My thinking (and from hearing him talk to other tables) is that the waiter just wanted people to get the most expensive things lol. I guess short term that makes sense, but if you want to be tipped well, don’t recommend bad dishes.
Agree with all your points! I think with less hype it’s a more surprising restaurant, and I should have gotten the stew and rice.
Also opinions are just that - opinions. They could have genuinely liked the swordfish. People have different tastes.
I remember one time someone asked which of two salads myself and a server liked best.
Server said one, I said the other.
The guy got annoyed and was like, im looking for the better option.
I turned to the server and was like really you prefer that one. He laughed and asked me the same
I’ve also had people give me stock answers before tho - and I’ve done the same
Perhaps, I just noticed based on how we was talking to the people who sat down after that he was definitely upselling. And in retrospect he probably was for me too then… rather than giving him the benefit of the doubt.
It’s telling that your closest point of reference is in Santa Monica. It strikes me as having been a pretty big risk to build something as ambitious (and expensive) as Dunsmoor in an area with literally nothing else like it, as opposed to the westside (or even Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park etc) where one might expect to find a restaurant of that caliber. It’s genuinely impressive to me that they pulled it off and I am happy for their success.
I’m curious if you think there is anyplace operating at a higher level within, say, 5 miles (let’s call it the greater NELA area). IMO Saffy’s is probably the closest, in terms of both quality and geography, and it’s not even really in that radius. (In fairness, I’ve not been to Morihiro). Maybe I’m missing something.
Majordomo is the next closest big ambitious spot, probably, though I much prefer Saffy’s.
To my taste, the two restos I want eat at most in NELA are Barra Santos and Dunsmoor. That those two are really rooted in a style of cooking particular to a place is probably not a coincidence.
the most ambitious thing about it is the price and poor service.
If the food was worth the price? absolutely. nothing ambitious or prideful about a restaurant serving mediocre food at expensive prices in a lower class neighborhood.
It sounds like you had a meal you didn’t like, doesn’t mean you need to try to convince everyone it’s a bad restaurant or that it is “overhyped” (I haven’t seen it much in the press cycle or Tiktok hype or anything so shrug). Chalk it up to a bad recommendation or a dish you just didn’t like, take the L. You have a weird presence on this forum.
Much of the press they did receive early on was not particularly flattering, but the Sqirl/Horses PR strategy of “ignoring a problem until it goes away” seems to have worked out for them.
As was explained up thread by TheCookie
If you can’t bother to listen to opinions that aren’t positive you are on the wrong board. Grow up.
I bothered. It was heard. I’m sorry you had a bad dish/experience. It’s the crusade to convince everyone else they are wrong that is weird. Vibes are off.
Saw Shapiro at dunsmoor tonight. No rodeogig though. Unfortunately learned that Erika Chan is departing to Nashville. Dunno if that’s official or what our policy on breaking news is but a loss for the city smh.
Per usual, I just had desserts.
Just hope eater credits you when they report it in like 3 days lol.
When is she leaving? The deserts were great
Rumor has it that the dessert she just put on the menu will be her last.
The new pastry chef is named Sara(h)(?) and cooked with Chan at Rustic Canyon.
But yes I’m devastated.
I do need to see my name in lights more
fuck I hope they keep the mayo cake I was going to come in to try that soon
Honest question Rodeogig, since everyone is assuming you’re a west sider, did you eat at Hatchet Hall while Brian was there, or even when Wes was there? What was your opinion of that? Could put your Dunsmoor review in perspective. For me Hatchet is a local delight like Dunsmoor is for some others, and I’ve loved every visit. Will be interesting to see what the newly announced chef brings to the table. PS Unlike others here I also like Tar and Roses a lot, but not nearly as much as HH. And it’s not because my son was good friends with Louis and Netty’s in elementary school. 
Too bad, would have been interested in his response.
