Remembrance of things Pabst

You know how I tell you there are two kinds of joints in Carroll Gardens. The yuppie scum/hipster dofous joints where the decor and the scene are what is important and the neighborhood joints that give you a full meal with a fair price without the frills. I love the neighborhood joints and that is where I always want to go. But there is always an exception that proves the rule.

On our daily walks along the waterfront we have been checking out all of these joints on Columbia and Van Brunt Streets. Normally we don't get down there but now that we pass them we are intrigued. And the one that we really, really wanted to try was called Casa Di Campagna on Kane St. They always had a special board outside with a great lunch menu and the choices looked great. So when we walked by there on Friday we saw that they had a special of pasta with peas and bacon. So we said we had to go and check it out.

We planned to go for lunch but as usual we didn't get there till about two or three hours later. Our good friends and frequent dining companions Chuck and Amy came with us and we got there right around five o'clock. Which is always problematic because they are just getting ready and they might not have everything on line yet. But I thought since it was an old school place it would be ok. You see we had passed it in the early evening a few times and we had seen several neighborhood knucklehead guys in there so we figured it had to be good. Right? Wrong.

The head waiter or manager or whatever he was greeted us and we went to sit in the back. The ambiance is great with a wood burning stove and paneling all over the place. It reminded me of a log cabin we would go camping in up in Alpine or Pouch or Ten Mile River or something. But the food was no where as good as the stuff we used to whip up on a hike.

First off he was very invested in the specials. They were predominately seafood and of course we didn't order any as the wife is allergic and I don't really care for them. Even after we said we didn't want any he had to recite them. Fair enough. But when it came time to order he almost was insulted that we didn't order any specials. He goes "What you are not ordering any specials?" "Yes they are mostly seafood and we said we weren't going to order any."

Now it usually a good idea to order a special when you go in a restaurant as this is something they are invested in and want you to get. They had a lot of lobster and stuffed calamari which I bet were great but not what we wanted. Sometimes when you order other things that are on the menu you get stuff that is an afterthought and not properly prepared. This is what happened to us.

This joint had pizza and calzones and stuff so I decided to order rice balls and potato croquet's for an appetizer for the table. We also got a Caesar salad as well. Well they weren't prepared I guess because it took forever for the apps to come. I was watching carefully as I always do and I saw one of the bus guys come up from the cellar with the ingredients to make the potatoes and the rice balls. So at least they were fresh since they had to scramble to make them. But it took forever. You would think that they would be prepared on a Friday night. The rice balls and potatoes were fine. Nothing to write home about but perfectly adequate. But the salad didn't come out with the apps they way we ordered. The new waiter or bus guy or whatever who took over in the middle of the meal was confused when we asked him about the salad. Since he didn't take the order that was understandable so waddayagonna do. When I asked for the salad he went to talk to the manager guy who started yelling at him in Italian. So he brings out the salad which was quite disappointing. Now I am not a big Caesar salad fan but those of us who are just didn't like it. It was watery and drab and not up to snuff. Another problem. Don't you hate to go to a place where there is always a problem?

I forget to mention that the wine was a problem. I ordered Chianti Reserva which is a staple in any Spaghetti joint in the neighborhood. It doesn't matter what the label might be it is usually adequate at the least or very tasty at the best. But of course they didn't have it. No Chianti in an Italian restaurant on a Friday Night? Not a good sign. The replacement was fine if a little bit more expensive but I didn't give a shit. It was nice enough that we ordered two bottles. But on the second bottle the manager did make a mistake which everyone pointed out to me after he left the table. He didn't let me taste the new bottle with a fresh glass before he started pouring it. That is a pet peeve of mine. It is an indication to me of a joint that is just not paying attention. The second or third or fourth bottle should be treated just like the first. If it is off you don't wanted it poured out into your glasses. You want to know that it is up to snuff. If they don't do that then they really don't know what they are doing. Or they are treating you with contempt. Which is always possible in a neighborhood joint where they don't know you. They think you are tourists and act accordingly. That might have been what was happening here. I don't know for sure.

Anyway we get the main course. Amy and Chuck enjoyed their chicken dishes but the wife and I were very disappointed in ours. The wife had the pasta and bacon in the garlic and oil. It was mushy and watery and pretty much devoid of bacon. I mean a Muslim could of had it and still got into paradise after he blew up a yeshiva and stuff. No bacon. No fun.

My risotto was a total mess. Very watery. I think the mushrooms had recently been in a can. It was a travesty. I swallowed it down as best I could but left half of it on the plate. I never leave half my dinner on the plate. It was really really bad. Just about the worst I have ever had. And I have eaten in an Olive Garden in Florida. Just sayn'

Now I know this diatribe sounds like what a typical yuppie scum guy would say when he complains about a restaurant. I know that. And I hate to do that. I normally don't. I let a lot of shit go in a neighborhood joint if they have a speciality or two that I like. But this was not really acceptable in any way shape or form. It was the exception that proves the rule. It was an old school place that was mired in the fifties when people were used to eating crap and liking it. Since there were several "connected" guys on the premise at the time I have to wonder if something else is going on. Maybe so maybe no. But it is hard to believe that they actually think everything is cool based on what we saw there this Friday. Plus when we left it was empty. On a Friday night about eight o'clock. Maybe they get a late crowd.

You might ask why I didn't complain or make a fuss about any of the stuff that happened. That's not my way. I always let the people show me what they got. It is much easier to get a read on a place that way. If you put them on their toes they might tighten it up a little but lax off on some important thing later on. They just lost us as customers. It's a shame really because when we find a joint we like than we hit it hard and eat there ten or twelve or twenty or more times a year. If the meal is $200 (as this one was) and we go ten times that is $2000 that they are throwing away without a care in the world. Plus the people I would send there if I like a joint. People are always asking me for a place to go to eat. So they made there meal and were happy with what they did. Which is fine by me. There are plenty of joints to hit. I don't like to make a fuss. But I like when you do things right. Then you get my loyalty and recommendations.

This is not a place you want to go to.