Comments on: Initial thoughts on Revolution http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:34:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: TheBerean http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-26718 TheBerean Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:03:41 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-26718 I have eaten there twice. 2 months ago and 1 year ago. Good location relative to new downtown activities and the valet parking was efficient and trustworthy. The service was below average and the food was substantially below average. Last meal was Lobster Risotto consisting of an enormous quantity of Risotto and virtually no lobster. Others in our party of 12 who ordered the same dish made the same comment as soon as they were served. One person speculated that they ran out and tried to stretch the Lobster as none of us felt that anyone could honestly call the dish Lobster anything. A bowl of Parmesian Cheese saved the day but I left being reminded of my first visit to Revolution thinking I would only be back for business functions where someone else picked this place. Sorry about that. I have spent 24 years in Durham and I would love nothing more than to support a new restaurant in this location. I have eaten there twice. 2 months ago and 1 year ago. Good location relative to new downtown activities and the valet parking was efficient and trustworthy. The service was below average and the food was substantially below average. Last meal was Lobster Risotto consisting of an enormous quantity of Risotto and virtually no lobster. Others in our party of 12 who ordered the same dish made the same comment as soon as they were served. One person speculated that they ran out and tried to stretch the Lobster as none of us felt that anyone could honestly call the dish Lobster anything. A bowl of Parmesian Cheese saved the day but I left being reminded of my first visit to Revolution thinking I would only be back for business functions where someone else picked this place. Sorry about that. I have spent 24 years in Durham and I would love nothing more than to support a new restaurant in this location.

]]> By: Sant http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-25591 Sant Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:00:46 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-25591 Really, wow, they need to do a better job of getting the word out then. They do have the disadvantage of being on the far end of downtown-- although that doesn't seem to be a problem for Scratch and Dos Perros. Yes, it is a light menu, around five entrees and a couple of desserts. Really, wow, they need to do a better job of getting the word out then. They do have the disadvantage of being on the far end of downtown– although that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Scratch and Dos Perros. Yes, it is a light menu, around five entrees and a couple of desserts.

]]> By: MEZ http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-25462 MEZ Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:14:37 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-25462 I think they started advertising lunch hours about three months ago, but it is a very limited menu, right? I think they started advertising lunch hours about three months ago, but it is a very limited menu, right?

]]> By: Sant http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-25349 Sant Sun, 04 Jul 2010 02:32:37 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-25349 Revolution is serving lunch now. This must be a new development because our party of 7 were the only ones there. Some of us got the "blackened" catfish with rock shrimp risotto and others got the lamb burger with fries. I did not like the catfish very much. It did not have blackened seasoning but rather a dusting of black pepper and it was fried rather than blackened. The risotto was nice though. Those that got the burger was put off by how rare it was. Had it been inspected they would have been in trouble. I would be shocked if Chef Anile is cooking at lunch. I guess they are just helping to cover overhead by serving lunch but based on this one experience I would say they need to make a better effort. It is a lovely restaurant though. I love the feel of the place. Revolution is serving lunch now. This must be a new development because our party of 7 were the only ones there. Some of us got the “blackened” catfish with rock shrimp risotto and others got the lamb burger with fries. I did not like the catfish very much. It did not have blackened seasoning but rather a dusting of black pepper and it was fried rather than blackened. The risotto was nice though. Those that got the burger was put off by how rare it was. Had it been inspected they would have been in trouble.

I would be shocked if Chef Anile is cooking at lunch. I guess they are just helping to cover overhead by serving lunch but based on this one experience I would say they need to make a better effort. It is a lovely restaurant though. I love the feel of the place.

