North End

[coach0834]

Myself and a few of my friends went out to the northend last weekend and wow, it was amazing! We sat in the pub/bar area for a more casual feel. We all ordered something different and shared everything. a bit of this a bit of that...everything was excellent. I had to save room for dessert since I have a bit of a sweet tooth and my am I glad I did. I got the profiterole, with was an italian cream filled puff with a hazelnut chocolate overtop. WOW!so unique. another one of my friends got a special, some coconut frozen souflee, she ate the whole thing, and it was a good size too. Later our waitress told us that they have their own in house pastry chef so everything is homemade. So I have to agree, I will be sure to save room for dessert everytime.(but not too much room because the food is too good to pass up!)

[LoveBitesPastryShop]

Originally Posted by coach0834

Later our waitress told us that they have their own in house pastry chef so everything is homemade. So I have to agree, I will be sure to save room for dessert everytime.(but not too much room because the food is too good to pass up!)

Of course it would help all the readers of the forums to know that Coach0834 IS the house pastry chef at the North End, and also a former disgruntled employee of mine. Who is currently using recipies photocopied from my books (whatever, no big deal). Which would explain why she and her friend luvmypups (Jill) decided to try to trash me on my thread. I keep all of the orders that come in and none matched anything either one of them were claiming, just fyi.
Just thought everyone would like to know.

[NonVoting Taxpayer]

To Coach0834
Don't expect you will reply, but are you in fact the pastry chef?????, if so, in the future a small disclaimer might be a good idea.

[Lakepilot]

I has just read an article about Tripadvisor and all the fake reviews being submitted by companies to either bolster their reputation or discredit a competitor. It's not surprising that it happens on this web site also.

I think anybody that posts that has any interest in a business should identify that interest in every post. If they don't and that interest (deception) surfaces it casts a very negative impression on the business.

I won't be trying the Northend if the prior post is factual.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Lakepilot

I has just read an article about Tripadvisor and all the fake reviews being submitted by companies to either bolster their reputation or discredit a competitor. It's not surprising that it happens on this web site also.

I think anybody that posts that has any interest in a business should identify that interest in every post. If they don't and that interest (deception) surfaces it casts a very negative impression on the business.

I won't be trying the Northend if the prior post is factual.

If this is the case, I would blame the poster, not the restaurant. I am sure Scott O will not be thrilled with his employee if they are pushing fake posts.

[SAMIAM]

I'm always suspicious when someone goes over the top in posting a negative review. Many times they can be traced to a disgruntled former employee or even friend and family of a competitor. Often, a ligitimate complaint on this forum is an owner's first clue that there is a problem and that information can be helpful in solving it, but to trash someone because you have an agenda is pretty low.

[luvmypups]

Originally Posted by LoveBitesPastryShop

Of course it would help all the readers of the forums to know that Coach0834 IS the house pastry chef at the North End, and also a former disgruntled employee of mine. Who is currently using recipies photocopied from my books (whatever, no big deal). Which would explain why she and her friend luvmypups (Jill) decided to try to trash me on my thread. I keep all of the orders that come in and none matched anything either one of them were claiming, just fyi.
Just thought everyone would like to know.

And which order did I CLAIM to have made Darcy?? That's right, no order!! I never once even specified which cake I was talking about. Just proves that you lie, lie, lie. So yeah....keep checking those slips,you might want to check previous posts before you make up a lie like that. Nice try though!!

[Redsoxlover]

We want to hear about the dining experience not bickering between "GROWN UPS?". I like the North End menu which is kid friendly, although the dining room accoustics still s**k. I eat there at least three times a month.

[LoveBitesPastryShop]

First of all Jen, I don’t buy for a minute this little poor innocent me act, I know you better than that. Please do spare me this "after all I have done for you" nonsense, you had a job, that you got paid to do. Please try not to make it sound more grand than what it really was. However I would be delighted to speak with you over the phone and discuss this further. Just give me a call.

