2 Star Reviews

Olive Garden Northlake Location

8225 Northlake Commons Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28216
704-494-4473
www.olivegarden.com
(No Pictures from the meal as my camera konked out on me, sorry about that)

Olive Garden? how can a person actually write a review about the Olive Garden?

The Olive Garden and the public view of it has always eluded and confused me. I see people and critics using it as a measuring stick of who to dis, or a restaurant with about as much street credibility as Kevin Federline in Harlem.

But why the dis, what’s the problem, and what is the source of this lack of credibility. I find the answer is generally linked back to the “hate the establishment mentality that is everywhere in society. people hat Wal-Mart, but love to save, people laugh at McDonald’s but their fries taste better than any caviar on the planet, and lastly patrons mock Olive garden as being a “Wonder bread wop” (quote Tony Soprano), but the fact is they have the best bread and salad you will get at any level.

I have long entered this restaurant looking forward to dipping those salty hot breadsticks in some Alfredo sauce as the highlight of all eating out trips. Any critic that denies the amazing breadsticks at the ‘OG’ is lying to themselves and trying to make themselves feel superior. This place excels at the pre-meal warm-up.

If you go in and get the Alfredo dipping sauce, salad and spinach artichoke dip you will every time be lying if you don’t love it. The question I have long had is why do people lie about their love for it?

IM TELLING YOU NOW: Its ok to love a chain, its ok to admit they do a pretty good job even though they are the McDonalds of Italian food.

Now with this all said, I have to laugh as this latest trip to the ‘OG’ newly built in Northlake was a bit disappointing.

If you haven’t been to Olive Garden recently, there are a few changes that are for better and worse. The decor has changed in the last 5 years with high ceiling better lit and featuring a bar on the agenda. The new look for Olive garden is brighter and more to the lunch crowd in my belief. Long gone are the ’80s with the fake Italian paintings and low light for after prom dates.

The new look is nice, and if you want to grab a drink or two the bar is much more useful than in the past.

The next change that I notice is the price increase across the board. Everything on the menu seemed 2-3$ higher than just 9 months ago. The best tasting treats on the menu (Chicken Alfredo Pizza - YUM) went from $6.95 (a steal) to $9.95. This is still cheap, but they did finally figure out what a great bargain I had been getting away with.

All menu items used to range from $8.99 to $14.99 and seem to have shifted to about $9.99 to $18.99. I know this is still pretty cheap eating, but the change is significant and you will notice it too.

We went on a weekday around dinner, and got seated way in the back again. The manager apologized for the slight disarray of the back area, but I honestly didn’t see any issues. Keep in mind this was coincidence, since nobody recognizes what I am up to until after the meal when I’m taking photos and leaving.

Our waiter was there on his day off, was friendly and as attentive as we could have hoped. The service here is always standard fare to good, I have never had an issue.

Out comes the best part of any ‘OG’ visit, the breadsticks and salads, and what a let down this was. Not fresh like normal and the waiter pulled an oops I forgot to offer grated cheese. The salad looked as un-fresh as the bread was, I was surprised as it is usually so good here.

My Wife had the new dish Portabella and steak Alfredo, I went for the Seafood Alfredo with Shrimp, Mussels and scallops. If you don’t know I am addicted to scallops after eating at Golden Taipei so I always order them up now.

Our meals we’re very slow to reach the table. The waiter apologized for the long wait twice and once averted his eyes in embarrassment as to our wait.

After the long delay without the normal fresh bread to get us by the meals cam out and looked great on the table. This great look was half deceiving unfortunately.

My wife was happy with the steak and portabella and recommends it. The steak was soft and the plate was huge and filling. The leftover made it to the next day from her meal.

The seafood Alfredo was very lacking. The dish was almost exact in taste to the Vampire Killer Pasta I invented and wrote about 1 week ago. The difference is that my pasta had about 25 shrimp and only cost me $5 to make. The taste of this dish was so simple and lacking any reason to want it again. I essentially had a plate of pasta with butter and garlic mixed with a few bits of seafood, very disappointing. This marks the first time my wife has out ordered me in a restaurant.

