Foundry on Elm

[mjrocks98.livejournal.com]

I'm just curious, has anyone had a good experience at Foundry on Elm? I've been twice now & won't be going back. I was hoping this would be a great place but in December when I went a waitress who had gotten off her shift & stayed at the bar drinking came over to my table sat down with us & started eating off my plate & drank my beer. Neither management or her coworkers stepped in to stop her. I decided I wouldn't let that one incident keep me from giving it another try. This weekend I decided to go again & after ordering our food it took almost 90 minutes before the food was served. They stated that the original server had to leave & that after that happened our order got messed up & had to be recooked. They offered us a dessert for free but we just wanted to get out of there & not look back. Am I missing something here? Is there something great about this place? Isa this just going to be another place that closes in 2 years?

Comments

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I haven't ever had such a bad experience there. Mostly it's just noisy when we go, and that's the worst of it. Some of the servers are better than others. Sounds like some are a LOT better, eh.

[perich.livejournal.com]

... wow.

I've never had a bad experience there, but I think after those two you'd be justified in not giving it another try.

[en-ki.livejournal.com]

Your experiences are impressively bizarre. I've been there three or four times and consistently had fairly slow service, but nothing otherwise out of the ordinary.

Their beer selection is unusually good for the world at large but is bested at half a dozen places in Cambridge. The cocktails and food are inconsistent and overpriced, say my friends who get them---I only get the cheese plate, which is a fine example of its kind if a bit pricy.

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

yeah this pretty much sums up my thoughts on the place. i'm glad i live closer to cambridge common.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

I've been once. Food was good but pricey. Staff seemed to have a bit of an attitude. I did not find the atmosphere that welcoming. Felt like they want to be a somewhat fancy restaurant with a bar. I can go to Boston for that. I prefer a pub.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

I've been there a few times with fine experiences. Nothing *exceptionally* awesome but nothing particularly bad.

[kimmercake.livejournal.com]

Same.

Um ...

[mfinnigan.livejournal.com]

"... sat down with us & started eating off my plate & drank my beer. Neither management or her coworkers stepped in to stop her."
Did you consider asking her to stop? Or, alternatively, ask her if she was hitting on you? Because that might have been a good experience that you didn't take advantage of.

You tell such an odd story.

Re: Um ...

[mjrocks98.livejournal.com]

When she sat with us she was telling us how she was in love with our waitress. She wasn't there for us she was there for the other waitress. The 4 of us who experienced the whole situation talk about it every time we get together because it was very bizarre to say the least. With as drunk as she was we didn't want to get confrontational so I just quit eating.

Re: Um ...

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Wow!

[pvfirenice.livejournal.com]

Wow, I go every Sunday (like to avoid the ridiculous crowds) and I have a blast every time. Fabulous food and if Morgan or Andy are behind the bar absolutely fantastic cocktails. Course I'm also the type of person who avoids going out to 'nicer' places on Fri/Sat nights since I know that there is no way that a bar or restaurant is going to be on it's A-game when they're overloaded like that. That's said, given that it's a 'neighborhood' place I've been to there at least half dozen times on a Friday and had great service and food (though a wait for a table) every time.

The waitress experience is weird, you really should have told her to go away.

The Foundry is pricey but their goal was to position themselves as Davis' "adult bar", I definitely think they've succeeded in that goal. Can't wait until their rumored cocktail speakeasy and music venue open up.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

We went once, I think the week it opened. It was obvious they were still working on the details of how to make service run smoothly, but the food was delicious (spaetzle with bacon and a beet salad, I think). The waiter was charming, and apologetic when things didn't go smoothly.

[antimony.livejournal.com]

I found it to be kind of by-the-numbers trendy gastropub, and not as good as some of the places it's emulating, but nothing bad, and the services was quite good.

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

this

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

I haven't been there yet and mainly because of the so-so reviews I've seen. Consistently. Even the comments here bear out the fact that I'm not missing much.

