No "free" bread with dinner--is this a trend?

I went to Forno Diablo last night. I'm big on bread, and in the past, they've always brought out a basket of bread before the meal. Last night, though, no bread. I looked around at the other tables to confirm that no one had bread. Is this a cost-saving trend? Has anyone noticed this elsewhere?

Incidentally, the food was OK but not great. The caesar salad wasn't very flavorful. The diablo chicken pizza I had was pretty good, although I would have liked more spice in something with "diablo" in the title. My friend liked her fettucine alfredo with shrimp. The martinis were quite strong, which I suppose is a plus. (My main reason for going to the restaurant is that I live three blocks away, and I'm lazy.)


Forno Diablo
433 W. Diversey Pkwy.

I know that given how high flour prices were last year, some places opted to begin charging for bread. And considering how much waste there can be with bread at restaurants, that approach -- or at least asking a table if they want bread, before serving it -- seemed reasonable. But not offering it all -- even as a charged item -- seems very unusual to me, especially at an Italian restaurant of this type. Maybe their delivery got messed up, because it really seems odd that no one in the restaurant at all had bread on their table.

=R=

Some places charge, but many places just don't bring it out unless you ask. Means they only have to spend the money and time on one or two tables instead of 20 or 40.

the places I go that used to serve a bread/cracker basket still serve it at no charge without having to ask for it. However I rarely eat the bread(I consider it filler.. ).

jimswside wrote:the places I go that used to serve a bread/cracker basket still serve it at no charge without having to ask for it. However I rarely eat the bread(I consider it filler.. ).

I gladly accept the filler because if I don't snack on bread I'm very likely to get two or three entrees along which can set me back much more than I wish to spend.

Jayz wrote:

jimswside wrote:the places I go that used to serve a bread/cracker basket still serve it at no charge without having to ask for it. However I rarely eat the bread(I consider it filler.. ).

I gladly accept the filler because if I don't snack on bread I'm very likely to get two or three entrees along which can set me back much more than I wish to spend.

I can respect & relate to that angle.

When the bread's of good quality, it's certainly more than filler. I think it really depends on the restaurant. Some serve the perfunctory basket of low-grade starch that's not worth bothering with and others serve artisanal breads that are as noteworthy as the rest of their cuisine.

=R=

eelton wrote:(My main reason for going to the restaurant is that I live three blocks away, and I'm lazy.)

If you're a fan of good bread, and live close to Forno, then you likely live close to The Bagel, as well. And that is a basket of bread. Wonderful Challah on every visit, seconds if you ask, along with a mix of other Jewish style breads. Always on the table, along with the pickle tray, within a couple of minutes of being seated.


Bagel Restaurant and Deli
3107 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 477-0300

gleam wrote:Some places charge, but many places just don't bring it out unless you ask.

I would have to admit I didn't ask (probably should have), but they've always brought bread without the asking before. In fact, I can't recall any Italian restaurant that didn't automatically bring out bread.

mss60614 wrote:If you're a fan of good bread, and live close to Forno, then you likely live close to The Bagel, as well. And that is a basket of bread.

Yes, I'm a fan of the Bagel. Great bread there.

eelton wrote:I went to Forno Diablo last night. I'm big on bread, and in the past, they've always brought out a basket of bread before the meal. Last night, though, no bread. I looked around at the other tables to confirm that no one had bread. Is this a cost-saving trend? Has anyone noticed this elsewhere?

Incidentally, the food was OK but not great. The caesar salad wasn't very flavorful. The diablo chicken pizza I had was pretty good, although I would have liked more spice in something with "diablo" in the title. My friend liked her fettucine alfredo with shrimp. The martinis were quite strong, which I suppose is a plus. (My main reason for going to the restaurant is that I live three blocks away, and I'm lazy.)


Forno Diablo
433 W. Diversey Pkwy.

My niece loves bread before dinner. One of her favorite places to eat is Leona's. She loves the bread board which use to be free, but they now charge $1.95 and it is listed as one of the appetizers.

But you are right, I have noticed it at a few places and there were all Italian restaurants. I just asked for bread when it wasn't brought out for my niece and figured it was an oversight. But maybe with the price cost at Leona's, it could be a trend towards cost savings.

If a place charges for bread, it better be halfway decent.

eelton wrote:

mss60614 wrote:If you're a fan of good bread, and live close to Forno, then you likely live close to The Bagel, as well. And that is a basket of bread.

Yes, I'm a fan of the Bagel. Great bread there.

I really like The Bagel, but the challah is mediocre, at best. It makes for decent french toast (I'll often buy a loaf at the take-out counter for solely this purpose), but by itself I just don't find it to be good. Too light and airy, not stringy and eggy enough.

That said, given the nature of this thread, I do have to give The Bagel credit for offering a good overall bread basket (and accompanying huge tray of pickles).

-Dan

Artists' Cafe (412 S. Michigan Ave.) near Orchestra Hall has good bread, but the waiter brings it in a basket for you to select, which they in turn place on a plate for you. It's a nice selection and it is too bad they just don't leave the basket for you to go through

qofu2 wrote:But you are right, I have noticed it at a few places and there were all Italian restaurants.

Maybe the restaurants are just trying to be more authentic. Bread service is not terribly common in Italy, especially not in the way it is served here. After a few days in Italy, looking through restaurant windows for bread baskets served with olive oil became my most surefire way to tell if I'd found a tourist trap.

I remember when I was in Denmark in 1995-96 every restaurant charged you for bread (at least $1.00 for a small dinner roll) and plain tap water!

One place that has great (free)warm ciabatta bread or fresh warm croissants is J. Alexander's in Northbrook. But you have to ask, they will not offer them. They used to give anyone who ordered a salad a croissant, but one day they stopped. I know many people didn't eat them, so the restaurant got wise and stopped giving them out. But we missed the croissants and kept asking for them, which they happily brought out. Then I found out they had ciabatta bread too, so sometimes we ask for that.

Kennyz wrote:

qofu2 wrote:But you are right, I have noticed it at a few places and there were all Italian restaurants.

Maybe the restaurants are just trying to be more authentic. Bread service is not terribly common in Italy, especially not in the way it is served here. After a few days in Italy, looking through restaurant windows for bread baskets served with olive oil became my most surefire way to tell if I'd found a tourist trap.

Good point...but try telling that to an 11 yr old carb eater who concept of pasta means bread and olive oil