Comments on: Initial thoughts on Revolution http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:38:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: yumyum http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3170 yumyum Sun, 17 May 2009 21:54:16 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3170 Mediocre, which is a shame: we were looking forward to a restaurant in Durham pitched for the crowd Revolution is aiming to attract but managing to repel. That being said, Revolution has some good points. The restaurant was half-empty, but the hostess still refused to acknowledge us as we walked in. We seated ourselves at the bar as she snapped out of her slump and tripped over her flip flops to catch up. There was a barman or manager hovering over our meal and drying glasses in a plastic dishwasher tray with the smell of cafeteria wafting past us as we ate. Another staff member took a gulp from a can of pop and chucked the empty across the bar area into a bin in front of our discussion. The food was elegantly arranged, but the flavors were underwhelming, even when the smell of dishwasher finally dissipated. The raw bar was fresh and reasonably priced. The barmaid is a foodie and knows her stuff. She gave us good suggestions for wine pairings. The Mosaic is tasteful, but much of the decor is chintzy considering how pretentious it is, especially in conjunction with the snooty service. If Revolution doesn't manage to clean up its act, it is not long for Durham, a city filled with excellent, stylish, friendly and tasty places to eat. girlfriend adds: do they REALLY need to bring their bread in all the way from new york? really? Mediocre, which is a shame: we were looking forward to a restaurant in Durham pitched for the crowd Revolution is aiming to attract but managing to repel. That being said, Revolution has some good points.
The restaurant was half-empty, but the hostess still refused to acknowledge us as we walked in. We seated ourselves at the bar as she snapped out of her slump and tripped over her flip flops to catch up.
There was a barman or manager hovering over our meal and drying glasses in a plastic dishwasher tray with the smell of cafeteria wafting past us as we ate.
Another staff member took a gulp from a can of pop and chucked the empty across the bar area into a bin in front of our discussion.
The food was elegantly arranged, but the flavors were underwhelming, even when the smell of dishwasher finally dissipated. The raw bar was fresh and reasonably priced.
The barmaid is a foodie and knows her stuff. She gave us good suggestions for wine pairings.
The Mosaic is tasteful, but much of the decor is chintzy considering how pretentious it is, especially in conjunction with the snooty service.
If Revolution doesn’t manage to clean up its act, it is not long for Durham, a city filled with excellent, stylish, friendly and tasty places to eat.
girlfriend adds: do they REALLY need to bring their bread in all the way from new york? really?

]]> By: Ross Grady http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3168 Ross Grady Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:09:06 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3168 I've only been once so far, before reading any of these comments, and the things on the menu that seemed most intriguing were all on the "raw" portion of the menu, so we focused on those. We had the beef tartare, at least one of the tunas, and I forget what else (it has been a while), but I thought they were uniformly excellent, as good as any comparable dishes I've had elsewhere in the Triangle (not that there are *that* many opportunities for comparables to the dishes on the raw menu in the Triangle). The service, on the other hand, was pretty damn mediocre, bordering on jerky. I'm guessing this was because it was a Wednesday night, and we'd come directly from work (with a stopover at the Pinhook), and were thus dressed in "business casual" rather than fancy-ass designer wear (not that I own any of the latter, anyway). Or maybe they're just jerks to everybody, I don't know. I *do* think it's funny that they think they can cop quite that much attitude in that block of Main St in downtown Durham on a Wednesday night. Best of luck to 'em! On the other hand, to the posters who reference wishing they'd gone to Rue Cler instead: Good Luck! On the night we went to Revolution, we had actually *tried* to go to Rue Cler, only to be turned away at 8:45 because the kitchen was already closed. (the second weeknight that had happened to us, actually, pre-9:00 p.m.). They suggested calling ahead to see if they were actually serving food. I suggested replacing the "until" on their hours with "8:30" to save us all the trouble. I’ve only been once so far, before reading any of these comments, and the things on the menu that seemed most intriguing were all on the “raw” portion of the menu, so we focused on those. We had the beef tartare, at least one of the tunas, and I forget what else (it has been a while), but I thought they were uniformly excellent, as good as any comparable dishes I’ve had elsewhere in the Triangle (not that there are *that* many opportunities for comparables to the dishes on the raw menu in the Triangle).

The service, on the other hand, was pretty damn mediocre, bordering on jerky. I’m guessing this was because it was a Wednesday night, and we’d come directly from work (with a stopover at the Pinhook), and were thus dressed in “business casual” rather than fancy-ass designer wear (not that I own any of the latter, anyway).

Or maybe they’re just jerks to everybody, I don’t know. I *do* think it’s funny that they think they can cop quite that much attitude in that block of Main St in downtown Durham on a Wednesday night. Best of luck to ‘em!

On the other hand, to the posters who reference wishing they’d gone to Rue Cler instead: Good Luck! On the night we went to Revolution, we had actually *tried* to go to Rue Cler, only to be turned away at 8:45 because the kitchen was already closed. (the second weeknight that had happened to us, actually, pre-9:00 p.m.). They suggested calling ahead to see if they were actually serving food. I suggested replacing the “until” on their hours with “8:30″ to save us all the trouble.

]]> By: Gary http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3169 Gary Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:43:05 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3169 Exceedingly well put. Exceedingly well put.

