Mory’s 2.0: Avoiding the Doodle’s fate
Clinking silverware, hearty laughter and well-suited young men spinning upside-down chalices on their heads have been staples of a typical Saturday night at Mory’s for decades.
It was by happenstance that Mory’s even became an Eli-only tradition. More than 140 years ago, a group of Yale crew members casually stopped by Frank and Jane Moriarty’s taproom — Mory’s first location on Wooster Street — after a day on the water. Founded in 1849, Mory’s has endured multiple location and owner changes before coming to its final perch on York Street, solidifying its place as a Yale...
Among Mory's' problems is that the Board of Governors has a significant population of faculty who are hostile to undergraduates (or at least are hostile to undergrad-friendly policies). Until this changes Mory's will continue to be in trouble.
Perhaps if Mory's sacked its chef and began cooking edible dishes, their business might improve. The meals I've had there have been twice as bad and twice as expensive as cafeteria food at Yale.
50 years ago, New Haven lacked high-class restaurants, so the elite and moneyed classes went to Mory's.
No longer.
Ibiza, Zinc, Miya's, Pacifico ...
So now Mory's now longer caters to the elite, just the elitist.
Personally, I enjoy Mory's because it's the only establishment where I can find the penis of a Society of Orpheus and Bacchus acapellist in my cup.
You know if Mory's had a reputation for good food--American classics done well--I'd be very interested in joining. But as long as they maintain their reputation for the worst food in town, I'm staying far, far away.
I'm not a big fan of the old-timey stuff that the Mory's lovers swear by, but that Cajun burger is great. Too bad it's ten bucks.
Hey, let's do this: have Mory's designate a de facto Children's Room for undergrads. And seriously give them what they want. Spend some money and do it right! Make it so good and cool that even the J. Press grown-ups will want to poke in their heads--but we won't let them. This part of Mory's belongs to us.
Hmm... good point #4; however, it *does* seem as if Mory's is trying to stay relevant (although I lament, among other things, the loosening of the jacket requirement...).
I relish the Welsh rarebit and the mulligatawny soup, but most dishes could be... updated (and the service staff! Sheesh--need some "updating" there too).
I probably went to Mory's more than the average student. The draw of Mory's is obviously the cups. It is too cumbersome and to expensive to go to Mory's for an average dinner or lunch, and I doubt that will change regardless of what they do. There are better playes to use Wi-Fi to study on campus, especially with CCL renovated. There are better places to grab lunch with better food as well.
I understand that Mory's has issues with underage drinking, but to be honest, that's the only reason to go there over your typical restaurant. It is kind of cool to get dressed up, drink cups, have dinner, etc at Mory's. That's why Mory's night at the Yale Club in New York gets hundreds of visitors when they do that; there is something there that is appealing. Is it enough to operate a restaurant daily? Why knows.
Yes, but will the reproduction of class power proceed as before?