Comments on: T.O.P.S. Pizza & Hoagies: Rosemount, MN http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn http://www.lazylightning.org - The South Metro "News" Source! Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:14:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Bill http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn#comment-2313 Bill Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:36:40 +0000 #comment-2313 A couple of things: 1. I'm tired of the outpouring of support by family and friends of TOPS. I am ending all comments on this thread as of now. Feel free to contact me by e-mail. I'm just as happy to ignore them there. This is not a place for businesses of *any kind* to astroturf. That includes those that have financial interests in <a href="http://www.lazylightning.org/raising-canes-chicken-fingers-apple-valley-mn">Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers</a> as well. 2. Thanks for proving my suspicions that "stazia" was a making themselves seem like an everyday Joe and should be ignored for not explaining that in their post. 4. The rest of what you wrote was non-sense as you obviously don't understand what a "hole-in-the-wall" means to me and that when I talk about "flare" it's me being facetious (no, I don't use a thesaurus on my website posts). If humor and innuendo escape you, I suggest that you read on elsewhere as this site will appear to be nothing more than your nearly endless diatribe suggests. A couple of things:

1. I’m tired of the outpouring of support by family and friends of TOPS. I am ending all comments on this thread as of now. Feel free to contact me by e-mail. I’m just as happy to ignore them there.

This is not a place for businesses of *any kind* to astroturf. That includes those that have financial interests in Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers as well.

2. Thanks for proving my suspicions that “stazia” was a making themselves seem like an everyday Joe and should be ignored for not explaining that in their post.

4. The rest of what you wrote was non-sense as you obviously don’t understand what a “hole-in-the-wall” means to me and that when I talk about “flare” it’s me being facetious (no, I don’t use a thesaurus on my website posts).

If humor and innuendo escape you, I suggest that you read on elsewhere as this site will appear to be nothing more than your nearly endless diatribe suggests.

