Just last night, my family and I were the absolute first paying guests at a
new, high-end restaurant in Sandusky, Ohio. Located in the former Lyman Boat
Works, this room seats 230 people, is done tastefully in black-trimmed
rosewood and has a neutral, but patterned, carpet. The view of Cedar Point
Amusement Park and Sandusky Bay is amazing. This is part of a large complex
called Lyman Harbor. Banquet & meeting facilities, outdoor concerts, and the
restaurant. I toured the kitchen after a wedding I recently attended. I was
quite trashed, but remember being quite impressed. The walk-in cooler is
literally larger than a couple of semi-trailers.

My best friend Scott is the Food & Beverage director there, and also
devised the menu. I had gently broiled elk & venison tenderloin, in a lovely
hunter sauce , with a saffron-rice pilaf on the side. A lovely salad, with
edible orchids, raddichio and other yummies. Karen had the seared scallops
and shrimp, with Scott's signature Alfredo on the side. Katie opted for the
salmon. The girls shared something obscenely chocolate with a raspberry
garnish for dessert. The coffee was Gevelia. Pretty good, but ours is better
at home.

I paid full boat for the meal because I wanted to. It could have been
comped, but I thought it better this way. The food was excellent, the
presentation magnificent, the room elegant, yet very comfortable, and I
think it will endure well. We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.

But, opening night anywhere is a study in contrasts. The local "mix" radio
station was totally out of place coming out of the speakers in the ceiling.
My server wore too much lip liner, and called my wife "Hon". She set my
entrée on my napkin before I had a chance to pick it up and put in my lap.
Perhaps my fault for being slow, but she should have waited. My wife's salad
plate should have been long gone before the entrée arrived. Bus persons did
not seem to know their duties. Indeed, not one visited our table.

There were several servers and other dining room staff wearing cell phones.
The hostess was chewing gum, dressed like she was going to the prom, and
dangled her keys from a flex-cord on her wrist like a charm bracelet. The
salad dressing came out in plastic tubs, as did the half & half for the
coffee. The menus were photocopied from a laser printed document. If the
item had an "X", it was available to order. Sometimes, you're just not
totally ready, no matter how hard you try. After all, the Greeks never did
get the roof over the Olympic pool this year. Ramekins for the salad
dressing, and new menus are coming, but, as we all know, deadlines can be a
bitch. As I understand it, after our observations to Scott about these
matters, the staff will be getting an "indoctrination" today from the
front-of-the-house manager. I pity them, because Scott describes her as a
"crack-house pit bull". On the other hand, they should get an ass-reaming,
because if I'm paying 28.00 a throw for elk and venison tenderloin
medallions, in that room, with that view, I shouldn't be getting it with a
2:30am Denny's Grand-Slam delivery. And they might as well look to their
lives if that phone were to ring while they were presenting my wife's
entrée. Of course, if they were to actually answer it where anyone could
see, I think the heavens might just as well open and take them, right then
and there. Still, overall, it was a wonderful experience on many levels, and
I look forward to going back, when I can decide whether to eat there again,
or make a car payment.

Tank wrote:

We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.

shocked 4:15?? PM?? Were the reservations required? Was there anyone
else even there that early?? Damn, I'm still digesting lunch at that
hour. LOL Reminds me of all I hear about old folks eating down in
Florida at those early bird specials.
Goomba

Tank wrote:

We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.

shocked 4:15?? PM?? Were the reservations required? Was there anyone
else even there that early?? Damn, I'm still digesting lunch at that
hour. LOL Reminds me of all I hear about old folks eating down in
Florida at those early bird specials.
Goomba

Tank wrote:

But, opening night anywhere is a study in contrasts. The local "mix" radio
station was totally out of place coming out of the speakers in the
ceiling.

Heh...a new Chinese diner recently opened near me. I visited the place for
the first time a couple days ago. The mood is neo-Asian, except for the Ella
Fitzgerald coming out of the speakers.

You're in Sandusky, Ohio? Hmmm...where have I heard of that? Oh, yeah:

http://www.programwitch.com/zork.asp...ddesses_phobos

*Is* there a "Joe's Bar" there?

Bob

Tank wrote:

But, opening night anywhere is a study in contrasts. The local "mix" radio
station was totally out of place coming out of the speakers in the
ceiling.

Heh...a new Chinese diner recently opened near me. I visited the place for
the first time a couple days ago. The mood is neo-Asian, except for the Ella
Fitzgerald coming out of the speakers.

You're in Sandusky, Ohio? Hmmm...where have I heard of that? Oh, yeah:

http://www.programwitch.com/zork.asp...ddesses_phobos

*Is* there a "Joe's Bar" there?

