SrtaJRosa Posted June 2, 2006 Posted June 2, 2006 In little Putnam CT there is a neat modern restaurant that oddly seems out of place in the town called 85 Main. Never thought I could get fresh oysters in the middle of nowhere cow country CT. The tiling in the bar was so cool, small blue and white tiles, although an eclectic painting of topless mermaids seemed a bit odd for a fine dining experience.This phenomenon has always been a curiosity of mine. Is it just easier to use the location name than create one anew? Or is it so Washingtonians can find their way to the restaurant and don't miss it? I know, silly, of course, but it seems to be a national trend as well.Thoughts? Comments?
Waitman Posted June 2, 2006 Posted June 2, 2006 I think it trickled up from the punk scene: Club 688 in Atlanta, 9:30 Club here. Garage band attitude buffed up for the gold card crowd, kind of like when hip-hop fashion moved into the mainstream.
Principia Posted June 2, 2006 Posted June 2, 2006 I don't know where the trend started, but to me it's always been reminiscent of people who get vanity plates that describe the make or model of their car. I mean, does one really need a plate saying "99 BENZ" to tell one that he or she is in fact approaching their car?
porcupine Posted June 2, 2006 Posted June 2, 2006 I've never gotten that either. Seems to me like someone just didn't try very hard. At least the name TenPenh is a little creative.
Hoofhearted Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 I have never once thought about the name of a place I am going to have dinner in. I always think about the experience I am going to have. Is the food going to be good, is the service going to be good, is the wine going to be at the correct tempature? A name is a name just a name...
Meaghan Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 21 Club, the oldest restaurant in New York, is named for its address.
Josh Radigan Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 in all actuality Bistro Bis was originally just called Bis. Changed it when too many people became confussed. Move in the right direction.
The Hersch Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 21 Club, the oldest restaurant in New York, is named for its address. Yeah, but that's 21 W. 52nd St.... 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church? 2941 is, I think, the most unfortunate example of this practice in the Washington area. If it weren't such a terrific restaurant, who would care? But geez, couldn't they come up with something better than that?
Meaghan Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 Yeah, but that's 21 W. 52nd St.... But what I said is still true.
The Hersch Posted June 3, 2006 Posted June 3, 2006 But what I said is still true. Well, the website you link to claims only that 21 is the oldest restaurant in NYC named for its address, not that it's the oldest restaurant in the city AND is named for its address, as you wrote above. Not that it matters, and not that I have any idea what the oldest restaurant in NYC is, named for its address or not. What I said is still true: 2941 is a feeble name for a fine restaurant.
DonRocks Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 Yeah, but that's 21 W. 52nd St.... 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church? 2941 is, I think, the most unfortunate example of this practice in the Washington area. If it weren't such a terrific restaurant, who would care? But geez, couldn't they come up with something better than that? It's not like you're creeping down Fairview Park Drive at 5 mph, squinting to see the house numbers as you try not to sidescrape the parked cars.
Stretch Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 It's not like you're creeping down Fairview Park Drive at 5 mph, squinting to see the house numbers as you try not to sidescrape the parked cars. I dunno. Apart from the house numbers part, it sounds like a pretty accurate description of a few of your getaways, dude.
tfbrennan Posted June 4, 2006 Posted June 4, 2006 Judging from the menu, the talented and passionate chefs, and the perfect weather, it seems that the best example is the culinary equivalent to pirate radio known as "Area C-2", unfortunately (for non-attendees) open only today, June 4, in Ft. Hunt Park. dr.com 2nd annual spring picnic
DonRocks Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Hunan Number One Two Quail Lucky Three Four Sisters Five Guys Bob's Noodle Sixty Six Pier Seven Jordan's 8 Butterfield 9 Ten Penh Eleventh Street Lounge Lot 12 Public House (*) Restaurant Two Thirteen (*) 14K 15 RIA Local 16 17th Street Bar and Grill 18th Street Lounge Croc's 19th Street Bistro (*) Four and Twenty Blackbirds Twenty-One Federal Twenty-two minutes of my life wasted. (*) Day trip 1
chef4cook Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Hunan Number OneTwo Quail Lucky Three Four Sisters Five Guys Bob's Noodle Sixty Six Pier Seven Jordan's 8 Butterfield 9 Ten Penh Eleventh Street Lounge Lot 12 Public House (*) Restaurant Two Thirteen (*) 14K 15 RIA Local 16 17th Street Bar and Grill 18th Street Lounge Croc's 19th Street Bistro (*) Four and Twenty Blackbirds Twenty-One Federal Twenty-two minutes of my life wasted. (*) Day trip Don, you missed one! "219" on King Street
Al Dente Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Don, you missed one! "219" on King Street And Pizzeria Uno!
Dave Pressley Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 http://www.projo.com/food/content/fd-123na...JR.1cb59e2.html
goldenticket Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Yes, but he's going to have to do a lot more looking/traveling/eating to get from 21 to 100 to 219 to 815 to 2941.... though he seems to have a lot of time on his hands (his list is restaurant names with numbers from 1 to 21)
michaelharr Posted September 25, 2007 Posted September 25, 2007 Butterfield 9's name has always been somewhat of a mystery. The classic movie, the address - no one seems to know. The restaurant was actually built in the old Garfinkle's dept. store space (the men's shirt and underwear dept. to be exact), and when Garfinkle's was built, phone systems still operated on an exchange system. Some of DC's exchange ports included Charlie 4 and Butterfield 9. To call into the Garfinkle's space, one had to dial the operator and request a transfer into Butterfield 9 - hence the name. Garfinkle's was a DC hot spot back in the day - the restaurant tries to keep hints of that era around.
soapy Posted September 25, 2007 Posted September 25, 2007 My friend is an aspiring guitar playing singer songwriter type and he recently played at a funky coffee shop called 14U, located in Colombia heights.
DonRocks Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 And of course add Mintwood Place, no? Yes, pretty much, but Mintwood Place (the street) is actually about a block west. Remember this place? When Mantis opened, I remember it being viewed as "pushing the envelope" for drink prices; I wish I had an opening menu now - it might be good for a couple of laughs. Anyway, it's now Napoleon.
The Hersch Posted February 21, 2015 Posted February 21, 2015 Yes, pretty much, but Mintwood Place (the street) is actually about a block west. It's sort of as if Calvert Café (now Mama Ayesha's) had been called Biltmore Café, after the next street over.
Kibbee Nayee Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 I wonder if "Windows on the World" would have qualified...?
The Hersch Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 I wonder if "Windows on the World" would have qualified...? Too soon!
DonRocks Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Too soon! This guy and his family walk into an talent agent's office ....
Kibbee Nayee Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Missed opportunity --> the Back Lick, in Springfield, on Backlick Road (duh!). Better yet, the Front Lick on Backlick....yeah, that's the ticket!
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