]]> By: Philly Man with real food experience (not Bill) http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn#comment-2312 Philly Man with real food experience (not Bill) Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:36:26 +0000 #comment-2312 I'd like to comment on your hole in the wall article. First things first, you obviously don't know anything about food, because if something is greasy it means either A.) the meat is full of fat (70% lean beef with 30% fat) or B.) it's not real meat. Second, I would like to point out something, I am from Philly, and let me tell you I lived there for 32 years and that's how they were ORIGINALLY made; what exists now is a convoluted, watered-down display of what used to be a Philadelphia style cheese steak. Here's a suggestion, you want greasy fries and beef? Go to McDonald's, they'll guarantee your greasy food. TOPS is the closest thing to reminding me of being home, also you cannot criticize the service. Period. Every other restaurant I have been to has some bimbo or mindless stoner server who has not the foggiest clue of what he/she is doing. You complain too much I think, and how dare you call a restaurant a "Hole in the wall", want flare? Go to TGI Friday's and every other typical American joint. If 5-10 minutes wait for your food is too long, you have been eating at fast food for a prolonged time. I've never been dissatisfied with TOPS because they have consistency, which 90% of restaurants lack nowadays. Your analysis of the restaurant is blown way out of proportion as well, there is no trickery, and oh good job on using thesaurus.com to look up "peruse" as an alternative to scanning, or using word to type up this superfluous display of yet again fulfilling the typical pickiness of people who don’t appreciate the things they have in their life. You have no shame sir, let me remind while you do have freedom of speech to blast restaurants on the Internet, and who are you to “spare” them some dignity. You are very uppity mind you, and it seems as though you like to drink, (Copper Bleu and Enjoy! reviews have been read). I have been to both restaurants and they cannot even come close to being remotely decent. Want really good food with fine dining? Go to Las Vegas or if you cannot afford that, go to St. Paul Grille or Ribbon’s Steakhouse or TOPS Pizza for that matter, they all have tender, and juicy steaks that are worth the wait and drive. Oh my, you gave Rudy’s Red Eye a high rating? You must be inebriated when “experiencing” these “fine dining” restaurants. You sir, do not know what food is, I bet you go to places like Maggiano’s Little Italy in Edina because it is pricey, and instead of pasta you get noodles in a soup bowl with sauce (if I can call it that). Excuse me, but if you are a huge fan of food, then you should know what good taste is. The owner of TOPS Pizza used to be head chefs in many different places, oh and if you go to Champp’s, a good portion of the menu items are his creations. Here’s my synopsis on what types of places you like based on your reviews, a place with décor is an automatic winner since it has “class” as you like to call it. By the way, do you own the rights to the pictures you are taking of these restaurants? That can lead to a major legal suit since if you take pictures without permission and display what are the food items and interiors of the restaurant, as well as not to mention photographing service staff without permission. Now, you may want to argue my points, but think for a second (it’s not that painful trust me) is it worth it? Because no matter what point you make, I can bring it all back that you like to base your reviews on how much you can pig out (i.e. All you can eat buffets) or the types of drinks you can get at a bar. It’s cute how you try to sound intelligent by stating the types of cushions you sat on at Rudy’s Red Eye, but really it just shows me how you base your ratings. You won’t like the pizza at Tops Pizza either, because it’s not overly greasy and since you seem to have a fetish for greasy food, you should just stick with Domino’s or Pizza Hut. AFAIK, you should stick to not reviewing restaurants and go back to deluding yourself with thoughts that you are able to distinguish good food from bad, because you’re just a regular, everyday middle class person who does not appreciate the simple things in life. Furthermore, I like how you responded to stazia00’s comments about how she is biased since she is family and she co-owns TOPS. Well see here, she is personally offended by your comments as a person because you were too shy to confront the owners with your issues. Instead, you hide on the Internet and write your “blog” about the non-greasy food? I swear, you asking for greasy food is like a girl asking for multiple one night stands rather than a meaningful relationship. You must have a high tolerance for cheap food as well, because reading your entry on Applebee’s you don’t care that the service is sh!t, would rather be a stingy person and pay for one dollar drinks. If I were you, and take this personally since you attacked a girl and her family, stick to reviewing the restaurants with bars, and stay away from small businesses because you only seem to like franchises. Excuse me again, but don’t ever use the term “pwnage, pwned” or any other “1337 5P34k” again, because that just lowers your intelligence and validity of your reviews. Trust me, you don’t know what expensive is until you go to Las Vegas and go to a restaurant where there are not any listed prices on the menu. The next time you review a restaurant poorly think twice and about what you’re dealing with. As I said before, you have little or no experience in reviewing restaurants, overlooking many factors into food preparation, especially the healthiness of the food. Remember, greasy food is not always the way to go, and by the looks of it you can afford to eat a bit healthier (if you want to live long, that is). ;) feel free to contact me, because I am all ears. I’d like to comment on your hole in the wall article. First things first, you obviously don’t know anything about food, because if something is greasy it means either A.) the meat is full of fat (70% lean beef with 30% fat) or B.) it’s not real meat. Second, I would like to point out something, I am from Philly, and let me tell you I lived there for 32 years and that’s how they were ORIGINALLY made; what exists now is a convoluted, watered-down display of what used to be a Philadelphia style cheese steak. Here’s a suggestion, you want greasy fries and beef? Go to McDonald’s, they’ll guarantee your greasy food. TOPS is the closest thing to reminding me of being home, also you cannot criticize the service. Period. Every other restaurant I have been to has some bimbo or mindless stoner server who has not the foggiest clue of what he/she is doing. You complain too much I think, and how dare you call a restaurant a “Hole in the wall”, want flare? Go to TGI Friday’s and every other typical American joint. If 5-10 minutes wait for your food is too long, you have been eating at fast food for a prolonged time. I’ve never been dissatisfied with TOPS because they have consistency, which 90% of restaurants lack nowadays. Your analysis of the restaurant is blown way out of proportion as well, there is no trickery, and oh good job on using thesaurus.com to look up “peruse” as an alternative to scanning, or using word to type up this superfluous display of yet again fulfilling the typical pickiness of people who don’t appreciate the things they have in their life. You have no shame sir, let me remind while you do have freedom of speech to blast restaurants on the Internet, and who are you to “spare” them some dignity. You are very uppity mind you, and it seems as though you like to drink, (Copper Bleu and Enjoy! reviews have been read). I have been to both restaurants and they cannot even come close to being remotely decent. Want really good food with fine dining? Go to Las Vegas or if you cannot afford that, go to St. Paul Grille or Ribbon’s Steakhouse or TOPS Pizza for that matter, they all have tender, and juicy steaks that are worth the wait and drive. Oh my, you gave Rudy’s Red Eye a high rating? You must be inebriated when “experiencing” these “fine dining” restaurants. You sir, do not know what food is, I bet you go to places like Maggiano’s Little Italy in Edina because it is pricey, and instead of pasta you get noodles in a soup bowl with sauce (if I can call it that). Excuse me, but if you are a huge fan of food, then you should know what good taste is. The owner of TOPS Pizza used to be head chefs in many different places, oh and if you go to Champp’s, a good portion of the menu items are his creations. Here’s my synopsis on what types of places you like based on your reviews, a place with décor is an automatic winner since it has “class” as you like to call it. By the way, do you own the rights to the pictures you are taking of these restaurants? That can lead to a major legal suit since if you take pictures without permission and display what are the food items and interiors of the restaurant, as well as not to mention photographing service staff without permission. Now, you may want to argue my points, but think for a second (it’s not that painful trust me) is it worth it? Because no matter what point you make, I can bring it all back that you like to base your reviews on how much you can pig out (i.e. All you can eat buffets) or the types of drinks you can get at a bar. It’s cute how you try to sound intelligent by stating the types of cushions you sat on at Rudy’s Red Eye, but really it just shows me how you base your ratings. You won’t like the pizza at Tops Pizza either, because it’s not overly greasy and since you seem to have a fetish for greasy food, you should just stick with Domino’s or Pizza Hut. AFAIK, you should stick to not reviewing restaurants and go back to deluding yourself with thoughts that you are able to distinguish good food from bad, because you’re just a regular, everyday middle class person who does not appreciate the simple things in life. Furthermore, I like how you responded to stazia00’s comments about how she is biased since she is family and she co-owns TOPS. Well see here, she is personally offended by your comments as a person because you were too shy to confront the owners with your issues. Instead, you hide on the Internet and write your “blog” about the non-greasy food? I swear, you asking for greasy food is like a girl asking for multiple one night stands rather than a meaningful relationship. You must have a high tolerance for cheap food as well, because reading your entry on Applebee’s you don’t care that the service is sh!t, would rather be a stingy person and pay for one dollar drinks. If I were you, and take this personally since you attacked a girl and her family, stick to reviewing the restaurants with bars, and stay away from small businesses because you only seem to like franchises. Excuse me again, but don’t ever use the term “pwnage, pwned” or any other “1337 5P34k” again, because that just lowers your intelligence and validity of your reviews. Trust me, you don’t know what expensive is until you go to Las Vegas and go to a restaurant where there are not any listed prices on the menu. The next time you review a restaurant poorly think twice and about what you’re dealing with. As I said before, you have little or no experience in reviewing restaurants, overlooking many factors into food preparation, especially the healthiness of the food. Remember, greasy food is not always the way to go, and by the looks of it you can afford to eat a bit healthier (if you want to live long, that is). ;) feel free to contact me, because I am all ears.

