Author Topic: Novo Restaurant (Read 11859 times)

buddy · « **Reply #15 on:** April 27, 2008, 04:08:43 PM »

andmig, I'm like you: I eat out A LOT. And I spend money doing it and yet I've never gone into Novo because of the negative things I've heard from close friends. I'll easily drop $10 to $20 on lunch and dinner always includes wine so Novo is losing out by being "hit or miss" in their service and food. With all the new restaurants opening up all the time and my wanting to go back to my favorites, I could never go to Novo and not miss it. Which is probably going to be the case unless I hear consistently good things about them.

NYC Native · « **Reply #16 on:** April 27, 2008, 09:27:14 PM »

Yes, Novo is hit or miss. They are trying too hard in things that do not matter much, like their new serving glasses. (I hate them, I want traditional wine glass for my wine!! $:-\$ . You will probably not get good service on a busy Night. The "t-shirt" mgr is actually a partner. He is to busy with his own problems and inexperience to understand the dynamics...hopefully he will learn. The local "politicos will get treated better because they have befriended these guys there and the right time to do this is during light days and during lunch hours.

As per the food, I never had an issue with the "chori-pollo" (chorizos and chicken with peppers, onions...UMMMM!. Their Cuban sandwhich is nothing to brag about, in fact, I don't like it at all. I had much better Cuban sandwiches in many other places, try it in Cabana; hey I can make a killer "cubano" . TRUE STORY!! They do not train their bartenders or their waiters well and I don't understand why. Even a "new bartender school" graduate can do a better job. They have nice guys working there but not trained and they cannot claim to have any real "mixologist" on staff.

Their wine list is nothing to brag about either. Novo is a great place to have a few drinks at and listen to music but you can enjoy the food better during the lunch hours or on lighter evenings. They have the potential and I can tell you that constructive criticism has always help local establishments. I would simply drop a note if you don't want to face them and say what you feel. After all, we are all paying costumers. When I have a bad experience in a restaurant or any establishment I tell them, l unless I have resolved not to return. On a last note, never eat anything you didn't like. Send it back with the reason why but avoid offending the waiter, after all, he or she didn't cook it. Someone mentioned "middle-aged" men getting special attention...what is that supposed to mean?...LOL. :2funny:

NYC Native · « **Reply #17 on:** April 27, 2008, 09:32:37 PM »

Maybe a few of us should get together and and have alot of drinks there and then tell them they suck and we are not paying...LOL

Don' order the cuban guys!!! :tickedoff:

andmig · « **Reply #18 on:** April 27, 2008, 10:12:30 PM »

NYC Native, I admire your optimism and sense of humor. Yeah, letâ€™s get drunk on their expense ?

Actually you just confirmed all my impressions. I did not know that the manager was a partner. It makes matters even worse, in my view â€“ less optimistic letâ€™s say.

I would never return anything in a restaurant and would not advise you to do that either. We know people who work in restaurants â€“ retuning food in restaurants can be a tricky thing even in a highly regarded establishment.

Want to know a funny thing? We felt bad for the waitress and actually left a decent tip. They NEVER charged the tip on the credit card! She, probably, believes that we did not leave it, which just shows how incompetent and screwed up they are.

It would be great if they improved but, frankly, we donâ€™t have much faith.

NYC Native · « **Reply #19 on:** April 27, 2008, 10:30:57 PM »

Andmig, I understand the old "send it back and you'll never know what they will send back with your plate".. :buck2:

I meant send it back..not for them to fix it, just send it back and tell them why and make sure you tell them that you don't want anything else...Thank You. I too know people in the food industry and what you are saying is true still today. As far as I am concern if I can't enjoy it I wont pay for it!

toddg · « **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2008, 11:30:13 PM »

I also eat out a lot. And I have had my share of disappointing experiences, but the anger being vented here seems disproportionate to the "crime."

andmig · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2008, 07:41:16 AM »

toddg, there is no anger here at all. Venting and attitude â€“ yes but no anger. And thank you for the opportunity to share the bad and the good with the fellow neighbors.

NYC Native · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2008, 03:49:01 PM »

Most of the time I have been in Novo, I have enjoyed myself since as you can probably tell I'm a Lover, not a fighter...LOL :smitten:

Again, their food is hit or miss as far as many (including myself) are concern. But I think that they have the potential to do better if they get their act together. I think that most people there do not complain to the right people. I am one of those guys that have in fact voice my disappointment to the owners, the bartender but not to the waiters. I actually told the bartender his wine sucked and he just looked at me and didn't know what to say. I wasn't angry, I even made a joke about it and asked him if he mixed up the cooking wine with the bar wine.

