Comments on: Restaurant News

By: Matthew Robb

Matthew Robb — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:05:58 +0000

Throughout the five-year period I wrote restaurant write-ups for Frederick Magazine — don’t get me started on that one, folks! — Mealey’s never ventured into gourmet cuisine, but did serve predictably good meals in a pleasant inn setting. For me, what distinguished the Mealey’s experience were two things: the waiters were the best in the business and Jose Salaverri refused to cut corners. He served a quality product at reasonable prices.

During this period (from about to 2002-2006) Jose privately complained to me on numerous occasions that the upscale chains/franchises were stealing his customers. After losing a small fortune, he finally adapted and reinvented his business model from fine dining to what he called “dining fine,” which meant introducing mid-priced entrees, carry out, and making the Inn more kid-friendly. But throughout this period, it was clear he was looking for a buyer. At one point the 60 year old lamented, “the restaurant business is a young man’s game.”

I’ve been to the new Mealey’s twice. Our experience was mixed. Some entrees have been good (not great), but others have disappointed. Not only is the Pump Room louder than ever, but the service just isn’t where it once was.

I too would like to see Jose rescue Mealey’s, but that simply isn’t in the offing. The environment today is very hostile to the independent restaurant owner, especially if he has an upscale operation. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chim Butt sell in the next 2-3 years, and see the new, new Mealey’s converted into a business suite.

That, of course, would be a great loss for all of us.

By: lizfrog

lizfrog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:22:38 +0000

That’s sad to hear. Mealey’s has had such a stellar reputation over the years. It’s too bad the reputation has gone so down hill. Maybe the previous owners should have insisted on the new owners changing the name during the sale so as not to ruin the Mealey’s brand.

By: susan

susan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:53:35 +0000

I am one of the people that the new owner of Mealey’s Restaurant, Chim Butt, has refused to refund money to for the wine I never received. He has been extremely rude, has not returned any of my phone calls, and has basically said he will not return my money or give me the wine that I was due (2 of my other friends did not get their money back or wine either). Despite his request for our receipts which we provided more than once, he claims that he has no proof that we did or did not receive our wine, even though his employee that waited on us the night of the wine tasting vouched for us all. You can bet that I will not step foot in his establishment ever again and will tell all of my friends about this. Mealey’s used to be our favorite restaurant for a fine-dining experience in a great setting, but since Mr. Butt has taken over the food has gone down hill since the chef left and the service is no longer what it used to be. It’s a shame that such a great restaurant was bought by an inexperienced owner and a person that has no moral values whatsoever! Forget about the refund – I just want him to get out of the restaurant business!

By: Mealey’s Adding a Tavern « Frederick Maryland Online

Mealey’s Adding a Tavern « Frederick Maryland Online — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:55:08 +0000

[...] 15, 2008 · No Comments It appears I was right when I said Mealey’s in New Market was in for some big changes. I haven’t been to [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:16:25 +0000

What sad news. We used to go to Mealey’s all the time, but have not been pleased the last couple of times we have gone. In addition, we have heard from friends how the food has gone downhill. Such a shame. Once a staple in Frederick County for a nice meal out.

By: FrederickFan

FrederickFan — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:57:58 +0000

If these practices as described by “Mealey’s Employee” are typical, it will soon be customers as well as key employees who are not returning.

Unfortunately, I have a sense now that it’s just a matter of time until the other shoe drops…that is, until Mealey’s goes out of business.

It would be nice to think of the place getting sold to a new owner/operator with a good track record in the restaurant business. But, in the current economic climate, it’s hard to picture somebody else taking on the restaurant and turning it around successfully. Hope I’m wrong.

By: Mealey's Employee

Mealey's Employee — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:06:13 +0000

I happen to work at Mealey’s, and can tell you firsthand about some of the changes. The new owner has no clue what he is doing. Chim Butt says he has experience in “corporate management that included some food service.” He really managed a chain of 7-11′s. He then bought a liquor store in Jefferson, flipped it, then bought Mealey’s. He is chasing his employees away with his complete lack of knowledge about how a restaurant works. He is hiring servers who have never waited tables before. For example, a table asked a new server for a Whiskey Sour. The server replied, “A what?” Then she had to have someone show her how to pour sour mix into whiskey. Butt changed the pork sausage and bacon on the Sunday Brunch to turkey because he is Muslim and can’t eat pork. At a restaurant like Mealey’s, details matter and hospitality is key, not cutting costs. He dropped one food distributor because they wouldn’t give us 60 free pounds of crabmeat for a charity function. He stopped our Ecolab (pest control service) because it was too expensive. He bought a can of Raid and some fly strips. He stopped serving water and bread to tables because he “doesn’t want people to get accustomed to it.” We had a wine tasting back in November. Some women bought a case of wine that wasn’t in stock. They haven’t gotten it, and he refuses to reimburse them because he says they would be “getting something for nothing.” Actually, they have gotten the reverse. Another time, a table received a lunch menu instead of a dinner menu. They ordered an entree that is served on both lunch and dinner menus, except the dinner also has a vegetable and is served with a salad. When the table asked for the lunch price as that was what they were quoted, he refused, saying that they had “ordered a Porsche and wanted to pay for a Cadillac.” They were extremely upset, and instead of giving them the lunch price, he comped their entire meal, in the hopes that they would “feel guilty about wanting something for nothing.” Maybe the worst part of it all is that he refuses to turn on the A/C. It is the middle of summer in a 18th century building with no windows or vents, and he says he is comfortable, so he won’t turn it on. His only concern is the money, not the hospitality or guests. The chef has since left, as have many key employees. Most others are thinking of leaving. And the stories just keep coming…

By: Eco

Eco — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:42:09 +0000

I’ve eaten at Mealey’s for years and even though the previous owners are no longer there (retired! didn’t bail ship!) everything remains the same. The same chef is there, the same staff, the same menu! It still is fine dining, the only thing that has changed (which is for the better!) is now they are open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday.

By: JJP

JJP — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:37:59 +0000

Valerie,

Nobody is knocking them. The point of the thread was that Patowmack Farm was having trouble drawing from the local area and they were looking for suggestions on how to change that.

For anyone interested, the new January menu is up on their website.

JJP

By: Valerie

Valerie — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:16:30 +0000

Hi- I would like to comment on the discussion on “Patowmack Farms.” I am excited that this restuarant is organic! I have been searching for organic restuarants for my family to dine at and can’t wait to try this one. Organics are much more than just eating fresh food. Eating organic is about saving the world for our children, food without pesticides and harmful substances, and about sustaining the world globally. In addition, I am willing to Pay $$$ to have a nice organic dinner out and there are many consumers who feel the same way I do. It is great to have choices. So I do not think people should knock this restuarant. We should embrace it and celebrate choice. There are many restuarants for people to choose from in the Frederick area – so make a choice and don’t eat at “Patowack Farms” but don’t knock it- just eat somewhere else.

Can’t wait to try your restuarant Al- thanks Valerie from Clarksburg