Highland Place "Nachos"

Train_of_Thought said:

I do believe in "how you say things." Having said that, I believe there is some degree of validity buried within Navigator's post (reminiscent of his/her BPS post). I'm not sure neat nachos is, in and of itself, really the lightning rod issue it would seem to be here, but there does often tend to be an attack dog defensiveness on MOL when it comes to some of the community's favorite business sons and daughters. Again, that's sometimes borne out of the manner in which criticism may be proffered, sometimes not. Just my observation.

Lots of people are offended by my outspoken politics, so that's a huge contributing factor here. My intent is not to trash a Maplewood establishment. I'm a huge supporter of the local economy. In any case, I certainly did not trash the place. Just threw out some constructive criticism.

meandtheboys said:

I think it's "borne" out of lots of other people having actually read the description on the menu, and eaten and enjoyed the dish themselves. Which, I think, points out that everyone has an opinion and a different experience, and the majority here seem to disagree with ktc's assessment, based on their own experience of the food and the restaurant. God forbid.

Agree, maybe so. Certainly when you look at this one issue in isolation. But as a general concept, I do believe on MOL that the "god forbid" tone is applied to those who don't like something 1000x more often than to those who do. You're not really suggesting that a couple of people on this thread are attacking the many "likers" because "god forbid" they LIKE HP, the nachos, or whatever, are you??? And I'm on the pro-HP side of this, for sure.

I think all the small dishes there are very well priced. The meatball app is like $6. The Neat Nachos - $8. A nice sized beet salad - $8. Again, pretentious? I really disagree.

algebra2 said:

I feel like those jerk wings are looking down their nose at me.

That why they're "jerk" chicken.

I don't go to HP anymore, but I have had something that sounds a lot like 'neat nachos' in a little Mexican restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. I kind of liked them - it was almost like the all-star lineup of nachos, with no broken pieces, 'blank' chips or other inconsistencies. I'm assuming that HP's neat nachos is something quite similar.

Then again, I've also had the Cactus Charlie's nachos and really liked them as well. They're 'traditional', sloppy as hell and really delicious (and the prices at CC are outrageously reasonable).

algebra2 said:

I think all the small dishes there are very well priced. The meatball app is like $6. The Neat Nachos - $8. A nice sized beet salad - $8. Again, pretentious? I really disagree.

$8 is really on the high end for four bites of food.

ktc said:

I'll start off by saying what was served tasted fine. The balsamic reduction was a nice touch.

However, four tortilla chips on the plate is not "nachos." At this point in the culinary universe, "nachos" means something very different than what was served. What was served was a pretentious, trying-too-hard-to-be-precious fine dining interpretation of "nachos." It was Top Chef wannabe unnecessary refinement, overly affected. The only thing worse than insincere food is mislabeled insincere food. For a place with Hirschfeld Jerry Garcia art on the walls, this kind of contrived food is disappointing.

It sounds like the standard menu has an accurate description of their Neat Nachos. If you agree, then do you still feel as passionately about this as you originally did?

I had those nachos - chicken and guacamole and other things on chips at a private party there yesterday and they were GOOD.

I said they were good (word I used was "fine".) They just aren't "Nachos." And the mislabeling seemed consistent with a food POV that favors pretension over sophistication. Was left wanting more (in quantity and/or experience) for the price point.

But I will return for another try.

ktc said:

I said they were good (word I used was "fine".) They just aren't "Nachos." And the mislabeling seemed consistent with a food POV that favors pretension over sophistication. Was left wanting more (in quantity and/or experience) for the price point.

I need a picture of the menu.

Train_of_Thought said:

meandtheboys said:

I think it's "borne" out of lots of other people having actually read the description on the menu, and eaten and enjoyed the dish themselves. Which, I think, points out that everyone has an opinion and a different experience, and the majority here seem to disagree with ktc's assessment, based on their own experience of the food and the restaurant. God forbid.

Agree, maybe so. Certainly when you look at this one issue in isolation. But as a general concept, I do believe on MOL that the "god forbid" tone is applied to those who don't like something 1000x more often than to those who do. You're not really suggesting that a couple of people on this thread are attacking the many "likers" because "god forbid" they LIKE HP, the nachos, or whatever, are you??? And I'm on the pro-HP side of this, for sure.

I was actually referring to Navigator's usual nonsense (I know, I really shouldn't), insinuating that the pro-HP crowd (I am neutral on HP, by the way) is out for blood because someone dare have a dissenting opinion about something they ate there. When, in actuality, people are merely pointing out that they have eaten and enjoyed the same dish. So, according to Navigator (and as usual) if you have an opinion that's the opposite of the dissenting opinion you're somehow trying to silence the dissenter. Whereas, if you have a dissenting opinion, you should be allowed to state that opinion without opposition. It's absurd.

