...in the end I was sad really cuz I wanted to have good mexican that I could walk to......!

Oh come on, share!

At any rate...once the Jive and Wail gets cranked up...thats gonna be quite a spot along Wash Ave...

Now if I could get an SBA loan to launch an authentic French bakery/cafe...lol...something like that wouldn't need much real estate...

Authentic Parisian: Breads and Bakes ... I'd eat there...lol

RobbyD wrote:At any rate...once the Jive and Wail gets cranked up...thats gonna be quite a spot along Wash Ave...

I just hope the sound doesn't bleed over to Rosalita's.

RobbyD wrote:Early reviews of Rosalita's are absolutley killer...And the pics I've seen on Metromix.com def back them up...The entire space looks amazing from the wrought iron details to the dark wood Mexican furniture...Beso's this does not appear to be...

You mean I can't get an order of cocaine there?