I don’t know about that. The point is that–unless the new DTF in Manhattan is much better than the DTF in provincial Seattle–DTF isn’t worth exceptional efforts to get to.
Given your ponderous experience perhaps you should take a run at the open job at the NY Times.
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Thanks for the lol
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Icymi
Also, plenty of variance in palates.
And by “Chinese” do you mean what DTF serves, which is Shanghainese via a Taiwanese filter? Or just generic “Chinese”?
Exactly. It’s impossible to analyze whether the effort for a reservation is justified without the context of the local dining scene.
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Can I work remotely from the Left Coast?
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Well, here’s what I find funny.
It can be “worth it” to work for a reservation, even if the food isn’t great. Human taste perception and hedonics being what they are, the food in a long-awaited DTF experience might actually taste better than your usual Chinese sitdown. At least until the newness wears off.
The times I waited in the long lines to get a Krispy Kreme on opening day, or something from the only Sonic within 100 miles were rewarding in a way. But in another, it was foolish. BTW, the local KK failed and was gone within 2 years.
about 20 years ago made a decision to never wait on a line at a restaurant. I did break that rule once to eat with a bunch of out of town pizza fanatics at lucali and it reinforced my resolve to never do so again.
It must be amazing to have access to Vancouver, I’d love to visit!
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Lol, well met!
You should visit. Vancouver really is a world-class city. The people are quite friendly and helpful. And the exchange rate with the dollar is usually highly favorable to American visitors. Politics don’t dominate the culture.
We now live about halfway between Seattle and Van. Whenever we fly somewhere, we prefer using YVR.
Regarding standing in line… The only times I’ll do that anymore is if someone invites me somewhere specific and I feel I should play along.
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Lines at restaurants and velvet ropes at clubs are an instant nope for me. Always have been.
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Absolutely. I did my first post-doc there and it was a really lovely city to live in. Many of my closest friends are ones I met there. And the Chinese food there, even back then!
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And Indian…
Yup. Nothing worth waiting for.
I’ve never required the air of exclusivity to enjoy myself.
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Indeed. (Also, you could get curry leaves and cilantro routinely at certain groceries – mid 1980s.)
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Then you will miss some really good food at what is often very reasonable prices. Long before David Chang became famous and before the internet became what it is, lines formed up in the East Vilage at the Noodle Bar and then Ssam Bar. We waited patiently for a chance to sample food that you could literally find nowhere else. Wedged shoulder to shoulder with strangers on backless stools with a great soundtrack blasting out. My lovely wife is no fan of lines but she would stand there with me not complaining because she knew what was on the other end. A mind blowing meal for a price that could not be beat. The menu was always changing. Then DC got famous, took reservations, removed the stools for chairs and turned down the music. Began serving food that people expected to see. I haven’t been to one of his places now in years. The reason to go faded with no longer inventive food and higher prices. There was a reason for the original line. Actually I wish more people wouldn’t stand in line. Will make it easier on the rest of us. 
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Then you will miss some really good food at what is often very reasonable prices. Long before David Chang became famous and before the internet became what it is, lines formed up in the East Village at the Noodle Bar and then Ssam Bar. We waited patiently for a chance to sample food that you could literally find nowhere else. Wedged shoulder to shoulder with strangers on backless stools with a great soundtrack blasting out. My lovely wife is no fan of lines but she would stand there with me not complaining because she knew what was on the other end. A mind blowing meal for a price that could not be beat. The menu was always changing. Then DC got famous, took reservations, removed the stools for chairs and turned down the music. Began serving food that people expected to see. I haven’t been to one of his places now in years. The reason to go faded with no longer inventive food and higher prices. There was a reason for the original line. Actually I wish more people wouldn’t stand in line. Will make it easier on the rest of us.
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I prefer to wait until the hype dies down. Most restaurants worth their reputation will continue to be great 
There’s a super popular hand-pulled noodles place in Berlin, and each of three locations is inundated with lines from the moment they open to the moment they close. Thankfully, they also deliver. The food was fantastic, and we did not have to wait on line for 25min or longer, only to feel rushed during our meal bc other diners are waiting.
In fact, our food arrived within 15 minutes of our order. I will leave the waiting for more patient people than I.
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