I have eaten here before, mostly with PTA ladies, but it has been decades since my last visit…read more Today, hubby and I stopped in for a quick lunch. The room is nicely decorated and you have a view that includes great foliage. Servers Ian and David were tasked with a lunch crowd of about 30. They were kept on their toes but still provided polite and fast service. There is a soup and bread bar that goes along with all entrees. There were two kinds of soup (meatball minestrone and seafood chowder), garlic clove bread, and sugar-glazed raisin walnut bread. (I adored the latter! And so did others, because the basket had to be refilled twice.) The soups and breads alone would have made a filling and satisfying meal. But we already had ordered food when we tried them, loved them, and noticed that we could have purchased the combo as a light (all-you-can-eat) meal for $8.50. Anyway, we had the grilled mahi mahi sandwich and the shrimp BLT wrap. A toasted challah roll accompanied a very tasty mahi mahi sandwich. The wrap was good, but the shrimp got lost. It would have been better as a plain BLT. The accompanying cole slaw was a bit sweet but oh so scrumptious. Lunch for two with tax and tip was about $44. Wish Yelp allowed 1/2 stars. I would give this eatery 4.5 stars. We definitely want to return to try their Thursday buffet lunch and their Sunday brunch. Maybe, then, they can earn 5 stars from me.

I enjoyed a Sunday brunch buffet for a friends birthday at jacaranda Grill . They do a Sunday…read morebuffet for $19.95 a great deal ! There is an extra charge for coffee and beverages. The menu changes weekly . They usually post the Sunday buffet menu on Thursday or Friday on their Facebook page . They had an assortment of cold salads. Seafood salad, pasta salad , potato salad , Greek salad , fresh fruit , bagels, croissants , muffins , hot dishes - egg Benedict, grits , hash browns, chicken dish , meat lasagna, and salmon . Also two types of soups , 2 types of bread and butter. The atmosphere is very nice and cozy inside. The restaurant is located on the grounds of Jacaranda country club. The service was great as well . Make sure to make reservations. It seems to fill up close to 12 pm. A great spot to get together with friends or celebrate a birthday .

Wow! What a beautiful experience at Toscana aboard the Allura cruise ship from Oceania. We sat at a…read morelovely round table for 6 with other cruisers who we met for the first time. The venue is intimate and elegant. The menu is diverse and authentic. Every dish was exquisitely presented. They offered a bread basket and a choice of various olive oils for dipping. I started with a stuffed artichoke and minestrone soup as appetizers. I chose the Bronzino entree and a chef pasta special but Paul had an amazing Dover Sole which was filleted table side. Others had the SCALOPPINE DI VITELLO AL LIMONE veal scallopini, lemon sauce, Italian parsley. Everything was luscious. Decaf cappuccino and tiramisu, biscotti, chocolate cake and fruit torte were also served. Lemoncello was another offering which was outstanding. Toscana is a standout and should not be missed.

Back again to Italian dining heaven, I enjoyed two dinners at Toscana aboard Oceania Marina in…read more2014. One was a 7-1/2 course meal. Carpaccio di Manzo with aged Parmigiano Reggiano and Arugula crowned with thin slices of Prime Beef Tenderloin and drizzled with Lemon Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil was a great beginning, followed by light and fine Calamari Fritto and excellent Code di Scampi avvolte nel Prosciutto Crudodi Parma, sauteed Jumbo Shrimp tenderly wrapped in Prosciutto di Parma Ham and bathed in a light Lemon Orange Sauce. Minestrone alla Milanese was a satisfying Northern Italian Vegetable Soup finished with chopped Pesto and boiled potatoes. And Caesar Salad prepared tableside was a fine rendition of a classic dish. Savory Pennette San Gimignano, Penne Pasta with Roasted Porcini Mushrooms and a delicate Rosemary Laced Meat Sauce, was a fine bridge to an entree of superb melt-in-the-mouth Osso Buco alla Milanese, tender Veal Shank slow braised in an oven in a Porcini enhanced stock, which was served with a mellow Saffron-Infused Risotto. For good measure Diane and I added a side of rustic Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. While I savored my main, Diane enjoyed two fillets of moist grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass. Afterwards she wasted no time dispatching Chocolate Lasagna with Pistachio Sauce, while I finished with No Sugar Added Key Lime Pie with a nice moist Graham Cracker crust and a heaping cup of Decaf. The dessert tasted like a light New York Cheesecake. Service was exemplary by our waiter, Anil from Goa, India, and the ambiance was romantic and upscale. In the second meal I was introduced to Zuppa di Patate e Pancett, hearty potato and pancetta soup with Aged Pecorino shavings and Ditalini Pasta. The soup was smooth and flavorful, but the pasta seemed superfluous. Lasagne al Forno alla Bolognese with Garlic, Fresh Herb Minced Beef Tenderloin, Bechamel Sauce, & grated Parmigiano Reggiano was heavenly comfort food. And, Scaloppine di Vitello a Modo Tuo Massala in Aged Marsala Wine Sauce with sauteed mushrooms was very robust and memorable entree, along with more Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. This time Diane enjoyed a generous slice of hot Granny Smith Apple Crumble Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, and I ended with a delicious moussey No Sugar Added Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce and No Sugar Added Strawberry Ice Cream. This time Gede of Polynesia did the duties as a very able server. Both times 5 stars in all respects!

