Texas on Washington

I love the "douche" comments about this place. I actually have taken my parents here on two occassions who are in their 70s and are in my humble opinion, very non douche or "Jersey Shore". They in fact are not the type that venture off far from a meat and potatoes type of meal.

When I explained this to the waiter, he was more than happy to recommend not only items on the menu but that they would be happy to make a meat and potatoes type of entree for them. To that end, the steaks they ordered were cooked perfectly and they very much enjoyed the pickled beets and also the sides. Sides they normally wouldn't enjoy. i can't remember ever seeing my Brooklyn born parents eating brussel sprouts or mac & cheese for that matter.

Was it noisy, sure, but not to the point that my parents couldn't hear our conversations. Also, were there some overly trendy folks around us, yes. But it again didn't take away from their experience.

I realize that dining is more than simply the food, it also includes the setting, the crowd, the presentation, etc. That being said, at the end of the day, in my opinion, and yes I agree with the other comments that these are all simply that, opinions, that the food is what should be the main baise of the review.

Again, I am always for opinions. But at the same time, I think it is ridiculous to hold in some higher esteem one critic because he or she is an expert. What makes them an expert? Because they dine out quite often and like to use witty comments and sarcastic criticisms of food? I do come to the table with an opinion of my own. I have managed in the past several years ago for both independent upscale establishments, upscale casual, etc. establishments and upcoming chains.

I guess now as I am no longer in that direct day to day market in my current profession, but still involved in working with the hospitality industry I am still just floored by both individual diners and critics comments.

Do you really think that these places are not trying their best every day? Yes there are some places that are simply terrible, some servers that are uncaring and some kitchens that simply have no business being the restaurant industry. But let's face it, when they make a mistake, a mistake all of us make in our jobs, such as my spelling, rambling, etc. in this post, do we have individuals jumping on us for every point?

I just wish that individuals who make posts would realize the impact that their comments have in this information age. You didn't like your salmon...okay, was it really that terrible? You made a reservation for a table with a view and were not given that table, was your entire meal a failure? These comments that are posted can make or break a person's establishment whether founded or not. How many of us would like to have a group of people from the outside rate us in our job performances on one small snapshot of their opinion and have it be the reason for us having a job or not?

When you make a mistake in the restaurant industry, there is no delete button, there is no "recall of my email" it has gone out there to the table. But how many times in our own professions do we get a second chance in our mistakes etc. to not have the entire world wide web know that we had a hiccup or flub and not have everyone with an internet connection pounce upon it and give their two cents of what they would have done better.

I apologize for my rant but I just get tired sometimes of how much we think that every single dining experience should be without one fault and not realize that our comments, while well meaning as constructive criticicsm can have long reaching effects.

benjy's is one of my favorite restaurants in town. Their delicious food and commitment to using local products and hormone-free meats is applaudable. Doesn't anyone care where their food comes from? Do you really want to eat a chicken breast that is as big as a turkey breast? BTW, they have an awesome happy hour - every day - from 4 to 7pm - and the scrumptious pistachio-crusted goat cheese cakes are on the menu. Yumba!

It does not matter if the food is locally grown, organic, pumped full of hormones, or anything else. If you don't know how to cook it, its just not going to taste good. On my one and only visit to the Benjy's on Washington I ordered the chicken breast encrusted with pecan meal. The chicken was inediable on several levels. First, it was cook so long it was like a hockey puck. Second, it was so oversalted that even softening in one's mouth before chewing it would, besides being kind of stange, very unpleasant. It came with side vegetables but the vanilla buerre blanc sauce onthe chicken was so disgusting and had leached onto the sides, I could not stomach the vegetables either.

To management's credit, when the manager asked how I liked the meal in a genuine way so rarely happens these days, I responded with an honest critique of my experience there, which including nice things to say about the decor and service and far from flattering things to say about the food and noise levels. The manager gave me a gift card fora free meal. After walking around thei free meal gift card, I gave it away to a friend.

I don't like going to washington either. The traffic is terrible. But, the dining scene is definitely worth going. Especially for benjy's and Chef Mike Potwoski's menu. Bravo to Shilcutt for reviewing this restaurant and actually "getting" what they are doing there. There are some really fantastic dishes and Chef's technique is so undervalued in town. we try and go often because their menu changes (!) and the produce and seafood they feature are so fresh.

In speaking with an out of state client, who we had referred to benjys last year as being a nice upscale restaurant his quote "Was as close to Houston gets to being Jersey Shore and even more pathetic".... Enough said, words of a true sage. You and your conspicuous consumption set can have Benjys and my ire, my apologies for preferring real versus pretension..

I'm not a big fan of the Washington location. In fact I refuse to go there. I find it too loud and yes it is a bit douchey. I found it hard to carry on a normal conversation, without having to yell. All that being said, I goto the Village location often. I've been going there for 10 years a can honestly say I have never had a bad dinning expierence there.

I knew this was inevitable as much benjys gushing as the HP has been doing. Can't stand this place, hate they drove my atones out of business, and it's the epicenter of all things douche in Houston, and conveniently located on douchington avenue.. So much for journalistic integrity.