Comments on: Exclusive! Photos from Backals in Scarsdale

By: D R Sakoll

D R Sakoll — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:38:58 +0000

Beautifully designed and ingeniously crafted, these dining room tables and leather chairs

By: Jackie Walsh

Jackie Walsh — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:46:12 +0000

Had dinner at Backals last night – and I never expect to return. We had a reservation for eight people made three weeks prior. We arrived on time and had to wait 45 minutes for our table. The table offered to us was not large enough 6, let alone 8. Requested a larger table – mind you we were being gracious. The manager was quite condescending to my husband. Finally seated at 9:30 at a slightly larger table – tight but we made do. None of the specials were available – due to the late hour (by the time we ordered it was getting on 10 pm). The food was subpar. Calamari was greasy and tasted of flour – obviously not enough care was taken in its preparation. Shrimp and lobster risotto was undercooked and it was hard to find any seafood. Drinks were ordered and not delivered. Besides my husband talking to the manager about the table problems – we made no fuss, but we were later told that they were close to throwing us out. The overall experience was unpleasant – the staff, almost to a person, treated the patrons in a most superior manner. We had every right to be upset but we kept our cool and their treatment of us was unacceptable.

By: Norine Toole

Norine Toole — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:55:33 +0000

I did find the chair uncomfortable for my lower back problem.I thought you have done a spectacular job turning the place into a SHOW RESTAURANT! We were ther last night – a Sat. and the food was good and the service very good!

By: Al Lemke

Al Lemke — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 03:31:27 +0000

We ate there tonight, excited by the NY Times review. Disappointed… Food and service average, price not. Menu pedestrian. You can do better, but you can’t pay more.

Cheers, Al

By: Louis

Louis — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 17:32:06 +0000

I think I’ll reserve judgment until I eat there. I used to eat at the Heathcote, but see no reason to follow them. Let these guys get the kinks ironed out and we’ll see. Meantime, you can always cook for yourself. Forbidden!

By: Heathcote-Goer

Heathcote-Goer — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:55:33 +0000

Being a major Heathcote goer for years, I am disappointed at the old place closing but nevertheless, thrilled when the new restaurant opened. I will say, It is not Heathcote Tavern. I am not overly impressed by the menu—The renovations make is not cozy at all—and the many men walking around in suits are unnecessary! I did hear though, that the owners of HT are looking in to opening up in Tuckahoe, near the train station in the old Rockwells…..Liz, have you heard anything????

By: Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:29:58 +0000

Buck Ã¢â‚¬â€ I had a feeling about those chairs! I’m sorry to hear about the food.

Susan Ã¢â‚¬â€ What did you order?

By: Susan Goldberger

Susan Goldberger — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:36:33 +0000

Back from our first dinner at Backals and appalled at the lack of good service. Upon making reservations, I received a return phone call inquiring whether I had reserved for Friday or Saturday night. I could not reserve our desired time and arrived a half hour earlier yet several tables remained vacant during our stay.

Waitstaff did not know who had ordered what. The food, though very tasty, arrived tepid and had to be sent back for re-heating. Even the coffee was lukewarm. Not once were we asked if everything was OK or if we needed anything else.

It appears that the staff here is still working out the kinks and needs a lot more training to justify the prices being charge. When the room filled up it was very noisy.

By: Buck Finkelstein

Buck Finkelstein — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 02:51:22 +0000

The service was attentive and thorough.
The food was pedestrian. For example, the wiener schnitzel consisted of two slices of breaded fried veal and a portion of string beans; no capers or other garnish (other than difficult to squeeze lemon slices) of any kind on the plate, and the veal itself was undistinguished, maybe even dry. Moreover, the menu was notably unimaginative.
And the chairs! They are too narrow for the typical adult and too hard and flat. At least hard seated chairs should be formed to fit the human bottom; these were not.
We sat upstairs where the ceiling is low but at least our table for four was larger than the small tables in the larger (and nicer) downstairs dining room with the vaulted ceilings.

By: Ted Mann

Ted Mann — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:15:18 +0000

Thanks so much for posting the menu! I didn’t get to make it to the opening party, but I’m dying to go for dinner soon. Thanks to you, I’ve already got my order all planned out.

By: Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:21:17 +0000

Jeanne! Sorry for dropping the ball on not mentioning we saw you. By that time, as you know, the camera was put away.
I’ll let you know about the food!

By: Jeanne Muchnick

Jeanne Muchnick — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 23:15:42 +0000

Great blog, Liz, though I’m bummed I didn’t get a shout-out! (maybe next time?) LOVE the blurry monkey room photos—and your comments about the chairs. Curious how you think the food stacks up when you go for a test-run. Let me know. It’s down the street from my house. Fun hanging with you and Matt!

Jeanne