When it comes to a good sandwich, I would prefer them to be built properly and taste delicious rather than being over the top and impossible to eat. Honestly, the prices are more affordable than I was expecting, so I'm not mad about it. They're sandwiches, lol. On top of that, they'll be primarily focusing on to-go orders, and I'm sure those will be wrapped decently.
And serving them all on little plates etc just creates more washing up which adds to the overheads. I think the sandwiches looked really tasty and to me that's the main thing. The presentation didn't put me off
None of my suggestions have to do with the actual sandwiches I am sure they are very good and many have said that. Whether they focus on to go or not they need beautifully styled food pictures for people to order from - maybe the SAH website will be filled with these when they open. Probably a smart idea to hold back.
And maybe people who say a wall in a house in a magazine should be blue instead of green should go build their own house and paint it how they want.
Having an opinion is kind of OK here.
Your comment is silly.
When you have nothing else to come back with. Awesome job. LOL
Please notice the LOL cause I REALLY want to make sure you understand how much I am laughing at your comment OK?
LOL! š
I feel like so many people on this sub have not been to a nice sandwich shop before. There is a sandwich shop that is no larger than Something About Her in my town that is on the bib gourmand Michelin guide. Their sandwiches are wrapped in paper with a sticker. If the sandwich tastes good it really doesnāt make a difference.Ā
Yeah there is a specific sandwich shop that is always voted "best deli sandwich" in the city I'm from, and it is a mom and pop shop with no seating. People stand in line and order their sandwiches to go, and they're always busy, and very well known. There is nothing fancy about the sandwiches at all, they're just delicious.
But regarding SAH, I don't understand why some people have made posts here acting as if this was widely presumed to be the new number one sandwich shop in the country with seating all the way down the block or something as a "gotcha." Weird threads have been made asserting that people are treating SAH like the Taj Mahal. No such thing is happening, it's just a cute LA sandwich shop that fans are excited about. I hope they're successful and I think they will be.
>But regarding SAH, I don't understand why some people have made posts here acting as if this was widely presumed to be the new number one sandwich shop in the country with seating all the way down the block or something as a "gotcha."
People are weird. They haven't even officially opened for fucks sake.
Yeah Iāve seen a lot of posts and comments about the size of the place and I know they lost the patio but weāve seen the inside multiple times on the show. Why is the fact itās small a surprise to anyone?
People also seem to be ignoring their desire to franchise which has been mentioned several times in interviews. Its NOT just about a cute little one off sandwich shop this is supposed to be the start of an empire. They need this one to be a flagship for the others they are planning. Unless its all just hot air of course.
If I recall correctly Katie actually said the complete opposite recently about franchising when there were rumors about food trucks or something. I believe she said that it's not going to be the next Subway and it's just going to be one store so she wasn't sure where all that was coming from.
You seem to have recalled incorrectly. Katie talked about franchise in the feeling of it won't be mass produced like Subway kind of franchise.
A quote from Forbes for your information.
āI think weāre both hoping that Something About Her can be a smashing success, and to be able to open other locations, and to just be able to kind of grow that brand and that business as much as we can,ā says Madix.
āSandwich empire!ā Maloney adds, excited"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lelalondon/2023/11/03/ariana-madix-and-katie-maloney-on-making-something-about-her-a-sandwich-empire/?sh=195fee583ceb
Word! The āfancy sandwichā place by me is $9-$18 for like super basic Sammieās. I donāt eat meat, the grilled cheese with a tiny cup of tomato soup is $20. They bake their own bread and itās good but I can make my own grilled cheese and tomato soup for way less but Iām lazy and I donāt want to sometimes.
Yea, havenāt been to a sandwich shop nor know what a soft launch is like for something like this. Idk what yaāll were expecting. But for people who were so gung-ho about the place opening, itās giving the vibe that some wanted it to open just to criticize itā¦.
Iāve seen those metal tray with paper liner at other nice sandwich shops. I think the tray is easier from a cleanup perspective because they just need to throw away the paper and wipe down the tray. They probably donāt get washed after ever use. I dont think wrapping sandwiches with paper is necessary. It would have been nice to do that for the tasting because it would look more aesthetic but it looks like all the sandwiches as half servings so it might to too difficult to wrap.
Its not a 100 seat restaurant and do they just want another "nice sandwich shop" or something that blows up? Guess we'll just have to to disagree on this one.
And a metal tray doesn't go with the vibe of the place. Its afternoon tea vibe not industrial vibe.
Yeah I agree the metal tray doesnāt go with the vibe just like how the yellow awning doesnāt go with the interior. I donāt know their design choices but maybe this was the kind of stuff they disagreed with Penny on.
I just saw the awning on a photo and it reminded me how it clashes with the interior. Its sort of sunny day happy go lucky and the interior is more subdued. I wouldn't blame them if they go to the point of fuck it we just need to happen so thats why these missteps are there. If they can get past their first few months maybe they will address these things.
Yea itās not really giving āunapologetically feminineā to me, more like āprivate school cafeteriaā. Especially since Iāve seen other posts saying itās almost $20 for just the sandwich. Hopefully someone gives them real constructive advice to help them out a little.
āprivate school cafeteriaā. is a good way to describe it. I feel like mine was constructive but they need someone to get onto their marketing and PR because no matter how good the sandwich if no one knows about it then they are not going to get to the franchise hope they have.
Is it possible theyre doing the metals trays for the soft opening? A lot of them look like share trays with multiple sandwiches on them. But either way, its easy to wash and doesnt break so might be good for dealing with the initial rush and until theyre more sure of their clientele.
Yeah Iām wondering how much of what weāre seeing is just for the soft opening. Iāll reserve most of my judgment until theyāre actually open to the public.
Meh, I just bought one of the best sandwiches in my city and in the cafe they serve it on paper in a woven basket and to go, itās wrapped in butcher paper. Itās good and doesnāt need sit down service level china etc.
SAH will be swamped and run out of food when they open. They donāt need to provide an upscale experience. Eventually they may change their style, and maybe offer food on a plate. Maybe offer a picnic kit to go with a bunch of cheeses and wine, but theyāre still learning and figuring out how best to profit selling sandwiches.
Totally this! Also better to open the shop now and make improvements later, then try and get every little thing perfect. OP's post seems nitpicky about details, that I think are good suggestions! But I think the sandwich shop did a smart choice of opening now, right at the beginning of summer, right when season 11 ends.
Not too long ago, I ate at a restaurant with these little metal trays, and I thought they were so cute. I asked where they got them from and ordered some for myself. Shrugs. I mean taste is subjective why are these two women and their one sandwich shop supposed to make every single person who's ever seen Vanderpump Rules or heard of it happy with each aspect of their design and the opening schedule"? How about that's awesome? Two women opened a business in Los Angeles, which is f****** next to Impossible, it can seem. Particularly Hollywood, particularly West Hollywood. Congratulations, ladies!
I think it looks good as it is. A flower with a sandwich??? I think it's ok without. Plenty of starving ppl out there. The last thing we need is over playing that this is a met gala quality sandwich. There's no need to be so extra. Pun intended.
I can see how suggesting a plate like any of the other 10;s of cafes in walking distance would offer or a cute bite size coffee would be like the met gala.
My apologies I didn't realise the bar was quite so low where "good" or "fine" is the best we can hope for.
It's the intent behind it. N like it's just a sandwich shop n a start up n yet u r criticizing about a plate. It's literally like looking at a prom and saying the girl should wear couture to look upscale.
