Guavate

Reviews 4

TR

Traveler Foodie

On a crisp weekend day I ventured into the world of Guavate Puerto Rican Eatery on the Alafaya corridor. The tropical entrance to this restaurant entices as anything in warm climates…..vibrant and cool….a nice place to hang, relax, enjoy friends, and good food. The entrance gave way to a very vibrant, tropical bustling little place. Tables and chairs seemed like they were on top of each other, but that’s a cozy feel, right? As a newer establishment, the interior matched the exterior and surrounding area, upper scale, with a neighborly feel. Moderately modern with hints of the tropics. Upon entrance we were greeted by the proverbial sign “Please wait to be seat”. Okay, where was the greeter??? After a short time a hand gesture. I guess “follow”. So we followed. We were shown to a table in front of the drink, sandwich, and general server hang out station. The menu was a dirty laminated piece of paper. As we scanned the menu, a server approached and greeted us in Spanish. Our extremely limited Spanish vocabulary could not comprehend. We replied in English. She insisted in Spanish. The menu was extensive with all the usual suspects of a Latin style restaurant. Caution: No Lunch menu on Saturdays. Since it was lunch time and the dinner portions seemed very large we decided to try some appetizers and then take it from there. Surtido Aperitivos de Carne (pastelillitos de carne, alcapurrias de carne, rellenos de papas, chicharrones de pollo) Assorted meat appetizers (meat turnovers, root vegetables fritters, potato balls and chicken cracklings). All of these items were overcooked to sharp crispness. The kind of crispness that rips the insides of your mouth. Sorrullitos de Maîz Little deep-fried sweet cornmeal fritters. This item was bland and tasteless, like a little sponge soaked with stale oil. Mofongo de Platano Verde Green plantain mofongo. The pork in here was old and hard, the plantains were not mashed together hence they all fell apart. Pasteles Grated root vegetables stuffed with pork. Finally, a good item, nicely grounded, flavors blended well together. After eating these items my stomach felt like it had just ingested 1 pint of stale cooking oil. Needless to say we did not go further. One of the cornerstones of being able to enjoy ethnic dining, or any dining, is to feel welcome. Somehow, we did not get that feeling here . Was it the language barrier of our server, was it the constant disappearing act, was it the avoidance of eye contact with any other attendants in the restaurant, was it the non refill of our ice teas? Was it the little girl’s pink headband left on the table before we sat? Was it the whisper of my dining companion, “Oh, oh, don’t look like they like us here?” Who can tell….needless to say…..

DI

Diego Nunez - Premium International Realty

WIFE- Sunday night my husband decide to take us out for a family dinner, we wanted to try a new place. I had been told about this place by many different people who claimed it was a great place to eat, adding that the service is phenomenal. Once we arrive, we put our names on a waiting list, the lady says it would be a 5-10 minute wait which is reasonable. We decide to stay and wait it out. About 5 minutes later in walks a party of 5, a party of 3, and a party of 2. The party of 5 are asked if they are 5 adults they answer and are quickly moved to a table. The lady in the party of 3 notices we have been standing for a while and approaches me and questions are you not a party of 4 I tell her "yes we are" and were you not waiting longer than that party was I again answer "yes". Seeking for an answer for the injustice she speaks to the lady who sat the party of 5 down, a few minutes later she walks over very upset at the answer she was given and tells us: "The owner of the establishment has said that this is her business she will seat who she wants when she wants and thats just how her business is RUN!" the lady with the party of 3 tells us "this is my first time here but I am terrible sorry I will not be eating her after her response, have a great night and GOOD LUCK". My husband at this point confused and frustrated with what the lady in the party of 3 has told us decides to go talk to someone about this. He gets the same lady the "OWNER" and tells her what the other lady told us. My husband proceeds to let her know that this was our first time there and that quite frankly we were appalled at that being a reply to a customer. He tells her that word of mouth is a powerful thing in a business and that she wouldnt be getting good reviews from either party. In addition, to letting her know that a little white lie in this case could have saved her 7 consuming customers versus only the 5 that she decided to seat. Informs her that customer service should always be a main priority in any business specially a food business and encourages her to not only depend on luck but also get a bit of business knowledge seeing as she needs it in order to continue operating. WE WILL NEVER COME BACK HERE SPECIALLY AFTER THE WAY WE WERE TREATED!!! COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

A

A Private User

We have been waiting a long time to go to this restauant. Every time we would try, the wait was too long. We finally went and there were plenty of tables available. We decided to sit outside, being that it was a nice evening. Three other families were out there as well. They sat us at the table and one of the slats on the top of the table was broken. We waited...and waited...and waited some more. Finally after sitting out there for 15 minutes, I called the restaurant from my cell phone. The person who answered the phone apologized for the wait, and she said that she would send someone right out. 5 minutes later, my son went inside to see what the holdup was about. A waitress came outside and went to another table that already had their food and she started playing with their baby. Meanwhile, we are still waiting to see anybody. I finally got fed up, sent my family to the car and I went inside to voice my displeasure. They apologized and asked if I would like to be served. I told them that it was too late and that they should treat their customers better. I then took my family up Alafaya trail to Rice and Beans where the service and the food is always good. Guavate should be ashamed of themselves and learn how to treat their clientele a little bit better.

CH

christian cruz

the food here is definitely 5 star quality... but their service wont allow me to rate them as such. Huge portions, amazing sazon and extremely authentic, albeit a tad pricey, but the FOOD is worth what you pay for....the service? not so much. Ive visited the restaurant three times in the last few months, as Im a proponent of allowing business a second (or third in this case) chance to correct their mistakes, because everyone has an off day. Unfortunately, the service is pretty horrendous, specifically how they choose to seat their customers. It feels like youre standing outside the velvet rope of an exclusive club, and the hostess (owner and probably the rudest person ive come across in a while) picks and chooses who she wants to seat...never mind that Ive been waiting longer than the couple who just walked in and knows you. Waitresses? Good luck on that drink refill (in all fairness, theres a couple really attentive ones...the rest? not so much). Ive had a little bit of everything on their menu...from the mofongos, to the seafood, steaks, appetizers, pork and arroz con guandules, and it has not disappointed whatsoever.Pretty amazing, actually. I only wish that the service was on the same level as the food.