What do you think?

This week, our reviewers visited El Toro Taco in Homestead, Rustic Inn Crabhouse in Ft. Lauderdale, and Berries in the Grove in Coconut Grove.  Now, it's your turn to chime in.  Have you visited any of these dining spots?  Do you agree or disagree with our panelists' reviews?  Give us some feedback.

Comments

[Sandy Packer]

Hi Michelle,

I would like to get a copy of your recipe for Braised Mussels which looks like it was shown on Episode #110 (I think). Sounded really good. I saw your demo on TV but would like to have the written directions. Also, is it possible to SEARCH for a particular restaurant via your website? For example, I am going to go to "Opa" in Miami tomorrow night and would like to look at the guests opinions. I believe one of your shows reviewed that restaurant. Thanks, Sandy

[Erin Booher]

Berries in the Grove is near my house and my husband and I are frequent customers there. We do enjoy the atmosphere on the patio outside, under lovely lit-up trees. Although it is a nice cozy place to unwind with a drink in the evening, we agreed a long time ago that it is not a destination for foodies. I completely agree with the reviewer who said the crab cakes were awful - indeed they are. I ordered them once and was extremely disappointed. They seemed to be microwaved and did not even contain much crab! On another occasion, I ordered a salad with salmon, and I had to send it back because the fish smelled awful - "fishy" to say the least. In a nutshell, I do recommend stopping by Berries for a drink or maybe dessert, but do not get your hopes up for a delicious dinner.

[Carl]

AWESOME you are back is this the first show of the series? , the show rocks and your hair Michelle very cute keep it the way it is don't mess with it, welcome back

[Debra Simmons]

El Toro is what it is. Fresh, natural tasting Mexican food. It doesn't tout itself as haute cuisine; it is what it is. Good family style eats. However, the Rustic Inn is a swamp. The kitchen and floors are always filthy and the canal is stagnant and smells of sewage; the smokers can't smell it or taste food anyway. The food is just palatable and the best thing on the menu is their chicken dishes. Your bartender needs to go to better restaurants; such as Joe's Stonecrab Restaurant and see what good seafood and crabs are supposed to taste like. Not buried under a ton of garlic to cover the taste of the sweet blue crab meat. Don't order Joe's crab cakes, they need help too; very over salted. Berries is always good and the fare is tastey.

[Alexandra C.]

I was so excited to see El Toro Taco featured in last week's episode! It is my favorite Mexican restaurant in South Florida. The food is incredible and about as authentic as you can get outside of Mexico. The portions are excellent and their chips and salsa--yum! I highly recommend the beef tacos, the chicken enchiladas, and their cheese dip appetizer. Their 'spicy' is very spicy but still carries the taste of the meal. I think that anyone in the Homestead area should pay El Toro Taco a visit. Or two. :)

[Tom HOuse]

Dear Michelle and all of the staff and creators of Check Please! Congratulations on your efforts with this show...very intersting approach, and I think it is important to stress that "everyone is a food critic"! Good job!

That is something I have always said, and I am a "professional" restaurant critic. I have my own Internet Magazine read extensively in South Florida and all across the USA. I am affiliated with the Channel 7 News website as well, where I have a Live Link Ad Banner for my magazine, www.dinnerreviews.com posted, and a direct page linked to Channel 7 News as their dinner review of the month. I am also the Hospitality Editor for a new national print magzine called; Horse Society Magazine (out of Rhode Island). I am traveling the USA for them now, and my next two stops are New York City and then Chicago. I have caught my dream at last. You can get a "taste" of my column called Blinkers ON / Blinkers OFF at www.horsesocietymagazine.com.

I have had the honor of meeting Michelle a few times (she should remember me), and when she was at the Mandarin Oriental, her cuisine was the first time any restaurant I had reviewed for Dinnerreviews.com was awarded five stars for both food and service...so I will always remember that. The slogan of my site is; "In Search of the Five Star Dining Experience!" Something not easily found anywhere.

I like the format of your show very much, but believe you should also have "professional food critics" on once in a while. Why not? I would be willing to participate if that day ever comes, and after 40 years in the hospitality industry, including everything from dishwasher to owner... I would have a lot to contribute. I also created Celebrity Service Seminars, specially designed to improve sales and service in restaurants via a two hour interactive seminar held directly with the staff and management. Details at: www.abetterhouse.biz.

Well enough about me! Congratulations on your show and excellent idea, and please let me know if there is anything I can do to contribute.

Respectfully,

Tom House
editor@dinnerreviews.com