I have tried Mim's on two occasions and was not all that impressed. The first time was lunch, and it was awhile ago so I don't remember the details, but I didn't particularly enjoy it. I remember ordering a lobster bisque that didn't seem to be a bisque at all. The sandwiches we got were okay, but overpriced in my opinion. Breakfast was a similar situation, had not long ago--decent, but again overpriced. And I agree that the meny can be confusing. I thought a little more of the ambiance than you did, John, but the first time wasn't during the summer so there was no A/C, and the second time was on the upstairs deck and we had it all to ourselves.

My friend and I had a terrible experience at Mim's. We went for lunch. We sat outside which was icky because of the traffic. We ordered chowder and a drink. The chowder was $10.50 (which is ridiculous). It was all potatoes and a tiny bit of fish. We complained to the waiter. He did nothing. What a waste of a precious lunch hour!

FYI, you can see the water from the outside seating - especially upstairs.

There's no people watching in Portland?

I love people watching if I'm eating by myself or on vacation, but when I sit down to a meal with my hubby or a good friend for some catch-up time, I don't really like to be distracted by the wandering tourists.

That said, I've never eaten on Mim's top porch, but it seems like a great spot. However, I thought you could only do tapas and drinks from there.

The restaurants in that location have always had a hard time making a go of it, which always seemed crazy because it's such a visible spot. Perhaps the location just has bad karma, like Babu's American Café!

~Jes

I too had an awful experience at MIM's. I even left a note for the manager with my cell number to discuss how poorly the entire experience was. No one ever called. I think the food was lousy. The service was the worst I have ever experienced and on top of all that their prices are ridiculous. I would have gotten a better return for my money playing the slot machines in Las Vegas.

My partner and I brunched at Mim's a few months back. I recall thinking the best thing about the place was that the eggs were poached perfectly. I was not fond of their a la carte breakfast selections, though it was kind of interesting to get frites with my eggs. Overpriced and lacking in the service department is what we walked away with. And the frites are better at Duckfat.

I have to admit, I'm saddened that you did not have a great meal at Mim's. I have only had good experiences there, although I will admit that I have (a) only been there off-season and (b) had excellent servers. I do agree that their prices are perhaps unwarranted, but making a meal out of the smaller plates can net you some fantastic food at reasonable prices. Sorry to hear it wasn't so hot.

Welcome to Commercial Street folks! Forever and ever amen the way its been and hopefully the way it will remain!

Now one wouldnt order a prime rib at the airport and not expect to hear noise!

Its all about life in the city of Portland and yes if you open a dining deck less than 30 feet from a busy street you just may hear something and get a few fumes!

Welcome to Maine the way life should be

I would not hesitate to say the Mim's is the worst restaurant in the city of Portland. It is not the it has the worst food or the even a bad atmosphere. It is the incredible disconnect between the quality of the food and what they charge. More importantly, it is the disconnect between how great the owners feel their restaurant is - and how good it really is. I am sure the owners believe they are on par with Hugo's - however they are no better then many of the other mediocre restaurants in Portland. I have no problems with restaurants charging top dollar for a plate of food, however, for an entrée in the mid 20's I expect a really great meal. Restaurants such as Hugo's, Five fifty five and the White Barn Inn are worthy of the prices they charge. The biggest disappointments in Portland are the restaurants which charge prices close to Street and Co but are no where close to their quality. Andy King (who writes a great food column in the Phoenix) made a mention of these restaurants but refused to name them. In my opinion the biggest offenders are Mims, Natasha's, Old Port Sea Grill, and Uffa. All of these restaurants serve exceptionally mediocre food at outrageous prices. Furthermore, they have an attitude of elitism that is in no way is supported by the food they serve. What blows my mind is that people are still willing to eat there.

Humm..interesting. I happen to love Uffa. The first time we ate there the chef came to our table and introduced himself. Kind and somewhat shy, I would be hard pressed to say there was a shred of elitism to be found. Our food has always been wonderful and the romantic relaxed atmosphere supurb. We have always been off season and our service has been consistently good.

I guess my experiences at Uffa have been far different then yours. I'll be interested to see how our next visit goes..

Would you consider it elitist if you were told that Uffa! does not allow children? I have been told of a specific example (New Year's eve) where a family with a reservation was specifically turned away because the couple brought their children. Elitist enough for you?

