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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Gups on April 20, 2011, 10:43:05 AM

Title: Underground restaurants
Post by: Gups on April 20, 2011, 10:43:05 AM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/may/31/saltoun-supper-club-brixton

Anyone been to an underground restauraunt. I know the trend/fad started in NYC and spread to London but wondered how widespread it was.

I'm going to this one tonight (been there before). So much better than a normal restauraunt - the food is about 50% of the price you'd pay for similar quality, you have to bring your own wine so you can get a £20 bottle and not pay £50, there's a smoking room and it's all very chilled out.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: MadImmortalMan on April 20, 2011, 10:46:34 AM
No but it sounds cool. I think the practice started as a way for chefs to serve things that posed...regulatory issues.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Malthus on April 20, 2011, 10:54:50 AM
Sounds great - but no, never heard of such a thing here.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Oexmelin on April 20, 2011, 11:39:45 AM
Some exist in Montréal. I've never been to one. They sometimes double as art galleries.

In Paris, you get confidential restaurants: no publicity, no outside signs, no reservations, yet everything legal. I have been to one, very good, somewhat cheaper, amazing wine carte - but I do think the thrill of the shared secret is mostly what, for some, adds to the experience.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Josquius on April 20, 2011, 11:52:32 AM
Sounds cool, never heard of them.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 11:57:23 AM
Wasn't Mono telling us that these things are all over Hong Kong in some earlier thread?

I once heard of an underground restaurant in Milwaukee, and Princesca and I were going to visit it when we went to Milwaukee in 2000, but we never got around to it.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: The Brain on April 20, 2011, 12:19:40 PM
Isn't Milwaukee an Indian name?
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Camerus on April 20, 2011, 01:00:24 PM
Yes, Pete, it is.  In fact, it's pronounced "mill-eee-wah-kay" which is Algonquin for "the good land."
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: The Brain on April 20, 2011, 01:02:37 PM
What about Socialist mayors?
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 01:03:48 PM
Quote from: Pitiful Pathos on April 20, 2011, 01:00:24 PM
Yes, Pete, it is.  In fact, it's pronounced "mill-eee-wah-kay" which is Algonquin for "the good land."
:smoke:

I also wanted to visit Jeffrey Dahmer's house, but didn't have time for that either.  Cal = BUSY GUY.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Jacob on April 20, 2011, 02:04:08 PM
We got a few in Vancouver; an acquaintance of mine runs one in fact.

I've read about them in Hong Kong and Tokyo as well.

Never gone to one though.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Malthus on April 20, 2011, 02:07:56 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 01:03:48 PM
Quote from: Pitiful Pathos on April 20, 2011, 01:00:24 PM
Yes, Pete, it is.  In fact, it's pronounced "mill-eee-wah-kay" which is Algonquin for "the good land."
:smoke:

I also wanted to visit Jeffrey Dahmer's house, but didn't have time for that either.  Cal = BUSY GUY.

If there was a "secret restaurant" in Jeffrey Dahmer's house ...  :hmm:
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 02:15:32 PM
Quote from: Malthus on April 20, 2011, 02:07:56 PM
If there was a "secret restaurant" in Jeffrey Dahmer's house ...  :hmm:
:lmfao:
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Norgy on April 20, 2011, 02:23:48 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 11:57:23 AM

I once heard of an underground restaurant in Milwaukee, and Princesca and I were going to visit it when we went to Milwaukee in 2000, but we never got around to it.

Milwaukee had gas stations?
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 02:48:15 PM
and how! :mmm:
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Ideologue on April 20, 2011, 04:14:56 PM
I've been to a restaurant built under the ground.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
There's some restaurant underwater that I'd love to check out in the Maldives at some badass resort.

It'd be my luck though that I'd sit down to eat there and fucking Jaws would bust through the glass and start eating everyone. :ph34r:
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Jacob on April 20, 2011, 07:33:01 PM
You feel you've been plagued by bad luck, Caliga?

Perhaps it's related to your mother?
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 07:53:45 PM
Actually no, my luck has been pretty average I'd say.  I was just trying to figure out a way to work a Jaws 3D reference into my post. :)
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Razgovory on April 20, 2011, 08:03:13 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 07:53:45 PM
Actually no, my luck has been pretty average I'd say.  I was just trying to figure out a way to work a Jaws 3D reference into my post. :)

I imagine most restaurants would prefer not to have Jaws 3D shown in their establishments.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Ideologue on April 20, 2011, 09:14:11 PM
I would go to a Jaws: The Revenge-themed restaurant.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: CountDeMoney on April 20, 2011, 10:11:03 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 11:57:23 AMWasn't Mono telling us that these things are all over Hong Kong in some earlier thread?

I bet.  How else are you going to get around international endangered species laws?
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Oexmelin on April 20, 2011, 11:23:07 PM
Clark: But it's an endangered species!
Carmine : Not any more. It's in New Jersey, it's fine.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Savonarola on April 21, 2011, 02:18:42 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 20, 2011, 05:43:39 PM
There's some restaurant underwater that I'd love to check out in the Maldives at some badass resort.

It'd be my luck though that I'd sit down to eat there and fucking Jaws would bust through the glass and start eating everyone. :ph34r:

But you'd survive only to be devoured by the landshark once you got home:

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsaysomethingfunny.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fland-shark-snl1.jpg&hash=480ab1cdc305494684c46ad7e85d8245acf5c5de)
:(
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 21, 2011, 02:24:35 PM
Hey that kind of looks like me. :)
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Savonarola on April 21, 2011, 02:26:27 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 21, 2011, 02:24:35 PM
Hey that kind of looks like me. :)

Young Dan Aykroyd or The Land Shark?  :unsure:
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 21, 2011, 02:28:13 PM
Damnit you ruined my joke setup.  You were supposed to say something about me being fatter than Dan Ackroyd and I was going to say something along the lines of "not him, the shark".  DAMN IT ALL TO HELL. :mad:
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Savonarola on April 21, 2011, 02:41:25 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 21, 2011, 02:28:13 PM
Damnit you ruined my joke setup.  You were supposed to say something about me being fatter than Dan Ackroyd and I was going to say something along the lines of "not him, the shark".  DAMN IT ALL TO HELL. :mad:

Sorry, let's try it again.

Goodness, Mr. Caliga, I've been led to believe that you are more heavy set than the young Dan Aykroyd in the picture posted above.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Caliga on April 21, 2011, 02:44:46 PM
I also have a goatee.  But I was talking about the shark, not Dan Ackroyd. *rimshot*
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Savonarola on April 21, 2011, 02:46:34 PM
Quote from: Caliga on April 21, 2011, 02:44:46 PM
I also have a goatee.  But I was talking about the shark, not Dan Ackroyd. *rimshot*

I should never have saved you from those seals.
Title: Re: Underground restaurants
Post by: Martinus on April 21, 2011, 03:51:53 PM
Probably not the same thing, but we have diners like that in Warsaw, invariably ran by some old ladies. There is one near my office that has been allegedly in operation since 1950, and it looks pretty ancient/home-like but the food is good. Can actually meet a bunch of actors, intellectuals etc., there from time to time.