But these experiences that you've had? Beyond the pale. I definitely won't be going now. If I want a pricey gastro-pub, I'll head into Boston proper and probably still wait less time, have better service and be satisfied that I'm generally getting what I'm paying for.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I once stopped in with my theatre group after a show, but it was so densely crowded that I ditched right out after 5 minutes. I've never been back.

But that drunken waitress of yours....I sincerely hope you Yelp about that, and if you don't have a Yelp account, I hope you create one just to share that experience. That's beyond horrifying.

[knowthyself.livejournal.com]

I've been twice. It's okay. I wish it were better than it is. The food menu is limited and slightly overpriced for what you get. The cocktails are kind of cool, but I can get good cocktails at other places that have better food.

[ward2.livejournal.com]

I've been there three times, and every time I've been less than thrilled. The first time, it was so crowded I couldn't get to the bar, so my girlfriend and I left for Sagra. I forgave them, since I think they'd just opened a week or so before.

The second time, I went for a late lunch mid-week. It was completely empty, the food was slightly better than average, and the beer list was overwhelming for a place that doesn't seem to be a "beer bar" like Sunset Grill. By 5:10, the place was getting jammed.

The last time, I joined friends for a drink on a Thursday night. Same scene: jammed in a corner with mediocre/no service. I thought these days ended in college?

I guess the crowded thing is really my pet peeve because as much as I love the food at Highland Kitchen, I won't go anymore. Every time I try to go, regardless of the night, it's uncomfortably crowded. They won't take reservations for fewer than 6 people so the wait is always 45-60 minutes, and the bar area is cramped with people waiting for tables.

[amy-s1.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind eating early, get there (Highland Kitchen) between 5:45 and 6:00 midweek and there is no wait. That is one bonus to having kids - we now go out to dinner much earlier and never have to wait. lol.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I've shown up to Highland Kitchen on a Friday at 6pm, been seated immediately at a table for two; never waited more than fifteen minutes on a table for four, even later in the night.

[ward2.livejournal.com]

Well, at least based on the two responses to my comment about Highland Kitchen, maybe I'm just getting there too late. I don't usually get out of work until 5:30 or 6 at the earliest, and I work downtown, so I'm not getting back to Somerville until 6:30 or later most nights.

I really would like to go back to Highland Kitchen - their food is incredible. Speaking of other Winter Hill-ish restaurants, I also love the food at Brunello. It's a little pricy, but it's a good "date night" type of place. I'm just afraid it will succumb to the curse that the place has for a bad location for a restaurant.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

It's expensive, the meals are pretty decent, the beer, while a good selection, is outrageously overpriced compared to Bones and even Flatbread, and it gets crowded as hell. I'd give it about a C, there are lots of places I'd return to or check out before going back but I wouldn't rule out splurging on a nice meal there again sometime. Just wouldn't go there for a night.

And you really should have confronted that waitress, that sounds like completely socially unacceptable behavior.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I'm not actually a fan of the beer selection at Flatbread. I mean, it's good, but I feel like the only reason it's good is that it wants to cater to the clientele's desire to tell you they're having a beer you've probably never heard of. Combine that with the terrible service and twee atmosphere and no thanks.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

I think the thing with the beer there is that it's all New England local beer, which is good in that it's cheap for quality craft beer. If you have a more specific/non local taste I can certainly see it being disappointing.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Put it to you this way: I don't believe the selection criteria was "Hey, these beers are awesome!" I believe the selection criteria was "These beers are local." Which is fine, but makes it a bit unfocused. Good prices, though, I will give them that.

[moria923.livejournal.com]

I had a couple of beers at Flatbread last week and *loved them!* And the $4.50 price, while not cheap, is great for the area. I enjoyed finding out about local breweries previously unknown to me.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

Wait, hold on, did you inform the manager or her co-workers that she had sat down at your table and was eating your food and drinking your beer? Because, while her behavior sounds unbelievable, the management not doing anything about it sounds even MORE unbelievable! What the hell? What manager with any sort of sense would allow that situation to continue? It boggles my mind.

That said, Foundry's meh. Their cheese plate is tasty, their oysters aren't bad on most days, food's very much hit or miss, and even the hits are not particularly spectacular.