And I do think ktc came on a little strong in the OP, and continues to be ridiculous in following posts. I can't say as I have EVER had the experience of feeling "condescended to" by FOOD.

meandtheboys said:

I can't say as I have EVER had the experience of feeling "condescended to" by FOOD.

Substitute "food" with "chef."

How did the chef condescend to you? Did he come out and serve you the nachos himself and insult you in the process? I'm pretty sure I know the chef there, and I don't believe he has a condescending bone in his body.

You're not making any sense at all.

ktc said:

If I'm paying NYC food prices, I expect NYC food standards, not a pretentious approximation thereof.

ktc said:

I said they were good (word I used was "fine".) They just aren't "Nachos." And the mislabeling seemed consistent with a food POV that favors pretension over sophistication. Was left wanting more (in quantity and/or experience) for the price point.

It's 8 bucks, not 80. At that "price point" you're not getting a whole hell of a lot in NYC except for a Taco Bell combo.

ktc said:

If I'm paying NYC food prices, I expect NYC food standards, not a pretentious approximation thereof.

Fortunately, you are not paying NYC food prices at HP.

ctrzaska said:

ktc said:

If I'm paying NYC food prices, I expect NYC food standards, not a pretentious approximation thereof.

ktc said:

I said they were good (word I used was "fine".) They just aren't "Nachos." And the mislabeling seemed consistent with a food POV that favors pretension over sophistication. Was left wanting more (in quantity and/or experience) for the price point.

It's 8 bucks, not 80. At that "price point" you're not getting a whole hell of a lot in NYC except for a Taco Bell combo.

Fully agree. Just saw your post which reads similar to mne.

ctrzaska said:

It's 8 bucks, not 80. At that "price point" you're not getting a whole hell of a lot in NYC except for a Taco Bell combo.

$8 for four bites of food needs to be exceptional, not just good.

8 bucks will get you a *****ty sandwich in the city at a slop house. 8 bucks for 4 well crafted "nachos" with chicken, avocado, etc. in a nice restaurant atmosphere seems pretty reasonable to me

forkinatoaster said:

The nachos taste good, but they ARE misnamed. So is HP's "tortilla." It's really more of a frittata.

Tortilla is the Spanish (from Spain) term for what Italians call a frittata.
We Americans use Tortilla to mean that round, flat bread made of corn or wheat flower and the stuff we often put on top of it.
I don't know if that is the Mexican-Spanish term.

BabFab said:

forkinatoaster said:

The nachos taste good, but they ARE misnamed. So is HP's "tortilla." It's really more of a frittata.

I don't know if that is the Mexican-Spanish term.

you are right ... it is a mexican - spanish term

Oldstone said:

8 bucks will get you a *****ty sandwich in the city at a slop house. 8 bucks for 4 well crafted "nachos" with chicken, avocado, etc. in a nice restaurant atmosphere seems pretty reasonable to me

Last week I spent $8 on a burrito from a stand in Madison Square Park that was out of this world.

Oldstone said:

8 bucks will get you a *****ty sandwich in the city at a slop house. 8 bucks for 4 well crafted "nachos" with chicken, avocado, etc. in a nice restaurant atmosphere seems pretty reasonable to me

I'm about to have some $7 nachos in the lobby of a Jersey City Wells Fargo. I'll be back with my review in 5 minutes.

ktc said:

ctrzaska said:

It's 8 bucks, not 80. At that "price point" you're not getting a whole hell of a lot in NYC except for a Taco Bell combo.

$8 for four bites of food needs to be exceptional, not just good.

For $8 I'm just expecting that the course fills in some time.

RobB said:

Oldstone said:

8 bucks will get you a *****ty sandwich in the city at a slop house. 8 bucks for 4 well crafted "nachos" with chicken, avocado, etc. in a nice restaurant atmosphere seems pretty reasonable to me

I'm about to have some $7 nachos in the lobby of a Jersey City Wells Fargo. I'll be back with my review in 5 minutes.

Hey now !!

ctrzaska said:

For $8 I'm just expecting that the course fills in some time.

Really?!? That's a LOW standard.

ktc said:

But I will return for another try.

I don't understand, why would you want to go back? Don't bother, it will just mean more for us!

I wonder how much that stand paid in rent vs. HP .... it's 8 bucks!!!

ktc said:

ctrzaska said:

It's 8 bucks, not 80. At that "price point" you're not getting a whole hell of a lot in NYC except for a Taco Bell combo.

$8 for four bites of food needs to be exceptional, not just good.

I attended the same party as MEM and also enjoyed the nachos - $8 seems reasonable for this appetizer, if you downed one in one bite ("4 bites of food"), you have a rather large mouth.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guacamole

Guacamole is actually a Mexican Spanish word...