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XanderCruse t1_j5vtbnr wrote

Foraged is a fantastic restaurant, so I'm glad it's getting recognition. Some of the best food I've ever eaten I've had there.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_j5vuu7e wrote

I agree with you 100%. It's good to have something so unique in the city and I look forward to getting over there again soon.

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escamuel t1_j5w1nre wrote

Not my experience when it was in Hampden, went twice and it was pretty meh. I was honestly shocked by this. Maybe there's a different chef now?

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kempsc88 t1_j5x4fam wrote

We had a small rock mixed in with the mushrooms in one of our dishes. It was in my mouth and I was so lucky to feel it and not break my tooth. Guess their foraging needs to be a little more selective. They were very apologetic, but I don't think they realized it was actually in my mouth because the waiter immediately picked it up off the plate after we told him.

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escamuel t1_j5x4qaf wrote

That sucks but was the food good sans the rock? Mine was just kinda run of the mill.

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kempsc88 t1_j5x4uxx wrote

It was good, but nothing James Beard worthy.

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DfcukinLite t1_j5wwp01 wrote

The head chef and owner is the same as it always been. Chris Amadola. I worked with him at Fleet Street kitchen in 2012 and I knew then he would do great things.

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isahayajoe t1_j5wunfn wrote

I too was unimpressed: a huge tab for salad dressing smeared on the plate instead of on the salad. I won’t be back.

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XanderCruse t1_j5yl4zl wrote

Never went to it before it was in Station North. It's possible that he has just gotten better. I tried a bunch of the plates there and everything was great. I do feel like the non-meat parts of the dishes are the best parts, though.

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AreWeCowabunga t1_j5x6w7h wrote

I had a similar experience the one time I went there. I’m willing to give it another chance by my gf was totally turned off by the place.

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dopkick t1_j5yk33h wrote

Just looked at their menu. They tack on a 5% fee allegedly for tipping kitchen staff. A recent conversation in the DC sub about fees: https://old.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/10ilz0v/founding_farmers_charging_a_restaurant_recovery/

Gonna have to pass on this one as a matter of principle. I refuse to support places that hit you with surprise fees. I haven't used Airbnb, Uber Eats, etc. in years because of them. If something like this is added to my bill I make sure to leave zero tip, leave a message on the receipt why there is zero tip, and never return. This ludicrous practice of blindsiding people with arbitrary fees needs to stop.

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JBSanderson t1_j5z67rd wrote

Looking for an excuse to give 0% tip is a real shitty move on your part.

Expecting to pay at least 15% for service (more realistically 20%) is part of going out to dine in the US.

You could maybe justify subtracting the 5% fee from your tip.

By tipping the server 0%, the server effectively paid you for the "pleasure" of serving you as they will have to tip out their bussers, bartenders, etc.

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dopkick t1_j5z928l wrote

Ultimately, I see this entirely different than you. This is about the now pervasive problem with being asked for tips and being hit with surprise fees nearly everywhere. You can buy stuff at retail and get prompted for some ludicrous 20% (or higher) tip.

I have no problem with leaving an appropriate tip. Or automatic gratuity for larger parties (generally 18% for 6-8+). Or upcharges on menu modifications. The problem is with these surprise fees that are outside of the norm.

I see it as no different than Uber Eats or AirBNB fees. The only difference is that it is currently trendy to be against those fees. Social media has not yet told you to be against surprise fees imposed by restaurants so here we are.

I will be tipping 0% at Foraged. Because I'll never go to a restaurant that imposes non-standard fees. So, it has nothing to do with the "pleasure" of anything.

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PigtownDesign t1_j5zeiat wrote

If it's written on the menu, then how is it a surprise?

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dopkick t1_j60offj wrote

Do you actually comb through the latest menu of every restaurant you go to?

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JBSanderson t1_j60c7h2 wrote

Tipping for service at a restaurant is not new by any stretch of the imagination.

I think that all businesses should pay their workers a living wage, and that we should move away from tipping for anything.

However, I live in reality and understand that if I choose to dine out in the USA that there is a standing social contract older than any of us that the server earns their living from tips. Until that changes, you are an asshole for not tipping, for any reason.

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dopkick t1_j60o6qj wrote

As I said, this is not about tipping. It’s about being hit with surprise fees. I’m happy to leave a tip. But once a business engages in deceptive practices I’m going to avoid the business entirely. If enough people avoid such businesses they will outright go out of business so the trend will end. Less directly, if such businesses cannot attract or retain labor because of pissed off customers not leaving tips they will go out of business.

Fees have proven to be a slippery slope - look at how a single burger on something like Uber Eats can be something like $30+ delivered. It won’t be long before there’s the 5% tipping fee. And 10% supply chain fee. And 5% carbon neutral fee. And then you’re asked to leave an actual tip on top of that.

There’s a reason that European countries have passed price transparency laws.

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JBSanderson t1_j60p4ci wrote

You're almost there. The right solution is to not eat there at all.

