It seems like it’s been awhile since I’ve done an actual restaurant review. We’ve been eating at home most of the time, and haven’t really tried any place new. Since this is the penultimate Friday off for my summer schedule, I decided I’d scout out new eateries. I decided on Adams Bistro, which is fairly close to home.
Background
Adams opened about five months ago in its current location on Pelham Road between Haywood and East North. Previously the space had been occupied by Barbaritos, a burrito place akin to Moe’s or Salsarita’s. We hated it when Barbaritos closed shop, but were glad to see another eatery take its place. I overheard one of the owners tell a customer that they had been doing a substantial catering business prior to opening the restaurant.
Atmosphere
Adams has a surprisingly nice view of the skyline of downtown Greenville. The interior is a combination of aquas and grays with a mottled texture, accented with dark wood tones. Tasteful modern abstract art adorns two of the walls. The kitchen and wait staff counter are visible along one wall. There are several high tables along the front window, but mostly square tables that seat four fill the small place. Nice, but casual and not too stuffy.
The lunch crowd I encountered was a mixed group. Most were professionals on their lunch break, but there were also a few construction workers, a couple of families, and some retirees. At first glance it looked like it had a wide appeal just based on the customers.
When I walked in I was hit with some incredible savory aromas. I took a seat at one of the high tables next to the windows.
Menu
The menu features a few appetizers, a nice selection of soups and salads, and a wide variety of sandwiches, including a few burgers. Salads and sandwiches range from around $5 to $10. However, when one gets right down to it, Adams Bistro is a meat-n-three place. There are the usual suspects – fried chicken, hamburger steak with brown gravy and mushrooms – but there are also clam strips and popcorn shrimp, in addition to three other varieties of chicken. The vegetables are standard fare for a meat-n-three. Prices are $6.50, $7.25, and $8.25 for meat-n 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There is quite the variety.
If that weren’t enough, my waiter informed me that there was a chicken parmesan on the menu today, and that the soup was clam chowder. He also rattled off about a half-dozen different types of fish and just about an equal number of ways that they could be prepared.
Food
Several of the sandwiches looked enticing, but I opted for the meat-n-three. I went with the specials – chicken parmesan, a cup of clam chowder, jasmine rice, and mixed steamed vegetables.
Sometimes having too many choices leaves open the possibility of poor choices, or, more specifically, unfortunate combinations. The clam chowder was great, but it came out with the meal itself, since it was counted as one of my three vegetables. While I enjoyed the chowder the rest of my meal cooled. The chicken parmesan was tasty, but didn’t quite go well with the jasmine rice, which was bland in comparison. I think the rice would have been excellent with an asian combination, or with a heavier gravy, but not with this. The vegetables were good, but I needed to touch them up with a bit of pepper.
Don’t get me wrong. The food was great. It’s just that my nose have gotten a whiff of some incredible odors when I first arrived, and I didn’t find that same savory sensory experience in the food I ordered. I guess it just got my hopes too high.
Service
Service was friendly, quick, and efficient. Ramon knew his stuff, and never made me wait for drink refills.
Conclusion
Adams is very reasonably priced, and looks like it has lots to offer. I’m glad to see this new dining option so close to home. I think I’ll try one of the sandwiches next time I come.
Adams Bistro will never get one penny of our business again after today. We needed a convenient place to meet with a couple of business colleagues over lunch, so we met there. After lunch, the owner came over to our table and basically told us that she would prefer for us NOT to meet there, because we tied up the table and blocked one of her “money slots” (her exact words). I knew that we had probably been at the table for about two typical rounds of customers, so I left the waitress an 80% tip to help cover her time… yes, 80 percent! And I did so even though the waitress never once smiled at us. In all my years of eating in restaurants, I have never encountered anything like this. The woman who runs Adams Bistro needs to take some lessons in customer relations. She was basically telling us that she doesn’t care about her customers… just about getting people in and out as fast as possible. Well, don’t worry sweetheart, because we will NEVER tie up any of your tables again!!!
I have the same problem with large groups that show up unexpectedly at restaurants and want to drag tables together. While it’s nice for friends to be together, it’s disruptive for the restaurant, and often results in lost revenue.
If the situation was as Paul described, then the owner could have handled that situation much more tactfully. A single table with 3-4 people meeting shouldn’t be that much of a problem.
I think the point is that regardless of whether or not it’s a meeting or a large group, it’s best to make arrangements with the owner, rather than just try to take over a place.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Philippians 2:14
In regards to Paul Steele… Paul failed to mention that I did offer him and his colleagues a “meeting” table after 1:00, which is when our busiest lunch hour is winding down, and that after 1:00, I told them they could stay as long as they wanted. We have 21 tables in our small restaurant and far more hungry guests that are on a tight lunch hour schedule. We try to accomodate each and every customer that walks into our bistro as we recognize and appreciate the fact that without them, we would not stay in business. Paul also failed to mention that this meeting is a scheduled weekly meeting that lasted from 11:00 until 3:00 or sometimes longer.
I’m all for listening to all sides of an argument. However, I’m not all for letting my personal website being turned into a battleground. This matter is now closed, as far as RandomConnections is concerned. Parties involved need to work this out among themselves, and any further comments along these lines will be deleted.
Please remove my postings.
I do wish you would reconsider – I think you add insight and some common sense to the discussion.
I had heard that Haus Edleweiss is re-opening, and I’m looking forward to it. It always amazes me that there aren’t more German restaurants in the area, especially with BMW and other German industries in the area.
One more word about the Adams Bistro dispute – it appears that Paul Steele has gone to just about every review site and posted his comments, closely followed by Teresa Adams’ rebuttal. Both statements appear to be copy-n-paste.
I’ve seen this happen before, and this isn’t the first time this site has gotten wrapped up in such a dispute. Someone with a bone to pick about a restaurant thinks they can do harm by posting their negative reviews to as many sites as possible.
Word to the wise – it doesn’t work. Multiple negative reviews from a variety of sources can harm a restaurant. However, I think folks see through a concerted campaign, especially when it’s brought to the public’s attention, as I’m doing here.
I’m sorry Tom. I wasn’t clear in my short sentence. I happened to see the posting from what appears to be the owner of the Bistro and I thought I would ask you to remove my comments on that subject only, so that the discussion would involve only the people present. I have previousy worked in restaurants so I gave my view. Once I read the posting from Ms. Adams, I figured
that the two parties involved had stated their sides and what I happen to “think” is not important. I was however, glad to read the other side of the story.
Got it. Done.
Thank you for allowing me to post my comment. I, along with my family and our awesone staff, put a lot of time, effort and heart into making our bistro what it has become today and it is hurtful for me (and them) to read negative comments such as his. Thank you for letting me add the details that were not originally mentioned.