half concern

sarah

During the late spring, I spent a bit of time at Half in the afternoon, studying and generally wasting time. The guy who works during the day is super nice. He insisted on providing table service, refilled my latte for free, exuded politeness.
While I don't find the set-up at Half to encourage comfortable lounging, I am rooting for them.
That said, I am very sensitive to snooty or rude wait staff and generally won't patronize a place where I think the staff needs an attitude adjustment.

(If this accidentally posts as Guest, this is Sarah)

ando

I've also found half to not have the best service but I've only been there twice so that isn't saying too much. However both times I had to wait at the register for about 4 minutes before someone could ring up a regular coffee. The first time they charged my friend double the price for his coffee too.
Does anybody know the turnover rate there?

anonymous

Half has certainly gone downhill. We used to spend alot of time there in the evenings and on weekends for breakfast. However, after Liz (one of the evening bartenders) left for London the replacements didn't seem to get it. At least 4 times we sat at the bar for at least 5 minutes waiting for anyone to acknowledge our presence, let alone take an order. The last time we walked out and went to Soda. Now we routinely go to Soda.

In the mornings (at least on the week-ends) they are never seem to be ready by the time they open. Of course it helps first if you actually have the gate up a 9:00 when they are suppossed to open. Probably 25% of the time we went on week-ends the gate was down and no-one in sight. Even if it was open they were often running to Met to buy supplies. When this happens the one guy there gets really backed up aand everybody ends up waiting a long time. Last time we were there it took our friend about 40 minutes to get a bagel (not toasted) with cream cheese. (The counter guy did apologize and did not charge her for it or her coffee). It really seems like a) there is no oversight and b) they are trying to do things on the cheap by keeping it under staffed. For god's sake pay somebody for an extra half hour so they can get there at 8:30 and have the place ready. It's really to bad because we like the space, the wines and Max and Patty are very nice. But you can only take so much.

rhodamine

Anonymous wrote: However, after Liz (one of the evening bartenders) left for London the replacements didn't seem to get it.

yeah we miss liz too

anonymous

I agree with all of the gripes above, and share a similar affection for Max & Patty, the space, and the potential of Half.

So what I am wondering is... is anyone at all inclined to pass on this combined feedback/affection to Max and Patty? We could bitch till the cows come home, or we could pass along our concerns, and maybe they would act on them. (Not it.)

rhodamine

sarahb, not guest wrote: I agree with all of the gripes above, and share a similar affection for Max & Patty, the space, and the potential of Half.

So what I am wondering is... is anyone at all inclined to pass on this combined feedback/affection to Max and Patty? We could bitch till the cows come home, or we could pass along our concerns, and maybe they would act on them. (Not it.)

yeah we should pass it on to them.

while were at it, someone please tell em its time to change the art being "exhibited" on the walls. last time i was there, it was "night time photos form the nyc blackout" that had been there for, well, over a year at least...

emily

Do you think they're looking at this already? Hopefully they're savvy enough. Well, if they're not, they'll find out when Andy/dailyheights does the print edition.

rhodamine

EmilyM wrote: Do you think they're looking at this already? Hopefully they're savvy enough. Well, if they're not, they'll find out when Andy/dailyheights does the print edition.

i hope they are.

just like i hope the cops are reading the threads about neighborhood safety.

and ratner is reading the "atlantic yards" threads.

and the thugs are reading the "noise complaint" threads


:idea: :idea: :idea:

isa

I hope the yuppies or whatever they are are reading the noise complaint threads because they are the only ones that have ever woken me up at 2 am singing Roxanne at the top of their lungs.

anonymous

Subject: half

hey guys-- give half a little break. i happen to know that they have had a really hard time with some prep cooks quitting on short notice, so the bartenders have been stretched way thin. they are working on hiring (and training) some new people so that service will be back on track. and, really, there's no better place to lounge outside and enjoy good food and libations in our 'hood, so let's do our best to support them!

anonymous

Subject: Re: half concern

Anonymous wrote: it's nice to have a place to vent about such things.

Ja, it's good to have a place to vent, but I do want to say that I still think Half is a great place. It's exactly the type of place I want in our neighborhood, and I really appreciate an environment that was created with a lot of care and love, something beautiful yet relaxed. Staff will always come and go, but I'm feeling so threatened by anonymous places, that I'm feeling especially defensive of our home team, like Half (especially after the Supreme Court ruling this week).

We do need to vent- it's just wrong for people to get yelled at. And I'm not willing to accept rude behavior. But I've got to stick up for Half. Vanderbilt is a much better place because of it.

dailyheights

They had better be reading this thread already--You know, restaurants used to have to PAY for this kind of customer research that's now here for free. Hey, Prospect Heights businesses, you're welcome!

Raulistic is pretty much right. Would you rather be "niced to death" by chipper Starbucks drones?

Half is great underutilized hang-out space during the day, esp. for those of you with "baby duty," laptop-enabled jobs, a trust fund or an unemployment check. I admit was frustrated once by the flaky Internet access (not as much of a problem now that there are at least 4 unsecured wifi networks criss-crossing that corner of Vanderbilt).

