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Hobbes wrote:Guess Nicholas didn't read the review by the BamJags or he would not have been caught at Catch.

I prefer "jam jam" to "BamJags"

I was hopeful about the "pub" aspect as well. But if there's an extensive or even sufficient selection of brews behind the bar, I don't see them. They appear to have three taps, one of which is Abita. Maybe they have a bunch of bottled beer in the cooler, but I kind of doubt it. I didn't go in. I just looked in from the street and scanned their menu.

The menu is bizarre. Almost schizophrenic in its attempts to meld the commonplace with the fanciful. Some of the dishes don't even make sense. They're trying to cover too many bases, trying to attract the downscale regular folk along with the more aggressive high flying diners but likely failing both. They should just concentrate on doing one thing and doing it well. It's like when you open a bar, make it an Irish bar or a sports bar or a wine bar, whatever. What you can't pull off is an Irish/Country Western wine and sports bar with ear splitting techno music on the dance floor. You think you're pulling everyone in, but you're really turning everyone off. It's insulting.

I attacked the menu immediately. I saw it as we were walking in ( the one posted outside) and commented on it before we even sat down. The first thing on the menu is a steak and it's the highest priced thing on the menu at $23. That should be LAST. The burgers, po-boys, paninis should have been at the top IMO, being basic and the lower priced items. I tried to rationalize the rest of the menu by saying it could apply to many...but even I wasn't buying my own BS at that point.

It's a disaster.

http://loringaudin.com/index.php?option ... id=1:blogs

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buzd wrote:http://loringaudin.com/index.php?option ... id=1:blogs

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I don't know the owners but I am bit more skeptical than Lorin is about Catch positioning itself to hit up BP for its losses. Perhaps "money-grubbing jerks" is too strong of a label but if you don't think a savvy restaurateur wouldn't try to get money from BP, regardless of who's fault the failure of the business is, I think you are being naive. Why the sob story on the sign then?

As for the mention of Fatz, that's just funny!

While I agree with her beef about restauranteurs' preoccupation with "concepts" over quality and execution, I see Lorin hasn't lost any of that cattiness that I've found so unpleasant. There seems to be a fundamental mean-spiritedness that runs through so much of her writings. This constant trashing of Tom is just pathetic.

Blue Cross Sux wrote:This constant trashing of Tom is just pathetic.

Let me fix that up for you:

This Tom is just pathetic!

Better? You bettcha!

Blue Cross Sux wrote:While I agree with her beef about restauranteurs' preoccupation with "concepts" over quality and execution, I see Lorin hasn't lost any of that cattiness that I've found so unpleasant. There seems to be a fundamental mean-spiritedness that runs through so much of her writings. This constant trashing of Tom is just pathetic.

Funny, I thought just the opposite - I have criticized Lauren int the past for being a cheerleader, and NOT voicing her negative views as lustily as her positive ones.

I, for one, am glad to see she has evolved to take on the role of food and restaurant journalist - New Orleans needs someone who advocates on behalf of diners, and doesn't just shill for his or her favorite restaurateurs