Comments on viCARIous: St. Augustine Round-up Pt 2: Casual Dining

2011-05-23T17:55:41.520-04:00

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I agree with Katie K. The comments are better tha...

2011-05-21T11:53:15.775-04:00

I agree with Katie K. The comments are better than Cari’s review. Ryan was a bit rough on Cari and his choice of language inappropriate, but hey, if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen. If Cari is the expert she claims to be with all her diplomas she ought not be so thin skin and defensive.
There are two things missing in Cari’s reviews of St. Augustine restaurants. First, there is no discussion at all of the quality and friendliness of the wait staff. I think all would agree this can make or break a meal. Cari’s right. The food at O’steen’s is good but no better than many others. What does it for me is the pleasant attitude of all the wait staff. I feel they are glad you came. The person who takes your order brings your meal. There are no “schleppers”, persons who are charged to bring the food. “Schleppers” don’t know who gets what nor do they care. I guess it’s that old fashion roadhouse feel of the place that brings me back. Second, there are no pork selections in her entire review of St. Augustine. This is Cuban restaurant country and their meat of choice is pork. A review of the best Cuban sandwich in town would have been helpful but maybe Cari’s School of Gastronomy only deals with pork at the doctoral level.
Jim Z

Just chiming in months later to say ...I wholehear...

2011-01-19T12:33:14.231-05:00

Just chiming in months later to say ...I wholeheartedly agree about Osteen's. I use to live across the street (8 years ago) and even then it wasn't worth walking to...not even for carryout! In a word....Overrated!

Holy Hush Puppies, Batman! That was an entertainin...

2010-11-08T21:07:05.110-05:00

Holy Hush Puppies, Batman! That was an entertaining thread. Just brushing up on your suggestions for St Auggie restaurants as friends are coming in from out of town, and I stumbled across this ranting ryan's dissing of our girl Cari - or some guy he thought was Cari - or some alcoholic who was squatting on Cari's blog - I'm not too clear on the details - but I AM clear on this - Cari - you are 100% on the money about Osteen's. The emperor has no clothes, dude. I dined there with these same out of town friends a few years ago, because they had asked around and were told this was god's gift to fried seafood. It seemed like a tourist trap to me, but I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Well, doubt not. It was white bread average every day boring. Southern fried everything. I'll pass.

@Katie K - yeah, the comments on this post are pre...

2010-06-19T16:10:03.368-04:00

@Katie K - yeah, the comments on this post are pretty heated! I definitely had to stick up for myself after this ryan dude bashed me, and I'm glad I had back-up! Let me know what you think of Madre's - one of the best super casual places I've ever been to!

The comments on this were almost better than the a...

2010-06-17T22:53:53.132-04:00

The comments on this were almost better than the article! Great rebuttals!! I loved it! :) I enjoyed all of the sections you did on St. Augustine. As someone who moved here from Central FL and has traveled all over the world also - I enjoyed seeing what you liked and what you didn't. It has inspired me to try some places that I would never have thought to go to (Madre's!!)

@ryan - If this is the worst write up you've e...

2010-04-18T21:28:54.625-04:00

@ryan - If this is the worst write up you've ever seen, I'd like to gently guide you in the direction of most of the restaurant reviews on the internet.

O'Steens is "world renowned"? Wow. Someone alert Daniel Boulud!

Opinions are much more respected when they come from someone who doesn't ramp up their disagreement to include charges of alcoholism just because the reviewer thinks beer and fried food go together. If that's the standard, most of the people in this country need to go find an AA meeting.

Setting your hair on fire because your brother-in-law washes dishes at O'Steens just makes you look like you need a hobby. (Or maybe a girlfriend.)

I moved to the St Augustine area 2 years ago and h...

2010-04-17T17:48:28.963-04:00

I moved to the St Augustine area 2 years ago and have traveled - and dined - extensively around the globe. I've tried all the establishments discussed and found the reviews spot on and also appreciate the objective tone that was taken - wouldn't describe any of the criticism as "bashing". My family and friends and I wondered if we were the only ones who were completely unimpressed by O'Steens and Gypsy Cab. Ryan comes off as a North Florida redneck who hasn't experienced much of the world outside of Fried Shrimpdom. I mean, really, how complex is fried shrimp? or making good fresh french fries for that matter. Chill out, dude. Opinions are just that and can't really "suck" as you so intelligently put it.

@ryan – Thank you for sharing your opinion. I mov...

2010-04-17T15:19:24.347-04:00

@ryan – Thank you for sharing your opinion. I moved away from St. Augustine in December and haven’t had a chance to change this entry to update establishments that have closed since I wrote the post way back in September of last year, so I appreciate you alerting me that. However, I really wish you would have taken the time to more thoroughly read my blog before bashing me and this entry. If you had read my bio or other posts, you would have learned three things. One, I am a “she,” not a “he.” Two, I have a Master of Arts in Gastronomy. That makes me more qualified than all of the people to which you refer who “easily sit at home and claim to be connoisseurs.” Also, I get paid to write restaurant reviews, so that means my opinion is valued and not “weak,” as you suggest. I’m not sure who you are talking about when you refer to the “hundreds of real food critics” who claim O’Steen’s fried shrimp is the best in the world – I never came across those articles in my research and would be interested to read them. My bio also clearly states that I indeed have “traveled world wide;” I have lived on five continents and visited over twenty-five countries, eating fried shrimp in places such as Japan, Australia, Italy, Spain, England, and across the continental United States. If you read the post closely, you would have noticed that I did say the fried shrimp was “good.” Did you expect me to just comment on the shrimp and ignore the fries on my plate? Does anyone come into the restaurant and solely order a plate of shrimp, with no accompaniments? I praised the fried okra and the hushpuppies so my job as a reviewer is to steer potential clientele towards the most enjoyable dishes so they can maximize their restaurant experience. I clearly am not bashing O’Steen’s, as you have taken the time to bash me. I have encouraged diners to eat there, taste the food, and form their own opinion. And yes, we are all entitled to our own opinion. I would also like to lament the fact that you called me an “alcoholic.” Gross generalizations, obvious biases, and blatent insults such as this immediately discredit your already flawed, inconsiderate, and thoughtless argument.

This is the worst write up on food I have ever rea...

2010-04-17T07:58:02.557-04:00

This is the worst write up on food I have ever read. I frequent all of these establishments. While we can all easily sit at home and claim to be a connoisseur of food and write it for all to see, this opinion is weak and is obviously full of bias. Unfortunately the only dish that was the signature dish was Osteens fried shrimp. Funny enough, this alcoholic that can't eat fried food with out a drink, just disagreed with hundreds of real food critics that have traveled world wide to find the best fried shrimp recipes. Osteens isn't just a local favorite, it is world renowned for its shrimp, not its fries. Of all the restaurants he likes, some aren't even open any longer. What a waste of a web page!Go eat and post your own opinion cause his sucked!