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Palapa Grill #271444
12/17/2021 11:14 AM
12/17/2021 11:14 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 287
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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PrairieGirl Offline OP
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Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
Last night we dined at the Palapa Grill. Wonderful atmosphere inside. Lots of plants. The ceiling is made of multiple tent like coverings, reminded me of a ship’s sails. Soft lighting.

We started with a tuna tataki appetizer. So beautifully plated I even took pictures! And delicious too.
[img]http://AADE[/img]

I had a seafood melange
[img]http://881E[/img]

My husband had the sea bass
[img]http://4970[/img]

The service started off well enough, our server was quite pleasant and helped me decide which entree I would enjoy the most. A bit too infrequent on the touch backs, especially considering that the wine was placed out of our reach without standing up.

15% service charge added to bill. $125 all in for one appetizer, 2 entrees, bottle of wine,bottle of sparking water.

Unfortunately, some of the prep work in the kitchen was not up to the same level. The sea bass had not one, but three bones in it. When mentioned to our server when she brought the bill (couldn’t tell her earlier because she didn’t check on the meal) that she needed to let the chef know this she exclaimed “Yes I do, you’re the third person tonight to tell me that”.

And then when she brought the bill, she actually asked my husband if he wanted to leave a tip in addition to the service charge. Hmmm, might of until then.....

So in conclusion, at the same price point we felt that Vesna Taverna was a much better option.

We headed back thinking that we would stop at the Red Piano for a nightcap some music. Traffic was stopped on the bridge and we could see an accident up ahead. The music come from the Yacht Club was fantastic so when it was our turn to turn around we headed into their parking lot instead and I am so glad we did,

Fabulous tunes by a duo that evidentially is there every Thursday night. I wish we had known, we would have gone there for supper instead. A good ending for our evening.

Attached Files 62007AAF-28F0-4F3D-AADE-6BBBE8791DE8.jpeg0C308F5B-1B13-4970-B220-EF1CEE7BB956.jpeg089043C1-1F8A-4CD0-881E-FE3F3C7C94A5.jpeg

LeAnn

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Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271445
12/17/2021 11:29 AM
12/17/2021 11:29 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,485
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Many people here love Palapa Grill. I was EXTREMELY underwhelmed with our experience there. Just a question, did they have a printed wine list (by the bottle)? When we were there, they only had a chalkboard wine list--and the first two selections I made, they did not have. And I'm with you, if they auto tip 15%, that's all they get, and asking if we want to tip more, just p*sses me off.


Carol Hill
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: Carol_Hill] #271458
12/17/2021 11:53 AM
12/17/2021 11:53 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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Auburn, WA
"And I'm with you, if they auto tip 15%, that's all they get"
Same here.

Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271463
12/17/2021 12:05 PM
12/17/2021 12:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 638
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foreversxm Offline
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Lovely Spot but they really push push push the sale which I guess is how to make money. Only about 3 tables of guests that night. Good service, the food was good but not great. I had some sort of chicken mole , not a lot of flavor for the price. They added the 15% and make it clear it was just the taxes and for the kitchen but not the waiters so we added a bit more. All in all $140 for 2 people. First time there. Now I know.

Re: Palapa Grill [Re: foreversxm] #271472
12/17/2021 01:12 PM
12/17/2021 01:12 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,485
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Originally Posted by foreversxm
. They added the 15% and make it clear it was just the taxes and for the kitchen but not the waiters... ".


Bullsh*t...


Carol Hill
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271476
12/17/2021 01:31 PM
12/17/2021 01:31 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 287
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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PrairieGirl Offline OP
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PrairieGirl  Offline OP
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Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
Carol - just the chalkboard wine list.


LeAnn

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Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271483
12/17/2021 01:54 PM
12/17/2021 01:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,485
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,485
Central Florida!
LeAnn--sorry, I don't get that chalkboard wine list thing, for a place that touts themselves as a steak place. They had a printed EXTENSIVE cocktail list, and the wine list is on a chalkboard, and they can't even be bothered to remove bottles that they don't have. They also didn't have a printed dessert list. Did they have that? They must have a new regular menu for the mains, or lots of specials, as when we were there, they only had steaks, a chicken dish, and one fish dish, along with lobster and duck confit on the menu. They had NO specials available. They did not have either the lobster or the duck confit, the night we were there, so the selection was pretty sparse.


