Campagnia's Lives On!!

Note: 2 Weeks After this Post, Campagnia Has Closed.

A dramatic weekend and successful Valentine's Day for Campagnia's in Fresno. A statement was released on the Facebook Fan Site today regarding recent events (which i've attached View this photo). The Cured Ham is pleased to see both the statement and the Valentine's Day re-opening. 

But recent events with Campagnia should serve as a reminder and a warning to those wanting to start a second location, the dream of North Fresno or Old Fig, or just continuing to keep a high standard over a long period of time. Here's some history (and I'm only writing down what long-time Fresnan's are thinking anyway, so don't gasp for air when you read the list):

• Elbow Room (Supernatural Powers) and The Chef's Table (Dead)
• Waasabi (Alive) and Waasabi Fig Garden (Alive)
• Cracked Pepper (Alive) and Yalla Yalla (Infant)
• La Rocca's (Dead) and Five (Alive)
• Campagnia (Alive) and Pangea (Dead)
• Why did Echo ever leave the Tower District? It was waaaay cooler in the Tower.
• Why did La Paella want to move to North Fresno? So that I could make a reservation only to find out that it didn't matter?
• Was Pacific Seafood ever well lit?
• Don't ever bring another brewery to Fig Garden. RIP Rock Bottom and Bulldog Brewery. Besides, Fish Co. was the best place in town when Fig Gig was going on.
• Was Belana ever a restaurant or just a nightclub. Really, a nightclub in Fig Garden? (bring back Fish Co!!!!! Now I'm dating myself)
• D.J. Hill's was a really cool place to have dinner and a drink, but ended up being just drinks
• Il Forno could do more with an oven downtown than most could do with a whole kitchen and the North Fresno location had great food and a cool counter

The restaurant business is one of the most difficult careers around with a very high failure rate. Getting everything right and then getting customers in the door, night after night is difficult at best. Fresno as a market is prone to franchises and chains taking market share and press time with high advertising budgets and the ability to discount.

Look at Daily Grill. Has anyone ever paid full price for anything there since they opened? They should have paid for a permanent sign outside that flashed specials like a gas station flashes prices on Highway 99. It would look better than that white vinyl sign.  

I appreciate the risk that each of the restaurants I listed above has taken or will take again to keep their businesses profitable. Fresnan's deserve a better class of local restaurant. To churn out a steak with the same efficiency and product quality as Ruth Chris or Flemings' AND be willing to pay for it from the LOCAL vendor is critical. In order to have wine education and tastings at Trelio, it takes time, effort and knowledge. Does Macaroni Grill have that? No, they have wine recommendations printed on their menu. To appreciate the time and effort it takes to make FRESH pasta at Parma isn't cheap and no, Olive Garden doesn't make pasta as good...and never will. I made fresh pasta last night as a matter of fact (usually I make it once a week), it's a lot tougher than opening a box.

Fresnan's, is Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings, Elephant Bar, Applebee's, The Habit, or the upcoming Yard House really that great? How can 1000 menu items at Cheesecake Factory be that good? Wild Wings? Really. The Habit...anything but. Yard O'Beer no, it's not that cool it's just a lot of beer in a big glass. Get over it. Tailgates at Bulldog Football are better than these chains and a lot more fun.

Fresnan's should demand more from their local restaurants, not mediocrity because "oh, they're local". There's plenty of mediocrity with the chains. Fresnan's should also understand that local restaurants have to charge appropriately for the level of quality and service, commensurate with a Ruth Chris. However, no quarter should be given to local restaurants that charge high prices and can't measure up; those restaurants should fail. Service quality and food need to be at a high standard just as if you were in San Francisco. There shouldn't be a "special" category for Fresno restaurants. Great is great in San Francisco, Seattle, or Fresno. Great is Cracked Pepper. Greatness has not been achieved at Yalla Yalla. Competition is healthy and Fresno restaurants should relish in the fact that most of their competition comes from a chain rather than Michelin Stars or Michael Bauer critiques.

Or maybe, just maybe, too many local Fresno restaurants are playing to the level of their competition like the Bulldogs too often do. Play every game like you're playing USC, not the Division II scrubs. Just some food for thought from your friendly neighborhood Cured Ham.

Comments

[BK]

Best post in the history of The Cured Ham. Standing O.

[The Cured Ham]

Thanks BK. This one hits home for lots of reasons and it's why I was up late last night putting some thoughts together. I just wish I could remember more of the restaurants over the years.