NDL Forum

Lebron is a big investor in that chain

Place was absolutely packed. Its a great concept, great variety of toppings, and priced exactly like Chipotle which is competitive for what you get.

Not the greatest pizza ever but definitely better than the likes of say a Flippers and much more convenient.

DRiccio21 wrote:unfortunately the vast majority of small local family owned restaurants around the country don't serve high quality stuff. don't get me wrong, there is a huge chef inspired restaurant craze everywhere (mostly cause the internet has created a generation of chefs due to the access to information). those chef inspired places that actually care are great. but the local bar down the street is mostly serving a nasty frozen burger. given the choice i'm eating Shake Shack over that burger.

i do agree with your overall point that i'd prefer to give my business to smaller locally owned biz, but its not always apples to apples fight.

On your first point, that is where some research comes in. My bar serves OK food. It hs a very high floor, but a very low ceiling. You will always get a decent burger but you'll never run across the county to come get it. However, being in this industry, I know - off the top of my head - two dozen places where I can get a great, great burger along with a great beer or wine. That's more my style. Of course, chicken and egg: did it become my style because of what I do and the info I have or do I have the info because the places are great? Six of one ...

As for your second point, I can't fully flesh out my thoughts on this one, but it goes beyond just buying local. I actually think I have some sort of bias AGAINST these specialty burger places. I can't exactly tell you why but I can tell you that the forced trendiness annoys the shit out of me.

trendon wrote: I can't exactly tell you why but I can tell you that the forced trendiness annoys the shit out of me.

Yes you can tell us why. You just did at the end of this sentence.

Cnasty wrote:

trendon wrote: I can't exactly tell you why but I can tell you that the forced trendiness annoys the shit out of me.

Yes you can tell us why. You just did at the end of this sentence.

i giggled

Cnasty wrote:Speaking of the Chipotle idea they just opened a place around the corner from us called Blaze Pizza.

I just saw they are adding one in north Austin. I'll be stopping by it to try it out when it opens. It sounds like a great idea.

Cnasty wrote:

trendon wrote: I can't exactly tell you why but I can tell you that the forced trendiness annoys the shit out of me.

Yes you can tell us why. You just did at the end of this sentence.

Well, that is one reason.

its called being an antagonist

Cnasty wrote:There is a "artistry" burger joint on every corner here in Texas trying to outdo each other with things like peanut butter and jelly burgers to burgers with mozzarella sticks on them. The prices arent cheap and you can get as good or even a better quality burger at a joint like Five Guys for cheaper.

You think that's crazy, you should come here. Some absolutely ridiculous burgers here. That said, they're worth the cost often times.

Then of course you have Tom & Chee busting out the grilled cheese donut....

DRiccio21 wrote:you should see the stocks of these burger places. i only like Shake shack cause it made me a ton of money. but these things are out of control bubble style runs.

SHAK went from like 38 to 96 in 3 months

Never been there, none here

Or Whataburger/I&OB either. Heck, we just got a Raisin Canes last year. Then again, we have Cheddars and most of you guys don't, so it balances out.

there is a chain here called Top That. Same basic concept as Blaze Pizza, went once and wasn't overly impressed. If I'm going to splurge on pizza, I want it to be legit. Local or not.

I still think I make the best pizza. Blaze is OK.

DRiccio21 wrote:the industry right now is all geared toward specialization.

-burger places
-chicken and waffles
-meatball places (literally just serve different types of meatballs)
-chicken nugget places (just serve high quality nuggets with a million different types of sauces)

we get pitched by so many of them to raise money. its hysterical the ideas people have. but specialized food restaurants/shops are enormously popular so alot of them are getting the money as everyone wants the next Chipotle idea

Nole special

There's a company here called Wild Eggs, they have a Chipotle-style Italian restaurant called Wild Strati Italian. Portion sizes are terrific, and it's basically like Chipotle--choose your pasta, your sauce, your meats (chicken, italian sausage, etc), peppers/onions/mushrooms, and so on. They toss it in a skillet and cook it right in front of you. Then you can add cheese bread, breadsticks, and so on. They also sell bottled beer to go with it. The food is delicious and very well done.

I'm not Italian, but even I wouldn't buy Italian food from a chain place. I'd rather make it myself then do that.

jsence2 wrote:

DRiccio21 wrote:the industry right now is all geared toward specialization.

-burger places
-chicken and waffles
-meatball places (literally just serve different types of meatballs)
-chicken nugget places (just serve high quality nuggets with a million different types of sauces)

we get pitched by so many of them to raise money. its hysterical the ideas people have. but specialized food restaurants/shops are enormously popular so alot of them are getting the money as everyone wants the next Chipotle idea

Nole special

There's a company here called Wild Eggs, they have a Chipotle-style Italian restaurant called Wild Strati Italian. Portion sizes are terrific, and it's basically like Chipotle--choose your pasta, your sauce, your meats (chicken, italian sausage, etc), peppers/onions/mushrooms, and so on. They toss it in a skillet and cook it right in front of you. Then you can add cheese bread, breadsticks, and so on. They also sell bottled beer to go with it. The food is delicious and very well done.

We had one similar in the Cleveland area called Piada. Similar to Chipotle style.

jsence2 wrote:Their fries.....I made the mistake the first time I went of ordering the large fries to share w a friend. It's basically a 32 oz cup of fries.

First time I went, I ordered a large fry, to not share with my friends, big mistake.
We all ordered our own fries and it is obnoxious how much you get!

I'd rather just make my own food to be honest.

im havign macaroni with chicken in the sauce/gravy (whatever u call it). pumped.

texasfan4444 wrote:I'm not Italian, but even I wouldn't buy Italian food from a chain place. I'd rather make it myself then do that.

It's not a chain place. That's probably why it's good. They have one location and that's it

https://www.louisville.com/content/stra ... iciousness

it breaks my heart to know not everyone in this world can experience my mom's cooking. unreal.