Portland is no longer the quaint little city it once was. More people from away have moved here. Real estate prices have skyrocketed for both residential and commercial. I don't think it a surprise to anyone that gas, utilities and costs have risen dramatically. For those of you who only eat out and never at home, do you realize it is nearly $4.00 for a gallon of milk? Most all major and even some secondary cities have a plethora of restaurants but still only a small handful of truly exceptional places to dine. Portland is no exception nor should it be. Costs are astronomical for restaurants and thoe costs should be passed on to the end user, the patron. As a restaurateur in this city I believe it unreasonable for customers to expect to pay what they would had they made it at home. It is reasonable however to expect timely and efficient service. All the things no one sees, labor cost, food cost, lights, rent, depreciation, loan interest, insurance, the list goes on, still must be paid for.

When I first dined at Mim's I realized the menu and concept was identical to Craft, a Tom Colicchio restaurant in NYC. It was the same right down to the font used on the menu. Under Harding Smith's guidance, I believe Mim's put out some of the freshest approaches to food Portland had seen in some time. Since his departure (about 2 years ago?)the food has declied to some degree but I would never consider Mim's to be gourmet and I don't think the owners believe that either. This is simple French bistro food made a la carte in the european tradition so as not to stuff yourself American. But we choose to do that, don't we as the entitled Americans we are. I have an idea. Eat less, drink less and the bill will be far less...

By the way, I have always enjoyed the service at Mim's, the cocktails and the deck. People watching in this city or any other makes dining some of the best entertainment. Some would say, almost worth the prce tag.

Uffa is elitist because you HEARD of a story where they turned away a couple with children on New Years?

Where do I even begin??

No, actually I read it not heard it. So I guess, if I were you, I'd start here:
http://www.chowhound.com/newengland/boards/newengland/messages/21793.html

My husband & I enjoyed a fabulous dining experience at Mims recently. We were seated at a quiet table for 2 upstairs in the back room. Our waiter was attentive & answered all my questions regarding preparation and selection of the menu items. We both thought our appetizer & entree selections were well-prepared and delicious. The portion sizes were perfect for those of us who prefer to eat the European way vs American.
Granted the price is above-average, (like Hugo's, Fore Street), so it will be only a special occasion restaurant for us. I do prefer Mims over Natashas's overall.
The key to most good restaurants in Portland, visit during off-season rather than busy tourist time. You will have an overall better experience.

Some of your comments are really fascinating. I too beg to differ in branding Uffa with elitism or snobbism. On the contrary it is probably one of the most relaxed eateries in the city. With its rough hewn decor and casual feeling, elitism is certainly not found here. Because they pay so much attention to fine food does not make them stuck up. Try it again. I was there about a week ago, had a wonderful meal, the service is great and the chef, as always, came out to greet and chat with patrons. As for children not allowed at a New Year's Eve dining venue, I think that's entirely appropiate. Perhaps the restaurant should h ave told patrons ahead of time. On the other hand, parents seem a bit amiss taking their kids to what many consider a grown up activity.
Though, I must admit, my parents, when I was growing up,gave a gala New Year's Eve party each year--and I loved being part of it. But it was at home, not in a public place.

ACD and our nameless restauranteur, I think one of the only possible complaints about Mimm's that WASN'T mentioned was the portion sizes. I think most people (but certainly not all) find it entirely appropriate to have small portion sizes at a European-style eatery. People have been complaining about the quality of the food given the price, not the quantity.
And to the nameless restauranteur, I would just like to know how it is that you think people moving here from away has raised the price of milk? I moved here from MA a few years ago and take offense to your comments. Being in the restaurant business, you should be appreciative of all the people who love this city, and Maine, or you wouldn't have any business.

I have no idea how you draw your conclusion that I am blaming people from away for the price of milk. I am simply stating that everything costs more than it did in the past but diners seem to think that rising costs should not be passed on to them and that the cost of a quality meal should be as inexpensive "as they remember it" or "want it to be". Dining out costs money, plain and simple and more then cooking at home. THAT is what I stated. I totally agree that the tourist market and the increase in Portland's population is GOOD for business regardless from where you come. I NEVER stated to the contrary.As for children on NYE, yes, it is an adult event but adults seem to have forgotten this. Any restaurant that is open at regular dinner hours however should always be prepared for children, appropriate or not. If not, communication is paramount to avoid disappointment (and negative press).

Nameless, sorry that I misunderstood you. However, if you re-read your post you may see how I drew that conclusion. You started by saying that more and more people from away are moving here, the prices of real estate and utilities are skyrocketing, etc. I just assumed that you were pointing to casuality there, but maybe you weren't. I'm glad that you appreciate the money that tourists and new residents bring to the state, because many people who in actuality rely on tourism $$s do not.

