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The Ten Most Recent Comments By richie

From Talk

Question of the Day: How clean obsessed are you?

You don't need to be clean-obsessed to have a problem with Di Fara. OK, he makes pizza bare handed. But he also makes change bare handed, and then uses the same hands to sprinkle freshly cut (and presumably unwashed) basil and extra cheese on the pie, after it comes out of the oven.
Everything you can see in the visible prep area looks dirty, and the walls of the restaurant have dust so thick it looks like fur wallpaper.
Feeling brave, I ordered anyway, 3 days later, no evidence of intestinal disorder. The pizza is good, $20 for a not very large pie, but anyone using the same ingredients with a thin crust could match it. Why reward a restaurant that is compulsively unsanitary?

richie at 10:57AM on 02/20/08

Responses to Comments by richie

From Talk

Question of the Day: How clean obsessed are you?

At home, I'm a little clean obsessed, but I am indeed a very messy cook. I consider messy and dirty two totally different issues. Now if you leave the mess sit and don't clean it up in a timely manner, it then becomes filth, in my estimation.

We dine out alot, so at some point I force myself to become oblivious to small things or I would be dining at home much more frequently. My first observation at the table is generally that of the silverware. If they are not immaculate, I ask for new. Next is the glassware, which is very obvious if not spotless and free of any gunk. It has always been my contention that the mark of a good restaurant is the cleanliness and tidiness of the restrooms. If they don't care that there is a layer of fuzzy fur on their plastic flowers and wet paper towels are overflowing onto the floor then they are not apt to pay attention to detail elsewhere either. It never occurred to me to accidentally walk into the kitchen, but that is a great idea.

This thread brings to memory very bad experiences at TGI McFunster's. Repeated, heinous experiences. I used to live fairly close to one, and it was one of the more "upscale" restaurants in the area. haha... Nonetheless, dining companions were constantly insisting on the place for convenience. One time, I found a plastic wheel from some sort of kitchen implement in my spring roll. When I complained, to their credit, they did ask if I would prefer some cottage cheese or applesauce. Then another time I ordered a BLT and the B was raw, never having seen the inside of a skillet. This is the biggie - another time I ordered a shrimp cocktail and pulled a piece of raw chicken out of the bowl. When I complained, they offered to bring me another app, so while I was waiting, (watching my companions enjoy their food and the servers go in and out of the kitchen), I could see the servers sitting on the food prep counters in the kitchen. Three of them SITTING on the counters!!! Why don't people notice that the food there tastes like a_ _?

frederika at 12:38PM on 02/20/08

From Talk

Question of the Day: How clean obsessed are you?

In perspective; eating bad food may give you a case of the runs in the short term, but over-eating good food will terminate you in the long run.

srhcb at 12:17PM on 02/20/08

From Talk

Question of the Day: How clean obsessed are you?

Yeah, it's worth the risk. I've gotten sick once or twice, but that is bound to happen. One time it was from a local pizzeria that I've frequented for years, and another time it was from chicken teriyaki prepared at home by a relative. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I believe regardless of how careful I am, food poisoning is just something that happens from time to time.

Of course, if I see something that doesn't look or smell right, you can be sure I won't be putting it in my mouth.

Kerosena at 11:50AM on 02/20/08