TJ Pagoda's [Food/Vendor]
2006 Nov 25
I hate to say that their website sucks! When I tried to look at their menu, I can't read it. I have to do a "save picture as..." onto my desktop and then open the JPEG file to see the menu. You see my point. Just wonder who did their website. Hope that it is only a temporary website. You either have a website or don't have one. But when you have one, you better get it done properly since a website reflects the restaurant's management style.
Looking at the menu, I think they are trying to do something like "Spring Rolls" in Toronto. www.springrolls.ca
Basically, pan-Asian food. Spring Rolls is a success in Toronto. Glad that we have something like this in Ottawa. But the price seems to be on the expensive side. Will check it out one day.
Looking at the menu, I think they are trying to do something like "Spring Rolls" in Toronto. www.springrolls.ca
Basically, pan-Asian food. Spring Rolls is a success in Toronto. Glad that we have something like this in Ottawa. But the price seems to be on the expensive side. Will check it out one day.
2006 Nov 26
Completely agree with you on the website, and I am certain that this is only a placeholder for the time being (it can only be that!). Truthfully I am glad that they have put their primary focus on the resto experience...and from my visit it is apparent that the management team has done their homework and launched a great concept. I have frequented the Spring Rolls in TO, and I have always been disappointed (I see and appreciate where they are going with the Spring Rolls concept…but execution is lacklustre). The environment is cold & sterile...no "it" factor. TJ Pagoda's has seized the opportunity and provided the Ottawa clientele with something to talk about...I am a big fan of Pan-Asian and I look forward to my next visit to TJ's... I am hoping that they keep the energy up and continue to serve wonderful dishes at reasonable prices…I will be sure to check back in upon my next visit to Ottawa.
2006 Dec 9
What, I wonder, is the problem -- and this is a wide-spread one, not at all limited to TJ Pagoda's -- with those little 'this item is vegetarian' icons? There're invariably vegetarian things not marked (here, the "Buddha Platter," for one, and one wonders what's wrong with the "Green Salad"), and non-vegetarian things marked with it. Here, "Kung Pao Chicken" and "Szechewan Beef" are -- no kidding -- marked with the carrot that's supposed to denote a vegetarian item.
And, if a menu has that, and little icons for stuff like "spicy" and "specialty," it can very rarely combine them; the world has never known a chain restaurant with a spicy vegetarian specialty.
It would seem that said annoying web site might've been done by a guy I went to school with, and I apologise for that peripheral acquaintance. Small town...
"TJ Pagoda's has seized the opportunity and provided the Ottawa clientele with something to talk about..."
Nah. I don't go to Asian restaurants for a $20 platter of fried apps. I hope for their sake that the drinks are good.
No foolin', Jmack? You're that into chain restaurants? All that faux-luxe and cheap food at biggish prices? Why?
Re. "Milestone's": DON'T BOTHER.
"A leader in the upscale casual dining segment in Canada, providing guests with familiar food and beverages with globally inspired twists served in a stylish yet comfortable atmosphere."
Uh huh. Translate as overpriced for what they serve, bland and uninspired (that 'hot spinach and artichoke dip' should now serve as a warning to stay away, and a few bits of soy sauce does not make for 'globally inspired twists'), with teen-aged staff trying too hard. Lights dimmed excessively for middle-aged divorcées so long out of the dating game they don't know where else to go. Etc, etc. With chain restaurants you can usually say "Well, at least we can bring the kids," but that doesn't seem to be what's supposed to happen there.
Here's what I had:
"VEGETARIAN THAI NOODLE SALAD
Fresh chopped greens and oriental noodles stacked with artichokes, sliced mushrooms, shredded carrots, spicy house-made avocado and papaya salsas, crumbled feta and honey mustard vinaigrette"
All I can remember is that it seemed like something I might've scraped up from the last few things remaining in the kitchen when I was a student. "I wonder if ramen goes well with iceberg lettuce? Yeesh, it looks kinda gross; maybe I can pretty it up with the carrot?" No kidding; "fresh chopped greens and oriental noodles" = "iceberg with too much of the bitter, inedible white parts, and ramen." Fairly flavourless, too.