I did hesitate to group Uffa with the other restaurants - to be honest they do not qualify as elitist. What made me include them was disappointment in their change from Cafe Uffa to Uffa. When Cafe Uffa first opened it was fantastic- exceptional service, great food and a great atmosphere. The place was always packed and was a real asset to the west end. What is there now just does not measure up.

The unnamed owner reeled a list of straw man arguments that rarely appear on this board. I can't think of anyone expecting to pay what we pay at home to eat out. The Old Port Sea Grill marks up their beer and wine 400%- that’s just insane- and many other places are just as bad. I enjoy eating out and though I make a decent salary - it is not tremendous. There are quite a few restaurants that I am able to afford and enjoy eating at regularly. I love these restaurants and the people who run them. They are also always packed - which means there is room in Portland for owners who are willing to work hard enough to put out a great meal at a good price. Quite frankly Natasha’s and Mims are ghost towns on most weeknights. There is no more room in Portland for restaurants that want to overcharge. I also am willing to save and splurge on a great meal, however, I don't have the financial resources to eat out at restaurants that may be good. Therefore I go for ones that I know are good.

In terms of portion sizes there are very rare complaints about small portions on this board. I myself would be pleased if almost every restaurant (with the exception of Hugo's) dropped their portion sizes. However if you drop your portions - and food costs- how about a requisite drop in the price of the food.

I, too, was a little put off by the fact that Uffa! didn't serve children. But then again, they aren't on the menu, even on New Year's Eve.

James Tranchemontagne- Head Chef Uffa! Restaurant

While I read this blog weekly I do not usually write in. However, Mr. Eric Johnson comments and others, I thought I would take a moment to answer some of the information and comments being posted here. First, I was not the nameless restaurateur.

It is true about our baby/children policy. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that is a “get away” from the pains of everyday life. We have birthdays, anniversaries, business’ dinners and guest coming for a night out. A crying baby or a child running around can ruin that for many people who are spending hard earned money.

If we had two rooms maybe we would look at it differently but in a small, one room, 14 table restaurant it is very hard to ask every table to tolerate one table. It isn’t to say children are bad or all babies will cry but it happen regularly enough to where it was taken away form the pleasure of our guests. I have a child, Todd has three and many of our regulars have children. Our Brunches are packed with families with children.

As for New Years. All reservations are asked, “If there are children in the party?” so an incident, like on New Years, does not happen. I will say before people judge, base on the New Year’s post and link, that they really do not have all the information about that one reservation.

Our goal is for our guests to have a great night, in a clean restaurant, with professional service, solid food and great wine and drinks. We offer a variety of portion sizes at different price points. We allow tables for dinner, dessert, cocktails, cheese or a light meal.

I know some people loved the first Uffa!, some loved the second Uffa! and many love what Todd and I are doing with Uffa!. As a chef, I dropped the Café and changed to Restaurant because I wanted to be more know for dinners then brunch. It will be 3 years, this Sept 26, since we bought it. I love that fact that an Uffa! now has been on this corner for 11+ years, and when we leave(no time soon) hopefully someone else will keep it alive with their spin on it.

Thank-you to all who have supported us, I hope this answers your question.

God Bless,

James Tranchemontagne
James@uffarestaurant.com

What age constitutes a child? Also, mine don't have ID (should I bring their birth certificates)? Children need to be parented and so do some adults. What about the boisterous, obnoxious adult? Do you ask s/he to leave (I think you should). Personally I think it an issue of pumping up the check and not wanting to accommodate the specific needs of children since usually their meals cost less. Mine are under 12, eat from the adult menu and if anything, we spend more since, with the kids, we always get dessert. Remember, kids eventually turn into adults and they don't soon forget.

We live in a free society. Believe it or not, restaurants have the right to refuse ANYBODY for service.

I think you, Mr. Tranchemontagne, are serving a very important niche market with your no child policy.

If people don't like it, don't go.

You must be an attorney. or perhaps you've read too many signs that say "we reserver the right not to serve...blah, blah , blah". In researching the facts, what does exist, however, in Maine state law for Innkeepers and Victualers:
Every innkeeper shall, at all times, be furnished with suitable provisions and lodging for strangers and travelers. The innkeeper shall grant such reasonable accommodations as occasion requires to strangers, travelers and others. [1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 (new); 1989, c. 6 (amd); c. 9, §2 (amd); c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (amd).]
As I read this, an Innkeeper and Victualer have a duty to serve the public and in no way, unless the patron is disruptive, can not pay or destructive, can they ask to be removed from the property.

