Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article .com>,
> "maxine in ri" > wrote:
> (report snipped)
>> The chef came out to hear our opinions, and we gave him the accolades
>> he deserved. We'll definitely be going back there. Prices are in the
>> moderate range, $12-19 for entrees, $3.50-10 for appetizers, and $3-4
>> for soup and salad. While we like it's closeness, it surprizes me
>> being in an area of strip malls and residential. It belongs in trendy
>> downtown, not out here in the 'burbs.
>>
>> Yoko Bistro
>> 1460 Oaklawn Avenue
>> Cranston RI
>> 401.463.3888
>
> Tell everyone you know, Maxine and pray they'll stay afloat. Around
> here, it's one chain after another. We've got most of them. People
> gripe about nothing but chains but don't support the high quality
> independent places frequently enough to keep them going.

I always patronize a great small business first. I think the main reason
why small, good restaurants struggle is lack of mind share. The
industrial chains do constant advertising and a lot of people begin to
think they are the only option.

Recently we were at an event in State College. Later in the day we
started asking about good places to have dinner. The first answers were
always the industrial places. Finally one person of a couple at a
exhibitors booth said "do you like good food?" We said yes and they both
offered that we should try the great little Austrian place that was only
a few blocks away or a mom & pop Indian restaurant at the other end of
town. The Austrian place turned out to be staffed by the owner who is a
classically trained Austrian chef and 2 assistants. Everything was
homemade with offerings that changed daily. The menu was written on a
chalkboard with a choice of 4 reasonably priced entrees. The food was
fantastic.