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Dinner at Emilios #301294
05/16/2023 09:49 PM
05/16/2023 09:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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Auburn, WA
We were really looking forward to tonight's dinner. Was a big disappoint. I had the seared duck which was dry and tough and my wife had the scallops which she said were chewy and dry. Service was pretty sketchy as we had to keep asking for our waiter for water etc. Its always a downer when a server that took the order has to ask you who gets what. Nice setting but one and done for us.

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Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301297
05/16/2023 10:00 PM
05/16/2023 10:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 90
Ontario, Canada
CdnCouple Offline
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Ontario, Canada
Have you tried the Sunday Brunch? Quite a nice buffet style spread, all you can eat for $30 pp. And the live entertainment is the guy who plays guitar, I believe, at The Hole (can’t remember his name).

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: CdnCouple] #301299
05/16/2023 10:05 PM
05/16/2023 10:05 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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No. That was our first time there and a one and done for us. Too many other places to spend my money with the time we have on island.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301303
05/17/2023 12:16 AM
05/17/2023 12:16 AM
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,864
Portland, OR
jazzgal Online content
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That's really disappointing to hear. I had a fabulous duck salad (for lunch) in November.


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Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: jazzgal] #301306
05/17/2023 08:02 AM
05/17/2023 08:02 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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I had high hopes for the Duck as it looked great when it came. Was the reason I took that picture. Had a flavorful sauce but very tough and chewy. Caesar salad was good. It was a split whole head of romaine that was grilled. Oh well. Checked off for us.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301310
05/17/2023 09:00 AM
05/17/2023 09:00 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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We ate there once, a while ago. It was OK, but nothing exciting, I didn't think. Our service was awful that night, but I blame it on the table for 12 next to us. Still I am not in big hurry to go back.


Carol Hill
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301313
05/17/2023 09:28 AM
05/17/2023 09:28 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 226
Cincinnati
murphycpcu Offline
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Where is Emilio's?

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301316
05/17/2023 09:33 AM
05/17/2023 09:33 AM
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Posts: 114
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Bigdaddy Offline
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tourist trap

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: Carol_Hill] #301320
05/17/2023 09:46 AM
05/17/2023 09:46 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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There were no big tables occupied last night and a few still open.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301324
05/17/2023 10:29 AM
05/17/2023 10:29 AM
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lcote Online content
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Michael and I went there to enjoy a Sunday brunch. We arrived and there was no one to greet us. We had no idea that it was a buffet. We waited for a good 5-10 minutes and it was like we were invisible. We have never been back.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: lcote] #301325
05/17/2023 11:08 AM
05/17/2023 11:08 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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I'm confused--brunch is almost always buffet, isn't it? Regardless, someone should have waited on you to take drink orders.


Carol Hill
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301327
05/17/2023 11:38 AM
05/17/2023 11:38 AM
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lcote Online content
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we had no idea that it was a buffet and there was no one to tell us where to sit or anything like that. It was like walking into a bunch of people. In fact, I think I said to Michael that this must be a private party since no one was there to greet us or anyting.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301334
05/17/2023 12:14 PM
05/17/2023 12:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,348
Rhode Island
RonDon Online content
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A couple of years ago we did not enjoy our meal so, as Scubaman says, "one and done."

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: Carol_Hill] #301341
05/17/2023 12:53 PM
05/17/2023 12:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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Actually brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch. There is brunch, ordering off a menu, or brunch buffet.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: lcote] #301342
05/17/2023 12:57 PM
05/17/2023 12:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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lcote--but you knew it was brunch? Again, aren't brunches almost always buffets? Regardless, if I walk in and no one from the restaurant acknowledges me, I don't wait too long before leaving. .


Carol Hill
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301350
05/17/2023 03:42 PM
05/17/2023 03:42 PM
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foreversxm Online content
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It certainly is a known SXM establishment but with a few exceptions,, That could have been about any restaurant on the island. We love SXM and its residents ….but when it comes to a good customer service experience anywhere it’s extremely lacking compared to the rest of the world. Very few restaurants have what I would consider properly trained staff. Oh yes, walk into a restaurant and nobody wants to move and it takes forever to get acknowledged. So many times I’ve seen staff talking to each other in the corner and ignoring customers in the locally owned and operated restaurants are among the worst. Unless the owner is there forget about getting good service. No motivation. Unfortunately that’s why many places have to hire foreign staff that has real training and experience. Call it just don’t care or lazy …. They call it island time. I’m not in a hurry on vacation I suppose. So we just have to be aggravated or get used to it. To me French side a little better, but with a definite attitude. Pretty much the entire Caribbean on island time. IMO.

Last edited by foreversxm; 05/17/2023 03:44 PM.
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301354
05/17/2023 05:37 PM
05/17/2023 05:37 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 574
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Sorry to hear of your experience.