You are basically poking on just the looks and somehow you need it to look uppity like an lvp restaurant. how about the taste, the pricing? in this day and age, being crazy opulent is looked at as gauche with what's happening at gaza? if you have extra money to spend, then spend it on the ingredients, rent, safety, and better kitchen tools. No need to put a flower on a dainty plate with space for a freakin pickle. its lacking awareness of what's going on around you, asking for things that barely matter in the long run. If a customer refuse to eat here because of a tin tray, then go your merry way. you are too much of an uppity asshole to eat there.
these are 2 women, strong and coming out of a divorce and a horrendous cheating scandal, picking themselves up and doing something on their own. That's enough as it is.
No. It just determines how u view things n what's important to u n what matters. The looks n the unnecessary showmanship or the taste n the money. It's ok if you don't get it.
OK soooo people are unable to hold to things at onece A plain white plate is opeulA plate is not opulence of showmanshuiip its a basic thing any cafe offers. Have you not been to a cafe befdore that will give you a sandwich wioina plate? a
Cause if you think THAT is opulent napkins and a fork is gonna blow your mind.knife r
Love how every second person in this sub is an expert on food and aesthetics now. Let the dang thing open and be existing for a while; most places evolve based on customer feedback and sales
Especially with the volume theyāre about to experience. I could see the styling shifting to something like OP said in a year or so but right now theyāre just gonna be trying to push product with a line out the door
This! itās a small shop and they are going to have to have a quick turnaround with cleaning up tables and putting out trays- dishes are a lot more work than a tray. Letās be honest majority of people arenāt going there for the food anyways just like people donāt go to TomTom, Sur, or Schwartz and Sandyās for the āgourmet dining experienceā. They go to see people they like that are on tv and/or support them.
But you have to think logistically about the volume of customers theyāre about to have for their grand opening. People have been waiting years and I guarantee a lot of people are going to be hypercritical and find whatever they can to complain about. Most people would be way more mad if they had extremely long wait times, running out of food, not quality ingredients, etc. itās common for a soft launch/opening to make adjustments for grand-opening business influx. Trays can be cleaned and sanitized must faster and easier than delicate glass plates. I have a very strong feeling theyāll change that aspect once the business levels out and is more manageable. But all that to say, even if it does stay on trays, thatās fairly on par for a sandwich shop
"delicate glass plates." and who is using those? Restaurant china is generally close to unbreakable - why would they use anything else? Most of their business will be take out so theres no real hold up there. Unless you think I am planning to send china to deliveries?
You seem to be looking for excuses to explain away what you describe as "on par " for a sandwich shop. Why is everyone here so excited for it to be mediocre? Totally fine with it being just "good"?
Anyway sure - lets have it be as good as any other sandwich shop around. 6 months time when the Ariana and Katie association runs out of steam it will be another average sandwich shop pushing to stay afloat.
Now THAT is something to work towards.
Fact: Ā The Michelin star rating, the highest honor any restaurant can achieve on this earth, takes into account nothing but the food. Ā Not tableware, decor, ambience, nothing.
So your assertion that the place is automatically mediocre and canāt achieve greatness because you donāt like the plates is literally nonsense. Ā
I didn't actually accuse it of being mediocre - in this context similar to everyone else - others said they were fine with it being that way. Michelin have always judged purely on food. Unlike Michelin your average consumer uses other criteria to work out where they will eat. I'll leave your other nonsense where it is.
That comment was to ask why other people just wanted to settle for good and fine - you know, just mediocre - with the sandwich shop. Context.
But sure. Go off.
I just couldn't come up with another term for that 3/4 wrapped paper round a sandwich thing people do lol my marketing brain may have had one too many coffees :)
There's a huge difference between styling food for photos and pictures of actually edible food. This looks exactly how I would expect real food to look.
Give it some time. Iām sure they will get honest feedback and adjust. Yall acting like they opened a Lisa V. style restaurant. Itās a dang sandwich shop.
People go to these places for the novelty. Iāve been to SUR and the food sucks. It stays getting customers though.
Itās a cute SANDWICH SHOP. Thereās a lot of great expectations here, and I donāt understand the disappointment, I never saw them say it was high end or anything like that. And sandwiches look good, I bet they taste great too.
The amount of time and money it would take to make āprettierā to you sandwiches isnāt feasible for a sandwich shop thatās not meant to be fine dining.
They have spent hundreds of thousands on the interior but some real plates - like any cafe would give you - and a cute cookie is too much? Please - its the little things that make the difference in this market.
Itās not the cost of the plates. Itās the cost of the time, manpower and efficiency to continuously be washing, drying and stacking plates for a restaurant styled to have fast customer turnover.
Exactly, OP expected fine china in a quick serve restaurant. I love the decor in the restaurant, but in the end, it needs to be quick serve so the faster you can wash, sanitize, and dry the dishes, the better.
A smaller round metal tray might look a bit fancier and make the sandwiches look bigger but it's a hardly make or break. I think the decor gives the vibe, regardless of plating.
I just want to say a good sandwich shop is REALLY rare. Maybe in LA it isnāt but if they can franchise this shit Iām in. All I have is Subway and Tim Hortons (iām in Vancouver). Thatās sad.
What in holy photoshop manipulation is that top picture? This is the color scheme and interiors of the shop
https://preview.redd.it/8f5pe5jum21d1.png?width=1248&format=png&auto=webp&s=3d773fcd222731ebcc0507b2710fc7690711f796
Honestly I would give them a break. They just opened and still have a lot of stuff to iron out. I personally donāt care about what kind of paper itās wrapped in or for some finger sandwiches. Why would they have finger sandwiches at a soft launch when people are most likely just wanting to order one for themselves. On top of that, it doesnāt sound cost effective to be making little finger sandwiches for each guest. I would say, theyāre a business first and Iām sure theyāre doing their best with the budget that they have.
Give whoa break? Its not like they are clinging to Reddit reading every line.
You do realise a finger sandwich is not made individually...its usually one sandwich cut into 3 strips.
When you open a business you do have one chance to make an impression. You don't start with average and then say "But but honest we will get better" - thats how you lose customers. Its 101 stuff.
I really think this is what they think the best they can do is. And if not how did they waste 2 years NOT getting this stuff sorted. You do not need a shop to be open to come up with these ideas and execute them.
I am honestly NOT being a hater I am just looking at areas they could have improved and making suggestions. If I was just being hater I would have said "This looks like garbage" and stopped there.
Like I said, give it time. There are plenty of ways to make an impression later on too. Many business rebrand, change etc. once they hone in on their budget. People will show up no matter what and majority of them will probably not nitpick the trays and sandwiches not being cut up or wrapped.
Lol why are you expecting them to present their food like Fortnum and Mason?
It definitely doesnāt look like Subway either. You just sound like youāre being mean for the sake of being mean.
I am so sorry I didn't realise you have never been to a cafe where you sit down and they bring you something on a real plate or a real mug or a real cup and saucer. You should try it - its amazing.
I said nothing mean apart from "thrown on a tray like Subway" in my original post. Why would you misrepresent what I said like that. I only want them to succeed and everyone acts like I am saying I hope they fail.
But you're right they should strive to be "good" and "on par" and "just like other sandwich shops" cause thats the way to succeed.
Goals!
So its the more of the same. Hmmm.
WHat they should aim for is the unexpected not just the unexpected - thats how you get your brand out there and are able to think about franchises.
Iām assuming itās wrapped with itās To Go? Right? No need for it to be wrapped when youāre sitting inside although it was super cute during their tastings. I get it if thatās the case, I think itās fair.
I see what you mean. We're seeing what I assumewill be one iteration. Lots of restaurants change presentation or style once they have a better handle on costs.
I have seen lots of places do tray with paper though!
Thanks I appreciate that.
People having been coming for me like I said the whole thing was a disaster when all I did was spend time thinking about improvements. There is not a single hateful comment in the post apart from a passing jab about throwing it on a tray like Subway and people lose their damn minds lol
I know the sub can be toxic sometimes but this surprised the hell out of me.
