Thursday March 27, 2008
Boo, hiss: I stopped by Canela last night about 10:20 pm (went out of my way, because I know they’re open late), and arrived to be told by a waiter that they were closing because it was a slow night. Their regular closing time is supposed to be 11:30 pm. Look for more slow nights, Canela, because that’s bullshit.
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Can’t wait for News Cafe to open @ 55th Street Station – heard it might be 24 hours, w00p.
i can’t wait for more PF Chang’s dirty cheap whore step sister “Pei Wei” to come popping out.
I attempted to take my family to Canela based on the Critical Miami website. They were hesitant but I was determined, we get in the car, drive there to find a sign posted on the door stating that their credit card machine was broken and on that evening they only took cash.
We got in the car and have never returned.
Andiamo Pizza up the block still rocks!
canela is always closed
A word in its defense~ the owner is clearly idiosyncratic a little off his rocker in a charming way, with the weird menu explanations and the always being out of ketchup and the general funkiness of the place, which inclines me to put up with a certain amount of crap. And times are hard for restaurants (And others) so even closing early is semi-understandable.
I may go back, but it’s a bummer to know I can’t rely on it for late-evening snacks.
Unfortunately this has been systematic at many of the newer restaurants along Biscayne Blvd. Ver-Daddy’s now only delivers from 5pm to 10pm and Sundays appear optional. In their defense, given the ridiculous cost of living in Dade, it must be hard to attract and keep good help for a small business.
yeah, i think we should go easy on local businesses. they aren’t going to be open 24 hours a day or always deliver or serve your food fast like mcdonalds.
what local businesses should do is provide a unique atmosphere and service, money that stays in the community, and good quality food.
yeah yourself.
My point is don’t say you’re going to be open until 11:30 and then close whenever you goddamn please, because people are making a trip expecting you to be open. If you want to close when the mood strikes you, say so on your friggin door and website
Hours: whatever we goddamn please and a given day
THAT i would respect.
PS the website is intermittently down, so no Weekend roundup today. I’ll fix it over this weekend PROMISE!!!
I’ve never been to Canela (even though I drive by it several times every day). The place has gotten absolutely no buzz around here (is there a reason for that?).
I absolutely agree with supporting the little guy, and try to do my part. But closing early, not having ketchup… etc… is annoying.
The onus is on the small business owner to deliver the same service (or better) than the big boys. I know I would do my damnedest to make that happen if I owned a place like that.
But alas, I can’t afford it.
If you haven’t been, its worth the trip. And if you’re looking to save a few bucks they always include coupons in the ValPak that’s circulated in the area.
Alesh, cost of living seems to be affecting the bigger chains to along the blvd. Was at CVS yesterday and only 1 person was working because apparently everyone else called out sick.
As annoyed as I get when this shit happens at Canela, Ver-Daddy’s or Kingdom, I’ve since learned to program all of their phone numbers in my cell and I call ahead. At Kingdom it’s really worth it, as they have rotating chef’s and having been previously spoiled by an incredible mushroom risotto for $12 I now only eat there when Nelson is in the kitchen.
Speaking about little guys on the Boulevard, Sweetcakes Edibles is a cupcake shop at 84 street / Biscayne, next to the Shorecrest dry cleaners.
It’s a great little shop and they try to do neighborhood things at night like cupcake bingo, private parties, etc. They’re getting killed because people avoid that area like the plaque due to the neverending construction. It takes effort to keep these places in business.
Been to Canela twice. I wouldn’t expect the world’s greatest service but I WOULD expect a unique experience and some great Sangria.
“Oh No! No Ketchup!?!? I won’t be able to eat anything on the menu now!” Give me a break. Drink your sangria, enjoy the ambiance, and have a good time.
As for the hours, closing on a whim is unacceptable.
I had the same problem with Miami’s Best Pizza on US 1.
About a year ago or so, they started hyping up their new late hours, putting up a sign outside that they’re now open to 1 a.m Sunday thru Wednesday, 2 a.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Twice I called more than a half hour before closing time to order a pizza. And twice they were closed.
The last time really pissed me off because after letting the phone ring endlessly, a woman picked up the phone and yelled, “we’re closed”, before slamming the phone down in my face.
I sent them an email to complain. Three weeks later, the manager sent me a weak apology and no explanation.
I haven’t been back there since and I will never go back again.
News Cafe at 55th Street Station? Really? When?
My diet would then consist exclusively of Eggs Benedict.
Canela’s has been deteriorating rapidly. If you’re lucky and you show up on a day where they have all the ingredients to cook your food, and bread to hold you over while you wait, make sure to ask for your check while you have their attention because that could easily be another 15 minutes. It won’t matter though, they’ll forget and you’ll have to ask again.
The last 5 times I’ve been there in the last couple of months, it’s become well over the usual 1 hour lunch, so plan accordingly.
I’ve really enjoyed my first few experiences there and the food is excellent, but the service has just fallen apart. It really is a shame.
i could be wrong, but i think they’re calling it “the news”.
i was picking up andiamo’s last week and it looked pretty darn close to completion.
Yeah-that’s exactly what we need-another Mark Soyka joint with shitty food. You can’t even get decent eggs at News Cafe. How do you Eff Up eggs?
And Alesh-So Canela was closing early ONE NIGHT. So you throw them under the bus? And ‘no ketchup’ ? I take that as a commitment, not a mistake. All those good meals and good times are tossed out because they’re dead one night so they close early. BFD. Yeah, I know what you’re going to say, it’s the principle. BS. One bad experience and you’‘ll never go back? How childish.
Oh, and ‘I was there”- there’s a freakin BANK right next door to them. How hard is it to get money out of an ATM?
No, I’ll probably go back. But I have a right to be pissed. I made a TRIP on the specific knowledge that they where OPEN. Like I said, if their website said “open until we feel like closing” it’d be something else.
Agree on the ketchup and atm. The ketchup thing actually is a little childish, but it goes with the idiosyncratic theme of the place.
My point is that people like me are often in need of a nibble late evening, and it was nice having an alternative to fucking Denny’s. Well, now this particular alternative can’t be relied upon, can it?
I could do like Bystander and program their number into my phone. Or I could do like I did that night, AFTER making the detour — drive my ass home and go to A La Foile.
A la folie rocks. You scored. Agree that we need more late night eats-I usually go to the Take One Strip Club on NE 79th St if it’s real late-they have a guy who smokes amazing ribs outside-Fat Man. He’s usually there until 3 or so. If it’s before midnight. my new hangout is East Side Pizza-great burgers and fries, and ok pizza (cheap beers, too). Also, I think Boteco serves til midnight-great place for a cheap drink/meal. Both on NE 79th St. I would also recommend Jumbo’s, which is open 24 hours. 7501 NW 7th Ave. It’s not a great neighborhood, but they have a parking lot, and watch out for their customers. Best fried shrimp, chicken, conch, and breakfast dishes 24 hours.
Thanks Danny! folie is around the corner from me, so it’s my mainstay along with tap tap.
I’ll check those places out… any recommedations closer to/around downtown?
Tobacco Road….