Downtown Loses Another Business

[reason]

It's the beginning of the end for The Maissonette.

How interesting that the Comisars were so in debt downtown, but now they have enough money to build not one, but TWO new restaurants.

Warren County is the second fastest growing county in Ohio. The county grew by 30,000+ residents between 2000 and 2004. It's only a matter of time before they get their own upscale mall (with Nordstrom, etc) and all the business that goes to Kenwood Towne Centre will stay in Warren County and attract business from a declining and aging Hamilton County.

The problem with The Maisonette isn't it's location. Pigall's biz is booming in a less desirable location. The problem with The Maisonette is that its food is overrated, its ambience stuffy, its management stuck in the past.

Looks like the Comisars ruined themselves to spite downtown.

<font color="#FFFFAA" size="1">[ April 20, 2005 01:23 PM: Message edited by: craig. ]</font>

[jumper69]

The problem with The Maisonette isn't it's location. Pigall's biz is booming in a less desirable location. The problem with The Maisonette is that its food is overrated, its ambience stuffy, its management stuck in the past.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've never eaten at the Maisonette but I don't think Mobil just GIVES out the 5 star ratings. Perhaps the ambience is stuffy and lord knows the patrons are probably amongst the most pretentious in the city but it's not that bad is it?

[reason]

Originally posted by Jumper69:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The problem with The Maisonette isn't it's location. Pigall's biz is booming in a less desirable location. The problem with The Maisonette is that its food is overrated, its ambience stuffy, its management stuck in the past.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've never eaten at the Maisonette but I don't think Mobil just GIVES out the 5 star ratings. Perhaps the ambience is stuffy and lord knows the patrons are probably amongst the most pretentious in the city but it's not that bad is it?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It has been a few years since I've been there, and I think I've dined there maybe 4 times, 3 of them on business (one of them was courtesy of Enron!). It's not so much that it's bad more than I'm not sure that when you shell out $110 for a meal on the cheap side you'd think it would knock your socks off.

Service is impeccable. Atmosphere is stuffy. Food is very good. Maybe I just don't understand fine dining...

[travelinman]

The Mobil rating system is overrated. They tend to ether stick with traditional French and steak houses or go the other way and award the trendy places like Emeril?s. They can?t find the little gems that don?t get any publicity.

[jumper69]

So is it worth dropping a C note or two for dinner there????

[reason]

Originally posted by Jumper69:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The problem with The Maisonette isn't it's location. Pigall's biz is booming in a less desirable location. The problem with The Maisonette is that its food is overrated, its ambience stuffy, its management stuck in the past.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I've never eaten at the Maisonette but I don't think Mobil just GIVES out the 5 star ratings. Perhaps the ambience is stuffy and lord knows the patrons are probably amongst the most pretentious in the city but it's not that bad is it?</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I know this sounds overly picky, but the washroom at Panera is nicer than the Maisonette's.

They have little meeting rooms upstairs. Everyone was served the same food (chicken) and it was about as ordinary as you can imagine.

I can tell you when the folks from Chicago and New York come into town from the big banks and brokerage firms, they gush over Ruby's. No one has suggested The Maisonette in 4 years.

It's very telling that The Maisonette is moving from downtown, even though there are 7 Fortune 500 companies within blocks of their restaurant (Western Southern, P&G, Great American, Cinergy, Fifth Third, Kroger, Federated) and two more on the Covington riverfront (Omnicare and Ashland).

[reason]

Originally posted by Jumper69:
So is it worth dropping a C note or two for dinner there????

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you don't mind parting with your money, it is a great special event place. The only time I really enjoyed it was when it was strictly for pleasure. The staff is very attentive, understanding without being obtrusive.

[reason]

Originally posted by Jumper69:
So is it worth dropping a C note or two for dinner there????

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When I said $110, that is per person. Which is on the low side.

[gae]

Originally posted by Jumper69:
So is it worth dropping a C note or two for dinner there????

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Nope.

[jumper69]

I agree gae. I'm not a big fan of French cuisine anyway. Nor anything French for that matter. I'll take Trav's cooking over the Maisonette anyday....

Speaking of Trav's cooking....I'm getting hungry! When's the next feast?? [img]wink.gif[/img]