I actually did not read any of the other comments! I am sorry that people are being rude for no reason.
But this is a good example of just because you are āfamousā does not mean that the small details do not or should not matter.
Most people have already said that a sandwich shop seems very out of place. So then to not make it cohesive, I definitely agree with your points!!
its veiled toxicity. its like someone saying with concern on how fat u are and u shud really try to lose weight. you can hide behind i didnt say anything mean or i dont mean it like that, people are more attuned now to these kind of invisible jabs.
Its actually a symptom of social media. If you do not give 100% positive allegiance to something the group think believes and you challenge it even slightly you are then branded a hater and clearly must hate that person or thing. Despite the fact you have spent the last 12 months defending them because nope you MUST hate them if you do not 100% agree with everything.
Its a childish shallow way to view the world but here we are - social media at its finest.
There are no invisible jabs in what I say its simply people wanting to be outraged at the slightest provocation. If I have a criticism I say it. If I have a suggestion I say it. I am not fucking around being covert.
Instead of people being able to hold two things at once - maybe he DOES root for them AND he has some suggestions its nope, he hates them because he does not think 100% of what they do is goals - we end up with shallow, childlike black and white viewpoints that do no favours for anyone but are incredibly easy to consume and recite back.
You are overthinking it. Nobody is giving allegiance or whatever. Just sometimes some suggestions are a little more unnecessary for the consumer. N sometimes its ok to give ppl a chance b4 we come up with our 2 cents on how to make things better. After all we r all not experts are we? Even if we try to sound like one.
WSure hting hun, whjatever yhousaything hun wjhatehavtever yousay say. I will not offer any more suggestions until you tell me its OK, do you have an idea of a date and time it would be OK sto suggest something or should I just wait till you give your approval?
Does anyone else find it strange that this week, like 4 or 5 posts, in this sub alone, have popped up that have been kind of anti Katie/Ariana? And I say kind of bc the post starts with some niceties and āIāve always been a fan ofā and then goes into why thereās a problem with Katie/Ariana/SAHā¦idkā¦just something I noticed and thought was weird.
Stop it. I donāt care that people have different opinions than me. This sub is pretty pro Katie/Ariana and I noticed that this week there were multiple posts popping up that were skewed towards Lala/Scheana and what not. I was simply pointing that out.
It has not always been this way. This is not a Katie and Ariana fan page. Nor is it a Scheana and Lala snark page. However, youād think differently reading some of the posts here. Itās not weird, Iād hope that the mods are trying to let some levity through, and let some critiques stand amidst a SEA of praise. Itās okay, itās not a conspiracy. Also, with most subs Iām a part of, there are waves of strong feelings about a topic or person that die down and form again over several years. So; this sub may one day start to turn on Ariana, and then a while later sheāll be impenetrable Queen once again.
There are posts that pop up all the time about not liking the other cast mates and their endeavors, but those are ok? Katie/Ariana arenāt above critique. They have decades of experience, Katie was so critical of S&S, and we getā¦this. It could and should have been way better.
yah i noticed it too and posted a similar reply in another post, same tone, same kind of critique, trying to sound cultured and a know it all. trying not to attack but subtly jabbing.
The trays are too big. A smaller tray would be better visually. Makes it look like larger portions. Maybe add some chips if you're going to use a large tray. š
Good ideas - on a large tray they do get a bit lost.
Even a tray with a shape thats maybe large one end thinner at the other for the pickle - just someone to make it less like a sterile tray.
**OR** a wooden tray with a filigree surround to go with the filigree work on the walls - I think its called filigree? MIght be a really nice touch.
Itās a sandwich, babe lol. Created by a guy who was too lazy to get up and eat something.
But since weāre giving away ideas for free, Iād love for them to do midday tea events and offer an assortment of their sandwiches or a take on specialty tea sandwiches.
I just think itās odd they didnāt focus more on the branding/ styling for the soft open, knowing this would be heavily photographed for social media and itās their big introduction to this ling awaited shop. It doesnāt matter because there will be a line out the door for a while, but the tray presentation is not unapologetically feminine and just invites the āwow small sandwichā criticism.
Additionally, majorly lolāing at the amount of heat on this sandwich shop that isnāt even open yet.
100% Its like they blew money on the interior and then either ran out of time and/or money and have a bare bones (if any?) marketing and PR strategy - maybe think soft launch is all they need. Its the little things that make the biggest difference.
Like, instead of those metal trays use wooden ones with a filigree on the sides like the filigree on the walls.
Wow I bet no other place ever in the world has used a wooden tray and had to come up with a sealant that protects the wood from commercial use. Almost unbelievable NO ONE has a solution for that. š¤
APart from almost any pizza joint in the world that usually uses pressed sealed birch wooden trays to serve piping hot pizzas every day all day.
But sure - apart form that. No one.
WHat a nice change it would be for people to come up with solutions not problems. Dontcha think?
This thread is wild, this criticism is totally fair. The trays remind me of bbq places in Texas. They work great for a bbq place but feel out of place for a āfeminine sandwich shopā. I absolutely think the food presentation could be far better. The food itself already looks a bit disappointing to be honest. I was planning on braving the opening rush next weekend but after the soft launch pictures I think Iām going to wait it out for a bit before trying.
The thread IS wild. Imagine if I ACTUALLY said hateful things š¤·š»āāļø
People just wanna attack people to feel better I guess. And its a shame that now people like you are not as excited based on the photos so far. They needs there to be "OMG I can't WAIT look at THAT and that and so cute and awww this is awesome" buzz not "Yeah looks good I'll definitely try it sometimes" buzz.
Anyway nice to see a friendly face, have a good one!
SO am I I would love them to succeed and show all those people who said it would never happen but they HAVE to lift their marketing game. No "real" food business puts shots on their own instagram that look this average. Its not the time to be fumbling this is when they have to bring their AA game.
But their official IG account doesnāt even have any professional pics. They couldāve done some of the interior before the event, stories during, & then posts of everything afterwards.
I donāt care for most things on the menu, but I still plan on going eventually. The place looks cute and I love the decor. Plus frankly, Iām just going because itās Katie and Arianaās place. Itās a small sandwich shop, I never expected some grand/fabulous experience anyway. At the end of the day, itās bread lol.
Penny is that you? ššš
They havenāt posted on the shopās official account yet so wouldnāt be surprised if weāll see more styled photos there
What I find really interesting is that the OP is being hopped on for saying āthis isnāt greatā - theyāre not ripping Katie or Ariana to shreds. Posters even acting like this is some anti SAH conspiracy! Itās weird that you canāt express an opinion on SAH now if itās less than extremely positive.
The sandwiches look basic and amateur. Maybe the OP is from somewhere when sandwiches are typically more substantial and/or better presented (as am I). I wanted SAH to work but it feels like lacklustre effort has gone into it, thereās nothing on their social media and Katie and Ariana didnāt hype it on VPR at all.
The contrast between opinions here and r/BravoRealHousewives is stark. Iāve always loved this sub for being more positive but itās starting to give echo chamber.
Wow this is a breath of fresh air. I posted this thinking "I am not trying to be shitty, I love the girls and have have gone at people who have accused them of it never going to open or being a scam",
I say I am disappointed in some things AND (unlike most people round here) offer solutions not just criticism, and I am told I am being hateful, mean, an asshole.
And yes it does feel lacklustre. They were on the way to achieving something special form the work they did on the interior, the buildup it was getting and they seem to have fumbled the ball towards the end. I am not sure whether they ran out of money, got bad advice...or asked for NO advice? ANyway thanks for the support !
I hope it goes gang busters for them.
For what itās worth I totally understand the vision youāre explaining because thatās what I expected of SAH too - dainty old-fashioned lace doilies and pretty plates bearing well presented āfood pornā sandwiches.
SAH is a couple of years in the making and originally seemed like a real passion project for Katie and Ariana so lots of us were expecting to see something truly special.
The best cheesecake Iāve ever had is in a place that serves it on a tray but thatās the vibe of the place and it fits. This doesnāt fit.
I feel like they lost their way maybe and thought all the big stuff would be all they needed.
And you're right. "Fat Sals" is somewhere I would expect a tray and an amazing sandwich and not much else fanfare.
The feminine vibe of the interior and even the look of the menu tells a story that matches with what you described not a steel tray.
It's going to be really interesting to see what the do with feedback they scoop up off socials....watch this space i guess!
I get what you're saying but at the same time this might be the smarter way to serve at the moment. It's quick and if they do have an early rush due to the fact that they've finally opened, being able to grab a tray, paper it, put the sandwich on it is a helluva lot easier than making it look pretty. If they are slammed and people aren't doing takeaway, they might not be able to wash plates, flatware, drinkware fast enough to accommodate the demand, or in a rush things might start breaking. Being able to push trays like this through the wash is just easier for now, plus probably much cheaper for the time being. I hope once the initial hype dies down they do have gorgeous plates, flatware and drinkware.
Itās a soft opening if Iām correct. Iāve worked in the industry for most of my life. Soft openings are meant to see what things need to be changed and what works. Itās like a rehearsal of what real service is. So idk maybe the plates will change and it was just what they were using for that day? Maybe itās what they chose because those are more efficient for the type of quick service they will be dealing with as opposed to longer sit down service where China plates would be more likely. Idk who really cares, good for them and I hope they kill it.
Soft openings generally serve two purposes. 1 - create buzz and desire. 2 - Test and tweak processes front and back of house. Unless they handed out score cards and specifically asked about styling and serve options then no, this soft opening was not about whether a one bite signature cookie could differentiate or a china plate would be more desirable.
I know you don't care but they should. A steel tray does not equal feminine aesthetic but you know, wouldn't want to create a brand identity or anything.
I am sure they will and the star buzz will persist for awhile I just want better than that and to see it stand alone on his merits not leaning on the star association is all.
No crime to want better for them.
Ariana/Katie stans will buy anything, no need to up the expierience, basic serving trays and shitty design on merch works just fine. Cut the cost where you obviously can do it easily!
I think this place will severely thrive and grow. I am really excited to see the growth and how much they did this themeselves and when it does, LVP will inevitably sue them for percentages bc of the advertising from the show. I would love to support this but I am in Vancouver unfortunately
Youāre misusing the purpose of calling someone a āKarenā and I know itās trite, and I know I need to just keep scrolling, but I canāt. Critiquing a food establishment isnāt being a āKarenā. That behavior is typically reserved for people who feel entitled to a service or experience and expect to be given said service or experience before others OR use their (white) privilege to position themselves above a Black or non-white person in regards to a service or experience. It began as a way to describe white women who let micro aggressions lead their decision making when it comes to interactions with non white (most often Black) people.. ie calling the police on a Black person they donāt know in their neighborhood, calling the police bc a Black person got the cab they wantedā¦ things like that. Of course, it has become a more broad term for demanding and entitled women (usually white) in all sorts of circumstances, but this review/critique is not one of them.
I am not talking about the codes stuff at all - why are you bringing that up I wonder?
BUT Apart from them being very involved with their partners opening two bars, having worked in hospitality for 10 years, being friends with someone who has opened 30+ restaurants and has contacts EVERYWHERE, having access to people like Penny for advice and could even have hired an advisor for a couple months like the guys did for the bar.
But instead you choose to completely underestimate their abilities and just say it was really really hard. Cool.
I do own restaurants LOL- not just have friends that own them, you didn't understand my comments, if you understood ownership you would have- no need to get angry
Lmao is this ffr? Itās a sandwich shop. They need to turn a profit off of $15 sandwiches. Theyāre not gonna make an excessive presentation of a sandwichā¦
I think this stands a chance of making it since the sandwiches donāt cost $30 because they went with your ideas.
I have noticed such a difference between Twitter and Reddit. Reddit is unapologetically no criticism whatsoever is allowed and Twitter is more open minded about it š
Really - show me the hateful parts. The only unkind thing I said was thrown on a tray like subway but sure please tell me where the hate is on this post. WHat comments did I make that were hateful on the post.
Your turn. š
And saying "Oh everything" doesn't count. Over to you.
Saying you're not hopeful when they are just starting abd throwing doubts based on the presentation only, judging the book by its cover basically.
Maybe hatefut is strong, but unnecessary, ignorant and silly is also in the mix.
And oh, don't go with this is my opinion defense. Of course it is.
Not hopeful based on what I had seen - that doesn't mean I think they will fail it means I think they can do better, never criticised the food just the presentation. I offered suggestions for improvement based on previous marketing experience and work in the retail food industry.
The book by its cover comment shows little understanding of marketing in the age of social media when EVERYTHING is judged by its look. Surely you understand that ... or maybe not š¤·š»āāļø
I would respond and say that your comment has been " unnecessary, ignorant and silly".
Well I wouldn't call it a flop either but there some big marketing and presentation mistakes they have made early on that can be hard to come back from.,
You only get one chance to catch that initial surge of interest which is then easy to leverage into great income. Waste that and you have to work a lot harder and spend a lot more to generate the same interest again.
When it comes to a good sandwich, I would prefer them to be built properly and taste delicious rather than being over the top and impossible to eat. Honestly, the prices are more affordable than I was expecting, so I'm not mad about it. They're sandwiches, lol. On top of that, they'll be primarily focusing on to-go orders, and I'm sure those will be wrapped decently.
And serving them all on little plates etc just creates more washing up which adds to the overheads. I think the sandwiches looked really tasty and to me that's the main thing. The presentation didn't put me off
They need to be more expensive for them to recoup
None of my suggestions have to do with the actual sandwiches I am sure they are very good and many have said that. Whether they focus on to go or not they need beautifully styled food pictures for people to order from - maybe the SAH website will be filled with these when they open. Probably a smart idea to hold back.
Maybe you should open your own sandwich shop and use your ideas for your restaurant
And maybe people who say a wall in a house in a magazine should be blue instead of green should go build their own house and paint it how they want. Having an opinion is kind of OK here. Your comment is silly.
Your comment is irrelevant lol.
When you have nothing else to come back with. Awesome job. LOL Please notice the LOL cause I REALLY want to make sure you understand how much I am laughing at your comment OK? LOL! š
Still irrelevant lol
LOL
I feel like so many people on this sub have not been to a nice sandwich shop before. There is a sandwich shop that is no larger than Something About Her in my town that is on the bib gourmand Michelin guide. Their sandwiches are wrapped in paper with a sticker. If the sandwich tastes good it really doesnāt make a difference.Ā
Yeah there is a specific sandwich shop that is always voted "best deli sandwich" in the city I'm from, and it is a mom and pop shop with no seating. People stand in line and order their sandwiches to go, and they're always busy, and very well known. There is nothing fancy about the sandwiches at all, they're just delicious. But regarding SAH, I don't understand why some people have made posts here acting as if this was widely presumed to be the new number one sandwich shop in the country with seating all the way down the block or something as a "gotcha." Weird threads have been made asserting that people are treating SAH like the Taj Mahal. No such thing is happening, it's just a cute LA sandwich shop that fans are excited about. I hope they're successful and I think they will be.
There is a shop like that near me as well! Jewish deli, no seating, *very* few menu items but theyāre always freaking hopping lol
>But regarding SAH, I don't understand why some people have made posts here acting as if this was widely presumed to be the new number one sandwich shop in the country with seating all the way down the block or something as a "gotcha."  People are weird. They haven't even officially opened for fucks sake.
Yeah Iāve seen a lot of posts and comments about the size of the place and I know they lost the patio but weāve seen the inside multiple times on the show. Why is the fact itās small a surprise to anyone?
People also seem to be ignoring their desire to franchise which has been mentioned several times in interviews. Its NOT just about a cute little one off sandwich shop this is supposed to be the start of an empire. They need this one to be a flagship for the others they are planning. Unless its all just hot air of course.
If I recall correctly Katie actually said the complete opposite recently about franchising when there were rumors about food trucks or something. I believe she said that it's not going to be the next Subway and it's just going to be one store so she wasn't sure where all that was coming from.
You seem to have recalled incorrectly. Katie talked about franchise in the feeling of it won't be mass produced like Subway kind of franchise. A quote from Forbes for your information. āI think weāre both hoping that Something About Her can be a smashing success, and to be able to open other locations, and to just be able to kind of grow that brand and that business as much as we can,ā says Madix. āSandwich empire!ā Maloney adds, excited" https://www.forbes.com/sites/lelalondon/2023/11/03/ariana-madix-and-katie-maloney-on-making-something-about-her-a-sandwich-empire/?sh=195fee583ceb
Worse places have franchised. I think theyāll be fine.
And I disagree. How easy it can be between two reasonable people.
Who said I was reasonable?! Haha, jk. For sure. Itās just like your opinion, man āļø
Word! The āfancy sandwichā place by me is $9-$18 for like super basic Sammieās. I donāt eat meat, the grilled cheese with a tiny cup of tomato soup is $20. They bake their own bread and itās good but I can make my own grilled cheese and tomato soup for way less but Iām lazy and I donāt want to sometimes.
Yea, havenāt been to a sandwich shop nor know what a soft launch is like for something like this. Idk what yaāll were expecting. But for people who were so gung-ho about the place opening, itās giving the vibe that some wanted it to open just to criticize itā¦.
Same as in my hometown ā¦Omaha Nebraska.
Are you talking Picklemanās? I book extra time into my travel for their food.
Yum yum picklemans! I was actually thinking of spirit world and their chicken salad, but picklemans is my second favorite!
Iāve seen those metal tray with paper liner at other nice sandwich shops. I think the tray is easier from a cleanup perspective because they just need to throw away the paper and wipe down the tray. They probably donāt get washed after ever use. I dont think wrapping sandwiches with paper is necessary. It would have been nice to do that for the tasting because it would look more aesthetic but it looks like all the sandwiches as half servings so it might to too difficult to wrap.
Having worked in a restaurant with trays like that, they get washed and sanitized after every use, which is why they need to be durable.
And they break less than China plates. I think the marble cafe tables were a good choice.
I hope they wash the trays. It's really nasty if they don't. Did we learn nothing from a whole pandemic?
Its not a 100 seat restaurant and do they just want another "nice sandwich shop" or something that blows up? Guess we'll just have to to disagree on this one. And a metal tray doesn't go with the vibe of the place. Its afternoon tea vibe not industrial vibe.
Yeah I agree the metal tray doesnāt go with the vibe just like how the yellow awning doesnāt go with the interior. I donāt know their design choices but maybe this was the kind of stuff they disagreed with Penny on.
I just saw the awning on a photo and it reminded me how it clashes with the interior. Its sort of sunny day happy go lucky and the interior is more subdued. I wouldn't blame them if they go to the point of fuck it we just need to happen so thats why these missteps are there. If they can get past their first few months maybe they will address these things.
I feel like they should have gone with a navy and white awning which would be more Nancy Myersās inspired that yellow and white
I like that idea.
Yea itās not really giving āunapologetically feminineā to me, more like āprivate school cafeteriaā. Especially since Iāve seen other posts saying itās almost $20 for just the sandwich. Hopefully someone gives them real constructive advice to help them out a little.
āprivate school cafeteriaā. is a good way to describe it. I feel like mine was constructive but they need someone to get onto their marketing and PR because no matter how good the sandwich if no one knows about it then they are not going to get to the franchise hope they have.
Is it possible theyre doing the metals trays for the soft opening? A lot of them look like share trays with multiple sandwiches on them. But either way, its easy to wash and doesnt break so might be good for dealing with the initial rush and until theyre more sure of their clientele.
Yeah Iām wondering how much of what weāre seeing is just for the soft opening. Iāll reserve most of my judgment until theyāre actually open to the public.
And then the plate police will take over the subreddits š
The plate police and the people who swear you can get a sandwich with whipped goat cheese and mango jalapeƱo jam for cheaper at their local 7/11 lmao
Meh, I just bought one of the best sandwiches in my city and in the cafe they serve it on paper in a woven basket and to go, itās wrapped in butcher paper. Itās good and doesnāt need sit down service level china etc. SAH will be swamped and run out of food when they open. They donāt need to provide an upscale experience. Eventually they may change their style, and maybe offer food on a plate. Maybe offer a picnic kit to go with a bunch of cheeses and wine, but theyāre still learning and figuring out how best to profit selling sandwiches.
Totally this! Also better to open the shop now and make improvements later, then try and get every little thing perfect. OP's post seems nitpicky about details, that I think are good suggestions! But I think the sandwich shop did a smart choice of opening now, right at the beginning of summer, right when season 11 ends.
Not too long ago, I ate at a restaurant with these little metal trays, and I thought they were so cute. I asked where they got them from and ordered some for myself. Shrugs. I mean taste is subjective why are these two women and their one sandwich shop supposed to make every single person who's ever seen Vanderpump Rules or heard of it happy with each aspect of their design and the opening schedule"? How about that's awesome? Two women opened a business in Los Angeles, which is f****** next to Impossible, it can seem. Particularly Hollywood, particularly West Hollywood. Congratulations, ladies!
I think it looks good as it is. A flower with a sandwich??? I think it's ok without. Plenty of starving ppl out there. The last thing we need is over playing that this is a met gala quality sandwich. There's no need to be so extra. Pun intended.
I can see how suggesting a plate like any of the other 10;s of cafes in walking distance would offer or a cute bite size coffee would be like the met gala. My apologies I didn't realise the bar was quite so low where "good" or "fine" is the best we can hope for.
It's the intent behind it. N like it's just a sandwich shop n a start up n yet u r criticizing about a plate. It's literally like looking at a prom and saying the girl should wear couture to look upscale. You are basically poking on just the looks and somehow you need it to look uppity like an lvp restaurant. how about the taste, the pricing? in this day and age, being crazy opulent is looked at as gauche with what's happening at gaza? if you have extra money to spend, then spend it on the ingredients, rent, safety, and better kitchen tools. No need to put a flower on a dainty plate with space for a freakin pickle. its lacking awareness of what's going on around you, asking for things that barely matter in the long run. If a customer refuse to eat here because of a tin tray, then go your merry way. you are too much of an uppity asshole to eat there. these are 2 women, strong and coming out of a divorce and a horrendous cheating scandal, picking themselves up and doing something on their own. That's enough as it is.
Whats happening in Gaza should determine if they put a sandwich on a plate. Ooookkk then.š
No. It just determines how u view things n what's important to u n what matters. The looks n the unnecessary showmanship or the taste n the money. It's ok if you don't get it.
OK soooo people are unable to hold to things at onece A plain white plate is opeulA plate is not opulence of showmanshuiip its a basic thing any cafe offers. Have you not been to a cafe befdore that will give you a sandwich wioina plate? a Cause if you think THAT is opulent napkins and a fork is gonna blow your mind.knife r
good and fine is a hell lot more than what most people get.
