The new 2Toots Restaurant opened officially yesterday (Saturday). I haven't been there yet, but have heard from many who have who are already raving about it. They are in the old Cold Stone building.

While Parker and I took in a concert at the Morton Arboretum, my boys walked into town and ate at the new joint. My oldest kid had me rolling on the grass when he declared, "This place has a few kinks to work out", as he described the mishaps he was witnessing. His cheeseburger showed up and it was named the best he had ever had. But the little Clam's food never showed. After the food was eaten on the other side of the table, the staff noticed the mistake and got the kid his chicken fingers. Old boy went on to describe that the kid running the train was apparently crashing it and/or derailing it, much to the displeasure of the manager. It was agreed that this boy won't have his job for long.

They gave the place two enthusiastic thumbs up. Food was outstanding, service a little weak...but that is to be expected on day one.

Apparently, a cheeseburger , fries and drink are about $4. Same goes for the chicken. They ordered cupcakes for dessert and said they were excellent (look out Honey! ) Total bill was about $13.

This place will have to try awfully hard to fail in a town full of kids.

A positive review for a GE restaurant from Clam!?

Next thing you know Amy will be interviewed pushing Reaganism.

A positive review because I didn't have to eat there. A place my kids like that they can go to by themselves or with friends and is affordable...will always get a nod from me.

visited 2toots on Sunday for lunch. Didn't expect much in the way of service on their second day being open - and they didn't surprise me there. That being said, we had a very good time. The food (burgers, grilled cheese, fries) was all very good. I saw a couple of meals go by on the train tracks that looked even better than what we had. We will definitely go back

This is not gourmet stuff, so please don't embarrass yourselves with pretentiousness. It's a great little place to take kids. The food is pretty inexpensive - I think a burger with fries is like $6.

Personally, I think this place is going to do well here. Much better idea for that space than Coldstone. (For the life of me, I can't understand why someone would open an icecream only franchise in the midwest - and I freaking love icecream). Anyway - thumbs up and best of luck to 2toots. I think it's a great addition to GE's downtown.

quote:

(For the life of me, I can't understand why someone would open an icecream only franchise in the midwest - and I freaking love icecream)

You and I are on the same page there. You live in a tourist trap that draws people 12 months of the year, then it makes sense.

two thumbs up for two toots from the two kids here.

Any train mishaps?

nope.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:

quote:

(For the life of me, I can't understand why someone would open an icecream only franchise in the midwest - and I freaking love icecream)

You and I are on the same page there. You live in a tourist trap that draws people 12 months of the year, then it makes sense.

Yeah. Oberweis is hanging on by a thread....

Seriously, they do all right. So does Dairy Queen and Baskin Robbins. I think it was just this particular model. I read something about how their franchise operations were troubled - I think it was something about very little corporate support, and poor decisions about locations. Also, it's a weird concept to me - to pay that much money just to have little items smashed into your ice cream - that was their calling card? That's just odd.

and coldstone, IMO, was a downright ripoff. when you buy a single cone at oberweiss you've definitely gotten some icecream for your money. plus, i think oberweiss is always located on main drags.

San Rafael, California.
We've started to see some empty storefronts. Far from panic stage as our main drag is two miles long. One peculiarity out here is that most restaurants are open for breakfast and lunch only, and close at 3:00 or 4:00.
Within a four block stretch we have a Double Rainbow ice cream shop, a Baskin-Robbins, and a Cold Stone. DR has a limited breakfast and lunch menu and is probably the most succesful of the three. CS has the best location as it opens on a plaza. I think we have about 300 Taquerias.
I still would replace them all for the dining options you have available, including 2 Toots.

Oberweiss also sells other products. Folks are always walking out with milk, egg nog, juice, pies...turtle pies...YUM

The problem was, the SOR crowd wasn't going to cross Roosevelt for a dessert treat when Butterfield and Roosevelt are littered with options. Same as the north of St. Charles and GH people. So the scope of potential buyers was very limited.

Whereas, folks might make a special trip to the CBD for a full meal, they aren't going to for a bowl of ice cream.

We had a great lunch at 2Toots on Saturday.

My children ate their full lunch, which is really saying something for them, and each enjoyed a cupcake for dessert. My cheeseburger and chocolate milkshake were good as well.

Friendly waitstaff and quick service. Even the Union Pacific cooperated in that my kids got to watch two real freight trains go by during our meal.

We arrived at about 11:30 and were seated right away. There was a line when we left.