Botak jones

[Darryn]

  On 7/15/2015 at 4:17 AM, LoverofCar said:

 

I'm not sure....I was thinking they started first in Woodland..

Heh -

 

I tot the original was way in the boonies of Tuas....out past where Aston is...

  On 7/15/2015 at 5:01 AM, Roadrunner2029 said:

You are supporting the wrong one. He has already solf off the chain, you need to go to his Big Bern restaurant to give your support to the right person. He's always put on a smile when he's there, but can't say the same about his other employees.

 

 

Sorry - I shoulda been more specific - I meant I will be going to Big Bern...

 

Even if I still think of it as Botak's

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Former Botak Jones owner returned as Big Bern's American Grill...

 

 

Yahoo news: Big Bern’s: Starting over again…at 63

 

At the height of their business, with up to 13 outlets, they were living their dream. Their tills were ringing in decent 6 figures sales each month and life was exciting and fun. Their customers could not get enough of their hard core no-frills American chow. They went from Bernie’s to Botak Jones and consulted for a few outlets with similar concepts…there was no stopping them.

 

Then, it all fell apart, “it was a series of bad business decisions and partnership woes” and I could see the pain in the business hardened eyes of Bernie Utchenik as he said so. When Bernie and his wife Zee moved on from their last Botak Jones outlet (they sold it) in Balestier, they were still staring at a “staggering” 6 figure debt, the same they used to make monthly back then. Now at age 63, when he should be reaping the rewards and enjoying the soft sunset years ahead, they are starting all over again. “No choice. We got some good years left ahead and we got debts to clear”. But have willpower and skills, will travel, I say.

 

They now roost here in Toa Payoh (Bernie has this thing for quaint and industrial spots) and their comforting and lovable American menu is up again. Plus, Bernie and Zee are up at it personally at the stall each day. He suffers from personal anxiety disorders but calms it with his fighting spirit and some medication. Despite all that, he spends at least 3 hours a day in the kitchen. Slowly and surely, the debt is clearing and nothing is stopping them. He spoke nothing of his woes and gushed only about his kitchen craft. I had to dig and scratch it out of him.

 

I am not a fan of salmon- too bland and blah for me. But I note how well chefs do this. They took a wild caught salmon (the texture and flavour is bolder) and seared it very well and was not the usual dry piece of fish I usually get at dressed down western eateries like this. Their own made tartar sauce was a bonus to the show. The lovely potato cake completed the show.

 

The Po-Boys sandwich did not floor me the first time I tried it. The bread used felt like a stack of cardboard but they recently changed it to what felt a whole lot more authentic- it was softer and gummier inside and crunchy but not crispy. The battered soft shell crabs lumps had its natural flavour but would’ve preferred it with more marinate. The greens and the chiili sauce lifted it.

 

Bernie is very practical… “sell good food, treat the customers well and git myself back on my feet”. He will get there and be up for air very soon, I know.

 

Big Bern’s American Grill
978 Toa Payoh North , #02-01
+65 6710 7362
1130am to 9pm daily

 

 

Link: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/big-bern-starting-over-again-094536952.html

 

 

Just 5 minutes driving from my house .....

 

[Maxus-MIFA9]

Hmmmmm.............. this Friday, dinner at Big Bern's to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa ....

[13177]

Didn't aware that they have closed down botak jones and now make a comeback?!

[Tohto]

They are using chicken breast meat instead of chicken tight is not what I like.

No matters what they claim, chicken breast meat will never be as juicy as chicken tight. No Chicken breast for me.

[Lala81]

  On 7/15/2015 at 6:02 AM, Tohto said:

They are using chicken breast meat instead of chicken tight is not what I like.

No matters what they claim, chicken breast meat will never be as juicy as chicken tight. No Chicken breast for me.

 

eat their beef?

Not a fan of chicken breast meat either.

[ChickenMob]

used to have it at their Depot branch....

but food quality was going downhill until my wife decided to stop going there..haiz

[Karoon]

  On 7/15/2015 at 5:44 AM, 13177 said:

Didn't aware that they have closed down botak jones and now make a comeback?!

Not close down. Sold off and new owners have the right to use the brand botak jones. The new owners decided to save money, optimise, central kitchen etc but apparently lost the original taste that made it a success.

