Minister Kicks Off Restaurant Week
Tourism & Business Development Minister Wayne Furbert today [Jan.18] joined Philip Barnett, owner of Victoria Grill in Hamilton, to highlight Restaurant Week.
Victoria Grill is one of 31 local eateries participating in the Bermuda Department of Tourism’s [BDOT] first ever Restaurant Week, which is taking place now through February 6, 2012.
Bermudian cuisine and international dishes ranging from Italian and French to Asian and American are on offer at specially tiered prices depending on the restaurant. Fixed prices are $29, $39 or $49 per person.
Minister Furbert being served by Victoria Grill’s Assistant Manager Les Ruddock and Marjorie Whorms, server and bar tender:
Both Minister Furbert and Mr. Barnett encouraged visitors and residents alike to sample an array of cuisine and in doing so, “they will be contributing to sustaining local restaurants and their employees.”
Minister Furbert said, “Over the next three weeks our restaurants will be showcasing some outstanding cuisine, and we’re encouraging our residents and visitors alike to savour the flavours that the participating restaurants have to offer.
“Mr. Barnett is the successful owner of some very popular restaurants in Bermuda and so we thought it would be good to highlight Restaurant Week here at Victoria Grill.
“And in doing so we are reinforcing our support for the services provided by those owners and employees in this industry.”
While at the Victoria Grill, Minister Furbert was treated to a light lunch, one of the featured offerings on the specially priced menu.
Minister Furbert joins Philip Barnett, owner of Victoria Grill in highlighting Restaurant Week:
I hope there are some staff left to wash the dishes after this government sponsored initiative….
Port of call… may have some issues with minister minus !!!
Restaurant Week? You talking Restaurant Week? What about kicking the pot washers off the island and providing jobs to unemployed Bermudians?
Sorry, NFL joke.
there are only 100 or so possible foreign potwashers ,so out 65,000 Bermudians this should really stimutate the job market RIGHT! if that is the only solution to the jobs market hell we may as well all be on the concordia! wake up folks this looks like another smoke screen to me, keep em busy scawbling over this nonsense so they dont see the real problems.
So hoorah for restaurant weeks I am gonna enjoy it may as well as the ship is sinking.
Along with 100 or so waiters & 100 or so salad tossers & 100 or so retail sales people & 100 or so sand sifters & 100 or so concrete mixers & 100 or so bell boys & 100 or so grass mowers & 100 or so custodians & 100 or so shelf packers. Well including the potwashers that makes a thousand or so. Lets not forget the 2 million or so western unioned of the island each year staying here with those workers gone.
Thank you, keep preaching the truth!
Glad to see Wayne can afford these ghastly overpriced restaurants!
Yeah but did you see the size of his lunch portion? What do you expect for $29.95?
Don’t worry, he’ll eat when gets back to his office. That little serving isn’t going to do much for him.
hey dumb ass ……it’s a 3 course meal….that would be one course
You obversely don’t travel much!!!!!!!
Our restaurants ARE NOT over priced.
Travel to ANY other tourist destination or major city and you’ll notced that our restaurants offer probable more value for your dollar.
Oh and by the way……. Don’t come back and compare our restaurants to I HOP or Dennis, where not serving skinny mistory meat here!
Di..h..d !
Our family had PLANNED to support restaurant week with many other couples and families HOWEVER, the lunacy of this gover(n)ment has me fearing horrible service JUST LIKE WE HAD AT GREG’S STEAKHOUSE!! How did that turn out? The target market of overpriced meals and wine EXPECT a certain level of service. Will restaurants with only Bermudians working provide that level of service? Why don’t we ask Greg that question.
No reservations for this family and friends during Restaurant Week – sorry restauranteurs, this is how “foreigners” vote! You can thank the idiots in office.
And PS: with all the money we save by not paying incompetent waitstaff the mandatory 18% on overpriced meals, we are planning a really exotic, money-is-no- option vacation OFF ISLAND! No more stay-cations. Bermuda continues to blow it big time. Pathetic.
Oh, snap! Looks like ex-pats DO HAVE A VOTE after all!
Thanks plp. Are you proud of your accomplishments yet?