For better food go to Posto. For better beer (prices) go to Red Bones. For better service, geez, I don't know what to tell you. Did you talk to the manager? Because I'm still stunned that anyone would think that was acceptable.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Went once: enjoyed the beer, enjoyed the poutine, went about my day, have felt no compelling urge to return.

The fact that the Phantom Gourmet recently praised them is probably the most ringing endorsement to avoid it I can think of, short of yours.

[ronhaha108.livejournal.com]

I completely agree, been there twice, will probably never go back, nothing majorly wrong, just meh. As for Phantom Gourmet, they gave Foundry Gourmet Greatness... what a joke...

http://phantomgourmet.com/Showpage.aspx?content=ReportCard&id=4165

[dreda.livejournal.com]

I like it a lot. We've had excellent service each time we went, and once they even turned down the music at lunchtime when we asked nicely. Very nice spaetzle, a beautiful omelet - and they let us make substitutions in the omelet without blinking.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

Is the phantom gourmet considered moot in most people's eyes? just wondering as personally when looking for a place or to find out about a location I have never used it regardless, neither for or against, I just have never felt to do so nor wanted.
I consciously do not use yelp as the system seems whacked

[ifotismeni]

personally yes as they tend to get everybody an above-average rating. notoriously crappy dive? really rather good? all about the same rating. it's possibly the most useless rating i've ever seen. (well, maybe IGN ties for useless ratings.)

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Yelp is just the Zagat's Guide for college students.

Phantom Gourmet is flagrantly for sale, which makes it a terrible food show but absolutely brilliant as an unintentional comedy. It's like the Andelmans want to be the absolute epitome of "sleazy local TV personalities" or possibly "walking bags of feces". If you watch the show over time, you'll notice there's this odd coincidence between how much they talk about certain restaurants and how much advertising on the Phantom Gourmet those restaurants buy, so even if one of their faithful sponsors turns out to be committing human rights and labor violations, they'll stand by them.

I'd never buy a Phantom Gourmet product or attend one of their events, but I'll happily mock their bland taste in food.

[amy-s1.livejournal.com]

I actually find Yelp to be very useful, especially in a city I don't know, but also for exploring new places here. I don't think most college students bother to write reviews, and often the photo of the poster looks older than 21. so not so sure about that "for college students" part.

Secondly, the sheer volume of posts makes it useful, often 10x the number of posts on Zagats for the same place.

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

Yelp's been called out many times on pay-for-play, and particularly on pay-for-hiding-bad-reviews. I don't trust it at all.

I don't trust PG not to sell out. They seem sleazy.

I do, however, trust chowhound, and participate there.

[dashford.livejournal.com]

Phantom Gourmet reviews many, many establishments that do not advertise on their show. They like some, dislike others. I tend to disregard the reviews they have of their advertising partners (some of which are excellent restaurants, as it happens).

I've found out about a good number of restaurants from PG that I enjoy and visit frequently.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

You forget the Phantom Gourmet gift cards: it's in their interest to have as many of those sold as possible, and to have as many restaurants as possible on board with it.

"Reviews" is a little generous. Generally it's the equivalent of a magazine blurb; even restaurants they do nothing but gripe about get a positive rating.

[bluesauce.livejournal.com]

Phantom Gourmet is herpes for the food world; they're gross and they never go away. The Andelman brothers are reprehensible human beings and the show is blatantly for sale.

[myfatcat.livejournal.com]

RE: FOUNDRY - I've been here a few times - pretty beer selection, decent food - it's a bit on the expensive side, but I knew that going in. I am surprised about your waitress - I would have been pretty pissed off - I don't blame you for not going back.

RE: PHANTOM - I like watching it, but obviously realize it's a complete joke, not sure why I am sucked into it so often.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday afternoon, around late brunch time (maybe 2 pm?) and got terrible service. We had the same waitress the whole time so it wasn't a shift change issue, but there was almost nobody in there and still she never came out to check on us and the food took ages to come out. Unimpressed. The food was pretty good though.