If you go to the ‘OG’ just get the standard dishes is the lesson today. Get the chicken Alfredo pizza and let those who roll their eyes at your lack of sophistication go take a flying leap. The fact is the ‘OG’ makes great breadsticks(usually), has great salad with pepperocinis (usually fresh) and makes great standard food items like lasagna and Portabella Ravioli. I just will be a bit more cautious with ordering off the norm as they may be trying to hard to charge more and name dishes uniquely and have forgotten to do the little things I still think they have in them.

I will give this location one more try as I assume this weak outing was a fluke from what is normally a good franchise with great pre-meal food. If they fall short again, I am more than happy with eating Mexican food instead.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Grand Promenade Suite 230
Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 510-1545

Walked past it 5 times and never got around to going in, now I have. Buffalo
Wild Wings at the Grande Promenade II Upper level.

Having been a lifetime Buffalo Sports fan and local to western NY, I take particular
notice of anyplace trying to sprinkle the word New York or Buffalo Style on
their menu. All in all, I left with no offense taken.

When you walk in your get the strong wood-grain and projection TV atmosphere
of a sports bar, with alot of games and color around. Its like a sports bar
and a ChuckECheese had a baby and its name was Buffalo Wild Wings. This is to
say a very fun looking place and nice relaxing atmosphere, with an incredible
amount of sports on a ton of TV’s.

If you want to watch the game, this layout and atmosphere seems absoluetly
perfect to do so.

The menu at Buffalo Wild Wings, is pretty much what you might expect, if anything
a bit less to choose from than I would have though when opening the huge multi-color
menu. You will find the expected affair of wings, burgers with fancy combinations
and chicken sandwich type platters.

What did catch my attention quickly was the fact that it was actually pretty
pricey for this type of place.

Both me and the Ms. had a burger from the selection, her a Shroom and Swiss,
and me a Black and Blue Burger which is spicy blue cheese. Both burger were
about $4 or $4.50 and that isnt with anything but a pickle next to it. Not that
this is a pile of cash, but its just for the burger, this burger better sing
and dance for most of $5.

We went with the standard side served at Buffalo Wild Wings which is potato
wedges, or short little steak fries.

Firstly, the waitress was very nice, very friendly and attentive, so for that
we say thanks upfront.

The burgers came out and looked awfully dissapointing, about 8 tiny from a
can mushrooms on the wife’s and mine basically looked like I made it at home
with a thin-thin patty, or to say, not impressive to see.

The fact that I just paid $4.50 for just this pretty sad burger was a bummer
for such a cool place. But there is some slight salvation, the burger tasted
good. While it looked like a homemade burger for over $4, it also tasted like
one, but from the grill. There is a distinct grill taste and the burgr despite
looking like not much for alot of money did really taste good. Also nice bonus
points for a place that finally uses a real "roll" and not a puny
bun. The taste difference of the good hearty "real roll" is measurable
and appreciated (since I just overpaid anyhow).

Should you goto Buffalo Wild Wings?

If you dont think $4.25 for a burger, then $2.50 more for fries, then paying
for a drink is too much to pay for a decent burger? then yes. This is a fun
place to watch the game, and Im going to guess they have some great monday night
football scenes in this huge place with 20+ TV’s.

Not overly impressive food presentation, pretty sad actually, but the ingedients
and real grill taste saved some face. This coupled with a great huge and casual
sporty place makes for a fun but not all too great dining experience.

If you want better food, or you are with a date, goto Red Robin. If you are
with the boys and wings sound like a possability, then give this place one try.

Ciros Italian Restaurant

8927 J M Keynes Dr
Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 510-0012
Photos Of Ciros

Here is another old review that got misplaced. This restaurant gets raves in alot of fake publications hat do “adver-reviews”, but the fact that youll overpay for just ok is very obvious to a real diner here.

