What's up at the Heartland / Benbow?

[villagegreen]

I’ve walked by a couple of times recently and the place looks empty. People were so excited for this place to open (me included). I remember a thread with something like 150 comments from people on menu suggestions back before they opened. Not to mention all the excitement surrounding the revival of the storied Benbow.

Any ideas why it’s not more popular? I’ve eaten there a couple of times and the food is good, if not spectacular – but how could midwest food be spectacular? What do you think could be improved that would entice you in more often. If there’s one new place in West Seattle I want to succeed, this is it. The Benbow is so awesome I can’t believe it’s not packed every night. And now I think they’ve opened a second bar area with games and live music on weekends. I stopped in last weekend and it was completely dead. What’s up? It would be a travesty if this place closed again (especially the Benbow)!

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[odroku]

Despite my midwestern roots, I found the food there to be somewhat limited and over-priced, so we went only twice.

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[Sue]

The first time I went I found the food to be very good, but a limited menu (with pretty much no vegetable on the menu) and overpriced. I tried it again a while later and was reminded of my original opinion and we did not return for a while. I got one of those groupon-clone deals recently for Heartland and went back. I was surprised to see that the menu had changed, had more offerings, and actually had vegetables and salads available as sides, which I was happy to see. But I still think it’s overpriced for what it is. I haven’t been there for brunch because of the prices.

I probably won’t be back, but simply because I no longer eat red meat or dairy/cheese – which cuts out a great deal of the menu – and as I switch to a more heavily vegan diet, their menu does not serve me. That’s not a complaint to Heartland – I do not expect midwestern comfort food to be vegan. :) It’s just that my needs have changed, so I choose to go elsewhere.

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[dtown]

I’ve been there twice. First time the food was great….but the service was really poor, like reallly bad. I went back with my parents, the food was lacking, but the service was better.

It’s now off my list.

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[charlabob]

We’re still going there whenever possible. Frankly, we’re not eating out anywhere as much as we did — it’s the economy, ya’ know? (Adding up the $ spent out eating out is really eye opening!)

In fact, since you mentioned it, I may lobby to go again soon.

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[Sue]

charlabob, that’s true of us too – we just generally don’t eat out nearly as much as we did. And when I get more selective of the $ I spend, I also get more selective of the restaurants I spend it in.

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[squareeyes]

It’s on the breakfast weekend rotation…I love their homemade corned beef hash, it’s excellent.

Have only been once in the evening for drinks not long after they opened. In that regard it just didn’t have whatever it takes to draw me away from my regular hangouts (Bohemian, Maharajah, Feedback).

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[saney]

I went once. I still dont understand why it was impossible to have the “Volcano” vegetarian. The server wasnt sure either, other than to say that it wasnt possible.

Volcano:

A mountain of mashed potatoes filled with green bean casserole, erupting with gravy and flames of french fried onions.

just make it without gravy?

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[dawsonct]

Or make a mushroom gravy as an option.

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[JustSarah]

I’d assume they use chicken broth in the mashed potatoes. Most homemade mashed potatoes are not vegetarian.

I’ve been to the Heartland twice, and both times had tasty food and good service. My only reason for not making it a regular stop is that it just plain isn’t good for me. Neither is most restaurant food, of course, but I feel extra-bad “spending” my calories on the type of food the Heartland serves up. To paraphrase Cookie Monster, it’s a “sometimes” food.

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[k]

we really want to like it, but the food is mediocre at best. cocktails are good, but it’s just not that great. was hoping for a really good breakfast and late night spot, but alas, no.

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[dhg]

I really want to like the Heartland. I like the people who work there. I find the restaurant environment to be depressing: low end tacky. The food was just not very good. Execution is important, even if it is Midwest fare. If their burgers can compete with Zippys, then we’d have something.

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[AlkiKmac]

Exactly, mediocre food and the wait staff are more interested in chatting with each other than providing good service. We’ve gone only once, for brunch, and I actually emailed the owner my complaints. I got back a “form email” about how hard the restaurant industry is, & that they’d only been open 5 months, so they’re still working out the kinks. He didn’t address any of my complaints directly….even the one where they added an extra dollar to my tip. Although, they offered us two free lunch or dinners to try them again. We declined.

