Gradkowskis is registered with godaddy and says coming soon. I am surprised they dont have this website up and done?

(01-17-2013 10:14 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  Gradkowskis is registered with godaddy and says coming soon. I am surprised they dont have this website up and done?

Maybe it's done but it's blacked out in our area.

I give it a year tops, before it changes or closes.

(01-17-2013 11:03 AM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 10:14 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  Gradkowskis is registered with godaddy and says coming soon. I am surprised they dont have this website up and done?

Maybe it's done but it's blacked out in our area.

+100

(01-17-2013 11:21 AM)utpotts Wrote:  I give it a year tops, before it changes or closes.

Seriously? Whys that? Just curious...

(01-17-2013 11:21 AM)utpotts Wrote:  I give it a year tops, before it changes or closes.

I painfully agree

(01-17-2013 12:26 PM)Time4Church8 Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 11:21 AM)utpotts Wrote:  I give it a year tops, before it changes or closes.

I painfully agree

Me too. I just feel that a high class restaurant will not work right there. Students won't frequent it, and if you are going to open a restaurant at the new Gateway project, why would you not want to cater to the students? How many of us here thought it would be more of a sports bar type restaurant? How many of us were expecting it to be a place that would cater to students?

Time will tell about the quality of the restaurant and it's identified demographics and how well the two align. Of course, this isn't the first time Bruce has been discounted.

There are plenty of people at UT campus, medical campus and surrounding areas (Ottawa Hills & Old Orchard) that can afford this place no problem. And you dont have to go downtown or out on the beltway to get there from the places I mentioned. UT isnt just students. There are faculty, staff, professors, Doctors and Ph. D's a plenty and a lot of other well paid people that work there. In addition, I have a sense that tons of vendors come on campus all the time and can take UT folks to lunch and dinner. Also a great place to take recruits for lunch or dinner on a first visit to keep them in a UT atmosphere.

(01-17-2013 12:26 PM)Time4Church8 Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 11:21 AM)utpotts Wrote:  I give it a year tops, before it changes or closes.

I painfully agree

I totally disagree. Students tend to only look at things from a students perspective. See my other post.

(01-17-2013 01:09 PM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  There are plenty of people at UT campus, medical campus and surrounding areas (Ottawa Hills & Old Orchard) that can afford this place no problem. And you dont have to go downtown or out on the beltway to get there from the places I mentioned. UT isnt just students. There are faculty, staff, professors, Doctors and Ph. D's a plenty and a lot of other well paid people that work there. In addition, I have a sense that tons of vendors come on campus all the time and can take UT folks to lunch and dinner. Also a great place to take recruits for lunch or dinner on a first visit to keep them in a UT atmosphere.

I HOPE you're right.

Parents looking to go out visiting their kids often times want a place to go that is quiet and a little more up scale. Have not been there but I am leaning on the side of upscale is OK and going to make it with the UT/Old Orchard/OH crowd there...time will ultimately tell as they say. Good luck to Bruce...he has a lot going for himself>>>didnt he marry a gal from Tiffin?...long live Gradkowski's go Rockets!!!

I'd imagine he'd need a darn good chef to make something like that a go. Didn't he partner with someone on this? They in the restaurant business?

There are plenty of sports bars around campus where a student can get a $4 pitcher of Butt Light and a plastic basket full of wings and deep fried cheese. This restuarant isn't going after those students, and that's ok. There's nothing else like it for at least 2 miles in any direction, and there are plenty of folks in the area with disposable income that haven't had a reason to come to campus in years. I expect it to do well as long as it is managed as it should be.

(01-17-2013 06:49 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  I'd imagine he'd need a darn good chef to make something like that a go. Didn't he partner with someone on this? They in the restaurant business?

He has two partners who are in the restaurant business. My guess is they put up the cash and he provided the name.

Well, I'm debating and waiting for the website restaurant reviews. It doesn't sound like the kind of place I would frequent by either choice or budget. Can't think of a place with tv's on the wall as a "special occasion" place to go.

How to describe it? Up-scale sports bar? I bet the decor is nice.

If it has some unique menu items or if it specializes, I'd probably go at least once to try it out. If it 's another menu straight out of business school, I'll probably give it a pass.

(01-18-2013 12:27 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  Can't think of a place with tv's on the wall as a "special occasion" place to go.

Seems like more and more restaurants in Virginia have TV's on the wall. It's not just for sports bars anymore.

(01-18-2013 12:55 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  

(01-18-2013 12:27 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  Can't think of a place with tv's on the wall as a "special occasion" place to go.

Seems like more and more restaurants in Virginia have TV's on the wall. It's not just for sports bars anymore.

"Ubiquitous." is quickly becoming my least favorite word.

(01-17-2013 10:02 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  

(01-17-2013 06:49 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  I'd imagine he'd need a darn good chef to make something like that a go. Didn't he partner with someone on this? They in the restaurant business?

He has two partners who are in the restaurant business. My guess is they put up the cash and he provided the name.

I have a feeling he put up cash and the name and they are managing it for him. He will get paid back his up-front cash first, then they share in the equity that builds up. Gradkowski will be out any investment, but he still has a job to go to. These are risky ventures that athletes too often get involved in and walk away with nothing. Having the right partners is the key - and that is very difficult to find.

My wife and I went last night with about 8 others. We had a reservation for the wine room. The room looked great and a TV in the wall worked with dark wood and maroon walls. The overall appearance of the restaurant and the food was excellent. It is a classy establishment.

There were some things that bothered us and these are the types of things that keep people from coming back. We sat down and did not get silverware until we asked for it. We bought 3 appetizers to share for the table and while they were delicious and the presentation was nice, they did not bring appetizer plates even after we asked. We sat down at 8:30 and our drink order was taken at 8:45 and we didn't get our drinks until after 9 our appetizer order wasn't taken until 9:15 and our food order wasn't taken until 10 or so minutes after we finished our appetizers. Everyone enjoyed their food, minus me (the tortellini was bland and tasted like a lean cuisine meal). Three times we went to order something and they were out, but being opening weekend and having no sale projections, I would hope this will not be a problem in the future. When we finally got our checks at 11pm (after asking twice) they messed up everyone's bill. The server could not count change and everyone's change was off. One of my party's individuals should have had 15 back but instead had 5. When he asked the server he pulled a 10 out of his pocket and said he knew about it even though he made no effort to fix it on his own. He also swiped two peoples cards for the wrong bill even though the cards were in the correct bill folder to what their order was when he took their cards.

Over all the issues were mostly our server and the food and atmosphere were good. One appetizer, two drinks and two meals were $55 so the price is reasonable for a upscale restaurant. The restaurant is not a sports bar and will not become a college bar. This would be a good place to take the wife and leave the kids at home.