BREVARD FOOD CRITICS  

Cafe Margaux
Current mood: cheerful

I flew solo tonight because Alan had the plague or something. I decided to go to Cocoa Village and eat at Cafe Margaux.

James

Food - The food at this particular restaurant was exquisite, and I would definitely go back. Cafe Margaux functions like any other fine dining establishment and only delivers your next dish once you've finished with the one you are working on, which I like. For my appetizer I had their award winning tomato and basil bisque. It was a very simple dish but it was just simply delicious. Next I was presented with my salad, which I requested be accompanied by goat cheese encrusted in crushed pistachios, and it also blew me away. Along the border of the salad plate there were sections of flowered cantaloupe and honey dew pieces, which added a very colorful appearance to the dish. For my main course I ordered the ostrich dish. To be completely honest, I had never dined on ostrich before, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The only regret I had with the ostrich was how filling it was, and how I didn't have an appetite for desert afterwards. The food was magnificent and if I could eat like that everyday I would never go hungry.

Overall food score - 4

Service - As I said before, the dishes were always served when you were ready for them and they were never forced onto you. When I was sat by one of the waiters, he clarified that he was not my only waiter and I could call on any member of the waiting staff that passed by. Both of these issues impressed me because I don't know how many establishments I've been to where I have been refused service by a waiter or waitress just because I wasn't seated in their section, or I had the next course pushed on me by an overactive waiter. Also I had all members of the wait staff pass by and see how I was doing, and I even had one waiter carry on a conversation with me in polish. The service I received here was better than the food; exquisite+1.

Overall service rating - 5

Atmosphere - The atmosphere at Cafe Margaux was very calming. There was artwork displayed throughout the restaurant which when combined with the music played throughout the restaurant, added ambiance to the place. All of the windows were shaded by blinds which allowed for the candle-light to be justified and fulfilled my expectations of the restaurant. I was very relaxed while at this restaurant and enjoyed the decor along with the multi-chambered architecture of the restaurant.

Overall atmospheric rating- 5        

Price - Quite simply, the prices here at Cafe Margaux are what you might expect to pay for this type of dining experience: an experience you would like to have everyday but can't afford to. For my experience at Cafe Margeaux, I gladly shelled out 50+ dollars, but won't be back until my wallet has had time to recover. The prices at the cafe were justified but not something I would like to justify too often.

Overall price rating - 3

Overall experience - The food was magnificent, service was exquisite + 1, the atmosphere was genuine, and the prices were a little imposing. So Magnificent+(exquisite+1)+Genuine+a little imposing= a very good dinner, but one that you should have only on occasion.

Overall experience rating - 9                                         

Heidelberg

We decided to try a little German fine dining tonight and here is how it went

James - I am always willing to try new types of cuisine and I think this experience definitely gives credence to that philosophy.

Food - The food at this particular establishment was exceptionally delicious, I enjoyed it very much. To start out with, I had a goulash soup dish and we shared an appetizer of baked brie cheese. For my entree  I had the Juegerbraten, a very delicious pork dish that was served with gravy, potato noodles, red cabbage and a garnish of tomato and lettuce. The gravy went very well with the pork and the noodles and cabbage topped it off very nicely. This may have been one of the best dishes that I have ever had.

Food overall rating - 5

Service - The service I received at this restaurant wasn't at all what I expected. He was very brief and too the point. Although he did do nearly everything that would be called of a waiter; He opened and handed us our menus, took our drink, appetizer, and entree orders at the right time, but talked to us very little. I thought the service we received her should have been a little better.

Service overall rating - 4

Comfort - The first thing I noticed when we entered this restaurant was how nice and comforting the decor was. I felt very comfortable and was astonished by how large the decor made the very small restaurant seem. The restaurant had awnings protruding from the walls that made it feel like a sidewalk cafe which I liked very much. They had a live pianist which was also  very pleasing. I can't say anything other than I loved how comfortable this restaurant was.

Overall comfort rating - 5

Price - The food was very good and in this instance, actually justified the high check price. This restaurant is not for those with a small wallet, our ticket ended up being over seventy dollars with the tip added on. Although the food justified it, I was a little turned off by the high price.

Price overall rating - 3

Overall - I enjoyed this restaurant very much and felt that I will certainly returning here.