Anyway, I just may put Uffa! to the test.

Interesting subject. I would guess from that now-famous Denny's lawsuit that restaurants cannot discriminate based on the usual suspects (i.e. race, sex, religion, AGE, etc.) But that begs the question--how then do restaurants get away with dress codes? I suppose that messy dressers are not a "protected" demographic. But age usually is. Yes, very interesting indeed . . .

I have refrained from posting for months because of the idiotic and childish insults to the critic. people, he can say what he wants and eat where he wants. If you don't agree with his comments say so but don't be critical of the other areas!

kids in fine restuarants ?? no f..ing way. I dine out often and when i'm spending over $100 for 2 I don't want anything and I mean anything getting in my way of a first class meal. I have 2 young children and take them to fridays, vinny T;s etc.. where it is appropriate. ie.. family venues. It's not an insult to kids as much as a hommage to adults who have had a long work week and want to spend some bucks for a exceptional evening. A great meal isn't just food it is everything the place has to offer. I don't want a screaming baby when i;m smelling the cork of a $100 bottle of kistler or engorging in the seard frois gras.

i applaud uffa a great restuarant i have been to 4 times in the last yr in taking a stand.

My wife and I used to put our infant on the floor as he slept through every restaurant we went to. Now, still a child, I would put his restaurant behavior up against any adult's. We have been teaching him proper restaurant etiquette since the day he could understand it. Why deny him his affinity for foie gras? And since his restaurant tutelage began, although he is not permitted to drink wine, even he knows you don't sniff the cork of any wine unless you wish to appear pretentious and unknowlegeable.

I have no problem with Uffa's Policy on children and I doubt that anyone trying to enforce some esoteric statute would get very far. I also thank James for responding to comments on the board. My only disagreement is with his contention that they have food available at lots of price points. If he was honest and would just say "Yes Uffa is expensive and we believe it is worth it" I would let it slide. However, 25 dollar entrees are not affordable to most people, and it is only my opinion, but I do not believe that the quality of food and service support the prices they charge. In the interest of their own business they would see a marked increase in clientele with a small decrease in their prices.

There is nothing esoteric about Maine State Law as it applies to Inkeepers and Victualers. If a restaurant doesn't know about the laws affecting their business, they won't be in it for very long.

The subject of children in what are basically adult restaurants--not to be confused with anything x-rated--is I'm sure a delicate issue. I agree with Nick that misbehaving children in a fine dining establishment could be disconcerting indeed. My feeling is what are these kids doing out so late anyway?

When I was growing up in NY, my parents barely ate at home and we always went out for dinner. My mother was a terrible cook, so this wasn't such a bad thing. Sometimes we'd go to casual neighborhood restaurants and other times it was to really good places. Of course I loved the good places, though I didn't turn down a cheeseburger deluxe if that was our mode of dining that evening. But most of the time I think I sat there well behaved, looking forward to every morsel of food, fascinated by all that was going on. My parents enjoyed long cocktail hours, and I sipped on milk or juice. Oh, well. But it was sure fun.

You need to read the statute more carefully Mr. Dershowitz.

Minors are NOT a protected class in this instance. What if said restaurant wanted to show a pornographic movie? Should minors be allowed?

Do restaurants discriminate by not serving alchohol to minors? Yes they do.

The policy at Uffa! is I'm sure a well established one, which is really all you need.

to SEC: your comments are typical on this board; instead of just responding and givivg an opinion you had to insult me. You are so witty!! Let me address your ramblings.
1)i know your kids are perfect they never cried, always slept through the night, will go to harvard law school and be featured on fox news nightly. And its all bc of your terrific parenting. give yourself a pat on the back... i'm applauding.. yawn another yawn!

now lets get back to the food. it is very true many infants could behave very well without incident, but some will not. my point is a restuarant does not know which will happen with which child. Some things are just for adults period. Even the best behave child who has been taught to behave well can have a bad night after all there only a child. Well that bad night better not be when i'm spending big $$$ on a meal.

2)Although opinions differ i have travelled extensively in napa valley and sniffing the cork of a fine bottle of wine is not only accepted but expected by many. Everyone has there opinion and I do respect yours if you don't do this. But why the insult???