Bob

"Tank" wrote in
:

Just last night, my family and I were the absolute first paying guests
at a new, high-end restaurant in Sandusky, Ohio. Located in the former
Lyman Boat Works,

Having lived most of my life in NE Ohio and frequenting both Cedar Point
and Sandusky, somehow the staff and the "ambience" they provided is not at
all a surprise. I hope they get it straightened out soon.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

unmunge as w-e-b

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

"Tank" wrote in
:

Just last night, my family and I were the absolute first paying guests
at a new, high-end restaurant in Sandusky, Ohio. Located in the former
Lyman Boat Works,

Having lived most of my life in NE Ohio and frequenting both Cedar Point
and Sandusky, somehow the staff and the "ambience" they provided is not at
all a surprise. I hope they get it straightened out soon.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

unmunge as w-e-b

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

"Bob" wrote in
:

Tank wrote:

But, opening night anywhere is a study in contrasts. The local "mix"
radio station was totally out of place coming out of the speakers in
the ceiling.

Heh...a new Chinese diner recently opened near me. I visited the place
for the first time a couple days ago. The mood is neo-Asian, except
for the Ella Fitzgerald coming out of the speakers.

You're in Sandusky, Ohio? Hmmm...where have I heard of that? Oh,
yeah:

http://www.programwitch.com/zork.asp...ddesses_phobos

*Is* there a "Joe's Bar" there?

Bob

IIRC, there's a Joe's Bar in Upper Sandusky.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

unmunge as w-e-b

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

"Bob" wrote in
:

Tank wrote:

But, opening night anywhere is a study in contrasts. The local "mix"
radio station was totally out of place coming out of the speakers in
the ceiling.

Heh...a new Chinese diner recently opened near me. I visited the place
for the first time a couple days ago. The mood is neo-Asian, except
for the Ella Fitzgerald coming out of the speakers.

You're in Sandusky, Ohio? Hmmm...where have I heard of that? Oh,
yeah:

http://www.programwitch.com/zork.asp...ddesses_phobos

*Is* there a "Joe's Bar" there?

Bob

IIRC, there's a Joe's Bar in Upper Sandusky.

--
Wayne in Phoenix

unmunge as w-e-b

*If there's a nit to pick, some nitwit will pick it.
*A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

......snip review .....

: think it will endure well. We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
: seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.


Why that time? This seems rather late for lunch and rather early for dinner
even if one was going on afterwards. Is this a local custom like yum cha at
11am or spanish dinner at 11pm?

David

......snip review .....

: think it will endure well. We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
: seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.


Why that time? This seems rather late for lunch and rather early for dinner
even if one was going on afterwards. Is this a local custom like yum cha at
11am or spanish dinner at 11pm?

David

......snip review .....

: think it will endure well. We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
: seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.


Why that time? This seems rather late for lunch and rather early for dinner
even if one was going on afterwards. Is this a local custom like yum cha at
11am or spanish dinner at 11pm?

David

"Goomba38" wrote in message
news
Tank wrote:

We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.

shocked 4:15?? PM?? Were the reservations required? Was there anyone
else even there that early?? Damn, I'm still digesting lunch at that
hour. LOL Reminds me of all I hear about old folks eating down in
Florida at those early bird specials.
Goomba


Well, we had to leave to drive 2 1/2 hours home that day, so I wanted to get
dinner early. Otherwise I would have liked to have eaten later. They are
operating by reservation. I think it should open seating, for a better
"soft" opening. Who needs reservations on a Tuesday in Ohio?

--
Tank

This Space To Let.

"Goomba38" wrote in message
news
Tank wrote:

We had 4:15 reservations, and I look forward to
seeing the view out those windows at night, and in winter as well.

shocked 4:15?? PM?? Were the reservations required? Was there anyone
else even there that early?? Damn, I'm still digesting lunch at that
hour. LOL Reminds me of all I hear about old folks eating down in
Florida at those early bird specials.
Goomba


Well, we had to leave to drive 2 1/2 hours home that day, so I wanted to get
dinner early. Otherwise I would have liked to have eaten later. They are
operating by reservation. I think it should open seating, for a better
"soft" opening. Who needs reservations on a Tuesday in Ohio?

--
Tank

This Space To Let.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
Tank wrote:

But, opening night anywhere is a study in contrasts. The local "mix"
radio
station was totally out of place coming out of the speakers in the
ceiling.

Heh...a new Chinese diner recently opened near me. I visited the place for
the first time a couple days ago. The mood is neo-Asian, except for the
Ella
Fitzgerald coming out of the speakers.

You're in Sandusky, Ohio? Hmmm...where have I heard of that? Oh, yeah:

http://www.programwitch.com/zork.asp...ddesses_phobos

*Is* there a "Joe's Bar" there?

Bob


Actually FROM Sandusky, Ohio. Live near Columbus now. Go home to visit
friends, fight with family, and ride roller coasters.

--
Tank

This Space To Let.