I must admit, things did not start well when I visited Next Door last weekend. The bartender seemed to think being cute, in shape and in possession of a nice smile meant he didn’t have to fill our drinks or know what was on the wine list. Unfortunately for him good looking bartenders are a dime a dozen in this city and most of them can manage to keep my glass full. I was annoyed and far too sober for his shenanigans. Also, I was nervous as to what awaited me; it didn’t look good.
Luckily, I was wrong. (Mark this day on your calendar, Mom. I admitted I was wrong.) We were seated and our charming waiter Joseph immediately approached our table. He offered helpful menu selections and listed out vegetarian options for my friend Dr. Wonderful. His timing was perfect and when he didn’t have a response to one of our questions he went to seek it out and promptly returned with an answer.
Oh, and the food you ask? Pretty damn good. The chef, Rock Harper, won Season 1 of “Hell’s Kitchen” and I was nervous his food was going to be all hype and no substance. I was wrong once again. Bawstin and I shared crab cakes(delicious) and ribs (tender but could have used a bit of sauce) for our appetizer. I can get behind a meal that starts with ribs. I ordered the fried chicken with greens and mashed potatoes. It was moist, juicy, flavorful and totally fat free…ahem. Bawstin’s pork chop was great–I think chops can be a crap shoot–and Dr. Wonderful’s mac and cheese was creamy with a crunchy, buttery topping. The food was not without a few small complaints…Dr. Wonderful’s spinach was overly salted. While the apple crisp was delicious, the chocolate cake tasted industrial and was lacking in imagination.
My experience at “Next Door” can be encapsulated in one small exchange. I had been drinking Guiness (seriously, I wanted to see if I could actually make myself explode) and they were having issues with the keg. They brought a Winter Ale in it’s place, free of charge, and apologized profusely. About 10 minutes later, the owner stopped by the table, said “I owe you this” and handed me my Guiness. The service there is great, they take real care with their customers and they want to ensure everyone leaves satisfied. We certainly did.
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Also, go check me out at So Good this week. I have had a great run, but it will be my last column over there.
10:10 am on February 4th, 2009
It’s hard not to enjoy the application of crunchy and buttery in the same dish. I think some of these places need to rethink the naming process. C’mon, Next Door?
Eh, it is fine. The name doesn’t bother me so much.
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10:20 am on February 4th, 2009
I think “Next Door” is kind of cute, but I agree that a name means a lot. My favourite restaurant in Halifax is the Ardmore Tea Room, which advertises homemade spaghetti and pies. The name is part of the charm, although I also love how it’s like this relic from the 1940’s… they don’t even have a debit/credit system! Bliss.
Cash only! Retro indeed.
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10:26 am on February 4th, 2009
It’s 9am and I’m dreaming of ribs, fried chicken and apple crisp.
I’ll add this to my ever growing list of restaurants to try.
I really recommend it.
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10:35 am on February 4th, 2009
That gesture with the Winter Ale and the Guinness was the sort of above-the-call-of-duty treatment that helps immeasurably with return business. Very smart of them.
Peter
I agree–it really garnered some good will.
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11:07 am on February 4th, 2009
we were on U the night before the inauguration. and for a second, i thought there was a chance we could get in there without some actual pre-planning. then i realized that was absurd. and we went to Etete, where you’re also treated really well actually.
Ya know, I have never been there. Still so much to try in this city…
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11:16 am on February 4th, 2009
That food sounds delicious, and the service fantastic. Next Door is now on my to-do list.
I also have a craving now for mac and cheese. Mmm.
You can never go wrong with some mac and cheese.
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11:19 am on February 4th, 2009
mac and cheeeeeeese. yummm.
I match your yummmm and raise you a MMMMMMMMM….
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11:21 am on February 4th, 2009
I need to start eating breakfast before reading your blog. My tummy is jumping all over the place at the mention of apple crisp and mac and cheese. Gurgle!
I thought I heard a gurgle.
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11:33 am on February 4th, 2009
I love your restaurant reviews. Really enjoy them! Someday when I visit DC, I will have a list a mile long of the places I want to try! Except I’d probably just want to eat at YOUR house.
Thanks, K8…and you know I would be more than happy to have you over.
