Monday Morning Quarterbacking: The Hill
I've got my own couple of restaurants like the Hill in my neighborhood. These are places my husband and I go sometimes on a Friday night when the work week for both of us has been cumulative, so we don't have energy even to wash up the dishes we would use if we got carryout.
We know exactly what to order -- and what to avoid. Most of the staff knows us by now, and everyone is friendly. The owners at both of them probably know who I am, but we don't get any more special treatment than other regulars, and that's the way I like it.
Maybe the food isn't as good as I could fix myself, but it tastes good because I didn't have to fix it. ...
That's the kind of place I imagine the Hill is to lot of folks who live in Federal Hill. Owner/chef Antoine Petteway seems like a genuinely nice guy, and the people who work for him reflect that.
Reading over my review, which appeared in the paper yesterday, I'm not sure I conveyed how reasonably priced the food is. Or maybe I've been eating too many meals in Harbor East lately.
(Algerina Perna/Sun photographer)
Categories: Monday Morning Quarterbacking
Comments
Ah, the gentrification of food: You take a simple thing of beauty and a joy forever, such as the White Castle/Little Tavern slider, put crab, shrimp, lobster, and other fancy foods in it and complain about the "Wonder bread-type roll." Should they have been served on miniature ciabatta buns or other artisanal bread rolls? A true slider should be simple with simple but tasty ingredients. If you want you simple food upgraded to gourmet, all I can say is De Gackibus Non Disputandum.
You make a good point, but I think all the parts should work together. If you do decide to gentrify the fillings, then miniature ciabatta rolls are appropriate. If those little buns had been filled with hot, juicy little burgers, they would have been fine. EL
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | July 20, 2009 10:12 AM
This piece and what it points to as the actually important aspects of being successful in the restaurant business comes too soon after the pretentious piece to get the commentary it warrants.
Too bad.
Posted by: MrRational | July 20, 2009 12:13 PM
Didn't Jack and Jill hit up this? How'd that work out for them?
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 20, 2009 3:16 PM
Be careful Sam,
Jokes are appreciated as much over here as they are at Midnight Sun.
Tony has a nice place on Charles Street with a very good staff. He will do better than Jack's crown.
Posted by: jason z | July 20, 2009 5:42 PM
I thought this place was abysmal. Ms. Large seemed very generous in her ratings. We had some pretty miserable food and service at this place...
It is too bad, because I always have had solid food (although at times mediocre service) at Metropolitan.
Get your game face on Chef Tony.
My thoughts are better summarized in the link on my name.
Posted by: Baltimore Liquid | July 21, 2009 6:06 PM
Completely disagree with Baltimore Liquid...
I went into the Hill on a busy Friday night with a group of 6 and had nothing short of a perfect meal. My Stuffed Flounder dish was filled to the brim with lump crab meat and the accompanying veggies were just as delicious. Our appetizers and entrees were spaced out nicely and our server was polite and knowledgeable.
The Hill is a little noisy but with a tin roof and hardwood floor, that seems unavoidable.
Posted by: NJ | July 22, 2009 9:22 AM