| RATINGS
(out
of 5)
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It
was a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I was feeling great
sporting my sweater and clip on tie. There was a new
restaurant to try and it was less than 2 blocks from campus – what
I find! This is prime pickings for the lunch review – new
joint and close to campus to aid our faithful readers who frequently
eat around campus.
Immediately behind
the Chicken Express on Avenue C is the newest addition to
the bounty of eating establishments bordering
campus is KATZ. KATZ burgers renovated the facility that once
housed “Mr. Goodsense Sandwich Shop” – which
Henry enjoyed referring to as “Mr. Badsense” because
NY Sub Shop, a mainstay sandwich shop was right across the
street. Mr. Goodsense had replaced Swenson’s Ice cream
and Sandwich Shop that again tried to compete with the anchor
of NY Sub. So the property may have a curse or more importantly
NY Sub may have cursed it???
KATZ was making
the grand opening hoopla with streamers and outdoor music
blasting. We were greeted with Celine Dion and
later inside Cher oldies and Brittany Spears – we began
to wonder who was in charge of the jukebox. Unfortunately on
this trip our hearty group was whittled to three because Henry
had a relative pass a way and he needed to be with family.
Never the less ¾ SL entourage pushed forward.
 I
have no idea –
this is my first day. 
a
representative of
Katz's crack staff
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Jumping over the
music speed bump of Celine, we entered and were greeted by
bold primary colors, checker board table cloths
and a clean shiny floor. The menu was clearly displayed as
were the basket meals. Inevitably one of us engages the staff
and I think Kevin leaned over the counter and asked – what
is good here? The smiling face across the counter said, “I
have no idea – this is my first day”. We appreciated
her candor however we would have appreciated any guidance at
this point. Kevin and I went head first and ordered burger
meals – he with fries and onion rings for myself. Gloria
requests a Caesar salad which was priced higher than our burger
meals.
We are given these
contemporary drinking glasses but we could not find the water
dispenser. Unfortunately we ask the same
newby staffer who has no idea either. We think there was a
mind control light right over the cash register – inhibiting
independent thinking. Kevin points it out – check it
out if you dare!! Eventually Kevin discovers the well and we
all can drink. The ordering process is on one counter – while
the drinks and condiments are on a different counter. The cooking
and food preparation is at a separate location. Once your food
is prepared, your name is called and you retrieve your order.
The fixins bar is a simple collection of tomatoes, lettuce,
pickles, jalapenos and onions. There is an extensive condiments
section with tempting toppings which Kevin and I explored.
Gloria did receive
her high priced salad and began counting the croutons. Initially
she counted very few and noted that
Italian dressing was on her alleged Caesar salad so I could
tell where her rating was heading. She did comment that the “chairs
were cute and the water was palatable”, so maybe Katz
had a chance.
Kevin and I enjoyed
our meals but we were not completely sold. The Katz slogan
is that they will grill it and you can top
it. Kevin mentioned that they “lure you in with grill
it and top it but once you are in – it is nothing more
than what is offered in Clark Hall” – ouch!!! I
could not remember how the place looked when Mr. Badsense was
there but the consensus seemed to be that the food and preparation
bars were in the same place. The new colors and décor
were appreciated and there was a large screen television in
the corner audibly competing with the female jukebox.
Henry was able to
participate by telling a story of how one of his buddies
was retrieving his to go order and paused at
the fixins bar to dress up his two burgers. While at the bar
there was a buzz of discussion from the international cooks.
The phrase – “he put tomatoes”, “he
put tomatoes” was repeated in a disgusting tone. Not
knowing what the buzz was in reference to, the dressing of
burger one continued. The next thing he knows one of the cooks
is standing right next to him – grumbling and mumbling
.
Cook says, “you top burger?!!, you use tomato, why you
top burger – everything OK?” Henry’s friend
was unsure how to respond other than admitting the dressing
up of burger one. However the tone he was picking up from the
cook was that of insult [How can you top that burger I just
cooked with tomato?]. Henry’s friend was so rattled he
left immediately after dressing up burger one – burger
two was out of luck.
The environment
is clean and it appears as though the staff is interesting.
The quest for the best burger in town continues.
I suggest RJ’s (see earlier reviews). We took odds on
how long Katz would last and how quickly the jinx from NY Sub
across the street would take Katz down – unfortunately
we did not give Katz a year to survive. Nothing special about
the burgers – nothing amazing about the interior – all
it has going for it right now is the proximity to campus. When
the summer months hit, expect Katz to get bit.
In order to salvage
our eating experience – Gloria and
I had a hankering for smoothies and went around the corner.
She and I enjoyed two different flavors while Kevin turned
his nose up at the place stating – “I have the
Magic Bullet, the Bullet I tell you!!!” Which may be
what Katz needs to stay a float but I think Kevin is setting
up his own franchise on Fry Street.
Calling all dogs,
calling all hounds – Katz is not the
place to be! 
