Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 I agree that a vegan diner would be my dream place. I'm from NYC and the " Veg City Diner " there is almost 3 years old, opening up a second and possibly third location, they're that popular! They had all the usual diner food with daily soup, salad, sandwich, and entree specials, freshly-baked cakes of tons of flavors. Most importantly, it was a traditional diner decor - booths with squishy vinyl sets and mirrors, a counter with stools, soda fountain, fridge cabinet for pies and " jello " , and most importantly, a ROTATING LIT-UP CAKE DISPLAY!!! It was open 24 hours a day (also most important) although at least til midnight would b good, and served breakfast all day with a special brunch menu on the weekend. I miss that most of all living here. We've already got enough ethnic food run by people of that actual ethnicity, nd enough pan-whatever california style ethnic cuisine. What we need is some good old-fashioned " American " cooking that needs to be made by people who know how it's supposed to taste. This is the main biggie for me - I want the food to taste like the style it's meant to be. My husband and I went to the Chicago Diner - supposedly this amazing vegan diner. It was disgusting! Basically, it was supposed to be biscuits and gravy with tempeh sausages, but it didn't taste anything like the real thing, and there was tamari in it! Don't get me wrong, I love tamari, but you don't put it on home fries! Everything was mushy and looked like something nasty. So whatever style of food you choose, stick to it! Thanks for asking us about your proposed restaurant, keep us informed on its progress! Even if you don't build my dream diner, there are certainly few mainly vegan restaurants in the bay area, and I'd love a new one to go to. Emily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 I agree with the majority--I want a vegan American diner! I miss Michael's sorely and there is a real hole in vegan dining without it. I know some vegans will shutter at this, but I'd love a faux chicken fried steak platter with mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy to cover everything! Some other dishes I'd love vegan versions of include tempeh reuben sandwich, monte cristo sandwich, quiche, shakes, chef salad, mac n cheese, wholegrain waffles, sundaes, meatloaf sandwich w/grilled onions, cheesesteak, and crepes. This isn't food I eat every day, but I'd love to go to a restaurant with a diner/cafe menu! If you could keep prices reasonable, I think a deli counter would be nice too, with cold salads, homemade seitan/analogs and a to-go section. I understand if the restaurant would need to be vegetarian rather than vegan, but it would be wonderful if the dairy & eggs were an after thought versus integral ingredients in a dish, so that every dish could be vegan and tasty. You score even more points if there is no hydrogenated oils and if food is low oil (or some lower fat options, like baked fries) and organic. Best of luck! Nicole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 I only ate at Michael’s once a few years ago and don’t really remember it well, but I just wanted to wonder aloud why Michael’s closed if so many people loved it. Seems that looking at or finding out what kept Michael’s from staying in business—whether it was location, price, service, taste, marketing, décor, or whatever—will be key in incorporating the things people liked about Michael’s into a successful new restaurant. Can’t wait to have another veg place in the area, no matter what kind of food Howard decides on! Nora grrlburn [Grrlburn] Thursday, December 18, 2003 1:45 PM Re: suggestions for vegan cafe I agree with the majority--I want a vegan American diner! I miss Michael's sorely and there is a real hole in vegan dining without it. I know some vegans will shutter at this, but I'd love a faux chicken fried steak platter with mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy to cover everything! Some other dishes I'd love vegan versions of include tempeh reuben sandwich, monte cristo sandwich, quiche, shakes, chef salad, mac n cheese, wholegrain waffles, sundaes, meatloaf sandwich w/grilled onions, cheesesteak, and crepes. This isn't food I eat every day, but I'd love to go to a restaurant with a diner/cafe menu! If you could keep prices reasonable, I think a deli counter would be nice too, with cold salads, homemade seitan/analogs and a to-go section. I understand if the restaurant would need to be vegetarian rather than vegan, but it would be wonderful if the dairy & eggs were an after thought versus integral ingredients in a dish, so that every dish could be vegan and tasty. You score even more points if there is no hydrogenated oils and if food is low oil (or some lower fat options, like