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11:47 am on February 4th, 2009
From my experience at the bar a few nights after you went, I can tell you that the “pretty but
stupidbad bartender was most likely the exception rather than the rule. The bartender I had was not just friendly and professional but exceedingly knowledgeable even for awine geekcork dork like me.I am really glad to hear that.
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12:34 pm on February 4th, 2009
Glad to hear your experience went well at Next Door. I’ve been trying to convince some friends to go there, but they are not keen on “That Guy from Hell’s Kitchen” as the chef. Hopefully your review will change their minds. Or I’ll have to go alone.
I really think the place delivers.
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12:35 pm on February 4th, 2009
Excellent–I’ve been looking forward to trying the place. Glad to know it’s good.
Let me know if you make a trip.
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12:36 pm on February 4th, 2009
I’ve had crappy service everywhere I’ve been for the past month or so… I might have to go here just to make up for it.
P.S. “Dr. Wonderful’s spinach was overly salted.”
Clearly, you have made a mistake, as it is not possible for anything to be overly salty.
I love salt, LOVE IT. Maybe not as much as you–but god DAMN it was salty.
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12:55 pm on February 4th, 2009
I’m Irish, but dammit, Guinness has to be one of the worst beers ever. I fucking hate it. If I wanted to eat a loaf of bread, I would have.
Oh, you are so wrong, pal. So dead wrong.
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1:20 pm on February 4th, 2009
Good on ‘em for making things right with the beer. Those little service touches can really create goodwill, making it easier for people to overlook, say, salty spinach.
Here here, BJ.
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1:38 pm on February 4th, 2009
Oooh..new restaurant to check out! Hecks yeah.
New and shiny and waiting for you.
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1:56 pm on February 4th, 2009
How have I not heard of this place yet? It sounds great and your service anecdote is so telling. Must try it.
I really think you find out a lot more about the quality of an operation when they screw up (even a minor one like yours) – not when things go right. I always leave a restaurant after a well-recovered fumble with a great impression — and usually tell everyone I know about it.
Totally–mistakes happen. It is how they are handled that shows the true worth of a restaurant.
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2:19 pm on February 4th, 2009
You haven’t been to Etete? We are SO going, just so we can eat with our hands like the classy ladies that we are.
It is spelled klassy.
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2:50 pm on February 4th, 2009
Now you just have to pour your Guiness over your fried chicken… or your next date. Whatevs.
I am over hot bartenders. I have never met one that I didn’t want to sleep with and then regret the next morning. I’m glad I’m a grown up and don’t do stupid things like cheat and try and catch STDs.
They say abandoning your STD lust is the first sign of adulthood.
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3:12 pm on February 4th, 2009
I found the spinach shallow and pedantic.
Oh, Arj…
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3:31 pm on February 4th, 2009
I think you owe me a foodie date. This place sounded wonderful, and I miss real restaurants down here in the South. The best I can come up with is a kick ass Mexican place with killer pork fajitas – the pork is served soaked in salsa.
Soaked! Sounds amazing. And you know my number, darling.
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3:55 pm on February 4th, 2009
I went a while ago, when they were still doing the soft opening, and had more or less the same experience, although they were only serving stuff from Ben’s. The manager and owners were charming and asking for ideas on how to improve service, other things they should stock at the bar, etc. In fact, I ended up there because I had gone outside Ulah to smoke and they waved us over.
About a week after I went, my roommate and some friends dropped by late one night to find they were closed. The owner met them across the street at Ulah and bought a round of drinks for everyone, to apologize for being closed.
SOLD!
I am thoroughly impressed by this. I hope this restaurant is a success.
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5:41 pm on February 4th, 2009
Ohhh, I miss life in my old neighborhood. Sounds delicious. And personally, I like the name.
I actually like the name myself.
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5:49 pm on February 4th, 2009
I am back in town on the 19th-25th and stoked to go and check out a bunch of your recommended places!
Oh, fun! Let me know what you think.
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3:06 am on February 5th, 2009
Damn. Next time I’m in the hood, I will most definitely stop by. Nice review, Lem.
Thanks, emma. It is worth a stop by.
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8:16 am on February 5th, 2009
Lem! Thanks for all your columns at So Good! We’ll miss you!
I will miss you too!
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10:46 am on April 22nd, 2009
[...] but I didn’t love it. There were pros and cons to the place, but the same can be said about Next Door and I left really pleased and eager to try it again. Posto? No such feelings. Some restaurants [...]