The new pop up restaurant at Lucas Cafe - pretty good!

[KidKruger]

Yeah agree - 7x times, each on separate days, the help was provided to the impoverished Seagrass who can't manage to obtain their own IP address, but CAN manage to set-up a catering operation.

Being caught-out doesn't learn the lesson, just carry-on lying to the exact community you were once hoping to profit from. As a failed marketeer I'd feel crushed and devalued.

Utter b0110x.

[Jeremy]

A simple "P.S. the guys are mates of mine but the meal really was great" on the OP would have made a pretty big difference. People appreciate a bit of honesty, I reckon.

[James at Lucas]

No Silverfox, Lucas Bakery has not closed down. The "rent" is minimal and will be disbursed to two charities I support at the end of the year. I have not eaten at Seagrass, although I may at some point do so. Lucas Bakery actively supports small and local businesses, providing a location for Dan to serve his food is largely altruistic - opening a restaurant anywhere costs no less than ?300k (usually, in the region of ?750k and above) so the opportunity to give a talented chef some space in the area (also, being honest, motivated by the chance of an invite on the sly) was one I could not turn down.

On the matter of hyping their own / a friends business via a supposed third party, that was possibly not the best course of action to take but, that is exactly why activities like pop - ups are important, make some mistakes and learn the lessons before investing your house and life's savings on a restaurant. In the last twelve months I have been approached by 4 different pop - up businesses, Dan and Seagrass had the best menu, so, I offered them space. Despite their too enthusiastic methods of marketing their brand, the food, menu and (I am biased, on this one) room are all pretty good, go, or stay away, but judge it on the food, not the on - line presence or whatever IT savvy people call forums etc these days.

I will leave it to readers to "infer" anything from this post. I would prefer Seagrass and endeavours like it to succeed but that is a purely personal preference and not based upon any commercial gain, empty or full, on or off, Seagrass's continued presence makes no difference to me, materially, although as already mentioned, as someone whose main leisure activity is eating out, from a hobbyists point of view, it would be a shame to be deprived of somewhere to dine in the run up to Christmas.

[reeko]

Really nice post James gives a bit of a different perspective on pop-ups in general, certainly makes me more sympathetic to their plight.

Shame you had to come to their rescue though.

If seagrass do want to learn from their mistakes, they should really come on here, put their hands up and give a genuine apology, then we can all get on with the business of judging them on their food.

[jimbo1964]

Good post James. I hope you can continue to support people in this way.

[lane lover]

This is a great generic statement for all pop-up restaurants James, and I really love seeing local businesses do well. Well done for kindly offering your space to such ventures.

What I dont like is deceptive and dishonest behaviour. It says alot about an individual, and really leaves a sour taste. Reputation is everything in the food industry, and for Seagrass to stoop to such low practices is very poor.

[DulwichFox]

Self Recommendation is hardly a new concept.

Do you actually believe that recommendations by TV Stars in TV Ads. are genuine.

They get paid to say they use the products.

They are created by companies to promote their products.

Does that stop people boycotting the products.?

People often recommend their friends for services. Could be a good recommendation.

Try it out yourself and come back and tell us what you think.

DulwichFox

[reeko]

The key difference is DF, I know that George Clooney is flogging coffee not because he likes it but because he has been paid, and he is doing it through a paid for advertising stream. Coming on a local forum and posing as a punter and recommending a business you are connected with is out and out deception. Lying about it after you have been rumbled is just taking the piss.

Just makes me think has their cornish crab been anywhere near Penzance? Has the scottish lobster come from the deep freeze in Iceland? Does it matter as long as it tastes good?

[edcam]

Can they use some of the evening hours to do a bit of training to sort out the bad service in Luca's instead of messing around with pop ups?

[lane lover]

Agree with you DulwichFox, however it is usually done in a transparent manner.

Take product placements on TV for example. It used to be banned in the UK, but the ban has been lifted so long as the UK program in question shows a special "P" logo.

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2011/02/product-placement-on-tv/

I have no issue with popups and am not sure if this restaurant is any good - thats not the issue.

All we are asking for is some honesty.

[*Bob*]

All we ask is that their prostrate, broken bodies crawl on bloodied hands to our jackbooted feet and beg for forgiveness; else let their severed heads be set upon spikes and spent carcasses cast into a fiery pit.

Has anyone tried the Mussels yet?

[DulwichFox]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> All we ask is that their prostrate, broken bodies

> crawl on bloodied hands to our jackbooted feet and

> beg for forgiveness; else let their severed heads

> be set upon spikes and spent carcasses cast into a

> fiery pit.

Brought back memories that did..

Out of control, out of control:

Greasy machinery slides on the rails

Young minds and bodies on steel spokes impaled.

Cogs tearing bones, cogs tearing bones

Iron-throated monsters are forcing the screams

Mind and machinery box-press our dreams.

... but there still is time ...

Lemmings (Includes Cog) Lyrics

Van der Graaf Generator

Old favourite of mine..

Foxy

[Alex K]

Give it a four out of five tonight. Three people, two bottles (one white, one red), ?120. Very good mussels, pigeon breast, and venison; adequate but frankly small half-lobsters; cheese plate / sticky toffee pudding. Tap water; didn't ask about coffee. Service impeccable, environment with pestilential music, but where can one get away from that? **sigh** Not quite "vaut le voyage" level but competently done and with the cost-saving of BYOB in mind -- recommended.

[SeagrassSE22]

Thanks for the recommendation Alex! Over the past two weeks the majority of our customers have cited EDF as their source of information about us - so thanks to EDF-ers who have visited - and we appreciate all the feedback.

Just finishing up another great evening at Lucas and hope to see some more Forum members while we're here, until Xmas.

The Seagrass