I didn’t understand the mention of French English-speakers, ether.
I mentioned the English speaker because in many of the Flushing restaurants, little English is spoken by staff and, therefore, it’s difficult to ask questions about the dishes.
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All good but does not answer my question about why people may, or may not, have been insulted by my description of the owner of Fu Run.
My grandparents came to New York from Poland during World War II and settled in Brooklyn. Let’s say they opened a little restaurant, and a local food group ate there and later told their friends the owners “spoke excellent English.” That wouldn’t have sounded odd back then, since most Polish restaurant owners at the time didn’t speak much English.
Fast forward to today. Suppose you ate at a great Polish spot in Greenpoint and said the same thing. It would sound a bit strange, since most Polish restaurant owners now speak fluent English. As someone of Polish descent, I might raise an eyebrow, just thinking, huh, that’s a funny thing to point out.
There’s a kind of continuum here. Three generations ago, a lot of Chinese restaurant owners and workers didn’t speak English; now, most do. Where you think we are on that line, and where @fooddabbler thinks we are, can shape how a comment like that lands. That’s the gray area where good-faith disagreement can easily start looking like bias. His mention of French and Southern accents was just another way of (sarcastically) talking about different points along that same line.
And then, of course, it all went sideways when, probably out of frustration, @fooddabbler reached for sarcasm. Never a great tool for internet communication.
best,
ps, since this is a sentive topic, I spent a little longer than I usually do choosing my words, hopefully this is helpful rather than divisive but let’s try not to let this flame out.
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well said, @vinouspleasure
I think people should add (tongue in cheek) or (sarcasm), or something like that, when being sarcastic online.
I missed the intended sarcasm until others mentioned it
Thank you for the thoughtful exposition.
Yes, and perhaps as someone of Polish – or any other – origin, you might wonder about the relevance of excellent English to a restaurant review, or whether a similar comment would be (or has been) made in a review of an Italian or French restaurant.
(Now replace restaurant with any other daily context for why some people may notice a remark in this vein even if it was made without mal-intent.)
Agree wholeheartedly, and the same for what I wrote.
I think they had their PR / social media game going from the start, so there wasn’t much of a secret.
That warning is annoying, I agree – though I’ve always gotten it when I’ve been on Thurs-Fri-Sat nights, or when they have no reservations left and are fitting in walk-ins.
I want to go back to try the Duck Massaman curry, but there are a bunch of new places around that I feel like I should visit first. Hmm.
Okay, between reacting to bad lighting, badly printed / colored / fonted menus, and bad sound absorption, I may be turning into my grandmother (skipping a whole generation there in the middle).
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My point about the owner speaking English was the fact that, in. most of the Chinese restaurants I frequent (mostly in Flushing) staff do not speak English and therefore, it is difficult to discuss dishes and choose what to order. Thisi was the case at the original Fu Run. Not the case in the new Fu Run/Ran.
End of story.
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At the very least I want to make sure when I come back from the bathroom, I sit in front of my wife, not someone with a similar shape. I’m already at the point where I enter other people’s cars in dark garages.
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Lobster Place had a clam bake. $95 all in, tax & tip included, plus unlimited vinho verde and Narraganset Fresh Catch. We had a blast! They’re planning some more events, including a feast of the seven fishes.
Place cards, pretty fancy!
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Thats a good deal
I agree! I have a feeling this was a “test the waters” run, and future events might be less affordable.
Finally went to LUNGI:
