Cafe Del Rey

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

01/05/09

Asian Experience

by jerrymcgwire

This is some great asian eatery. Very classy elegant environment. Its a wonderful asian experience. If you want another great asian experience i would reccomend gyneari also.

12/12/08

Tasty and Tasteful Happy Hour

by iluvfood4

You have to go here for happy hour if you are in the mood to have a nice wine/cocktail with equally matched food. I know some people crave all that greasy, fried food, but I was able to enjoy a nice meal without feeling weighted down like I had just gone to a fast food restaurant. I highly recommend the prosciutto wrapped figs, their sirloin slider, and the steamed mussels. (I was with a group of people, so don't think I ordered all this just for myself!) Their pilsner was pretty tasty with the whole combo. And, our server was excellent! I couldn't ask for more!

• Pros: Great food and drink. Waterfront views.

09/16/08

I'll Never Go Back, And You Should Not Either

by jthompson01

I just had dinner with my husband there this evening. We had good seafood albeit overpriced. However, they serve Foie Gras, basically an ultra fatty patte. It's probably the most inhumane farming practice conducted, really it's animal torture. It requires the force feeding of geese with a medal feeding tube that causes regurgitation, painful lacerations, organ failure, lung failure, and sometimes the explosion of internal organs. These birds are kept heavily confined, force feed, and die long painful deaths. Many have refused to serve it, including Wolfgang Puck, and cities like Chicago have banned it. I would urge everyone not to go to Cafe Del Rey until the take it off the menu for good. I am not against meat or fish, but serving foie gras is really horrific and I hope you'll reconsider spending your money there.

• Pros: Decent Food
• Cons: Serves Foie Gras

06/23/08

Outstanding Wine List and Foodie Events

by Nancy1313

Cafe del Rey is the place for foodies. I recently attended a dinner & wine pairing there in the private dining room overlooking the water. I learned so much about the geographic area of the wine and how they matched the food with it. It was a four course meal with a reception and about six glasses of wine. Amazing value. Met some really nice people at our table and had a fabulous evening. The tastebuds were dancing. They are having another one on June 26th if you are interested.

• Pros: Food, View, Wine

04/25/08

WARNING! STAY AWAY! Food Poisioning!

by shts

WARNING! STAY AWAY!

We went there for Valentine's Day dinner. The food was pretty good, but a bit oily, service was slow. When we got home, after a few hours, I had a terrible stomach ache and was is so much pain. I did have raw oysters there that day. I seriously thought I had food poisioning. I was woken up two other times in the night with so much pain that I almost cried. I was in the restroom seriously like for an hour each time.

The next morning, I called Cafe del Rey to complain and speak to the general manager, Michael Morrisette. I wanted to tell him that I was very sad and disappointed to have our Valentine's day ruined by this awful painful stomach ache. Morrisette acted so nice, saying how sorry he was and that he wanted to make it up to us somehow. He said he needed to talk to the Chef concerning the oysters and then get back to me, but he promised me he would take care of us.

Days later, still no call back from Morrisette. Then I left numerous messages on his voicemail, the hostess, sent him emails and no reply. Basically Morrisette chose to ignore us! I feel sad, because the restaurant is supposed to be a nice, upscale restaurant, and you would think that they would be very professional and treat their customers right. We will NEVER eat at Cafe del Rey again!

The prices are outrageous! The Valentine's dinner cost us almost $400 and we did not order any drinks! Although it was super expensive, that's not what's so upsetting. The manager Morrisette acted so nice and caring and I truely believed he wanted to make it up to us somehow. But he lied to us and ignored us and just hoped we'd go away.

Don't risk it! Stay away from Cafe del Rey! Trust me, I've had food poisioning once before and I'm sure I got food poisioning from their seafood!

• Pros: Upscale restaurant with a view of the marina.
• Cons: Oily food, Expensive, slow service, unresponsible and unprofessional General Manager

04/06/08

Way overpriced, pretty good brunch

by pishta

View is great. Restaurant is nice. Service was neglectful. Jazz band was a nice touch.

Went there for brunch. Food was good, not great. Then they ala carted us to death. In the end, a so so brunch for 3 was $170.00! (we didnt even have drinks) $16.00 for a cheese plate which consisted of average brie and gouda. Coffee refills were charged.

I wouldnt recommend Cafe Del Rey for brunch.

• Pros: Parking, nice Marina View
• Cons: Bad service, average food, way too expensive

03/13/08

Not Worth The Price, Food almost made me gag

by caligirl30

Why does citysearh view this as 5 starts when a lot of people have rated it less? That is so misleading. Anyways, this place is 3 starts at best. It is beautiful and romantic. The service was attentive, but tries to encourage you, not so gently, to spend more money on more courses. The downfall is the food. It just is not that good. I do not know what people see in this place. I was told by a friend that it is the best place in the Marina. I hope not. My crabcakes were way to citrusy. Too much lemon ruined the crab flavor. Then I ordered their signature dish of black spaghetti. It was interesting, but almost disgusting. Both my bf and I did not like the looks of it and the taste left much to be desired. There was too much going on in that dish. I would not go back. I would have been happier literally having a sandwich at Jerry's or Cheesecake Factory than I was with both my dishes here, and it was pricey.