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[villagegreen]

OK – after writing my original post, I realized I should probably go eat at the Heartland again and assess the situation for myself. Just had lunch there. There were 5 of 6 other tables eating, so a respectable lunch crowd I would say for West Seattle.

Anyway, as someone noted the menu definitely has changed for the better. There are now four salads on the lunch menu (Cobb, Steak, Spinach, and Shrimp) and you can sub chicken or veggie patties for any of the burgers.

Also, all sandwiches now come with TATOR TOTS. Not sure if this was always the case, but whatever, tator tots rock! These were good and almost on par with Skylark’s (and that’s saying a lot). I opted for the Reuben and was quite pleased. Corned beef and sauerkraut were tasty, with just the right amount of thousand island and swiss cheese (not drowning in it like some places I’ve been). And the price was right at $8.99.

Also saw they have a happy hour in the Benbow from 3 to 6, M – F. Lots of food specials with a dollar off micros, cheap domestics and cocktails. What’s not to love?

The service was friendly, without being overly so. Food came quickly. Overall, a great experience. Exactly what a neighborhood diner should be. It definitely seems like they’ve worked some of the kinks out that I (and others) experienced when it first opened. I hope people that were turned off back then will give it another try. I know I’ll be back for happy hour in the Benbow soon, if not tonite!

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[rdm]

Squareeyes…Corned Beef Hash should not taste or smell like mustard. Mediocre is a bit overboard. Im in NO hurry to go back.

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[villagegreen]

rdm – that’ simply not true. Many corned beef hash recipes call for the optional addition of mustard. Being a mustard fan, I am a huge fan of their corned beef hash. Mustard may not be your thing, but there’s certainly nothing “wrong” with their version. In fact, it’s the one breakfast item I’d go back for again and again.

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[JoB]

i liked the food at heartland.. but it was too rich for my digestive system :(

i am glad to hear that the new menu offers more choices. i will try again.

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[Vanessa]

I have to admit, I haven’t been back since my corned beef hash had so much mustard in it, that I couldn’t eat it. But they were very professional about it and took it off my bill. I will go back again. I wish them well. Support our West Seattle businesses!!!

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[dawsonct]

Ditto village, I love the hash.

Folks, it’s hash, not Coquilles Saint Jacques, and hell, even THAT is open to interpretation.

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[mlfrye]

I’m with K. Wanted to like it, have tried it a few times, but it is just “eh” in our book.

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[AlkiKmac]

I love mustard, all kinds, but there’s enough yellow mustard on their hash to make your eyes water. How about serving it on the side? Also, where’s the beef? The pieces of corned beef are incredibly small and I couldn’t taste the beef!

Perhaps my first visit was a cook issue. The chicken fried steak was at least an inch thick, not tenderized. Very tough eating. But…I was impressed the gravy had sausage in it. Most places charge extra for sausage gravy.

It’s one of those things were if you know you can get the same dishes better and cheaper somewhere else, why go back? Or if you can make it better at home, why go back? If you’re going to make something, make it good & better than your competitors.

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[dawsonct]

Taste is subjective.

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[maplesyrup]

I want the Heartland to succeed because I like restaurant options and the employees seem nice enough. But I hope they improve the service during breakfast. All 3 times I went there it was painfully slow and the server and kitchen seemed oblivious to it. Come on, Heartland. Step it up!

I’ll still go to the Benbow though. Their happy hour drinks are cheap and strong.

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[villagegreen]

maplesyrup – that’s kind of the boat I was in before I tried them again yesterday. The first couple of times I went (once for breakfast and once for dinner), the wait was painfully long. The server did seem apologetic, but it certainly didn’t make us want to rush back for another visit – especially with a two year old who’s patience is limited.

I really want this place to succeed, though. And based on my experience yesterday they seem to have worked out some of the kinks (at least I’m hoping it wasn’t just an anomoly). I just don’t understand people who try a place just after it’s opened and then write it off after one bad experience. Seems to say more about the person than the restaurant. During the first six months, restaurants are often times a work in progress – as is much in life.

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[Traci]

I’ve been to Heartland a few times, and have had good experiences. The last time we went, our coffee never got cold, my veggie scramble was delicious and huge, and the price was fair for breakfast.

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