Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Argo Reopens Tonight

I mentioned this yesterday, but I've got details today. It starts at 5pm. Because they have no kitchen (yet) it's a short menu. You've got a few different sandwiches including the cubano, and something involving Nutella. You've also got gazpacho and a garden salad. The beer list is shorter than normal, but it'll suffice. They do have beers on tap. Right now it's only the upstairs and patio that are open, so you'll want to enter from the Maryland Avenue side. Stop by and give the Argo a little love.

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UPDATE 10:57am
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I forgot to mention, cash only.

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UPDATE 4:53pm
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Dang, it looks like it's going to be more like 6 or 6:30pm.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness. My friends and I have a bunch of living social coupons we need to use up for there.....

Anonymous said...

anon 12:43 -

is that for real? i honestly can't tell.

Anonymous said...

My coupon WILL BE HONORED!

Anonymous said...

I've been told all living social coupons and gift certificates will be honored. However, common sense and compassion would tell a person to hold off on using a coupon until they have cash flow.

Anonymous said...

i have no doubt the argo would live up to its end of the bargain. But I'm not surprised some people are so cheap they feel the need to use the coupon right away. c'mon, cut them a break. at the very least, if you do use it, please remember to tip cash.

general question for servers - do folks usually remember to tip when using living social/groupon/what the deal?

Anonymous said...

It has been my experience as a server in DC that most people tip on living social coupons, just not that much. They usually only tip on the portion of the bill that they end up paying for. Say they use a 30$ living social coupon to pay towards a 40$ tab. Most people would only tip on the 10$ that they actually pay for. Meaning the server worked for a $40 dollar tab but gets tipped on a $10 tab. Its not universal but it happens more then it doesn't happen. (for disclosure purposes I'm not an Argonaut server)

Anonymous said...

I always tip big when my bill is small and tip smaller when my bill is high. If my bill is insanely high from just ordering a couple of coronas I don't leave a tip at all.
But I'll make an exception for Argo until they get back on their feet.

Anonymous said...

So how'd the first night back go?

Anonymous said...

I bought a couple of these coupons. I plan on using them every night for the next couple of days. They should have cash flow from the money I already gave them.

Anonymous said...

I bought a couple of these coupons. I plan on using them every night for the next couple of days. They should have cash flow from the money I already gave them.

ro said...

Wow. So did any of you cheap bastards actually show up last night?

Tom A. said...

maybe i'm not normal, but all of those coupons remind you to pay on the FULL amount- not the discounted price!

Maybe they need to add 18% to the bill before the discount to be fair to servers.

jamie said...

Sticky Rice, and I think one or two other H Street joints participate in Restaurant.com, which has the process down right: use of the coupon directs the restaurant to add on a 20% tip to the total pro-coupon amount.

Anonymous said...

"If my bill is insanely high from just ordering a couple of coronas I don't leave a tip at all."

are you kidding? if the bills too high for you, dont go there because apparently you cant afford it. Tip is something you have to (well, any decent person would) consider in your overall budget.

you dont go to the prime rib with a budget of $100 and spend exactly $100 on a steak and wine.

this is just how to act in the world. cripes. and no, i'm not a server.

Alan Page said...

The wig shop at 1200 h street is gutted. The orson at the phone number listed on the construction permit says it will be office space even though the permit is for a retail/wholesale space. The name on the permit is murray although I doubt a murray's would fit there LOL

Anonymous said...

anon 3:31 -

Why should anybody tip someone who works in a place where they charge double the normal price of a beer in DC ($3.50 - $5). It's my way of saying ef you and I won't be coming back again. I'm a very generous tipper when prices are reasonable but I have no tolerance for places that charge outrageous prices for a drink.

Anonymous said...

So you're way of sticking it to the establishment is to penalize the employee making $3.25 an hour who has absolutely no say in pricing. Classy. Tip on your bill and then never go back. Its not the servers fault.

Anonymous said...

The servers are part of the problem too. Why are they working there in the first place? To make double the amount in tips by doing the same amount of work if they worked at any other normal bar in DC. Yeah I have zero sympathy for them too.

Anonymous said...

The Argonaut Living Social coupons have been extended to December.

IBC said...

The servers are part of the problem too. Why are they working there in the first place?

Mr Pink? Is that you?

Anonymous said...

Don't think it's right to automatically add 20% tip to a bill. No wonder some servers suck -get tipped regardless of service.