Overall rating - 8.5

Alan - I'm always open-minded to try new kinds of food, and I'd never had German before so I was interested in giving it a try

Environment - One of the first things I noticed upon entering was the various plaques advertising the many years they won "Best German food of the Year in Florida" awards, which immediately assured me that this was a quality restaurant, despite the seemingly small appearance. I was really impressed by the private piano player, who was quite talented and helped make my experience even more enjoyable. Jazz music was also played over the sound system on occasions. The lighting was not too bright, but it wasn't too dark, just perfect for creating a relaxed, calming, almost romantic environment.

Overall Environment Score - 5

Food - First, we ordered an appetizer called "Baked Brie" which consisted of breaded cheese with Raspberry. It was something I never had before, I found it very tasty. Next I had a beef soup, which was basically beef broth and fried noodles. Being a big soup eater I enjoyed it. My main course was called "sauerbraten" which was a beef dish served with carrots, red cabbage, and mashed potatoes, and basted in a sweet sauce. The cut of beef was very tender, I didn't even need a knife to cut it, and it was very filling.

Overall Food Satisfaction - 5

Service - In my opinion, the service, although satisfactory was somewhat lacking. He took our orders, gave us our menus and came and checked on us when required, but didn't really interact with us all that much, he was very "in and out" I could understand if the resonant was busy, but they weren't.

Overall Service Satisfaction - 3

Price - As usual, the price is one of the main deciding factors, obviously with a place like this there isn't going to be fast food prices. The meal came to a total of around 80 dollars, which although justified, could have been a little less straining on the wallet.

Overall Price Ranking  - 3

Overall Experience  - Despite its shortcomings and somewhat steep prices, I enjoyed my experience at Heidelberg and would gladly dine there again.

OVERALL - 8 

El Chico's

We know it's a little late, but we have to do it none the less. So here is our review of El Chico's.

James - Being partially of Mexican descent, this restaurant kind of reminded me of family reunions and parties we use to have.

Food - I ordered a dish that included a little bit of everything. It had a burrito, an enchilada, a taco, and a side of beans and rice. I imagine that it is the same food you can get at any Mexican restaurant. I enjoyed it, but only out of my expectations of the restaurant, I was not really impressed with the food I received there.

Overall Food rating - 2

Service - Although the food wasn't exquisite or at all surprisingly good, I was very impressed with the service. We were waited on almost immediately, we were never out of ear shot of the waiter, and we were frequently visited by the resonant manager while we were eating, which was a delight. What really impressed me was that when we ordered a side of guacamole, the waiter actually came to the table with the ingredients and made the guacamole right there.

Overall service rating - 5       

Environmental comfort - I walked into the restaurant and right away felt at home. The decor along with the spacing, style and expansiveness of the restaurant along with the music choice satisfied my expectations of the Mexican theme, but really didn't impress me.

Overall comfort rating - 4

Price -   I was very astounded with the high prices of this restaurant. The two bills together cost a total of $59.00. I do not think the food justified the price.

Overall price rating - 1

Overall satisfaction  - This restaurant met my expectations but didn't exceed them, I would go back but just to have a nice Mexican dinner, not to impress company.

Overall satisfaction rating - 6           

Doc Green's

What exactly is a gourmet salad? It is a dish that, as far as we're concerned, can only be enjoyed at the new Doc Green's restaurant at the Avenues in Viera.

James - I was intrigued by the thought of a gourmet salad and decided that I must try one. What I experienced at this new found restaurant was the best experience that I imagine I could ever have by dining solely on salad.

Food - Tonight I decided to have the Dr. Beek's salad which consisted of field greens, Cranraisins, feta cheese, candied nuts, pita bread and a vinaigrette dressing. This, I believe is what salads were supposed to be like. I usually expect salads to be an appetizer, but this was an entire meal that left me satisfied. I enjoyed it very much.

Overall food rating - 5

Service - This restaurant surprised me by having a cafeteria style ordering system which left me only slightly, if even the tiniest bit, dissatisfied. Although that came as a shock to me, I was impressed by the helpfulness of the staff. They explained to me exactly what to do, what each dish consisted of and gave me their personal recommendations, which I enjoyed immensely. Once we ordered our salads they supplied us with drink cups and our check. We filled our drinks and upon returning to our table we found our salads waiting for us. Despite the amount of work we had to do, I was satisfied with the service we received at Doc Green's.

