Natalia "Nat Bat" B.'s Profile

I went here for a polish change because it's close to my office.  Here are the facts:

-  they consider themselves by appointment only and keep the door locked until they see someone standing there.  Nonetheless, I was accepted without an appt.
-  services include manicures, pedicures, acrylics, hair care, waxing
-  $15 manicure, $25 pedicure, $10 polish change
-  Martina is from Honduras I believe - she was nice but she chews gum really loudly (my pet peeve, especially when you're sitting directly across from me)
-  decent polish selection... some Essie and Opi, but a lot of no-names too
-  relatively clean, except for the small ant problem - there were two ants on my manicure table during the service
- i was going from dark polish to light polish, and even now I can see some leftover burgundy in the corners of my nails... minus points for quality of service
-  accept Visa/Mastercard

I might be back if I'm in a real rush, but that's not really conducive to the whole "by appointment" thing.  It's tough to find a reliable nail salon in midtown.  sigh...

Went to this Brazilian-Japanese famed fusion joint on a Thursday night and didn't really wait to be seated... although it was PACKed.  My favorite was the seafood curry rice stew - it was hearty (unlike any of the ceviche options), and had generous pieces of fish.  I deducted a couple stars for the outrageous hype, uncomfortable sofa tables, bathroom lady (she was a grouch), and inflated prices - but I suppose you pay more for the ambiance, people watching, cocktails and service.  Speaking of service, the manager came up to check on us not once,  but twice, which is always a great sign in South Beach...

An awesomely refreshing lunch option in midtown.  I have yet to try a sandwich that has let me down - the pastrami, serrano ham, southwest chicken, you really can't go wrong, especially because their baguette bread is so soft.  The american and french salad are also a delight.  Somehow their food makes me feel like I'm eating light and healthy, even though that may not be the case.  

And if you decide to dine in, the outdoor tables are serene on a nice, sunny day.  Not to mention.... they have multiple cheese samples.  I have a weakness for good samples.  Mmmmmmmmm cheeeeese...

Since moving to Miami from San Francisco, I have been going through some serious Mexican food withdrawal.  You would think (being near the Gulf of Mexico) that Miami would offer some decent taqueria options, but sadly, I've found that this is not the case.  It's hard to screw up a taco, and yet I've been baaaadly disappointed at other establishments that will go unnamed.

Mi Rinconcito, on the other hand, is hands down the only Mexican place that I will go out of my way to visit.  Sure, the decor is cheesy and it's on calle ocho (far away from home for me), but honestly this food is so fresh, cheap, and authentic that I almost don't want to eat anywhere else if I'm craving mexican flavors.  

My fellow diner and I shared the combinacion platter #2 and also tried the lengua tacos - everything came out piping hot.  My favorite was the gorditas.  I was amazed at the portions (they are not stingy with the guacamole, which is a big plus).  Our waitress was pleasant and timely.  The tortilla chips are thick and homemade, and the salsas (both red and green) were flavorful.  Oh, and the beer was cold.  Top top things off, the bill was laughably low - $30 for 4 beers, 3 tacos, and a platter with 10 different things on it (flautas, quesadillas, etc).  WHAT ELSE COULD YOU ASK FOR.  Mi Rinconcito = Taqueria bliss.

I used to frequent The Room in Soho when I lived in NY, and had no idea there was one down here until I found myself stumbling inside.  Intimate, dark, good wine/beer selection, and usually the music is loud.  All pros.  Very few cons.

The attendants here really try their best to be helpful (same with the one on Harding and 95th).  It's a neighborhood liquor store and feels like one too.  I wish their tequila selection was a bit better, but that's tough to find in general.  I prefer Total Wines' variety, but I always get distracted there -- Big Daddy's has more of an in-and-out convenience.  

Oh, they have this customer card - for every $50 you spend, you get a stamp on the card - and if you get 10 stamps (which, let's face it, I'll get there eventually), you get a gift card for a meal at Flannigan's.

I agree with the other reviews - not bad, but not great either.  Good selection of colors, decent magazines, bad pedicure chairs.  My gal was not talkative and not apologetic - she was a little rough with the sharp objects, but she did her thing within 45 minutes and my toes turned out pretty good.  I'll go back if I'm in another lunch break emergency.

SO OVERPRICED!  In an effort to be organized, my complaints are as follows:
-  one taco platter + one taco + chips/queso = $28 total = unacceptable for a counter-operated "taco shop".  You're really going to charge me $5 for one shredded chicken taco?  Really?!
-  Taco vs. Burrito - I asked the cashier what their Macho Taco was - the first word that came out of her mouth was "burrito".  If it's a burrito, call it a burrito - so confusing.
-  steak was overseasoned
-  tables were super wobbly
-  queso (which I paid $6 for) was lukewarm.  I asked the cashier/attendant to heat it up.  6 minutes later, I got a cup of the exact same queso.  Clearly the pot of queso is not heated enough.

The chips are homemade and the salsa verde was good.  Honestly, if I paid half the price, I wouldn't have been so disappointed.  But I will not be going back here.

This classy AND classic French restaurant deserves every bit of my 4-star review, and maybe more, had I not ordered what I ordered for the main course.    

The service is impeccable - sommelier was kind, well-spoken and, I must say, well-dressed - he poured our 1998 Grand Cru with finesse.  Our waiter was eager and attentive (even though he definitely wasn't French).  He did, however, very strongly recommend the entree I ordered, which was a special of the night - a Mediterranean seabass, cooked in butter (obvi) with green beans and fingerling potatoes.  I did not like the green beans or potatoes - the fish had a nice flavor, but I found it difficult to cut around the tiny bones (came with skin-on and head).  

My appetizer endive salad, on the other hand, was huge and satisfying.  And one of my friends ordered the steak tar-tar (prepared tableside), which was waaay better than I could've imagined.  But by far the BEST part of the meal was dessert.  We got the melted chocolate bar - comes with caramel ice cream, fresh raspberries and an espresso macaroon.  Ahh oui oui, c'est magnifique!

It's like that old, dirty t-shirt you just won't get rid of.  You love it too much - it's comfortable, worn in, easygoing.  That is Beaches.  

Unimposing crowd (and by crowd, i mean 4-5 regulars), cheap beers, plenty of TVs, pool table, and a jukebox that actually PLAYS your songs a few minutes after you request them.  Sure it's a gritty dive that screams white trash, but it serves a purpose: cold/cheap drinks (wouldn't order food here) in a place that's so close yet so far away from all the blinding glitz and glamor of SoBe...