Au revoir to all that?

Maybe not: Two favorites sound as if they're holding up better than fine.

For once

comments trump column: No kids allowed is a great concept.

Play those old-time

menus.

Ethics

schmethics.

Nothing better

than a bad review.

Grazie, Zibibbo.

I'm so old

I remember when all FOH faces were white. And don't ask about the homophobia in the kitchen. 

But his greatest accomplishment

was driving the junkyard dog batshit insane with his scoops. 

And the good news is

they had to reach back to August to find a significant closing to illustrate trouble in RestaurantLand. 

A long way from bargain lobster

One chilling detail after another -- $2.13 an hour in 2008? 

Recycle the red covers

'cuz they're worthless. Admittedly, I have not been to Hong Kong since it was on the verge of being handed over, but if this is really the one three-star on offer let's all head to Flushing. 

The first depression

with all-you-can-eat pancakes for $4.99. 

The end of roadside eating

as we know it? What amazed me in researching a story this week was how expensive these mass-market restaurants are. Fifteen dollars for an effen chicken Caesar? 

For real perspective, though, click through the slide show. Yikes. 

Any reason is a good reason

to wheel out Tom Waits.

(Beware Copyranter's links; you will check in and not check out.)

Chodorow

has no imagination.

Now if only

someone can nail whoever is handing out those "Excellence in Hospitality" awards in so many restaurants where the customer comes last. . . . 

(Filched from the Newshounds) 

"Real estate

is violence. You have a neighborhood that has been a certain way and then somebody makes a cappuccino. The Realtors smell that and it becomes a gold mine." 

The hows and whys

of wine gouging. 

You learn something

every hour. 

(Filched from the Crankpot) 

Wanna buy

the Brooklyn Bridge? 

Aside from the 2,751 killed

9/11 provided Tribeca with a dining correction, too. This at least was better than the trend stew, but you do wonder where editors big (judgment) and small (poor boys?) were.