Richie's Diner

New to the Victoria Gardens explosion of restaurants. A "Fifties"-themed diner, extremely crowded and noisy. The food is family-oriented diner burgers, etc with steaks and other barbecue done on a wood-fired barbecue out in front, which cau ... more

New to the Victoria Gardens explosion of restaurants. A "Fifties"-themed diner, extremely crowded and noisy. The food is family-oriented diner burgers, etc with steaks and other barbecue done on a wood-fired barbecue out in front, which causes smoke to drift over you as you stand outside waiting for a table. The service is so "scripted" that you feel you are in a play. Somewhere in the back office, there is a "procedures manual" that specifies everything the staff does and says. Very "plastic" with little in the way of genuine friendliness. Maybe it was because they are new, but the service was intermittent, confused and slow. They got several of our orders wrong. Quality-wise, the food is OK, and the barbecue is only average. The pea soup, though, is excellent. If you want barbecue go to Lucilles, a block away. Also, if you prefer a place reasonably free of noisy kids- look elsewhere. Crowded. The place is full of piped-in fifties-sixties Muzak and the prices re pretty hefty for the type of stuff they serve- porterhouse for $20? Pleeeze. Phone number? Don't ask- they don't take reservations. Beer and wine- but only the cheap stuff in both categories. Enjoy ! less