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Submitted by lilurazko on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 9:30am.
I recently ate at Mortimer's for the first time. I had the hazelnut crusted Brie & the lamb, both of which were delicious, even though the lamb was undercooked. (Apparently consistency is NOT their forte.) The meal was delicious, although a tad overpriced for such small portions.
It always amazes me to read people's comments about these reviews. Usually people are rude (jimmyfan) and often careless with their remarks. Downtown Boise has several wonderful dining establishments who often get tagged as "overpriced, overated, and not worth finding parking for". I'm sure these people who make those comments dine at the chain restaurants and shop at Walmart. With that said, I love the brie with the lingonberrry chutney and am always impressed with the service and huge wine list. I found this review to be backhanded and highly critical. My dining companions and I have always been impressed with the high level of service and quality of Mortimer's; knowing the resources this market has to work with. We are not a Chicago, NY, or San Francisco where the population dines out at restaurants like Mortimer's seven nights a week affording the restaurants to pay their staff what it takes to have a 5 star rating. Guy Hand should review with these factors in mind. He should also comment on decor and service-what about wine...Guy? I was in Seattle two weeks ago and had the tasting menu at Cascadia ($85) it was great, Mortimer's tasting menu ($50) was even better. Food that doesn't come frozen in a box costs money-get over it (jimmyfan).
I hope the people at Mortimer's don't get discouraged, I just made a reservation for tonight and plan to tell them how I feel. Guy Hand should support these establishments rather than knock them down-unless of course he's trying to run them out of business.
Submitted by omakase on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 10:49am.
He's paid to criticize if it's deserved. Saying he's trying to run them out of business is ludicrous. Did you gloss over the part where he said it's one of Idaho's best restaurants? Once Mortimer reads the review, he should adapt and learn from the mistakes. Perhaps they were just sliding by due to the good street cred in town and need to step it up again. Unless I paid for one of his underwhelming meals, I don't see how this review is a negative thing.
And Guy Hand's reviews are a godsend compared to the oft-drivel spewed by James Patrick Kelly. Hopefully they keep up the quality of restaurants that are being reviewed and not force him to go to Chinese buffets and gringo-run burrito joints that Kelly would torture us with on an occasional basis.
Submitted by jimmyfan on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 1:36pm.
I have worked in a downtown restaurant over the last 12 years (one that is very reputable). And, just because you think you are getting 5 star service and food does not mean you are. You are the reason places are over priced. An Albertsons bought steak cooked at a restaurant like this does not warrant a $30 price tag. One brought in from say, Nebraska and corn fed does.
Learn the difference.
Submitted by macwhenderson on Mon, 06/02/2008 - 10:16pm.
Are you saying that the people that shop at Wal*Mart dont know how to eat in (so called) fine dining establishments, how snobish can you get, it dosent matter how many staff you have, if your going to serve fine food at the price Mortimer's WAS charging, then the food had better be the best ALL the time,......thank you for your time
Submitted by cschleer on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 12:00pm.
Upon reading Guy Hand's "review" of Mortimer's restaurant, I was disappointed that he actually didn't fully review the entire restaurant. I have eaten at Mortimer's several times and have always been more than impressed with every dish we have been served. From the ingredients to the presentation, everything including portion sizes have been spot on. Apparently, Guy didn't feel the need to comment on Mortimer's outstanding wine list, personal, attentive and professional service or the intimate atmosphere that Mortimer's provides. We will continue to dine at Mortimer's and appreciate the food and experience that they provide.
Guy's review was more than fair, and accurate in my experience. Great menu, great presentation, and one of Idaho's best - but the kitchen does seem to have trouble cooking meat properly. Guy notes it on two different dishes. I noted it with salmon the last time I ate there. It was barely cooked. Any competent broiler should have been able to better, and the fact that the Chef/Sous/Expo let it out of the kitchen was really quite unreal.
Submitted by deschutes on Mon, 05/12/2008 - 9:54am.
with consistency on their meat dishes as well. I've had it perfect before (rare duck breast) and I've had it way off (seriously overcooked filet). Overall, though, it's a pretty good joint.
Boise isn't anywhere close to Seattle or Portland in terms of restaurant quality, but there are quite a few good places relative to the size of the city. The key is avoiding all the mediocre chain crap.
Submitted by JimJoeBob on Mon, 06/02/2008 - 4:58pm.
Oh, I got one bad review, so rather then suck it up and make your restaraunt better, you close up shop and run...
I smell BS!
He is losing money on the place and is going to blame a critic rather than tell his customers on this end of town they are not giving him enough revenue!
Submitted by dhyansargam on Mon, 06/02/2008 - 5:00pm.
