63 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

Wow! $9.75 for a glass of 7 Deadly Zins, which retails for $12.49 a bottle at Costco?

That's the kind of thing that will turn off customers. We understand the need for profit, but charging for a glass nearly what it costs for the bottle is crazy.

Sometimes I think restaraunt owners think Folsomites are suckers ready and willing to part with some cash.

I remember when Q'bole was about to open up. I was talking to one of the managers who told me a relative kept calling them down in the Bay Area, telling them they had to open a place here. "He kept saying, 'Folsom people have money!'"

Not all Folsom people have money, and we're not all willing to throw it away.

[mylo]

+1

I had a beer w/ my sandwich at The Black Rooster. The beer practically cost more than the food!

[Sandman]

The bar is where most of these restaurants really make their money. The profit margins on the alcohol is much higher then the food they serve. Its no wonder they put the bar in the middle of most of the newer restaurants these days. The servers are trained to push drinks onto customers as soon as they get seated. Without the bar half of these chain restaurants would not make it on food alone.

For this reason I rarely order drinks when I dine out. Yes I will occasionally have a glass of wine when the wife and I go out for a nice dinner. But most of the time its just ice water for us. It really does help to keep the bill down. I prefer to keep the fridge at home stocked with beer. Call me cheap but why pay 3x the amount just to be able to drink it in their establishment and then have to worry about getting pulled over on the way home.....

[w00t]

I talked to some of the employees at Malabar's tonight. They said they open on Thursday or Friday. Looks really nice inside.

I attended this "soft" opening as an invited guest Thursday night, which I understand was the day before the public grand opening.

The place is mediocre at best, I'll never return. The unfortunate part is I live in Prairie Oaks, which is a stones throw from Malabar, would have been a very convenient place to frequent.

The decor is plain and unimaginative, picture a Denny's with it's wide open spaces and pleather booths, then add a little architectural stone and instantly you have a crummy restaurant. The prices are very inflated (especially alcohol) and the food was marginal...

Hopefully once this place goes under, the new restaurant will be much better quality. Hell, I'd even prefer a Denny's, at least they don't pretend to be fancy...

[tessieca]

That's harsh. What meal did you have?

[4thgenFolsomite]

NEW CONSTRUCTION = HIGH RENT = HIGH FOOD AND ALCOHOL PRICES

To me that means that the only successful businesses in high rent, new construction will be either chains or individually owned restaurants with hugely deep pockets that cater to those with lots of money to burn.

welcome to folsom

[w00t]

That's harsh. What meal did you have?

Tessieca,

Harsh I will agree, but that was my experience.

Because of the soft opening, we only had appetizers and drinks. Something about the kitchen closing early?! We tried seared Ahi, lettuce wraps, and chicken quesadillas. As I mentioned before, we were invited guests and received F-R-E-E food and drinks, yet I still feel like I didn't get my monies worth...

PS: They also stopped serving alcohol at ~8PM and wouldn't let us order, however, we noticed several "other" tables continuing to get wine and bottled beer from the bar.. CLASSY!!!

[Dave Burrell]

That's harsh. What meal did you have?

I went there last night and it was good, consider it similar to BJ's without the ambience

[Suzyque565]

Malabar is just like all other restaurants that serve alcohol... alcohol is always over charged anywhere, that's not any different. Food was good and will probably continue to improve as all new restaurants experience when first opened. We had a red-headed waitress named Kim that made the dinner well worth going back. I'm optimistic that it will be around for awhile.

[Sandman]

I went there last night and it was good, consider it similar to BJ's without the ambience

If its similar to BJ's then the food can't be all that good....I consider BJ's food about a 4 or 5 on a scale of 10 for me.

[Sandman]

Speaking of expensive drinks I was in SF last week staying at the Hilton downtown. Anybody want to guess what a tiny ~8oz well drink goes for in the bar at the hotel????

[Jolene]

Speaking of expensive drinks I was in SF last week staying at the Hilton downtown. Anybody want to guess what a tiny ~8oz well drink goes for in the bar at the hotel????

$11.50.

[sat]

I'm guessing $19.00.

[Ras712]

Just looked at their website and winelist... Some local wines would be nice... But then again I probably wouldn't buy a glass for the same amount I can get a bottle for @ TJ's...

Oh and @ the Hilton SF, a well drink... Hmmmm $10.50 would be my guess...

[Sandman]

A couple of you were pretty close. $11