The Comment of the Week
This is a good place to point out that this week because I was on vacation Good Editor Kate did a lot of the publishing of comments for me, so I didn't stay on top of them.
I mention that to point out that if you think I missed a great one, please post below, and to apologize for any unanswered questions. There are several in this comment. I wasn't ignoring you, I just didn't see them until I started to catch up.
Often, by the way, that's why I don't answer questions, unless I feel the discussion will be more interesting if someone else does. (And thanks to you who regularly step up to the plate.)
Anyway, I thought this comment by Elite Elephant Lover was worthy, especially because of the last sentence. I like short menus that focus on what the chef does best, but I haven't seen the same sort of thing done with a wine list in a fine-dining restaurant. ...
I choose restaurants as much by what they offer to drink as the food. Once you get to know a place I can see the house wine idea being useful if you like the wines offered and they match the food. Otherwise there is too much difference between wines to know what you are getting. A CA Chardonnay could be light and crisp or it could be overoaked. A French sauvignon blanc could be from Bordeaux, the Loire, or just be a vin de pays. Each of these would completely different in style and taste. EL, what was the price difference between the "house" wines and the other per glass selections? Were the producers and vintages of the "house" wines listed? Any description of the "house" wines? I read an interview with owner of a famous NY City restaurant and he stated if he was starting over again he would offer only a limited selection of "house" wines instead of building a huge and expensive cellar.
I wonder how customers would react? And I wonder what the owner's definition of "limited" was.
As for Elite Elephant Lover's questions, my review appears about three weeks after I visit a restaurant, so it's been awhile since I ate there. But as I remember, the house wines were priced at $5.50 a glass and $21 a bottle, both of which were less than anything else on the list. The producers were named but I don't think there were descriptions of them or of any of the bottles on the list.
If I'm wrong about any of this, please correct me below.
Comments
Thanks, Kate. I hope we didn't act too much like spoiled children.
Posted by: Lissa | February 7, 2009 4:29 PM
The restaurant in question was Lutece and I am not sure the original owner had thought through the idea of a limited wine list. Since this restaurant served classic French food it would be easier to come up with an acceptable short list. No need here to come up with lower priced wines.
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | February 7, 2009 8:14 PM
Lissa -- Not at all! But I am glad EL is back -- my fingers were getting tired from all that publishing. :-)
Posted by: Kate | February 9, 2009 9:22 AM
Thanks Kate! Yes, we are a chatty bunch!
Posted by: Joyce W. | February 9, 2009 10:45 AM
Thanks Kate, we appreciate your efforts!
Posted by: PCB Rob | February 9, 2009 12:17 PM