tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post2304497740516971393..comments2024-03-29T00:54:32.667-07:00Comments on kevinEats: Starry Kitchen Nights (Los Angeles, CA)kevinEatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-64146571441124157512012-10-17T20:19:27.481-07:002012-10-17T20:19:27.481-07:00Seems like water grill charges 38 dollars for a 2 ...Seems like water grill charges 38 dollars for a 2 lb crab northwest dungeness crab chilled. <br /><br />25 / lb for it steamed w/ coleslaw and butter.<br /><br />So steamed a 3 lb crab there would in fact be 75 dollars.<br /><br />http://www.watergrill.com/images/WG2012/Sample_Dinner_Menu_LR.pdfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-19153838360511060362012-09-12T18:57:20.663-07:002012-09-12T18:57:20.663-07:00Wow, this is one of those rare times where the com...Wow, this is one of those rare times where the comments basically address themselves for the most part. Nguyen did a much better job 'splaining things than I ever could have.<br /><br />As for the rest of you guys:<br /><br /><b>Roddy</b>: Thanks man. No real complaints about the portions; in fact, some of the dishes were <i>way</i> bigger than I'd expected.<br /><br /><b>HB</b>: Huh?<br /><br /><b>Marian</b>: Yeah, definitely agree about the sauce; it was great over rice the next day. How much was the controversial crab the evening you went?kevinEatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13874030588556187843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-79211203669148857462012-09-11T11:20:32.177-07:002012-09-11T11:20:32.177-07:00Absolutely LOVE SK Nights and need to get back the...Absolutely LOVE SK Nights and need to get back there ASAP! The Singaporean Chili Crab is TO DIE FOR and that sauce alone is like crack. Perfect for noodles, pasta, rice, etc. I don't know any other place that makes Singaporean Chili Crab.<br /><br />Plus you don't need to order it if you don't want to or the price isn't to your liking. Their other dishes are very affordable and delicious!Marianhttp://www.marianthefoodie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-25970801429610082442012-09-07T12:24:29.856-07:002012-09-07T12:24:29.856-07:00do you have space for a tank?do you have space for a tank?HealthyBiteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235299227167701618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-78980518933409477192012-09-05T13:31:24.813-07:002012-09-05T13:31:24.813-07:00Great review as always Kevin.
For the price hater...Great review as always Kevin.<br /><br />For the price haters: remember it's not mandatory to order the Chili Crab ;)<br /><br />Everything looks great, and the rest of the dishes are at a generous price point. <br /><br />I'm hoping to make one of these events soon enough.Rodzillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217934585720560358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-56261987938276472092012-09-04T18:34:17.995-07:002012-09-04T18:34:17.995-07:00@Anon3 -haha that's a good suggestion, but I c...@Anon3 -haha that's a good suggestion, but I can safely say a Singaporean Chili Lobster is definitely not the same as a Chili Crab. And honestly we started serving the Singporean Chili Crab thinking only a FEW people would order it. We had no idea it would be our "Signature Item" from the get go. If it helps, about 4 people can chow down on a Singporean Chili Crab and be VERY happy (and full) because of the nature of the sauce and dipping (and eating over rice! ^_^). If we're still playing the economics game, that will probably help you understand how we work it out<br /><br />@Anon4 -ach, hopefully you read my last point for @Anon3. It's nowhere near the expense or extravagance of Foie Gras because you can share it with (at least) 3 other people. I see people share between 2, but I've seen a party of 6 share it too. We ARE a family-style joint ya know. We want you to have a lot of people with you so you can try, share and not break the bank ultimately. Hope that helps. When it's crab season, prices will go down, but right now there seems to be a decent demand and as a restaurateur we have to try to feed that demand. It's not always about margins (and if you read my breakdown above, it really isn't the case). Thanks ^_^Starry Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472126969539524235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-57628012513479199372012-09-04T17:59:33.313-07:002012-09-04T17:59:33.313-07:00So chili crab replaces foie gras for those with de...So chili crab replaces foie gras for those with deep pockets who don't have the good sense to wait until it is crab season.<br /><br />Or to be blunt: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-22574464188834581492012-09-03T23:05:57.250-07:002012-09-03T23:05:57.250-07:00Water Grill does not charge $150 for a 2lb Dungene...Water Grill does not charge $150 for a 2lb Dungeness crab. They probably charge close to your $60. But regardless I appreciate the explanation. At the end of the day just probably a better idea to not serve it at all if it's not in season and has such a high markup. Lobster is cheaper right now. Serve Singapore Chili Lobster...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-7890020565513071212012-09-03T17:54:58.690-07:002012-09-03T17:54:58.690-07:00@Charlie + @Anon1 + @Anon2 -trust me when I say we...