Vanessa "The Goose" P.'s Profile
DatePompano Beach, FL 33063
(954) 979-5530
Jasmine Thai & Sushi
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Thai
During the second trip I had one of their specials - a short rib sandwich which was a big portion compared to what their average serving size seems to be. I'm sure the truffle lemon oil played a part in devouring the massive sandwich.
Maybe Gigi had to grow on me, but we're now on great terms. I think a lot has to do with the fact we try and avoid the typically busy night crowd and instead go for brunch/lunch.
1 Previous Review:
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12/15/2010
I'll admit, I usually try and avoid overly crowded places and there's never been one time I've passed by Gigi and it's not swarming with people. But we decided to bite the bullet and see what everyone has been raving about.
Thankfully the wait wasn't that long (maybe 25 minutes) which was beyond reasonable given that it was on Saturday night during Art Basel. Our waiter was efficient. Not necessarily friendly, but he made sure we had everything we needed, so no complaints.
The food was overall good and the presentation is nice. I started with the tuna sashimi-type concoction and it was melt-in-my-mouth fresh. I also ordered the pork ramen bowl which really hit the spot - the flavors worked really well together, and the poached egg was a nice addition. I also had a bite of my boyfriend's plates which were the pork and chicken buns. They were okay - not amazing, but I guess if cute-looking food is your thing, you may be into it.
Given the prices, quality of food, and ambiance, it's a cool place to check out. It's a bit out of my way but I'd like to come back and try a few of the other menu options next time I'm in the area.
My friend and I ordered the same dish (Massaman curry) although we opted for extra veggies. She had tofu, and I the chicken but both were insanely delicious. The broth was a savory blend of spices that was good to the last slurp.
I am a firm believer that just because a restaurant is in a strip mall doesn't mean it can't have delicious food, and Thep Thai fits in this category. Overall I had a really pleasant first experience and would definitely go back if in the area.
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
(305) 932-0630
Tuna's Raw Bar and Grille
Categories:
Bars,
Seafood,
Steakhouses
Things Tuna's should work on:
- Do not let the door practically hit your customers as you walk them outside to their table
- Offer a drink menu when your customers sit down - this is especially helpful when the waiter asks "What would you like to drink?" Maybe I should've just imagined the drink menu...?
- Do not leave your customers outside for 10 minutes so that they have to go inside and tell the hostess they've been waiting and would like to have their waiter take their order
- Do not make your customers wait 15 minutes before getting them a glass of water
With those grievances out of the way, stone crabs are what brought us to Tuna's and I can at the very least say the food was good. The crab legs were a good size (5 come to an order) and they are accompanied with a side house salad and a mix of roasted potatoes and vegetables. I wasn't a fan of the roasted sides because they reminded me too much of catering potatoes and vegetables. Also, they seemed as if they were sitting under a heater before being served. With the other items offered on the menu, I'd figure the sides would have been just as fresh.
After we began our meal, service seemed to get a *little* better, but not by much, and not redeeming enough for it to have changed our overall experience. We would have ordered dessert because their options seemed really appealing, but with how slow and inattentive the staff seemed, we decided not to.
Honestly I'd like to give Tuna's another try, but certainly not with the same waiter. As other reviewers have stated, Tuna's is a cool hidden spot, which is why we liked the overall ambiance. Apparently this restaurant is doing something right, however, service is certainly not their strong suit.
The menu includes burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, and Haagen-Daas milkshakes. They offer Create Your Own Burgers, but I decided to try their signature Spicy Baja Burger which includes guacamole, pepper jack cheese, fresh jalapenos, spicy majo and a chipotle bun. After what seemed to be 3 minutes of sitting down at our table, a staff member came by and gave us our food neatly assembled in wire baskets.
The burgers are a tad greasier than expected, but after a few bites I was in burger bliss. Plus, the haystack onions are guilty pleasure (comes with a side of dipping sauce - almost like an aioli). My bf kept it simple with a Big burger with cheese and he too agreed that it was a pretty good value for the money (under $20 for 2 burgers, one side and 2 fountain drinks).
I'm pretty sure this location has only been open a few days but the staff was very friendly and attentive which can sometimes be a problem with new establishments, but not here.
Overall, my first impression with a Smashburger restaurant was a good one. So much so that I even told my bf that I'd likely make the extra 5 minute drive for their burger instead of hitting up our usual spot Heavy Burger in Aventura.
3.5 stars
Everything was good, although the Bahn Mi was not really like a traditional sandwich in that it wasn't served on a baguette, but on a steamed bun. (I'm guessing that's why they call it a "Bahn Mi.") The real surprise came from how delicious the brussels sprouts were - and the fact that my boyfriend loved them. (He despises almost all vegetables). The tater tots are addicting but whatever spicy sauce they put on top makes them even more tasty.
Overall my first time at Sakaya Kitchen was solid. It's a little out of the way for us, but there seems to be a lot of unique offerings that I'd be interested in coming back to try out.
The saving grace is the people watching and live music, but the drink quality seems to have taken a nose dive.
Also, a tip for the ladies: Two of my girlfriends complained about the incredibly dirty bathroom which made me decide to hold out until our next destination. So, I suggest doing the same if you stop in.
