On a whim this past Friday evening, we treated ourselves to a spontaneous date after a grueling week deep in the coal mines.
My old lady picked the movie (Ironman) and I chose the restaurant. Having seen that the former Bobby K's Embers in Chaska had taken on a new image and name, I suggested it and before I knew it, we were waiting for a table.
Before I get into the details of the food, I'd like to give the owners my approval on the decor. Literally from floor to ceiling, they captured the essence of what a modern day diner should be. The pattern and colors used for the floor (black, white, a bright blue and a bright green) offer up a throwback to the glory days of the American diner with a modern twist. The booths (we sat in the Chestnut St. side) are large and comfortable and use the bright blue color for the seats and backs. Nice touch for continuity's sake.
Even the ceiling was striking to me. No crappy dropped tile ceiling here. Strictly black painted ceiling letting all of the formerly hidden features hand out for the world to see. I can tell that there was a lot of planning put into this effort because from an aesthetic standpoint they nailed it!
Then there's the food. I wish I had brought my camera but you can trust my descriptions. The signature item is the house french fries. Cut in-house and served with a special dipping sauce which isn't ketchup but certainly contains ketchup wasn't my thing but I think that my old lady scraped the remnants out of the cup and into her pocket to have at the movie later. The portion size is another thing that the folks at Mix nailed. No enormous portions for the sake of size alone here. I had a hamburger with bacon and it was the perfect size (probably around 5 oz.) which again harkens back to days past. My dining partner had a turkey club which satisfied her erratic appetite and then some.
My only gripe has to be the prices. I'm not going to say that my hamburger plus bacon was worth a solid $8.50 because it wasn't. I could have driven up Hwy. 212 to Lion's Tap and while the menu would have been much more limited, the hamburger would have been far superior.
Without any more blathering, the grades.
Atmosphere: A+
Food Quality: B
Price: C- ($2.50 for a Coke?)
Overall grade: B-
This is a much-needed dining option in Chaska and while the prices are high, keep your dining dollars local and I'm sure they will adjust prices accordingly in the future.
9 comments:
I'd be okay with $2.50 for a Coke if there were unlimited free refills. I look at a price like that as including the fact that you're taking up space, requiring service, etc., and I also understand that items like this are priced higher to help keep the entree prices lower.
If you think about it, McDonald's is the same way. If you just buy a Coke there, it costs, what? At least a buck and a half? And you're getting no table service.
Alot of restaurants that spend $$$ on remodeling and decor, usually set their prices to pay for it quickly. They know as the "new" place, they will get a certain amount of business simply on that fact. The danger is-no returning diners if the value was not there...
Well, unfortunately food prices are only going to go up as long as fuel prices (along with just about all other prices) continue to rise. I have noticed anywhere from a 10-50% increase in wholesale prices for food in the last 6 months, and from what the purveyors say it's only going to get worse.
So this means that your $8.50 cheeseburger may cost $9-10 a year from now if the situation doesn't improve.
But a $2.50 Coke? That's totally unnecessary.
wish i was there with you. Hope you dont mind giving me a treat
Your "old lady?" Ugh. God help the man who ever refers to me that way.
And what about the movie? What didja think of that?
Hey wait a minute, I'm with Teri...you didn't rate the movie!
Ask and ye shall receive. Well, a movie review anyway. As for "old lady", it's what rockers call their wives or girlfriends once they get themselves a bun a cookin'.
Ya, I'm familiar with the term, baby doll. I had just better not catch a man calling me that!
The Mix American Diner is now closed.
Post a Comment