In regards to the title, I am referring to food, and complaints about the quality of the food as opposed to the cost. On Brickell, like most business areas, there are a number of restaurants, which to put it bluntly, are overpriced. Now that isn’t to say that there isn’t high quality food at a high cost, like Rosa Mexicana. However you also have a P.F. Changs. And yes, I know a lot of people rave about P.F. Changs, but quite frankly, if I want Chinese, I will go to a CHINESE restaurant, not some over salted, over priced restaurant where I am paying for the brand more than I am the crappy food.
There are many other restaurants, as I have mentioned in the past that do not live up to their expectation. Take Gordon Biersch. At first, this was a mainstay at the office. However, it has become quite apparent that food-wise, this place is a crappy, disorganized version of Chili’s trying to seem more upscale. I’m sorry, but if the majority of your menu is burgers and sandwiches, you need to leave the aura of pretension behind. And lately, the place has just been abysmal. A few weeks ago, the kitchen was hindered, and we were subjected to a limited menu. We left. Two weeks ago we were suckered into trying their seasonal beer (It was as if they repackaged Budweiser; i.e. it wasn’t impressive at all) and their Shrimp Poboy was fried salad shrimp on a hoagie, not in one. Last week my co-worker and I both got sick on their burgers. Now I won’t deny that their beers are fantastic. I love the Golden Export and the Marzen, as well I look forward to their Oktoberfest seasonal. But at this point, the place has become a slightly classy bar, with good bar food, but not a place I would attend for a real meal. And at the menu over $10 per item, it is low quality, high cost.
Ultimately, if you want a cheap burger or sandwich, it is far better to walk down the road to Tobacco Road, the oldest alcohol serving establishment in Dade County. It has gone through a number of changes over the decades, but will give you what you want; an opposite case from Gordon Biersh providing decent quality and low cost.
Then of course you have the cafeteria style restaurants. In them, you can get main course with two sides and a drink for less than $10. This is a lot more food than other restaurants, and it usually tastes much better. You get no image for eating there, but you do get satisfied. Unfortunately, one of the more diverse cafeterias has become finicky: depending on who the cook is, the food will either be fantastic, or warm cardboard. Low Quality, Low Cost, actual satisfaction.
You also have more restaurants advertising specific lunch menus with lunch prices to compete with the fact that 2 gallons of gas costs more than a meal. Mi-kan, the great Japanese restaurant on Brickell, actually operated by someone from Japan, has recently places 4 items on a “New Lunch Menu” for $8 and comes with rice, a california roll and soup. This is a great deal, but I still enjoy the bento boxes which are $3 more, but provide a good amount of tempura and salad as well. High Quality, Medium Cost.
Finally you do have the High Quality, High Cost restaurants, like Morton’s Steak House, and Abocado. Morton’s is one of the best restaurants on Brickell. Granted its no Bern’s (then again, nothing is), but it is a solid restaurant if you want a good steak and aren’t afraid to drop some cash. There are a lot of these in the area as I said.
Speaking of lunch, we are heading out now for lunch. New Employee means lunch on the company dollar, so hopefully it is one of the nicer places.
Jason Orkin, Eater
Tags: Bern's, Brickell, Complaint, Food, Gordon Biersh, P. F. Changs, PF Changs, Restaurants, tobacco road