Jill It is obvious that you are working hard to try to hurt my business with malicious intent. As far as the cake is concerned, when you ordered it, you did so with Jen, Jen made it, and your boyfriend picked it up. As a business owner who takes full responsibility for everything that leaves her shop, I am concerned that I had not heard any word about your bad experience, until a year later on a computer. So I am curious, what part of your experience where you not happy with? Give me a call I’d be happy to discuss it with you. Further more Jen’s employment history is not open for public discussion and is of no business to anyone except myself and Jen, but I can assure you she didn’t get “canned” as you so eloquently put it.

That being said let’s get back on topic here:
Last night my wonderful husband and I decided to go to the North End for dinner, as we had not been yet this year. Our server was a darling young girl named Christie (?) who took very good care of us. We sat on the bar side by the window. We each had a couple of beverages, I got my wine in the little juice glass which I get a kick out of. We did get a basket of bread which is much better than the garlic knots in my opinion, those where too hard to eat. We ordered the North End Calamari, and it was really good, the sauce they put on is tangy with a kick and we just devoured it. We then shared the pear salad, which was nice and light, very crisp and fresh, delicious. For dinner we shared the TNE pasta and it was just delightful. Though I am glad we ordered one to share because there was more than enough food there for the both of us. We also ordered desserts (surprised?) I had the triple chocolate cake with the mascarpone chip filling, and my handsome date had the tiramisu. Let me just say this, Jen is a heck of a good pastry chef, the chocolate cake was wonderful, the tiramisu was ok. Our bill was very reasonable and the service was impeccable. It was a wonderful experience.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by coach0834

Later our waitress told us that they have their own in house pastry chef so everything is homemade. So I have to agree, I will be sure to save room for dessert every time.(but not too much room because the food is too good to pass up!)

You have to agree? Agree with what?

I'll 2nd the comment that you should add a disclaimer to your post if you are associated with the place. Just because a chef is "in house" does that mean it is "home made"? If it is made in the restaurant it is not made in the home (unless you live there).

[HC0209]

Originally Posted by Mark

You have to agree? Agree with what?

I'll 2nd the comment that you should add a disclaimer to your post if you are associated with the place. Just because a chef is "in house" does that mean it is "home made"? If it is made in the restaurant it is not made in the home (unless you live there).

I think MARK has done a good job of flushing out the identity of COACH (match this with earlier posts and you will see).

I’m sure Scott O. from North End checked and screened his pastry chef before hiring. If indeed the pastry chef is using dessert recipes from her prior job, then I would hope that Scott would prohibit her from doing so. (NOTE: I happen to know the pastry chef in question). I’m sure that Darcy from LoveBites has all her help sign a “non-disclose/non-compete” agreement. If so, then her former “disgruntled” employee is in clear violation, which could possibly implicate Scott as well. Both businesses have done a good job building their reputations, so it’s too bad they have to get caught up in the drama of a disgruntled employee and her friend.

I agree with SAMIAM. I would hope that readers are highly critical of bad reviews (i.e. trashing) because it is obvious that most are usually from competitors, or former disgruntled employees.

[Newbiesaukee]

Whether Tripadvisor, this Forum, Chowhound, book reviews, etc. or any web-based forum, I throw out the most flattering and the least flattering and consider the majority in the middle. Not a perfect system but it seems to work.

[patman]

And now, moving away from the drama and back to restaurant reviews...

We went back about a week ago and had a much better waiter (waitress actually) who was helpful and did a very nice job. When we lamented that the garlic knots were no longer on the menu, she explained that they had trouble keeping them fresh, so rather than serve stale knots, they discontinued it. (When they were fresh, they were great, but...we did get stale batches towards the end of last summer, so that matches with our experience.)

My wife is hooked on the eggplant parm, and said it was again very tasty. I had pasta with chicken and a bruchetta-like sauce (sorry, I forget the name), and that was very good to. Kids had chicken caesar salad and broccoli alfredo, both were reportedly good.

Still a shade on the pricey side, but...very tasty.

[Gatto Nero]

Originally Posted by patman

And now, moving away from the drama and back to restaurant reviews...

