At Least One Publication Thinks Jeremiah Tower Has Improved Tavern on the Green

Michael Kaminer pens the first review of Tavern on the Green since father of California cuisine, 72-year-old Jeremiah Tower stepped in front of the stove to try to save the restaurant from entire ruin. Kaminer, at least, says the "nutty" move paid off. Tower's presence has helped, enough to raise the restaurant from one to three stars, with the potential for a fourth star in the near future.

New dishes like a bright, rich lobster and celery root salad ($24) served in a hollowed-out crustacean, luscious braised short ribs ($36) with creamy grits, and lusty roasted golden beets with tarragon cream ($9), show that Tavern is slowly getting its mojo back.

Still, there are major "kinks" to work out. "Servers dropped silverware on us three times. Rectangular plates don't fit the smallish tables...Dishes don't always end up in front of the right person....It's just not forgivable at these price points." In fact, given all those kinks, it's a little unclear how the restaurant still landed three stars.

Meanwhile, the restaurant has been doing some wonky stuff on Instagram lately. And while the screenshots of people liking TOTG photos have since been deleted, it is still touting this "shrimp cocktail" with a total of four shrimp:

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://instagram.com/p/ydEMOcRfQI/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_top">A photo posted by Tavern on the Green (@tavernonthegreen)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-01-29T22:11:19+00:00">Jan 29, 2015 at 2:11pm PST</time></p></div></blockquote>

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Mr. Tower, the 80's called. It would like its plate back.