Back in January we told you about Shabu Pub, the new tenants that would take over the former Mazu restaurant at 3809 Geary between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
Based on a report from Grace, the blogger at sfood.net, it doesn’t sound like Shabu Pub is going to fare much better than its predecessor: “A Hasty and Unimpressive Start”.
She stopped in there last Friday night with some friends and was put off by the disaffected staff, none of whom made much of a move to greet her party at the door (“At Shabu Pub, they stood around doing whatever they were doing…and nobody but a single waitress asked, “How many?”)
Even though Grace says “When I go to a typical neighborhood restaurant, I do not expect a lot”, she was still unimpressed by Shabu’s menu and service. The kitchen made substitutions without asking, there was a long wait for their first plate of meat, sauces were never refilled, and their nervous waiter trembled throughout most of the meal (maybe Grace scared him!?!).
She did have good things to say about Shabu Pub’s vegetable dishes: “The vegetables were fresh and deceivingly plentiful; they provided more tofu than Shabu House, with mushrooms, napa cabbage and spinach with udon noodles.”
Shabu Pub is not the only joint in town – popular Shabu House is just down the street at 5158 Geary. So Grace had a prior, positive experience to draw from when reviewing the new pub.
But when one opens a business that identical to a restaurant that is merely 15 blocks away (Shabu House) and basically in the same district – then one begs to be compared to that restaurant. Shabu Pub falls short on every single thing, unfortunately. I had really, really hoped to find a new place that I could frequent, but this one just failed miserably.
So, Grace, what’s your final assessment of this new place to eat in the Richmond District?
This place? This was ridiculous. There is no doubt these people have no idea about how to run a business, let alone a restaurant — and unless they get some effective help or guidance soon — I’d suspect this location will be up for grabs within 6 months — tops.
Ouch. Grace’s final rating for the Shabu Pub? A mere 2.7 out of 10. Visit her blog for the full review.
So what kind of foodie are you? The kind to take a review like this to heart, or the kind that will try out Shabu Pub for yourself? If the latter, they’re open daily for lunch and dinner from 11am until 2am.
Sarah B.
[via EaterSF]
15 blocks? There is also “Prime Rib Shabu” right on 5th ave. These 3 are added to the already existing versions at japanese restaurants around town, including Shabusen in Japantown.
It is kind of silly…
Chinese hot-pot is so much more interesting… and there are way fewer options for it in the city.
oh well…
Once, my husband and I tried a restaurant *because* of the bad reviews on Yelp – and, well, it was bad. It does pique my curiosity a bit but not enough to try it. I think reviews affect consumers’ decisions more here than a small town or place with less restaurants.
A lot of people are malicious online because they do not have to face the people they are talking about. And in general there is no repercussion to their words! Throwing stones in a tinted-glass house.
Aside from that, I really hope that restaurants are taping the blogosphere as well as checking online reviews sites (yelp, urban spoon, city search, etc…) to see what people are actually saying about their restaurant and are making changes based on what people want, or in some cases what they do not want.
Personally, when I read a bad review, that will turn me off to the restaurant and I’ll probably not try it out. But that is only if there are consistently bad reviews.
I looked at this website and read the bio of this “critic”. Her qualification to have a food blog is that she loves food. She didn’t study creative writing or journalism, did not study small business administration or restaurant/hospitality management, and she has no culinary experience. Yet she judges food in a public forum based on her taste that has no discernible credibility or philosophy to make note of. And she goes as far as to rip Shabu Pub for their business management?
That anyone puts credence in bloggers like Grace is beyond me.
Well said, Jeffrey.