..reminds me of the last I visited Specialty Inn where the Bermudian waitress wouldn’t serve a customer (who was Bermudian)because she and the customer had had ‘beef’ and the other Bermudian waitress was dropping the f-bomb like it was hot grease; I got indigestion. The best part of the meal was the dessert and that’s because the restaurant didn’t make the pastry nor the ice cream.
*time* oops
There’s a whole nationality living in Bermuda that has so much, “beef” with All Bermudians they have decided not to ever participate in the Bermuda Day Parade. All this because of what one comment a minister made. How petty is that? Portuguese have been called putagee for years or have heard HEEEEY JOE!!! about a billion times even if they’re not named Joe amongst other things they have endured but still represent their culture proudly every parade. This also goes for people of African decent in Bermuda they have endured much but show no animosity towards embracing being a part of this island. Why doesn’t the other nationality do so? Is it because the truth hurts? There WERE!!! many Bermudian waiters & waitresses about 7 years ago in Bermuda that had great work ethics but despite their genuine smiles, politeness & patience towards their costumers were still made redundant. Maybe this is why the ones that remain don’t smile because they realize they’re only there to make up the numbers to appease the permit givers.
MinorMatters you are a walking contradiction because you say “The best part of the meal was the dessert and that’s because the restaurant didn’t make the pastry nor the ice cream.” Well for your information that was the only part of the meal made by Bermudians the rest of the meal was made by foreigners. But I guess some peoples prejudice rule their sight because the restaurant you were in has an open kitchen where its plain to see foreigners are the cooks. The restaurant gets its deserts from a bakery that has Bermudian bakers. Too bad they didn’t know the goodies were for you then maybe they would have added a special ingredient.
…you cain’t fix stupid…
Like my mama always told me, “There’s no such thing as cain’t” & like Forest Gump’s mama used to say, “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Ron White: If I could offer one piece of advice to the planet, it would be this: Don’t marry for looks alone, and I’ll tell you why. In a few years, when Barbara’s boobs start sagging, she can get plastic surgery, have them lifted, move the nipple wherever. You can actually go to a t$#ty bar, pick out a set of t%$ties and say, “I want those t$#ties on that woman.” If her belly gets too big, she can get a tummy tuck and have a belly like a cheerleader. If her vision goes bad, you can have LASIK surgery and have 20/20 vision. If her hearing goes bad, they can install a device in her ear that will give you hearing as clear as it was the day you were born. But let me tell you something, folks: You can’t fix stupid. There’s not a pill you can take; there’s not a class you can go to. Stupid is forever.
& you know your a redkneck when you quote Ron White
… is $29.95 really going to help you plan that vacation?
I mean, grow up, please. Honestly, I don’t understand what you’re getting at–what in the heck does Greg’s Steakhouse have to do with this? Secondly, I don’t see how, by boycotting this initiative, you are really affecting the government; after all, you are paying your $29+ to the restaurant, *not* the PLP. How shallow you are to levy your distaste with the government’s “lunacy”–and, again, I still cannot understand how you can connect them with “horrible” restaurant service–at entrepreneurs who are merely trying to offer *you* something.
Your comment seems a bit empty to me, yet loaded with pugnacious sentiments.
I, for one, think this initiative is an exciting one. New York’s restaurant week, from which this event originates, is a ton of fun (you can get three course lunches from some of the world’s finest restaurants for $24.07), and, of course, an excellent value.
Lighten up, mate.
Sorry – I meant to say we will be boycotting “eating in restaurants from now on” – not just restaurant week. So no, this is not an empty comment but a rather serious one with a significant price tag. I love the concept of Restaurant Week and am a huge supporter in NYC and LA.
You must be new here mate if you question what I am referring to with regards to Greg’s Steakhouse – he made a huge deal out of how he only employed Bermudians in his restaurant. Sadly, it FAILED MISERABLY.
Lighten up? I’m not tense – rather relaxed actually. You seem a bit tense though.
… actually, I’ve lived here my entire life (born and bred Bermudian), and know exactly of the event you speak.
However, on an article about Restaurant Week (and NOT Greg’s Steakhouse or Bermudian service), such a story seemed irrelevant to me.