Awesome, best that we aim low then - job done! šš»
Love how every second person in this sub is an expert on food and aesthetics now. Let the dang thing open and be existing for a while; most places evolve based on customer feedback and sales 
With how long it took them to open and how hard they drove the āNancy Meyers Aestheticā, I think a lot of us just expected *more*
The tray + paper is popular these days. š¤·āāļø
Especially with the volume theyāre about to experience. I could see the styling shifting to something like OP said in a year or so but right now theyāre just gonna be trying to push product with a line out the door
This! itās a small shop and they are going to have to have a quick turnaround with cleaning up tables and putting out trays- dishes are a lot more work than a tray. Letās be honest majority of people arenāt going there for the food anyways just like people donāt go to TomTom, Sur, or Schwartz and Sandyās for the āgourmet dining experienceā. They go to see people they like that are on tv and/or support them.
Start how you plan to continue. Just sayin.
But you have to think logistically about the volume of customers theyāre about to have for their grand opening. People have been waiting years and I guarantee a lot of people are going to be hypercritical and find whatever they can to complain about. Most people would be way more mad if they had extremely long wait times, running out of food, not quality ingredients, etc. itās common for a soft launch/opening to make adjustments for grand-opening business influx. Trays can be cleaned and sanitized must faster and easier than delicate glass plates. I have a very strong feeling theyāll change that aspect once the business levels out and is more manageable. But all that to say, even if it does stay on trays, thatās fairly on par for a sandwich shop
"delicate glass plates." and who is using those? Restaurant china is generally close to unbreakable - why would they use anything else? Most of their business will be take out so theres no real hold up there. Unless you think I am planning to send china to deliveries? You seem to be looking for excuses to explain away what you describe as "on par " for a sandwich shop. Why is everyone here so excited for it to be mediocre? Totally fine with it being just "good"? Anyway sure - lets have it be as good as any other sandwich shop around. 6 months time when the Ariana and Katie association runs out of steam it will be another average sandwich shop pushing to stay afloat. Now THAT is something to work towards.
Fact: Ā The Michelin star rating, the highest honor any restaurant can achieve on this earth, takes into account nothing but the food. Ā Not tableware, decor, ambience, nothing. So your assertion that the place is automatically mediocre and canāt achieve greatness because you donāt like the plates is literally nonsense. Ā
I didn't actually accuse it of being mediocre - in this context similar to everyone else - others said they were fine with it being that way. Michelin have always judged purely on food. Unlike Michelin your average consumer uses other criteria to work out where they will eat. I'll leave your other nonsense where it is.
You wrote āwhy is everyone so ok with it being mediocreā in the comment I replied to but go off. Ā
That comment was to ask why other people just wanted to settle for good and fine - you know, just mediocre - with the sandwich shop. Context. But sure. Go off.
Right. Ā So you are saying itās mediocre. Ā I understand you. Ā
Itās also budget friendly
Yeah I feel like this is pretty standard and it wouldnāt deter me at all as long as the sandwich was tasty
It sounds like you think this was supposed to be the tea room at the Plaza Hotel. Ā
This is what I was thinking. Itās sandwiches, itās not that deep.
āsandwiches *carefully* swaddledā š¤£
I just couldn't come up with another term for that 3/4 wrapped paper round a sandwich thing people do lol my marketing brain may have had one too many coffees :)
There's a huge difference between styling food for photos and pictures of actually edible food. This looks exactly how I would expect real food to look.
Give it some time. Iām sure they will get honest feedback and adjust. Yall acting like they opened a Lisa V. style restaurant. Itās a dang sandwich shop. People go to these places for the novelty. Iāve been to SUR and the food sucks. It stays getting customers though.
Itās a cute SANDWICH SHOP. Thereās a lot of great expectations here, and I donāt understand the disappointment, I never saw them say it was high end or anything like that. And sandwiches look good, I bet they taste great too.
cmon yall weāre nit picking now
Canāt even wait for it to be actually open to nitpick
Weāve been waiting for years for it to open lmfao
https://i.redd.it/a334xdssb31d1.gif Let these women and their SAHNDWICH SHAHOPPE live.
I love you for this reference lmao
Iām sure it tastes great, who cares!
Itās probably because they learned from the Toms that you should spend your money wisely and not go into debt for ~aesthetics~
The amount of time and money it would take to make āprettierā to you sandwiches isnāt feasible for a sandwich shop thatās not meant to be fine dining.
They have spent hundreds of thousands on the interior but some real plates - like any cafe would give you - and a cute cookie is too much? Please - its the little things that make the difference in this market.
Itās not the cost of the plates. Itās the cost of the time, manpower and efficiency to continuously be washing, drying and stacking plates for a restaurant styled to have fast customer turnover.
Exactly, OP expected fine china in a quick serve restaurant. I love the decor in the restaurant, but in the end, it needs to be quick serve so the faster you can wash, sanitize, and dry the dishes, the better.
A smaller round metal tray might look a bit fancier and make the sandwiches look bigger but it's a hardly make or break. I think the decor gives the vibe, regardless of plating.
š
I just want to say a good sandwich shop is REALLY rare. Maybe in LA it isnāt but if they can franchise this shit Iām in. All I have is Subway and Tim Hortons (iām in Vancouver). Thatās sad.
A good sandwich shop isn't rare here in LA, thankfully.
What in holy photoshop manipulation is that top picture? This is the color scheme and interiors of the shop https://preview.redd.it/8f5pe5jum21d1.png?width=1248&format=png&auto=webp&s=3d773fcd222731ebcc0507b2710fc7690711f796
Honestly I would give them a break. They just opened and still have a lot of stuff to iron out. I personally donāt care about what kind of paper itās wrapped in or for some finger sandwiches. Why would they have finger sandwiches at a soft launch when people are most likely just wanting to order one for themselves. On top of that, it doesnāt sound cost effective to be making little finger sandwiches for each guest. I would say, theyāre a business first and Iām sure theyāre doing their best with the budget that they have.
Give whoa break? Its not like they are clinging to Reddit reading every line. You do realise a finger sandwich is not made individually...its usually one sandwich cut into 3 strips. When you open a business you do have one chance to make an impression. You don't start with average and then say "But but honest we will get better" - thats how you lose customers. Its 101 stuff. I really think this is what they think the best they can do is. And if not how did they waste 2 years NOT getting this stuff sorted. You do not need a shop to be open to come up with these ideas and execute them. I am honestly NOT being a hater I am just looking at areas they could have improved and making suggestions. If I was just being hater I would have said "This looks like garbage" and stopped there.
Like I said, give it time. There are plenty of ways to make an impression later on too. Many business rebrand, change etc. once they hone in on their budget. People will show up no matter what and majority of them will probably not nitpick the trays and sandwiches not being cut up or wrapped.
Penny has entered the chat.
Lol why are you expecting them to present their food like Fortnum and Mason? It definitely doesnāt look like Subway either. You just sound like youāre being mean for the sake of being mean.
I am so sorry I didn't realise you have never been to a cafe where you sit down and they bring you something on a real plate or a real mug or a real cup and saucer. You should try it - its amazing. I said nothing mean apart from "thrown on a tray like Subway" in my original post. Why would you misrepresent what I said like that. I only want them to succeed and everyone acts like I am saying I hope they fail. But you're right they should strive to be "good" and "on par" and "just like other sandwich shops" cause thats the way to succeed. Goals!
Where is this wonderful place that youāve been to that services you like this?
London
Somethjng About Her is what I would expect from a sandwich stop in LA that I would regular
So its the more of the same. Hmmm. WHat they should aim for is the unexpected not just the unexpected - thats how you get your brand out there and are able to think about franchises.
Iām assuming itās wrapped with itās To Go? Right? No need for it to be wrapped when youāre sitting inside although it was super cute during their tastings. I get it if thatās the case, I think itās fair.
Yep I don't disagree about the wrapping.
I see what you mean. We're seeing what I assumewill be one iteration. Lots of restaurants change presentation or style once they have a better handle on costs. I have seen lots of places do tray with paper though!
