One Bleu at the Regent Bal Harbour

[dlgc]

They are now taking reservations for dinner starting on the 4th, Monday. We will be there Friday night and will report back. We have seen the room and it's quite pretty, with the most spectactular view of Haulover Inlet and the ocean. The hotel is also opening on the 4th. The grounds and pool area are awsome, and the public rooms at the hotel are the nicest I've seen. It's really worth a go see.

[in the biz]

I had dinner the other night and I must the place is beautiful, but the food was horrible and very pricey. I guess the chef has some work to do. I'd much rather eat in the restaurant at the Trump International in Sunny Isles.

[dlgc]

We had dinner at theView Bar at the Regent Bal Harbour on Friday night and we though it was great. Salads and mussels were enjoyed by all. The view of the sunset and the boats traveling up and down the inlet only led to a wonderful dining expierence.

[jmdhsmiami]

Just added this to the "to do" list. Anxious to hear how it is if we don't make it before you!

[dlgc]

Has anyone been there yet.......

[jmdhsmiami]

Anyone actually go to this yet?

[dlgc]

Stopped in for drinks last weekend at the view bar. Yes, the view is truly outstanding with outside seating and food service. You feel like your on a cruise ship watching the boats zipping in and out of the inlet on their way to the ocean. The hotel seemed busy with a nice group of hotel guests enjoying drinks. We were there for an hour or so, and will go back again. We found it to be be very enjoyable to be on the water in such beautiful surroundings.

[lax2mia]

Here's a write-up.

http://www.miami.com/first-look-1-ble...

[Frodnesor]

Could be wrong, but I get the impression those "First Looks" are written exclusively from press releases without having actually visited the restaurant

[dlgc]

I can't believe no one else has tried the View Bar or One Bleu yet......it's time for some reviews......we will be there for lunch with friends tomorrow.......

[dlgc]

Lunch at the View Bar today was very nice. We sat outside along Haulover Inlet watching the fishing boats coming and going along with beautiful pleasure craft and huge yachts. Now on to lunch. I had the citrus cured salmon salad. The salmon was medium rare and plated beautifully with a very lightly dressed salad.. The others had a Cesar salad with chicken that they enjoyed. Their coffee is french press and wonderful. We will definitely be back to sample the Kobe sliders which looked great at the table next to us, and a few other items on the menu.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

I bet it was better than Pescecane and Michael's Kitchen....

[dlgc]

It certainly can not compare to Pescecane.....it's like comparing apples and oranges. Pescecane is in a league of its own...the best Italian restaurant in the North Dade area, the wait for a reservation speaks for itself. Have you been there? I would be interested in your thoughts. I won't get into Michaels with you again because he is no longer running it, he is now in charge of all the food and catering at the hotel. I guess they liked his food and ability.

[Frodnesor]

*wait for a reservation speaks for itself*
I would never automatically equate popularity with high quality.

*I guess they liked his food and ability.*
Being made responsible for room service burgers and rubber chickens for banquets (instead of your namesake restaurant) is hardly what I'd call a vote of confidence.

[jmdhsmiami]

Remember you never ate there Frodnesor! ; )

[dlgc]

In this case, at Pescecane, high quality does equate with popularity. At his prices if the quality and talent of cooking weren't there, his restaurant wouldn't be filled every night. We were there on a Monday a week or two ago, and it was packed starting at 7, and we watched people being turned away at the door all evening. If you have never been there it's hard to comment, why don't you try it for yourself.

[Frodnesor]

*At his prices if the quality and talent of cooking weren't there, his restaurant wouldn't be filled every night.*

High priced + popular ≠ good.
Exhibit A: Barton G.

I'm not saying the place isn't good - I haven't been - I'm just saying the fact that it's busy doesn't alone convince me.

As for Italian in North Dade (if that's what we're going to call Surfside), I've always liked Ragazzi. Are you really telling me Pescecane is that much better?

jm.... No, I never ate at Michael's Kitchen - however, I just can't even begin to get my head around how no longer running one's own restaurant, and instead running the hotel's in-house / catering facility, should be taken as a good sign.

[dlgc]

We feel that Pescecane is much better than Ragazzi. You should try this restaurant so you can compare the two.

[jmdhsmiami]

DLGC my remark was about Michael's Kitchen, they had made remarks on his food and had never eaten there, I was just holding them accountable to making comments regarding someones restaurant when they have not eaten there. Though Frodnesor has made some great posts regarding their experiences, I just don't think it is right to comment on something you have never tried.

[Miami Danny]

"Could be wrong, but I get the impression those "First Looks" are written exclusively from press releases without having actually visited the restaurant."

Say it ain't so, Sara!

[lax2mia]

Agree with MD. The impression I get in those First Looks by Sara is that they're the real deal. She doesn't seem to be the type to shortcut a review by plagiarizing a press release.

[Frodnesor]

Look, I don't mean to cast aspersions on anyone's integrity. Maybe I'm just reaching that conclusion because the "First Looks" are so uniformly and blissfully glowing and uncritical that they, well, read like press releases.

There have been 13 "First Looks" and so far every single place that's gotten a "look" is apparently going to be a hip, cool, smashing success (including at least a couple that have gotten much less favorable reviews here, like Domo Japones and Smoking Rabbit).

I assume this is what the Herald wants to print, and the "Looks" do a good job of describing some of the dishes, but I can't place much weight on all the hyperbole.

[dlgc]

We just stopped in at the View Bar on the way home and had a great dinner. I had a cornish hen with mushrooms which was delish, and hubby had the kobe sliders with fries. It was quiet, just another table was being served and the view again was awsome.

[allpurposedark]

Just to clear things up -- I do eat at these restaurants to report about the openings. I am not the Herald food critic -- that's another person's job.

[jmdhsmiami]

DLGC my remark about "not eating there yet" was about Michael's Kitchen, they had made remarks on his food and had never eaten there, I was just holding them accountable to making comments regarding someones restaurant when they have not eaten there. Though Frodnesor has made some great posts regarding their experiences, I just don't think it is right to comment on something you have never tried.

[dlgc]

jmdhsmiami, I agree....

[Frodnesor]

JM ... I hope I've been clear and forthright in acknowledging that I've not eaten at Michael's Kitchen - I *have* relayed the experiences of folks whose taste I generally trust who went and were very disappointed; I've also expressed my own skepticism about a place that seems to rely so much on gimmickry and goofy presentations.

My "room service burgers and rubber banquet chickens" comment was directed to the fact that someone said he's no longer running the restaurant but is doing the in-house food and catering for the hotel, as if that were a good thing (room service burgers and rubber chickens being the mainstay of hotel dining).

[Frodnesor]

APD - I was wrong to suggest otherwise, and I'm sorry. And I do understand that the "First Look" isn't intended to be a full-blown restaurant review.