they do foams and "airs" and gels if that is what you are thinking

Presentation was obviously well thought-out - I personally couldn't give a crap about presentation, to be honest, but you could tell they do.

 

Molecular gastronomy?  Hell, it's frou-frou enough, I imagine the chef has approached it from every angle.  But since I know absolutely nothing about that, I couldn't say.

 

Service was a tad lax - took a long time to get our initial drink order, and to bring the first round.  But after that, food kept a-coming, drinks kept a-flowing, and a grand time was had by all!

 

I find molecular gastronomy interesting. I asked about it way back - http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14270.0.html

Bootsy's may be open by tuesday or wednesday of next week  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Bootsy's may be open by tuesday or wednesday of next week  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

 

BTW, here is a website I found for the new restaurant.  It's pretty light on information right now, but gives you a place to check back for when more information comes about - http://www.jeffruby.com/bootsy.html

Bootsy's may be open by tuesday or wednesday of next week :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

I know they've been working night and day it seems on this place. They were painting some kind of mural under the 2nd story patio area earlier.

In other news ...

 

Workers DT act like they've never eaten at a Chipolte before. Sheesh. I was like, f**k this, I'm going to Potbelly.

Bootsy's may be open by tuesday or wednesday of next week :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

 

 

I think Bootsy's is going to do great and look fabulous in that location. Any idea what might be in store for the vacancies to the north of Boostys?

In other news ...

 

Workers DT act like they've never eaten at a Chipolte before. Sheesh. I was like, f**k this, I'm going to Potbelly.

 

Expect it to be like that for 6 months to a year, if the Florence location is any indicator.  The line was out the door every single day around lunch for a looooong time.

It's like crack, eventually you can eat the whole burrito without feeling full. That is when you know you're addicted. I've gone taco to prevent getting back to that place.

Any idea what might be in store for the vacancies to the north of Boostys?

 

I haven't heard anything specifically, but I believe that 3CDC now controls those properties.  As a result I wouldn't expect for them to sit vacant for very long...plus you know they'll be quality tenants.

It's like crack, eventually you can eat the whole burrito without feeling full. That is when you know you're addicted. I've gone taco to prevent getting back to that place.

 

My tolerance was lowered; now I get extra meat, extra cheese and sour cream. It's about 1200-1300 calories.

 

Chipotle is great if you don't like fast food but want something fast and cheap. I'm not surprised they're taking over.

I admit it, I f*cking love Chipotle.  Guilty as charged!

The ingredients are top notch. Everything in the burrito has a distinct flavor, even the rice. You can't really say the same about most of the independent places imo.

Currito is superior.  I think Chipotle's ingredients aren't all that special and aren't all that flavorful.

In our area, in my honest opinion:

 

1.  The Comet

2.  Habanero

3.  Currito

4.  Qdoba

5.  Chipotle

6. Burrito Joes

 

I'm not saying that any of them are terrible or bad.  It's just me judging them on irresistible taste.  Uptown/Northside has it going on.

 

Chipotle used to be great budget food.  They recently raised their prices a bit, which puts it more in line with other places.  Although, Habanero still has a great basic burrito for under $6.

Burrito preference is a controversial topic. If anyone else wants to discuss the matter, there's a thread dedicated to burritos:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,15196.0.html

^Thanks. ;)

Just a heads up for anyone interested:

 

New York New York Fresh Deli & Cafe, located on Beechmont Avenue in Mt. Washington, is now serving Empress Chili.  It's shown across the front windows of the place as well as a permanent lighted sign on the side of the building, next to the parking lot.

 

A good thing!

Bootsy's will be open on Thursday, not the previously mentioned Tuesday... I'm probably going to check it out this weekend. It looks amazing.

Bootsy's will be open on Thursday, not the previously mentioned Tuesday... I'm probably going to check it out this weekend. It looks amazing.

 

I think we'll check it out too.

Bootsy's will be open on Thursday, not the previously mentioned Tuesday... I'm probably going to check it out this weekend. It looks amazing.

 

I think we'll check it out too.

 

Do you guys know if this place opens for sure on Thursday?

that's the latest date i have heard. Jeff Ruby apparently only does soft openings... so it will not be a big shindig, it will just kind of "open". It sounds like thursday is still the date though.

^I'm freaking shocked that Bootsy Collins would open (co-open?) ANYTHING without a big shindig.

Looks like Seny is closing in East Walnut Hills.  Boooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

Seny closes

Posted by PollyCampbell at 12/9/2008 9:08 AM EST on Cincinnati.com 

 

Seny, the ambitious, bright-red, Spanish tapas bar and restaurant in East Walnut Hills, has closed.

 

See link for article.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=blog14&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a1921648a-c77d-4218-b8c1-5af7ab309046Post%3ac013b406-9304-45d1-be12-4bd171fc78c7&plckCommentSortOrder=TimeStampAscending&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com

 

 

 

 

WTF, I passed up eating at Chipotle in Hyde Park so I could eat closer to home "downtown" location,  the freakin place was closed at 8! What is with the  hours? All the other locations are open till 10 including Glen este in the eastern sticks. Please everyone, email them and lets get this place open for NORMAL hours

http://www.chipotle.com/#flash/speak_comment

 

Now I have to drive up to northside and get a Burrito at the Comet.

