Family cupboard cafe

[aka]

We pulled off the highway to grab lunch in Croghan today. At first we weren't sure the place was doing business. The parking lot was full of holes w/ a sharp drop off from the road. Our car and camping gear got covered w/ thick dust by the time we left. Drove around the rear and the old rusty bent bread racks, grease festered frylator, old tire, weeds and unpainted storage shed looked bad. As we approached the door which was also filthy we noticed what I think were once gourds or squash rotting in the window boxes w/ mold all over them. Between 4 of us we counted just 3 clean, streak free untensils. Out table wobble precariously because the filthy wad leveling the legs had worked loose. We took a chance and ordered. The food was so so. After eating we used the restroom which had the most nauseating paint job and no window or ventilation. Yuck,

[Just me]

When it was the Village Diner, it was good. Since the new ownership, it's gone downhill. Schultz's is bad now as well.

[No One]

WOW, now this was the very first that I have heard bad things about the country cupboard. I haven't been in there in a year or so, but from what I'm hearing on here I probably won't. EEWW.

[aka]

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

Just wondering...if you noticed all of this stuff beforehand, why in the world would you "take a chance" on ordering from there? I don't believe you for a second. I know the owners very well, they are good, clean, honest people. They would never ever talk bad about anybody and it truly upsets me that somebody, anybody would talk badly about them.

My mother said the same thing, which convinced us to go in. I don't know about their goodness or honesty, but they need to look at the place through a customer's eyes if they want to stay in business. Power of the press. When I went up for the garage sales today, I noticed the driveway was still swirling w/ dust but it had been graded and the flower boxes had fresh plants in them.

[hugh]

well if you want a treat go to cafe Z , its clean! and if Paul is there you will get some awesome coffee . oh and they have wifi too.

[croghan resident]

The family cupboard has went way down hill since bonnie sold it. First they refused to hang the american flag which had been there for years, which lost a bit of their buisness second of all their place is very un clean and the food isn't so hot either.

[aka]

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

Just wondering...if you noticed all of this stuff beforehand, why in the world would you "take a chance" on ordering from there? I don't believe you for a second. I know the owners very well, they are good, clean, honest people. They would never ever talk bad about anybody and it truly upsets me that somebody, anybody would talk badly about them.

I invite you to take a ride and order a meal. I'd could go into more detail but judge for yourself.

[citizen]

hugh wrote:

well if you want a treat go to cafe Z , its clean! and if Paul is there you will get some awesome coffee . oh and they have wifi too.

It may be clean, but their coffee sucks! and is way over priced.

[guy at the counter]

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

Just wondering...if you noticed all of this stuff beforehand, why in the world would you "take a chance" on ordering from there? I don't believe you for a second. I know the owners very well, they are good, clean, honest people. They would never ever talk bad about anybody and it truly upsets me that somebody, anybody would talk badly about them.

aka wasn't exdurating. I looked at those window boxes since last fall. It might have been too early to plant, but how long would it have taken to remove offensive moldy objects or how many customers were lost, that were just passing through, and took one look at the MINE FIELD parking lot. I must say their coffee is pretty good and they serve real maple syrup. It was even warm the last time. They need a professional cook and clean up there act and they'd have a goldmine w/ all the traffic that GOES BY.

[eup]

aka wrote:

<quoted text>My mother said the same thing, which convinced us to go in. I don't know about their goodness or honesty, but they need to look at the place through a customer's eyes if they want to stay in business. Power of the press. When I went up for the garage sales today, I noticed the driveway was still swirling w/ dust but it had been graded and the flower boxes had fresh plants in them.

Big deal dont go there again then, leave the opinions to yourself.

[aka]

eup wrote:

<quoted text> Big deal dont go there again then, leave the opinions to yourself.

I would have appreciated knowing, I wouldn't have gone there the first time.

[Freedom of Speech]

eup wrote:

<quoted text> Big deal dont go there again then, leave the opinions to yourself.

Thank you Mr Brown Shirt.

[regular customer]

I eat out 4-6 times a week various meals at various places. I've rarely seen a flourishing successful place change hands and continue the same good value and service. The new owners think by buying cheaper ingredients, deferring maintainance, hiring cheaper inexperienced staff will increase their profit. It always sprirals downward. Reduced volume means the food is less fresh. Word of mouth about poor preparation and service gets around. Lack of exterior maintainance discourages new customers. Eventually the place closes. Money has to be invested to make money. Operation on the cheap is not the answer.