“Boycotting eating in restaurants from now on”?! Again, suit yourself, but once more… what does that achieve other than furthering what seems to me a rather troubling personal vendetta?
Not a personal vendetta at all – just one way of voting and expressing one’s opinion.
Ryan … we depend on foreign workers to spend their money in restaurants, and stores and to pay rents so that we can pay our mortgages. DO NOT underestimate the power of their dollars. I don’t think many Bermudians understand the way that our economy works. WE NEED foreigners here in order to sustain our economy. Because there are senior executives at my job … administrative staff are required, which means I have a job. If they decide that it’s no longer feasible to do business here … they will leave Bermuda, I will lose my job and join the 4000 other people already out of work. Their presence creates jobs and keeps the economy going. Please do not believe that this doesn’t hurt the PLP, because voters like me are paying attention to Pat’s sentiments. I will remember Pat when I am standing in the booth voting.
Pat, I worry for my country is people of your like ever get into power.
Your inherent disdain for Bermudians worries me.
That corner where Gregs was seems to be cursed because no business has ever made it there. I went there when it was Mediterraneo & the service wasn’t that great then & it was a foreigner serving us. I don’t blame the server for the service because if the manager sees the service is bad their the ones paid to prompt the waiter for what’s expected. This is the same with gregs it all boils down to mismanagement which is the common downfall of many businesses whether foreign or domestic.
PLP Ministers used to eat there, and it just left a nasty taste in my mouth. So, I stopped eating there. Plus the service was sh^t.
And you couldn’t hear yourself think with the poorly designed accoustics of the place.
And the service was sh^t from the get go. If you can’t make a good first impression with customers you might as well close up.
Restaurants with half the “design” and twice the “character” have survived a lot longer.
I suggest you take another look of the photos of the OBA?UBP’s leadership elections at South P the other day. You wouldn’t see any PLP Ministers there but guess who was there?
Hey, LaVerne…….what does that have to do with the price of milk in China???
I so don’t get your point LaVerne? PLP frequents crappy restaurants and OBA have taste? Is that a race thing or wanting good food? I don’t care who serves me as long as I’m getting a good meal. Of course if a Bermudian can do a good job they should get it first but far too often they have a poor attitude, don’t want to work what they consider long hours and expect a huge tip. perhaps generalising a bit but that is my experience. Oh and I am a born and bred Bermudian too. just clearing that up to say that I’m not against the PLP because I’m an expat… I just have common sence.
I didn’t think you would “get my point”. I was responding to the person who said he didn’t like to eat there because “PLP ministers” used to eat there. Go back and look at the pictures as I suggested. You may then get my point.
With those views of Bermudians you could a new mind conf & base it on Bermudians. “perhaps generalising” Naaah Not At All!!!!
Hey Pat!!! When you leave for your vacation, lose your passport and work permit..
VERY NARROW MINDED, SILLY, STIFF THINKING PEOPLE I’D SAY! STOP THE NEGATIVITY…ITS BORING AND NOT HELPING ANY OF US!
The irony of having ‘restaurant week’ the same week as ‘kick all pot washers off the island by this Friday” week, which almost resulted in the immigration minister shuttting down every restaurant in Bermuda is beyond me. Anyone else checking this??
“When the illusion is over that’s when the absurdity of it all begins”.
What the F are you talking about. No one kicked all potwashers off the Island, that never happened. Do you all really just make stuff up as you go along.
People’s whose permits had expired were told to bounce, as per the law…. Not that hard to imagine…
Your crazy ‘Voice’…….
Just call it for Gods sake.
My two containers are painted and ready to drift the Gulf……..as for you….
No they just “announced” that all the potwashers would be gone in a month. And then realized that even though there was a moratorium on the work permits that one week notice and three weeks to get off the island was maybe left some with a difficult challenge.
Maybe it isn’t a HUGE amount of money going into the local economy – but it is people who had a reasonable expectation of being given fair notice rather than being held in limbo for months until a “policy” told them that they were to stop working in 5 days and GTHO of Bermuda three weeks later.