WTF, I passed up eating at Chipotle in Hyde Park so I could eat closer to home "downtown" location, the freakin place was closed at 8! What is with the hours? All the other locations are open till 10 including Glen este in the eastern sticks. Please everyone, email them and lets get this place open for NORMAL hours

http://www.chipotle.com/#flash/speak_comment

 

Now I have to drive up to northside and get a Burrito at the Comet.

 

I agree that these hours are ridiculous.  I was there opening night, and there was still a line at 8 PM.  They locked the doors around 8:15, and after that people were tugging on the doors trying to get in the place.

Got a reply from Chipotle:

 

Hello there, and we appreciate you contacting us! I don’t know about all of the other places in the area, but often our restaurants in downtown areas close earlier, because everyone typically leaves the downtown areas after work ends and night falls. But we will consider this for the future, since most definitely we aren’t saying we’d never change this, especially if it seemed to make good, sound fiscal sense to stay open later. We thank you for letting us know your thoughts, and we appreciate your patience with us while we grow to learn the ebbs and flows of proper operating hours for our first downtown Cincinnati location.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe Stupe

Chipotle

 

 

I don’t know about all of the other places in the area, but often our restaurants in downtown areas close earlier, because everyone typically leaves the downtown areas after work ends and night falls.

 

That part of the response really ticked me off.  Why, because I know this is the standard protocol for many chain restaurants of this nature.  They have one set of expectations for their typical suburban location stores and another for their non-typical urban locations.  Ownership is often more critical of those urban location stores and is much quicker to cut back hours, staff, or shut the place down.  If you want to see a place that dies after business hours go check out Reed Hartman Highway around 7pm.  Most of the food places along that road could probably shut down at 3pm everyday and be just fine.

I agree. It's obnoxious that they don't look deeper and analyze the complexity of the environment where they're expanding into. Shanghai Mama's is open until 3 or 4am and there's a pizza place in OTR open really late at night. Another pizza place around the corner from Madonna's (or at least there was). What those places have in common is that they are common places and food types for people who are drunk and want to eat after bars close. If they were more creative, they would understand that with a little promotion and word of mouth, that would easily become a common "after hours" spot for people to eat. Particularly on weekends, you could consider fountain square to be a prime spot for business at night. If I were them, I wouldn't even stop at 10. I would experiment and stay open until 2 and see how it goes. I'm sure they will readjust eventually but it seems like they should have seen it coming. I consider Potbelly a little different; people are more likely to eat sandwiches at lunch.

 

Edit: By the way, I just looked at a list of chipotle hours of operation; every single location in metro Cincy is open until 10pm except downtown.

Chipotle, Panera coming to NKU area

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20081210/NEWS0103/312100043

 

A Chipotle and Panera Bread have committed to go into a development near Northern Kentucky University, the developer announced Tuesday night at a public meeting.

 

See link for article.

Response I got, even though I don't eat Chipotle.  :)  Helpin' out. 

 

"Thank you for writing us, and I am sorry. Some of the restaurants we have in downtown city areas do close earlier, because so many people leave the area after dark and after work ends. Of course our hours are not ever written in stone, and we will continue to consider this, especially if it seems like we’ll get good business by staying open later than 8 pm at this location. We appreciate your own solid vote in this regard, and we thank you again for your time and attention."

I'm just shaking my head at the idea that these guys don't do specific demographic research before opening up a new location.  It seems shocking that they use the same hours everywhere...unless of course it is in a "downtown city area," then of course the cut the hours back.

My own message to Chipotle:

 

I would like to say that I am very pleased that a Chipotle location has finally opened in Downtown Cincinnati...However, the 8pm closing time is completely unrealistic.  Other area locations are open until 10pm, each of which I've seen full of patrons until closing time, more often than not.  I am fully aware that Chipotle generally stays open until 8pm in downtown locations and 10pm otherwise. 

 

Fountain Square has become a lively place with plenty of passersby to support numerous eateries, many of which are open late.  The Fountain Place location should be open until at least 10pm nightly to meet obvious demand.  Patrons should be your guide toward adjusting store hours on a location by location basis, and I hope you consider this.

 

I would also like to suggest extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays at the Fountain Place location.  Many local downtown and uptown eateries are open well into the night.  Fountain Place should be your signature CIincinnati store, and a unique feature as extended weekend hours would spread by word of mouth very quickly.  With such a strong brand as Chipotle is, it would be a mistake not to hone in on this.

 

Thank you, and I hope that you weigh these options very carefully.

 

Christian

re Bootsy's...looks like Friday it is:

 

WHAT: Media tour of the new Bootsy’s produced by Jeff Ruby restaurant, now open to the public

 

WHEN: 3 p.m., Friday, December 12

 

WHERE: Bootsy’s restaurant site, across from Aronoff Center on Walnut Street, downtown Cincinnati

 

WHO: Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby will lead a tour of his new restaurant project

 

MEDIA NOTES:

 

The restaurant is now open to the public beginning Friday, Dec. 12 with dinner reservations.

