Life of Brian
Every meal I have enjoyed at Nordstrom's Café Bistro has been wonderful (Food Review, "Simply Perfect," by Brian Ries, Oct. 4-10)! The food is excellent and the prices are very affordable. The General Manager, Michael Gross, has made the café a huge success. His dedication to excellence to the food and his staff is admirable.
Amy
Via website
My wife and I have eaten in all the best steak houses in Tampa, Chicago and L.A. There is nothing better than the larger filet, medium rare, that we always get at Charley's (Food Review, "Got A Beef," by Brian Ries, Sept. 27-Oct. 3)!
Ernest
Via website
Charley's has been my favorite for nine years and will be for many more to come. I would hardly compare Charley's to Outback.
Cassie
Via website
My wife and I have mixed views on Charley's. We have never figured out why it's always packed, since we believe it's nothing to brag about. After not patronizing for a couple of years due to poor quality, we decided to go back based on several good comments recently from our friends. My wife ordered the filet, and when it arrived, we were both shocked at its shape. It looked as if it had come out of the rear end of the cow! And the taste was mediocre. The noise in the Garden Room is beyond belief; we literally had to almost scream at each other across the booth to be heard. But I must admit, I have been there since with friends, once again, and I had a very tasty filet that was pleasing to look at as well. Surprise, surprise.
Phil
Via website
Go to Publix and buy some Breyer's or go to the health food store and get some real ice cream. Then buy some really good-quality, organic hotdogs from the same places. Compare them to what you get at Dairy Inn (Food Review, "Old Time Good," by Brian Ries, Sept. 20-26). What are you getting at Dairy Inn? History? How a place like that can get a report done on it just floors me. I live around the block and see the fat and unhealthy-looking people "enjoying" that "wonderful" cuisine all the time. There are two sushi restaurants within spitting distance from Dairy Inn, both more worthy of reports. Nothing like white bread, lip- and nose-meat hotdogs and some kind of fake "ice cream"!
Tom Clark
Via website
MISSED MEANINGS
In his review (Theater, "Brilliantly Empty," by Mark Leib, Sept. 27-Oct.3), Mr. Leib states that the play lacks "a single meaningful insight on life, on the world, on art or ambition." He could not be more mistaken. This show, which I saw on the opening weekend, is all about the disconnection between adults and their children. Throughout the entire first act, we hear Walker and Theo talk about how much of a disappointment Ned thought Walker was. And in turn, how angry Walker is at his father. In the second act you find out how much Ned wished that he had the fortitude to be the type of man that Walker has become. I called my father as soon as I walked out of the theater and made sure that we made some time for each other. The thought that our misconceptions of those we love most will live forever if we don't find a way to the truth is very powerful and important. From this and Mr. Leib's past reviews of American Stage, I can only assume that he has a grudge against this incredible theater. This has far more depth and beauty than both the Music Man and Bug combined (both of which he loved and were performed by lesser local theaters).
Ryan Jennings
Via website
Editor's Note: In recent years, Mark Leib has named American Stage Best Theater Company (Best of the Bay 2004); cited American Stage performers as Best Actress and Best Actor (Best of the Bay 2004 and 2005); and singled out its designer, Amy J. Cianci, as Best of the Bay in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Some grudge.
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2006.