tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post113261936668363209..comments2023-10-23T16:33:34.837-04:00Comments on The Masticating Monkey: Lunch at Mingle / Reevaluating Korean Choices and Dining Costs in AlbanyMasticating Monkeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00586980632713973459noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post-58432125679337250162013-03-06T13:16:44.308-05:002013-03-06T13:16:44.308-05:00I agree--and I bet that with the Spectrum pretty c...I agree--and I bet that with the Spectrum pretty close by, they could do some decent business on Saturday afternoons with the movie crowd with a little advertising.Masticating Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586980632713973459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post-24455769258157481682013-03-06T08:39:22.257-05:002013-03-06T08:39:22.257-05:00I wish Mingle was open for lunch on Sat....during ...I wish Mingle was open for lunch on Sat....during the week is impossible with our schedules.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post-59234472348812507672013-03-05T17:23:28.530-05:002013-03-05T17:23:28.530-05:00Thai and Korean is at least a more unique combinat...Thai and Korean is at least a more unique combination; usually the default here seems to be to toss Japanese on the end of any Asian restaurant, I guess as an excuse to serve crappy sushi.<br /><br />I think you're right that one well-conceived and well-run place could start a trend here. When it happens, my guess is it'll start in Troy--that seems to be the safest market for such a place.Masticating Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586980632713973459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post-86697673698013973182013-03-05T14:07:04.269-05:002013-03-05T14:07:04.269-05:00I wholly agree with you on both issues. There is a...I wholly agree with you on both issues. There is a lack of quality ethnic foods at the cheaper pricepoint, and it still baffles me that Thai and Korean could be served in the same establishment. I've enjoyed Mingle's food at lunch, but I refuse to pay those prices at dinner. Sadly, that means I haven't gotten to visit them at dinnertime yet.<br /><br />There hasn't been the ground-breaking entrepreneur who will do that just yet - serve amazing food and low prices. Once he/she sticks to that, and the people flock there, we'll get more to follow. At least, I'd hope.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post-74205120446685911462013-03-05T14:02:01.459-05:002013-03-05T14:02:01.459-05:00$11 for steak frites sounds excellent--wish I had ...$11 for steak frites sounds excellent--wish I had been here to try it.<br /><br />Also, I should say that it is unlikely that I'll actually give up the fight on this front. Or at least I won't give up complaining about it; that's just in my nature. <br /><br />You're right, though: there HAS to be a market for lower-priced restaurants serving interesting food in this area. How it's remained mostly untapped is just so puzzling to me. Masticating Monkeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586980632713973459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5739744319331098388.post-91170228609663672062013-03-05T12:30:48.594-05:002013-03-05T12:30:48.594-05:00I wish you were here when Garden Bistro 24 opened ...I wish you were here when Garden Bistro 24 opened and they were doing steak frites for $11. It was a glorious time that I thought would usher in a flood of new entrants capitalizing on the success of a simple limited menu with good quality food. <br /><br />Sadly it went the other way and GB24 raised their prices to market levels. I can't blame the chef. Why not take the extra money if people are willing to throw it down. <br /><br />But I haven't given up the fight. I'm unconvinced that the battle can't be won. I still think there is a lot of money out there being left on the table from people who are unwilling to go out for expensive mediocre meals that could be captured by some enterprising entrepreneur. Daniel B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12353177111795607733noreply@blogger.com