Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Cf considered low class? I just went there with a friend and 2 mains, appetizer and a split dessert with tip was over $100. We got water/no drinks.

You can’t buy taste and class. Trump has gold toilets and orders Big Macs for State Dinners.

I love it when the UMC tries to tell others (and themselves) that fast food doesn’t taste good. Poor people, middle class people, rich people all know it. But yet the UMC persists.

It’s an age thing — in that some of it used to be better. Anyone remember McDonald’ beef fat fries?
And some of it is still awesome on a good day. Love that chicken from Popeye’s.
(Middle class with an UMC and beyond education and eclectic tastes)

McDonalds fried apple pies were the best. About 6 years ago they brought them bag to the San Diego market for a two-year promo.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t seem like the big Bloomingdales mall thing is doing well. The fancy retail strip was a flop. Maybe they should turn the Chevy Chase pavilion back into woods.

They should turn every building there into high end condos and apartments with retail on the street level and include 3br units for families who want to get in the desirable school zones nearby.

They should move Bloomingdale’s and Saks up to the White Flint site and turn it into a nicer town center than Pike and Rose. Think Tyson’s Galleria mixed with Bethesda Row. Rework the I-495 intersection nearby to allow eastbound traffic to go up Wisconsin / Rockville Pike without doing a U Turn while you’re at it.

Problem solved and everyone wins. No one wants to go to department stores and deal with that traffic near Friendship Heights, but high end condos and apartments would do great because of Metro proximity and great schools. White Flint needs to be redeveloped.

That White Flint site has been completely abandoned for going on a decade now, which is absolutely astonishing because it is such a prime location. Will anything ever get done, or is it completely hopeless?

I mean, they do run a motorcycle school there now...

But they had been hoping Amazon would come, and then they didn't. There's no plan at this point.

Actually there is a plan:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/07/white-flint-mall-redevelopment-subsidy-consider/

After the lerners wasted tons of money in a protracted, losing court fight against lord and Taylor, it seems that they were waiting for a government handout to develop the site.

+1 And they did that after demolishing a mall that was still functioning, not as well as in the past obviously, but they drove everyone away without a plan in place for what came next. And the aforesaid fight with Lord & Taylor (RIP) took so long that Federal Realty beat them to the punch with Pike & Rose.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how you would classify Morton's, Ruth Chris and other high end steakhouses which are also chains.

I certainly would consider Morton's classy.

I wouldn't consider them low class like Cheesecake Factory, but they aren't cool or sophisticated either. Morton's is a place I'd take picky in laws from the Midwest for a celebration dinner and I'd be confident that we'd have a very nice but boring meal. I do love steakhouses.

If someone invited me to Morton's for a first date I'd be impressed they took the date seriously but I would assume the person was not very worldly or creative.

These places are chains with long menus. Why are they exceptions? If you’re the previous poster you said there aren’t any exceptions. Places like Nobu should also be considered low class.

Um, I said I'm sure there WERE a few exceptions. Yeah, Nobu would be one. I said don't come at me because I didn't want the chain to get derailed with... exactly your comment.

Sigh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how you would classify Morton's, Ruth Chris and other high end steakhouses which are also chains.

I certainly would consider Morton's classy.

I wouldn't consider them low class like Cheesecake Factory, but they aren't cool or sophisticated either. Morton's is a place I'd take picky in laws from the Midwest for a celebration dinner and I'd be confident that we'd have a very nice but boring meal. I do love steakhouses.

If someone invited me to Morton's for a first date I'd be impressed they took the date seriously but I would assume the person was not very worldly or creative.

These places are chains with long menus. Why are they exceptions? If you’re the previous poster you said there aren’t any exceptions. Places like Nobu should also be considered low class.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious how you would classify Morton's, Ruth Chris and other high end steakhouses which are also chains.

I certainly would consider Morton's classy.

I wouldn't consider them low class like Cheesecake Factory, but they aren't cool or sophisticated either. Morton's is a place I'd take picky in laws from the Midwest for a celebration dinner and I'd be confident that we'd have a very nice but boring meal. I do love steakhouses.

If someone invited me to Morton's for a first date I'd be impressed they took the date seriously but I would assume the person was not very worldly or creative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t seem like the big Bloomingdales mall thing is doing well. The fancy retail strip was a flop. Maybe they should turn the Chevy Chase pavilion back into woods.

They should turn every building there into high end condos and apartments with retail on the street level and include 3br units for families who want to get in the desirable school zones nearby.

They should move Bloomingdale’s and Saks up to the White Flint site and turn it into a nicer town center than Pike and Rose. Think Tyson’s Galleria mixed with Bethesda Row. Rework the I-495 intersection nearby to allow eastbound traffic to go up Wisconsin / Rockville Pike without doing a U Turn while you’re at it.

Problem solved and everyone wins. No one wants to go to department stores and deal with that traffic near Friendship Heights, but high end condos and apartments would do great because of Metro proximity and great schools. White Flint needs to be redeveloped.

That White Flint site has been completely abandoned for going on a decade now, which is absolutely astonishing because it is such a prime location. Will anything ever get done, or is it completely hopeless?

I mean, they do run a motorcycle school there now...

But they had been hoping Amazon would come, and then they didn't. There's no plan at this point.

Actually there is a plan:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/07/white-flint-mall-redevelopment-subsidy-consider/

After the lerners wasted tons of money in a protracted, losing court fight against lord and Taylor, it seems that they were waiting for a government handout to develop the site.

