So when I first had this idea, I was really nervous about having to be negative. Don’t get me wrong, I love how pessimistic and upset society is right now. If the smallest thing goes wrong, we take to social media to complain to as many people as we can. And why shouldn’t we? Why should anybody else have to deal with such garbage service or poor quality of a movie or the jerk that cut you off on Eighth Street today? Aren’t we doing a public service by publicly criticizing everything?
Well no. We aren’t. We are just adding to the negativity and making the world a more hostile place. What was the main idea of Will McAvoy on HBO’s “The Newsroom?” “To civilize the masses”? Well that is not my job, and this is a food column, so I will get off my soapbox after saying that I hate criticizing restaurants because, at one point, the place was somebody’s dream and now it has been corrupted into common trash. With that noble preface, let’s dig in to ingredient.
With prime real estate on Ninth Street, right next to Big 12 and Starbucks, and a professionally marketed website, you would think that the overall experience would be better. Unfortunately, at least in this case, ease and convenience do not equate to a good time. I’m not the most cynical person, so I will admit that the food was very good. My problem was the service, the atmosphere and the price.
The service was not abysmal. I think a better phrase would be “shockingly unhelpful.” The kitchen staff, viewable to the entire restaurant with their open kitchen design, seemed to be bored by newcomers and stared at you the entire time you were in line waiting to place your order. When it came time to get to the counter, the person taking my order was extremely impatient. Trying to get the restaurant’s signature dish, or what passes as a signature dish, I always ask what the staffer would recommend. Unfortunately, and I hope this is not always the case, the guy at the counter did not seem to know of any specials, did not offer any soups, sandwiches or anything that the shop could push as their most delicious meal. So I picked a sandwich off the menu and paid my large sum of money and went on my way.
The atmosphere proved harder to criticize. The overall setting of the restaurant was rather well put together. It came to my attention that the restaurant recently started a new menu and changed the ambience of the restaurant. When dinner time came around, the lights were dimmed impossibly low to set the mood. (What mood that was, I am not certain). Judging by the emptiness of the restaurant, I would say other people were put off by this as well. The lamps themselves were pretty cool, but the dimmer switch should probably be removed.
The food was great, which is why I hate to be critical. The sweet potato fries were expertly fried, the sandwiches were tasty and did not fall apart. The portions were large, and I could find no complaints with sides except that the choices were a bit limited. Your best bet would be a salad. Served with all manner of fresh garden vegetables and in a large bowl, the chefs know how to craft a salad. The only problem with the food is the price. I understand some restaurants want to be upscale and charge a lot so that they can seem fancy. But in a town where there are plenty of alternatives to the limited menu, it seems unnatural to pay $12 for a sandwich and fries.
ingredient was definitely not my favorite restaurant. But I will give it the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I went on a bad night. Maybe the staff was off its game. Maybe the menu will grow. I’m hopeful to see this place continue because, as I said, at one point, it was somebody’s dream to make this place flourish. Give it a try and let me know what you think. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
