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Gerardo's Marketplace Inc
4 reviews for Gerardo's Marketplace Inc
I remember walking into this place once several years ago and commenting on what a wasted space it was. The store had sparse offerings and there was no real focus to the place... it was like a health food/gourmet food store stocked with a bunch of expensive stuff than no one wants. This has changed.
This has turned into a decent lunch place with hot food and cold sandwich offerings. There is even a selection of cold pastas and salad. The food itself is wholesome (but it could use some creativity). It seems like a mom and pop place so don't expect a high end deli. It would also be nice if the place was open past 5pm.
The interior of the store continues to have a lot of wasted retail space. It has a lot of potential but it is filled with five rows of shelves stocked with obscure gift basket type items (crackers, chips, juices). Forget the health kick....let's stock some wine, micro beers, chocolate, expensive coffee, fresh bread, quality deli items ect.. Miami Lakes is filled with people with money who would gladly pay for these things... Give us decadence!
Upon our recent move to Miami Lakes, we were delighted to discover that the town is featuring "The Flavors of Miami Lakes" throughout the month of August. We got a "passport," which is essentially a booklet filled with deals for local restaurants. If your in the area, you can get one from town hall (http://miamilakes-fl.gov for contact info.).
Gerardo's offered one of the best deals (buy one sandwich or salad and get a second one free). I am really happy that we were enticed into visiting. We met Gerardo and his lovely wife, Sabrina. They were very welcoming, and gave us a run down of the town. They have been in business for 11 years! Wow!
The building itself is very cool, and would be great to bring the fam. There is a tile mural on the front wall, which looks like kids painted it, and which reveals some of the history of Miami Lakes.
I had the midnight (medianoche) sammy, and it was tasty. I also had some authentic Jamaican ginger beer, also very good. As George pointed out, there is a wide array of options that are not available at other places. Can't wait to go back!
Really wanted to love this place. Very cute place, clean, stocked with many great healthy choices.
Our experience went like this:
Stood by the great big chalkboard trying to figure out what to order.
I wanted the "French Connection" but they told me they were out of Brie cheese. O.K. not a problem. So I decided on the Cuban sandwich, hubby ordered the tuna sandwich.
I noticed the guy making my sandwich was squirting lots of mustard on the bread of my cuban. Shoot, forgot to tell him no mustard, my fault. (do not like mustard) mayo kinda gal.......
So my husband jumped in and said "oh so sorry can you wipe some mustard off, my wife forgot to ask for no mustard" He looked a little irritated by this, took the bread and wiped some off. Surprised that he did not offer a new piece of bread, nothing other than the mustard was on it. But it was my fault so no biggy.
It was raining hard so we sat inside to eat. We were busy talking and I was hungry so just trying to get through the mustard taste, just kept eating the sandwich. I got to the second half of the sandwich and decided to open it up because it just did not taste like a cuban to me. Well I realized it wasn't. It was simply lots of ham, cheese and plenty mustard and pickle. They completly forgot the pork.....:(
What is a cuban sandwich without pork?? Let me tell you, it is just a ham and cheese sandwich. After eating half, I was not going to take it back. So, when we left, I decided to tell the sweet young cashier on our way out. Young girl, very nice, she said sorry and looked a little shocked.
Sadly, you can tell the owners were not in the establishment and just felt like the service was lacking and obviously the food.
When the big cheese is away, the mouse will play, that was our impression. Other than the sweet cashier, the other staff members, were just blah.......
This was just not a good day for them but can't say I would return.....
Real Mom & Pop - I mean the mom works the cashier, pop can always be found and even their kids are getting to work and by the second time you come in they will recognize you
It is a small, health market with lots of products that I have never seen anywhere else in Miami and more...oh much more
Wraps and Sandwiches - Big ass chalk board filled with different kinds My favorite? haven't tried them all but haven't had a bad one yet
Soups - they have soups but unless I'm sick with a tummy ache, I stay away
Salad Bar - $ 5.29 a pound, at least 40 different options with six home made dressings, fresh croutons of all sorts (as I get older, I am amazed that when someone says "bar" - salad bar is what I think of)
In all honesty, if this place was on the beach or some of the other hipster area around town I would be the fortieth person giving this little slice of awesomeness five stars
but
since most don't know anything west of I-95 I am the lucky one that gets to have the blue First to Review
Crown it!!