Gracies Ownership

What happened to the managing partner Max Comisar?

Son and I tried Don's Pizza a while ago. Great tasting pizza and a nice crowd there. We will return. Thought about trying Gracie's and went to their website. Read some comments and viewed the pictures of the meals they serve. Observed some prices as well.

Gotta tell you, there were a few comments that mentioned the lack of customers in the place. Comments related to menu choices being slim and comments related to food served that was not exactly what the customer ordered. Some comments mentioned questions asked the server that were not accurately answered. Several comments from diners that mentioned the portion sizes being small and the food being overpriced. One customer mentioned they had to go to O'Charlie's afterward to feel full.

The pictures of the patio area look nice and are inviting for dining outside on a nice summer evening. Having some live music is a good idea as well. Like that.

It would be unfair for my son and I to pre-judge without trying the restaurant. However, our initial impressions are that the prices are a turnoff as well as the portion sizes mentioned and in the pictures. The food looks fancy but the downside appears to be portion sizes presented and the price.

This may be a situation where a "New York" upscale dining experience is being created but is being force fit into a Middletown blue collar setting which will never fly. It is just too fancy for the clientele the town offers IMO.

We may give it a try someday but will probably find other dining venues that more closely match our dining tastes. It may be safe to say Gracie's isn't for everyone both in selection and in pricing.

Will take your advise and try it with the son.Would like to try their patio while dining. Perhaps it will surprise me as I do have my perception of the place. Son and I had Don's Pizza again on Saturday night. Really like the taste. Not as large of crowd as our first visit but still 2/3 full when we arrived. Sat by the front window and noticed many patrons going in to Gracie's. Seemed as if they were doing a good business last night. Appeared to be an entirely older clientele parking on Central and going in. Looks like they might need more parking. Fewer folks younger than 50 I would guess. One thing we observed was that the folks who chose to sit on the patio were served with the server walking out the front door on Central and all the way around the building with menus and drinks. Seems like a lot of walking for the servers taking care of patio customers. If they had to carry the food out there like that, it might cool it down a bit. Just wondering if they have a door on the patio (Verity Pkwy) side of the building and if not, if they may have considered placing an exit there if doable. Dunno.

A few folks sitting outside at the Beau Verre place as well. Nice to see some evening activity down there but was still sparse compared to the east end/I-75 restaurants. We frequent those as well. Drove past Combs BBQ and Stefanos on Central coming home. Both appeared to be closed. Is Stefanos still re-doing their place? All in all, a nice evening for a drive around town last night.

Seemed like old times seeing the old Fenwick High School engaged in the Festival. Almost reminiscent of the 60's, 70's and 80's while passing by on University.

I think Combs was closed because they were serving food at the Festival.

I think Gracie's has gotten better with the chef change.  The original chef moved on, and while I know he was well-liked, I actually think this new guy is doing better.  I also think the menu is much more approachable on many fronts, including pricing.   

The Journal had yet another article from Ed Richter promoting the downtown area. Many businesses were highlighted in the pictorial. One of the businesses was Gracie's. Pictured was what looked like seasoned salmon/chicken with a very small portion of cole slaw and some other item on the plate.

Now, if this is a typical meal at Gracie's, and guessing the price to be around $15-$20 bucks or so, I can make a judgement call that this is not going to be a good deal for the money. If this is typical, then I am forced to place this restaurant under the fru fru category. This is what I have been mentioning for a while now concerning this "gourmet burger with pickle slice and chips" type of meal served in these places.

Not all of us eat like birds nor want to pay for "ambiance" with our meal. The portion size, if typical at Gracie's, doesn't necessarily overwhelm the plate does it. Atmosphere is important until the higher price of the meal overshadows the experience while dining.

Still willing to give Gracie's a try though.

This is what I mean about offering the blue collar people of Middletown a decent portion sized meal and matching it in the cost. I would imagine most would look at that picture and know that after the meal, they would have to head to another restaurant to eat the other half of their meal. This may be great food but there is just not enough of it. Nothing worse in dining out than to go home hungry and knowing you paid too much for the meal. JMO

Dined at the award-winning( 4 best of recently) Gracies last night.
Everything was fine—plenty of food in the plates.
Since you have never visited, quit bitching and give it a try!
You can read the menu and prices, so no surprises.
As much as bob and you rag on the owners and place, they would probably welcome you.
Or maybe stick to Golden Corral and the Senior Center.....
Come on, man!

Hardcore spider....

"Since you have never visited, quit bitching and give it a try!
You can read the menu and prices, so no surprises.
As much as bob and you rag on the owners and place, they would probably welcome you.
Or maybe stick to Golden Corral and the Senior Center.....
Come on, man!"

I believe my comments were of the speculative/inquisitive nature and not meant to necessarily "bitch" or complain. I mentioned that I would still try it before giving it a thumbs up or down. For Christ sake, I'm trying to give the downtown the benefit of the doubt here.

Don't get it spider. One post you are inviting us to join you for a meal there and in this post you are jumping down our throats for offering some comments that you take as offensive toward Gracie's. It may be award winning to you but others may find it a tad bit short of that designation. Don't understand the change in demeanor here from you. Wrong side of the bed type of thing perhaps or are you just naturally prone to flying off the handle at times?

I can just hear the Rolling Stones song "Get Off My Cloud" playing in the background on this one.

Ok Spider. Let's dine at Gracie's. A Friday or Saturday evening would be a good time for my son (if he wishes to attend) and I. Could we do the patio, weather permitting? It will NOT turn into a bitch session about Middletown. Choose a date and we'll (I'll) be there.

People nowadays are quick on the trigger to label everything they hear as "negative" no matter the intent of the individual offering the comments. The optimal buzz words for criticism reaction now are "negative" or, in the political arena, "racists". Two popular words to describe those who differ in opinions. More politically correct bull---- in our current screwed up world.

I do like your great comeback on the Stones "Satisfaction" comment. Clever and noted.

Correct—you don’t get it, Bob— because you don’t want to get it. Just voted best restaurant in Middletown—back to back years. Best local food is at Browns Run, but that is another story...

Owners are working very hard to establish themselves while improving the landscape and hopefully themselves. They are involved in the community.
I am sure that they have obstacles constantly along the way.

I am not a huge “downtown” fan after watching decades of prioritizing over everything else , damn the cost. Would hate to know how many millions have been spent along the way. But it looks like it is go there occasionally or do nothing around here.
The BRCC house band opens the Bash for the Menus Wednesday evening. IMO they are more entertaining than the Menus.

So—I am open to meeting at gracies some night—-this could be the last time. May be the last time, I don’t know, vet....

Time is on our side, vet...