Comments on: Roslindale Scoop: Himalayan Bistro Coming to the Neighborhood

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:30:16 +0000

I, for one, am happy about the new Select Cafe. There is a gorgeous, bewitching, female that works there that puts a pep in my step like no shot of expresso ever could!

By: adam

adam — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:39:09 +0000

One last comment: I consider the Boston Cheese Cellar, Sophia’s Grotto, Delfino, Birch Street Bistro, and to a slightly lesser extent, Geoffrey’s and Fornax, to all fall into the “snobby” category as I’m using it (i.e., as a synonym for chichi or posh). I don’t want to see Roslindale completely gentrified either, but I’m glad all of the above-listed businesses have chosen to locate themselves here.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:16:57 +0000

I should mention that I probably haven’t been to Diesel since the 90’s, but I thought it was all right back then. My point is just that Roslindale needs a place that prides itself specifically in coffee/espresso.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:10:12 +0000

There seem to be at two camps re Blue Star and I'm somewhat perplexed at how they coexist. We've been to Blue Star about twenty times; sometimes it's been okay, but there have been several instances where the food took over twenty minutes to come out (just fried eggs and potatoes!) and the adults were served several minutes before the kids. I'm also not a fan of the plastic pre-packaged juice containers, which seem tacky. My personal opinion is that diners should serve juice in little diner glasses.

I'm not sure what you are (sic)ing in my sentence -- would you rather see "top rate" hyphenated?

Anyway, the "snobby" part was a little tongue-in-cheek. All I'm asking for is a well-pulled espresso, which I submit can't currently be found anywhere in Roslindale. And, yes, I too work for a living, and am quite a bit over 25.

By: Jeff F

Jeff F — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:01:04 +0000

I have to disagree with you wrt Blue Star. I have lunch there about once or twice a month (usually with my eight-year old daughter during shopping trips) and it's always a positive experience. The food comes quickly, the service is attentive (and doesn't mind children), the bathroom is clean, and the prices are fair. It's a dependable, friendly, neighborhood spot. Hopefully they'll maintain that same vibe with the Roslindale Cafe.

Also, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic about Rosi needing a "top rate (sic) artisanale (ok) snobby (?!) espresso shop". If so, you may be living in the wrong part of town - people around here generally work for their money, and reward authentic quality. So 'top rate' and 'artisanale' make sense, but 'snobby'?! That's about as unRosi an adjective as I can think of (especially when you contrast us with the neighborhoods immediately to the west and east).

Speaking of cafes - those places you mentioned? I know at least a couple well - Simon's has a (mostly) legitimate hippness, but the service is criminally uneven and their pastries cannot hold a candle to those from any of the Rosi square bakeries.

Diesel though?! Average coffee, bad food, and the floors/counters/etc are always dirty and unsanitary. I used to frequent it back when I was likely to be the only straight guy in there and never felt unwelcome. Nowadays, if you're not a) under 25, b) explicitly post-industrial or c) wearing some ironic emo/gay garb, you'll be treated to the smug superior unstares of a bunch of poseur Tufts students. Perhaps success ruined Diesel, but it's well and truly ruined now.

By: adamg

adamg — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:06:50 +0000

The Robyn’s-not-becoming-Halfway thing was in the Bulletin a couple weeks ago, so it must be true. :-).