Overall service rating - 3

Environmental comfort - The restaurant had great spatial qualities. The tables were spaced far enough apart, and far enough away from the food preparation table, or any employee work stations. Lighting was evenly dispersed due to the track lighting that was placed throughout the restaurant, and worked well with the bright pastel colors the walls were painted with. I felt very comfortable in the restaurant.

Overall comfort level - -5                 

Price - Even with the word "gourmet" in the name of the restaurant, prices were extremely reasonable. One of their signature salads only cost $6.00 as it comes and $7.00 with meat. This is a great restaurant for the thrifty diner.

Overall price rating - 5

Overall dining experience - this was a great restaurant and despite the amount of work that I had to do, I would be happy to dine there again.

Overall dining experience rating - 9

Alan - I must confess, I was not aware that I salad could be made gourmet, so when I heard about Doc Green's I was intrigued and had to try one.

Food - I was very surprised by the different variety of ways a salad could be made gourmet, I decided to try the one named "Dr. Doctor" and ordered it with added chicken tenders. The dressing was a Cesar dressing, it also included crispy romaine lettuce, a slice of pita bread and sprinkled with parmesan cheese and croutons. I have to say it was one of, if not the best salad I've ever had.

Overall food score - 5

Service - Honestly there wasn't much in the way of service, I had to go up to the counter to place my food and drink order and I also had to get my drink and silverware for myself.  Being differently-abled (unable to walk) I did find the lack of service to be a minor hassle, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that while I was away, my salad was delivered to the table.

Overall service score - 3

Environmental Comfort - Upon entering, I was surprised by the size of the place, and the decor was creative, the walls were painted with a pastel-like shade of yellow that added certain "cheer" to the environment, the cartoon rendition of "Doc Green" meets you as you enter in the form of a wooden statue holding menus for you to browse. The very cheerful staff made me feel welcome as well, also a pleasing selection of retro music also enhanced the experience.

Overall comfort score - 5

Price - Often the deciding factor, I was very pleased by the price, even with the addition of the chicken strips the price amounted to just under five dollars. Without the chicken strips, the price would have been only 3.99.

Overall price score - 5

Overall Satisfaction of Experience - I was very pleased with my experience at Doc Green's despite the lack of service, but I'm sure if I requested, one of the nice employees would have been more than glad to help me in anyway I needed.

Overall Satisfaction Score - 9

Consensus -

Food - 5

Service - 3

Environmental comfort - 5

Price - 5

Overall satisfaction of experience - 9

That Little Restaurant
Current mood: disappointed

I had heard people talk very highly of this establishment, so I had to see what all the fuss was about. Alan and I went there for an early dinner, and this is what I thought.

James 

1.) Food - When looking at the menu, many items caught my eye, but I decided on the Rueben sandwich as it was suggested by our wait staff. Having eaten many Rueben’s before, I can say that it was decent enough, but nothing that I would rave about, or allow to be labeled on the menu as a house favorite. It was served with a side of fries or onion rings, a dipping sauce, and that was it. It was, in my opinion, disappointing. We were done with the food within five minutes, and still hungry. The only thing that saved the meal was the onion rings that I ordered. They were the only thing I was impressed by.

Food overall rating - 2

2.) Service - I find it hard to comment on the service I received here, because it was very scarce. First, when we entered the establishment, we found ourselves standing at what seemed to be the rear of the restaurant. There was no host, no sign instructing you to seat yourself, just one couple at a table eating their meal. We stood dumbfounded for at least a minute and a half before the patrons at the table suggested we find our own seat, which we did after giving the entire dining area a good once-over. Thankfully, a bus boy saw us sit, and promptly took our drink order, but, sent us a waitress who didn't seem too interested in what we wanted. She suggested a few of the items, took our orders, and we didn't see her again until she had our check.

