The Grim Eater: Because You Deserve Better!

Tired of tough steaks, overdone burgers, limp salads or burnt toast?  Had it with rude or non-existent table service?   Or just don’t feel that meal is worth the price?  The Grim Eater wants to know.   Post your grim "report" right now!

The Grim Eater's Latest Horrors!

What happened? Bad night....
"Extremely slow with the food. Haven't waited this long for food in about 15 years...overly salted...I mean every dish...Raw quail...had to send back to cook....over cooked halibut...in a delicious watermelon curry however....gracious waitstaff....just not on for a Saturday night that was not particularly busy...don't get it What is the draw for this restaurant?Tamarind (the same Inian fusion concept is a hundred times better."

fine place, nadja
"It's just a beautiful place and the wine and chocolate concept is fun, but on top of that all the food is so nicely done. It's a great date spot or great for a night out with the girls. And the patio is really awesome for after work drinks in the summertime."

Bad Experience
"I went to a function there on/2/4/09, and did not enjoy it at all. Food was mediocre, service of banquet staff was lousy, and it took an hour to get our entree after the pasta appetizer was served. They were understaffed and not service oriented at all. No offers to refill soda or water. I had heard good things about this place, but will not return. Very dissapointing."

Not What It Used To Be
"I have been going to Serendipity since the early 60's. The food is dreadful! The Curried Chicken Almondine that I used to love arrived at our table looking like a greyish-brown amorphous mess and was thick as paste. I actually could not tell what it was. The High Heel Shoe sandwich was so salty that we had to return it. Maybe the desserts are still OK, but we didn't bother to check them out. "

Deep Freeze
"Went to Motorino... the out-of-the-way pizza spot in Williamsburg. It was probably one of the coldest nights of the year and after a long wait by the door, they sat us by a window where we proceeded to freeze to death. By the time the pizza arrived my feet were numb. The pizza was good but became instantly cold. So if you go, be sure to grab a spot by the oven or dress very warmly."

Horrible
"it was the worst experience i had at a cafe. it may look comfortable but the drinks were disgusting and the attitude i received just makes me so mad still."

One Weak Spot
"Went to Playa the other day. Loved the food, but the drinks could use some improvement. They really need to hire a seasoned bartender and the place would be hopping!"

What a dump!
"We walked from the train for 15 minutes to basically wait outside in the cold for over an hour. When finally seated, the one non-artsy-fartsy entrée that we wanted was sold out. Are you kidding?! There is no amount of cozy ambiance that can make up for such a crappy restaurant."

"Way too Sweet", Mr. Shmoo
"I visited the shop down in the village, and I have no idea why people line up for the cupcakes. One bite, and I went into immediate sugar coma."

Wrong Turn? by Blabber
"I caught the review in the Times about Kurve... what stuck in my mind was the waitress described as "glum". It went onto say "I wasn’t sure whether to give her a tip or a Zoloft." Why do restaurants put up with this crap? I mean in this tough economy the last thing you need is a waitress who's a sourpuss!"

Pssssssst!
"I was in the the Citarella on 9th Street in the Village the other day and got turned onto a secret after complaining that the strawberry shortcake looked wilted. A worker let me in on a little secret. If you let you're eye wander behind the cake, and you see a "C" sticker on the plate, it means it's at least a day old and will be tossed the following day. So, don't buy. Now if they could just put stickers on day-old fish. "

Ago - Don't Go?
"New York Times critic Frank Bruni laying into Ago, the trendy Tribeca spot part-owned by Robert DeNiro, after his party was doused with wine and finally seated 52 minutes after his reservation. It brings back memories of our treatment of nearby Mr. Chow's. These places only exist as "scenes," not for the quality of food, and definitely not to service their customers. It's more like paying for the priviledge to get the shaft. Bruni dropping a rare "poor" rating on Ago, so don't go. "

Neatness Counts
"Food is ok... although my son's hot dog cut into a happy face was a bit scary and the tater tots were cold. But my biggest problem with the place was the grungy condition of the our seating. The fabric was frayed and worn and looked dirty. Water that spilled on the floor from a prior diner was allowed to sit there. "

This is the best?
"When I heard about Una Pizza Napoletana it was written up like it was a slice of heaven, better than a trip to Naples. It's not. Yes the crust is good... thick and crusty... with a nice char. But the sauce tasted sour to me and the buffalo mozzarella was clumpy and no better tasting than Polly-O. I take that back. At least Polly-o has some taste. But the real kick is the price tag. 23 bucks for a tiny pie and they don't even slice it for you. Now, that's real grim! "

Pop Poison?
"Ate at Pop Burger the other day. It tasted good going down, but spent the next 24 hours paying for it. Not pleasant."

