Comment Archives: stories: Food & Drink: Restaurant Reviews
Re: “Tampa's Saigon Deli serves excellent Banh Mi Mesandwiches”
Saigon Deli has moved to 3858 Waters Ave.
Re: “The Top 50 Restaurants in Tampa Bay”
Not seeing 'The Lobster Pot' on the list told me how bogus your top 50 is; there is absolutely no way there are 50 restaurants in the Tampa Bay area that are better. Maybe you should get out and try some restaurants that don't line your pockets for the advertising.
Re: “Wimauma has Southern charm, but it's still a work in progress”
Amy is one of the rudest people I've ever met. Anyone who treats people like that does not deserve their business.
Re: “The Top 50 Restaurants in Tampa Bay”
I once drove all the way from lutz to el crapo and couldn't believe how overrated it was. Mediocre burgers and typical macdonalds fries. I don't like the grease at 5 guys but it sure beats el crapo.
Who rated this place every year so high anyway? That person should be forced to eat there every day for a year.
Re: “Four-star café”
I totally agree with this review. Must add that I love the coziness and the friendly & accommodating owner and staff!
Re: “Tampa's Saigon Deli serves excellent Banh Mi Mesandwiches”
I don't get what the excitement is about the sandwiches. They use Publix rolls and the portions are tiny. Hell of a long ride for this.
Re: “Wimauma has Southern charm, but it's still a work in progress”
After hearing nothing but rave reviews for Wimauma, my friends and I decided to host a small bridal brunch there for a friend of ours. We were thrilled that there was no charge for a semi-private space (6 of us total), and the food prices seemed pretty reasonable for South Tampa. When I arrived 15 minutes early to set out place cards, I had to ask for water to be put at every seat, very minor and no big deal. We ordered our meals at about 12:45, and Amy, the chef’s wife came out to say hello. We were then left alone until 1:15, when the bride’s glass of water ran empty, one of us peeked into the main dining area only to see that the other 4 tables were eating and being served. At 1:25 we were informed that the kitchen had “run out of potatoes”, would it be okay if they subbed fries and sautéed them with peppers and onions. Sure, no problem, we’d just like to eat. Shortly there after, the manager came out and said that Amy had run to the store and purchased potatoes, and that it would be only a few moments longer. My seat gave me a pretty full view of the kitchen where I saw Amy pulling biscuits out of a Pillsbury Grand’s freezer bag and placing them on a cookie sheet. Within moments all but one of our meals came out. I had ordered eggs over easy with biscuits, sausage gravy, and grits. My eggs were hard as rocks, and biscuits had zero resemblance to the buttermilk biscuits I was promised on the menu. I said nothing about those, but did say something about my eggs being way overcooked. Amy came out and said she would simply have the cook make new eggs, but I should eat everything else on my plate. When I said I really wanted to eat it all together, and that the rest of my meal was actually pretty cold (gravy was already separating), she said “oh, okay, that’s not how I like it!”. She proceeded to bring me out overcooked eggs again. When I again said something, she again tried to leave me with the cold gravy and grits! The next things that came out of Amy’s mouth were shocking: “No, it’s not cold. We’ve microwaved it”. This was after she said “Well I didn’t want to be here today”; and “Nobody can cook eggs perfectly, they won’t ever be like your mom’s” after stating for the third time her cook had not made eggs over easy, but hard fried eggs. Every diner that charges $2.95 seems to be able to cook eggs over easy, and she’s charging $12! I’d assume they could be cooked properly. I was more offended though to hear that she had admittedly MICROWAVED MY BISCUITS! Their website even says: “Food is perishable and ephemeral. It’s greatest expressions are still destined to be consumed immediately upon creation”. I’m not so sure where the microwave fits into that food theory… When I refused to eat the food, she insisted to make me new ones so that I could be charged. Instead of removing the foul meals (mine was not the only one), she insisted that she bring us a series of desserts. Some were quite delicious, but her indignant manner with us was so disgraceful, I’ll never go back. Mimosas made with concentrate, freezer biscuits, and over cooked eggs are things I can manage from home. Our meal here cost more than 4 pitchers of sangria and more than a dozen tapas at another local restaurant. I wish I had followed the advice of this article.
Re: “Tampa's Saigon Deli serves excellent Banh Mi Mesandwiches”
Saigon Deli has moved into a new location at 3858 W. Waters Ave. It is right across the street from the old location. Behind Zaxby's Chicken and next to the La Quinta Hotel. Don't go to the old place because it's the imposter one! BEWARE!
Re: “Come on, get happy at 220 East”
Glad you're enjoying the reviews; we are going to include a key and/or a discussion on the star ratings soon. I'm trying to capture the dining experience in the narrative to give context to the ratings which are, of course, subjective. I'm hoping the descriptions give readers a sense of the cuisine and whether they'd find it appealing (or not). I'd also refer you to my intro column "Calling All Hedonists" for some insight into the evaluation process. In general terms, the stars are 5=World Class, 4=Excellent, 3=Good, 2=Fair, 1=Poor.
Re: “Come on, get happy at 220 East”
Hey JPC,
We're enjoying your reviews...they're a welcome addition to the local food press. Have you published a rubric for your star rating system? It would be interesting to better understand your criteria.
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
@pltctytc Say it ain't so!
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
so much for tampabay bagels.....CLOSED
i thought there was something going on last time i was there and the cases were empty and bagels few
Re: “Maestro, may I have some more?”
Oooooh pink lemonade cake sounds interesting and pretty!
Re: “Sakana's sushi is a shore thing”
I'm sorry to have to say this but,the food critic for the creative loafing:Jon Palmer Claridge,is seriously terrible at his job.That was such a poorly written review.I don't know where exactly to begin.It seemed like a mad lib.And nori seaweed? wakame seaweed? maki California roll? WTF? redundant much? And p.s. you used translucent 2x. also miso soup is'nt made with dashi stock.
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
Clearwater Bagel is a great bagel shop. Every year my wife and I make the stop after running the Turkey Trot. Good coffee and great, fresh Everything bagels. The wife likes the pumpernickel or salt bagels. We usually bring a small container of homemade chive cream cheese for our spread.
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
A friend of mine from New York was once served a bagel from Einstein Bros. She is a very nice person so she said, "... this is not actually a bagel. This is simply lovely round bread."
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
How did New York Bagel Shop on 34th St S not make this list? I definitely think it's better than St. Pete Bagel Co. (which is good, just not as good).
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
I love Clearwater Bagels. AS good as got back in Boston / Brookline.
Re: “The great Tampa Bay bagel search”
brandon bagel...eh yet close to home
i've always stopped at clrwtr bagels when on that side of the bay and always thought they were best in tampabay. tb bagels 2nd and frequented
Re: “Tampa's Saigon Deli serves excellent Banh Mi Mesandwiches”
Thank you Larry!