Hell, if that's the right process as Jamie states, then all restaurants should just jack their prices 20% and not allow tipping. Sheeeesh.

Anonymous said...

Exactly. When you have to pay $6.50 for a freakin miller lite you have to assume the tip is included in that price

Anonymous said...

So what you're saying is a person is wrong because they work at a place where they make more money. I for one support someones decision to work at a place where they have the chance to make more money. Would the people blaming the servers for high prices turn down the chance to make more money?

Trolls.

inked said...

6:34,
tip your server or bartender. It's serious douche bag behavior to not tip. Don't be like this chick (video not safe for work). Maybe you need to ask your bartender/server how much a particular beer costs BEFORE you order it.

Anonymous said...

Penalizing servers for the pricing on the menu? Wow. I mean, wow. There are some incredibly sleazy, self-absorbed people commenting here.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, thanks Inked, that's the word I was looking for. Douchebag.

Wow. I still can't believe that comment.

Anonymous said...

"The servers are part of the problem too. Why are they working there in the first place?"

limited job market out there to provide yourself such frivolous things like rent, food, loans, utilities...shall i continue?

"Why should anybody tip someone who works in a place where they charge double the normal price of a beer in DC ($3.50 - $5)."

if you mean miller lites at happy hour, you can get those prices. if you mean any other beer at any other time, you're just plain wrong on the pricing.

"Don't think it's right to automatically add 20% tip to a bill. No wonder some servers suck -get tipped regardless of service."

Agreed. You should absolutely consider the quality of service. Twenty percent is by no means automatic, but it is the baseline from which you add or subtract. (Some say 15 is the baseline, I won't argue that one)

"Exactly. When you have to pay $6.50 for a freakin miller lite you have to assume the tip is included in that price"

Unless they say they're going to add the 18 or so percent to your table, then you would never ever assume tip is included. Profit margins are razor thin at bars and restaurants and waitstaff are often paid below minimum wage. Your tip is not built into the price.

-matt

Anonymous said...

Ah, the mysterious and subtle art of tipping. You could teach a graduate level course on it. In the north eastern usa, 15 to 20 per cent is the norm for tipping on average to decent service in a bar or restaurant. The tip can be adjusted for many different factors, it's primarily a question of manners, ettiquette, and the way you were raised. Is it wrong to tip less as the bill goes up? No. Is it kind of lame? Yes. Is it wrong to use a coupon at a place that was closed for a spell? No. Is it kind of lame? Sort of.
Congrats to the argonaut for reopening!
Tonyt
the pug

Anonymous said...

great perspective tony!

just because you technically CAN do something doesn't make it right.

Anonymous said...

Is it wrong to use Restaurant.com which applies a 20% tip regarless of service? No. Is it kind of lame? Yes.

inked said...

10:46,
it's the customer who CHOOSES to buy the coupon/certificate from Restaurant.com. These restaurants aren't just slapping a blanket 20% auto-grat on anyone who walks through the door. Don't like it? Don't buy your vouchers through Restaurant.com. See? that was easy.

Anonymous said...

That was my point, Inked. Re-read my post. I was referencing restaurant.com; not the individual restaurants. I said it's lame to choose to use restaurant.com

The point is that tips should be given in appreciation for services rendered. And I am a regular 20% tipper for standard service,btw.

10:46

inked said...

10:46/3:46,
you might be a great tipper. I read your post correctly the first time. Any customer choosing to use Restaurant.com gets a discount. In exchange that consumer pays an automatic 20% gratuity. That's a bargained for exchange, and still likely saves the consumer money over paying ticket price and tipping 15%. What's lame about that? It sounds like a good deal to me.

Anonymous said...

what a weird thing to argue about on a thread about the argo.
there are definitely places people can go if they don't want to tip. coffee shops, fast food places, delis are perhaps better choices than bars and restaurants.

anyway congrats to the argonaut! flagship of h street.

Anonymous said...

It is weird. Need to start a new post. Those who support auto-gratuties versus those who support tips based on service.

Anonymous said...

Stopped by the Argonaut this weekend...the upstairs looks nice with the new paint job and map mural. They have a fantastic apple and brie panini which I really really hope stays on the menu after they relaunch the full restaurant. It rivals the mushroom muffleta...and it doesn't hurt to have another option for vegetarians. So happy to see you back Argo!