You said you don't tip if a surprise fee is added. When you make that decision, you are not hurting the restaurant that assessed the fee, you are hurting the laborer who served you.

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dopkick t1_j60ra2z wrote

Correct. I do not go to such restaurants. Just like I don’t use Airbnb anymore.

And yes, it hurts the people working there if I get hit with some unpredictable fee. If enough people get pissed off and don’t leave tips then the labor will go elsewhere and the restaurant will have a problem.

They could just be transparent and raise the price of popular dishes by $1 to cover the fee.

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JBSanderson t1_j60slaw wrote

Maybe you have a really rosy view of the financial standing of most did service workers. They can't just bear the brunt of a bunch of non tippers without missing a car payment or not being able to pay tuition, etc.

From 20+ years of restaurant work, I can tell you that at least half of the waitstaff is living week to week on the tips they make. Switching jobs temporarily interrupts that income stream and is a financial hardship.

It's a nuanced topic, but at the end of the day we really do have a standing expectation that servers are paying their bills with the tips that diners give them. When you choose not to tip a server, in a roundabout way you're committing wage theft. That should not be on you as the diner, but it is the reality that we're all living in, and have been for decades.

Advocate for better wages, choose restaurants that are transparent about their charges, hype up restaurants that give their staff health insurance and pay a living wage, just don't use your irritation about a hidden fee as an excuse to not tip.

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Cody_in_Baltimore OP t1_j5v4rbi wrote

From the article:

>While the rest of the world is looking at the Oscar nominees, foodies’ eyes are on the James Beard Awards. And this year, Baltimore has another strong showing.
Two Baltimore restauranteurs were nominated for the best mid-Atlantic chef category: Steve Chu of Ekiben and Chris Amendola of Foraged in Station North.

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[deleted] t1_j5v94w4 wrote

[deleted]

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BmoreBr0 t1_j5vjvmu wrote

Hasn't she been nominated for a James Beard award like the past 20 years in a row? It is not exactly like they are snubbing her.

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umbligado t1_j5vlv8q wrote

Charleston was nominated, but for hospitality this time around.

To be clear, Wolf herself or one of her restaurants have been nominated over 20 times (with various wins) since around 2007 in many different categories.

Again, a lot of these nominations and awards are kind of arbitrary. I was (mildly) surprised Little Donna’s didn’t make the list, but it could be too new. I’m sure there’s other deserving spots as well that haven’t been nominated recently.

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PoopIsAlwaysSunny t1_j5vjf05 wrote

Lol hater.

Ekiben is mid range in prices but great for what you pay and unique.

Cindy Wolff’s stuff lately has been uninspired, expensive, and just not that great in my experience.

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HorsieJuice t1_j5vwx2r wrote

I feel the same way about Ekiben. It’s good for what it is, but… eh? Also, their takeout-only model lets their food steam in the boxes more than it ought.

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PoopIsAlwaysSunny t1_j5w1oiz wrote

Good news! You can eat in at ekiben again.

I agree, their food is significantly better fresh, particularly anything fried

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HorsieJuice t1_j5wk651 wrote

At which location? Fells? There’s nowhere you even could sit Hampden.

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PoopIsAlwaysSunny t1_j5wpbgl wrote

Hampden has a bunch of seating. Have you not been?

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HorsieJuice t1_j5wppun wrote

Where? Maybe I just haven’t paid attention, but I only remember a little alcove by the door.

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DfcukinLite t1_j5wxuoe wrote

No it doesn’t. Hampden nor fells locust point

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PoopIsAlwaysSunny t1_j5x4fft wrote

Not dozens of seats, but it does have seating. I have sat there and eaten.

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DfcukinLite t1_j5x4kdp wrote

There maybe 8 seats in there

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Nespot-despot t1_j5wacfm wrote

Yeah I have never felt the same about her places since I ate the travesty they were serving as bread at Petit Louis. Bread is an IMPORTANT part of a French meal!

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Timid_Teacher t1_j5wn41r wrote

What's wrong with the bread at Petit Louis? I love the bread there, along with all of the other food. I was just there for my 30th birthday last week and it was amazing. The pot de creme was god tier.

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DfcukinLite t1_j5wy1o6 wrote

Lol I’ve eaten at Petit Louis a million times and have worked /patronized amazing French bistros in France and brought French people. YOU’RE A DAMN LIE.

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umbligado t1_j5vmm4b wrote

I could be entirely wrong here, but I suspect the nominating committee tried to diversify the nominee slate based on multiple factors, cost likely being one of them. There’s always a big deal made over the cheapest 1 Michelin star restaurant in the world (I was lucky enough to go to Tim Wo Han in Hong Kong when it held the title) — it’s possible that was in their mind when making some of these choices. No disrespect meant toward Ekiben, just to be clear.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_j5vvct4 wrote

I don't think that any one should be offended about a particular food place not being chosen here. I am sure it has been on plenty of positive lists of great food in this city and will continue to do so so no big deal at all.

