Ian M.'s Profile

We had a group of about 12 for dinner and the handled us perfectly. The meat and fish were spectacular. I can't wait to go back!

We had a nine-man wedding party to dress so we chose the Men's Wearhouse across the street from the wedding venue. My first experience with them was great - I was out of the country and they were able to pull up my measurements from the last wedding I was in, after that things didn't go so well.

When we arrived to pick up my tux one of the other groomsmen had discovered that the pants they had for him were the wrong size - they didn't cover his ankles. The wedding was the next day but they did manage to get him pants on time.

My tux seemed fine till we were getting dressed for the wedding and I found that they'd left out suspenders and socks. Luckily I had spare black socks and my pants didn't fall down, but they're meant to get this right.

When we were returning tuxes they erroneously double billed my father in law. Again, a simple mistake but one that they shouldn't make when they rent tuxes all day long.

Florida Stage is a small theatre just south of Palm Beach that showcases new and emerging plays. It's kind of ironic since most of the audience are the retirees who live in there area, but when we went to see their production of Two Jews Walk Into A War (a world premiere production of a play about the last two Jews of Kabul) the place was packed.

Bourbon Steak would have been good at half the price. We were staying at the Turnberry for a wedding so we went to Bourbon Steak for a meal in the leadup to the big day. I had the Wagyu Steak Tartare and Tapioca-Crusted Snapper (a "Michael's Classic"). The snapper was pretty good, well balanced, prepared and presented. The steak tartare was a real disappointment. Perhaps wagyu is too fatty for steak tartare, but I've just spent four months in Europe eating cheap, good steak tartare at far less fancy restaurants. If wagyu is the wrong breed to make a good tartare they shouldn't be offering it.

The wine, cocktails and sides were good and the atmostphere was relatively good, but the big flatscreen tv as we walked in really turned me off. If this wasn't in the Turnberry I don't think they'd get away with charging this much.

I've been traveling through Europe for the past few months, staying with friends, family and in cheap hotels and youth hostels. We were at the Turnberry for my brother in law's large, expensive wedding.

While the room was great, the facility spectacular and the desk staff helpful the housekeeping was terrible. Check-in was already at the ridiculously late time of 4pm but our room wasn't ready till five. Rooms were meant to be made up twice a day but we felt lucky that ours was made up once. I know this is kind of a small detail from a hotel that offers so much but it was a first and lasting impression, especially coming from much much cheaper places who happily gave us rooms when we arrived at 9am, tired from overnight trains and busses.

Additionally our friends and family had problems with wedding goody bags not being delivered, room service food not being cleared and stuff like that. The hotel bar was okay but ridiculously expensive. $50 tequila shots.

By contrast, our friends who stayed across the street Marriott had no problems, even though it was much much cheaper. That's where I'd go next time.

My wife has been coming here with various members of her extended family for years but this was my first visit. Living in San Francisco I'm often assured that I've never been to a "real Jewish deli", but I think I have now. The meal starts with a big bowl of pickles, I had the best mazzo ball soup I've ever tasted and then a great hot brisket on rye sandwich.

On the way out were were going to buy a little smoked salmon and smoked sable for breakfast but the guy at the counter kept giving us tastes of other fish. We ended up leaving with some whitefish too, but tastes the sturgeon, shmaltz herring, baked salmon and more. He was a wizard with a knife, hand slicing the lox perfectly. Everything was fresh and delicious!

We were visiting family in the area so we went to see a movie at the Lake Worth Playhouse. I think the Playhouse is mostly an amateur theatre venue, but next to the theatre is a small cinema that shows independent films. It has a great community atmosphere, friendly volunteer staff and often movie discussions after the shows. The movies they play all look really interesting. The concession stand is modest but charming - they pop your popcorn fresh in the microwave!

We were staying at a motel nearby and wanted some simple, non-chain food. Scrooge's seemed to be the only thing near by that would fit the bill. The service was friendly and effective, the food was good and reasonably priced. It was exactly what we were looking for.

I really wanted to like Salt House. The menu was full of interesting, appetizing looking dishes, the service was good and the space is great. Unfortunately the food was only okay.

I started with the poutine and my wife started with the mixed lettuce salad. They were both fine but not particularly notable - and I'm looking for something special in $11 french fries and $9.50 green salads. For our main course I had seared tuna on lentils and chessnuts while my wife Sharon had the new york steak. I thought the tuna was adequately prepared and the lentils were amazing, but they just didn't go well together. The lentils would have been an amazing accompaniment to a more strongly flavored meat like lamb, but it completely overpowered the tuna. Sharon loved the veggies that came with her steak but the steak itself wasn't amazing and the short rib that came with it didn't have the kind of flavor you'd expect.

The meal (2 appetizers, 2 mains, 1 glass of wine) came to $120. I think if it had cost us $70 we would have been happy but for that price we know we can do better. It actually kind of reminded me of my mediocre experiences at Town Hall around the corner.

My best knife's blade was in bad shape. I'd never gotten knives sharpened before but I knew I was supposed to. I noticed Jivano's on my way back from a lazy Dolores Park afternoon a few weeks ago and made a not to check it out. He doesn't have regular opening hours so I emailed him and made a 10am appointment for the next day. At 10 Jivano greeted me, sharpened my knife, wrapped it in newspaper (so I didn't cut the crap out of myself) - just six dollars. Perfect.