I think it regrettable that this review should cause Jon and Shara to close. I shall be sorry to see this restaurant go which for some time I have regarded as the best I have eaten at in the Treasure valley. At its best Mortimer's is as good as anything nationally and equals many international fine dining experiences at a fraction of the price you would expect to pay for this quality elsewhere. However the negative comments are not without justification. The last time we ate there we were served overcooked meat however I put that down to an exception rather than the rule which has normally been cooking with flair and without fault. My experience of most quality restaurants is that they are at their best a few months after opening when the teething troubles are over complacency has yet to set in. A quality cycle is is inevitable for most enterprises however most react to a perceived quality downturn as a reason to refocuses efforts rather than throw in the towel. The only reason I have not dined at Mortimer's recently is not one single slight disappointment but my declining spending power compounded by my having given up alcohol. A fountain soft drink with fine dining does not cut it for me! In more affluent times I will try the Mortimer's other restaurant Franco Latino in Eagle though I do not find the menu as much to my taste as that of Mortimer's itself.
You are a fool to think Mortimer's is closing because of a mildly poor review. I recently ate at Mortimer's on a Wednesday night, and my wife and I found ourselves to be the only one there for the hour and a half of dining. Though Jon may still cook there, the patrons who once frequented the restaurant aren't there any more.
Also I agree with the inconsistency with cooking meat. I've had a perfectly cooked steak cooked there once, yet on a different occasion, the lamb shank was dry.
By the way, Gino's always cooks a marvelous cut of meat.
-in Eagle. I attempted to go there and made the mistake of having the notion that they would greet me. What I got instead was the NEW typical Eagle snobism. No thank you.
Submitted by momidaho on Tue, 06/03/2008 - 11:10am.
I was taken to this restaurant for my birthday a few months ago. My husband and I were very disappointed that the chef would not prepare my steak the way I like it prepared (well-done). In my opinion any great chef can prepare a steak any way his customer pleases and still make it tender and enjoyable to eat. The vegetables, potatoes and rice were not completely cooked. Nothing like eating half cooked veggies.. The only things that we enjoyed eating were the salad, sorbet and the bread pudding.
Submitted by timetraveler on Tue, 06/03/2008 - 4:48pm.
This is a tricky business. I agree that there is more to this restaurant closing than one person's OPINION. With all of the new restaurant business, customers can get mighty picky.
Mortimer's
I recently ate at Mortimer's for the first time. I had the hazelnut crusted Brie & the lamb, both of which were delicious, even though the lamb was undercooked. (Apparently consistency is NOT their forte.) The meal was delicious, although a tad overpriced for such small portions.
Are you kidding? WAY over
Are you kidding?
WAY over priced, and even way more OVER RATED........
IF YOU WANT
If you want good food go to Ginos.
I have my own food bank and a microwave.
Thumbs up
Keep up the good work, Jon!
I Love This Restaurant
It always amazes me to read people's comments about these reviews. Usually people are rude (jimmyfan) and often careless with their remarks. Downtown Boise has several wonderful dining establishments who often get tagged as "overpriced, overated, and not worth finding parking for". I'm sure these people who make those comments dine at the chain restaurants and shop at Walmart. With that said, I love the brie with the lingonberrry chutney and am always impressed with the service and huge wine list. I found this review to be backhanded and highly critical. My dining companions and I have always been impressed with the high level of service and quality of Mortimer's; knowing the resources this market has to work with. We are not a Chicago, NY, or San Francisco where the population dines out at restaurants like Mortimer's seven nights a week affording the restaurants to pay their staff what it takes to have a 5 star rating. Guy Hand should review with these factors in mind. He should also comment on decor and service-what about wine...Guy? I was in Seattle two weeks ago and had the tasting menu at Cascadia ($85) it was great, Mortimer's tasting menu ($50) was even better. Food that doesn't come frozen in a box costs money-get over it (jimmyfan).
I hope the people at Mortimer's don't get discouraged, I just made a reservation for tonight and plan to tell them how I feel. Guy Hand should support these establishments rather than knock them down-unless of course he's trying to run them out of business.
The guy is a CRITIC
He's paid to criticize if it's deserved. Saying he's trying to run them out of business is ludicrous. Did you gloss over the part where he said it's one of Idaho's best restaurants? Once Mortimer reads the review, he should adapt and learn from the mistakes. Perhaps they were just sliding by due to the good street cred in town and need to step it up again. Unless I paid for one of his underwhelming meals, I don't see how this review is a negative thing.
And Guy Hand's reviews are a godsend compared to the oft-drivel spewed by James Patrick Kelly. Hopefully they keep up the quality of restaurants that are being reviewed and not force him to go to Chinese buffets and gringo-run burrito joints that Kelly would torture us with on an occasional basis.
Wall-Art blows chunks and how much is their PB&J w/7and7
PS I don't "TASTE"
I EAT. I don't get $50 in Food Stamps even, only 43. For the rest I use outlet stores.
Learn how to spend yer money and get yer nose out of yer noodles.
Hey Dinkus...
