2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (CajunKing)

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:16:41 GMT

JRPfeff

750 miles. Too many hours in the car. Hank's Hamburgers closed 1-1/2 hours before we got there.

It's official you have been "travelinmanned"

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (korshmar)

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:08:08 GMT

Add Antico Napoletana, Atlanta, GA to your list. See

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (big666dog)

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 09:37:04 GMT

Closed before you got there! reminds my of our last road trip from Austin to Myrtle Beach. Pulled into Asheville, NC ready for an late lunch early dinner and made it out to 12 Bones with 40 minutes to spare before it closed. Little did we know we crossed a time zone and the place had been CLOSED for 20 minutes. sigh...

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Davydd)

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:34:51 GMT

With Margherita DOC pizzas from Naples, Italy fresh in my mind I am now on a pursuit of same throughout the United States. I've found some very agreeable and comparable ones at Punch Pizza in Wayzata, MN and RedRocks Pizza in Old Town Alexandria, VA. But I tried the version presented at California Pizza Kitchen (Fairfax, VA in this case) and found it terrible by comparison. It was edible and if I weren't making comparisons the subtle differences might have passed right over my head. I'm finding this a good way to make accurate comparisons in sticking to one recognized style of pizza. Of course some places don't even have anything comparable.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (buffetbuster)

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:28:10 GMT

I did stop at the Iowa Cafe just about a month ago, but all I tried was the sour cream raisin pie. The food I saw on other people's plates did not look very impressive.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Davydd)

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:25:05 GMT

Foodbme

The Iowa Cafe in Mesa, AZ used to be good eats. Then it changed hands and went right into the dumper. Took it off my list.

That's good to know but I don't know yet if it will deter me from trying it when I expand my breaded pork tenderloin sandwich pursuit into Arizona come this April. At least I will understand if disappointed based on past reports by others.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (cavandre)

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:54:45 GMT

This is going to be Roadfood heresy, but I was underwhelmed by the fried shrimp at O'Steens in St. Augustine, FL. We went there for lunch on a Tuesday in Sept. & got a table without waiting. While the fried shrimp were fresh & well prepared, they just didn't have enough crunch to them for my taste. I found that their Minorcan clam chowder & fried chicken to be tastier choices. Would I enjoy eating here again: yes. Would I wait an hour or two to do so: no.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Foodbme)

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 02:41:02 GMT

The Iowa Cafe in Mesa, AZ used to be good eats. Then it changed hands and went right into the dumper. Took it off my list.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (mar52)

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 23:43:15 GMT

My biggest disappointment was when the waiter at Hodad's in the San Diego area removed my chocolate malt before I took my 3rd bite. I was saving it for dessert!

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (bartl)

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:43:21 GMT

ScreamingChicken
Apparently the Dutch use tildes.

I used to live in Amsterdam, and I never saw a single tilde being used. Now, in the Red Light District, there were plenty of Hilde's being used; are you sure you didn't make a typo?

Bart

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (mar52)

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:11:56 GMT

Sold! ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (ScreamingChicken)

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:00:20 GMT

Apparently the Dutch use tildes.

Brad

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Nancypalooza)

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:44:18 GMT

DougS, that was pretty much my thought too. :) Lisajo, I'm really sorry to hear you had a bad meal at Charlie's.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (DougS)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:33:50 GMT

wanderingjew

I promised no rotten tomatoes list this year.
But since this is your thread, Jim, then I'll oblige with this nasty, stale dutch letter
from Java Joe's in Des Moines IA

I am still trying to figure out what the Halibut that is.
I know what it looks like, but can't be....they are inedible.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (joerogo)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:53:11 GMT

Mosca

My biggest disappointment was that a place I've written about here a few times, The Anthracite Cafe, has gone downhill over the past year. The menu has declined, the service has gotten spotty, it isn't open for lunch... we don't go there any more.

Mosca, On the local front, I kissed a frog on Monday night. My daughter wanted to try Mizu for her birthday. Horrible.

Not one person in the place spoke enough English to be working there. I asked the waitress if the salad dressing was made with mayo. After consulting about 3-4 other people she came back to our table and grabbed my salad and took it away. No offer of a substitution.

The chef asked how I wanted my tuna prepared and I said to just sear it. He shook his head no. Then he threw a frozen solid piece of tune on the grill. He had to over cook it just to cut it. And it got worse from there!

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Benzee)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:43:40 GMT

Hello all ,
Great thread ,
There have been a few less than stellar dogs that I have had this yr , but in previous visits they were usually above par . So they will remain nameless .
John , The Kennedy Fried Chicken is a direct ripoff of Kentucky Fried , they are big in The Bronx and Northern Manhattan .
The closing of Worlds Best Hot Dogs and burgers , I think more than a yr ago , north of Newburgh NY was a shame , because the food was that good .
Benzee

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Mosca)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:10:58 GMT

My biggest disappointment was that a place I've written about here a few times, The Anthracite Cafe, has gone downhill over the past year. The menu has declined, the service has gotten spotty, it isn't open for lunch... we don't go there any more.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (mr chips)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:40:53 GMT

JRPfeff

They can't all be winners. Post your Roadfood disappointments (and worse) of 2010 here.

I'll start it off with the Baked Bean Dog at Pat's Drive-in. Yeah, they call this a "Chili-Dog." How about some truth in advertising?

I guess I was lucky. I went to pat's and had a wonderful Chile Dog that was spicy. But it was a decade ago.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (mr chips)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:37:53 GMT

No real food disappointments this year. Portland's food carts have expanded exponentially and the tendency of chefs to open up new places to serve classic American cuisine has continued.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (seafarer john)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:17:03 GMT

A joint called Kennedy Fried Chicken opened here in New Paltz this year - I hear it is part of a chain. We went once and the chicken was awful - nearly tasteless with a strange texture. Maybe that was only a bad day and we should try it again, but I do have some hesitation concerning a chain that tries to get our attention through a lame homophone of Kentucky Fried Chicken...

Cheers, John

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (kaszeta)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:29:58 GMT

Myself, I'm not a great fan of the Ted's steamed cheeseburgers, since the cheese has an odd gummy texture to it as a result of the process. I do love a Ted's steamed hamburger, though.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (joerogo)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:46:39 GMT

ScreamingChicken

joerogo

Believe it or not, 2010 left me with nothing to bitch about as far as RF reviewed places.

Not even the closing of the Ooh Ooh Bird?

Brad

That was 2009 Brad. But thanks for making me cry this morning

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Lisajo)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:45:09 GMT

My big disappointment for 2010 was Charlie's Steakhouse in downtown Greenville, SC. We went there in August for our anniversary, long story short, my filet was way under cooked, more raw than cooked, I ordered it medium rare. When the steak was returned after I asked them to just cook it a little longer, it was a different shape and smelled like they put it in the micro and of course it was way over cooked. Very sad......

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (ScreamingChicken)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:19:32 GMT

joerogo

Believe it or not, 2010 left me with nothing to bitch about as far as RF reviewed places.

Not even the closing of the Ooh Ooh Bird?

For me, I wasn't happy to see Doug's Soul Food Cafe close its doors. Nice people and nice food.

Brad

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (buffetbuster)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:16:46 GMT

Joe-
Agree 100%! I've heard some negative things about Ted's here in the forums, but my burger was really good. I would definitely go back.

Ralph-
We have talked about this person, but I am still astonished by your experience at Red's Eats. Hopefully, you will get a chance to try them again soon.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (joerogo)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:38:03 GMT

Believe it or not, 2010 left me with nothing to bitch about as far as RF reviewed places.

My biggest disappointment of the year had to be Ted's in Meriden, Ct. Yep, I was disappointed that I didn't order two steamed cheeseburgers instead of one

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (wanderingjew)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:34:45 GMT

Ralph Melton

My biggest disappointment: Red's Eats in Wiscasset, ME. We had high hopes for a splendid lobster roll, because Red's had been written up effusively in the Roadfood books and website, had been featured in the "Sandwiches You Will Like" TV special, and had been praised in trip reports. But for us, after a dismal time finding the place, we got a tough, rubbery lobster roll with unpleasant onion rings.
I'd still give it another try, though-many people I trust have had wonderful experiences there.

Ralph,

I know I'm the minority here, but for a lobster roll, Red's is as good as it gets ( I do agree about the onion rings, I didn't find them to be anything special) with that said, I would take one fresh lobster out of the shell at market price from Five Island Lobster Co.in exchange for 5 free lobster rolls from Red's anytime

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Ralph Melton)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 10:28:16 GMT

My biggest disappointment: Red's Eats in Wiscasset, ME. We had high hopes for a splendid lobster roll, because Red's had been written up effusively in the Roadfood books and website, had been featured in the "Sandwiches You Will Like" TV special, and had been praised in trip reports. But for us, after a dismal time finding the place, we got a tough, rubbery lobster roll with unpleasant onion rings.
I'd still give it another try, though-many people I trust have had wonderful experiences there.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (JRPfeff)

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:24:12 GMT

750 miles. Too many hours in the car. Hank's Hamburgers closed 1-1/2 hours before we got there.

Re:2010 Roadfood Disappointments of the Year (Curbside Grill)

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:01:08 GMT

Cannot say it was bad food,Cannot say bad service Or TTM. But our favorite Hamburger place outside of Culman, AL was shut down do to no power. Employees standing around looking out and we are asking when . Apparently when they get a rain storm in that area that whole side of the county loses power. Now I know to call ahead if a storm has come thru. They have the best hamburgers, cheeseburgers and such.
I mean this place is general store, gas station and has a kitchen.