Just curious how you would classify Morton's, Ruth Chris and other high end steakhouses which are also chains.

I certainly would consider Morton's classy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Cf considered low class? I just went there with a friend and 2 mains, appetizer and a split dessert with tip was over $100. We got water/no drinks.

You can’t buy taste and class. Trump has gold toilets and orders Big Macs for State Dinners.

But you haven’t elaborated on why it’s low class. Just that trump ordered big Mac’s for a state dinner. Okay, that’s inappropriate on his part but why CF is low class. It’s not the price point. It’s too common of a restaurant? People who aren’t rich will occasionally eat there over other restaurants? Why isn’t Maggianos in the same category?

I'm kind of surprised that you don't realize Cheesecake Factory is considered low class? The price point is irrelevant. Things can be mid priced or expensive and still not considered sophisticated. As a general rule, national restaurant chains are not considered fashionable or 'classy' (whatever that means). This obviously includes places like Olive Garden, Chilis, Applebees, etc and also places like PF Changs, Benihana, or Cheesecake Factory that are a bit more expensive. Don't come at me with exceptions. I'm sure there are a few.

Maggianos would also not be considered a classy place to go for a dinner date, but my understanding is that they specialize in group parties (corporate, etc) with family style dishes so it's kind of different. I'd be fine with going there for a colleague's birthday or whatever. I'd be a little judgmental if invited there for a date.

FWIW, I grew up in Somerset (my parents still live there) within walking distance of Friendship Heights and live now in Bethesda. The neighborhood restaurants that seem(ed) to be frequented most by locals were Clyde's (practically a social club for the old people), Lia's, Sushiko sometimes, and Booeymonger for a quick lunch. Honorable mention to Chadwick's and Indique, RIP.

It's totally ok to like and eat at big chains with long menus, but yeah, it's not considered tasteful or sophisticated.

Cheesecake factory? Like they manufacture cakes?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t seem like the big Bloomingdales mall thing is doing well. The fancy retail strip was a flop. Maybe they should turn the Chevy Chase pavilion back into woods.

They should turn every building there into high end condos and apartments with retail on the street level and include 3br units for families who want to get in the desirable school zones nearby.

They should move Bloomingdale’s and Saks up to the White Flint site and turn it into a nicer town center than Pike and Rose. Think Tyson’s Galleria mixed with Bethesda Row. Rework the I-495 intersection nearby to allow eastbound traffic to go up Wisconsin / Rockville Pike without doing a U Turn while you’re at it.

Problem solved and everyone wins. No one wants to go to department stores and deal with that traffic near Friendship Heights, but high end condos and apartments would do great because of Metro proximity and great schools. White Flint needs to be redeveloped.

That White Flint site has been completely abandoned for going on a decade now, which is absolutely astonishing because it is such a prime location. Will anything ever get done, or is it completely hopeless?

I mean, they do run a motorcycle school there now...

But they had been hoping Amazon would come, and then they didn't. There's no plan at this point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t seem like the big Bloomingdales mall thing is doing well. The fancy retail strip was a flop. Maybe they should turn the Chevy Chase pavilion back into woods.

They should turn every building there into high end condos and apartments with retail on the street level and include 3br units for families who want to get in the desirable school zones nearby.

They should move Bloomingdale’s and Saks up to the White Flint site and turn it into a nicer town center than Pike and Rose. Think Tyson’s Galleria mixed with Bethesda Row. Rework the I-495 intersection nearby to allow eastbound traffic to go up Wisconsin / Rockville Pike without doing a U Turn while you’re at it.

Problem solved and everyone wins. No one wants to go to department stores and deal with that traffic near Friendship Heights, but high end condos and apartments would do great because of Metro proximity and great schools. White Flint needs to be redeveloped.

That White Flint site has been completely abandoned for going on a decade now, which is absolutely astonishing because it is such a prime location. Will anything ever get done, or is it completely hopeless?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Cf considered low class? I just went there with a friend and 2 mains, appetizer and a split dessert with tip was over $100. We got water/no drinks.

You can’t buy taste and class. Trump has gold toilets and orders Big Macs for State Dinners.

I love it when the UMC tries to tell others (and themselves) that fast food doesn’t taste good. Poor people, middle class people, rich people all know it. But yet the UMC persists.

Fast food objectively sucks now, except for a select few places (Freddie’s, in-n-out, a few others). It used to be a delicious treat for all, but now it is literally poverty food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Cf considered low class? I just went there with a friend and 2 mains, appetizer and a split dessert with tip was over $100. We got water/no drinks.

You can’t buy taste and class. Trump has gold toilets and orders Big Macs for State Dinners.

I love it when the UMC tries to tell others (and themselves) that fast food doesn’t taste good. Poor people, middle class people, rich people all know it. But yet the UMC persists.

It’s an age thing — in that some of it used to be better. Anyone remember McDonald’ beef fat fries?
And some of it is still awesome on a good day. Love that chicken from Popeye’s.
(Middle class with an UMC and beyond education and eclectic tastes)

Anonymous wrote:I used to catch the bus there and it's just an awkward area.

Really? What strikes you as being awkward — beyond your bus stop?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is Cf considered low class? I just went there with a friend and 2 mains, appetizer and a split dessert with tip was over $100. We got water/no drinks.

You can’t buy taste and class. Trump has gold toilets and orders Big Macs for State Dinners.

I love it when the UMC tries to tell others (and themselves) that fast food doesn’t taste good. Poor people, middle class people, rich people all know it. But yet the UMC persists.