Sustain Restaurant & Bar Preview Dinner in Photos

• 'tis moi, Riki Altman, fellow food blogger with the lovely red nails. My hands are available for hire at a reasonable rate, but food must be provided before any modeling can take place. ;-)

• HReader, I was also there on Tuesday and I happen to agree with you 1000%. Sustain will be more than happy not to have customers like Miamibytes, let them go some place else!!! You know what, I think I know who those comments came from, they were sitting beside us but unfortunately, I can't write in here who they are...

• Wow, miamibytes, not the smartest write-up. I was also invited to the "complimentary menu preview" (as stated on the invite) and went in Tuesday evening. However, unlike you, my guest and I, along with the people who sat at our surrounding tables, were aware of the fact that we were privileged to be invited, and also doing the restaurant a favor, as this was a friends and family mock service and not an official day of business. I've been invited to a handful of these in the past and, perhaps you're not aware but, they're common practice. It’s part of the restaurant’s training where they’re able to go through the motions, receive constructive criticism and work out any issues BEFORE OPENING their doors to the public. I was also sat near the bar and did not enjoy the feel of the empty area, however, I simply asked to be moved to one of the tables in the dining room and they kindly obliged. It's your prerogative to never return, and in fact, I think they are lucky to not have you, but posting a negative comment on a public forum when you were invited in to be their guinea pig is just wrong. Your comments should have been jotted down on the comment card they presented at the end of the meal instead of finding their way onto a well-read food blog. Since you're a self-proclaimed music snob, I have to ask: If a friend of yours wrote a song and asked you to listen to it and tell them what you thought, would you hear it, leave and then trash that person on the Internet days later? If so, I feel sorry for your friends. If not, I'd suggest you realize that you’ve done exactly that in this case. I can’t imagine how you ended up on their invite list, but it seems Sustain's big mistake was inviting YOU in for dinner.

• Good insight, miamibytes. Yes, perhaps they should worry about the food rather than all the stupid recycled crap throughout the establishment.

• Give the place a chance... it just open. Hope not many people read this, you are not the type for a Restaurant Critic, Hope you bite your tongue!

• WOW!! the samples look GREAT!!!!!!!! will visit soon. Can't Wait. Good Luck!

• I was invited to attend one of last week's complimentary dinners and I have to say that Sustain opened its doors way too early. The liquor license has not yet arrived so sitting by the completely empty bar on those "minimalist" bar stools was not very inviting. Yes, the music is good and better than what plays at most establishments but something needs to give with the awful lighting. And the menu leaves a lot to be desired. I was amazed to see our faux receipt and that the "meal" we were served - mediocre at best - would have cost us well over $100. I didn't enjoy a single bite that was laid before us that evening and sadly, I have no intention of returning. It seems these well-intentioned restaurateurs care too much about being good in the green sense while disregarding the fundamentals that make a restaurant succeed - great food, great service and a great vibe. Sorry boys, but you didn't make the grade.

• Whose the hand model?

TotalComments: 8