Loading ...Alison two – Hit or Miss
Posted by Foobooz on January 26th, 2009
Oof, Craig LaBan likes the bar scene and bites at Alison two but struggles to find praise elsewhere.
Alison two, in general, is not quite what I’d hoped for from Barshak, who’s had more ups and downs in her career than a ride at Wildwood. Over the course of that roller coaster, though, from her splashy rise at Striped Bass, to the flop of Venus and the Cowboy, to her bright resurgence in Blue Bell, long one of my favorite suburban BYOBs, I’ve grown to appreciate her culinary aesthetic – a knack for pairing great ingredients with focused, inventive dishes inspired by her international travels.
But Barshak isn’t cooking here, having ceded the kitchen to another chef for the broader responsibilities of managing the big Alison expansion picture. (Blue Bell, which now has a liquor license, has been closed for renovations but is scheduled to reopen soon.) And it’s too obvious in the lack of finesse and consistency here that this otherwise appealing menu is missing a steady hand.
One Bell – Hit or Miss
Alison two [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Alison two [Official Site]
Related Tags: Alison-Two, Craig-LaBan, Montgomery-County, New-American, Reviewed
January 27th, 2009 at 8:40 am
This review proves LeBan is a liar or at least disregards his friends’ opinions entirely. I was dining at Alison’s when Mr. Leban was there with friends. They were all incredibly happy during and after the meal. I actually heard satisfied groans of “mmms” and “ahhhs.” They stumbled to the door smiling, thanking everyone who worked there. I would think a restaurant that leaves you and your friends incredibly happy would be worth one more bell.