It pains me to write this review--I want so badly to like the Astor House--I love the Tuck Shop and never have had a bad meal there.
but things are just not right at the Astor House--we ate there last night on Halloween. What a missed marketing opportunity--Trick and Treaters kept stopping by --we heard many saying we had no idea this place was here. instead of handing out a coupon for a macaroon with lunch--the staff did nothing and were actually kind of funky when people walked in.
The Astor House needs to get an identity--the "service" is just funky--neither a cafeteria nor service--you would think with 4 people in the restaurant--you would not have to go to the end of the counter and pick up your "tray" of food. the tables are wobbly and the chairs are uncomfortable--things that I wouldn't care about if the food was good.
On to the food--I may have a bias because I spent a lot of time in Kansas City and know what good barbecue is--what is being served is not. the meat continues to be dry and the sauces are yucky--they are two sweet or weirdly spiced.--the one highlight was the link--chicken and garlic was good. The food is served in paper on trays--all i can say is yuck!--we had to ask for paper plates--which at least made the eating process tolerable..
the Astor House is in a great neighborhood--but even the neighbors who can walk there are either going to go to the Tuck Shop or walk a few more blocks to 7th st to restaurants that have much better food.
I will definitely be back to the Tuck Shop over and over again, but am done with the Astor House--have been there several times--and it is just not right--they need to find out what the neighbors want and be that--coffee, sandwich, drinks and snacks--do --something well and be at the level of the Tuck Shop instead of a pretend cafeteria--
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