Belch
"I was hoping to love this place... honestly. A Belgian waffle is a thing to be desired, fondled and savored. Not so here... or at least not yet. I will cut them some slack since they are so new, but the waffles are undercooked and gummy. I had two women from Belgium ahead of me who tossed em in the trash. I'll give it a month and try again. Please get your act together! New York needs a good waffle!"

Losing It!
"It was sad to read that the Cheyenne Diner is closing up shop. Not that the food was really that great, but there are just so few real diners left in the city. So, to see another one bite the dust to make room for yet another highrise is kind of sickening, especially since it was the Cheyenne that helped keep that neighborhood alive when it was a smog pit filled with Port Authority buses and tunnel traffic. It still is a smog pit, now just with less character. RIP "

Fiamma Caught Price Gouging
"It was nice to see New York Times critic Frank Bruni revisit Fiamma after his 3-star rating and point out that prices had risen 20% since then. Let's see if prices deflate just as quickly after the bad press. read review"

Working for My Cupcakes
"I don't know about you but I don't like having to work for my food. At the new Magnolia's I was not only subjected to long lines, but had to endure the embarassment of holding my own box, picking up and loading my own cupcakes. Since when is manual labor part of customer service. "

Snob Appeal
"So, Frank Bruni of the New York Times upped his star count on Le Cirque today to 3 stars. This after Le Cirque upped its foie gras count in its "top hat" shaped raviolis ($35 for 3). Bruni claims these restaurants "exist to be absurd" and Le Cirque "now fulfills its chosen mission." Unfortunatley, most New Yorkers won't be able to afford such luxuries. So to Mr. Bruni a big whoop dee doo!"

Bunch of Dopios
"I am so sick of trying to get a decent cappucino at Starbucks. My last 4 dollar rip-off was at the Starbucks on W 67th on Columbus. I knew when I got to the counter it was going to be bad. Several pitchers of deflating foam were present. I asked for an extra shot so it would be nice and dark and wound up with a milky mess. I give up!"

Best hate-date place for Valentine's Day
"Kobe Club - Zero stars from the NY Times, and for an added bonus you have 2000 samarai swords hanging over your date's head. Who could ask for more?"

More like Burger Hell...
"I went here looking for a simple diner, and instead got food poisoning. For a place that names itself after its burgers, it sure is a misnomer. The food was horrendous and I don't suggest that anyone goes, EVER."

snore
"The atmosphere was tastier than the food. Bland, bland, bland. Our waiter appeared to have more of a interest in the lovely cashier than in his tables. Actually, after looking at her again, I felt the same way he did! "

Table Wait
"Went to Irving Mill with my wife. I don't think we met their "beautiful people" standard. We asked for a table. The maitre de said it would be an hour. We asked if we could wait at the bar. He said yes, but never took our names and never came back for us after and hour and a half had passed, and we consumed three drinks. So we walked out. The bartender was nice. So were the free olives. "

Not so great
"Love tempura, but not here. The pumpkin was tasty but G-R-E-A-S-Y... the pork cutlet was an oily sponge... and the beef beinget... think corn dog... only a corn dog is better. The innards were undercooked and the meat filling was not much of a surprise. Did enjoy the Yellowfin tuna... perfectly rare with just a thin, crisp coating of tempura... but that was it! "

Sushi a-no-go
"I was at the sushi bar enjoying one of their lobster rolls until out of the corner of my eye I noticed two antennas wiggling from a crack in the wood. Out came a little cuckaracha and walked onto my dinner mat. When I showed the bus boy, he proceeded to squish it right on the spot. At that point I was totally grossed out and showed my waitress who told the manager. He in turn waived my bill. Still, it was quite distressing, especially since the sushi was pretty good. "

Terrible Dining Experience
"I went to this place on a Friday night with a friend because Zagat gave it good ratings. The place was empty and the atmosphere was terrible. The host was rude, as well as our waitress, and we felt rushed through our whole meal. The food was also completely overpriced, it wasn't the worst sushi i've ever had, but it wasn't the best by far. I would never return and definitely never reccomend."