I am a chef and though I don't particularly feel people should bring their children to a fine dining restaurant I don't really mind it . However , I think they should order off the menu . It seems like countless times I have been asked if I could just serve them some plain pasta with butter or cheese . Once , the adults decided that's what they wanted too . My take on it is if they can't eat off the menu , leave them home . But , back to Mim's . Pricewise , it's on a par for what you have to charge . Quality wise I was disappointed my one and only time there . It was for lunch and it seemed to be mostly salads . y wife ordered the frisee au lardons and she hated it . Especially the barely cooked egg . I ordered a salad of duck confit , white beans and shaved fennel . sounded good enough and the confit was quite good . However , it was lost in a giant bowl with what seemed to be about a head of romaine lettuce , the white beans were dried out , the fennel was all but missing and the dressing insipid . I wwwould give them another try some day though , but I'm just not in Portland very much .
Jonathan Erskine
Chef at Dark Harbor House Islesboro ME.
P.S. John come try us out sometimes , I think you would enjoy it.

I think that John Golden (and his dinner mate) has a future in fiction, as many of his accounts of the "odd" evening incorporate embellishment and exaggeration. Although in looking at the resume that he has posted for us to see, I could be wrong. In his profession I suppose a certain degree of artistic license is his prerogative...

"i have travelled extensively in napa valley"

too funny

"sniffing the cork of a fine bottle of wine is not only accepted but expected by many."

Even funnier....

If I wanted to fictionalize on these pages I'd write fiction. Sometimes a fictional account is better. HOwever, whatever I say here is left up to the vagaries of personal taste. If a restaurant can't live up to expectations then I'd rather stay home or go grab a hamburger someplace. As I said, which seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle, most of the food I had that night at Mim's was well prepared and very tasty. If only everything had come at the proper time. I've never liked eating my vegetables with my dessert.

Oh Nick, welcome to the forum.

People in here have a penchant for insulting the posters rather than offering up their own opinions. It happens time and time again.

I too enjoy my fair share of wine, and the one thing I've come to hate more than anything else is a wine snob. "Don't do this. Don't do that". If you want to smell the cork, go right ahead. I personally don't find it to be a great indicator of the quality of the wine, but it does on occasion fortell one that has gone "skunky".

I like to take them home and make cork boards.

And John, when you go grab that burger, where do you go?

I'm still trying to figure out where you "slum it".

Good Burger?

Great Lost Bear

I still would like to know the minimum age to have the privilege to dine at Uffa! Does anyone know or is it solely up to the discretion of the host or hostess?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?

Why continue to be adversarial?

If you consider your kid to be a child, don't bring 'em.

Or put it this way, if you ask them if they'd like to go to Uffa! and they either: a - don't answer or b - say no because they'd rather play video games, don't bring them.

555 has a good hamburger. I"ve tried Ruby's choice--unimpressed. Dogfish has a good burger, but there aren't too many spots in town that I know of.

Where do I go slumming? Bad word. Where do I go for a quick bite, or something simple, fattening and unhealthy? I think Stone's qualifies. Becky's, the hot dog stand on MIddle Street, Susan's Fish N Chips,Anthony's Italian Kitchen, The Porthole--best soups in town.
Another place (is it Rosie's???) on Fore St. near Pearl. Norm's BBQ, love those sweet fries. Went to Honey's Place recently for great chicken and dumplings and pulled pork sandwich. Vaughan Street Variety has terrific sandwiches. West End Market is great. If I'm near Moody's I'll stop in for something dense and gooey, and am a sucker for grapenut pudding. I like Bugaboos.

You're right. Why be adversarial on here? It's a waste of energy. See you at Uffa! We'll be four, two adults and two young adults, ages 8 and 10. In case there is trouble at the door have the riot squad standing by...

Good luck anonymous.

Hopefully they don't relent and let you or your brats in.

Bugaboo's. Wow, I actually applaud you John for admitting to something that few of us would even admit to.

I may change my view on you yet.

WHERE IS HONEY'S PLACE?

You're right about the sandwiches at Vaughn St. Variety. They're fantastic -- creative, fresh, yummy.I used to live in the West End. I moved out of Portland a few years ago, but I still stop by Vaughn St. for a sandwich whenever the opportunity arises.

Honey's Place is right off Congress St in th e middle of a triangle that's formed between the end of Bramhall and Deering, as you're heading down the hill to the park.

