Shame on You, Neil

This Is for Your So-called Writer

Dear Neil Schloesser,

Why do you start all of your articles with the parking lot has few cars? Can’t you be more creative? This goes to show your experience as a writer, obviously still a young mind, an inexperienced mind.

Don’t get me wrong, a little critiquing good or bad has never hurt anyone, but do it properly.

You picked my restaurant to write about, if that’s what you would like to call it. You are obviously a very young and inexperienced writer, otherwise you would have written more tactfully. 

You entered my restaurant and wrote that you ate a meal that cost you $9.95 and a drink, then tax, and you proceeded to say your lunch cost you $13.55, so you don’t even know that the going rate for a tip in the USA is 18 to 20%, but let’s leave aside that you are also a cheapo for now, and move on to your libelous and pathetic comments.

Let’s talk about your taste in interior design. You compared Santa Lucia to a scene from Beetle Juice? What kind of medication are you on? Must every place in Fargo be a chain style restaurant? Is this what we have come to because of small-minded people like you? Are we still in elementary school where we have to follow the leader?  Can’t people be different in tastes? Do you know what the word unique is?

You must have been one of those bullies that thought you were so cool!  When you put something in print, please get your facts right.

We do not have fake plants everywhere. Yes we have a few but a lot are also real. We do not have a dark atmosphere either. We have burgundy marble-looking floors, light orangey beige walls with original oil paintings of scenes form the Greek islands; white leather booths that were made by a designer from New York, and huge windows from floor to ceiling. 

As for our bread, we are almost the only place in town that actually makes fresh bread and we mix in wheat flour for a healthy alternative to all the chain breads you get here in Fargo which are mostly frozen and par-baked, but again, pardon me if we don’t offer you a sesame seed bun of the kind you are obviously used to.

Not to mention the Lunch feature for the day: what part of the explanation was too overwhelming for your little brain to comprehend? Seasoned beef wrapped in phillo dough. How could you possibly expect to get a cut of beef for $9.95? Oh, I forgot you would opt for the McDonald’s happy meal!

Then later in your let’s-call-it article, you proceed to say you know what Bourki is from your travels, a poor mans meal. Have you ever made Boureki? It’s extremely time-consuming and is requested quite often. You must know Greek cuisine to prepare this. I’m sorry our food doesn’t come out of a microwave and is not to your liking. You would have been ecstatic if we offered corndogs and tacos in a bag.

I don’t believe for a minute that you have traveled out of Fargo. Before you ever call yourself a traveler or writer you’d better get some experience!

Your article was libel, you don’t have a clue about critiquing and should not be allowed to judge anybody or any place. It’s people like you that have turned us all into corporate America, where we are all just a number, no identity, no creativity, just follow the big shots!

Well, I won’t stand for that, sir! I have brought something to Fargo that it was lacking; I have brought ethnicity. I have brought real homemade food. I have a lot of lifelong customers who would beg to differ with you.

As for our Alfredo being only fair to your surprise, we have received many awards for it, and this goes to prove how inexperienced you are!

You also wrote that you’d never seen boureki in Greece. Maybe that’s because you frequented fast food places; the way you talk I figure that to be true.

I travel to Greece very often and bring back recipes. I am very passionate about my business and employ 25 people. I have been in Fargo over 18 years and have worked extremely hard to get where I am. I have staff who have worked for me ten plus years and to have some inexperienced writer who must have had a bad day at home or girlfriend problems to patently libel me and my business is not acceptable.

Writers don’t always have to say good things but they never should talk that badly about anybody. If you were a grown up you would know this. Go back to school and get an education. You’re going to need it!

Do you have any idea of the damage you have caused my business? Do you even care? Shame on you is all I have left to say.

-Maria Wilson
Owner, Santa Lucia
Fargo