Surfing around the beer news articles on Google News I came across the odd headline "BEER: Raleigh’s New Yardhouse Is Pricy But Upscale". I would have thought the "but" might have been an "and" and the story was about something unfortunate. As I read, I realized I was wrong:
If you’re looking for a new upscale joint to enjoy beer in Raleigh, the newest location of Yard House has opened up in the North Hills area. The upscale beerhouse and restaurant is located next to World of Beer across the street from the North Hills Mall, near the Sparian’s bowling center. The Yard House chain is clearly shooting for the upscale market. With a vast open design, outdoor seating with decorative flames, and a long stainless steel bar, the restaurant does look like something you would see in a large city out in California. Even the bathroom looks like something out of a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house, with post modern design.
Apparently one ought not to use another word when the one you have in mind is just so excellent... like upscale. But is there another problem? Is there an effort being made in the article to justify the value proposition? I mean it could be a great place, the bar that the Lord made for all I know. Isn't a pint of beer in the US for between $8 to $11 generally unjustified and inflationary? Is one expected to read that into "upscale" too?Maybe I am just too mid-scale to understand.
Comments
Craig - January 18, 2013 1:01 AM
Pricy but Upscale. Isn't that two ways of saying the same thing?
Alan - January 18, 2013 9:00 AM
I dunno. I don`t know the scale of scale.
ethan - January 18, 2013 9:45 AM
I'm looking for a place that's more pricey but lowbrow- if I'm gonna pay 11 bucks for a pint, the bathroom had better reek and be covered in graffitti.
Ron pattinson - January 19, 2013 5:20 AM
I went to a Yardhouse in Boston last year. My idea of hell. You'd have to pay me to drink in it.
Steve Gates - January 19, 2013 3:57 PM
If $11 a pint is upscale then point me in the direction of someplace downscale.
The Raleigh Telegram - January 22, 2013 11:01 AM
To clarify since we wrote the article, there are some new places in Raleigh that are pricey but not exactly upscale. For example the new burger joint downtown that charges $11 for a burger and $4 for fries but has all the ambience of a 1970's small town airport waiting area complete with orange plastic seats. There is also a new fried chicken place that charges $12 for an inferior product to KFC that has a nice view of the bail bond office and a pawn shop. So what we're saying about Yard House is that it's really expensive and not really a place where you hang out with your buddies (as we mentioned World of Beer is next door) but maybe a good place to take a date or celebrate a special occasion that has a nice atmosphere. At least with the stainless steel bar, flame things out on the patio, and nice decor you can see where your money is going whereas at some other places you get charged a lot for a less than stellar dining experience. If you read the article we do mention that if you visit the Yard House you may want to go when they have half price food specials, etc. We hope that explains our article a bit. Thanks for the link and for reading our paper! The Raleigh Telegram
Alan - January 22, 2013 11:28 AM
That is a lot of implication behind the repetition of the one word but thanks for letting us know, oh great anonymous voice of a business.
Dave S - January 24, 2013 8:17 PM
C'mon! The repetition doesn't mean that much.
If upscale doesn't mean expensive, but maybe worth it, then it means aspirational. Also if its not really upscale, it may be pseudoaspirational.
It could be suckypoo... ?
Alan - January 24, 2013 11:27 PM
It's numbing. That's why it's not done in good writing. Unless it was code for "avoid this place like the plague" which to be fair I don't thing it was.