Ooh Ooh Bird Cafe - West Pittston, PA Today's restaurant 12/30/08

Please tell me that the lighting was way off for these food photos.  The food does not look good at all.  The hamburger appears as grey and overdone and the stuff that they call  "chili" on top of it  does not look like any chili that I have ever seen.
 
The sauce on the wings looks dreadful and I would not even try one if that is how they really look.  The owner looks like a really nice person  and I sure hope his food tastes better than these pictures show it.

Well, You caught me red handed trying to fool everyone on Roadfood into coming to the Ooh Ooh Bird. 
 
I guess by now you know that my whole review is a lie.  Everything I said about the burgers....a lie, everything I said about the chili....a lie, everything I said about the wings....another lie.  In fact that's not even the right building.  I went out and had a sign made up, put it on a house and took the picture just to fool everyone, and especially you!  Oh and that's not the real owner either, I hired an actor.  And he's not a nice guy in reality.
 
I know when I look at your reviews and trip reports every picture looks like a professional photographer was brought in.  Wait, I'm sorry, that's a lie also.  All you ever do is criticize. 
 
For everyone else, the pics are the best I could do with bar lighting and the food is outstanding.

joerogo

 In fact that's not even the right building.  I went out and had a sign made up, put it on a house and took the picture just to fool everyone, and especially you! 

Ummm Joe, I don't mind you using my house for a photo op but could you please come take the canopy down? The neighbors are starting to complain.

Joe. calm down  and  stop damning me.  I think that no one should post pictures of food that does not do the food justice.  You sound rather like a spoiled child right now.   (And reread my post......................I said nothing negative about  restaurant,  food, or owner)
 
 
And there is no need to point out that I do not take pictures.  I do not take pictures because that is not my style.  I have stopped posting my trip reports  because  all one sees  is  "Where are the pictures?"    Which means that a lot of people  who do not want to take the time to read  lose out on some great dining experiences at  Roadfood places and  fine dining spots.

Greymo


I said nothing negative about  restaurant,  food, or owner) 
 
 

" The food does not look good at all.  The hamburger appears as grey and overdone and the stuff that they call  "chili" on top of it  does not look like any chili that I have ever seen." 

Who is the guy in the picture? Why lie about all that stuff, seems like a waste of everyone's time.

Geez Joe, now you tell me. And here I was getting ready to party down there tomorrow night.  Hey - five stars, how about that.

Really funny..................do any of you guys know the difference between the meaning of the words  "looks like"  vs  "tastes like"?...............good grief! 

So the poster  posted uncomlimentary  pictures...............sorry about me mentioning that to all you thin skinned men!

Thin skinned? I sense a lot of fun with this topic and damned pretty good spirit by the guy who took the pictures and did the review.

OK, seriously now, most of us are amateur photographers and when you shoot restaurant food we only get one chance and things can go wrong like a greenish cast from an incorrect white balance setting on the camera. It could be correctable in post prep if knowledgeable enough but we just take the word of the reviewer about the food. You really cannot judge by pictures. If you did we would be fooled by the major chains that can afford professional fake food photos.

I doesn't look bad.  It just looks...green.  I thought they were lentils.  I was intrigued.

As someone who would only recoginze Tiny behind the Bar at the Ooh Ooh, and Joe Rogo only with a name-tag, let me chime in here.

I grew up less than two blocks from The Ooh Ooh!   This was in the 70's.  My dad might stop in once or twice a year for a drink, but we never ate there.    In my early twenties, the word was out that the wings were good---and being at the optimum wings (and beer) age, I ate there a few times in a short timespan.  Good wings.  Different.  Then, for some reason, I just went other places---but it's been so long I couldn't tell you why.    I've only been back once, on a barcrawl about seven years ago.  Didn't order any food, but made a mental note to get back, since it did "look" good (and smell too, but let's not get off topic), but I haven't.

To be honest, the lighting in the photos isn't so hot, but that's the ambience of the Ooh Ooh!    They probably don't even have any house lights to turn on.  By the way, I was bummed last year after taking an hour or so to submit my first ever RF review---of an amazing Outer Banks shack, but it was rejected due to "poor photo quality".  LOL! 
 
Admittedly, I haven't thought of the Ooh Ooh as prime Roadfood, but couldn't agree more with Joe's review of Tony's.   So based on that "here here", plus, because Chili Cheeseburgers, Wings and Fries sound like perfect NFL Playoff food, I'll be back in over the next few weeks.  Either way, it's been too long.  

I have to say (because that's the way I am) that the photo of those burgers on the home page did not exactly make me want to eat anything. I'll occasionally indulge in a chili burger, but those really turned me off.

