Cheddar's, Wellington Fl
It's been a while since we've done a review (we don't get to go out as much since the birth of our third son), we got a chance to eat at Cheddar's located on SR-7 in Wellington, Fl. We arrived a little after 6:30 Saturday evening and the place was packed. Luckily they have ample parking. We had a large party of 8, including the baby and other 2 boys, so we expected to have to wait a little while. After checking in with the host, they told us it would be about 30 minutes or so and that there were several other large parties just ahead of us. It ended up being about a 45 minute wait after all was said and done. Which, when dealing with such a large party is not that uncommon.
When we first walked in, they thing we noticed is that the restaurant is dark. The ambiance has little pockets of light but overall it's quite dim, though the large lighted fish tank that divides the Bar side from the Dinning Room side is a nice touch of color.
There isn't much to say about the service we had, it was acceptable not outstandingly great, but not bad by a long shot. We had one issue where our original server had to leave because of an emergency and we had to get a replacement. The transition was fairly seamless and we didn't have any problems with it.
As for the food, let's say that you really get WAY more than you pay for. Portion sizes are large, out of the 7 people who ordered only 2 finished their meals. Everyone else got to-go bags. I ordered the "Baked Spasagna" which is spaghetti layered with cheese and baked with a meat sauce like a lasagna. This is something that might be considered comfort food. It's a large rich meal that definitely fills you up. I would most certainly order this again. The wifey ordered the Chicken Tender Salad, she didn't finish. This was a large fresh salad topped with about 5 good sized chicken tenders. The other people in our party ordered the Steak and Tender combo, the Chicken and Waffles, the Chicken Tender platter and the two older boys got the Monte Dogs, which are like corn dogs. Everyone really enjoyed their meals and as said before the portion sizes are big.
Overall, we were very happy with our experience and we will be back.
Scores
Food: A+, Cooked well, served quickly and really I can't say enough about the portion sizes.
Service: A, even with the hiccups we didn't have any problems.
Price: A, you really get your moneys worth here
Showing posts with label Wait Times. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wait Times. Show all posts
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Longhorn Steakhouse, West Palm Beach, Fl
Longhorn Steakhouse, located on Okeechobee Blvd West of the FL Turnpike.
The Wifey and I were lucky enough to have a date night and we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice night out, we decided on trying Longhorn again. We went out on a Tuesday night around 7:30pm, and this time they weren't too crowded but we still had to wait about 15 minutes before a table cleared up. The last several times we tried to go, the wait had been an hour plus so we never stayed.
Once you walk inside they have very subdued lighting without being gloomy it actually has a very cozy feel to it. The decor is VERY western themed, as you might expect, with lots of red, brown and tan hues. The effect was done quite well.
We were seated and the server gave us a few moments before she came by to look over the menu and start us out with our drinks. The wifey ordered the new White Peach Margarita which, taking the description from the website, is 1800 100% Blue Agave tequila, white peach puree, Peach Schnapps and fresh lemon and lime juice and I just had a draft beer. She said that her drink was really refreshing with all the fruit and citrus flavoring and had just the right amount of that tequila to not be overpowering but still strong enough to be worth the price.
The Wifey and I were lucky enough to have a date night and we wanted to treat ourselves to a nice night out, we decided on trying Longhorn again. We went out on a Tuesday night around 7:30pm, and this time they weren't too crowded but we still had to wait about 15 minutes before a table cleared up. The last several times we tried to go, the wait had been an hour plus so we never stayed.
Once you walk inside they have very subdued lighting without being gloomy it actually has a very cozy feel to it. The decor is VERY western themed, as you might expect, with lots of red, brown and tan hues. The effect was done quite well.
We were seated and the server gave us a few moments before she came by to look over the menu and start us out with our drinks. The wifey ordered the new White Peach Margarita which, taking the description from the website, is 1800 100% Blue Agave tequila, white peach puree, Peach Schnapps and fresh lemon and lime juice and I just had a draft beer. She said that her drink was really refreshing with all the fruit and citrus flavoring and had just the right amount of that tequila to not be overpowering but still strong enough to be worth the price.