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HorsieJuice t1_j5vx762 wrote

Yeah, the last couple years they’ve kind of gone out of their way to push novelty and diversity. I’m glad they’re casting their gaze wider but I think they’ve overshot in many cases which dilutes the meaning of the award.

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rmphys t1_j5wu87g wrote

Its just showing the truth that was always there: these awards are just commercials with a wrapper of authority.

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sxswnxnw t1_j5vcvnf wrote

I agree. Smh it's nice for the Baltimore restaurant scene I guess, but something is off. I don't understand the appeal of Ekiben, either. Maybe I am not eating the right things. Neighborhood bird. Like, it was OK, but I'm not breaking my neck to go back.

But congrats to folks who were recognized.

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TheSchneid t1_j5vj8q8 wrote

The tofu is the best thing on the menu.

I say that as a 6 foot 4 300 pound meat eater too.

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Autumn_Sweater t1_j5vs92f wrote

The bowls with rice and pickled veggies included are better than the sandwiches

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DfcukinLite t1_j5wxmmu wrote

Same. The only great thing at Eikben is the sides. You can keep the rest. I get better bao buns at Doobys and chicken at Brd. They’re not worth the hype unless you’re not use to great food options

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FTR_Hair t1_j5w3vlf wrote

Stop trying to make streets ahead a thing, Pierce.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_j5vv3w2 wrote

I have yet to eat at Ekiben and it's true that it is talked about here quite a bit as if it's super awesome. I guess by it being hyped up so much it makes some people doubt it even more.

Once I try it, I'll give my thoughts on it and go from there.

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omg_itsryan_lol t1_j5wc99s wrote

It’s just this subreddit and Reddit in general. Go find a subreddit on any subject you know a lot about and you’ll find an army of people who are so passionately wrong or misinformed, it helps put the opinions you read on everything else into perspective. With that being said, Ekiben is pretty tasty, and I think getting the bowl with a bun on the side is a great way to experience it. Enjoy!

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DfcukinLite t1_j5wx5p6 wrote

It’s not that good. The sides are the only good thing.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_j60w6px wrote

What did you order and what in your opinion could be improved? Is it the flavor or portion size or price?

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Few_Construction_654 t1_j5wwhg5 wrote

I like Ekiben, but I’ve also lived in Hampden for 3.5 years within a short walking distance and have only gone maybe 5 times. It’s completely overhyped.

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Expendable_Red_Shirt t1_j5vfbyc wrote

My mind replaced Ekiben with Ni Hao. Because that made more sense to me.

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CaptainObvious110 t1_j5vvigh wrote

Agreed. Ni Hao is amazing. As is the Charming Elephant which is very close to it. Oh and don't let me forget Katana either.

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gizmojito t1_j5whqv8 wrote

I tried Ekiben’s Neighborhood Bird and the chicken was undercooked so I never tried anything else. 🤷‍♀️

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Nicktendo t1_j5w1d6m wrote

They are both good, but even Steve Chu would probably admit they are in different leagues.

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miada001 t1_j5x81zl wrote

agreed that ekiben is mid. i was so excited to get it after all the rave reviews but it was greasy and flavorless and the bun was so dry it was almost inedible

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downwithlevers t1_j5yname wrote

Every time I mention this I get downvoted to hell but somehow people are agreeing with you and upvoting you. Maybe the rebellion has begun.

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Ndysmth t1_j5x69ps wrote

Why would you come in and express you opinion while demanding others don’t express theirs? They are different restaurants, different cuisines, and different dining experiences all together. And seemingly the white cloth dining experience isn’t the one favored this time.

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[deleted] t1_j5yemwa wrote

[deleted]

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Ndysmth t1_j5yf7ot wrote

You clearly came in aggressive that someone who has ties to over twenty nominations in the past didn’t get a nom this time. And now you just use troll bait? Bye.

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DfcukinLite t1_j5wwv25 wrote

Yeah the fact Ekiben is in this category makes this ranking a farce

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caul_of_the_void t1_j5x1eiq wrote

Ekiben is indeed good, but they only have like 6 things. I get wanting some focus in a menu, but it would be nice if they would switch it up once in a while.

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PitchFormal921 t1_j60qefc wrote

They have seasonal specials and certain items you can only get at each location

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SeaFoul t1_j5x7ueb wrote

I went to foraged many times last year. Some of the times, it was the best food I’ve ever eaten in Baltimore. Other times, recently, not so good. Why don’t they ever change the menu? Isn’t the point “hyper seasonality?”

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weahman t1_j5ygs58 wrote

While the rest of the world is looking at the Oscar nominees
Wait people still watch that?

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Il_Menefreghista t1_j5z29nt wrote

Cindy Wolf and Wolf-Foreman have had their time in the sun. They were once good, but now both their food and service are lacking. Almost all of their restaurants are overrated. Baltimore has much more to offer. I'd like to see Chef Jesse Sandlin get a nod.

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[deleted] t1_j5wi4kv wrote

[deleted]

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