Listed in: Worth the drive, Satisfying Spots for Sangria, Mexi-can or Mexi-can't
1 Previous Review:
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5/17/2009 First to Review
Came here yesterday since a friend was in town visiting and she remembered a place along the beach that had a variety of different margaritas. Though she initially couldn't recall the name of the restaurant, it was the 2 for 1 margaritas sign they had outside that brought us to this wonderful outside restaurant.
Despite the beautiful location and view, the horrible music was really killing the vibe of this place. Luckily, a short while after being seated two Venezuelan musicians set up their gear and began to play live music - what a huge difference. It set the tone for a relaxing and beautiful South Florida afternoon by the beach.
As for the drinks, all of their margaritas were 2 for 1 and the glasses are pretty big, so it's well worth it. I ordered the Ultimate Margarita, followed by the Pomegranate one. The Ultimate margarita was a great way to start off, but the pomegranate one was really delicious as well. A little tangy, but it's a nice deviation from the classic margarita.
For food, we ordered the Sangria's quesadilla, which was filled with adobo marinated chicken, tomatoes, chiles, monterey jack and cheddar cheese, and avocado. It comes with a side of pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. Everything was fresh, well cooked, and a great compliment to our margaritas. We also ordered the cheese nachos - light, fresh, and simple.
Despite having margaritas, I'm a huge sangria fan. So, before we left we ordered the Sparkling Sangria. Do yourself a favor and ORDER THIS! It is bubbly, a little sweet (but not too sweet), tropical, and all around fan-tas-tic. This drink was by far my favorite, and I'm normally only a fan of traditional red sangria, but this has been added to my list of best sangrias.
If you're in the area looking for a relaxed atmosphere where you can people watch, enjoy the ocean breeze and stellar drinks, I definitely recommend trying out Sangria's Cafe.
FYI on parking: Lots of places in the area charge around $10 and take cash only, but there are metered spots (take cash and debit/credit cards) further north of this restaurant which is probably your best deal if you're not planning on sun bathing all day, but just want to take in the sights.
As I made my way up to the door, 2 employees, a guy and a girl were outside talking. The guy confronted me before I even was able to make it inside the doorway (where it says in big cold letters WALK-INS WELCOME) and asks me what I wanted done with a snarky attitude. I told him I called earlier and had an appointment - to which he said "oh okay please go inside."
Made me way in and was told to pick my color and find any empty chair and to wait until someone was available. I waited for maybe 20 minutes and eventually decided this place was not worth waiting any longer. I understand appointment times aren't exact and there were other people before me, but my initial treatment at the door didn't help. Overall I wasn't impressed with this nail salon at all. I'm not asking for a lot, but a smile and to not be interrogated at the door would be nice.
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 756-1744
World Wide Foto
Category:
Photography Stores & Services
This place is awesome for those of us that still love to shoot film and different types. I'm not a "serious" photographer but I do prefer film to digital and this place has a good variety of films which I can usually only find online.
I've stopped in a few times, and each time the person who helped me was friendly. A neat place any photo enthusiast would definitely appreciate.
Georgetown, PE C0A 1L0
Canada
(902) 652-2240
Shoreline Design
Categories:
Jewelry,
Accessories
It's a small space, so some of us had to take turns going inside to admire all of the jewelry he had. Those of us that waited outside were kept in good company by Peter's black Labrador, Georgie.
There were tons of jewelry sets, rings, necklaces, pendants, and earrings made with sea glass the owner had picked up right behind his shop (it's located on the coast). Peter had such a warming personality, and his mustache is truly signature - it curls at each end.
We shared stories of why we were in town, and what we'd be doing, and he was so thrilled to hear about a group of artists in the area that he even offered to give us a demonstration on how he makes his artwork. Unfortunately our time in town wouldn't really allow for the opportunity, but if it had we most definitely would have taken him up on it.
But not all was lost - just about all of us in our group bought something from his shop. I scored an incredible faceted black onyx ring made with sterling silver. It fit perfectly which meant I didn't have to resize it - although he offered to do that on the spot for any rings we bought.
Shoreline Design is most definitely a gem inside Georgetown. It makes me wish we had shops like it back in Florida. If you somehow find yourself in this part of PEI, definitely stop in and check him out.
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Aventura, FL
Yelping SinceJune 2008
Things I Lovemy iPhone, polaroids, art, music, art journaling, Twitter, anything handmade, etsy, social media, sushi, taking pictures, inside jokes, beading, cold-brewed iced coffee, meeting new yelpers, marketing, mad men, robot chicken
Find Me Invarious parts of South Florida
My HometownMiami, FL
When I'm Not Yelping...I market pet products online.
My Second Favorite Websitehttp://twitter.com, http://flickr.com
The Last Great Book I ReadWalking in This World by Julia Cameron
My First ConcertMariah Carey
My Favorite MovieBig Fish
My Last Meal On EarthAsk me when it's time since it changes frequently.
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I'm pretty sure my fiancé is secretly the Hamburglar
Most Recent DiscoveryNutritional yeast on poached eggs - delicious!
Current CrushZach Condon
The service is fast and courteous making it an ideal lunch spot if you're looking for a quick lunch getaway.