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Started By
Message
Portico's ain't gonna last
Posted on 6/30/12 at 7:13 am
Posted on 6/30/12 at 7:13 am
Went there last night w/ Mrs. Bears and a friend of hers. The atmosphere was decent, but the food was not very good at all.
MrsBears had fried shrimp- most of her shrimp still had the majority of the shell still on and they were bland. She ended up having to peel the batter off to get to the shell just to eat them. Cheese grits- bland and cheese was not melted.
Friend- had quesadillas and said they were bland and boring.
Me- I had the low country shrimp- sautéed shrimp over grits. The shrimp were decent size, but poorly flavored. The grits were clumpy and sat in a flavorless soup of butter.
I told the waitress very nicely that there food basically sucked and that unless they punched up the menu and the flavoring they weren't going to last. She said that we were the first people that ever said the food wasn't any good and I told her they were just being nice. She sent manager over and I reiterated pretty much the same to him. He said they've been getting killed on the Internet and that they're going to try to punch it up. I told him they better be quick about it because BR chews up new restaurants and spits them out. He thanked me for my honesty and that he hoped we'd give it another try.
ETA: The FIL & MIL were also very unimpressed when they went and won't be going back.
MrsBears had fried shrimp- most of her shrimp still had the majority of the shell still on and they were bland. She ended up having to peel the batter off to get to the shell just to eat them. Cheese grits- bland and cheese was not melted.
Friend- had quesadillas and said they were bland and boring.
Me- I had the low country shrimp- sautéed shrimp over grits. The shrimp were decent size, but poorly flavored. The grits were clumpy and sat in a flavorless soup of butter.
I told the waitress very nicely that there food basically sucked and that unless they punched up the menu and the flavoring they weren't going to last. She said that we were the first people that ever said the food wasn't any good and I told her they were just being nice. She sent manager over and I reiterated pretty much the same to him. He said they've been getting killed on the Internet and that they're going to try to punch it up. I told him they better be quick about it because BR chews up new restaurants and spits them out. He thanked me for my honesty and that he hoped we'd give it another try.
ETA: The FIL & MIL were also very unimpressed when they went and won't be going back.
This post was edited on 6/30/12 at 7:17 am
8
Posted on 6/30/12 at 7:22 am to CMBears1259
Damn. Was thinking about hitting this place up soon.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 7:35 am to bigberg2000
I wasn't impressed by the menu or the food.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 8:38 am to CMBears1259
I went and had completely different experience. Everything was good. Try the spinach and artichoke dip. They give you some rosemary bread to put it on...pretty dang good.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 8:52 am to CMBears1259
I went once, and we thought the food was terrible...Cool place and I hope they make it, but some major changes to the menu and having cooks that can make food taste good need to happen pretty soon...Although, football season may save them temporarily with that shitty food.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 8:59 am to Skillet
I was going to try it soon, but if the Sysco 55 gallon drum of SAD is all they got, I pass.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 9:08 am to andouille
quote:
I was going to try it soon, but if the Sysco 55 gallon drum of SAD is all they got, I pass.
I don't know anything about running a restaurant, but it seems that being able to put out quality food that tastes good shouldn't be that big of a problem, but I guess it.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 9:51 am to Skillet
i like the bar area .. i agree with everyone on the food .. it is incredibly average at best .. i haven't had too many different things there except the burgers and sandwiches .. and those are just OK ... i LOL at the $11.49 price for a bowl of gumbo with only one side, though ..
i compared this place to zee zee gardens a few weeks back on here ... you forget zee zee's was actually a restaurant ... portico will probably turn into a SE BR version of zee zee's .. because they did get it right with the bar and patio ... if they hang two more TVs over the bar before football season, the place will be golden ..
i compared this place to zee zee gardens a few weeks back on here ... you forget zee zee's was actually a restaurant ... portico will probably turn into a SE BR version of zee zee's .. because they did get it right with the bar and patio ... if they hang two more TVs over the bar before football season, the place will be golden ..
This post was edited on 6/30/12 at 9:52 am
Posted on 6/30/12 at 9:59 am to Skillet
skillz .. i just find that hardly any places do anything in house anymore ... sure, i know it is the most expensive way to do it .. but, hell, i would imagine you are making your profit in the restaurant biz on your apps, booze, drinks, and desserts anyway .. your food is your repeat business .. it is what brings in the app and desert eaters and the drinkers .. you got to churn a lot of people in and out to make it in that business ...
just too many places in BR that depend almost solely on Sysco for everything ..
just too many places in BR that depend almost solely on Sysco for everything ..
