My friend sent me a pic and a text message about a place he was eating at the other night. Basically, in a nutshell, it was a list of all of the restaurant’s ‘rules’ (?!), and ended with this final message: “Don’t like our policy? Why are you here?” Wow. A big WOW.

I don’t get it

I almost understand the ‘bordering on offensive but funny’ banter that goes on in a lot of places. Did I italicize almost? That was for a reason. That is to say, I know that it goes on, and even though I am not as hip as I used to think I was, I still don’t get it. Not really. And so many of these places take it to a whole new level.

There is another place in town with a sign out front that says, “Food. Beer. Wine. Sass.” Great. Can’t wait to go there.  What is the deal? Don’t these folks know that this practice is not sustainable? So what then? These places will run their course, and all the owners and employees will be able to say when all is said and done is that they were as rude as possible? It was great?

Boy, those were the days

People (again, not me) might find this approach amusing, but the novelty of it will wear off and customers will stop coming in. I don’t know about you, but I just love going out to eat and spending my hard earned cash on places where they hate what they do, hate customers, and let’s face it, hate themselves, mostly.

How I wish I could tell you

I hear about these places and it is my duty to spread the word to as many people as possible to NEVER eat there. Many times, when writing these posts, I wish I could tell you the name of these offensive joints. Joints, by the way, is too nice a word for them. However, in keeping consistent, and not naming restaurants when I love my experience, I must not name them when I absolutely hate what they do. Besides, if I named the place it would give them the attention they want. Kind of like the lunatic who commits a horrible crime to get notoriety. I say we instead focus on the victims (us), not the offender.

I realize that I am not the target market of these places, but I always thought that Portland was a pretty friendly place. That is until you eat out at a too-cool-for-school spot.

Is this some unique to Portland restaurants hipster thing?

When exactly did being nice become so uncool?