[Heywood]

eup wrote:

<quoted text> Big deal dont go there again then, leave the opinions to yourself.

aka didn't express any opinions, just observations. They did not make it personal. They even suggested people try the place and decide for themselves. Can't get any fairer than that.

[x333jager]

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

<quoted text>
I eat there from time to time. I happen to be good friends with the owners. They serve very good food there (big portions as well) and that just happens to be my opinion. If you say/think that I "like terrible and/or cold food" - so be it. There is nothing you can say or do that'll change my opinion. You seem to be beating this issue to death. Let it go, pal. Nobody in Lewis County is a professional cook either. We're talking about Lewis County...nobody'll work at these restuarants for less than $14/hr. I have a friend who graduated from college for culinary arts and simply had to move out of the area because the highest they'll pay around here is not that good. Once again: there is no such thing as a professional cook in Lewis County.

your full of yourself. there are too professional cooks in lewis county.. mcdonalds happens to be pretty professional, cheap, AND clean. haha.

[aka]

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

<quoted text>
I eat there from time to time. I happen to be good friends with the owners. They serve very good food there (big portions as well) and that just happens to be my opinion. If you say/think that I "like terrible and/or cold food" - so be it. There is nothing you can say or do that'll change my opinion. You seem to be beating this issue to death. Let it go, pal. Nobody in Lewis County is a professional cook either. We're talking about Lewis County...nobody'll work at these restuarants for less than $14/hr. I have a friend who graduated from college for culinary arts and simply had to move out of the area because the highest they'll pay around here is not that good. Once again: there is no such thing as a professional cook in Lewis County.

Who said anything about "terrible, cold food"? I said it was "so, so" I think. It was the surroundings and housekeeping that was offensive. If they'ed mop the floor, keep the doors grime free, ventilate the restrooms/ keep soap and p.towels available, de-junk and lay the dust in the parking lot, make sure the untensils and condiment/salt/pepper shakers were presentable; the place has potential. The floor is crooked because it's an old place, but maybe get some door stops to level the tables instead of yucky wads. Wouldn't hurt for staff to come in through the CUSTOMER entrances and check for trash, puddles, lights out etc. too. I'd like them to succeed. If I'd see improvements I'd be a regular customer. We don't have an abundance of choices especially w/ Shultzes decline, which does have terrible food.

[why]

aka wrote:

<quoted text> I would have appreciated knowing, I wouldn't have gone there the first time.

But seeing all that, SERIOUSLY why would you go there in the first place?? Doesn't make sense. You probably should've dropped them a line or note or something saying, "hey, I was GOING TO eat at your establishment but..."

[aka]

why wrote:

<quoted text>
But seeing all that, SERIOUSLY why would you go there in the first place?? Doesn't make sense. You probably should've dropped them a line or note or something saying, "hey, I was GOING TO eat at your establishment but..."

Because my mother knew the owners and insisted we try it. I also have a friend that is one of their regular customers. I asked them after visiting, how long have they been in business. They said over a year now. My friend also said, they've actually made objections and suggestions to the the staff and nothing ever comes of it. They go there because they can't drive far and it's a place to eat and not be alone. I will visit again sometime and if an effort is made to improve standards, I will also note that publicly.

[someone whos been there]

I like the changes the new owners did with the diner decor. The plain green tablecloths are way nicer than the ratty chicken ones that were there. It would be nice if they painted the ladies room a lighter, neutral color to match. The curtains out front in the winter made it cozy. The food's actually getting better, not quite as good as Bonnie's yet, but it's coming along.

[citizen]

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

Well, if anybody says that Bonnie had it sooo nice, well, think again. Service was terribly slow when Bonnie ran it. In the year and a half since the change-over, I honestly do not think that suddenly: the parking lot goes to Hell, the floors become slanted, the tables become wobbly, a problem with the vents in the bathroom, etc. You definately sound like you have an issue with the new owners versus the old owners. When the new owners came in, they installed vents for the dining area. Parking lot has always been like that. The flooring is about four years old.

Service? Who will ever forget Phyllis? She could curdle milk with one look!