I hope that "someone who drinks Red wine with fish" and "Dr. Spock" aren't the same person, because if so, what a hypocrite! Dr. Spock, give it a rest--no reason to call someone's kids brats when you have no idea what they're like. At 8 and 10 I think kids are very capable of being quiet and well-behaved in a nice restaurant. They probably behave better than many adults.
John, we went to Katahdin for the first time ever on Friday night, and I was very unimpressed. I can't remember if you enjoyed your last visit? The service was slower than molasses and the quality of food was not worth the price in my mind (nor were the drinks). Shame because I enjoyed the decor, but we won't be back.

Where's the hypocrite comment coming from? What is exactly at odds?

I call them brats only because of the actions of their parent here.

Another person who simply must have it their way or else.

If you are indeed both personas, the reason I call you a hypocrite is because you were critical that "people here have a penchant for insulting the posters rather than offering up their own opinions", and then you went on to insult someone for no reason other than that they said they would take their 8 and 10 year old children to a nice restaurant. Your writing style is very unique and therefore I assume that you are the same person who once wrote that you should start a blog about "the meaning of words"? If so, then you should understand that what you wrote is the essence of hypocrisy. Perhaps your first blog entry, by the way, should be "etymology".

Number 1: You're doing alot of assuming.

Number 2: If I do insult, I insult AND offer my own opinions. That's different that what most people do in here - insult to make themselves feel better.

Number 3: FYI, calling a kid a brat is technically not an insult. Although I would have no problem hurling a TAME insult to somebody who insults themselves. I guess it's the language they understand best.

Number 4: My first blog entry will be the word "brat", which can simply mean "child", or the "son or daughter of a career military person".

Number 5: Do you LIKE my unique writing style Gretchen?

1: You in essence affirmed my first assumption, so I felt it was safe to keep on assuming.
2: I guess this is a matter of opinion, and I have to say that I disagree; an insult is an insult to me.
3 + 4: "I would have no problem hurling a TAME insult to somebody who insults themselves. I guess it's the language they understand best." Um, I have no idea what that means so I can't comment here. But, the connotation of a word is just as important as its exact meaning, as is the context; you obviously weren't calling that person's children "military kids".
5: Not particularly, but to each his own I suppose.
Have a nice day!

1: I will, in essence, let that one pass.

2: You must agree that there are varying levels of insults. Do you honestly get equally as mad on all insults you receive?

3: They, themselves, who insult, I have no problem insulting.

4: Remember the 1st meaning, simply "child". If the parent posting here is any indicator as to the disposition of the child, I think brat in it's "contextual" form is certainly applicable. "If a restaurant won't serve my little adults, there will be hell to pay", blah blah blah. My way or the highway.

5: Come on. I think you're being influenced by my MESSAGE, not my writing style. I DO like the things you offer in here, as tame as it may usually be....

As previous manager at Uffa!restaurant I know it is asked that children be over 8. More often than not, kids any younger than that cannot appreciate the "relaxed" pace that Uffa! offers. I've seen it over and over and over again. Parents that swear their children have grown up in restaurants and are very well behaved...Only to try and hurry along the meal and ask for the check before their child unravels in front of a cozy room full of annoyed adults. There are so many restaurants in this city that young kids can enjoy. Get them a sitter and go out to a place where adults can relax and enjoy. You deserve it!

Well, it took me a while to get through all the comments. I am glad to hear that John and others agree that Uffa is a wonderful establishment. As for all this child talk, I for one am happy they have this policy. I could go on about it, but I think the topic has been beaten to death. I am glad the owner chimed in and set the record straight. It is important to have clear policies so surprises do not occur. I look forward to visiting Uffa again very soon!

It is the voice of the future...

I'm not bothered by restaurants not allowing/not preferring children. My kid is very well behaved, but not all children are. I'm also one of those parents who will REMOVE my child from ANY public place if he starts being disruptive. I feel that while he has a right to be there, he still doesn't have a right to torture other people with his antics.

That being said, I don't bring him to Fore Street. I do bring him to Flatbread or RiRa. There are plenty of decent alternatives to give a child a more sophisticated meal than TGI Friday's without spending a ton.

The thing that bothered me the most, however, was this comment by James Tranchemontagne of Uffa!:

"Our goal is to create an atmosphere that is a “get away” from the pains of everyday life."

Gee, I didn't realize children were one of the "pains" of "everyday life". Glad I'm not your kid.

That being said, I don't see the need to subject myself to the pain of an overpriced meal at Uffa! knowing that they have little respect for children. They're people, too, believe it or not.