Smoking or non-smoking?
ESPN or ESPN2? 
It seems like more and more restaurants in the Grand Forks area have a slew of televisions on the walls, all showing different channels, but almost exclusively on sports (I even saw dominos, if you can really call that a sport). I can understand TVs in a sports bar, or if you have a sports bar adjacent to the restaurant, but does that idea have to flow over to the restaurant portion of the establishment? As much as I try not to look, there is just something in my brain that makes me turn in the direction of the flashing images. It probably goes back to the primitive hunter’s peripheral vision spotting movement in a bush, but that's just the science junkie in me talking.
It’s to the point where I don’t want to go these places just because of the damn TVs! However, part of me thinks that it's to help restaurants cover up for bad or slow service. If you distract the customer, maybe they won't notice that their mediocre dinner has taken 45 minutes to arrive. Not that I like to keep picking on Boston's, but...
Here’s my list of waitstaffed places with and w/o TVs. Please help me fill out this by adding a message, and I'll add them to the list. This should be an interesting exercise.
- Paradiso
- Ground Round
- The Blue Moose
- Grizzly's
- Green Mill
- Buffalo Wild Wings
No TVs, or TVs not easily visible from the restaurant:
- Sanders
- Paolo’s
- Bronze Boot
- Panda Buffet
- Toasted Frog
17 comments:
I left shilo's message on there for one reason: to remind me of how good my life really is.
I've only been to AG twice, and it's not exactly the type of place I'm referring to. It's like having dinner at Whole Foods. Sure, it's good food (I guess...I didn't really see anything that tickled my fancy. If they start carving gyros from the spit I'll reevaluate), but not exactly what I'm looking for when I take my family and out of town guests out to dinner.
I forgot about the Toasted Frog. I've had dinner there twice, and don't remember a TV in the line of views. I say it's a "No TV."
"MISERY IS ALIVE, MISERY IS ALIVE! OH, This whole house is going to be full of romance, OOOH, I AM GOING TO PUT ON MY LIBERACE RECORDS!"
Great, now I'm in for a hobbling.
I thought you already said you were not coming back. This place is addictive, huh?
I'm trying to compile a list of only sit down joints where your order is taken at the table.
What do you guys know abou Italian Moon? I've only ever had delivery.
There are no TVs in Mama Maria's, right?
I agree that restaurants should not have tvs in the dining area. If they want me as a diner at their establishment they shouldn't have them there anyhow!
How about Applebee's, shouldn't they be on the list?
You tell me, Zaya. I've never eaten at the GF Applebees. Should I add it?
Well it's a sit-down waitstaffed restaurant in Grand Forks, and I believe they have a tv at the bar. However, I'm not 100% sure, it certainly doesn't interfere when dining.
I prefer the EGF Applebee's though, so someone else may have to provide the Grand Forks details.
Jeez, ease up on Shilo, she's unhappy as it is.
Whitey's doesn't have a TV in the dining area, by the way. I don't remember seeing the TV at Paradiso either.
There is also Al's on Washington. I don't believe it has a tv, but I may be mistaken. The food is delicious though.
Thanks for telling me how I should act on my own blog. If it hurts your tummy I suggest reading something else.
Paradiso has huge TVs in several of the rooms.
God, I love the Internet!!!!
Thanks for the offer shilo, but this is the 23rd comment on only the 2nd post of this blog. Other than not having the time to craft yet another masterpiece, I'd say this little blog is doing just fine all by itself. In fact, you don't seem to be able to resist it, do you?
Do you like cats?
Italian Moon has TVs in their restaurant, also. They are scattered throughout the whole place, sometimes playing daytime television, but more often than not, playing video tapes of former Sioux hockey games, year round...
Happy Joes has one large TV in the common room in the back, but it's usually off or not getting reception, so that one's up for grabs as to TV or no. You do go in and sit down to order at night.
If you're looking for places that do not have TVs, and you included Panda Buffet, then you need to add China Garden and the Great Wall Buffet as well. Also, I believe Capone's is TV free, too. Ponderosa is also TV free. Pizza Hut is TV free also, as well as the Royal Fork Buffet. I believe Mexican Village on Washington St. is TV free, plus the Village Inn and Perkins (both of them) are both TV free.
I am continually amazed that there are people that complain because people don't visit their blogs, however when they visit other people blogs they are insulting.
If anyone mentioned Shangri La alredy, sorry, I scanned but may have missed it. Again, I don't believe they have a television. The thread is interesting though, because I'm realizing that I don't notice the tv's. Not sure if that's because they seem to have become a given when you see them, or because I ignore them. I'm a little concerned that it might be the former rather than the latter. I've been trying to pay attention to that, but the only places I've eaten lately is Sanders and Qdoba's.
I wish I saw the deleted comment. It must've been a good one.
Yes, Shilo, thanks to you I now know what an obsessive personality is all about. Too bad you didn't obsess just one step further, as you might've prevented your cat from getting hit by a car. I did notice, however, that you blamed somebody else for your carelessness. Tsk tsk.
I strongly dislike TV's in a restaurant. There is a device which can be used to turn these public TVs off called the TV B Gone. I often wish I had one and could inobtrusively turn off the TVs which sometimes make it difficult to focus on those dining with you.
Now I'm not saying you should use such a device.
I'm just saying that you could.
Post a Comment