]]> By: Bill http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn#comment-2305 Bill Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:18:39 +0000 #comment-2305 That's great. I know better. Believe me, it wasn't good and all the loving support for the family that runs this place won't help change the fact that the night we went in there it wasn't anywhere near what I could get in Philly on any given night. That’s great. I know better. Believe me, it wasn’t good and all the loving support for the family that runs this place won’t help change the fact that the night we went in there it wasn’t anywhere near what I could get in Philly on any given night.

]]> By: Patti http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn#comment-2298 Patti Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:23:31 +0000 #comment-2298 My family is also from the east coast. We moved here from New Jersey only a half an hour from Philly. We love TOPS and their cheesesteaks. The family that runs the business is warm and welcoming and always provides us with excellent service. Their food is delicious and their cheesesteaks are the closest thing you'll find out here to an original cheesesteak. Unless you had the worst experience in your life ever there I don't really think you need to publish it as a "huge dissapointment." They're a family who tries hard to produce a good product similar to what you'd see in any other mom and pop joints on the east coast. In an area full of chains we are lucky to have someone trying to do something different. You can pick apart my comments like did the one above that is fine and say I have deep feelings for the family and the restaurant but that does not taint my commentary, and maybe you should let someone else praise the place and let people go to the restaurant themselves and make their own conclusions. My family is also from the east coast. We moved here from New Jersey only a half an hour from Philly. We love TOPS and their cheesesteaks. The family that runs the business is warm and welcoming and always provides us with excellent service. Their food is delicious and their cheesesteaks are the closest thing you’ll find out here to an original cheesesteak. Unless you had the worst experience in your life ever there I don’t really think you need to publish it as a “huge dissapointment.” They’re a family who tries hard to produce a good product similar to what you’d see in any other mom and pop joints on the east coast. In an area full of chains we are lucky to have someone trying to do something different. You can pick apart my comments like did the one above that is fine and say I have deep feelings for the family and the restaurant but that does not taint my commentary, and maybe you should let someone else praise the place and let people go to the restaurant themselves and make their own conclusions.