Overall service rating - 2

3.) Environmental comfort - Names can be deceiving, and in this case, That Little Restaurant was no exception. It might just be us, but we expected a little restaurant not a big diner. A series of booths lined the walls and the main floor was littered with tables that sat four each. There were three doors to the outside of the restaurant, all of which were unlocked, two in the front and one on the side, none with any recognizable features of a main entrance. Once we were sat, by ourselves, we noticed that the tables were placed very close together and precariously close to the employee's drink station. All it would take would be a guest to push away from the table at the wrong moment and they could be covered head to toe with scalding coffee. Also we noticed the use of an unnecessary wall partition right in the middle of the restaurant. We did, however, enjoy the novelty of the ceiling light being painted with a sky-scape made to resemble sky-lights. We didn't feel comfortable at all other than when we first noticed the "sky-lights" and even the novelty of that faded quickly. We got out of there as soon as we could, which wasn't at all complicated by the miniscule portions we received.

Overall environmental comfort - 1

4.) Price - Over anything else we were satisfied with the price the most. Our two checks combined didn't total over fifteen dollars. The lack of substance in our meals was definitely reflected in our minute check amount.

Overall price satisfaction -  3

Overall satisfaction of experience - I was not happy at all with the experience of dining at That Little Restaurant. If given the chance to do it again, I wouldn't. The service was substandard, the restaurant lacked anything that was aesthetically pleasing, until you decided to look up, the food was mediocre, and the price only justified your experience.

Overall satisfaction of experience - 2              

Breakfast at Mimi's
Current mood: pleased

I wanted to see if the incredible flare with which Mimi's operates at night is present throughout the morning shift as well, so I woke up extra early, and headed on down to Mimi's for breakfast. 

James

1.) Food - I ordered a wonderful French toast dish for my first breakfast at Mimi's. It was comprised of three different kinds of berries which were littered across four pieces of French toast stuffed with a raspberry cream-cheese. Also, it was beset on one side by a pair of eggs cooked to your liking, accompanied by your choice of bacon or sausage, and a glass of apple, orange, grapefruit, or tomato juice was added to wrap up the ensemble. I thoroughly enjoyed my food choice and I was even inquired as to what it was by a gentleman who wanted to order the same thing because it looked so delicious.

Overall food rating - 5         

2.) Service - It was not very shocking to me, to find that the restaurant staff operates with the same charisma and hospitality during all of its shifts. I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door, and I was seated in my requested section within seconds. The host who seated me immediately recommended the dish which I would eventually consume, quite pleasurably I might add. After he and I discussed a majority of the menu items and their popularity with other guests and the staff, I was ready to order and I already had a waiter ready to serve me. I was very impressed that although considering that halfway through my breakfast, the entire restaurant was already nearly full, I never was out of earshot or the attention of the waiting staff. Service was great!

Overall service rating - 5

3.) Environmental comfort - Not expecting the decor or music to change overnight, I was glad to see that my expectation of the same great atmosphere was fulfilled. I love the environment that dining at Mimi's brings you into, and I want more of it.

Overall environmental comfort rating - 5             

4.) Price - Considering the portions you receive at Mimi's, the price you pay would make a normal person feel like a thief.

Overall price satisfaction - 5

5.) Overall satisfaction - Breakfast at Mimi's is just as amazing as dinner at Mimi's. I loved every part of my dining there, and I can only imagine that lunch is just as intriguing.

Overall satisfaction - 10

Mimi's Cafe
Current mood: impressed

Well here it is, our first review, Mimi's Cafe located in the Avenues Shopping center in Viera, Fl..

James   

1.) Food quality - I ordered the spinach &artichoke dip for my appetizer  chicken fettuccini for my entree, and the pecan pie for desert, and I enjoyed every last bit. First the appetizer was delicious from the first to last bite. It was accompanied with tortilla chips and small slices of bread, which made it the perfect hands-on appetizer.

           Second, I ordered the chicken fettuccini dish for my entree. The dish was very evenly and proportionately divided among its ingredients and no one ingredient overpowered the dish. The fettuccini dish was accompanied by a salad which proved to be a nice balance of food types, and didn't leave me wanting more.

            Then I ordered the pecan pie for dessert. I enjoyed it, but found it to be a bit too sweet. A little less sugar in the glaze would have pleased me more. Despite the overt sweetness of the pie, it proved to be a wonderful finish to a wonderful meal.