]]> By: yumyum http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3170 yumyum Sun, 17 May 2009 21:54:16 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3170 Mediocre, which is a shame: we were looking forward to a restaurant in Durham pitched for the crowd Revolution is aiming to attract but managing to repel. That being said, Revolution has some good points. The restaurant was half-empty, but the hostess still refused to acknowledge us as we walked in. We seated ourselves at the bar as she snapped out of her slump and tripped over her flip flops to catch up. There was a barman or manager hovering over our meal and drying glasses in a plastic dishwasher tray with the smell of cafeteria wafting past us as we ate. Another staff member took a gulp from a can of pop and chucked the empty across the bar area into a bin in front of our discussion. The food was elegantly arranged, but the flavors were underwhelming, even when the smell of dishwasher finally dissipated. The raw bar was fresh and reasonably priced. The barmaid is a foodie and knows her stuff. She gave us good suggestions for wine pairings. The Mosaic is tasteful, but much of the decor is chintzy considering how pretentious it is, especially in conjunction with the snooty service. If Revolution doesn't manage to clean up its act, it is not long for Durham, a city filled with excellent, stylish, friendly and tasty places to eat. girlfriend adds: do they REALLY need to bring their bread in all the way from new york? really? Mediocre, which is a shame: we were looking forward to a restaurant in Durham pitched for the crowd Revolution is aiming to attract but managing to repel. That being said, Revolution has some good points.
The restaurant was half-empty, but the hostess still refused to acknowledge us as we walked in. We seated ourselves at the bar as she snapped out of her slump and tripped over her flip flops to catch up.
There was a barman or manager hovering over our meal and drying glasses in a plastic dishwasher tray with the smell of cafeteria wafting past us as we ate.
Another staff member took a gulp from a can of pop and chucked the empty across the bar area into a bin in front of our discussion.
The food was elegantly arranged, but the flavors were underwhelming, even when the smell of dishwasher finally dissipated. The raw bar was fresh and reasonably priced.
The barmaid is a foodie and knows her stuff. She gave us good suggestions for wine pairings.
The Mosaic is tasteful, but much of the decor is chintzy considering how pretentious it is, especially in conjunction with the snooty service.
If Revolution doesn’t manage to clean up its act, it is not long for Durham, a city filled with excellent, stylish, friendly and tasty places to eat.
girlfriend adds: do they REALLY need to bring their bread in all the way from new york? really?

]]> By: Ross Grady http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3168 Ross Grady Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:09:06 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3168 I've only been once so far, before reading any of these comments, and the things on the menu that seemed most intriguing were all on the "raw" portion of the menu, so we focused on those. We had the beef tartare, at least one of the tunas, and I forget what else (it has been a while), but I thought they were uniformly excellent, as good as any comparable dishes I've had elsewhere in the Triangle (not that there are *that* many opportunities for comparables to the dishes on the raw menu in the Triangle). The service, on the other hand, was pretty damn mediocre, bordering on jerky. I'm guessing this was because it was a Wednesday night, and we'd come directly from work (with a stopover at the Pinhook), and were thus dressed in "business casual" rather than fancy-ass designer wear (not that I own any of the latter, anyway). Or maybe they're just jerks to everybody, I don't know. I *do* think it's funny that they think they can cop quite that much attitude in that block of Main St in downtown Durham on a Wednesday night. Best of luck to 'em! On the other hand, to the posters who reference wishing they'd gone to Rue Cler instead: Good Luck! On the night we went to Revolution, we had actually *tried* to go to Rue Cler, only to be turned away at 8:45 because the kitchen was already closed. (the second weeknight that had happened to us, actually, pre-9:00 p.m.). They suggested calling ahead to see if they were actually serving food. I suggested replacing the "until" on their hours with "8:30" to save us all the trouble. I’ve only been once so far, before reading any of these comments, and the things on the menu that seemed most intriguing were all on the “raw” portion of the menu, so we focused on those. We had the beef tartare, at least one of the tunas, and I forget what else (it has been a while), but I thought they were uniformly excellent, as good as any comparable dishes I’ve had elsewhere in the Triangle (not that there are *that* many opportunities for comparables to the dishes on the raw menu in the Triangle).

