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Originally Posted by oldgreymare:

WOW! Outrageous prices. You will never see me paying $25 for a dinner plate, no matter what is on it. I don't see them lasting long. I have never heard of most of the things on their menu...weird stuff and very costly.

If the food is good then it will work, IMO. I think there is a need in Florence for a restaurant outside of the traditional meat, taters and chicken tenders genre.

Originally Posted by direstraits:

Those attracted to Billy Reid's can afford the place. I'm putting it on my soon to try list. 

---

i can afford Billy Reid's prices, but I choose not to patronize his emporium, since the merchandise is overpriced.   Stores like Reid's are attuned to a constituency that values "style" and exclusiveness way above practical common sense.  A men's long-sleeve shirt that is every bit as well-made as those at BR's can be had elsewhere for one-third of the price charged by BR's.

 

The prices on the menu at Odette's do not look excessive, assuming the food is well prepared. The  $25.00 price cited by Kenny Powers apparently is for a "seared snapper" dish with ****take mushrooms. Anyone checked the market price for fresh snapper or ****take mushrooms?  Both of those are high-end items for sure.

 

On the other hand, the "cornmeal catfish" at $16 better be good and in ample quantity if it is to be deemed competitive with local  places that serve well-prepared AYCE catfish prepared with corn meal (hardly anyone uses any other coating). Either that or the sea island red peas and cauliflower picadilli need to be something really special at this price. 

What I've attempted to state is that there is a new dynamic working in the Florence downtown area -- that's why we have restaurants like Odettes, art boutiques and the Wine Seller.  There are more people with disposable income -- whether retirees or higher earners, I'm not sure.  The cafes and clubs attracting the college crowd are another dynamic.  UNA is no longer a suitcase college. 

 

Billy Reid and a very few others would seem to be the exception to the rule of Florence/Shoals retail  economy. What is the life span of "high end" establishments in the Shoals? Two to three years if there's no cash cow in the back pasture (tee shirt factory supporting upscale dress shop or rich executive supporting wife/daughter's hobby retail endeavor). And even Billy might decide to move to greener pastures at a later date when family becomes more sp**** in the area.

 

Opinion of a 47 year old woman on Billy's duds? How do those guys move in them?

 

The censored word is s*p*a*r*s*e.

Last edited by Kate Colombo

I haven't tried Odette's but do wish them well.  Looking at the menu about the only real temptation that would draw me in would be the hand formed patty hamburger and steak fries for I guess I'm just to plain natured to jump for the other things that seem to be staples at more fine dining type establishments.  I am glad that Florence has such a place and I do agree that if their quality is up there that the prices won't be their downfall.  

 

Regarding prices though while they are on the upper side of the scale they are not completely outrageous.  On the other hand though the kids menu is definitely for the upper crust of society for $7.00 for a child's cheeseburger with another $2.50 added for drink and you almost have anyone else's adult menu.  It will be interesting to hear from someone that goes and if they feel and believe it's worth the price you pay.

Originally Posted by direstraits:

Those attracted to Billy Reid's can afford the place. I'm putting it on my soon to try list. 

 

 
Originally Posted by direstraits:

I'm not young or skinny enough for Reid's, either.  The styling is good, as is the workmanship.  Being retired, my style is more relaxed. 

 

 
Originally Posted by direstraits:

What I've attempted to state is that there is a new dynamic working in the Florence downtown area -- that's why we have restaurants like Odettes, art boutiques and the Wine Seller.  There are more people with disposable income -- whether retirees or higher earners, I'm not sure.  The cafes and clubs attracting the college crowd are another dynamic.  UNA is no longer a suitcase college. 

 

___________________________

what you did,  was 'come off' as a pretentious ass. just so you know.

i wonder how many of your neighbors would LOVE to see you move? i bet you're the old man that whines when kids walk through your yard. you're NOT the 'loved world traveler" you think you are... you're the forum pretentious ass and everyone feels the same way. they're just not willing to say it to you. i , however, would love to buy you for what you're worth, and sell you for what you think.. i bet i could cure the national debt.

Had lunch at Odette's today.  All tables and part of the bar were filled.  Decided to try the daily special -- country fried steak with ****ake mushroom gravy.  Good piece of steak (not a thin piece of gristle one finds in some places), tasty.  Adding the mushrooms to the gravy gave a different, but familiar taste to an old Southern standard.  Had the potato griddle cakes and grilled squash as sides.  The potato cakes were half grilled and half mashed potatoes with chives -- very tasty.  Ordinarily, I dislike most potato dishes. (To me, a baked potato is an argument for butter, sour cream, salt and pepper).  However, I liked the cakes.  Grilled squash was OK, -- not special, but decent.

 

I'm looking forward to dining at night.  They have a much better stocked bar than most places in the Shoals.  The menu lists a number of old time cocktails.  I'll try their version of the Old Fashion. 

Saturday, we ate at Odette's for dinner.  Shared the small plate of fried oysters -- done just right,  Then, the butternut squash bisque, which was flavorful -- a good cream soup.  For the main course, we both ordered the snapper.  The snapper was prepared just right -- seared to keep in the juices and cooked until just white.  Too many places overcook fish.   sh*i*t**akes added an unusual flavor to an old favorite -- I liked it.  The couscous and  spinach were a nice touch. 

 

Their old fashion is close to the original recipe -- no cherries.  Odette's bar is the most sophisticated in the Shoals area.  Earlier in the week, I had a pastis, which is hard to find in Atlanta.  Look forward to trying their cocktails.  Although, the Weapon Truck sounds a bit lethal to my liver.

 

Odette's joins the top tier restaurants in the Shoals.  The place was crowded -- diners varied from very casual (jeans) to a few suits (no ties) -- one guy was wearing suit, tie and fedora.   Ladies dressed better than the men, of course.  The place is noisy, like Ricatoni's from diners' conversations.

 

Hope the place will be here for a long time.    

Last edited by direstraits

tried it tonight.. i'm not going to say it was horrible.. but, i'll be shocked i the place is there in 6 months. raw hamburger and free range chicken.. the only good thing about the chicken.. it probably lived a happy life in some hipster's backyard!

if you want some crazy mixed drinks, this is your place. if you want a good meal you don't mind overpaying for, try city hardware, dales or george's.

Last edited by Crash.Override

CrustyChild and I tried Odette (no 's) the other night.  Had the steak, salmon, and fried oysters.  CrustyChild commented that the place had a very Atlanta feel to it.  It also had Atlanta prices. The food was good, but the service was mediocre at a time when there were only about five tables seated and a couple at the bar. 

 

Hope they do well, but I'm thinking that the quantity/price ratio is going to be too high for mainstream Florence.  Which is too bad.

Last edited by CrustyMac

Actually $11 isn't out of line for such a product in a fine dining restaurant depending on the quality of the meat.  I'm sure their overhead for where they are located is also quite high.  Sometimes the product is way overpriced for what you get but often you get what you pay for.  wendy's it isn't, and whether it's worth it will be the ultimate judgement of the actual patron.  

 

As as for myself the best cheeseburger I have ever had was from Houston's in Atlanta and although it was $9.00 I would have felt it worth it even if it was $14.00 as it was that good.

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