Jay Definitely NOT About the Yangser Dorjee Himalaya Restaurant

So this place is in my building and right below us. It is the closest drinking/dining option w/out a doubt. I have eaten there a couple times and it is fine, not great, just fine. It is also always empty. Sometimes you see a few tables full at lunch but if you wanted a seat it is certainly not a problem. Why take the shot? Well, it helps set the scene for why this place is on close out watch. There is plenty of traffic down here at the waterfront, the Skinny Pancake down the street is always busy. That said it is a tough location where YDHR is and it was never easy for the Mexican place when they were there.

So after a couple months being open YDHR finally got a liquor license and it looks like they have a few beer taps. The sign (handwritten) on the door says the "Bar/Snacks" is open 2-5 and then dinner from 5-9 or whatever. So my co-workers and I had a brief window yesterday to have a beer and debrief on the day. We decided to pop on down and patronize our neighbor a little before 5.

When we came in the place was empty as usual. The hostess was no where to be seen. As we moved towards the back a couple waitresses were eating dinner. They gave us confused frightened glances as if we were robbing the place, and/or they were frightened natives from a remote island who had never seen other people before. I stepped up and asked the guy that looked like the manager if we could have a beer on the patio outside. He told us that they considered themselves a restaurant and did not serve drinks without food. I explained to him we were walking out of the empty "restaurant" and going down the street to another restaurant that does serve beers without food at 4:45PM.

When you are perpetually empty, serve pedestrian food, and do not advertise... are you in a position to turn any business away? Particularly what could turn into a food order or longer term regular clientele? I am not sure serving a couple of early beers will turn you into a bar scene by the way. Not when no one knows where you are, your location is not great and you have no TVs to watch sports.

I had thought that YDHR was not long for Burlington and gave them under 1 year, I am downgrading that to 4 months unless the owners have family money or are willing to go bankrupt. I feel bad for there employees who are now garnering 0 tips. Pretty poor effort all the way around, 2 huge thumbs down and a disappointing headshake.