Michael Hoffman


I have to say (because that's the way I am) that the photo of those burgers on the home page did not exactly make me want to eat anything. I'll occasionally indulge in a chili burger, but those really turned me off.

What did you think of the wings with celery, carrots, and ranch in the review?

Joe, I'd eat there in a second!  One, its my kinda place.  Imagine, a neighborhood bar in a neighborhood.  Two, you said it was good.  And I believe you!

The phrases "a picture is worth a thousand words" and "the camera does not lie" does not always apply to food, in a natural state. Especially in the atmosphere of a casual RF bar.

Food photography is complex. Part of my business is to submit restaurant reports. It is an agonizing task to make certain decisions about photographic features, and post-editing. Too little, and the camera is not doing the food proper justice. Too much, and you are enhancing the  positives,  removing negatives, and it becomes a slippery slope. Too much editing, when the meal is delicious? Too little, when it is not so good?

So, I learn a great deal from the "informal" and "casual" photos I see on Roadfood. It is a great reminder that most of the credibility  is within the photographer/reviewer and  not all about the photos. Since I trust the fairness and honesty of this reviewer, much more than I trust his camera and editing features, I appreciate the report. I also give NOTHING but credit to him and all those who do this STRICTLY as a labor of love, because it is a task that is so complex,  often very time-consuming, and subject to various opinions.

C Turner Joy

Michael Hoffman


I have to say (because that's the way I am) that the photo of those burgers on the home page did not exactly make me want to eat anything. I'll occasionally indulge in a chili burger, but those really turned me off.

What did you think of the wings with celery, carrots, and ranch in the review?

I detest wings.

Michael Hoffman

C Turner Joy

Michael Hoffman


I have to say (because that's the way I am) that the photo of those burgers on the home page did not exactly make me want to eat anything. I'll occasionally indulge in a chili burger, but those really turned me off.

What did you think of the wings with celery, carrots, and ranch in the review?

I detest wings.

I should have put a little smiley in there.  I saw you post the other day.  It made me laugh.

Michael Hoffman

I detest wings.

 Even the kind that make bells ring?    
 

c turner joy say'es-  I saw you post the other day.

Where you watching from afar? LOL

Every time you dip a celery stick in ranch, Michael Hoffman gets his wings!

DougS

c turner joy say'es-  I saw you post the other day.

Where you watching from afar? LOL

When you put it that way it just sounds creepy.

Nancypalooza


Every time you dip a celery stick in ranch, Michael Hoffman gets his wings!

In my warped sense of humor, I get this picture of a person in a trench coat, carrying a Kodak box camera, flashing pictures of chicken wings.
 
PS. to get back on track. I rather enjoyed the write up of the Ooh Ooh Bird Cafe.
Good job Joerogo.

DougS

Nancypalooza


Every time you dip a celery stick in ranch, Michael Hoffman gets his wings!

In my warped sense of humor, I get this picture of a person in a trench coat, carrying a Kodak box camera, flashing pictures of chicken wings.
 
PS. to get back on track. I rather enjoyed the write up of the Ooh Ooh Bird Cafe.
Good job Joerogo.

Seriously, have we met? 

/I enjoyed the write up too, Joe.

I can't wait till the weather warms up so I can do a "meat up" with you there, Joe Rogo! Are you game?

YOUR company and those crunchy looking wings are enough to make me say "Roadtrip!!!"
And it's even easier than hopping on a plane to Daytona !
For me, it's a ROADTRIP, for you it would be a "staycation", right, as it's probably only a few miles from where you live?

I admit, the burger looked kind of plain to me, but I know looks can be deceiving.  I'll give that burger a whirl!
For instance, in my Tampa report, I'm about to put up my pics from the Red Mesa restaurant/St. Pete.  It's the meal I probably enjoyed the MOST , but yet the pics came out the WORST!  (dark lighting, etc)

I wanna go to Ooh Ooh Bird for wings, burger, pierogies and jalapeno poppers!

DougS


In my warped sense of humor, I get this picture of a person in a trench coat, carrying a Kodak box camera, flashing pictures of chicken wings.

Whatever it takes to keep the kids off the street these days, Doug.  :)  Besides, I still maintain what he's flashing is his Sugar Sweet Cupcakes punch card.

 

Looks sloppy but tasty to me!
 

 
 

There you go Joe! Tell Tiny to start calling that a Sloppy Ooh Ooh burger.

Leave it to our Miami Don to brighten up those burgers for us!

Our entry in the "Doctor the Photo" contest: