Dear Spider Kelly's,
You used to be awesome. Your food was great - delicious fried chicken, cookies and milk, and those fried pickles that so many loved. You were tiny, which sometimes made it difficult to eat as you didn't have space to accommodate people. And then one day you closed for renovations. And when you reopened, you were HUGE and much more of a bar!
So, the week you reopened, my friends and I tried you out to to see if the Spider Kelly's we knew and loved was still there. We waited for a long time for a table to open up (hey, the place was packed - this wasn't all that different than before, aside from a LOT more people). The boys tried to get drinks at the bar, where the bartenders were clearly overwhelmed - I mean, the bartender came to ask them what they needed, would listen, take five more orders, and then come back and ask them what they needed. When we sat down to eat, our waitress was very friendly and helpful, but unfortunately there were severe communications issues between the kitchen and the wait staff, as well as the bar and the wait staff, as everything took forever, half the food arrived in an hour, but three dishes weren't there (turns out the one dish was completely out, but they didn't tell us that until the food finally arrived, and one dish, we have no idea what happened - it did eventually show up, but I'm guessing the kitchen forgot to make it). The management apologized profusely and ended up comping our meal and drinks. We chalked it up to re-opening kinks and thought we'd try you again in a couple of weeks.
Well, it's been several weeks. We went last night. The lines still haven't gone down, and trying to get in to put our name down for a table means standing in line to get in before we can do so. The restaurant portion is the only area which still retains any semblance of the old space. I'm sure you are making money hand over fist, but I'm not 23 years old anymore, and the only reason I loved you before was because your food was awesome and I could get good drinks while I was there, and you were a neighborhood place. Last night, I ordered your loaded fries. Your menu said cheese fries were fries topped with Cheddar and Jack. Your loaded fries were described as cheese, bacon, chives and buttermilk ranch. Yes there was bacon and chives, but I had to ask for the buttermilk ranch, and the "cheese" was actually a nacho cheese sauce. Considering your cheese fries are supposed to come with Cheddar and Jack, I'm not sure how your loaded fries came with nacho cheese sauce. And it was gritty. However, your fish tacos, cookies and milk, and grilled cheese last night were great. The cocktails weren't as delicious as I remembered - I ordered the Fountain of Youth last night and something about the way the drink was mixed just didn't work (the sour mix just did not mix, so I had a layer of sour mix and a layer of champagne, even after stirring it myself). Your bartenders may be the fastest ones around (see their website and bragging about Fastest Bartenders competitions), but fast does not always equal high quality. My water never got refilled, and I had to ask for it separately (even though I was eating), so I would wait for the ice to melt and then drink some of the melted water. I would've asked the waiter, but that would involve not missing him to make direct eye contact with him. He came back several times to see if he could get my husband's drink order (to see if he wanted anything and if he had decided), but after that, nothing.
Spider Kelly's - I miss the old you. Call me old-fashioned, but you used to be a great restaurant with a small bar. Now you're a bar that is trying to cater to a much different clientele that also just happens to have some food (albeit, mostly delicious). I guess this relationship has run its course. If I have to wait in line to get in so I can put my name down for a table (or just generally anything), I think I may be too old for you, because I don't do lines. I live in the neighborhood and I have other choices. You're basically Clarendon Ballroom without live music and a rooftop deck, but with tvs, pool tables and shuffleboard. Which is cool for some people, just not for me. Good thing you're right next door to each other!
Love, Me.
PS - I heard plenty of people in line last night complain about smokers congregating right by the door (and therefore the line). Maybe you should designate a place for them? read more