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Message |
    
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 169
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 10:22 pm: |     |
The Artful Diner, a NJ restaurant reviewer that sends out his reviews for nj.com via email, has reviewed SJG. The review, wildly positive, can be seen at: http://www.nj.com/dining/reviews_artfuldiner.ssf?20568?20568_2
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SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 1877
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 8:43 am: | |
Damn. Now it's going to be even harder to get a table! One caveat to the review - they will happily substitute Chips for the standard fries on any order. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 3599
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 11:40 am: | |
Another caveat to the review...
They forgot to inform the readers about all the kilted bagpipers who hangout at the bar! Normally that wouldn't be a problem, except of course if your wife is of Scottish/Irish Heritage and dances a Jig every time they play the Bagpipes... 
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Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 384
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:19 am: | |
Saw a bunch of kilted guys in town this past Saturday morning. Don't know if they were bagpipers or not, but they were awfully darn cute. Who knew a guy could look so cute in a skirt! Not only were they cute, but sweet as well. A bunch of them bought cookies from the girl scouts.
If they hang out at the Gate, guess I'm going to have to try harder to get there! |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2707
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 11:36 am: | |
Supped at The Gate last night. In the midst of our Bantry bay Mussels, a kilted piper solemnly strode amongst the tables, playing stirringly. What a great prep for today...
-s.
BTW: Long Live The Gate! |
canismajor
Citizen
Username: Canismajor
Post Number: 320
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 8:56 pm: | |
I love the ambiance at the Gate but the table service is still painfully slow. I took some friends there last Wednesday night before a show at the Papermill, and despite leaving plenty of time to compensate for the notoriously slow service, we were still late for the show. You just shouldn't have to wait 45 minutes for a burger and a half an hour for a refill of your pint glass. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 3984
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 2:27 pm: | |
Canis... I was just gonna say that. I have been to the Gate half a dozen times and only once did my food (simple burger mind you and chicken for the kid) come in less than 30-40 minutes. And the one time was when we were the only diners in the room at about 5pm on a weekday.
Its a bummer too, cause I love me that Shephards Pie. Thats not to say that when the slooooooooow service finally arrives the food isn't tasty/hot/fresh. But I cannot imagine what takes so long in making a burger?????
I'll be back though, early in the evening, before the dinner menu switches on (if Im after the pie then I will arrive at 5:25 and wait :-)
Just don't go in there with an appetite already on, otherwise you will get them crankies that come from waitin too long for food. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 404
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2005 - 11:23 pm: | |
I went there once. Eh. Not much I can eat there, I'm a vegetarian. I hate cigarette smoke. ..didn't find it raveworthy. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 5208
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 4:29 pm: | |
The smoking and the generally high fat content of the food are what keep me away. If the place was smoke-free and if they would introduce a few heart-friendly entrees, I would definitely go back. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3484
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 6:33 pm: | |
We were there on Sat night, and it wasn't very smoky (my clothes didn't smell when I left) and I had a good burger with salad on the side instead of fries, and 2 beers. The service was fine, and we did not wait long to get our food. It was delightful. |
mwoodwalk
Citizen
Username: Mwoodwalk
Post Number: 325
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 9:05 pm: | |
HEY PEOPLE, ITS AN IRISH PUB---if you want veggy friendly, smoke free, superfast service, go elsewhere. Jeez. Its for lingering and enjoying a few pints while being interrupted a few times w/ fatty and delicious foods, usually involving the dead carcus of one creature or another. It never ceases to amaze me how folks in this area think every private eating establishment should cater to their personal view of how a restaurant should be. That's why we have a free market. Restaurants (and other business establishments, for that matter) will cater to the tastes and predelictions of enough people to make a profit (or at least attempt to do so). Same holds true for the nail salon issue---but lets not open that can of worms here.
Cheers!! |
Soulful Mr T
Citizen
Username: Howardt
Post Number: 188
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 10:15 pm: | |
AMEN, BROTHER! |
sullymw
Citizen
Username: Sullymw
Post Number: 509
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 8:57 am: | |
They have added some healthier stuff to the menu. The last fews times there I didn't notice the smell of smoke, but afterward my clothes were definitely infiltrated with it. I read that NJ may get the smoking ban....subtle yahoo! I think the servers are good, but the kitchen is slow. While waiting I just order another pint! |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2720
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 9:32 am: | |
On the one hand, that's probably the exact evil intent of The Johns: selling more high-profit pints. On the other hand, good food takes time. On the other hand, I've never dined well in Ireland when I didn't have to wait a while for my food...
-s.
BTW: On the other hand, I've never actually BEEN to Ireland... |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2213
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 9:45 am: | |
the food is very good and fairly priced for what it is ...it is sometimes too smoky (usually the later it gets and the more people have been drinking, the more folks smoke -- there will be exceptions but thats a pretty good rule of thumb)...the service is always friendly and accomodating...its a fun place to eat and drink, or just drink...its convenient as hell (always nice to walk home from a bar)...my only criticism is that at times it definitely can be slow going getting food out of the kitchen, not casually paced but slower than it ought to be, and at times, orders come out in stages in instances when it all should come out together.
by the way, Im happy it was a good and accurate review, but it wasnt terribly well written. |
canismajor
Citizen
Username: Canismajor
Post Number: 321
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 12:08 pm: | |
I have no problems with the menu, the smoke, etc., but the service is maddeningly slow. I don't agree with the theory that the slow service is deliberate to sell more pints.....the refill of pints when you're sitting in the dining section (or even at one of the tables in the bar area) is ridiculously slow. I would definitely go there more frequently if I knew I could get in and out for a meal in under an hour, and if I could be sure that my glass would be quickly refilled. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 779
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 12:49 pm: | |
canis, maybe it is the time you are going? We went on Saturday night right at 7 when it was packed. We only waited about fifteen minutes for a table, and the service was quick and the food was excellent. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3485
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:13 pm: | |
redY- Maybe we were sitting near you?! |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 783
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:30 pm: | |
Fun night, we were in the bar in the window seat, where were you? |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 3487
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:38 pm: | |
Ha! We started to sit at the other bar window seat, but it was being set for a larger group. We sat by the fire. |
redY67
Citizen
Username: Redy67
Post Number: 786
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 21, 2005 - 1:44 pm: | |
That large group was us!  How funny!! |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 406
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 10:08 am: | |
Irish does not negate vegetarian friendly. I've grown up experiencing others' cultures, and have never had a problem. |
Agent Orange
Citizen
Username: Agentorange
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 5:41 pm: | |
The St.James Gate is cool. It's typical, but you can get drunk in a town that needs a drink. |
Crazyguggenheim
Citizen
Username: Crazyguggenheim
Post Number: 782
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 6:13 pm: | |
Call me crazy, but I'll drink to that! |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 2736
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 8:43 pm: | |
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cat head
Citizen
Username: Cathead
Post Number: 14
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 9:28 pm: | |
When we were there last, our server took too much time, in between serving and/or taking orders, chatting up her friends (not eating, just drinking) who were smoking up a storm at the standup table across from the fireplace. 
*cough* |
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