]]> By: Bill http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn#comment-2267 Bill Tue, 13 Feb 2007 16:01:25 +0000 #comment-2267 <i>I just read your blurb about T.O.P.S, and the first thing I want to say is you could not be further from the truth.</i> None of what I said was a lie. <i>I have been going to T.O.P.S for 5 years since my job transfer from the east cost and I have had consistent, friendly, hospitable service each time I go there</i> I said nothing different. <i>The owners are wonderful if you actually take the chance to get to know them, and quite frankly, if you were not happy with what you got, they would have been more than happy to make something else for you.</i> As would most any restaurant I would assume. The only problem with that statement is that it should have been done right the first time and, in this case, it wasn't. <i>The place is not fancy by any means, but it is very clean unlike your local Applebee's, and I would rather focus on the content - i.e. the food - rather than the place.</i> I never commented on the cleanliness (even though I could peer into the kitchen while paying) but I didn't notice anything out of place there. As far as the food focus goes, I did comment and as I have already mentioned, I wasn't impressed in the least with the quality of the cheese steak or the fries. <i>I just don't think you gave this "diamond in the rough" any justice. It is just what the South of the River burbs need from the "franchise-polluted atmosphere".</i> I 100% agree with the "franchise-polluted atmosphere" but on the evening Kim and I ate there we certainly wouldn't consider this anything other than another worthless hole-in-the-wall restaurant that you should certainly skip. YMMV. You obviously have deep-rooted feelings for both the family and the restaurant and that's wonderful. Though, IMHO, it taints your entire commentary. I just read your blurb about T.O.P.S, and the first thing I want to say is you could not be further from the truth.

None of what I said was a lie.

I have been going to T.O.P.S for 5 years since my job transfer from the east cost and I have had consistent, friendly, hospitable service each time I go there

I said nothing different.

The owners are wonderful if you actually take the chance to get to know them, and quite frankly, if you were not happy with what you got, they would have been more than happy to make something else for you.

As would most any restaurant I would assume. The only problem with that statement is that it should have been done right the first time and, in this case, it wasn’t.

The place is not fancy by any means, but it is very clean unlike your local Applebee’s, and I would rather focus on the content - i.e. the food - rather than the place.

I never commented on the cleanliness (even though I could peer into the kitchen while paying) but I didn’t notice anything out of place there.

As far as the food focus goes, I did comment and as I have already mentioned, I wasn’t impressed in the least with the quality of the cheese steak or the fries.

I just don’t think you gave this “diamond in the rough” any justice. It is just what the South of the River burbs need from the “franchise-polluted atmosphere”.

I 100% agree with the “franchise-polluted atmosphere” but on the evening Kim and I ate there we certainly wouldn’t consider this anything other than another worthless hole-in-the-wall restaurant that you should certainly skip. YMMV.

You obviously have deep-rooted feelings for both the family and the restaurant and that’s wonderful. Though, IMHO, it taints your entire commentary.

]]> By: stazia00@aim.com http://www.lazylightning.org/tops-pizza-and-hoagies-cheesesteaks-rosemount-mn#comment-2283 stazia00@aim.com Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:31:14 +0000 #comment-2283 I just read your blurb about T.O.P.S, and the first thing I want to say is you could not be further from the truth. I have been going to T.O.P.S for 5 years since my job transfer from the east cost and I have had consistent, friendly, hospitable service each time I go there, and the food has always been fantastic no matter what I have tried on the menu. The owners are wonderful if you actually take the chance to get to know them, and quite frankly, if you were not happy with what you got, they would have been more than happy to make something else for you. Everything they make there is from scratch (they even get their ribeye from New Hampshire for the steaks), which in today's world is far and few in between with our corporate chains that have dominated the landscape. With a family business that has been around for 17 years, and actually came from Philly, that in itself proves their success. The owners are always there from 11-11 - not some amateur who can't even grill a burger. The place is not fancy by any means, but it is very clean unlike your local Applebee's, and I would rather focus on the content - i.e. the food - rather than the place. I just don't think you gave this "diamond in the rough" any justice. It is just what the South of the River burbs need from the "franchise-polluted atmosphere". I just read your blurb about T.O.P.S, and the first thing I want to say is you could not be further from the truth. I have been going to T.O.P.S for 5 years since my job transfer from the east cost and I have had consistent, friendly, hospitable service each time I go there, and the food has always been fantastic no matter what I have tried on the menu. The owners are wonderful if you actually take the chance to get to know them, and quite frankly, if you were not happy with what you got, they would have been more than happy to make something else for you. Everything they make there is from scratch (they even get their ribeye from New Hampshire for the steaks), which in today’s world is far and few in between with our corporate chains that have dominated the landscape. With a family business that has been around for 17 years, and actually came from Philly, that in itself proves their success. The owners are always there from 11-11 - not some amateur who can’t even grill a burger. The place is not fancy by any means, but it is very clean unlike your local Applebee’s, and I would rather focus on the content - i.e. the food - rather than the place. I just don’t think you gave this “diamond in the rough” any justice. It is just what the South of the River burbs need from the “franchise-polluted atmosphere”.

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