And, if a menu has that, and little icons for stuff like "spicy" and "specialty," it can very rarely combine them; the world has never known a chain restaurant with a spicy vegetarian specialty.
It would seem that said annoying web site might've been done by a guy I went to school with, and I apologise for that peripheral acquaintance. Small town...
"TJ Pagoda's has seized the opportunity and provided the Ottawa clientele with something to talk about..."
Nah. I don't go to Asian restaurants for a $20 platter of fried apps. I hope for their sake that the drinks are good.
No foolin', Jmack? You're that into chain restaurants? All that faux-luxe and cheap food at biggish prices? Why?
Re. "Milestone's": DON'T BOTHER.
"A leader in the upscale casual dining segment in Canada, providing guests with familiar food and beverages with globally inspired twists served in a stylish yet comfortable atmosphere."
Uh huh. Translate as overpriced for what they serve, bland and uninspired (that 'hot spinach and artichoke dip' should now serve as a warning to stay away, and a few bits of soy sauce does not make for 'globally inspired twists'), with teen-aged staff trying too hard. Lights dimmed excessively for middle-aged divorcées so long out of the dating game they don't know where else to go. Etc, etc. With chain restaurants you can usually say "Well, at least we can bring the kids," but that doesn't seem to be what's supposed to happen there.
Here's what I had:
"VEGETARIAN THAI NOODLE SALAD
Fresh chopped greens and oriental noodles stacked with artichokes, sliced mushrooms, shredded carrots, spicy house-made avocado and papaya salsas, crumbled feta and honey mustard vinaigrette"
All I can remember is that it seemed like something I might've scraped up from the last few things remaining in the kitchen when I was a student. "I wonder if ramen goes well with iceberg lettuce? Yeesh, it looks kinda gross; maybe I can pretty it up with the carrot?" No kidding; "fresh chopped greens and oriental noodles" = "iceberg with too much of the bitter, inedible white parts, and ramen." Fairly flavourless, too.
2006 Dec 11
Wow, cool, people talking about the restaurant I work at. :) I must say, I do not, persay approve of some of the dishes on our menu, but hey, for a chain Asian place, you gotta give them a break. That, and there are some changing of hands in management. I expect the food to be alot better by the end of December with the new executive chef behind the figurative "wheel".
2006 Dec 12
Yeah, in retrospect I kindo do sound like a cheesy "please, try my product" infomercial guy. And thanks, I owe my writing ability mainly to the amount of books I have read and continue to read.
By the way, if anyone here really digs asian places, I strongly recommend Mekong on Summerset.
Cheers!
PS: The fact that my tag name is TJ and the fact that I work at a restaurant with the same name is a coincidence. TJ has been my nick name for years.
By the way, if anyone here really digs asian places, I strongly recommend Mekong on Summerset.
Cheers!
PS: The fact that my tag name is TJ and the fact that I work at a restaurant with the same name is a coincidence. TJ has been my nick name for years.
2006 Dec 13
Did anyone hear on the radio that Bob's is giving away dinners at TJ's as a prize in one of their contests?
A speculation comes to mind, regarding the motives behind this but I haven't been, and I'd hate to spew out unsubstantiated opinions.
Anyway, for those of you who want to try, but are afraid of risking the cash, or simply would like a free dinner, listen to Bob FM and try their contest. I can't remember which one it is...I'll listen for it, and post back if anyone is interested. Maybe there's something on the Bob FM website about it...
A speculation comes to mind, regarding the motives behind this but I haven't been, and I'd hate to spew out unsubstantiated opinions.
Anyway, for those of you who want to try, but are afraid of risking the cash, or simply would like a free dinner, listen to Bob FM and try their contest. I can't remember which one it is...I'll listen for it, and post back if anyone is interested. Maybe there's something on the Bob FM website about it...
Jmack