I have worked in a downtown restaurant over the last 12 years (one that is very reputable). And, just because you think you are getting 5 star service and food does not mean you are. You are the reason places are over priced. An Albertsons bought steak cooked at a restaurant like this does not warrant a $30 price tag. One brought in from say, Nebraska and corn fed does.
Learn the difference.
Oh yeah, and he is a CRITIC dipwad.
Sorry jimmyfan.....
A dinkus drop, you might have slipped by. Add a dipwad crack, and you were flagged.
Hey Dr....
Is it dipwad or dip-wad?
I can not remember from my days at skool....
WAL*MART
Are you saying that the people that shop at Wal*Mart dont know how to eat in (so called) fine dining establishments, how snobish can you get, it dosent matter how many staff you have, if your going to serve fine food at the price Mortimer's WAS charging, then the food had better be the best ALL the time,......thank you for your time
Outstanding restaurant poor reviewer
Upon reading Guy Hand's "review" of Mortimer's restaurant, I was disappointed that he actually didn't fully review the entire restaurant. I have eaten at Mortimer's several times and have always been more than impressed with every dish we have been served. From the ingredients to the presentation, everything including portion sizes have been spot on. Apparently, Guy didn't feel the need to comment on Mortimer's outstanding wine list, personal, attentive and professional service or the intimate atmosphere that Mortimer's provides. We will continue to dine at Mortimer's and appreciate the food and experience that they provide.
Jack in the Box is intimate!
Nobody talks to you there either!
Does Anybody.......
Talk to you you anywhere?
Does anybody...
not flag you?
Silly human! Of course they do!
HAHAHA foreignmoronogonian, What Happened?
Accidentally flag yourself?
Very Fair
Guy's review was more than fair, and accurate in my experience. Great menu, great presentation, and one of Idaho's best - but the kitchen does seem to have trouble cooking meat properly. Guy notes it on two different dishes. I noted it with salmon the last time I ate there. It was barely cooked. Any competent broiler should have been able to better, and the fact that the Chef/Sous/Expo let it out of the kitchen was really quite unreal.
I've noticed they struggle
with consistency on their meat dishes as well. I've had it perfect before (rare duck breast) and I've had it way off (seriously overcooked filet). Overall, though, it's a pretty good joint.
Boise isn't anywhere close to Seattle or Portland in terms of restaurant quality, but there are quite a few good places relative to the size of the city. The key is avoiding all the mediocre chain crap.
Quitter
Oh, I got one bad review, so rather then suck it up and make your restaraunt better, you close up shop and run...
I smell BS!
He is losing money on the place and is going to blame a critic rather than tell his customers on this end of town they are not giving him enough revenue!
Pathetic!
Mortimers
I think it regrettable that this review should cause Jon and Shara to close. I shall be sorry to see this restaurant go which for some time I have regarded as the best I have eaten at in the Treasure valley. At its best Mortimer's is as good as anything nationally and equals many international fine dining experiences at a fraction of the price you would expect to pay for this quality elsewhere. However the negative comments are not without justification. The last time we ate there we were served overcooked meat however I put that down to an exception rather than the rule which has normally been cooking with flair and without fault. My experience of most quality restaurants is that they are at their best a few months after opening when the teething troubles are over complacency has yet to set in. A quality cycle is is inevitable for most enterprises however most react to a perceived quality downturn as a reason to refocuses efforts rather than throw in the towel. The only reason I have not dined at Mortimer's recently is not one single slight disappointment but my declining spending power compounded by my having given up alcohol. A fountain soft drink with fine dining does not cut it for me! In more affluent times I will try the Mortimer's other restaurant Franco Latino in Eagle though I do not find the menu as much to my taste as that of Mortimer's itself.
Scapegoat
You are a fool to think Mortimer's is closing because of a mildly poor review. I recently ate at Mortimer's on a Wednesday night, and my wife and I found ourselves to be the only one there for the hour and a half of dining. Though Jon may still cook there, the patrons who once frequented the restaurant aren't there any more.
Also I agree with the inconsistency with cooking meat. I've had a perfectly cooked steak cooked there once, yet on a different occasion, the lamb shank was dry.
By the way, Gino's always cooks a marvelous cut of meat.
I hope they improve their manners
-in Eagle. I attempted to go there and made the mistake of having the notion that they would greet me. What I got instead was the NEW typical Eagle snobism. No thank you.
Mortimer's
I was taken to this restaurant for my birthday a few months ago. My husband and I were very disappointed that the chef would not prepare my steak the way I like it prepared (well-done). In my opinion any great chef can prepare a steak any way his customer pleases and still make it tender and enjoyable to eat. The vegetables, potatoes and rice were not completely cooked. Nothing like eating half cooked veggies.. The only things that we enjoyed eating were the salad, sorbet and the bread pudding.
Restaurant Businesses
This is a tricky business. I agree that there is more to this restaurant closing than one person's OPINION. With all of the new restaurant business, customers can get mighty picky.