Brady’s “Fox Hunt Inn” (complete with quotations) is a restaurant not far from my office. I’ve never been inside, but the other day the deli’s parking lot was full, so I parked at Brady’s and walked over.
It was like I was in Language Hell. And Restaurant Hell. And Restaurant Language Hell.
First of all, the quotes around “Fox Hunt Inn” are confusing, but perhaps not fully unnecessary. Perhaps there was once a place called Brady’s that was known colloquially as “Fox Hunt Inn.” What that place was doing in Bergen County, New Jersey defies logic, but just suppose. It has thin but real plausibility.
Around back, in the parking lot, the sign says (among other things) “Great Food!” Now that bothers me. The quote marks are not only unnecessary, the phrase itself is beyond insipid. It’s as purely generic as if it just said Food. Or, y’know, “Food.” I imagine a restaurant reviewer somewhere saying that Brady’s has “Great food” and the proprieters thinking, “Wow, fab pull quote, but let’s not attribute it to a real reviewer because we might get sued.”
I spend too much time thinking about these things.
Finally, as I was walking back to my car with my gyro, I noticed the sign out front with today’s selections. They included an Enchilada Special and Sweet & Sour Pork. And now I’m mad. Brady’s “Fox Hunt Inn” should have fish & chips, bangers & mash, and Yorkshire pudding. Not, I repeat NOT enchiladas. What is the world coming to?
Between unnecessary quotes and unnecessary apostrophes, signage drives me crazy all day every day…..
And what about Ruth’s Chris Steak House? I know there’s a story there somewhere, but the website is less than helpful……
I’m very disappointed that you didn’t go inside. It’s probably decorated with Japanese screens and off-kilter haiku.
There was a shamrock hanging out front today.
Of course, that’s a typical July decoration.
Does’nt it seem like “Great Food!” kind of implies “Just Kidding!” ?
And tru ‘dat about Ruth’s Chris.
I read the real story of that, somewhere, & it made about as much sense as a broken-down mint.
Quotation mark abuse is rampant around here, along with the ubiquitous apostrophe desecrations. Example: not far from my house, there is an auto service shop. Painted on the front window is this:
MECHANIC ON “DUTY”
I have yet to figure out what that means, but it doesn’t inspire me to leave my car there!
Almost as if “Duty” is a euphemism for something dirty.