Popped down to Erato, a wine bar on South Grand tonight. I had heard some good things so I was looking forward to checking it out…

Tim Foley was pretty much a jerk across the board. I tried to engage him in conversation, and it was hopeless. He made a snippy comment to my girlfriend and that set the tone for our evening. I was completly dismayed that he commited the most amateur of bartender mistakes: He got us our cocktails and left the bar. I had a barback go fetch him when I needed my tab since it was obvious that he wasn’t coming back.

I tried a last ditch effort to save it by talking some shop over cocktail prices… and he blew it. Answered my question like a kid, and blew me off. What a disappointing evening.

A lot of restaurateurs fail to see that their person sells the space. I don’t go to Bar Italia for Italian: I go for the people. The Scottish Arms is a direct reflection of Alastair Nesbitt, and it’s a good one. Boogaloo looks like Doug Morgan, etc.

If you own a restaurant you’re required to be nice to 100% of the people that you meet. Forget the money; it’s about being known as a hospitable person that runs a hospitable house. I can think of several other restaurateurs that have been rude when I tried to say hello, and it’s assured that I don’t give them any of my money. Voting with the wallet is the best kind of voting.