DCist: Restaurant Revisit: Hook

dcfoodie2

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:26:29 -0500

I agree with monkeyrotica. I think it is highly unlikely that someone could KNOW without a doubt that they were sitting near the writer of this article. Groups of four women go out every night of the week in this town to drink champagne and celebrate birthdays. It is unfortunate that you were seated near an obnoxious and offensive table, but I think it is irresponsible to make claims about the writer without knowing for sure it was her group. That said, it is all beside the point. Whether or not you were sitting near the writer, she had valid issues with the service and chose to write a follow-up review. That's it.

monkeyrotica

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:52:23 -0500

I still don't see how you've made the connection between the reviewer and the four drunk women at Hook. On any given night, you will find people ordering champagne for birthdays damn near everywhere downtown. And even if it was her, what does their behavior have to do with Hook's food or service?

DCist Amanda

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:51:04 -0500

Our table had 1 bottle of champagne and 1 bottle of rose. So I don't think that constitutes as "too much." And I do wish Hook continuing success. As I said, all of my other experiences have been good, which was stated to the manager. Also stated, I can honestly say that I am not aware of any deragotory comments about the waiter. If you thought you heard something or if someone did say something that I am not aware of I do apologize, but that's all I can say.

ricardonyc

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:39:05 -0500

I do not work for the restaurant and as I said I normally dont defend restaurants, but I remember my dining experience was diminished by a table of 4 young women who drank alot of champagne and then proceeded to complain very loudly to the manager about their experience, to include one of the four guests making very inappropriate ethnic comments, being latin I took them personally. I remember paying close attention to how the manager was going to handle the situation and as the original poster said, he "cut her off" and tried to keep the complaints on a restaurant level and not personal issues about the waiter. Too bad that you didnt like your experience, I liked mine, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But what dragged me into this was the original poster not being honest. Hey you asked me if I worked for the restaurant, maybe the original poster is someone who haves a "love affair" with Barton and does want to see Hook be successful without him. Who knows, but lets all be honest shall we?

bmp514

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:52:01 -0500

Hey Ricardo and writr22 are you sure you don't work for the restaurant and are mad you got a bad review because everyone else seems to think the place is going downhill. To throw out you THINK you were there and THINK you saw the people who wrote it saying racist things is kind of ridiculous. The writer didn't even say what day they were there. People go out celebrating in DC all the time. There is a chance you might have the right people or wrong people.

DCist Amanda

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:54:02 -0500

As the original poster, again I wish you would refrain from making allegations such as "drank too much champagne." Like I stated before I would never make any comments regarding anyone's ethnicity or legal status. If someone at my table did I am certainly not aware of it (as I have asked them) and would apologize on their behalf. We were not overly disappointed by the food, more the service. If you read my original review of Hook from 2007 I was quite happy with the restaurant and I have also been a few times since then. From my experience it is not "just as good, if not better than ever." Other posters have also agreed that their service has been "atrocious." Therefore everyone has had their own experiences there. You've given your review and so have I.

ricardonyc

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:46:39 -0500

I normally dont defend restaurants, but Amanda the original poster seems to have drank a little too much champagne while celebrating her friends birthday that night. I was sitting across from you at a table for 4, and there were other guests sitting at tables around you. You and your friends did cross the line several times not only with the waiter but also with the manager. I was really offended by your tables remarks and language, and yes, either you or your guests made comments about hiring illegals who cant speak english. I am sorry that you were disappointed by the food, we loved ours, I agree that the menu is similar to Bartons, but the quality of the food and the level of service are as good if not better than ever. I feel that if you are going to write about someplace or someone be fair and be honest, for sure point our shortcomings, but be honest, and you werent.

DCist Amanda

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:26:12 -0500

In response to the above comment, I can assure you I would never, ever comment on a person's ethnicity therefore I would never use any derogatory statements about anyone no matter how upset I was. The table next to us was empty for most of the night, so I'm not sure we are the exact table you are talking about. I have worked in the restaurant and retail industry for a long time and completely understand that mistakes happen. However, several things went wrong with our service thus prompting us to speak with the manager. We did not mind that the server had asked our age, again being in the industry I fully understand the responsibility of checking IDs, the complaint was because that's how we were greeted. We were never greeted with hello, how are you or anything. I can go on and on, but I would suggest before making such outrageous claims you email the writer directly.

writr22

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:09:14 -0500

I've been to Hook many times. I believe I was sitting at an adjacent table at the restaurant when the writers of this article were there--I remember the situation--it actually made me and my companion uncomfortable. Seems to me there were some facts left out of this review. Given--if there is a mistake in an order, it should be rectified. Given--the server should have informed them of the cost of the glass of wine. And it is frustrating when these things happen--but they do, and as stated above, they were taken care of by being deleted from the check. But I'm surprised that gone unmentioned, was the fact that the party at the restaurant table dropped the f-bomb several times and were completely rude to a server and manager that were trying to make things right. I also don't see mentioned in this article that the guests at the table also made comments as to the server's ethnicity--I believe they made some sort of derogatory statement about him being an 'illegal alien.' Of course sometimes mistakes occur, but there is never an excuse to become insulting and just plain rude--the restaurant people were cordial as possible given the situation. And PS? I am over 21 but generally I get carded when I bring my own wine to a restaurant--and sometimes when I get it from the menu. This is standard, responsible practice. I suggest that if you're going to report on something responsibly, as any journalism student will tell you, you need to have all the facts and not selective amnesia about the actual events.

Reid

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:16:05 -0500

I ate at Hook a little after it opened and I hated it. It was a total scene, full of that small clan of Washinton residents that huddle around a handful of establishments that let them believe for a brief moment that they live in Manhattan. But that wasn't the worst part. The food was ok, I guess, but as you pointed out the service is absolutely atrocious. I'll go back maybe in another year or so once they realize that they can't float on hype and have to start get people to come back. All that said, Tacklebox next door is awesome. Although I haven't been there since the Seaver exodus.

ChickenArise

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:32:24 -0500

Damn, I never got to eat there. Screw Georgetown, anyway. Now to find a nice fish restaurant in a better location...

NotTheRedBaron

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:25:21 -0500

I ate at Hook prretty soon after they opened and hated it, never went back. It seemed like just another restatuant that was more concerned with it's decor than it's food.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:02:34 -0500

So the waiter drops off a glass of wine you didn't order and just says, "It's Spanish" and leaves? WTF? I gotta try this place out, just so I can fill my chardonnay glass with urine and drop it off at the matre d's station, saying only, "It's warm." So what was the final bill for this deep-sea nightmare? Because I seriously doubt how "sustainable" this joint's gonna be if management keeps acting like a bunch of tools.

IMGoph

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:59:42 -0500

this begs the question—are all of these restaurants that people rave about loved because of the food and the restaurant itself, or is it the chef? seems to me that a cult of personality has overwhelmed food in these places...

lab rat

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:54:00 -0500

why did barton seaver and the other chef leave??