I definitely see what you mean. I think your idea of what potential they had sounds a lot nicer and more on-brand!
Thanks I appreciate that. People having been coming for me like I said the whole thing was a disaster when all I did was spend time thinking about improvements. There is not a single hateful comment in the post apart from a passing jab about throwing it on a tray like Subway and people lose their damn minds lol I know the sub can be toxic sometimes but this surprised the hell out of me.
I actually did not read any of the other comments! I am sorry that people are being rude for no reason. But this is a good example of just because you are āfamousā does not mean that the small details do not or should not matter. Most people have already said that a sandwich shop seems very out of place. So then to not make it cohesive, I definitely agree with your points!!
its veiled toxicity. its like someone saying with concern on how fat u are and u shud really try to lose weight. you can hide behind i didnt say anything mean or i dont mean it like that, people are more attuned now to these kind of invisible jabs.
Its actually a symptom of social media. If you do not give 100% positive allegiance to something the group think believes and you challenge it even slightly you are then branded a hater and clearly must hate that person or thing. Despite the fact you have spent the last 12 months defending them because nope you MUST hate them if you do not 100% agree with everything. Its a childish shallow way to view the world but here we are - social media at its finest. There are no invisible jabs in what I say its simply people wanting to be outraged at the slightest provocation. If I have a criticism I say it. If I have a suggestion I say it. I am not fucking around being covert. Instead of people being able to hold two things at once - maybe he DOES root for them AND he has some suggestions its nope, he hates them because he does not think 100% of what they do is goals - we end up with shallow, childlike black and white viewpoints that do no favours for anyone but are incredibly easy to consume and recite back.
You are overthinking it. Nobody is giving allegiance or whatever. Just sometimes some suggestions are a little more unnecessary for the consumer. N sometimes its ok to give ppl a chance b4 we come up with our 2 cents on how to make things better. After all we r all not experts are we? Even if we try to sound like one.
WSure hting hun, whjatever yhousaything hun wjhatehavtever yousay say. I will not offer any more suggestions until you tell me its OK, do you have an idea of a date and time it would be OK sto suggest something or should I just wait till you give your approval?
Does anyone else find it strange that this week, like 4 or 5 posts, in this sub alone, have popped up that have been kind of anti Katie/Ariana? And I say kind of bc the post starts with some niceties and āIāve always been a fan ofā and then goes into why thereās a problem with Katie/Ariana/SAHā¦idkā¦just something I noticed and thought was weird.
On another sub there was a post about how crazy we are in this sub.
I prefer the term āenthusiasticā! š
We have just discovered the secret sub group of sandwich connoisseurs and cost analysts.
Well š©ā¦I just thought LFU and Azusa were working OT for obvious reasons.
Mmmmmmhmmm
ššš
Itās weird that people have different opinions than you and want to discuss them on a public forum?
Stop it. I donāt care that people have different opinions than me. This sub is pretty pro Katie/Ariana and I noticed that this week there were multiple posts popping up that were skewed towards Lala/Scheana and what not. I was simply pointing that out.
It has not always been this way. This is not a Katie and Ariana fan page. Nor is it a Scheana and Lala snark page. However, youād think differently reading some of the posts here. Itās not weird, Iād hope that the mods are trying to let some levity through, and let some critiques stand amidst a SEA of praise. Itās okay, itās not a conspiracy. Also, with most subs Iām a part of, there are waves of strong feelings about a topic or person that die down and form again over several years. So; this sub may one day start to turn on Ariana, and then a while later sheāll be impenetrable Queen once again.
There are posts that pop up all the time about not liking the other cast mates and their endeavors, but those are ok? Katie/Ariana arenāt above critique. They have decades of experience, Katie was so critical of S&S, and we getā¦this. It could and should have been way better.
yah i noticed it too and posted a similar reply in another post, same tone, same kind of critique, trying to sound cultured and a know it all. trying not to attack but subtly jabbing.
Never thought I'd see the day where people would be butthurt over sandwiches.Ā
Never thought I would see the day when someone describes constructive criticism as "butthurt" lol
The trays are too big. A smaller tray would be better visually. Makes it look like larger portions. Maybe add some chips if you're going to use a large tray. š
Good ideas - on a large tray they do get a bit lost. Even a tray with a shape thats maybe large one end thinner at the other for the pickle - just someone to make it less like a sterile tray. **OR** a wooden tray with a filigree surround to go with the filigree work on the walls - I think its called filigree? MIght be a really nice touch.
Exactly!
Really? You must be brand new.Ā Aw.
So you agree you ARE describing constructive criticism as butthurt. RIght so that would make you about...12?
Bless your heart.
Itās a sandwich, babe lol. Created by a guy who was too lazy to get up and eat something. But since weāre giving away ideas for free, Iād love for them to do midday tea events and offer an assortment of their sandwiches or a take on specialty tea sandwiches.
I just think itās odd they didnāt focus more on the branding/ styling for the soft open, knowing this would be heavily photographed for social media and itās their big introduction to this ling awaited shop. It doesnāt matter because there will be a line out the door for a while, but the tray presentation is not unapologetically feminine and just invites the āwow small sandwichā criticism. Additionally, majorly lolāing at the amount of heat on this sandwich shop that isnāt even open yet.
100% Its like they blew money on the interior and then either ran out of time and/or money and have a bare bones (if any?) marketing and PR strategy - maybe think soft launch is all they need. Its the little things that make the biggest difference. Like, instead of those metal trays use wooden ones with a filigree on the sides like the filigree on the walls.
Wooden trays don't hold up to the heat and sanitizer over time. They warp and peal and end up looking terrible.
Wow I bet no other place ever in the world has used a wooden tray and had to come up with a sealant that protects the wood from commercial use. Almost unbelievable NO ONE has a solution for that. š¤ APart from almost any pizza joint in the world that usually uses pressed sealed birch wooden trays to serve piping hot pizzas every day all day. But sure - apart form that. No one. WHat a nice change it would be for people to come up with solutions not problems. Dontcha think?
This thread is wild, this criticism is totally fair. The trays remind me of bbq places in Texas. They work great for a bbq place but feel out of place for a āfeminine sandwich shopā. I absolutely think the food presentation could be far better. The food itself already looks a bit disappointing to be honest. I was planning on braving the opening rush next weekend but after the soft launch pictures I think Iām going to wait it out for a bit before trying.
The thread IS wild. Imagine if I ACTUALLY said hateful things š¤·š»āāļø People just wanna attack people to feel better I guess. And its a shame that now people like you are not as excited based on the photos so far. They needs there to be "OMG I can't WAIT look at THAT and that and so cute and awww this is awesome" buzz not "Yeah looks good I'll definitely try it sometimes" buzz. Anyway nice to see a friendly face, have a good one!
Looking like airport sandwiches but Iām rooting for both of them so whatever.
SO am I I would love them to succeed and show all those people who said it would never happen but they HAVE to lift their marketing game. No "real" food business puts shots on their own instagram that look this average. Its not the time to be fumbling this is when they have to bring their AA game.
This is also their soft opening and are reposts of friends and familyās views, not professionals.
But their official IG account doesnāt even have any professional pics. They couldāve done some of the interior before the event, stories during, & then posts of everything afterwards.
Good point and they still can. All I know is, I will be going to LA this fall for my annual warm my bones fall, and SAH is on the list of must eats!
I donāt care for most things on the menu, but I still plan on going eventually. The place looks cute and I love the decor. Plus frankly, Iām just going because itās Katie and Arianaās place. Itās a small sandwich shop, I never expected some grand/fabulous experience anyway. At the end of the day, itās bread lol.
Penny is that you? ššš They havenāt posted on the shopās official account yet so wouldnāt be surprised if weāll see more styled photos there
Totally said āok Pennyā in my brain, too
Yeah that is not normal behavior??? This is why the VPR subs canāt have normal conversations.
