07/05/09

Can't Tell How the Food Was

by ashin220

My girlfriend and I headed over to Cafe Del Rey, seeing how they seemd to haved received fairly good reviews. The hostess was pleasant and since we had made a reservation, we were seated immediately. On the way in, the manager greeted us with a smile. We hadn't realized that Sunday was a Prix Fixe brunch only. No matter, we decided the food on the menu looked tasty enough. We waited to be served, then we waited and then we waited some more. After 30minutes we were still sitting there with our menus only. Two other tables had gotten up and left before us and we were fed up as well. We walked out never knowing who our server was. The manager didn't try to stop us, I figured he knew why everyone was leaving.

• Pros: will never know
• Cons: never got to order our food

03/24/09

Lacking flavor, value and service

by happydj001

Last Saturday my husband and I went to Café Del Rey (CDL) for the first time. We are both foodies, and make a habit of trying different restaurants.

Since I am not comfortable with valets driving my car, we parked about 2 blocks West at the public lot for $2. We arrived at CDL shortly after 6pm. As we came to the front, we saw the billboard outside listing the 'happy hour specials'. Stepping inside we were greeted by a foul sewage smell near the hostess podium (the bathrooms were off to the left).

We were there for dinner, but thought we would take in an appetizer and drink at the bar before being seated to take advantage of the specials.

We sat down in the bar booth (comfy), and the waitress brought us our menus "we are out of corona, and ugly duckling chardonnay" she said. Seems silly that a bar would run out of Corona? I ordered a happy hour mixed drink (can't remember name) and my husband ordered another cocktail, and the calamari. She returned 5 mins later, and told us they were out of the alcohol that supplied my drink. I ordered the jolly rancher (not my first choice, but feeling adventurous!)

The calamari arrived, it contained aprox 12 greasy, quarter size 'O's on a pretty plate, with a mayo saucey sidecar. We were BOTH hungry from our workouts that morning, so we proceeded to order more from the happy hour menu: 6 oysters and the shrimp cocktail. The oysters were the size of a silver dollar, the meat inside smaller than a dime (how cute?). The shrimp cocktail contained 5 (2-biter) shrimp, and run-of-the mill cocktail sauce. Still we were hungry, and at this point decided to eat our dinner in the bar, so we ordered: Truffle pizza (10 inch diameter) $26, 2 chopped salads (each portion came out to roughly cup of chopped veggies), 2 lentil soups (each portion was about 1/2 cup). Normally I am not a stickler on portions but these were rediculously small so it was hard not to take note.

So after 3 smaaaall cocktails each, 6 tiny plates of food, and $141 (incl tip), we left, knowing there is no way we would be back.

I've had better calamari and pizza at the local Italian joint (allejos), minus the fancy plate. The chopped veggie salad at C&O down the street tastes better AND you get about 500% more, for the same price. I can buy the same size, same quality shrimp at TJs for the same price but 400% more, and why even bother with oysters that size?? The lentil soup was good, but nothing exceptional, they just pureed the lentils.

The waitress was ok, but gave us both the feeling that she was doing us a favor by serving us.

The view of the marina from the DINNER table windows (which you are not allowed to sit at if you are enjoying happy hour) is beautiful. There was a guitar player in the bar that was very talented, and we made sure to tip him on the way out.

Hard to imagine how this place stays in business...Possibly the unknowing tourists from the Ritz next door.

For locals, there are too many other restaurants in this area that are substantially all-around better for under $100 (for two).

• Pros: The view
• Cons: Everything else

03/01/09

Pricey and not worth it

by YoungButLoveToEat

The service was ridiculously slow, one waiter was serving about 20 tables on a saturday night! Very negligent service, we were never asked "is everything okay for you?" or "how's the meal" NEVER was i asked for that. The appetizers were good so i was expecting a lot from the entrees, which was $33 for a terrible soy sause seafood spaghetti and $32 for just the over cooked, very salty mahi mahi, with almost no side dishes.I don't mind paying a lot for food but the quality should match the price. Clearly, the spaghetti i could have made it myself at home and taste 10 times better. If you still want to go, either go to lunch (I heard is better) or go at night and only order a bunch of appetizers (you will be happier, trust me).

• Pros: kumamoto oysters
• Cons: everything else