Your Turn to Chime In....

This week, our guests reviewed Dolores, But You Can Call Me Lolita in Miami, Galanga Thai in Wilton Manors, and Icebox Cafe in Miami Beach.  What do you think?  Have you dined at these local destinations?  And if so, do you agree or disagree with our guests' reviews?  Give us some feedback.

Comments

[jancie]

We made reservations for four at Cafe Maurice for 6:30 on a Saturday night about six weeks ago. There were only two other people in the restaurant when we arrived and only a few other patrons came to dine while we were there. The quality of the food was fair and not memorable: the tomatoes were not ripe in the mozzerella appetizer; our friend ordered a special of the day, a beef dish, and was disappointed with it after seeing it was $18.00 and had very little beef in it. The salmon was okay, nothing to rave about. We all loved the bread! Tried to order the dessert that was discussed on the show. The waiter did not know what I was talking about. New owner/management since the show was originally taped. We were very disappointed since it had such wonderful reviews and looked great on the video clips. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to visit a place twice if it is going to be featured again since it is not the same place as previously reviewed being under new ownerhip.

[jancie]

Four of us dined at Galanga; I ordered Drunk Noodles. The chicken tasted like it had been cooked twice and was tough. The rice noodles were glued together, about five layers thick and the food was not very hot temperature wise. Shared comment with waiter. He asked if I wanted something else. I asked if they could prepare it with pork and asked what kind of pork do they use. He did not know, so he went to the kitchen to inquire. He came back and said that they use pork tenderloin. This time the temperature was hot and the noodles came out fine, but the pork was tough, not edible. He brought us the check without asking if we wanted dessert or coffee. Our friend asked to speak to the manager. She shared her comments about getting the check without being asked about coffee/dessert. The manager replied that he had been working there for two years. Then I shared how disappointing my food had been. The manager took the cost of my meal off of the check and offered us coffee and dessert on the house. The three other meals were satisfactory. While the atmosphere is pleasant, I would not return.

[Michelle B.]

Hi, Rick & Wendy!
Thank you. As for Corkage Fee, its such a huge misunderstanding.
it is a fee charged by establishments, in order to cover the costs that people take away from restaurants when they dont order their own wine. The truth is, restaurants dont really make more than about 8-10 percent of their investments, not a real money maker! So, we make money on food (very little especially these days as food has only gotten more expensive as so many other things have gone down) and on alcohol.
When you take away alcohol, specifically wine sales, you truly take away from not only the restaurant but the waiter as well (the tip is much lower when the check is lower). SO, we add a corkage fee. Which helps sustain all of the above.
Now, in our place, if its a very special wine that we do not carry, we tend to lower that corkage fee somewhat...Or if they bring a bottle and buy a bottle, we waive the fee!
hope this helps

[Wendy]

Rick- A corkage fee applies if you bring your own wine to a restaurant, and they open it, thus the corkage fee. The restaurant does not want you to do that, so charge a hefty fee, but it is often less than a bottle of wine, and you know what you like. It can range from $25 and up.
Michele,
I like the show and the new changes made to the set!

[Deanna]

Love Galanga, the food the atmosphere - all of it!
Looking forward to trying both the others on that show. Wished I lived near Icebox Cafe last night when we were craving a lusious dessert.

[Rick Garcia]

Hello Michele,

Love the show. We watch it all the time in Hialeah. But we never heard of no "corkage fee" over here. Please explain what a "corkage fee" is.
My friend thinks that it is a charge for removing the cork from the wine bottle. I think that's ridiculous. A fee to remove a cork from a wine bottle! That wouldn't go over very well in Hialeah.