I know a lot of people who would be hard pressed to sell their posessions, wind up their affairs, make plans to go “home” or somewhere else. 3 months – maybe – 1 week + 3 to leave – not so much.
It’s called spin. Don’t you a$$hole$ get it?
On one page we see homeless, dead beats being …..never mind.
I think Restaurant week is a good idea. Coming from an employee in the hotel industry. It just seems like “some”Bermudians can’t be happy with anything. Check the menus before you start judging. At the end of the day your still saving a good bit of money. Just be thankful or stay home and eat a sandwich.
Restaurant week is a joke..they are desperate for business !!! and the word is quite a few restaurants will be closing as of Feb.
I will stay at home rather than go to a restaraunt and pay for #$%^ food..
The ex UBP leader continues to show the PLP how it’s done!
What a joke Wayne Furbert is ..and to think he was a leader of the oposition party !!! he is kissing #$^ big time, what a looser !!!
It’s a great idea, but if it runs from now (January 18) to February 6, why is it called Restaurant Week? Week is singular, so Weeks would be the correct description but I guess it is in keeping with the Alice in Wonderland New Bermuda.
… because even New York’s Restaurant Week — the event from which this originates — doesn’t run for one week: http://www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek
Why target Bermuda for this? Please do your research first.
Election time is here again, the PLP is your best friend Don’t worry, be happy
Folks its just election spin, the stupid and brainless will elect them again, don’t worry, be happy.
@ tommy chong I think you need to start a methadone program .
Why, are you trying to kick your crack addiction? Try the herbal approach its much better than meth. Cheech & I haven’t done the hard stuff for years since things got tough all over. What I would like to start is a Dutch style coffee shop but laws must change first though unlikely they will. I think our society would rather condone getting drunk every weekend till we get liver disease before toking up.
Well firstly I would like to commend the stakeholders and the minister for partnering on this initiative.
There are some questions i have for Mr. Barnet and the Minister about why it has taken them so long to partner and do some thing like this a few years ago when the industry was suffering before?
Why is this initiative only in Janurary?
Why don’t they include the Chamber of Commerce in on this and extend it to there members?
Team up with the taxi firms on the island and offer a deal for reduced taxi fare and dinner or a combination of park and eat scheme for locals and tourists?
I am not knocking what you as stakeholders in the industry and the country are trying to do I am just trying to provide more so not only one sector feels the benefit but the entire island can weather this storm.
Please keep up the efforts and keep thinking outside the box so that we can all make it though these challenging times.
I hope the plp will learn how to think INSIDE the box for a change, and do something RIGHT, with some THOUGHT behind it, for a change. It’s that pesky Law of Unintended Circumstances that the plp should pay close attention to. And the Law of Holes: When you’re in one quit digging.
The Restaurant week whereby meals are offered at reasonable prices is a good thing. I was wondering how long restaurants would notice that people are getting fed up of paying $15 for a stinking 1/4 glass of wine when they buy the whole bottle for the same price…now the restaurants are trying to be creative to encourage sales. Hint, this one is free: Restaurants when you start charging reasonable prices, the people will support your businesses year round. This is nursery school stuff.
Hey…Reserved a dinner for me and the misses at Waterlot at SP and low and behold I was so looking forward to eating there and making my selection from the regular menu until I was told SIR, we have a “special” menu for you….So I asked to see the menu…
1st Course “onion soup OR chop salad”, …really
2nd course “Fried Rockfish, OR “Chicken Breast” OR “Filet Mignon 8 ounce” mashed potatoes and spinach;…had for lunch
3rd course “Cheese cake OR Pudding..are you serious
$49.95
OK I get it, you get what you pay for….a standard banquet meal….this is a disgrace and I was hoping to be able to select my 3 courses from the regular menu, which would not have included any of the aforementioned items, I managed to view the regular menu and was impressed with the wide selection….
If you want my business, open up the entire menu for the reduced price, which would have provided you the opportunity for my repeat business at the regular price.
Don’t be so darn cheap…
So naturally I cancelled my reservation and we dined elsewhere…
YESSSS!!! Seriously, that menu is PATHETIC … just looked at it. They could have done better with $49.95. Was all excited too … how disappointing!