Conference turris::womannotes-v2

There's a place in Cambridge called Pentimento's.  It's not as 
obviously feminist/political, but it is definitely a woman's
establishment.  I go there alot with woman friends for tea and
dessert or a sandwich.  The only problem is that it was "discovered"
by the Cambridge yuppies for Sunday brunch - avoid at all costs.

    It's long since closed, but doees anyone else remember "The Common
    Womon"  (I think that's how they spelled it) in Northampton?  It
    was a wonderful vegetarian women owned and run cooperative restaurant.
    And it was right near the women's bookstore, Womonfyre.
    
    I think the collective got a little burned out after 5 years, and also
    had to compete with a major influx of interesting ethnic restaurants in
    the Pioneer Valley.
    
    Holly 

    
    Marilyn, Bloodroot also has a small Inn near the restaurant and
    close to a cove (long island sound). I can get directions for you
    if i can find an old placemat from there. If you attend any of the
    WITCH lectures, I'll introduce you to my friend, Krys, who organizes
    the lectures and is temporarily living at Bloodroot.

    am

    Why can there be Women's eateries, but Men's clubs have to start
    including women?  Isn't that sexism?
    
    K.C.

    re: .4
    
    I have never known any woman-run restaurant of the type I believe
    .0 is asking about that doesn't allow men to eat there.  It may
    be woman-owned, woman-run, and woman-oriented, but I'm sure men
    are also welcome (they have to eat, too, you know).  I suspect the
    men who would go there would probably be feminist-oriented (they'd
    probably feel most comfortable there), but I don't think they'd
    turn anyone away on the basis of their chromosomes...
    
    -Jody
    

Ok, so what's women-oriented (and/or feminist) food?  As opposed to
French/Italian/Vegetarian/Hippie-dippie?

Does Mary Chung qualify as a woman-owned restaurant?  (Mass Ave in
Central Square, roughly opposite the fire station.  Good Chinese.)

Martin.

    
    Maybe we could keep this string open for info about woman-oriented
    restaurants and take the questions about why they exist someplace
    else?
    
    One of my favorite restaurants is Modern Times on Hampshire St.
    in Cambridge.  I'm not sure if it is woman owned, but lots of women 
    work and eat there, and they have a bulletin board covered with
    notices about events of interest to women.
    
    Justine  

And, it's right down the street from New Words, a feminist bookstore.
	Mez

    Actually, I'm pretty sure that Pentimento is owned and operated
    by a very nice couple (couple as in boyfriend/girlfriend or
    husband/wife) because there are family pictures on the wall...
    mommy, daddy and children...and the mommy and daddy in the pictures
    look like the same woman and man who are often working in the kitchen.
    
    You can tell I have spent alot of time in Pentimento's.  Regardless
    of who owns it or runs it, it's a real nice restaurant to hang out
    in and has a menu that can satisfy both the veggie and non-veggie
    palate.
    
    Cheers.
    
    Zoe
    

    
    Modern Times is owned by a man and I've seen him shop for the
    restaurant at Bread and Circus on Prospect St.  I like the atmosphere
    and the food served there.
    
    Bloodroot, the restaurant, is open to the general public and happens to
    be frequented by all kinds of women from various locales. 
    
    am    

re: .7:
    Maybe we could keep this string open for info about woman-oriented
    restaurants and take the questions about why they exist someplace
    else?
    
With all due respect, I wasn't asking why they exist, but how one can
tell that a particular restaurant is "woman-oriented."

After all, my favorite Chinese restaurant is owned by a woman; the best
(I am told) Italian restaurant in the Boston area is owned by a woman,
and a woman owns the most popular chain of restaurants in America,
if not the world.  None of these, however, are considered to be
"woman-oriented."

Again, what makes a restaurant "woman-oriented?"

Martin.

    re:11
    From my point of view, woman-oriented means just that.  The food
    is neutral--the atmosphere is often reflected via available literature,
    such as Bloodroot's corner for books etc. and posted notices that
    give info on woman oriented happenings.   
    
    No, I *don't* think a woman owned restaurant is the same as a
    woman-oriented restaurant.  
    
    Bloodroot in Bridgeport, CT is a very special restaurant in my opinion,
    and although men often eat there, I like to think of them as the
    kind of men who don't own Budweiser beer hats.  (my personal point
    of reference for "some men" and I *don't* want to hear 6 notes about
    that, please)
    
    M
    

    Marilyn,
    
    If you get 6 notes from Bud Hat men, don't bother to reply. I promise
    not to encourage them either.
    
    Kate
    

    I suspect that woman-oriented restaurants get that way by word of
    mouth.  Probably the earliest clientele are friends of the
    owner/operators, and they tell two friends, and they tell two friends,
    and so on, and so on.  Restaurants get "character" this way, generally
    reflecting the character/personality of the owner/operators.
    
    FWIW, Mary Chung's is an AWESOME place to eat, but I don't believe
    it's woman-oriented, in fact, I believe it's hacker-oriented to
    some extent (both the location near MIT and the clientele I've met 
    there point to this...).  Another woman-owned restaurant (although
    not woman-oriented, but very mellow with extremely good food, is
    Kabuki, which is on Pearl St. right near Mary Chung's.
    
    -Jody

    Bankok Oriental Cuisine in Merrimack, NH is owned by a woman.  She
    is hostess, waitress, chef, and a friend of mine.  Her husband works
    in the kitchen.
    
    Best oriental food in the area!  When you order Tariaki Beef, you
    don't get a sliver on a stick; you get CHUNKS of beef!  They also
    encourage eating with chopsticks, but silverware available upon
    request.
    
    K.C.