It Was Like Kitchen Nightmares

OK - now that the manager of Napoli's is freaking - it's a good review.
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packers - well . . .at least Dallas lost.   BTW - I've never been in love with McCarthy and I like him LESS today.  Really? go for a TD as opposed to taking 3 free points?  jeez - could have used those 3 points couldn't we.

Also - Ted Thompson is a genius - He NEW the Packers would not be able to use another running back.  Heck - a running back is the least of his worries at the moment.  Well done Ted (seriously).     

Let's just hope Rogers only misses one week.  That front line was really letting some guys get to Aaron.

Brett . . . Brett Brett Brett.  At least the other woman  (is there another one coming forward now?) was good looking.
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Big photography weekend as Saturday I was asked to help on a photo shoot at the Club LaMarc as they were having their annual fall Motorcycle ride and 500 cycles were expected to partake.

There was an special photo I was asked to get and while I was there I took the opportunity to get some bike shots! Also a Biker magazine might be interested in my work so . . . . I spent the morning among and Harley's and leather.

I believe there is only one group that wants to have there photos taken LESS and they are the houseless people. So I was careful not to have any shots of Lug Wrench, Stairway Harry, Jingles, Hitler, Skull and Pan, Preacher, Keg, Woody or Claim Jumper.

I was asked couple times if I was with the FBI and said no. At least this time the owner of the bar did not get in my face.

So here are a few of the shots I managed to get and I worked pretty hard to not show any dudes faces who did not want to be shot.

After that I rushed back to Cbus and took some photos of the Fall Festival which had much less leather but there was a very good size crowd.  I believe the near record temps really helped out and I think I'll try to talk the organizers of the Fall Festival to stage it in early summer next year for better weather.  Last year it was snowing this date!

I'll have photos perhaps in a day or two. It's been a busy few days!

Saturday night we decided to finally pull the Italian trigger and check out Columbus's newest downtown restaurant, Napoli Italian Restaurant Pizzeria.

We arrived about 6:00. It was an early dinner. We walk in and are greeted and we decided to eat outside by the fire. They have perhaps 6 tables in their little veranda , although officially a veranda has a roof.  You are sort of faux outside, open to the elements but surrounded by 4 walls and big umbrellas.

I looked around and there were perhaps 8 tables full in the restaurant which pleased me. I've driven past a few times and there are always customers.   They have an extensive martini list and a good number of good wines.  DJ had a Lambrusco and I had a Sangiovese which is the main varietal in Chianti (BTW -the name Sangiovese is derived from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove").

We both order.  I have a Chicken  Marsala just so I can compare it with The Olive Garden and DJ has Spaghetti.

As we sit there we see more and more people coming in and no one is leaving.  I go to wash my hands and look around and now there are 14 tables full.

We get our Garlic Cheese Bread and . . OH MY!  this is WONDERFUL!! comes with a slice of tomato on it which I quickly discard.  The Garlic Cheese Bread is fantastic.

And more people arrive.  In fact it's looking pretty busy and the wait staff seems to be getting a little behind.  Not time-wise but a few things are being skipped (like silverware).  But as soon as a tiny problem is brought to attention it is quickly remedied! In fact this is one of the things that impressed me. While there were tiny logistical problems, it was always fixed quickly and with a smile.  Typical new restaurant, new wait staff glitches.

DJ and I both get our food in perfect time, not to soon and not to slow.

And more people arrive.  In fact it's REAL busy!

You know when you go bowling you never worry about your left arm. It's just doing whatever it does when no one is looking. Don't think about it, throw the bowling ball.  Well, I had a problem.  I've never eaten pasta without a spoon. I know I know - it is considered bad form to use a spoon to help you wrap the pasta.  But . . . . I had no idea what to so with my left arm.   It was just hanging there with out a job!  I ignored it. 

The only other little quibble was the lack of Parmesan Cheese but I put that under the "outside table" problems which seems to bug ALL restaurants.  To me it seems if you choose to eat outside, you do not always get EVERYTHING.  You are away from the throngs and the rhythm of the waitstaff is a little disjointed.  I remember at Buffalo Wild Wings we were outside and no one EVER gave us water.  In fact I think all of the outside tables were sort of forgotten about!! One person takes the order, another gives us drinks, another delivers the food and then YOUR ON YOUR OWN!!


Well anyway -I loved the Marsala.  It was not as rich as The OG, lighter and very tasty.  Very very good and I say it was better they The OG.  DJ's Spaghetti was very good and she liked it.  We were both stuffed!


By that time the restaurant was 100% full, I say they have something like 25 tables, the bar was packed and people were waiting.  WOW!!!!  


It was like watching the last 15 minutes of Kitchen Nightmares, where Chef Ramsy introduces a completely new menu 2 hours before the restaurant open and then makes sure it's completely packed just to stress out everyone?


Yea - the staff and managers were flying around like crazy and from what I could tell, things were running as smoothly as possible. 

BTW - what is the non-smoking rule anyway.  There was a couple smoking next to us! Just curious, we were outside. Not complaining, I feel sorry for smokers.  I LOVE the smoking ban (I would not go to a restaurant with rampant smoking) but feel sorry for smokers.


I feel this is a HUGE bonanza to the City of Columbus!  You could tell that this is exactly what people needed and were waiting for.  This could be the catalyst downtown has been hoping for. It could be the "IT" place for Columbus!  


The Atwood Community in Madison is about the size of Columbus and it took Monty's Blue Plate Restaurant to really turn that area around.  It gave people a reason to "go downtown".   All of a sudden the buildings next to Napoli's might look a little more entertaining to future businesses. 
 

If Napoli's can continue to draw the customers (which I believe they will with good affordable food in a lovely setting,) this will spur more and more growth.   STANDING OVATION TO NAPOLI'S. 


Another store that seems to be doing well is the Snack Shack with ice cream.

 I took a couple photos of their take home menu!  Don't know about the Pizza. Never had a chance to look at it.  It's New Your Style - pretty much all I know. 

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Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) we are head to Door County for a middle of the week "weekend" trip. so no blog Tuesday. Perhaps Wednesday as we will be at The Shallows in Egg Harbor.

Until then.

Cheers and enjoy the weather.

Rod