  On 7/15/2015 at 5:33 AM, Picnic06 said:

Hmmmmm.............. this Friday, dinner at Big Bern's to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa ....

Close lah

 

  Quote

Big Bern's American Grill added 3 new photos.

 

Yesterday at 1:20pm ·

 

Big Bern's American Grill will close at 2:00 Thursday, the eve of Hari Raya and Friday, the first day so that staff may spend the time with family. We will be open from Saturday regular hours. For all of our Muslim spporters, Maaf Zahir dan batin (forgive us any wrongs we may have done).www.bigbernsamericangrill.com

 

 

[Celicar]

I seem to recall New Paper (quite some time ago) ran some article on them before, also said they were in debts, he went through a period when he couldn't even bring himself to get out of bed, very depressed, etc.

 

This Yahoo article more or less say the same thing, means things have not improved for them since then, still in debts.

 

I tried their food a few time, dunno why always have some burnt and foul smell, so stopped eating.

[Ysc3]

  On 7/15/2015 at 10:15 AM, Celicar said:

I seem to recall New Paper (quite some time ago) ran some article on them before, also said they were in debts, he went through a period when he couldn't even bring himself to get out of bed, very depressed, etc.

 

This Yahoo article more or less say the same thing, means things have not improved for them since then, still in debts.

 

I tried their food a few time, dunno why always have some burnt and foul smell, so stopped eating.

 

case of expanding too fast .... hired the wrong ppl ... if he had just stuck to one main shop, he should still be ok.

 

i went to the outlet near Bedok interchange a few years ago ... the rosemary steak was damn tough !!

 

now got two newer players ... Collins and Char-grill ... both are franchised ... so the "outlet owners" will have a reason to work harder and make it work.

Edited July 15, 2015 by Ysc3

[Vid]

Tried botak jones only once 9 years ago after reading rave reviews. Not really as good as I thought it would be. At that time went to the AMK branch. Had trouble finding a parking space.

 

The queue was damn long. Had trouble getting a table too. Also had an incident with another patron but that's another story.

 

Just thought it was not really that good and never go again.

[iwillbuymerc1day]

BJ was good then Aston's came along.

i think Aston's more value for money but will still go try his new offering next week.

[Darryn]

  On 7/16/2015 at 2:40 AM, iwillbuymerc1day said:

BJ was good then Aston's came along.

i think Aston's more value for money but will still go try his new offering next week.

Aston has increased price quite a lot -

quality is bit patchy at the newer outlets

[Sabretan]

  On 7/16/2015 at 2:41 AM, Darryn said:

Aston has increased price quite a lot -

quality is bit patchy at the newer outlets

 

Yup, Aston used to be very good, but now quality fluctuates very badly among different outlets. Tried at Kallang Wave Mall one, very poor, some more got fly on one of the dish. Changi Airport and City Square mall one better.

 

I guess when they expand too fast, quality control goes down the drain.

[Darryn]

  On 7/16/2015 at 3:15 AM, Sabretan said:

 

Yup, Aston used to be very good, but now quality fluctuates very badly among different outlets. Tried at Kallang Wave Mall one, very poor, some more got fly on one of the dish. Changi Airport and City Square mall one better.

 

I guess when they expand too fast, quality control goes down the drain.

We mostly go to SAFRA Toa Payoh -

Haven't been for a while now - not so cheap anymore

[LoverofCar]

  On 7/16/2015 at 3:15 AM, Sabretan said:

 

Yup, Aston used to be very good, but now quality fluctuates very badly among different outlets. Tried at Kallang Wave Mall one, very poor, some more got fly on one of the dish. Changi Airport and City Square mall one better.

 

I guess when they expand too fast, quality control goes down the drain.

 

Tried the city square outlet....frankly...nothing to shout about...at most food court standard....

 

[Mason016]

  On 7/16/2015 at 3:48 AM, LoverofCar said:

 

Tried the city square outlet....frankly...nothing to shout about...at most food court standard....

 

 

The one at Tampines Street 81 foodcourt has a roaring business.

[LoverofCar]

  On 7/16/2015 at 3:51 AM, Mason016 said:

 

The one at Tampines Street 81 foodcourt has a roaring business.

 

That's why it is food court standard lah...