Coincidentally, I met someone at Half yesterday afternoon for coffee. The prices were reasonable, the bartendress was not unfriendly and acknowledged us right away, we got our coffees right away (granted, it was a mid-afternoon lull) and we had the expansive back patio to ourselves.

alafairnadia

rhodamine wrote:

while were at it, someone please tell em its time to change the art being "exhibited" on the walls. last time i was there, it was "night time photos form the nyc blackout" that had been there for, well, over a year at least...

hah, that stuff is still up? yikes.

anyway, I understand about supporting local businesses -- I used to be a Half regular when I first moved here, and met a lot of people who've since become good friends there. however, after totally changing the way they pay their servers (and screwing them out of a decent shift pay) they fired one bartender who was amazing, and then Liz moved to London. I've been back a few times to try to give the place a chance, but it's no longer a fun environment, and none of the regulars go there anymore. Max and Patty are nice people but you know -- I was in that place at least 2 or 3 times a week for close to a year and I only saw them a handful of times. I see Toly almost every time I'm in Soda. That says a lot about how much they care about their business. And paying a really substandard shift pay is not going to lure the best and the brightest.

rhodamine

alafairnadia wrote:
hah, that stuff is still up? yikes.

maybe not anymore, who knows... i havent been in there in so long... prolly hte week after liz left. no liz + no mike = no mroe half for me 8)

innocent x

Service is erratic, but cool joint.

Hipped me to Blue Sky muffins which are the shit.

captain m

I have to say I was there twice in the past month and the food and service was great, and the service was the same people.

putz

as far as i can tell, the owners dont seem to be there all that often - anyone know, do they have day jobs or own other spots??

marthajoy

Last weekend I went to Total Wine Bar on 5th Ave btween St. Marks and Prospect (or right near there). It looked a bit pretentious at first, but the guy at the bar was really nice, he let us sample our wines before we decided to "commit" (his word), and both of the wines I tried were great. They had an interesting snack & cheese menu too... which I intend to sample soon. So for those of you who are looking for a good place for a glass of wine, I would recommend Total Wine Bar.

I do try to support businesses that are in Prospect Heights, but I don't like spending money in places where the people are rude to me. I just don't need it!

bluedove

marthajoy wrote: I don't like spending money in places where the people are rude to me. I just don't need it!

Absolutely. My favorite dessert place ever used to be Cafe Rafella (West Village) until one night when a waitress there was so unforgivably horrible to us that I left her a ten cent tip and have never gone back.

A shame, because that pumpkin cognac cheesecake was to die for.

daveb

bluedove wrote: A shame, because that pumpkin cognac cheesecake was to die for.

You want good cheesecake? Check out Artisanal in Manhattan. Everything that's cheese there is ridiculously good. Their French onion soup and cheese fondue are excellant, but the cheesecake is an organism unto itself. It can't eat regular cheesecake, it spoiled me! It's just amazing, way better than Junior's or any other place I've tried. The also have the largest "by the glass" wine selection I've ever seen.

anonymous

Subject: Re: What's wrong with Smith Street?

pensodyssey wrote: [quote=blackjack]What is wrong with SmithStrret? Why generalize?

Nothing's wrong with Smith Street. I just don't want Vanderbilt to turn into a Smith Street clone.

I just moved from Smith Street and am happy to be out of that neighborhood. And I think you're right, Half does seem Smith-ish. I'm not sure that V-bilt is will make the jump to lame yuppie neighborhood to the extent Smith did though. We just gotta keep it real and support the places we like.

pensodyssey

alafairnadia wrote: I see Toly almost every time I'm in Soda. That says a lot about how much they care about their business. And paying a really substandard shift pay is not going to lure the best and the brightest.

I agree about Toly. He even seeks me out for opinion on new beers. Great guy.

bluedove

Ooh! I've been wanting to go to Artisinal anyway, but now that you say that about the cheesecake, I am making it a priority.

I am a total sucker for good cheesecake.

carnivore

bluedove wrote: Ooh! I've been wanting to go to Artisinal anyway, but now that you say that about the cheesecake, I am making it a priority.

I am a total sucker for good cheesecake.

I've never actually had the cheesecake, despite having gone there a few times. I've always opted for a cheese course for dessert.
Mmmm.... cheese...........

jessicasophia

I might be in the minority, but I think Junior's cheesecake sucks-- it's so dense and crumbly, it sticks to the roof of my mouth. And its flavor is so one-dimensional.

daveb

JessicaSophia wrote: I might be in the minority, but I think Junior's cheesecake sucks-- it's so dense and crumbly, it sticks to the roof of my mouth. And its flavor is so one-dimensional.

Yeah, it's pretty overrated

bluedove

Most of the "best" things around here are overrated, I've found.

Junior's is okay, but hardly the best. And don't get me started on Magnolia...

11238

Artisinal is AMAZING!!!!! The swiss fondue ROCKS and the steak sandwich??? YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

marthajoy

bluedove wrote: And don't get me started on Magnolia...

Oh, thank you. I have felt so alone on Magnolia. I was starting to think I was the crazy one. I knew that cupcake sucked!

Mmmmm Swiss Fondue....

bluedove

marthajoy wrote: [quote=bluedove] And don't get me started on Magnolia...

Oh, thank you. I have felt so alone on Magnolia. I was starting to think I was the crazy one. I knew that cupcake sucked!

Mmmmm Swiss Fondue....

You are not alone! I understand the fad-chasers, I guess, but how do these woefully misdirected crazes get started? Dry cornbread + grainy sugar icing does not a good cupcake make. Certainly not one worth standing in a huge line for!


:x