Comments on: McCormick & Schmick’s Now Open

By: Ernest

Ernest — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:13:17 +0000

We tried M&S last night and I must say we were not impressed with the food. Very good service, excellent atmosphere, great selection of food, but the prices are not justifiable, IMHO. I would go back to try something else, but I am afraid I won’t make regular visits there.

Very good place for visitors, who look for a restaurant they are familiar with.

By: David

David — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:09:43 +0000

Plus there’s a huge, scary movie-size crab munching on the logo! It HAS to be good.

By: Steelcity36

Steelcity36 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:40:02 +0000

Uh Oh! I think this pretty much puts the nail in the coffin of Raleigh’s other seafood restaurant “The Hookup”. What were The Hookup’s owners thinking when they came up with that concept. Let’s open a seafood restaurant at the sight of a former seafood restaurant that didn’t work. If I want Calabash style seafood I’ll go to the beach!

McCormick and Schmick’s is a welcome addition to the Triangle and is actually geared to attract the business travelers who stay at the nearby Crabtree Hotels. I’ll venture in there once or twice for a meal, but the business travelers and regional shoppers from Down East who come to Crabtree are who will keep it in business.

By: TSnow27604

TSnow27604 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:20:20 +0000

I’m always up for seafood and look forward to checking it out. I do think they should talk to an image consultant about that logo. It’s a couple of steps removed from Long John Silver. At least Crabtree is close to town. It is far, far better than navigating Capital Blvd. And as I have stated on another blog, I once met a friend for lunch at Brier Creek and it seriously took me over 45 minutes to get there and parked from DTR. I could have been in Burlington as quickly. Crabtree traffic is looking better all the time.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:42:49 +0000

“In my mind, though, I don’t think of Fins as a “seafood restaurant”. I think of it as a fine restaurant with a great chef…that serves a lot of seafood.”

Well stated. I’m not sure the two restaurants can be directly compared.

“As far as the economy goes, I’ll believe the 45+ minute nightly waits at the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, and the Angus Barn any day before I’ll believe what the news is feeding us.”

People will always pay for a good meal, or even one they expect to be good. I see this place being as packed as any of the other Crabtree chains on a Friday night.

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:14:37 +0000

I’m not sure about how long they are offered. You are right, though. They are great deals.

By: NH Res

NH Res — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:06:57 +0000

Is the Happy Hour menu you posted temporary or a regular special? These seem to be great deals!

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:38:26 +0000

Good points. This post is not meant to slight Fins, which is an excellent high-end dinner option. In my mind, though, I don’t think of Fins as a “seafood restaurant”. I think of it as a fine restaurant with a great chef…that serves a lot of seafood. M&S is going right at Bonefish and 42nd St.

As far as the economy goes, I’ll believe the 45+ minute nightly waits at the Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, and the Angus Barn any day before I’ll believe what the news is feeding us.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:10:17 +0000

I’ll have to check this out. Crabtree traffic has never bothered me as much as others. Honestly… it’s traffic – if it’s that big of a deal, then stay home. I’ve eaten at Fins 3 times and have been less than impressed, so hopefully this is a nice alternative.

By: RaleighRob

RaleighRob — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:32:58 +0000

For high-end seafood, Raleigh’s already got an outstanding choice: Fins. And it’s a heck of a lot easier to get in and out of than Crabtree Mall. And even better…it’s not a chain!

This? Eh…it’s ok. For mall food.

By: Magnus

Magnus — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:19:17 +0000

In a location that I will never again visit (Crabtree’s traffic flow was designed by a mouth breather), in the days of $4 per gallon gas and collapse of the housing market, I’m thinking the time and the place are all wrong for something like this.

Are we ready for the Sullivan’s of Seafood? Maybe not. But the Olive Garden or even the Applebee’s of Seafood would be better appreciated these days.