The menu has an average number of choices, although this being a steakhouse, a large majority of them are red meat options. We started the meal with a couple of the appetizers the Texas Tonion Crispy onion petals drizzled with sour cream and served with zesty dipping sauce and the LongHorn Shrimp & Lobster Dip Shrimp and lobster baked with creamy mozzarella, smoked Gouda and sun-dried tomatoes. Served with warm tortilla chips. The starters came out very quickly, the shrimp and lobster dip was outstanding with a deep and rich flavor that kept us trying more and more. The Tonion was also good the dipping sauce was very flavorful.
All entrees come with bread, a side and salad. For the main course I ordered the 12oz Renegade Top Sirloin medium rare and a splurged a bit and got the Steakhouse Mac & Cheese as a side. The wifey ordered the Parmesan Crusted Chicken with baked potato. The steak was seasoned and cooked to perfection, I haven't had a steak that was this good while eating out in a long time,I was extremely pleased and impressed with the product. the side dish of Mac & Cheese was good, but with all the other things we ordered was a little too rich and heavy, even for me. I would have probably been better off ordering something a little bit lighter like rice or a vegetable. The chicken was also cooked and seasoned very well, and had a really great flavor. The mixture of Parmesan and garlic compliment each other nicely.
With everything we ordered there was absolutely no room for desert, and we ended up having to take two to-go boxes home. Portion sizes were not an issue here.
As for the service, I couldn't ask for more. Our server was friendly and attentive without being pushy or "overbearing". She seemed to know when we needed her and when to not be around. This was some of the best service we've had out in a while. In addition to that, none of the orders were messed up in anyway. The combination of these qualities is, quite frankly, rare in our experience and we were very satisfied.
All in all we consider this dinner to be an outstanding success and we will definitely be going back again sometime.
Scores
Food: A+
Service: A+
Portion size: A+
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Friendly's Royal Palm Beach, Fl
I'm starting to think that Friendly's, might just be one of the best kept secrets for going out on a Friday night. We've been several times, and each time there is no wait, good service, pretty good food and best of all not that pricey!
As parents of 2 little ones, when we have a chance to go out as just a couple, we try to take it. Most of the time, we don't have time to wait 45 minutes to an hour for an open table at a restaurant. Being able to sit down right away, with out a reservation is awesome.
For starters, we split an appetizer combo, which we got with chicken quesadilla's, mozzarella sticks and loaded waffle fries. This seriously could have been a meal all on its own, there was a pretty good portion of food on this plate. I had the roasted turkey dinner, which comes with stuffing, corn, mashed potato's & gravy and garlic bread. Although it was a little salty, it was still quite tasty and they really don't skimp on the portion size.
The wifey had the fish and chips, which she described in exquisite detail as "yummy". She also ordered from the "4 for More" section. This allows you to add your drink and a 3 scoop-2 topping sundae for only $4 more. Considering a drink is like $2+ and the sundae is about $3, it's not a bad deal.
The food overall isn't what you might call "gourmet", but it is tasty and filling and we like it.
The service was good, though it did start getting a little slower near the end of our meal. Also, though I didn't have a first hand experience, the wifey said the bathrooms were really pretty and clean. Though I think that might be a girl thing :D
All in all we would definitely go back, but it should be noted that this is a "Dry" establishment (no alcoholic drinks)
Scores
Food: A
Portion Size: A+
Service: B+
As parents of 2 little ones, when we have a chance to go out as just a couple, we try to take it. Most of the time, we don't have time to wait 45 minutes to an hour for an open table at a restaurant. Being able to sit down right away, with out a reservation is awesome.
For starters, we split an appetizer combo, which we got with chicken quesadilla's, mozzarella sticks and loaded waffle fries. This seriously could have been a meal all on its own, there was a pretty good portion of food on this plate. I had the roasted turkey dinner, which comes with stuffing, corn, mashed potato's & gravy and garlic bread. Although it was a little salty, it was still quite tasty and they really don't skimp on the portion size.