Here I am freshly returned from trying Ciro’s Italian Restaurant in Charlotte
by UNCC in University City.

This restaurant has one of the best locations you could ask for. Ciro’s is
tucked into the plaza by the Hilton and by the pond where there is a great boardwalk
and you can rent paddleboats for $10 for 30 minutes.

Ciro’s has a corner location, which has very nice outdoor seating giving you
a view of the action at Boardwalk Billy’s Raw Bar as well as the countless folks
there for the boardwalk ambience.

A small note for those with kids or toddlers who stop in for lunch or a nice
Saturday meal, Ciro’s is one of the least handicap and stroller accessible restaurants
I have ever seen. This corner location features about 10 steep steps and no
other way to the dining area, coupled with 4 more steps to most of the tables.

When you enter there is a small bar right at the entrance and a nice entryway
to greet you. The rest of the dining atmosphere is borderline at best in style
and true authentic class. Ciro’s reminds me of a living room and dining room
that might be back at your Italian friends house. This is not to say it is authentic,
but to stress how it seems like the actual restaurant is trying hard to look
fancy to help justify the high menu prices. The truth of the fact is, people
can pretend its so nice or unique, but Macaroni Grill is far nicer and more
relaxing inside, and the price is 5$ less per plate.

All in all, the restaurant looks like a 8-10$ a plate establishment, but charges
like a 15-20$ one. The restaurant is somewhat cramped, with one too many tables
in every area of the eating sections. I always felt like two waiters at the
same time would fill the entire aisle. The service way not bad, the hostess
was somewhat impatient, but the waiter was very friendly and not over-stretched,
so always available.

The menu has you basic assortment of steaks, pasta and traditional chicken
dishes that you may expect at any other "better priced" restaurant.
The dishes range from about $13 to $27 a plate, with the bulk of the traditional
items at $17 or $18. But when you go add another couple of bucks since you’ll
pay exactly $2 for a coke. Keep in mind I’m not complaining about paying
the check at a nice restaurant, that’s not a big deal; it’s when
the restaurant is not as nice as it tries to be.

I will say, if you do make the choice to try Ciro’s, the dish Tortellini Bella
Rosa, was fantastic, and will make the entire trip worth it, not matter how
much you get overcharged. The salad was also very large and fresh, but the bread
was nothing special, and as I have mentioned in the past, an Italian restaurant
serving sub par bread is just a crime.

I have read allot of reviews raving about Ciro’s, and have concluded that most
of them must be employees or someone else with an interest in the establishment.
I cannot imagine how Ciro’s is viewed by anyone as a "great" restaurant.
While there is nothing wrong, and the food was fine, some of it very good, the
fact that it is just a mediocre looking and feeling place that charges more
than countless other better options, ends the argument. Value is important,
and Ciro’s strikes out very badly in this regard.

If you do go to the Hilton Plaza and the boardwalk for a date, go to the excellent
Zapata’s
Mexican Cantina next door, and save you money. Please don’t overpay
for Ciro’s when for $4 less per plate you can eat some of the best Mexican in
town

Amalfi’s Pizza n Pasta

8542 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213
704 547-8651
02/02/06

Here is an old review that got lost in the website updates. This is one I wont go back again so I need to use the one review I have to avoid spending my $20 to get another 2 star meal.

So I received an ad with pictures of Amalfi’s Pizza ‘n Pasta
food and then went on to read the raves from all the member reviews on citysearch.com,
but I dont know which restaurant these people were going to.

The place is extremely small, and pretty much look like a larger than normal
dining room at an Italian women’s home. This is fine and a very welcome decor
for what I am looking to do, which is eat a hearty italian authentic meal. The
establishment welcomes you with a chalkboard saying please seat yourself, and
the looks we received looked like we were interupting something, or the staff
was flipping coins for who would have to go greet us.

