| Author |
Message |
    
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3184
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:22 am: | 
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Hop on over to the Food and Dining section and CLick on The Next Heart and Soul MOL dinner. It's a fun time, great food, come join us this Thursday night! |
Soparents
Citizen
Username: Soparents
Post Number: 103
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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What is the heart and soul dinner? Yes, I know it's a dinner.... but what's the thought behind the heart and soul bit? |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 812
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:41 am: |
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Heart and Soul is a wonderful restaurant at 61 Academy Street (near Dominos). |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3187
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
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Heat and Soul is a wonderful restaurant that is struggling to stay afloat. MOLers got together last month and had a grand time meeting each other face to face. Mem is pulling together another event. I missed the last one, but am attending this one. I've had Chef Jesse's food before, and I promise you will not be disappointed if you come! |
Elaine Harris
Citizen
Username: Elaineharris
Post Number: 140
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 11:27 am: |
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Please add me to the list for Thursday night. Please reserve three seats. Elaine Harris |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3188
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
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Elaine - that's great, could you please send a PL to Mem (she's on the other thread) as she is keeping the head count. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4598
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 11:40 am: |
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I'm sorry to hear Jessie is struggling to stay open. I spoke with him the other night and his is such a nice person! |
Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 297
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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I'm sorry to hear he's struggling. Decided not to cook Saturday night and remembered Heart and Soul. I called to make sure they were opened, only to discover that we can't eat there or get takeout without giving them 24 to 48 hours notice. We're never that organized, so sadly no ribs for us.  |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3190
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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I know, it's frustrating - we tend to be impromptu diners too. But Jessie wants to provide only the freshest ingredients.. and that means he has to know how many people will dine on a given day.
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Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 206
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 1:15 pm: |
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from their website:
Dine In or Take Out - Restaurant & Catering Service
I can understand a small restaurant needing reservations for dining in, but to advertise they also do take-out, but you need 48 hours notice for that?
48 hours for take out? Really?
They need to fix that.. I can't see how a restaurant COULD survive like that. |
wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2248
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 1:37 pm: |
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Bailey, I'm reposting my earlier post for your benefit, particularly what I've bolded.
Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 9:19 pm:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to all who organized and took part in an absolutely wonderful evening in celebration of Jesse and his family's incredible food endeavor. That means Elaine and John Caffrey specifically and the other 28 people, including my family and the cook extraordinaire and his lovely family.
My family absolutely loved his food and now understand who some of the wacky people are that I spend my time conversing with here.
For those who may still complain about Heart and Soul's availability just know that Jesse is doing everything he can to make a success of this business. If you can't offer him suggestions or capitol then just accept what his arrangement is now. In other words, put up or shut up. His arrangement for now as quoted on a flyer I took home is:
"Starting February 27, 2006 Heart & Soul is initiating a new reservation plan. For those of you that will be dining in a 48 hour advance notice is requested. For those of you who will like to be accommodated with take [out] orders, a 48 hour advance notice is also requested. Call and make your reservations now (973) 763-9005.
The menu will be posted on our website: www.heartandsoulrestaurant.com. For more information inquire within. You can also plan private catering, private parties, meetings, company lunches, & etc.
Chef Jesse.
Business Hours
Thursday - 5 pm to 9 pm
Friday & Saturday - 5 pm to 9 pm
Sunday - 4 pm to 8 pm
62 Academy Street, South Orange, NJ" |
composerjohn
Citizen
Username: Composerjohn
Post Number: 813
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 3:55 pm: |
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What happens if you have to cancel the reservation? Sometimes people get sick, plans change, etc.
Does he charge you cancellation fee like a doctor's office, or does he blacklist you? |
Bailey
Citizen
Username: Baileymac
Post Number: 207
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 8:37 pm: |
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Wendy,
I don't understand your post.
"If you can't offer him suggestions or capitol then just accept what his arrangement is now. In other words, put up or shut up."
Huh?
I'm more than anxious to patronize local merchants, and I wish Jesse well with his business. From what others have posted, it sounds like his dinners are exceptional.
I'm just surprised that there's a 48 hour wait for take out. That doesn't seem unusual to you?
Can you name any other restaurant that does that?
I hope to give Heart and Soul a try, but life has just been too hectic for me to plan that much in advance for takeout.
Composerjohn makes a good point too. What if I order several days in advance, but one of my clients has an urgent need, and I have to work late, and can't pick up the food?
I hope Jesse establishes a loyal client base, and wish him well.
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jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 420
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:12 pm: |
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I would argue that Heart and Soul is not actually a restaurant. Especially not a restaurant with take out.
This description is more like short notice catering.
I'm not saying it shouldn't be supported, but maybe reframing it will change people's expectations. It's an interesting food option. The freshness is obviously important and that should be the marketing focus.
I'm not a marketer, but I am a customer. A restautant that requires 48 hours notice is annoying.
Short notice catering, however, sounds cool and a little fancy. Best of luck to Jessie.
J.B. |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1470
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:49 pm: |
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I absolutely wish Heart and Soul the best. I also almost never plan my meals out 48 hours in advance. So I must wish Heart and Soul the best without my patronage. If they ever move to a more typical restaurant arrangement, I will look forward to the opportunity to be a patron.
I don't say this to criticize -- just consider it a piece of market research from a local family that dines out quite a bit.
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SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3192
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:51 pm: |
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Bailey, Jersey & Susan, why not plan ahead to join us on Thursday night? |
susan1014
Supporter
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 1472
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 3, 2006 - 9:56 pm: |
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Because it doesn't fit my life. We don't make weeknight dining plans in advance, but wait and see what the workday gives us and then plan accordingly.
We already have too many fixed time weeknight commitments in our lives to add preplanned dinners out to the mix. |
SOSully
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 1214
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
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I don't think it's about having fresh ingredients. It's about a financially struggling business that can't afford to purchase food that will go to waste. All restaurants have some % of waste, but Jesse probably can't afford it. His food is excellent. If he moved to a better location he would be more successful, although my sense is that he prefers to be a caterer to a restauranteur. |
mjh
Supporter
Username: Mjh
Post Number: 445
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 - 10:08 am: |
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Agree with Susan1014 on this.........
What Jesse needs, IMHO, is someone with good business sense to take his business on as an investment and help him make a reasonable business plan with a better chance of success.
I'd love to see Heart and Soul succeed, but frankly feel it's a PIA to try to make it work for our family. |
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