The wifey had the fish and chips, which she described in exquisite detail as "yummy". She also ordered from the "4 for More" section. This allows you to add your drink and a 3 scoop-2 topping sundae for only $4 more. Considering a drink is like $2+ and the sundae is about $3, it's not a bad deal.
The food overall isn't what you might call "gourmet", but it is tasty and filling and we like it.
The service was good, though it did start getting a little slower near the end of our meal. Also, though I didn't have a first hand experience, the wifey said the bathrooms were really pretty and clean. Though I think that might be a girl thing :D
All in all we would definitely go back, but it should be noted that this is a "Dry" establishment (no alcoholic drinks)
Scores
Food: A
Portion Size: A+
Service: B+
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
John G's Manalapan, FL
On Saturday, I had the opportunity to visit John G's new location. The restaurant is now located in the shopping center on the Southwest corner of Ocean Ave and A1A. It's right across the street from the Ritz-Carlton hotel and the Lantana Beach . One thing you'll note right away though, is that John G's no longer has that signature view over the ocean, it's now surrounded on all sides by Trees and other buildings.
We arrived around 9am and the "traditional" line had already started forming. I should add that for this trip, we had a fairly large party, 5 adults and our 2 little ones. Due to this, we had to wait till one of the larger tables was available and we didn't get seated till around 10am.inside of the restaurant. The new facility is very nice, it's a lot more open than the old restaurant, and significantly brighter too. They must have moved some of the old furnishings and wall decor because they still had the wood paneling along the kitchen, The prep area also was still decorated with those old fashion "flip chart style" menu's that announced the specials of the day, which I don't believe had been changed in 30 years.
Although they were extremely busy, the server came back after a few minutes and with our drinks and took our food orders.
The menu though not too large, does still have a good selection of items.
The food overall was good, and we enjoyed our meal. I'm not going to go into what everybody ordered because, quite frankly I don't remember :). However I ordered the # 5 which is 2 Eggs to order(scrambled), Hash browns or Grits (Grits), toast and fruit cup or juice. I also chose the side of ham at additional cost.
Despite how good everything was, this outing was missing something. I don't know exactly what it is, the food was like it always has been, and the restaurant was clean and the staff friendly. I don't know if it is the change of location that was throwing me off, but not being able to look out on the water might have had something to do with it. Hopefully I'll be able to get used to the change. That being said, one of the good things about the new location is free parking. So not having to worry about getting a parking ticket while waiting in line is definitely a plus.
Also for those who don't know John G's is only open from 7:00am to 3:00pm and they still do not accept credit cards. Though they do have an ATM on site.
Scores:
Food: B+
Portion Size: A
Service: A
We arrived around 9am and the "traditional" line had already started forming. I should add that for this trip, we had a fairly large party, 5 adults and our 2 little ones. Due to this, we had to wait till one of the larger tables was available and we didn't get seated till around 10am.inside of the restaurant. The new facility is very nice, it's a lot more open than the old restaurant, and significantly brighter too. They must have moved some of the old furnishings and wall decor because they still had the wood paneling along the kitchen, The prep area also was still decorated with those old fashion "flip chart style" menu's that announced the specials of the day, which I don't believe had been changed in 30 years.
Although they were extremely busy, the server came back after a few minutes and with our drinks and took our food orders.
The menu though not too large, does still have a good selection of items.
The food overall was good, and we enjoyed our meal. I'm not going to go into what everybody ordered because, quite frankly I don't remember :). However I ordered the # 5 which is 2 Eggs to order(scrambled), Hash browns or Grits (Grits), toast and fruit cup or juice. I also chose the side of ham at additional cost.
Despite how good everything was, this outing was missing something. I don't know exactly what it is, the food was like it always has been, and the restaurant was clean and the staff friendly. I don't know if it is the change of location that was throwing me off, but not being able to look out on the water might have had something to do with it. Hopefully I'll be able to get used to the change. That being said, one of the good things about the new location is free parking. So not having to worry about getting a parking ticket while waiting in line is definitely a plus.
