Monday, September 19, 2011

UD: Board Certified

Urban Daddy takes a peek at the soon to open burger spot The Big Board (421 H Street).

13 comments:

Derek said...

I noticed the paper is off the windows earlier today. I guess they will be opening soon.

Anonymous said...

They were open as cash-only, beer only on Saturday evening

dt said...

Stopped in on Saturday, had a quick chat with one of the guys. He was super nice but seemed a bit nervous, maybe from trying to make a good first impression, or just the stress of opening a small business. I don't care for beer so the 'gimmick' won't be a draw, but I will definitely stop by for a burger when they're properly open! Welcome to the neighborhood.

PS: 'peek'. 'Peak' is that thing on top of a mountain.

inked said...

I can't talk and type at the same time. That's usually the source of my spelling errors.

MJ said...

He was super nice but seemed a bit nervous

That's exactly how I'd describe him, both guys seemed like they were "trying too hard" (not necessarily a bad thing, beats the alternatives). I think you're right about the "first impression", they were extremely apologetic about the kitchen not being up & running yet, plus having only 3 beers on tap and cash only.

Anonymous said...

You know what, I wish those two were using me to make a sandwich! Yum!

Gonzo said...

I'd be rather nervous myself if I had just put my entire savings and heart into a start-up business. I'm sure the place will do great. I get the impression that these people really care what the neighborhood thinks and want to succeed. Initial jitters aside, that should be a recipe for success. I'm looking forward to the burgers!

Hank Chinaski said...

I'm really looking forward to this place. These guys caught a lot of shit a few months ago based on the way they described the neighborhood in a job posting. Despite that misstep, which I recall they admitted was a mistake, they seem like they are really interested in cultivating a neighborhood hangout. That really pleases me because H St now has a enough cache that restaurant owners don't necessarily need to pander to the neighborhood locals. (I'm looking at you TruOrleans).

All that being said....

I do have one question about the concept.

Why would beers decrease in price the more they are ordered? If the concept is supposed to mimic the stock exchange, wouldn't the price go up with demand?

MJ said...

the popular ones get more expensive as more people order them, the less popular ones get cheaper. Additionally, leftover bits of both good and bad beers are dumped into buckets named "tranches" which are given an AAA rating and then sold to unsuspecting pensioners.

Hank Chinaski said...

MJ -

That's how I assumed it would work, but from the UD article: "That’s because a large monitor on the wall will display the current beer prices, and based on an algorithm written by the owner (a former naval officer aboard a nuclear sub), the more you order of one kind, the more the price creeps down."

inked said...

Prices decrease on a particular beer as more people order it. Once it hits a certain basement the prices reset. Just think of it as a way to let the customers pick the specials.

Annoyingmous said...

So what you're saying is that annoying hipsters will keep cans of that incredibly nasty PBR down at 25 cents all the time. :)

Anonymous said...

MJ - Comment of the year. Hahahaha. Loved the CDO mention. Hilarious.

-Jordan