I don't do mixed drinks too much. I'm a simple dude! I like Black Label or Gold if they have it and will stay away from it most times because people can smell that sucker! I will have a beer in the summer time only but will drink wine most of the time. Don't give me Bacardi or Don q Gold with Coke because I will drink the whole bottle :2funny: I think I'm going to have a drink there today and speak to my homeys 'bout how unhappy we are.

ECG · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2008, 09:55:59 PM »

I just got back from Novo. Monday night but no music due to the horrible forecast - management's choice. However, the place was packed with eaters, drinkers, groups! More than some music Mondays.

I've sent things back. If I order steak salad medium rare, I expect Med Rare. There was no problem and I got what I asked for. No problem.

Everyone was polite and friendly. They always are, but maybe I am too easy-going (or popular?

)

We all have ups and downs, too bad restaurants are in the public eye so much.
At the Taste of Jackson Heights last year (part of the JH Film & Food Festival) they had some nice appetizers.

This will no doubt be an ongoing thread.

toddg · « **Reply #24 on:** April 29, 2008, 08:18:28 AM »

I haven't eaten at Novo in quite a while, so I can't really comment on the food. But I do like the fact that they try harder than most other restaurants to offer something to the community. They offer jazz three nights a week, host the neighborhood's toddler playgroup/happy hour on Sunday, and generally try to provide an atmosphere that is different from what is offered elsewhere. I know earlier posters have said they don't like this atmosphere, but when I have gone in there for drinks I have appreciated the alternative.

spanishfish · « **Reply #25 on:** April 29, 2008, 09:41:26 PM »

I'm one of those who doesn't like Novo's atmosphere. For me, it's a lack of attention to the details of the space, not so much a lack of attention to service or even to ambience. They do try with the ambience. However, the chairs are uncomfortable and cheap and the decor is very lacking.

The food has always been very good, though. And as I've said before, try the hamburger. Yummy.

buddy · « **Reply #26 on:** July 14, 2008, 09:57:26 PM »

A friend and I had lunch here this weekend. My friend ordered a "cheese burger" and I got a turkey, avocado sandwich.

My sandwich was really good. His cheeseburger was not what he expected. There was some sauce on it and it was so well done it was dry. He didn't like it. We both got diet cokes and they were bad sodas from the bar tap. UGH.

But the service was great: nice waiters and bartender. We would go back. My friend would get a cheeseburger, but ask them to make a traditional burger without sauce and cook it medium and I guess we'd have to drink alcohol since the sodas stink! Also the water tasted funny (tap, not bottled.) It sounds more awful than it was. I actually liked the place.

Gherm · « **Reply #27 on:** July 15, 2008, 03:53:54 PM »

andmig - I've worked in restaurants before also, and I would say you should always let the staff know if something is wrong. It's unfair to them it you leave disgruntled and not give them an opportunity to set things straight. Most restaurants respond quite nicely as long as you aren't simply being a jerk.

spanishfish · « **Reply #28 on:** July 16, 2008, 09:06:44 PM »

Buddy, so sorry the hamburger didn't turn out well. When we ordered it, it wasn't even on the menu. Either our order, or your order must have been a fluke. I hope it was just a bad day for the chef when you went.

elyaqim · « **Reply #29 on:** July 17, 2008, 04:58:34 AM »

Quote from: spanishfish on July 16, 2008, 09:06:44 PM

Buddy, so sorry the hamburger didn't turn out well. When we ordered it, it wasn't even on the menu. Either our order, or your order must have been a fluke.

A fluke? You think they were served flounder instead of beef and they did not even notice? Come now.

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Author Topic: Novo Restaurant (Read 11859 times)

buddy

Re: Bad Novo experience

NYC Native

Re: Bad Novo experience

NYC Native

Re: Bad Novo experience

andmig

Re: Bad Novo experience

NYC Native

Re: Bad Novo experience

toddg

Re: Bad Novo experience

andmig

Re: Bad Novo experience

NYC Native

Re: Bad Novo experience

ECG

Re: Bad Novo experience

toddg

Re: Novo Restaurant

spanishfish

Re: Novo Restaurant

buddy

Re: Novo Restaurant

Gherm

Re: Novo Restaurant

spanishfish

Re: Novo Restaurant

elyaqim

Re: Novo Restaurant