Last week Becky Hogan, Economic Development Director for the town of Parker, explained to a roomful of Realtors that encouraging offices to take root in Parker would hopefully lead to an uptick in business lunches at our local restaurants and that, my friends, would pump some lifeblood into a struggling sector of our local economy.

Makes sense, but something else that would help is honest reviews of local restaurants. I can only attribute the glut of overly optimistic reviews to a Pollyanna syndrome (I am on the record as a self-confessed Pollyanna, so I can pick on others at will in this category!). Reviewers are so anxious for restaurants to 'make it' that they see only the good and ignore, perhaps to the point of indigestion, the bad and the ugly. (Oh, and it might be a paid advertisement...but I have no facts to back that up, just suspicions. )

What's wrong with that, you ask? Let me explain how this plays out. You read a great review of a restaurant and, having set aside a little expendable income that week/month/year (depending on how badly your year is going!) decide to throw caution to the wind and actually go pay someone to make your meal for an evening. (They even do the dishes!) But instead of going to the local standby restaurant that always delivers, you've read a review and you try something new.

I'm no foe of something new, if it's worth it. But tell me, honestly, how many times have you been let down by these reviewers who couldn't find a SINGLE thing to complain about. What restaurant is perfect? That should have been your first clue, but still you went, hoping to find a new favorite. Instead, you were disappointed, and your money went to a restaurant that didn't deserve it, while across town a restaurant you love lost a paying customer for a night. Good restaurants can handle a little of that for a while, but they can't take it forever.

The last couple of years have been rough on Parker area restaurants. We lost Roman Villa, the only place in town with any ambience to speak of, and sadly Bill Cardon passed away this last year, leaving no hope for a revival of his lovely little restaurant. I'm no fan of Black Eyed Pea or Applebee's, but surely others were. B.B.'s Bistro fell victim (though I'd think their prices helped do them in!). And WHAT happened at Ottos?!? I can only imagine! You see the variety that was lost?

There are local favorites still hanging in there. Indochine, Moyotes Grill and Guadalajara's, spring to mind among others. I'm curious to visit the new Tiquila Joes, and eat something other than pastries at Gaspare's. I sampled some gnocchi this summer when Gaspare was the chef du jour at the outdoor market and it was luscious! Their pastry, bread and pizza are all yummy with a capital Y, but dinner is where reputations are made, so I will reserve anymore comment until I've done the deed!

So, in an effort to bring honesty to Parker restaurant reviews, I'm going to get in the habit of making an occasional contribution myself. Don't expect weekly, these days going to Chipotle is often as uptown as we can afford. But occasionally we venture out. Case in point: Saltgrass Steak House.

Don't go. Can I make it anymore more plain? Our worst restaurant experience in years and inspiration for this entire article. Overpriced. The first time I EVER sent back a glass of wine (a Texas Riesling-undrinkable!) Our salads would have been adequate if they weren't drenched in dressing. I ordered the Ribeye and it was by far the thinnest steak I've had in years. Granted, it was cooked to the rare I prefer, but making my way around the fat and gristle to find the meat was a task that easily eliminated a third of the steak! I ordered the NEW macaroni and cheese as a side. Mistake. I can't say it has Velveeta...but I can say it tastes like it.

My husband ordered the Prime Rib and it was an acceptable meal, done right (at least they seem to know how to cook the steaks) but nothing phenomenal. His baked sweet potato was so drenched in maple something that the reason to order a sweet potato (healthy with a natural sweet nuttiness) was totally lost. I saw they had key lime pie, but after dinner, I couldn't imagine what they might do to that. For that, and 2 beers, our bill was over $50.

My advice, if you must go? Get your salad dressing on the side, order the prime rib (it's decent) and a baked potato with any toppings on the side (how could they mess that up?) Go to Cold Stone for dessert.

Nothing good to say? you ask. Yes, our server was a sweet delightful girl who did everything she could with what she had to work with. We tipped her well, she deserved it.

Now that's a review, people.