 

Jeff Ruby will be available for interviews during the tour.

 

from my alma mater

 

2nd Annual College of Charleston Alumni Association

Restaurant Dine-Around

 

Join fellow College of Charleston alumni for the Restaurant Dine-Around event at Circa 1886 on March 6, 2009. Guest chef Jean-Robert de Cavel  of Cincinnatti, OH's Jean-Robert at Pigall’s, Bistro JeanRo,  Greenup Café, and Chalk will be cooking up a feast for CofC alumni, family and friends.

 

Fine wines, hand selected to complement the evening's fare will be presented by Chehalem Winery and Elk Cove Vineyards.

 

We have purchased 64 seats at Circa 1886, so if you would like tickets you will need to purchase them through us. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and we plan to sell out quickly! Ticket price is $150 per person. Tickets to this event make a great holiday gift.

 

There is no better way to experience Charleston's top restaurants than during the ever-popular Restaurant Dine-Around. Circa 1886 has opened their kitchen to guest chef Jean-Robert de Cavel who will serve a five-course dinner paired with fine, exclusive wines by a top winemaker. As the dinner ends, ticket holders have the opportunity to meet with the chef and winemaker for special one-on-one interaction.

Response I got, even though I don't eat Chipotle. :) Helpin' out.

 

"Thank you for writing us, and I am sorry. Some of the restaurants we have in downtown city areas do close earlier, because so many people leave the area after dark and after work ends. Of course our hours are not ever written in stone, and we will continue to consider this, especially if it seems like we’ll get good business by staying open later than 8 pm at this location. We appreciate your own solid vote in this regard, and we thank you again for your time and attention."

 

We did it!  When they extend their hours, make sure you support them.  My response from Chipotle:

 

Thank you for writing us, and we're going to give it a shot, keeping this restaurant open after 8 pm to see if it does consistent business. We appreciate your suggestion. Some of our downtown-area restaurants across the country do indeed close early at night, since there aren't enough potential customers remaining in certain urban areas after work ends or after dark to justify normal hours.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe Stupp

Chipotle

 

 

boom:

 

Brad,

 

Thank you for writing us! We're actually going to test out keeping this location open until 10 pm, and we do indeed hope it will generate consistent business for the future. We appreciate your suggestion.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joe Stupp

Chipotle

Yesssssssss!

im definitely getting a burrito after 8 down there.  Randy, get off your currito bias and come with me.   

Wohoo! I'm going to push the envelope though and ask them to keep extending hours.

 

I pointed out that the square has events sometimes, late at night and asked them if they would consider flexible hours during those events. I told them that other restaurants nearby capitalize on the influx of people on fountain square during concerts and such, that happen late. Perhaps corporate can influence management in that regard. I don't know.

well done team

Great job all!!  I went down about 9:30. There were about 10 people eating inside of which 6 were cops. Be sure and support them after 8. I bought tomorows lunch, the line was out the door earlier today.

Wow, they're open past 8pm, effectively immediately?  Good for Chipotle.  That's pretty sweet.  I'll be sure to stop by after 8pm next week!

I'll be down there tonight with friends, just to show support for this.  Let's not let their hours slip!

 

As someone said earlier, about 10 people were dining in after 8pm, including several  :police: :police: :police:.  Although that's not bad, there are people who certainly do not realize the extended hours.  Be sure to get the word out.

yea i sent out an email to the Masters of Planning listserv at UC.

I checked out Booty's last night and the place was absolutely packed.  The interior is very cool and there is a large circular outside of the dinning area.  Did not try any of the food, but I will be back for that.  The downstairs is not open yet, but the guy working the door told me that when it is done it will have Bootsy memorabilia on display and an souvenir stand - like Hard Rock Cafes I am guessing.  Definitely a great addition to downtown

As someone said earlier, about 10 people were dining in after 8pm, including several :police: :police: :police:. Although that's not bad, there are people who certainly do not realize the extended hours. Be sure to get the word out.

 

Do they have the extended hours at least posted?  Some businesses do not bother changing their signs when they try extended hours. 

 

Last Friday there was a decent line at 8 PM, so my bet is there will be more.

^I haven't seen whether they've posted the extended hours.  The change seemed to have happened yesterday, following our barrage of e-mails.  I do remember the debacle with Potbelly not posting their changes in hours of operation.  Hopefully, Chipotle will do so.

Went to Bootsy's last night and the service was amazing, the food was somehow better than that, and the decor was nothing less the spectacular.  I had the braised pork belly ($10),the Bootsy sushi ($8), and our table shared our dishes with one another as encouraged.

 

Also good to note, the bar has some of the most attractive female bartenders in the city.  It was also cool to see Jeff Ruby and his entourage stalking the place all night long in their pinstripe suits.  Saw Bootsy Collins as well.