Downtown Loses Another Business

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April 20th, 2005, 04:22 PM
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.

[ April 20, 2005 01:23 PM: Message edited by: craig. ]
April 20th, 2005, 07:20 PM
jumper69

Quote:

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.

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?
April 20th, 2005, 07:33 PM
reason

Quote:

Originally posted by Jumper69:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />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.

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?<hr /></blockquote>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...
April 20th, 2005, 07:34 PM
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.
April 20th, 2005, 07:45 PM
jumper69

So is it worth dropping a C note or two for dinner there????
April 20th, 2005, 07:47 PM
reason

Quote:

Originally posted by Jumper69:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />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.

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?<hr /></blockquote>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).
April 20th, 2005, 07:49 PM
reason

Quote:

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

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.
April 20th, 2005, 07:51 PM
reason

Quote:

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

When I said $110, that is per person. Which is on the low side.
April 20th, 2005, 07:52 PM
gae

Quote:

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

Nope.
April 20th, 2005, 08:06 PM
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]
April 20th, 2005, 08:26 PM
cincygreg

Those ratings arent just about food. They take into consideration everything from plates and flatware to wine lists to decor.

There's a lot of people who are regulars at some of the finer dining places that live relatively close to the Kenwood area (amberly, indian hill, montgomery...)
April 21st, 2005, 03:38 AM
cincygreg

Maisonette moving to Kenwood

Maisonette Moving

Wonder if anyone will move into that space or if LaNormandie will move upstairs?
April 21st, 2005, 04:33 PM
Lew

I;ve never been, I always said I'd like to go, but if $110 each is on the low side, I;m not sure it's worth it. I'm no fan of fine dining, but it is (was?) a Cincinnati tradition and I always said I'd patronize them sometime.

But Red Robin has those kickass shakes....
April 21st, 2005, 06:02 PM
reason

Quote:

Originally posted by Lew:
I;ve never been, I always said I'd like to go, but if $110 each is on the low side, I;m not sure it's worth it. I'm no fan of fine dining, but it is (was?) a Cincinnati tradition and I always said I'd patronize them sometime.

But Red Robin has those kickass shakes....

If I remember correctly, the bill came to $208 for two people, which included entree, dessert, predinner cocktail, and a glass of wine. I intentionally ordered "cheap" as I was not paying.
April 21st, 2005, 07:41 PM
LAKE

DH and I went there for our anniversary about 4 years ago and we didn't spend near that much. We also got an appetizer, 2 entrees and 2 glasses of wine each. Came to more like $130 including the tip. We spent more the year before at the Precinct.

The food was very good, but like all French food it gave me diarrhea. It was stuffy, about as comfortable as being in church. I much prefer a steak at the Precinct.
April 22nd, 2005, 11:22 AM
reason

I personally think downtown is on the upswing, even with the departure of the Maisonette. I heard on this morning's news that Joseph Beth is looking to move downtown. This is definitely great news.
April 22nd, 2005, 05:08 PM
Lew

Well, I've never been to the Ream-cinct, either, but since it's not going anywhere, I think I'll try the Maissonette first.

I'll just make sure to limit my order to a glass of water and a toothpick....
April 22nd, 2005, 05:48 PM
cincygreg

There's a lot of competition in the downtown area, but not much business to go around. Jean Roberts probably took some of their business but in the last 10 or so years other places such as Mortons have been added for the upscale dollar and then you have mid range places like Bella, Nicholsons, Aioli, Redfish and Palamino...

I'll venture downtown when something is going on or if I'm on my way back or to something, but I dont go down there that much. I've never eaten at Bella but the people were very nice to me when I stopped in for a gift cert. I've only sat at the bar at Jean Roberts, but was treated very well there as well. The Federal Reserve girls always treat me well when I stop in too. I think most people would rather avoid going downtown, especially the older generations who are a manistay of the maisonette crowd.
I go to Ember's every once in a while or Trio when I'm out in that area, or every now and again I stop in at my Behle Street down in covington which is owned by an old school friend of mine.
I think people right now would much rather go to upscale casual places or casual places these days. It seems as if the higher places are becoming more and more special occasion places for many. Instead of hitting a high end place a few times a year, now it may only be on an anniversary or something.
America is more family oriented, and people want to be able to get a nice dinner and still be able to take the kids.
Not saying that fine dining has to cater to the family dinner, that's really not their thing. But, they should be aware that the future of the restaurant business as a whole is marketed in that direction
April 22nd, 2005, 08:40 PM
gae

John Robert's, like the Maisonette, is pretentious and over-priced. But I do like their place plates.

Last Friday we had dinner at Bella's before going to the Aronoff, and while it was over-priced, it wasn't bad.

IMO, Cincinnati just doesn't have a lot of great restaurants.

cue to Greg: Start a restaurant thread so GL and Trav can fight about food.
April 23rd, 2005, 03:35 PM
travelinman

Quote:

Originally posted by gae:

cue to Greg: Start a restaurant thread so GL and Trav can fight about food.

What fight? I?ll talk about things like:

Veal Franchise with Fettuccini Alfredo and Broccoli saut?ed with garlic and red pepper flakes

Jamaican Jerk Pork Roast with Mango salsa

Stuffed Brojolli

Citrus grilled shrimp

He will talk about Skyline

That?s not a fight it?s a massacre
April 24th, 2005, 12:37 AM
Lew

I always liked the Fore & Aft, they offer smoking,non-smoking, and non-snorkeling sections...