Come on now, the drama is much more interesting. I vote we keep beating on Coach for a while. Since I imagine that will be his/her last post under that name maybe we could make guesses as to what name he/she will go with next. Maybe LoveBitten, PhonyGourmet, NorthEnded, ScotTraitor???? What do you say GTO, Mee-n-Mac? Give us your best shot.

BTW, I like the North End. I never met Scott but I highly doubt he put old Coach up to it. No sense punishing the restaurant for a boneheaded move on the part of an employee, IMO.

[Irish mist]

I think it's worth exposing this if a local business is being double-teamed, and lied about on this forum by two posters working together. This goes beyond a bad review. These people (if true) are trying to ruin a local business. No joke in my book.

[luvmypups]

Originally Posted by Irish mist

I think it's worth exposing this if a local business is being double-teamed, and lied about on this forum by two posters working together. This goes beyond a bad review. These people (if true) are trying to ruin a local business. No joke in my book.

Not true at all, I dont know coach at all. There is no tag team people haha. I would never try to put someone out of business but I had a REALLY REALLY bad experience with Darcy for my little girl's first birthday cake and it had nothing to do with the cake. I was actually being a bigger person by not posting that experience up here but maybe I should now....hmm thinking about it.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Gatto Nero

Come on now, the drama is much more interesting. I vote we keep beating on Coach for a while. Since I imagine that will be his/her last post under that name maybe we could make guesses as to what name he/she will go with next. Maybe LoveBitten, PhonyGourmet, NorthEnded, ScotTraitor???? What do you say GTO, Mee-n-Mac? Give us your best shot.

BTW, I like the North End. I never met Scott but I highly doubt he put old Coach up to it. No sense punishing the restaurant for a boneheaded move on the part of an employee, IMO.

Well, seeing you asked my opinion......first of all, I think the North End is a great place to go. I went there for the first time last week. Although because I am a very picky eater, I got my usual 2 orders of chicken fingers and fries from the kids menu but everyone else in my party raved about the italian food they ordered. Meatballs the size of the balls at the Funspot lanes. The service was professional and quick, not only the waiter, but other workers that would always be there to refill your drinks.
As far as this pastry poster....mmmm. Now going under an alias (could it be Jniff101) or was it Mr Mustard in the library with a candle stick.
Curious to see if Scott O will chime in anytime real soon. He is such a respected businessman around town I hope he knows what is being talked about here.
One way or the other, I'll be going back. The ones that claim they will never go there again (if they ever went in the 1st place), good luck in the line at McDonalds.
Where's Nadia when a good eating establishment thread is going on?

[Ross_t]

Originally Posted by GTO

around town I hope he knows what is being talked about here.
One way or the other, I'll be going back. The ones that claim they will never go there again (if they ever went in the 1st place), good luck in the line at McDonalds.
?

This is a bit condescending don't you think? No, I've never visited the North End, but the bickering and sleazy posts from folks that seem to have a connection with the restaurant turn me off. There's plenty of great places to dine at the Lake, no need for me to try the North End.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Ross_t

This is a bit condescending don't you think? No, I've never visited the North End, but the bickering and sleazy posts from folks that seem to have a connection with the restaurant turn me off. There's plenty of great places to dine at the Lake, no need for me to try the North End.

so if I tell you (and I have connections to this lake)that lake Winnipesaukee has duck itch and milfoil, you won't go swimming there this summer? there's plenty of other great lakes in this region to go to.

[jetskier]

As a casual observer, I would tell you that this is all very unseemly. This thread is turning folks off generally. I would suggest that everyone just stop and let this thread age out. It is really not serving anyone right now.

Jetskier

[Ross_t]

Originally Posted by GTO

so if I tell you (and I have connections to this lake)that lake Winnipesaukee has duck itch and milfoil, you won't go swimming there this summer? there's plenty of other great lakes in this region to go to.

ok GTO, great argument... You win..

[Ross_t]

Originally Posted by coach0834

Myself and a few of my friends went out to the northend last weekend and wow, it was amazing! We sat in the pub/bar area !)

This post without a conflict of interest disclaimer is inexcusable, sleazy and in poor form. I won't be trying the North End restaurant...