]]> By: jjj http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3175 jjj Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:18:16 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3175 I've been to Revolution many times and have come away underwhelmed every time. The food presentation is fantastic, but the flavor doesn't match up. I always leave there thinking that they are satisfied with being superficial and design heavy. So many seem so glad to just have something like this in town that they seem to ignore the inconsistent and often rude service, the pretentiousness and food that just doesn't match up. A quick note on the pappardelle since it was a great example. The dish was beautiful and the pasta was very nicely cooked and had great texture. Unfortunately, the overall dish lacked flavor that was promised in the description (particularly since it was supposed to feature truffles). Like most of the other dishes I've had there, there is just something missing. I've been to the bar for cocktails and really like their offerings, but have found the bartenders to be inattentive on more than half dozen occasions. I distinctly get the impression that they as well as the owners/staff want you to feel that you are lucky to be in their presence. That just isn't good enough in Durham. There are so many great dining choices that they really shouldn't take people for granted. It's great to be the new kid on the block. That only lasts for so long. Looking good is one thing, being consistently good is another. That goes for the food and the restaurant as a whole. I’ve been to Revolution many times and have come away underwhelmed every time. The food presentation is fantastic, but the flavor doesn’t match up. I always leave there thinking that they are satisfied with being superficial and design heavy. So many seem so glad to just have something like this in town that they seem to ignore the inconsistent and often rude service, the pretentiousness and food that just doesn’t match up. A quick note on the pappardelle since it was a great example. The dish was beautiful and the pasta was very nicely cooked and had great texture. Unfortunately, the overall dish lacked flavor that was promised in the description (particularly since it was supposed to feature truffles). Like most of the other dishes I’ve had there, there is just something missing.

I’ve been to the bar for cocktails and really like their offerings, but have found the bartenders to be inattentive on more than half dozen occasions. I distinctly get the impression that they as well as the owners/staff want you to feel that you are lucky to be in their presence.

That just isn’t good enough in Durham. There are so many great dining choices that they really shouldn’t take people for granted. It’s great to be the new kid on the block. That only lasts for so long. Looking good is one thing, being consistently good is another. That goes for the food and the restaurant as a whole.

]]> By: durhamfood http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3174 durhamfood Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:16:22 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3174 Honestly, I haven't been yet, but just about everyone who I trust in food matters has had mediocre experiences or worse. Honestly, I haven’t been yet, but just about everyone who I trust in food matters has had mediocre experiences or worse.

]]> By: Gary http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3173 Gary Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:03:50 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3173 You should have taken out a "Second Mortgage" to get the good stuff. You should have taken out a “Second Mortgage” to get the good stuff.

]]> By: FoodDude http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3172 FoodDude Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:17:15 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3172 If you went last night, that was probably bad timing. Any time there is a show at the DPAC, you can bet on a large crowd rushing the bar when it lets out. It got pretty loud in there before I left. C'est la vie, price we pay for having increasingly good stuff downtown. If you went last night, that was probably bad timing. Any time there is a show at the DPAC, you can bet on a large crowd rushing the bar when it lets out. It got pretty loud in there before I left. C’est la vie, price we pay for having increasingly good stuff downtown.

]]> By: chun0091 http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3171 chun0091 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:04:12 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3171 This place SUCKED! My bf and I went there for our anniversary dinner and it was a major disappointment. The portion sizes were tiny for the prices they're charging. I got a foie gras BLT (seriously had 2 bites for $13) and my bf got the beef tartar (ok). I got the bass for the main. The portion was once again tiny and the fish was WAYWAYWAY over done. My bf got the buffalo shortribs, which were paired with a sauce that didn't seem to really go with it. My bf got the orange dark chocolate cake for dessert. I swear, they used a mini-muffin pan to make the cake because it was minuscule. I got the panna cotta which was probably the best thing I had there. The service was slow and not very attentive. The dining area is so loud that we had to shout over the table while we were talking. I wish we would have gone to one of the other downtown Durham restaurants (Piedmont, Rue Cler) or even Chapel Hill (GASP!) for dinner because this was a very disappointing experience. I OBVIOUSLY will never go back. This place SUCKED! My bf and I went there for our anniversary dinner and it was a major disappointment. The portion sizes were tiny for the prices they’re charging. I got a foie gras BLT (seriously had 2 bites for $13) and my bf got the beef tartar (ok). I got the bass for the main. The portion was once again tiny and the fish was WAYWAYWAY over done. My bf got the buffalo shortribs, which were paired with a sauce that didn’t seem to really go with it. My bf got the orange dark chocolate cake for dessert. I swear, they used a mini-muffin pan to make the cake because it was minuscule. I got the panna cotta which was probably the best thing I had there. The service was slow and not very attentive. The dining area is so loud that we had to shout over the table while we were talking. I wish we would have gone to one of the other downtown Durham restaurants (Piedmont, Rue Cler) or even Chapel Hill (GASP!) for dinner because this was a very disappointing experience. I OBVIOUSLY will never go back.

]]> By: Full Frame Recommendations « Carpe Durham http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3166 Full Frame Recommendations « Carpe Durham Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:52:33 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3166 [...] Revolution (107 W. Main St) Sunday brunch - $30.  Also a great spot for “upscale” drinks and appetizers. [...] [...] Revolution (107 W. Main St) Sunday brunch – $30.  Also a great spot for “upscale” drinks and appetizers. [...]

]]> By: Woody Holliman http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3167 Woody Holliman Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:22:23 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3167 Revolution is an amazing addition to downtown, and I can't say enough good things about the food or the service. So far, I've found more adventurous fare on the small plates (rather than the traditional entrees), but everything has been outstanding! Revolution is an amazing addition to downtown, and I can’t say enough good things about the food or the service. So far, I’ve found more adventurous fare on the small plates (rather than the traditional entrees), but everything has been outstanding!

]]>