The service, on the other hand, was pretty damn mediocre, bordering on jerky. I’m guessing this was because it was a Wednesday night, and we’d come directly from work (with a stopover at the Pinhook), and were thus dressed in “business casual” rather than fancy-ass designer wear (not that I own any of the latter, anyway).

Or maybe they’re just jerks to everybody, I don’t know. I *do* think it’s funny that they think they can cop quite that much attitude in that block of Main St in downtown Durham on a Wednesday night. Best of luck to ‘em!

On the other hand, to the posters who reference wishing they’d gone to Rue Cler instead: Good Luck! On the night we went to Revolution, we had actually *tried* to go to Rue Cler, only to be turned away at 8:45 because the kitchen was already closed. (the second weeknight that had happened to us, actually, pre-9:00 p.m.). They suggested calling ahead to see if they were actually serving food. I suggested replacing the “until” on their hours with “8:30″ to save us all the trouble.

]]> By: Gary http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3169 Gary Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:43:05 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3169 Exceedingly well put. Exceedingly well put.

]]> By: jjj http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3175 jjj Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:18:16 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3175 I've been to Revolution many times and have come away underwhelmed every time. The food presentation is fantastic, but the flavor doesn't match up. I always leave there thinking that they are satisfied with being superficial and design heavy. So many seem so glad to just have something like this in town that they seem to ignore the inconsistent and often rude service, the pretentiousness and food that just doesn't match up. A quick note on the pappardelle since it was a great example. The dish was beautiful and the pasta was very nicely cooked and had great texture. Unfortunately, the overall dish lacked flavor that was promised in the description (particularly since it was supposed to feature truffles). Like most of the other dishes I've had there, there is just something missing. I've been to the bar for cocktails and really like their offerings, but have found the bartenders to be inattentive on more than half dozen occasions. I distinctly get the impression that they as well as the owners/staff want you to feel that you are lucky to be in their presence. That just isn't good enough in Durham. There are so many great dining choices that they really shouldn't take people for granted. It's great to be the new kid on the block. That only lasts for so long. Looking good is one thing, being consistently good is another. That goes for the food and the restaurant as a whole. I’ve been to Revolution many times and have come away underwhelmed every time. The food presentation is fantastic, but the flavor doesn’t match up. I always leave there thinking that they are satisfied with being superficial and design heavy. So many seem so glad to just have something like this in town that they seem to ignore the inconsistent and often rude service, the pretentiousness and food that just doesn’t match up. A quick note on the pappardelle since it was a great example. The dish was beautiful and the pasta was very nicely cooked and had great texture. Unfortunately, the overall dish lacked flavor that was promised in the description (particularly since it was supposed to feature truffles). Like most of the other dishes I’ve had there, there is just something missing.

I’ve been to the bar for cocktails and really like their offerings, but have found the bartenders to be inattentive on more than half dozen occasions. I distinctly get the impression that they as well as the owners/staff want you to feel that you are lucky to be in their presence.

That just isn’t good enough in Durham. There are so many great dining choices that they really shouldn’t take people for granted. It’s great to be the new kid on the block. That only lasts for so long. Looking good is one thing, being consistently good is another. That goes for the food and the restaurant as a whole.

]]> By: durhamfood http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3174 durhamfood Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:16:22 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3174 Honestly, I haven't been yet, but just about everyone who I trust in food matters has had mediocre experiences or worse. Honestly, I haven’t been yet, but just about everyone who I trust in food matters has had mediocre experiences or worse.

]]> By: Gary http://carpedurham.com/2008/12/26/initial-thoughts-on-revolution/comment-page-1/#comment-3173 Gary Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:03:50 +0000 http://carpedurham.wordpress.com/?p=1269#comment-3173 You should have taken out a "Second Mortgage" to get the good stuff. You should have taken out a “Second Mortgage” to get the good stuff.

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