I’ve really enjoyed every meal I’ve had at Greenup Cafe. I’ve been to JeanRo once: the service was good, but my steak was very tough. The frites, however, were quite good! I haven’t been back (again, too many restaurants in town!), but I’d be willing to give it another try. Pho Paris was just okay. I’ll try Chalk, and I’ll try Lavomatic (particularly because it’s so close to me), but I’m hoping his brand isn’t being so diluted that service and food suffer. I’d rather he do one or two restaurants very, very well than five mediocre restaurants. I, to, have heard that he focuses on Pigall’s, and far less on the other restaurants– again, being spread too thin.

Pigall’s is always top notch (even if I only get to go there once or twice a year for a special occasion!)however my husband & I have had one mediocre meal after another at Jeanro Bistro and at the closed Pho Paris. We kept going back to Jeanro Bistro because it’s a great space and it’s owned by the best chef in town, and we kept thinking ‘maybe it’s just an off night’, but after several identical experiences (and friends with the same complaints) we finally stopped going. The service was pretty bad their also.

I’m just starting to wonder if Jean-Robert has spread himself too thin, and if he doesn’t really run the other restaurants himself (i read a post on another blog that he runs the other restaurants for his financial backers)? We don’t plan to go to Chalk after our experiences at Jeanro and Pho. There are fust too many good restaurants around town these days to bother!

Any thoughts??