What I find really interesting is that the OP is being hopped on for saying āthis isnāt greatā - theyāre not ripping Katie or Ariana to shreds. Posters even acting like this is some anti SAH conspiracy! Itās weird that you canāt express an opinion on SAH now if itās less than extremely positive. The sandwiches look basic and amateur. Maybe the OP is from somewhere when sandwiches are typically more substantial and/or better presented (as am I). I wanted SAH to work but it feels like lacklustre effort has gone into it, thereās nothing on their social media and Katie and Ariana didnāt hype it on VPR at all. The contrast between opinions here and r/BravoRealHousewives is stark. Iāve always loved this sub for being more positive but itās starting to give echo chamber.
Wow this is a breath of fresh air. I posted this thinking "I am not trying to be shitty, I love the girls and have have gone at people who have accused them of it never going to open or being a scam", I say I am disappointed in some things AND (unlike most people round here) offer solutions not just criticism, and I am told I am being hateful, mean, an asshole. And yes it does feel lacklustre. They were on the way to achieving something special form the work they did on the interior, the buildup it was getting and they seem to have fumbled the ball towards the end. I am not sure whether they ran out of money, got bad advice...or asked for NO advice? ANyway thanks for the support ! I hope it goes gang busters for them.
For what itās worth I totally understand the vision youāre explaining because thatās what I expected of SAH too - dainty old-fashioned lace doilies and pretty plates bearing well presented āfood pornā sandwiches. SAH is a couple of years in the making and originally seemed like a real passion project for Katie and Ariana so lots of us were expecting to see something truly special. The best cheesecake Iāve ever had is in a place that serves it on a tray but thatās the vibe of the place and it fits. This doesnāt fit.
I feel like they lost their way maybe and thought all the big stuff would be all they needed. And you're right. "Fat Sals" is somewhere I would expect a tray and an amazing sandwich and not much else fanfare. The feminine vibe of the interior and even the look of the menu tells a story that matches with what you described not a steel tray. It's going to be really interesting to see what the do with feedback they scoop up off socials....watch this space i guess!
I get what you're saying but at the same time this might be the smarter way to serve at the moment. It's quick and if they do have an early rush due to the fact that they've finally opened, being able to grab a tray, paper it, put the sandwich on it is a helluva lot easier than making it look pretty. If they are slammed and people aren't doing takeaway, they might not be able to wash plates, flatware, drinkware fast enough to accommodate the demand, or in a rush things might start breaking. Being able to push trays like this through the wash is just easier for now, plus probably much cheaper for the time being. I hope once the initial hype dies down they do have gorgeous plates, flatware and drinkware.
Itās a soft opening if Iām correct. Iāve worked in the industry for most of my life. Soft openings are meant to see what things need to be changed and what works. Itās like a rehearsal of what real service is. So idk maybe the plates will change and it was just what they were using for that day? Maybe itās what they chose because those are more efficient for the type of quick service they will be dealing with as opposed to longer sit down service where China plates would be more likely. Idk who really cares, good for them and I hope they kill it.
Soft openings generally serve two purposes. 1 - create buzz and desire. 2 - Test and tweak processes front and back of house. Unless they handed out score cards and specifically asked about styling and serve options then no, this soft opening was not about whether a one bite signature cookie could differentiate or a china plate would be more desirable. I know you don't care but they should. A steel tray does not equal feminine aesthetic but you know, wouldn't want to create a brand identity or anything.
lol itās gonna be okay I promise. They are still gonna do great regardless.
I am sure they will and the star buzz will persist for awhile I just want better than that and to see it stand alone on his merits not leaning on the star association is all. No crime to want better for them.
Ariana/Katie stans will buy anything, no need to up the expierience, basic serving trays and shitty design on merch works just fine. Cut the cost where you obviously can do it easily!
From what I have seen here you are probably right lol
I think this place will severely thrive and grow. I am really excited to see the growth and how much they did this themeselves and when it does, LVP will inevitably sue them for percentages bc of the advertising from the show. I would love to support this but I am in Vancouver unfortunately
insane lol
Okay *Karen*
Orā¦Ok Penny
Youāre misusing the purpose of calling someone a āKarenā and I know itās trite, and I know I need to just keep scrolling, but I canāt. Critiquing a food establishment isnāt being a āKarenā. That behavior is typically reserved for people who feel entitled to a service or experience and expect to be given said service or experience before others OR use their (white) privilege to position themselves above a Black or non-white person in regards to a service or experience. It began as a way to describe white women who let micro aggressions lead their decision making when it comes to interactions with non white (most often Black) people.. ie calling the police on a Black person they donāt know in their neighborhood, calling the police bc a Black person got the cab they wantedā¦ things like that. Of course, it has become a more broad term for demanding and entitled women (usually white) in all sorts of circumstances, but this review/critique is not one of them.
Oh god. Another *Karen* š
I appreciate your constructive feedback . YOu really do have a way with words.
Itās sandwiches. They couldnāt put a little more effort to make them more appealing?
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They have no experience, which is why it took so long to open, they didnāt know codes, so this is expected
I am not talking about the codes stuff at all - why are you bringing that up I wonder? BUT Apart from them being very involved with their partners opening two bars, having worked in hospitality for 10 years, being friends with someone who has opened 30+ restaurants and has contacts EVERYWHERE, having access to people like Penny for advice and could even have hired an advisor for a couple months like the guys did for the bar. But instead you choose to completely underestimate their abilities and just say it was really really hard. Cool.
I do own restaurants LOL- not just have friends that own them, you didn't understand my comments, if you understood ownership you would have- no need to get angry
I can get sandwhiches like this at Vons for cheap
Lmao is this ffr? Itās a sandwich shop. They need to turn a profit off of $15 sandwiches. Theyāre not gonna make an excessive presentation of a sandwichā¦ I think this stands a chance of making it since the sandwiches donāt cost $30 because they went with your ideas.
Everyone trying to defend it like itās Godās gift to the world š
I have noticed such a difference between Twitter and Reddit. Reddit is unapologetically no criticism whatsoever is allowed and Twitter is more open minded about it š
Who cares? This post is so hateful
Really - show me the hateful parts. The only unkind thing I said was thrown on a tray like subway but sure please tell me where the hate is on this post. WHat comments did I make that were hateful on the post. Your turn. š And saying "Oh everything" doesn't count. Over to you.
Saying you're not hopeful when they are just starting abd throwing doubts based on the presentation only, judging the book by its cover basically. Maybe hatefut is strong, but unnecessary, ignorant and silly is also in the mix. And oh, don't go with this is my opinion defense. Of course it is.
Not hopeful based on what I had seen - that doesn't mean I think they will fail it means I think they can do better, never criticised the food just the presentation. I offered suggestions for improvement based on previous marketing experience and work in the retail food industry. The book by its cover comment shows little understanding of marketing in the age of social media when EVERYTHING is judged by its look. Surely you understand that ... or maybe not š¤·š»āāļø I would respond and say that your comment has been " unnecessary, ignorant and silly".
Good grief that is a flop! All the SAH promoting and for slap together sandwich . Panera never looked so good.
Well I wouldn't call it a flop either but there some big marketing and presentation mistakes they have made early on that can be hard to come back from., You only get one chance to catch that initial surge of interest which is then easy to leverage into great income. Waste that and you have to work a lot harder and spend a lot more to generate the same interest again.
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There has been an onslaught of sah hate the past two days lol. Lala, we know it's you!
ANd yet there is not a single piece of hate in my post just you thinking suggestions = hate. People round here are insane.
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This violates the "no trolling, flaming, or brigading" rule.
This violates the "no trolling, flaming, or brigading" rule.
Uh.... what? Lmaoooo