Also for those who don't know John G's is only open from 7:00am to 3:00pm and they still do not accept credit cards. Though they do have an ATM on site.
Scores:
Food: B+
Portion Size: A
Service: A
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Smokey Bones Wellington, Fl.
Tonight as a spur of the moment decision, we decided to eat out. We chose Smokey Bones because it had been a while since we had been there. We arrived around 4:30 PM and the restaurant wasn't too crowded. Sadly, they didn't seem to be very organized. The hostess started to sit us down, but one of the waitresses told her that she was leaving, and there wasn't any coverage in that section. So the hostess had us go back to waiting area.
After another short wait, not even 5 minutes, they got us seated. That being said, and for those who've worked in the restaurant business will understand this, our poor server dude got sat 2 parties at once. Our party which was just me and the wife, and another party with about 6 people in it. As you can expect, the service level was slower than normal. What was really annoying, was the fact that although our server was busting his but trying to take care of his tables. The rest of the staff was just standing around the kitchen area just talking. It seemed like there was NO teamwork at all. Also, in my opinion, in the restaurant industry, if you as a server are not actively getting something for a customer or cleaning something, then you should NOT be seen. The last thing a customer wants is to have an empty drink and see staff members laughing and joking with one another.
Now I'm sure there were other circumstances such as the ones standing around were either the oncoming dinner crew or something. But still, it's just not professional and shouldn't be done.
As for the food, the wife just ordered an appetizer sampler called the "Crowd Pleaser", which she really enjoyed and said she would order again. It came with seasoned fries, chicken tenders and South West spring rolls. Portion size was good for an appetizer, with enough left over (after one person eating) to take some home. I ordered the pulled pork platter, and I wasn't impressed. The pork was too dry, even with extra BBQ sauce at the table. And there were lots of inedible fatty parts. The pulled pork is not something I would order again from here.
All in all, we were disappointed by our adventure out. Although it was obvious our server was really making an effort, he remembered special requests such as extra ranch and he brought full drinks with out being asked, he was hindered by the lack of teamwork. He was sat with way too many tables (I believe he had 4 or 5 more in addition to us and the large party) at one time.
Grades:
Service C- (Our server was at least a B+, but all the others standing around not doing anything made it slower and lower)
Food: C (Wife liked hers, I wasn't a fan)
Portion Size: B
After another short wait, not even 5 minutes, they got us seated. That being said, and for those who've worked in the restaurant business will understand this, our poor server dude got sat 2 parties at once. Our party which was just me and the wife, and another party with about 6 people in it. As you can expect, the service level was slower than normal. What was really annoying, was the fact that although our server was busting his but trying to take care of his tables. The rest of the staff was just standing around the kitchen area just talking. It seemed like there was NO teamwork at all. Also, in my opinion, in the restaurant industry, if you as a server are not actively getting something for a customer or cleaning something, then you should NOT be seen. The last thing a customer wants is to have an empty drink and see staff members laughing and joking with one another.
Now I'm sure there were other circumstances such as the ones standing around were either the oncoming dinner crew or something. But still, it's just not professional and shouldn't be done.
As for the food, the wife just ordered an appetizer sampler called the "Crowd Pleaser", which she really enjoyed and said she would order again. It came with seasoned fries, chicken tenders and South West spring rolls. Portion size was good for an appetizer, with enough left over (after one person eating) to take some home. I ordered the pulled pork platter, and I wasn't impressed. The pork was too dry, even with extra BBQ sauce at the table. And there were lots of inedible fatty parts. The pulled pork is not something I would order again from here.
All in all, we were disappointed by our adventure out. Although it was obvious our server was really making an effort, he remembered special requests such as extra ranch and he brought full drinks with out being asked, he was hindered by the lack of teamwork. He was sat with way too many tables (I believe he had 4 or 5 more in addition to us and the large party) at one time.
Grades:
Service C- (Our server was at least a B+, but all the others standing around not doing anything made it slower and lower)
Food: C (Wife liked hers, I wasn't a fan)
Portion Size: B
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