Carol Hill
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: Carol_Hill] #271486
12/17/2021 02:05 PM
12/17/2021 02:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,477
Ohio
ruralcarrier Offline
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ruralcarrier  Offline
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Ohio
Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
Originally Posted by foreversxm
. They added the 15% and make it clear it was just the taxes and for the kitchen but not the waiters... ".


Bullsh*t...

For sure.


J.D.
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271487
12/17/2021 02:13 PM
12/17/2021 02:13 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,262
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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We only went there many years ago when they had very firstly opened and which was very good back then.

Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271490
12/17/2021 04:38 PM
12/17/2021 04:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
EdB Offline
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EdB  Offline
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Posts: 3,253
Boynton Beach, FL
We went two years ago, and was way underimpressed with food and service. Vowed then not to return. Too many other places to go, and know what to expect.

Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271492
12/17/2021 05:16 PM
12/17/2021 05:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Offline
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South Coast of MA
I won't bore you rehashing my experience there last year, but add me to the one and done list.

Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271494
12/17/2021 06:20 PM
12/17/2021 06:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 287
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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PrairieGirl Offline OP
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Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
Carol - I can’t answer your question about the dessert menu, I don’t remember. But the couple at the next table were both having dessert (creme brûlée and profiteroles) and they both looked fabulous. Also, their printed menu did have quite a few selections and my meal WAS delicious.

In general - Can you just imagine what would have happened in a Grand Case restaurant if you had found bones in your fish? I’m sure someone would have had to call 911, for the staff!

I didn’t want, nor was expecting any kind of comp, but a “sorry” would have at least been nice.

And I did choose it for supper because there had been recent good reviews here plus an excellent looking price fix menu on their web page. But it turns out that there is no price fix menu except on special occasions.

I’m not throwing them under the bus here, merely pointing out that there are better options at that price point. YMMV.


LeAnn

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Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271495
12/17/2021 06:36 PM
12/17/2021 06:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,485
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,485
Central Florida!
I actually had the creme brulee there and it was terrible.

Regarding the fish, I actually am not a 'fish' person, so I plead ignorance as to what would happen in Grand Case. But the waitress's response to your comment couldn't be worse, throwing the chef under the bus, and not even apologizing.


Carol Hill
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: EdB] #271499
12/17/2021 08:45 PM
12/17/2021 08:45 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 568
Bucks County, PA
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snuba Offline
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Bucks County, PA
Funny how people’s experiences and tastes are vary. Palapa Grill was a highlight of our dining experiences for our last two trips. We received an excellent service and food both times and really love the ambience there. Both times there we were dining with a CIA graduates and exacutive chefs (son and daughter in law) of nationwide upscale restaurant establishments here in States. I guess it is hit or miss for any of them.


Life is short, travel the World.
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271502
12/17/2021 09:44 PM
12/17/2021 09:44 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 287
Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
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PrairieGirl Offline OP
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Edam, Saskatchewan - Canada
Snuba, I absolutely agree, this place COULD be absolutely exceptional! I was totally enthralled with the ambiance and our appetizer until our service started slacking off and the sea bass fiasco. ANY restaurant can have a mishap but it is TOTALLY how that mishap is dealt with that marks a superior dining establishment. Missed that mark on Thursday night.


LeAnn

url=https://www.tickerfactory.com][Linked Image][/url]
Re: Palapa Grill [Re: PrairieGirl] #271516
12/18/2021 10:49 AM
12/18/2021 10:49 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,929
Connecticut
The_Lurker Offline
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Connecticut
Originally Posted by PrairieGirl
Snuba, I absolutely agree, this place COULD be absolutely exceptional! I was totally enthralled with the ambiance and our appetizer until our service started slacking off and the sea bass fiasco. ANY restaurant can have a mishap but it is TOTALLY how that mishap is dealt with that marks a superior dining establishment. Missed that mark on Thursday night.



We had a similar experience. That's all I'm going to say........

I laughed at the bones in the fish--a few years back we ate at probably one of the most popular restaurants there, and my fish was completely filled with bones.
I had no choice but to send it back and I got it returned looking like mashed potatoes, after they tried to remove the bones.

Re: Palapa Grill [Re: The_Lurker] #271521
12/18/2021 11:46 AM
12/18/2021 11:46 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Posts: 18,571
Auburn, WA
Hope you sent it back again and taken off bill.


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