We've had several pleasant stays here during our commutes to the lower keys. This hotel is less…read moreexpensive than most in the Miami area and perfectly clean and well maintained. Breakfast is better than most with solid oatmeal and coffee to get me going! They also have eggs and sausage and stuff but not for me... I stay true to my breakfast diet! The front desk staff, breakfast folks and cleaning help have all been amazing! I tip everyone in sight because they deserve it! Life is good!

On the day of the guys night out yelp event, my air conditioner suddenly stopped working. I worked…read morefrom home that day and I swear as the day wore on it became more and more unbearable in my home. By the time an ac repairman came to my home two hours before the event, I was sweating a lot. Laugh all you like but in South Florida, AC isn't a luxury it's a dire necessity! So the AC repairman said that all the pipes in my AC were frozen and he showed them to me. He needed to fix it, put new freon and a bunch of other stuff. Regardless, the ac wouldn't work well again for another day. I said forget this I'm going to a hotel. TownePlace Suites by Marriott is located two blocks from my house and I called them up and booked a room. One of the great things about this hotel is that it allows pets... sure it comes with a $100 fee but I wasn't going to leave my poor cat alone at home so I took her with me. I decided to make this a little staycation so I stayed for two days that way I could enjoy the hotel. The hotel is well decorated... all parts of it from the lobby to the breakfast/meal area to the rooms. The beds were super soft, the rooms were spotless. This is an extended stay hotel so the room had a full kitchen, with a small stove, full fridge, coffee machine, toaster, and microwave. It also came with plates, glasses, utensils, etc. The room also had the largest hotel closets I have ever seen. The only thing I didn't like about the room was the bathroom was a bit smaller than most I have seen at other hotels. The hotel has an outdoor area with seating and two bbq grills for use by guests... never seen that in any hotel before. It also has a decent pool, which I certainly made use of when I stayed there. The hotel serves breakfast... nothing fancy but certainly pretty good. They offer cereal, waffels, bagels, toast, etc. They also served some eggs and breakfast sausage which was also pretty good. The hotel also has available items for purchase like most hotels do like soda, ice cream, snacks, and items for personal grooming. They also sold beer and wine which is good if your trying to unwind. What was interesting is that they also sold sauces and items from a local vegetable/fruit stand called "Robert is here", which is one of my favorite local places. If your visiting the area... drop by there it's amazing. I was certainly surprised they had items for sale from there. The best thing about this hotel was the service. The front desk staff is very friendly... and the house keeping staff were probably the best I have ever encountered at any hotel. Grisel, I think she was a supervisor for them asked if the room needed to be cleaned on the second day I was there. She explained she didn't disturb me because I posted a do not disturb sign outside my room. I explained I needed to work the first full day I was there and I had a lot of teleconferences to handle and I couldn't reschedule or have noise during those meetings. She gave me the number for house keeping and told me whenever I was free they would come to clean it and if I ever needed anything to give them a call. Wow! That's service! Wonderful stay and it's certainly an option I will keep in mind if I ever need a place to crash if for some reason my home is without ac or power again (you never know with hurricanes). Moreover if any friends or family want to stay near me I will definitely recommend them to stay here. As I left I almost didn't want to leave... sadly neither did my cat. She loved our little hotel adventure and she was sad and cried as I took her out of the hotel. Great hotel!

