March 1st, 2010
What was it, Tiramisu or La Vieux Paris?…Restaurant…Review…Italian or French?…Where was I?…Boca Raton…Florida…
Where do I start? Oh, yes, I forgot; It started with my husband taking a nap on Saturday. While he was enjoying his beauty sleep I decided that the restaurant reservation I had made for dinner that evening was going to be way too early. We had a late lunch. Lolo and Maru have been visiting and since they were in Delray for a few days only I really wanted to show them the town.
We took a walk and, you know how this little Village by the Sea is. Two arts and crafts fairs, Green Market, cold weather, outdoor seating, etc. We even took a drive to Palm Beach.
Unless you get a reservation early in the week for a week-end evening, at one of the many restaurants in Delray, it is hard. Knowing that, I still decided to cancel my reservation and go to a restaurant in Boca that I had never been to, or will go ever again. I heard about it and at this moment I am not sure if I was at the right place.
I was told that this restaurant was so quaint, French, authentic; you could hear people speaking in French, etc. etc. I thought that could be a good place to check. The name of the restaurant was supposed to be La Vieux Paris and I was told that the owners originally had sold the restaurant but still worked there. The address was 170 West Camino Real, Boca Rato, FL 33432. Website www.Tiramisu-Restaurant.com. At this point you should be wondering why the website does not correspond with the name of the restaurant. Read on…
It had rained in Delray that afternoon and I left the moon roof slightly opened. Needless to say the moment I got in the car I got wet including also my front passenger, my husband. The start of a great evening.
I followed the directions given to the restaurant but every time I took a turn, a waterfall would go on my head from the rooftop. Just great.
The restaurant was in the corner of a shopping center on Camino Real. We immediately got confused when two names appeared on the restaurant; La Vieux Paris and Tiramisu. They were the same.
I asked if I was at La Vieux Paris and the lady said that yes but that it had changed names some years ago. I really was looking for the authentic French restaurant and Tiramisu was Italian with Victorian decor and a few French dishes. There was no turning back; we were sitting at the table and water was being served.
I saw the long faces of my husband and son, while Maru and Lolo were being good sports. I could tell my husband wanted to run. He even hated the tablecloth, the unmatched dishes and wine glasses and a few other things I will not mention. No wait, I will mention one; the waiter kept serving every one else at the table reaching across his face. Not good.
We ordered a soup and salad. It was o.k. The best dish was the gnocchi with spinach; that was it. The dish that caused commotion was the red snapper. Two of us ordered it and one was sent back. At this point he did not want anything else. The service was slow and we wanted to get out of there. I had the other snapper and even though the presentation looked good, the dish was mushy and watery and the ten green beans were canned; the two tablespoons of yellow rice were o.k.
The Red Snapper - The dish that caused commotion.
Pretty soon, after the snapper was sent back, a not too happy person came out to find out what was wrong. We told him about the fish and the green beans and he wanted to give us more green beans and we just said that the dish was not really good. He, the chef and owner, Tommy Kabashi, said that he tasted the fish and there was nothing wrong with it and he had sold many. And, that we were paying for the mushy snapper. Off he went back to where he came from. The 18% was added to the party of 5 and I decided not to leave a tip. Sorry but that is the way went. The snapper was $30 and I considered that the tip.
Note: In my last post I mentioned that since I like to cook, when going to a restaurant I want that personal service; I want it like I am the only person in the restaurant. Well, what a disappointment!
It is also worth mentioning that before going to the restaurant we saw a few bad reviews on the internet. Lolo, Maru and I decided that we don’t pay too much attention to those because a lot of times is a matter of opinion. I have to think about that one again.
Lorenzo’s (my son’s friend) parents, who live in Boca, went to this restaurant for lunch and it did not go well, either.
One thing we all will not forget was the laughs and memories that came out of that evening. Expensive as it was, it was funny, especially when my husband kept saying he was in a happy place but his face said otherwise.
Sorry it took so long to write this one. It was a first when I really decided that there is no way I would go back to Tiramisu/La Vieux Paris, whatever the name is.
Until later….from Delray Beach….still cold but beautiful day….hasta luego Maru and Lolo, maybe Culebra?…or Old San Juan….
Tags: Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Florida, Full Bar, lunch and dinner, Restaurant, Restaurants, review, Reviews
Oh my !! I think this is your first negative review. Beware of the bad reviews next time ! I guarantee you will always have a good story to tell after that dining disaster.
Some time there are other things that make us un happy & we transfer them. In this case the resturant got the short end of the stick. Next time I hope a happy person shows up,to begin with to have a meal. The people you are with matter. No one seemed happy & there was the trickle down effect. As you mentioned your evening started badly.
The evening started with rain on our heads but we laughed it off. I still have not seen the people that recommended it to us but one thing for certain was that we are still talking about it so, I must admit, it was memorable. Really, thanks for your comments to the blog.