All in all, the service was extremely lacking, and gave the feeling that nobody
really wanted to be there or make sure the customers would be back. As my wife
put it, the greetings and feeling you are given is part of the reason we goto
restaurants. Amalfi’s failed in this friendly atmosphere in a serious way.

Next comes our meal which was tasty in all and pretty fresh ingredients across
the board, but better to look at all of the important elements of an italian
meal.

The salad and bread are extremely important and this is what can set a restaurant
apart. Goto Sopranos in Clearwater/Largo, Florida if you want to see a restaurant
that puts every element together.

Amalfi’s was serving a prepackaged tossed salad, with very dry "bought
it at the supermarket" bread. Even a franchise like Olive Garden knows
how important good bread is too a meal, and this was a major let-down, and I would have preferred some buttered wonder bread.

A dry
loaf and a scoop of whipped buitter in a to go cup do not demand the prices this
menu was asking.

The wife had the Chicken stuffed ravioli from the baked item menu, and I the
Stromboli with sauage. The raviolis were overpriced at $8.99 for three, and
the stromboli was $6.25 which is a good price, but wasnt big enough to fill
me, or even to be a warm-up.

The actually menu prices for meals was around $6 for some to about $11.99 for most menu items, which again seemed hefty considering the poor service and plastic table clothes.

Couple this all with $1.65 cokes and charging for every refill, and you have something bordering on gauging for a deli-style atmonsphere.

The stromboli had great ingredients and nicely thin sliced sausage and peppers
but again was pretty much the smallest I had ever been served. I recommend you
goto DaVincis Pizza in the new Shoppes at Davis Lake for a real stromboli that
is only $5.75 and is twice as big.

Total bill was about $25 with tip and I left hungry still.

To leave an italian restaurant still hungry is not a very authentic
feeling.

Keeping in mind that the staff was friendly, though not attentive at all, and
the food tasted good, though was cleary overpriced for such a small mom/pop
location, I cant say I will be back, but the tiny serving I
did have tasted good enough.

Amalfi Pasta ‘n Pizza
8542 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28213-3579
(704) 547-8651

Showmars Northlake Mall

2.5 Stars 

Charlotte Critic
Northlake Mall
Charlotte 28269
Menu Features: burgers,fries,hots

Photos From Shomars>

Restaurant Review For Showmars Northlake Mall
Showmars Northlake Mall Charlotte Location Time to review what is called a local Charlotte tradition, Showmars burgers of Charlotte.
Just visited the new Northlake Mall location, and it is clean large and bright with a great spot right by the courtyard. Friendly excellent, and enthusiastic service is definately a plus of this burger spot. The menu is large and varied with average prices of about for two people. So I went for the Big C, which is a large double decker house special cheeseburger, and the Ms. had some sort of Pita thing that looked well filled as well. In all the food was fair, the burger was very similar to the previously mentioned Red Robin burgers, which is to say they are good not great. In upstate New York there is a true local institution known as Schaller’s Restaurants where they understand one thing all “want to be the best burger place”‘’s need to learn…..The bun is so much. A good hardroll is 50% of the battle. This means a HARD-ROLL with the knot you can pull out.
Not a “bun”
Not sourdough
Not Chibatto bread or whatever that is…. but a good think hardroll that can handle the two layers of meat you are putting on it.
Too often trying to stack a huge obscene burger with blue-cheese, bacon and everything else goes bad when it is done to a “sams club” bun. Here was the one major issue. You have a nice place, a nice location, great service, and great burgers but to then serve them on weak skinny “Cafeteria” buns is a waste. You will notice that Showmars uses the same buns as the Hardees Thickburger we just reviewed. I find it hard to be a local institution when I have the same Hamburger buns as Hardees uses. This coupled with the very small amount of fries that comes in a combo made it a very average outing, and a bit disappointing since we expected so much more. If you are in Northlake Mall, and need a burger, this is a clean freindly place with a very nice owner and manager.
If you are looking for the best burgers, and an authentic Burger spot….then please stay tuned, since I havnt found one in Charlotte yet. Anyone who think they know th place to get a real burger on great rolls, with hot sauce and onions applied while it is prepared…..I am still searching, even after visiting the pleasant but not special Showmars.

Carolina Wings And Rib House

2 Stars

Charlotte Critic
8650 University City Blvd
Charlotte 28213
(704) 510-1717
Menu Features: ribs,baby backs,spare ribs,pork,fries

Pictures From Carolina Wings and Rib House >

Restaurant Review For Carolina Wings And Rib House
Carolina Wings and Ribs has the best looking ads you have ever seen. Nothing photos liks red and brown shiny ribs covered in sticky sauce with spices and fries in the background for effect. This right here is what worked me over like a chump. I saw the ad, and saw the deals going on (unlimited riblets), and off I went to break my current spending budget. As I may have mention in previous reviews, I am not a ribs man, as I lean toward
pulled pork at the grillin restaurants. Pulled pork just lends itself to sauces and fast stuffing motions much better. Carolina Wings is located right by the UNCC campus where I am proud to say my sister in law has begun as a freshman in Architecture. If you see ‘Mimi’ getting lazy in class, kick her shin for me. When seeing this location I immediately thought wha a great place for a nice buffet and football style restaurant, too bad the owners dont have the same crowd pleasing motivation that I have. The restaurant is boring, but ok to look at, kinda looks like a warehouse inside and outside. If you bring a date there she
will forget the experience quickly. If you bring kids there they wont be yelling
to go back, and will get bored in the bland environment. I do understand that a ribs place goes hand in hand with a picnic-layout atmosphere, so I will cut them some slack there.
The menu has the normal fare of ribs, which is to say many type and many combinations
to make the exact order for what you want. Ribs and fingers, ribs and wings,
ribs alone,spare or baby back, and a handful of sandwiches as well. I found the price to be pretty high for most meals, which is to say . I know that isnt really high, but when I look at Fire
Mountain Grill I see a much lower priced and nicer place to eat, so that
makes high. This assessment is also compounded by the recent trips and praise
for Shane’s Rib Shack Charlotte location which is 1 mile away from here. So
before reading further, plan
on driving the extra mile for Shane’s everytime.
At Carolina Wings and Ribs you cand expect about per person maybe with
the tip (per person) which again was well more than I expected and would ever
pay again for this type of eatery. I was so dissappointed that they dont cater
to the students and that squander this great location. If this place would offer
a Sunday all you can eat ribs and cokes for , I expect they would make money
still and at the same time build a great reputation and customer base with the
UNCC crowd. In business you have to be generous to be successful.
Now before I bash the the prices or bland setting further, lets touch on the
nice presentation. I had the Monster Ribs with Doc’s Sauce (supposed to be the spicy one), my
Wife had the Baby Back Ribs with original sauce. When the ribs came out they looked fantastic! set well on the plate, good sized half
rack and plenty of fries. The one thing that was definately right was the appeal when the waitress carried these out to my table, what a nice looking half rack (the ribs that is).
The ribs were tender and with your thunb pushed perfectly clean off the bone.
I am more than happy with the taste, but sice I am not filled from a half rack,
the .99 feels like a bit of a waste. Also, a huge point for mention is the fries were basically candy coated in
red lowry seasoning salt. The fies were so salty that I couldnt even eat them
all, and I eat popcorn about 10 times per week. Everyone loves getting a nice
salty batch at McDonalds, but these were just coated with red salt (and normal)
to try to make them tasty? make my buy more beer? I havnt a clue why but I could
even let my 2 yr old eat one.
The service was nothing special, but I am pretty sure we got
a new waitress, perhaps only a few days or weeks on the job, so we wont fault
her in her very tough job. The owner/manager? was on the floor answering a tables
questions right by us, so thats always a nice appealing touch to mention as
well.
What sums it up?
The ribs were good but well overpriced for a small amount, the fries were salty
enough to melt snow in Buffalo, the prices in general were too high per plate
to ever attract any students or regular customers, and the setting was ok but
pretty underdone/boring.
I felkt in the end I wouldn’t return, I was irritated I had spent that much
on the meal, and I was hungry 2 hours later.
 

Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant Cantina Grill

2.5 Stars 

Charlotte Critic
3507 David Cox Rd
Charlotte 28269
(704) 509-9402
Menu Features: enchiladas suizas,tacos,burritos,guacamole,nachos,totillas

Fiesta Maya Photos in our gallery >

Restaurant Review For Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant Cantina Grill
Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant is close to our home and is by far the restaurant I have visited more than any other in Charlotte. As I have said mexican is my favorite, ecspecially when done right. Overall we have been happy enough to keep going back and that fact is very much on the great service in Fiesta Maya Mexican Restaurant. The service has been exceptional on every visit, and that holds true in both english y en espanol. We have been willing to overlook some issues with our meals due to this friendly atmosphere. The food has been decent on all visits, with the exception of a very tasty enchiladas suazas or (swiss), which is a white creme sauce covered enchilada platter that is the best thing on the menu. The food has always had too much black pepper, and we have been eager to just grab the chef and shake him and say please less pepper! and eveything would be right. The food also is clearly prepared earlier in the day, since is has been a bit dry and not quite right on most visits. This is not to lead you not to visit, since I think it is a decent quality meal, low prices (7-12 a plate), and exceptional service. If you go, get the platter I reccomend, and enjoy the service since it is what makes this a decent place for lunch or dinner with a date.

Pane E Vino
2 Stars

By: Diana Reis
13016 Eastfield Road suite 300
Huntersville 28078
704-947-8900
Menu Features: Pizza and Pasta

Restaurant Review For Pane E Vino

It was a Sunday night and we were uncertain where to Eat so we drove around to find something new to try .

We had an Idea thet we wanted Italian and we passed a few places before arriving here. As we stood outside reading over the menu they had posted by the door a gentleman opened the door and handed us two menus and smiled and said Hello.

We decided to go in and give it a try as when the door came open the smell of the sauce was delicious. We were seated and handed our menus by this gentleman. Who I assume was one of the Owners. A few moments later a waitress came with some bread and took our drink orders. When she brought our drinks I asked for some more butter for the bread. About 15 minutes later we got our Pizza , it had great sauce and cheese and the toppings were good but the crust was TOO thin. Almost overcooked. We never saw the waitress again , she never checked on us, never brought the butter I asked for.

I was a bit surprised as there were only two other couples there and three waitresses. OH she did come back with the check and I asked for a box for the Pizza and some more water.

This is a place that could make it . There are some things worth trying again. But I will make sure its during the week when mabie better staff is on duty.

Bob Evans WT Harris

2 Stars 

Charlotte Critic
9253 Statesville Road
Charlotte 28269
(704) 599-5414
Menu Features: sausages,bread,biscuits,eggs,toast

