# NY Observer food critic enraged by wealthy white people enjoying chi-chi hip-hop themed restaurant **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180 "2013-08-14T02:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/1 "2013-08-14T02:13:11Z")
[The food review is standard stuff](http://observer.com/2013/08/west-village-hip-hot-spot-charlie-bird-has-99-problems/)but apparently he wants to be a music and authenticity critic too. His rage builds throughout the review but he really starts to go nuts near the end. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/2 "2013-08-14T02:44:35Z")
I have yet to read a restaurant critic that I don’t want to punch in the dick. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/3 "2013-08-14T03:03:39Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I have yet to read a restaurant critic that I don’t want to punch in the dick. I dont think Ive ever wanted to punch anyone in the dick. Kick someone in the balls maybe… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/4 "2013-08-14T03:15:49Z")
I don’t see a single thing wrong with that review. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/5 "2013-08-14T03:30:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t see a single thing wrong with that review. It’s not “wrong” it’s just silly bordering on asinine when he pontificates on how inauthentic, “troubling” and “dangerous” it is for non-poor people to be listening to and enjoying hip hop as they dine. The food criticism is fine, it’s the pretentious High Fidelity wank dialed up to 11 that makes it amusing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/6 "2013-08-14T03:32:37Z")
I’m not 100% sure even after reading the review, but if the critic’s concern is the wealthy’s casual appropriation of a culture they don’t really understand, except in a shallow way, then he may have a point. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/7 "2013-08-14T03:42:41Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I’m not 100% sure even after reading the review, but if the critic’s concern is the wealthy’s casual appropriation of a culture they don’t really understand, except in a shallow way, then he may have a point. That’s what the last two paragraphs sound like. I can’t decide if I want to punch the critic’s dick. Wanky lanugage typical of critics. But by default I’m pretty sure that punching the restaurateurs’ collective dicks is not off the table. They sound insufferable. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/8 "2013-08-14T03:54:02Z")
Joshua David Stein doesn’t like hip-hop. Imagine that. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/9 "2013-08-14T03:58:52Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I’m not 100% sure even after reading the review, but if the critic’s concern is the wealthy’s casual appropriation of a culture they don’t really understand, except in a shallow way, then he may have a point. IMO this is an organic part of being a human being. Cultural appropriation is what we do. The notion that some musical cultures should be regarded as delicate hothouse flowers only to be approached with cultural relativism and sensitivity dials set to 11 is unbearably and annoyingly precious. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/10 "2013-08-14T04:01:19Z")
I’m a white hip-hop fan and I think I’d feel pretty oogy going to that restaurant. No, hip-hop doesn’t have to be just black or just poor or just urban. And a good bit of hip-hop is about being pretentious and dropping a lot of money, just like that restaurant. But still, something seems very awkward about the place. Almost Disney-like or something. I think I agree with the critic, actually. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/11 "2013-08-14T04:03:19Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Joshua David Stein doesn’t like hip-hop. Imagine that. No it’s the opposite he really, really likes hip hop and rap and apparently styles himself as an aficionado on urban musical genres. It’s the non-poor, inauthentic people enjoying it while dining that drives him to distraction. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/12 "2013-08-14T04:06:15Z")
Review seemed pretty dead-on to me. ---
**Author:** ![LinusK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@LinusK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LinusK)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/13 "2013-08-14T04:57:18Z")
Oh to have more money than you know what to do with. Imagine having so much money you spend extra money to pretending to have a fake, phoney connection to the poor. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/14 "2013-08-14T05:09:00Z")
Hip-hop is music produced by rich black people for middle-class white people. I don’t see how the poor factor in. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/15 "2013-08-14T05:35:24Z")
> [@astro](#): > > IMO this is an organic part of being a human being. Cultural appropriation is what we do. Well… it’s what _some_ people do. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/16 "2013-08-14T05:38:19Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I’m a white hip-hop fan and I think I’d feel pretty oogy going to that restaurant. No, hip-hop doesn’t have to be just black or just poor or just urban. And a good bit of hip-hop is about being pretentious and dropping a lot of money, just like that restaurant. > > But still, something seems very awkward about the place. Almost Disney-like or something. I think I agree with the critic, actually. I’m not a New Yorker and and so do I. Judging from the review, it seems like the restaurant is a hip-hop theme park for affluent whites (and tourists) who are too scared to venture a few miles away and experience the real thing. ---
**Author:** ![listedmia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/17 "2013-08-14T08:35:27Z")
It would make me feel oogy, too. That said, I appreciate that the restaurant went with an eclectic/Italian menu, rather than a bougie heavy-handed attempt at soul food. That would have been even worse. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/18 "2013-08-14T08:45:39Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > I’m not a New Yorker and and so do I. Judging from the review, it seems like the restaurant is a hip-hop theme park for affluent whites (and tourists) who are too scared to venture a few miles away and experience the real thing. What exactly would experiencing the real thing be? Am I the only one wondering if he got clearance to feature all those musicians on the menus? > [@](#): > > On the back of the menus, beautiful technicolored paper pamphlets designed by AvroKo that fold out into 12-inch by 16.5-inch posters, are photographs by Ricky Powell. On one, GZA, RZA and Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan peer out backstage from a haze of smoke. On the verso of the other, members of Run-DMC wear Adidas track suits and gold chains and pose in front of the Eiffel tower in 1987. Anyway what is the difference between this place and something like Hard Rock Cafe or other silly theme restaurants? It might be silly but nothing worth getting worked up over geez. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/19 "2013-08-14T17:09:28Z")
Sweet jumping jebus - I listen to and enjoy Romanian dubstep, and I am neither Romanian nor under the age of 50 … what is the big deal about enjoying music not of ones age and location? I think that critic needs to chill. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180/20 "2013-08-14T17:49:57Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I have yet to read a restaurant critic that I don’t want to punch in the dick. “It’s true, this man has no dick.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-observer-food-critic-enraged-by-wealthy-white-people-enjoying-chi-chi-hip-hop-themed-restaurant/666180.md?page=2)