Corner of 38th and La Quinta Restaurants - Page 2

morganlefaye · 02-20-2011

Love El Emporio. Can't wait to go back there..

Also tried Cocina 38, the food was amazing but they really could lower the prices a little bit...

Elysium · 02-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by morganlefaye

Love El Emporio. Can't wait to go back there..

Also tried Cocina 38, the food was amazing but they really could lower the prices a little bit...

Supposedly they did when they re-opened in Nov '10-when were you there?

barbj050 · 02-20-2011

thank you

sharon/snowy · 02-20-2011

Wow, that corner has changed alot in the last year!

morganlefaye · 02-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elysium

Supposedly they did when they re-opened in Nov '10-when were you there?

Nope... we were there in April 2010, but if you say they lowered their prices we'll definitely go back! lol

TCed · 02-20-2011

anyone know the name of the small Italian restaurant around 40, 42 nd between 5th and the beach ? We ate there last March and will return again. Piola is great thin crust pizza and Cave of the Monkeys is teriffic.
ed

absoluteAL · 02-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCed

anyone know the name of the small Italian restaurant around 40, 42 nd between 5th and the beach ? We ate there last March and will return again. Piola is great thin crust pizza and Cave of the Monkeys is teriffic.
ed

Only one that I can think of in that area is Pummarola and that location has been closed for quite awhile.

NorthernMN · 02-20-2011

We tried a few restaurants on the north end this last trip (December). El Emporio was very good. (We tried the ribeye, the short ribs and the Uraguyan Chicken. All were flavorful, too much sauce on the chicken but it was good). At La Portena we only had a snack of empanadas and they were good. I really loved the pizza at Piola although the rest of my travelers preferred La Pummarola. This was our first time to eat at La Cueva del Chango and we enjoyed two delicious breakfasts there. We also had dinner at La Bodeguita del Medio and thought the food was tasty but the choices were very limited. Also ate at El Pirata on calle 40 between 5th and 10th avenues for lunch one day. Spicy green (more watery style) salsa, interesting feel about the place. It felt "local" but had a lot of tourists. I would try it again. Food was good, but nothing exceptional. For beach club food, we preferred Kool over Mamitas. We also liked the service at the El Fogon that is the furthest north on 30th avenue (calle 30/calle 32?) Wow, all of a sudden I'm getting hungry.

Moncoeur · 02-21-2011

I ate at LBdM last month when I was in Playa. Basically the same menu as when they were located at the South end of 5th, but I like Cuban food and have eaten there at least once every trip to Playa. Little bit of a strange set-up with the kitchen at the new location, but the food and service were fine.

Allen&Jessica · 02-21-2011

Is Chez Celine closed on Mondays, or do they possibly open later? We tried to go there around 8:30 this morning, and the doors were locked, nobody in site.

Also, has Xcocolatier (sp?) closed? We tried going there after no luck at Chez Celine, and it didn't appear to be open, either.

angelhouston819 · 02-21-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen&Jessica

Is Chez Celine closed on Mondays, or do they possibly open later? We tried to go there around 8:30 this morning, and the doors were locked, nobody in site.

Also, has Xcocolatier (sp?) closed? We tried going there after no luck at Chez Celine, and it didn't appear to be open, either.

Chez Celine is closed on Mondays. went by there in November on a Monday and later found out that Mondays/not open.

absoluteAL · 02-21-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen&Jessica

Also, has Xcocolatier (sp?) closed?

Yes it is closed.........out of business.

Allen&Jessica · 02-21-2011

Oh, thanks A'ndrea and Al.

That's a shame about Xcocolatier.

Dpreefer · 02-21-2011

I love the quick feedback from all you peeps. Keep them coming.

Xococolatier did close. I think they were only open for 3 or 4 months. One of the quicker in-outs I have seen. But this was a failure of concept, even though it had a very spiffy renovation. But how do you make a living on coffee and expensive candy and pastries?

Cocina 38 has lowered their prices. They put out a very sophisticated product and are determined to make it through the hard times that only now seem to be getting better. The prices are now very affordable, especially for this kind of meal, so take advantage of it, because I am sure that in a year the prices will rise again so that the owners can make a decent product and maintain their high standards.

I still need the name and reviews of the Mexican place above Baremar. Very bad location, with the entrance hidden behind Baremar. If they put out a good product, I would love to help them overcome this, but in my experience, a 2nd floor restaurant is very difficult to make successful, and a restaurant where the entrance is not imposing or clearly visible, is only feasable if it maintains an exclusive identity for the cognocenti. I doubt this location can pass these tests, but I hope so because we all know how much work and investment it takes to open a new restaurant, and the emotional investment of trying to present a new concept and good food shoul always be rewarded if the product is good. Give these guys a shot and send your feedback.

laurab · 02-21-2011

Baremar is my new favourite place in Playa, I'm there at least twice a week! It's struggling so please please go and don't let it close down! Excellent food, excellent service (if you're cold, ask them if they have a blanket..they do!!!!! NOW THAT'S SERVICE!), good drinks, good wine, good music, great atmosphere, smiling faces, great icecream selection, and mondays/tuesdays they have ladies/men's night.
TRY IT!!!!!