We had a lovely meal with matching service last September.
I am assuming that Norman the owner was off for the evening as it seems he touches base with each guest table during the evening.
His niece oversees the floor in his absence and also is very caring

Chalk it up as a bad experience.
Sort of a bummer when you have high hopes.
Sometimes hard to give up a an evening at an known restaurant to try something new

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: mahokid] #301355
05/17/2023 05:42 PM
05/17/2023 05:42 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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Norman was there and stopped by the table before the food was served.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: Carol_Hill] #301356
05/17/2023 05:45 PM
05/17/2023 05:45 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
lcote--but you knew it was brunch? Again, aren't brunches almost always buffets?


No, brunch is not almost always a buffet. We go out for brunch often, and always order from a menu.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: Carol_Hill] #301357
05/17/2023 06:32 PM
05/17/2023 06:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 179
East Tennessee
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Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
lcote--but you knew it was brunch? Again, aren't brunches almost always buffets? Regardless, if I walk in and no one from the restaurant acknowledges me, I don't wait too long before leaving. .


Not here... usually a special menu, but not buffet.


Laura
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: lhbsurf] #301367
05/17/2023 11:23 PM
05/17/2023 11:23 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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OK, that's not been my experience in general. But if one researches brunch at Emilio's, the pictures that come up are of a buffet.


Carol Hill
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301465
05/20/2023 04:46 PM
05/20/2023 04:46 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,666
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irina Offline
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Two things as an ex restaurant manager.
Carol, Brunch is not always a buffet. You may go to a Brunch Buffet but as Scuba said, Breakfast and Lunch make Brunch.
I always order Eggs Benedict. You cannot serve that on a buffet.
Forever, Service is NOT always bad in the Caribbean. It's not the server. It's the owner. I an owner does not
set standards, non will be followed. We have been in over 14 islands in the caribbean and we have had great service on SXM and others.
Cheers!
Wish I were there now!

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: irina] #301467
05/20/2023 05:29 PM
05/20/2023 05:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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I agree with everything you said except about eggs Benedict. I have had it at a brunch buffet before. Sometimes not as fresh with soft yokes but still ok.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: irina] #301468
05/20/2023 05:34 PM
05/20/2023 05:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,472
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Irina--as I said, if one researches brunch at Emilio's, it is a buffet.


Carol Hill
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301469
05/20/2023 05:39 PM
05/20/2023 05:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 568
Bucks County, PA
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snuba Offline
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Bucks County, PA
I have to agree with you Scuba, I have seen plenty of eggs Benedict at a brunch/breakfast buffets before, especially on a cruise ships. And like you said, might not be of a best quality but edible.


Life is short, travel the World.
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301483
05/21/2023 06:47 AM
05/21/2023 06:47 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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We have put this place on the list, take it off. After this report, thank you for saving us the aggravation!! I'm in the service business, if the service is bad, I don't care how good the reviews are about the food. It's off the list! There' is a few places on that list where you couldn't pay me enough money to go there again!! I'm not naming names, this isn't about bashing restaurants, it's about a good experience. That includes high end and casual dining too!! There are far too many places to catch up on and favorites to go back to, knowing that everything is going to be exactly has it should be,start to finish! It starts with good service!!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301484
05/21/2023 07:37 AM
05/21/2023 07:37 AM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 112
sxm
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FOREVER, I totally disagree with you, besides my disagreement with your general criticism about the level of service in the Caribbean makes me wonder why you keep going.

Last edited by enzosxm; 05/21/2023 07:38 AM.
Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: enzosxm] #301489
05/21/2023 11:39 AM
05/21/2023 11:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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Originally Posted by enzosxm
FOREVER, I totally disagree with you, besides my disagreement with your general criticism about the level of service in the Caribbean makes me wonder why you keep going.


clapping

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMBND] #301493
05/21/2023 02:29 PM
05/21/2023 02:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 638
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foreversxm Online content
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Lots of good reasons we keep going. Obviously like everyone we love the beaches, the weather and its people. After almost 30 years I’ve never met anyone that goes to sxm because of its wonderful customer service but I’m sure they are a few exceptions. We’ve traveled the world and generally when we go abroad almost everyplace has good prompt experienced staff. My opinion is sxm needs help on that.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301506
05/21/2023 08:24 PM
05/21/2023 08:24 PM
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irina Offline
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Originally Posted by SXMScubaman
I agree with everything you said except about eggs Benedict. I have had it at a brunch buffet before. Sometimes not as fresh with soft yokes but still ok.


That's what I mean. It's not really a buffet item. But you guys are missing the point. Any business is only as good as it's owner.
Don't blame the servers.
Cheers
irina

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: irina] #301508
05/21/2023 08:28 PM
05/21/2023 08:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
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If service isn't good it's the server. That's that.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: SXMScubaman] #301520
05/22/2023 05:38 AM
05/22/2023 05:38 AM
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lcote Online content
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Yeah, I mean, I'm sure there ARE servers who may have never been to a restaurant before. But if you have, you know what you want in a decent server.

Re: Dinner at Emilios [Re: lcote] #301523
05/22/2023 06:52 AM
05/22/2023 06:52 AM
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Posts: 13,398
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Different people have different expectations of servers. Some want a server who checks repeatedly to make sure everything is OK, while others want a server who observes, and recognizes when the diner needs something. I'm in the second group. For the most part, I find service on the island to be good.


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