Hard Luck Cafe

I’m afraid Paul Lieberman missed the real Planet Hollywood resurrection story (“Trying to Realign the Planet,” Nov. 26).

To wit: Promoting Planet Hollywood (again) is not about theme restaurants, or even celebrities. It is about separating investors--first wealthy but dumb syndicators, then public suckers--from their money. Only in Hollywood can this be done twice.

JEFFREY J. DENNING

Long Beach

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Paul Lieberman’s feature on Planet Hollywood and its out-of-orbit financial woes puts the chain’s dark moon clearly where it belongs: on the shoulders of Robert Earl.

Having eaten at Planet Hollywood, I can honestly and clearly state its food couldn’t touch TGIF’s. The service was horrible, managers had no clue as to how to run the front end of a restaurant, bartenders were inconsistent with the amount of wine to even pour into a glass.

As Earl plays globe-trotter and schmoozes with the current crop of Hollywood A-listers, someone should whisper in his ear how poorly presented and prepared the food at Planet Hollywood is, how weak the service is and how ill-trained the managers are.

The entire operation is missing a hands-on CEO who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves and prep, cook and serve the very food he himself expects patrons to dine on.

The entire mentality of Planet Hollywood was movie memorabilia in a dining area that resembles a cafeteria without the line. Earl should pray that Justin Timberlake or Britney or even Leonardo never orders the chicken Caesar salad. It is, as we say in the biz, “86” in taste and texture.

RICH UNGER

Sarasota, Fla.

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You didn’t need to write such a detailed article discussing why Planet Hollywood has failed. The following story should explain everything.

My family and I once went to the Planet Hollywood in Orange County. First, we ordered an appetizer of chicken strips. When the waiter brought it, the bowl was filled with more French fries than chicken. We asked about the fries, and the waiter told us they had run out of chicken strips so the cook just threw the fries in as a substitute.

Then, when they mistakenly brought a chicken Caesar salad to our table instead of a regular Caesar, the waiter simply scraped the chicken off with his hand, put the plate back down and said “OK, here’s your Caesar.”

Planet Hollywood was a poorly managed restaurant that neglected to pay attention to one small detail: the customer. Any business that reserves its customer service only for the clientele whose pictures adorn the walls is bound to fail, and no free dessert or major restructure can fix it.

KENNETH S. STEINHORN

Tarzana

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I have one thing to say to Robert Earl: It’s the food.

I have been to a Planet Hollywood (the now-defunct one by South Coast Plaza) exactly one time. I had looked forward to going but was immediately disappointed by the atmosphere--cold, gray, unimpressive.

While some of the movie memorabilia was interesting (especially Kirk Douglas’ yearbook where he had carefully written “deceased” next to his classmates who had died), I did not find it a particularly inviting place.

The reason I never went back, though, had everything to do with the overpriced, mediocre meal (a veggie burger) I was served. New celebrities will not compensate the paying customer for bad food.

BARBARA SHELDON

Fullerton