02-20-2011	#23 (permalink)
NorthernMN way into it Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 154	North end eats We tried a few restaurants on the north end this last trip (December). El Emporio was very good. (We tried the ribeye, the short ribs and the Uraguyan Chicken. All were flavorful, too much sauce on the chicken but it was good). At La Portena we only had a snack of empanadas and they were good. I really loved the pizza at Piola although the rest of my travelers preferred La Pummarola. This was our first time to eat at La Cueva del Chango and we enjoyed two delicious breakfasts there. We also had dinner at La Bodeguita del Medio and thought the food was tasty but the choices were very limited. Also ate at El Pirata on calle 40 between 5th and 10th avenues for lunch one day. Spicy green (more watery style) salsa, interesting feel about the place. It felt "local" but had a lot of tourists. I would try it again. Food was good, but nothing exceptional. For beach club food, we preferred Kool over Mamitas. We also liked the service at the El Fogon that is the furthest north on 30th avenue (calle 30/calle 32?) Wow, all of a sudden I'm getting hungry.

02-21-2011	#29 (permalink)
Dpreefer beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 315	Thanks for the feedback I love the quick feedback from all you peeps. Keep them coming. Xococolatier did close. I think they were only open for 3 or 4 months. One of the quicker in-outs I have seen. But this was a failure of concept, even though it had a very spiffy renovation. But how do you make a living on coffee and expensive candy and pastries? Cocina 38 has lowered their prices. They put out a very sophisticated product and are determined to make it through the hard times that only now seem to be getting better. The prices are now very affordable, especially for this kind of meal, so take advantage of it, because I am sure that in a year the prices will rise again so that the owners can make a decent product and maintain their high standards. I still need the name and reviews of the Mexican place above Baremar. Very bad location, with the entrance hidden behind Baremar. If they put out a good product, I would love to help them overcome this, but in my experience, a 2nd floor restaurant is very difficult to make successful, and a restaurant where the entrance is not imposing or clearly visible, is only feasable if it maintains an exclusive identity for the cognocenti. I doubt this location can pass these tests, but I hope so because we all know how much work and investment it takes to open a new restaurant, and the emotional investment of trying to present a new concept and good food shoul always be rewarded if the product is good. Give these guys a shot and send your feedback.

02-21-2011	#30 (permalink)
laurab añejo Merchant Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Playa Posts: 1,671	Baremar Baremar is my new favourite place in Playa, I'm there at least twice a week! It's struggling so please please go and don't let it close down! Excellent food, excellent service (if you're cold, ask them if they have a blanket..they do!!!!! NOW THAT'S SERVICE!), good drinks, good wine, good music, great atmosphere, smiling faces, great icecream selection, and mondays/tuesdays they have ladies/men's night. TRY IT!!!!!

02-20-2011	#16 (permalink)
morganlefaye way into it Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 161	Love El Emporio. Can't wait to go back there.. Also tried Cocina 38, the food was amazing but they really could lower the prices a little bit...

02-20-2011	#18 (permalink)
barbj050 añejo Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: puerto vallarta Posts: 1,885	thank you

02-20-2011	#19 (permalink)
sharon/snowy way into it Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: denver, colorado Posts: 211	Wow, that corner has changed alot in the last year!

02-20-2011	#21 (permalink)
TCed beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Traverse City, Mi Posts: 372	anyone know the name of the small Italian restaurant around 40, 42 nd between 5th and the beach ? We ate there last March and will return again. Piola is great thin crust pizza and Cave of the Monkeys is teriffic. ed

02-21-2011	#24 (permalink)
Moncoeur into ruins Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 70	I ate at LBdM last month when I was in Playa. Basically the same menu as when they were located at the South end of 5th, but I like Cuban food and have eaten there at least once every trip to Playa. Little bit of a strange set-up with the kitchen at the new location, but the food and service were fine.

02-21-2011	#25 (permalink)
Allen&Jessica life=playa Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: north of Playa Posts: 500	Is Chez Celine closed on Mondays, or do they possibly open later? We tried to go there around 8:30 this morning, and the doors were locked, nobody in site. Also, has Xcocolatier (sp?) closed? We tried going there after no luck at Chez Celine, and it didn't appear to be open, either.

02-21-2011	#28 (permalink)
Allen&Jessica life=playa Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: north of Playa Posts: 500	Oh, thanks A'ndrea and Al. That's a shame about Xcocolatier.

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