There
are 2 things I am intolerant of regarding restaurants in big cities and
one of those things is when the kitchen runs out of an item such as
baked potatoes or prime ribs or even a 'signature' dish as there are
supermarkets and specialty shops all over the place. Obviously the
kitchen manager was not doing their job. The other is a 'switch and
bait' scam where on Easter Sunday, or another holiday, they have a
'special' menu--meaning more expensive--and don't offer their regular
menu. Let's get on with the review.

Last
week when we were going to the theatre I was looking for a place to eat
that wasn't super expensive knowing that the area called Himmarshee
Village, near the Performing Arts Center, is a tourist trap. For a
couple of reasons we wanted to eat early, one being the parking
situation and the other we had to pick up our tickets around 7 PM.
Coincidentally the day before what is known as 'The Voice Deal of the
Day' offered a $15 coupon for $30 worth of food at the Himmarshee Bar
and Grille which is in walking distance of the theatre so I bought it. I
checked out the menu on the Internet and it looked like it wouldn't
break our wallets. For what I call a 'late lunch' they had a Blu
Cheeseburger on their dinner menu which I planned to order though I felt
it was a little pricy at $12 but kept in mind this was a tourist area.

We
arrived there about 5:30 PM and the host on duty asked us, "Do you have
a reservation?" which never entered my mind. I told him "No" and after
some hesitation, and saying that they were all booked up, he said he
could seat us upstairs if we didn't mind. We went upstairs, where there
were about a dozen tables and a bar, and were seated against the railing
looking over the dining room downstairs. By the time we left 2 of the
tables were taken.

Our
server, Hilaria, who was as nice, and as diplomatic, as could be during
the whole meal, handed us a menu. Mmmmm--no cheeseburger but an
abbreviated menu of the one on the web site. After speaking to Hilaria
quietly, and making a long story short, we got the regular menu after
she talked to the manager and/or chef. It seems the original menu we
were given was because the theatre was having a performance that night!
Sort of 'let's soak the customers we get as they won't know the
difference'.

     
I had the  SIRLOIN BURGER with Blue Cheese, Basil Mayo, Nueske Bacon, French Fries $12.00   and Allen had the ORECCHIETTE CARBONARA  Free Range Chicken, Pancetta,
Mushrooms, Sweet Pea, Tomato, Parmesan Crisp & Picked Herbs  $19.00   He drank Iced tea $2.50 and I had water. The total check, after the $30 deduction, came to
$3.71 Due to the fact that Hilaria had kept her cool, treated us first
class and not like '2 old cheap senior citizens' as I would have when I
was a server--LOL--we gave her a $15 tip .
The
food was okay, nothing special, but because of the 'bait and switch'
routine I don't think I would go back there no matter how many shows we
see at the Performing Arts Center.
******************************************************
In the late 1980s, early 1990s, plans were underway to transform therun
down, though historic, section called,  "Himmarshee", a Native American
term meaning "New Water" so called because of Ft. Lauderdale's New
River that runs along the edge of the neighborhoodarea, with a performing arts center, children's science mu seum as well as other venues that would establish the area as the "Arts
and Entertainment" district. In addition there was the Riverfront
complex added which has been basically a white elephant due to very
little parking available and what is available is expensive and
over-priced entertainment venues.

***************************************************************************************************

"Each new friend represents a world in us,

a world possibly not born until they arrive,

and it is only by this meeting

that a new world is born."

Anais Nin, 1903-1977  French Novelist