baked fries) and organic. Best of luck! Nicole BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a community group for veggies to network & find support. Free membership and lots of free events :-) Event Calendar, Charter, FAQ (/) and More! http://www.bayareaveg.org/ Get the veg vote out! Vote for the Best in Bay Area Vegetarian Dining! http://www.bayareaveg.org/contest.htm Message board http://www.generationv.org/forum _____ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 I lived in Berkeley and frequented the restaurant throughout Michael's existence. I watched it open with a bang and die without an obituary. While I have no inside information, here's the transformation as I saw it: 1. Michael's opens in the former IHOP location in Telegraph in Berkeley across from Andronico's. The owner (Michael) is often at the restaurant making sure everything is running smoothly. 2. Hipsters and hippies alike flock to the restaurant despite slightly high prices to enjoy American diner style food. Michael begins spending less time at the restaurant and more time in Europe (according to the wait staff). 3. Messages about Jesus being a vegetarian appear on tables throughout the restaurant 4. Wait staff begin wearing all white clothing and shave heads 5. Restaurant changes form " table service " to " fast food " mode. This was the death knell. 6. Michael's closes I think the closure of Michael's was related to bad management rather than a lack of need in the marketplace. Despite its problems, the food remained great throughout. -Josh Nora Kramer wrote: > I only ate at Michael’s once a few years ago and don’t really remember > it well, but I just wanted to wonder aloud why Michael’s closed if so > many people loved it. Seems that looking at or finding out what kept > Michael’s from staying in business—whether it was location, price, > service, taste, marketing, décor, or whatever—will be key in > incorporating the things people liked about Michael’s into a successful > new restaurant. > Can’t wait to have another veg place in the area, no matter what kind of > food Howard decides on! > Nora > > > grrlburn [Grrlburn] > Thursday, December 18, 2003 1:45 PM > > Re: suggestions for vegan cafe > > I agree with the majority--I want a vegan American diner! I miss > Michael's sorely and there is a real hole in vegan dining without > it. I know some vegans will shutter at this, but I'd love a faux > chicken fried steak platter with mashed potatoes, green beans and > gravy to cover everything! Some other dishes I'd love vegan > versions of include tempeh reuben sandwich, monte cristo sandwich, > quiche, shakes, chef salad, mac n cheese, wholegrain waffles, > sundaes, meatloaf sandwich w/grilled onions, cheesesteak, and > crepes. This isn't food I eat every day, but I'd love to go to a > restaurant with a diner/cafe menu! If you could keep prices > reasonable, I think a deli counter would be nice too, with cold > salads, homemade seitan/analogs and a to-go section. I understand > if the restaurant would need to be vegetarian rather than vegan, but > it would be wonderful if the dairy & eggs were an after thought > versus integral ingredients in a dish, so that every dish could be > vegan and tasty. You score even more points if there is no > hydrogenated oils and if food is low oil (or some lower fat options, > like baked fries) and organic. > > Best of luck! > > Nicole > > > > BAY AREA VEGETARIANS (BAV) is a community group for veggies to network > & find support. Free membership and lots of free events :-) > > Event Calendar, Charter, FAQ (/) and More! > http://www.bayareaveg.org/ > > Get the veg vote out! Vote for the Best in Bay Area Vegetarian Dining! > http://www.bayareaveg.org/contest.htm > > Message board > http://www.generationv.org/forum > > > _____ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 My experience of Michael's was frequently poor service, (delays in taking or bringing orders, wrong orders, not bringing water, not bringing tab or change back from paying the tab in a timely manner) inadequate salad bar, too much fake meat, too many seats with torn cover material, mostly uninteresting fare. I'd look forward to an East Bay version of Herbivore, or a combination of Herbivore, New World, and the short-lived Organicity in SF. I agree with the person who wanted room temperature warmth on cold winter nights. Adequate room between tables, unlike the beloved and small Cha Ya, for example. Organic produce whenever possible, clean dining area, kitchen, and bathrooms. Open early, closing late. Beer/wine license would be good, but not a make or break situtation. Near a city's downtown, BART access, etc. Bob New Photos - easier uploading and sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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