<br />@Charlie + @Anon1 + @Anon2 -trust me when I say we don't price it so lightly, but I might as well explain the economics to you to shed a little bit of light (whether you accept it or not is a different story, but humor me):<br /><br />-Dungeness Crab is NOT in season until the winter (which will drive prices and the market price down)<br /><br />-we actually have to get them airlifted everyday from the Pacific Northwest because we luckily have sold out of them 11 out of the 13 days SK Nights has been open, and almost NO ONE is stocking crab as quickly as we need it (and even our supplier is surprised how many we're moving)<br /><br />-wholesale Dungeness Crab is currently $14-16/lb actually. <br /><br />-While you may see it for $7-8/lb at an Asian grocery store they: a) have varying quality including fairly OLD/BLACK crabs once you clean/gut them out (we know, we've eaten those too!) b) don't always have both claws (and when you're paying you want the WHOLE crab, right??) c) might be VERY old and have held on to them in their tanks for a WHILE hence the "black" crabs too. We pay more for the daily shipping AND guaranteed quality (because unfresh seafood, at least to us, is UNACCEPTABLE)<br /><br />-most of the Asian wholesellers are actually OUT and are selling them at $12/lb (when they have them, but they're coming up short and replenishing on a bi-weekly basis right now)<br /><br />-at 3 lbs, that means just the <b>cost</b> of crab (not taking into account labor to clean, kill and prep ingredients incl. housemade chicken stock + mire poix (= garlic, scallions, thai chilis) is $48<br /><br />-general industry mark-up is about 3x to cover ALL labor, operational costs, food costs and if lucky will generate about 10% profit (if at all).. which we obviously haven't exercised in this case in order to be able to serve it to as many people as possible<br /><br />-comparatively, a "white/upscale place" called Watergrill which (probably) <b>JUST</b> steams the crab with no real flavor, fixins and probably just surrounded by more fresh seafood is $150 for a 2lb Dungeness!!<br /><br />-in conclusion, we probably don't make any profit OR much at all really on our now signature Singporean Chili (DUNGENESS) Crab<br /><br />You could think that's all a rouse w/ funny math, but that's the ACTUAL math and unfortunately.. I do have to make sure to run a business AND make sure my employees can have job security too. Losing money and trying to make good food would be all in vein if I can't make it a sustainable business. I hope that sheds some light. Trust when I say I USED to think like you guys, until I finally jumped into the restaurant game. I will say that I think Asian places also <b>UNDER PRICE</b> for our/their food when I think Italian+other foods are not nearly as complex as much of our cuisine, but yet we only charge a third if not a 4th of the cost (which is a bummer because our cuisine deserves that respect)<br /><br />Thank you and good night ;)<br /><br />Nguyen Tran<br />Team SKStarry Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472126969539524235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-22713586664914586092012-09-03T17:51:50.154-07:002012-09-03T17:51:50.154-07:00@Charlie -corkage for wine is $15, Kevin was the f...@Charlie -corkage for wine is $15, Kevin was the first to test a "Beer Corkage". I have to review w/ Fred of Tiara, but I would estimate $5 for Beer. As far as the Dungeness Crab "mark up", that seems to be all commenter's BIGGEST concern thus far so I'll address that answer to everyone below but I'll basically say this (and you may not believe it until you read my details below): we're probably still under pricing them by general restaurant industry standards.<br /><br />@Anon2 -before I jump into the crab economics, I'm sorry you don't think we've upped our game (which we dun care so much as long as we're making food we're happy with and enjoy ourselves ^_^). As far as the "pop-up", by definition we are BUT this is meant to be a permanent endeavor where we've taken control of dinner at Tiara PERIOD! And as I mentioned, but the "beer corkage" was/is something that's NOT very common (vs. wine) so we didn't have that figured out yet at the time and I'll have to see how many people choose that (but it'll probably be about $5 I suspect)<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Nguyen Tran<br />TEAM SKStarry Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472126969539524235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-51796535988509626722012-09-03T12:15:04.067-07:002012-09-03T12:15:04.067-07:00I don't see that they've upped their game....I don't see that they've upped their game. They are a 'pop-up' (and when did we replace 'temporary' with that word?), open for two weeks at time of review and haven't figured out corkage(?!), charging $60 for one Dungeness?<br /><br />Thanks for gorging though, but I'll give it a pass. Sorry SK!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-67777415617919550852012-09-02T18:16:37.761-07:002012-09-02T18:16:37.761-07:00$60 for 3lb of crab. holy motherfucker.$60 for 3lb of crab. holy motherfucker.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8667271330300336985.post-30635362439983063602012-09-02T18:04:49.908-07:002012-09-02T18:04:49.908-07:00What was corkage? Also $60s for dungeness crab mig...What was corkage? Also $60s for dungeness crab might be the largest mark up I've ever seen. Charlie Fuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10131445271942007453noreply@blogger.com