Restaurant Review For Bob Evans WT Harris
So the mission for this trip in Charlotte NC was a great location for breafast. Too bad the mission went nowhere on this day. I would also like to point out this review was a re-entry to our website as our visits were back in December of 05. Bob Evans Farms Restaurant in Area 1 Charlotte on Statesville Rd So I really tried to like this place. This Bob Evans is on WT Harris and is pretty new still. I have been long looking for the right place to have breakfast at off hours. I think that is a pursuit of many a person, ecspecially one that lives odd hours as we do. There is “nothing more satisfying than a waitress named Flo, good coffee, and over easy eggs” to quote my brother loosely. I have been a fan of clean places like Perkins with great breakfast choices so going in I was hoping this Bob Evans near my home was it. The restaurant is very clean, amazingly well decorated and lit. The staff was very friendly on both visits, when they were not dropping the ball, and the prices were fair. Now for the other shoe dropping. They appear to have some staffing issues happening, and my two visits have been a month apart. the first visit had the following chain of amazing events take place. Coffee cup fell empty, wrong meal delivered to the table, wrong amount charged for wrong meal, no silverware at start of meal, wrong price charged for a “take home” bread we ordered. and finally the waitress threw our “to-go” container out while we were paying. Final bill (take home was about ). The waitress was new and already overworked, and as hard as we wanted to like this place it had such poor service this day. Our second visit was 2 stars for other reasons all together. The time we returned we got one breakfast and one meal. The meal was salmon and was cold and underdone, and the eggs were cold as well which is basically ruining them completely. The service was again friendly but lacking experience apparently. I think this trip and the poor review is just a matter of bad coicidence, as this seems like a really bright and clean location for a meal at first glance.

Taste Of Havana

2.5 Stars 

Charlotte Critic
5534 Albemarle Rd
Charlotte 28212
(704) 535-0223
Menu Features: pulled pork, tres leches,flan

Restaurant Review For Taste Of Havana
So off to the Central Ave area of Charlotte by Eastland which is pretty much a slice of Mexico,
and it turns out alot more of latin flavor as we go after Cuban food for lunch. Today adventure is off to ‘Taste of Havana’ for one of the few places to get authentic Cuban style and
carribean food. The menu was a general assortment of latin syle food and alot of the basics. This location is on Abermarle in a plaza on the corner. The inside is
pretty simple and has the layout to be a great location
and spread if they put in the effort. We ate in the afternoon at 3-4pm and the entire location was pretty much empty at an hour like that.
The location is wide open spaced with plenty of seating and pretty simple (too simple decor.
The sound of great Carribean style music and simple white cloths on black tables and chairs is comfortable but not
all it could be. I was really surprised that such a strong and traditional cultural theme would have such a simple
decoration inside. The service was very relaxed, very friendly but very informal at the
same time. I actually had to go ask for my check to get going at the end.
This isn’t a dig at the service, just not what you may be used to in a high service setting at another location.

Ropa vieja recipe from our latest review My wife enjoyed the Ropa Vieja which is traditional shredded beef and a
popular Cuban dish.This s served in a simmering oval dish with spices sauce an vegtables.
You then can spread it over your white rice and black beans. Here is the recipe for Ropa Vieja in our blog! Wife loved it, and thought it tasty but not my style.
Serving seemed a bit small for 9$, and really presented like you made it yourself at home. I had the Lechon Asada, or pulled pork. Mine was a plate
covered with soft shred pork that was pretty salty and really tasted great.
I was sad that such good tasting meat was served on a boring plate with 2 lime slices and 3 onion rings on top. This is also accompanied by a plate with a block of white rice and black beans in a mini bowl.
The food was basically what I eat served to me at home or at my
inlaws and really lacked presentation or anything to put it over the top. If you never get authentic Cenral or South American food then this is a good
starter course as to what your Cuban friends or
South American neighbors may be eating nightly, but the downside is the fact that it is presented
like you are eating over a friends house too, (without the large portions). We also took the time to taste the tres leches or 3 cremes, which is a
very popular latin cream cake served with whip cream and though not my favorite personally
my expert panel says it was top notch. We also were treated to the flan
which was incredibly sweet but again a hit at the table. With the check coming in at for two plates and deserts (with fruit smoothy drinks too),
it was a pretty hefty check for just pulled meat with white rice. While authentic and tasty with great deserts, the simplistic servings, bland setting
and large check at the end kinda balanced it out to a very average final word.
3 stars sounds abot right, and for my money places like Golden Taipei
or Zapatas would be a much better way to spend my Wont return, but not really out right “let down” either.