I had a wonderful Sunday brunch at the Deer creek grill (Inside the Deer creek country club) .Make…read moresure to make a reservation since they seem to get busy around noon. I had a reservation for 11:15 am. I arrived at 11 and our table was ready and it wasn't busy . They have outdoor seating which is great since there is a beautiful waterfall and landscaping outside - it was rainy the day when I dined, so we sat inside . There is a variety of fruits - strawberry, cantaloupe, honey dew, and pineapple. Assorted danishes .bread , and bagel toast as well. There is an omelette station , my friends got omelettes while I opted for an egg over medium . They have oatmeal with brown sugar , cinnamon, and blueberries. French toast , cheese blintzes with blueberries and sour cream, breakfast potatoes, Belgium waffles , French toast , and sausage and bacon. The cost is $22.95 and includes a mimosa or Bloody Mary . Children 7.95 . Our server was great and very attentive, taking plates away , filling up water am checking on us often. It started to fill up around 12. They offer valet parking or you can self park in their lot. They also have weekly dinner specials , prime rib, lobster night , and will be having an Easter brunch for an increased price. Definitely an affordable and great option for Sunday brunch .

Always had a great meal here. Great service and very friendly. Sunsets are beautiful here tooread more

Server was amazing. Great personality and super knowledgeable about everything from wine to food…read more The pappardelli Milano, pizza (cacio e peppe), and mussels were all amazing. Also was stated that the fettuccine allo scoglio was the best they'd ever had!

Great service and delicious food. The place is small but busy so make reservations before you go!…read moreEveryone from my table loved their dish. I love showcasing the best of Miami so find me on IG to see more @chloexmorgann

Last Friday after work, I stopped by  for a drink, and the experience was excellent from start to…read morefinish. The place is gorgeous, decorated in a very elegant and traditional style that immediately creates a refined atmosphere. The ambiance was calm and relaxing when we arrived, and although it gradually became more crowded, the overall vibe never changed. The service was outstanding. Staff were attentive to every detail, courteous, and formal without feeling stiff or unwelcoming. It was happy hour, and classic cocktails were at a reduced price. Every drink we tried was very well executed, with a perfect balance of alcohol, flavor, and presentation. The margarita and the Vesper were prepared to perfection, definitely  one of  the best I have ever had. We also sampled a few signature cocktails at regular price, and those were also very good. The bar offers a small snack menu, which left me with mixed feelings. While everything we tried tasted very good, the portion size relative to the price was somewhat disappointing, particularly the croquettes and the tuna bites. Around 7:30 p.m., the have "live music". It was DJ.  Unfortunately, it was not particularly lively , so we left. I truly loved the place. It is an ideal spot for excellent cocktails in an elegant setting.

Will preface my review by saying this is our bookclub's favorite place to meet! They offer happy…read morehour every day and have great cocktails and bites! The staff here recognizes us and although sometimes we come when they are very busy, they still give us the best service. The drinks are consistently good and food comes quick! I really enjoy the vibes at The Commodore. I feel like I'm in someone fancy living room with the fireplace, couches and decor. It's the perfect place to grab a drink and chat!

Although Christy's is known as a steakhouse, I enjoy trying the fish options despite what they're…read moreknown for. And let me just say, this miso maple salmon was the most delicious salmon I've ever had the pleasure of eating from a steakhouse - so much so that it inspired me to write a 5 star review about it. The seasoning was just so well done, the outside crispy, the inside very soft and when paired with the mango coulis, each bite is a burst of flavor. I highly recommend this salmon dish, as I've thought about it quite often since my visit. The key lime pie is a little too sweet for my tastes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the salmon dish so much that this drawback does not deter from my 5 star rating whatsoever. Service is attentive, and the ambiance is a cozy restaurant in the heart of the Gables.

I've been going to Christy's Restaurant since I was a kid, and it's always been a place I recommend…read morewithout hesitation. Unfortunately, my experience last week was really disappointing. Service was essentially nonexistent. It took about 20 minutes just for someone to come take our drink order. The server asked to take our food order at the same time, which I usually avoid, and that turned out to be a mistake because we didn't see him again for another 15 minutes. The food was just as frustrating. I ordered a filet mignon medium rare and it came out extremely rare. I mentioned it to a waiter I actually recognized from past visits, and he basically brushed it off. My daughter's lamb was also undercooked to the point we had to send it back, which added even more delay. The ambiance is still the same, which is fine, but that alone doesn't carry the experience. It's honestly a shame this used to be a go-to spot for me and my family and after the last couple of visits, I'm not even sure I'll be back.