Patrons of Accents Grill might notice a change to their dining experience: waiter service.  No more queueing up at the register to place your order, diners are now seated and order directly from their tables.
Lara Franks, co-owner of Accents, said that waiter service is something that she’s wanted to do for years. With the recent closing of Amanda’s, Accents felt the time was right to make the switch.  Accents gets a lot of business lunch clienetele, and the waiter service makes the process much simpler. In addition, the results of the latest Kosher Community Survey, in which Accents scored very high marks, did indicate a general desire from the community for waiter service; this also contributed to the decision. Mrs. Franks noted that despite the changes, Accents doesn’t aspire to take the place of Amanada’s, but will remain a family-friendly establishment with a more affordably-priced menu.
At peak hours, Accents has seating for 130 customers; Cocoaccino’s currently closes at 6 PM, making the seating on the opposite side of the atrium available. Plans are also in the works to expand Cocoaccino’s to include a full kitchen to serve a more complete dairy menu (something that is, in my opinion, really lacking in Baltimore since Cafe 921 closed) and expand their operating hours to include dinner.
Accents also is looking to open on Saturday nights in the winter, and is working on providing wireless internet access for customers.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
This is very exciting. Kudos to Accents for recognizing the need and fulfilling it! I think that Accents has always done a professional job in a tough business and I wish them continued success… I also can’t wait for there to be WiFi at Accents and Cocoaccinos!
I haven’t been complaining about the lack of dairy since 921’s demise. Without a dairy option, I can’t be forced to go for dairy when we eat out. Awesome.
I just hope that the increase in available services doesn’t translate into an increase in prices. Even if it doesn’t, at the very least, patrons will now have to shell out an additional tip of 15-20% of their total bill.
Accents’ best bet would probably be to reorganize the seating areas into two separate sections–one for those who want to have a complete sit-down dining experience, and one for those who would rather just order up front and eat as they’ve been doing for several years now.
You’ve had to tip your server (or, at least, been asked) for a while now, so I’m not sure it’s a huge additional cost. You can also still order takeout, which gets you around the tip.
I think something they might want to address would be the lack of heat in the atrium during the winter months. This obviously also applies to Cocoachino’s, but definitely more so with Accent’s as more people sit down to eat there.
Choosing not to serve $40 steaks does not make an eatery “affordably-priced.” There is nothing “affordably-priced” about paying $13 for a decent deli sandwich ($11 at Knish Shop).
In this case, the waiter service is the not a very family-friendly concept. When the place is packed, there’s not much room for the waiters to move around (ipso facto, even less room for my 3 year old to run about).Also, when my meal is done I have to wait around for someone to bring the check and wait again for them to run my credit card (all the while trying to control my kids). I was there last Sunday and things were in complete disarray. It might be good for the lunch crowd, but my initial experience was negative.
I would say the one thing they really need to fix is their phone ordering and pick up. I’ve ordered many times over the phone, gone to pick up my stuff and realized that they either didn’t give me everything or gave me the wrong thing. The same has happened to my neighbor. In fact, my neighbor said that its a 50/50 chance that they’ll get everything right.
I don’t order often, but when I do, I always go over the entire order when I go to pick it up.
It’s inconvenient, but you really should always check an order before you leave. We recently had the same problem with David Chu’s. And Peninah has a good story that involves the Royal, a lamb chop and half-eaten hot dog, but she tells it way better than me.
What happened to live-blogging the YR meeting? (not that we really learned anything)
I was unable to log into the blog from my phone. I will have a summary post up in a bit.
I was also there Sunday night and the waiters looked so overwhelmed. Maybe that area just doesn’t work for waiter service. The owners are pros so they will figure it out.
I am still happy with my footlong $8.99 single meat sweet onion chicken terriyaki (and occasionally double meat) or Meatball Sub at Kosher Subway in and out in 3 minutes. If I want fast food at reasonable prices and fast, they are still the best.
I find the amount of meat given on a standard Subway sub laughable.
AlanLaz: I like Subway subs. It’s a totally different style, if you’re looking to gorge yourself on meat, it’s not the place to go, but I really like all the different toppings; I’m a big salad guy.
Alan,
I guess it is perspective. As a Baal Teshuva, I grew up at subway and withstood many long lines at lunch time with all these Jews and Non Jews to get those “laugable” sandwiches. Subway has grown huge because they realized early on that people did not need to think meat first. Now a frum jew for over 10 years, I have found the kosher mindset culture of meat and potatoes always first as “laughable” and certainly not healthy. Can we extrapolate that non kosher Jews and goyim pass down healthier eating to heir kids then we do. I say yes.
I do admit when I am in a “laughable” mood, I do double my meat and at 7 – 8 bucks on a half of a footlong (and their foot longs are usually longer then a foot), with all the fillings offered it is more of a bargain then any kosher deli sandwich I have gotten in Baltimore or NY.
Again it is all perspective and mindset.
100% agreed with Alanlaz here. Meat is the ikkur, to say that one enjoys all the salads is completely laughable, Greg. I’d expect my wife to say that and wouldn’t give her a problem, but us men have to have our standards:)