Posted on 6/30/12 at 12:01 pm to CMBears1259
Sounds like the Portico up here. But it get treated more like a bar that serves food than a restaurant. And it stays slammed. If people in BR are treating it like a resturant than it will certainly not make it.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 12:22 pm to TigahRag
See I don't understand the need to order all your food pre-done. To me it would be so much cheaper to buy fresh food/produce
And prepare it yourself
And prepare it yourself
Posted on 6/30/12 at 12:30 pm to CMBears1259
I miss bears 
Posted on 6/30/12 at 1:05 pm to LSUballs
quote:Everyone needs to remind them of this and have them install TVs as Rag suggested
treated more like a bar that serves food than a restaurant
Posted on 6/30/12 at 1:39 pm to LSUballs
quote:
If people in BR are treating it like a resturant than it will certainly not make it.
Agreed. The one here is better as a bar with appetizer type food. Hell I don't think in all the times I've been there, I've actually gone to eat and see what all they had on the menu
Posted on 6/30/12 at 2:16 pm to CMBears1259
quote:
He said they've been getting killed on the Internet
quote:
Portico's ain't gonna last
Thought you'd get in on the fun huh?
It's not fine dining and it's not advertised as such. It has decent food. Some entrees are better than others. Most ppl I know go for the drinks, atmosphere, and the trim. They don't go there expecting great food. It's fun hanging out on that patio on a cool fall day watching SEC football.
Y'all should try the plate lunches. Typically a lot of food for the money and tastes good. They have some of the best chicken-n-dumplings that I've ever had.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 3:36 pm to crimsonsaint
Why can't it be a bar with good food? Is it that hard to just have a limited menu and do it well?
Posted on 6/30/12 at 4:20 pm to Tiger Authority
quote:
Why can't it be a bar with good food?
It's got good food. At least the one up here does. It's just not great food.
Posted on 6/30/12 at 5:33 pm to LSUballs
Food at Portico's on Coursey hasn't been good in my experience. Not horrible, just not good.
Now, I'm going to sound like an I-10, South Louisiana food snob when I type this, but, cool atmosphere plus mediocre food from a local place might work up in Monroe where the options are limited, but over here it's within a couple of blocks of Walk-Ons (basically the same thing, but beloved by locals) and a few more blocks away from Chimes (better food, similar atmosphere).
Go the other direction and you can get bad food, but decent football watching at Jones Creek Cafe or George's and probably better food at City Cafe (judging on what others say, I haven't been there).
Honestly, food quality doesn't exceed going to Applebees and Outback is probably (much) better.
So if Portico is going to survive here, they need to up their game. Otherwise the novelty of a new place to hang out and drink and eat appetizers will wear off and you know what they'll be?
Calendars.
Now, I'm going to sound like an I-10, South Louisiana food snob when I type this, but, cool atmosphere plus mediocre food from a local place might work up in Monroe where the options are limited, but over here it's within a couple of blocks of Walk-Ons (basically the same thing, but beloved by locals) and a few more blocks away from Chimes (better food, similar atmosphere).
Go the other direction and you can get bad food, but decent football watching at Jones Creek Cafe or George's and probably better food at City Cafe (judging on what others say, I haven't been there).
Honestly, food quality doesn't exceed going to Applebees and Outback is probably (much) better.
So if Portico is going to survive here, they need to up their game. Otherwise the novelty of a new place to hang out and drink and eat appetizers will wear off and you know what they'll be?
Calendars.
This post was edited on 6/30/12 at 5:35 pm
Posted on 6/30/12 at 6:27 pm to CourseyCorridor
quote:
Now, I'm going to sound like an I-10, South Louisiana food snob when I type this, but, cool atmosphere plus mediocre food from a local place might work up in Monroe where the options are limited, but over here it's within a couple of blocks of Walk-Ons (basically the same thing, but beloved by locals)
Can a person be labeled a "S. LA food snob" when they regularly eat at Walk-Ons?
Posted on 6/30/12 at 6:35 pm to crimsonsaint
I never eat at Walk-Ons.
I'm just saying, The restaurant scene even on Coursey is probably more competitive than it is in the Monroe-Ruston area combined. I'm not even bringing in places down Bluebonnet, Perkins, etc., etc. Just up and down Coursey, there are a ton of places similar to Portico, many that are probably better. Heck, add in Siegen and you have Hooters, Twin Peaks, TJ Ribs and Niche. Plus you have Mason's on Tiger Bend.
Most of these places I don't frequent. I'm just saying they seem interested in similar clienteles so there is more of a need to stand out.
I will say this: I've never been to Niche - just haven't felt compelled to go there - but Portico seems like it could eat into their business too.
I'm just saying, The restaurant scene even on Coursey is probably more competitive than it is in the Monroe-Ruston area combined. I'm not even bringing in places down Bluebonnet, Perkins, etc., etc. Just up and down Coursey, there are a ton of places similar to Portico, many that are probably better. Heck, add in Siegen and you have Hooters, Twin Peaks, TJ Ribs and Niche. Plus you have Mason's on Tiger Bend.
Most of these places I don't frequent. I'm just saying they seem interested in similar clienteles so there is more of a need to stand out.
I will say this: I've never been to Niche - just haven't felt compelled to go there - but Portico seems like it could eat into their business too.
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