Overall food quality - 5             

2.) Service - I personally, found the service to be outstanding. We were greeted at the door by a smiling hostess who promptly took our reservations and seated us in minutes. We only had to wait a mere thirty seconds before a waiter introduced himself and took our drink order. Whenever a member of the waiting staff passed by, they always unobtrusively made sure that we were fully satisfied with our meal up to that point, and saw to keeping our drink glasses full. In addition to our primary waiter, Julian, there was a waitress in training that composed herself very naturally and hospitably. We were allowed time to decide on our meal, were never out of the attention of the waiting staff and had our orders taken as soon as we were ready. The waitress in training, Rebecca, provided excellent and honest recommendations for our dessert choices, and made sure that we were not only satisfied with the evening's menu but with the staff's service as well. I was very impressed with the service provided at Mimi's, and will return. If not for the delicious menu items, for the professionalism and hospitality of the staff.

Overall service quality - 5

3.) Environmental comfort - In addition to the wonderful service, the overall environment was very pleasing. The restaurant was divided into three different themed areas, we were seated in the wine cellar area, and found it to be very aesthetically pleasing. The wine cellar portion of the restaurant was fitted with a lovely domed ceiling made of red brick. There were delightful sculptures placed on various faux window sills, and to keep with the theme, cabinets full of wine bottles lined the wall. A wonderful assortment of eclectic music selections that were played through a set of very inconspicuous speakers, provide a nice, somber atmosphere. The decor of each area not only rang true to its theme, but enhanced my dining experience and exceeded my expectations of dining in Brevard county.

Overall environmental comfort - 5

4.) Price - For a dining experience like the one I was involved in tonight, I would expect to pay upwards of $50 for the food and the service that I received alone. This, was not the case. For my appetizer, drink, entree, and desert, I dished out a mere $30, including a 25ip. The prices at Mimi's are very reasonable and are welcoming for any economic demeanor.

Overall satisfaction of price - 5

5.) Overall satisfaction of experience - I was very satisfied with every aspect of my experience at Mimi's Cafe and will continue to dine there, it has been one of, if not, the best dining experiences I've had in Brevard county.

 Overall satisfaction of experience - 10       

Alan   

1) Food - In terms of appetizers, I found the spinach and artichoke dip quite pleasing to my sometimes very picky palate, and appreciated how they spiced it up with a hint of garlic: it was just enough to add a zing but not overpowering. For my entree, I ordered the chicken cordon-bleu, which was accompanied by a side dish of salad and French fries. I feel it is a nice gesture to allow the costumer to decide the amount of olive oil and vinegar to use for the dressing, but I personally would have preferred a pre-mixed dressing. The cordon-bleu was served in very generous portions, and I found myself needing a box for what I could not finish. For my dessert, I ordered a very delicious banana dessert, which was composed of banana slices, and banana flavored ice cream, both placed into a pie crust and topped with a hearty dose of whipped cream. Being a fan of banana flavored foods, I thoroughly enjoyed the dessert, and due to the once more very generous helping I found myself unable to finish it all. The food at Mimi's is exquisite in every sense.

Overall food rating - 5

2) Service Quality - I was quite impressed that upon entering the establishment I was promptly met by the welcoming smile of one of the nicely-dressed hostesses who swiftly seated us and sent a waiter to attend to our needs. Immediately after being seated, our drink order was taken and fulfilled within seconds. Our waiter, having allowed us ample time to look over the menu, then took our order for appetizers. Our appetizers were brought to us within minutes and our entree orders were taken as soon as we were ready to place them. After given adequate time to finish said appetizers, the main course was delivered. After we finished our entrees the waitress in training offered very helpful suggestions for dessert, her recommendations were truthful and unbiased. I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and friendliness I received from the various staff members, I can tell they were sincerely interested in my needs. Service, hands-down, was comparable to any five-star hotel resort and would be appreciated by anybody. I would fully recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for EXCELLENT service. 

Overall Service Rating - 5

3) Environmental Comfort - I immediately felt right at home at Mimi's. I felt the decor was true to each individual theme, and I found the background music to be very relaxing and not distracting or out of place. I was extremely impressed with the environment in the restaurant and in my personal opinion more business should strive for this level of comfort.

Overall environmental comfort Rating - 5

4) Price - As with most restaurants, price is the number-one deciding factor in whether or not one shall return to a particular restaurant. In the case of Mimi's, the price is very reasonable, and based on previous experiences, I would expect to pay at least twice as much as I did. In fact, I was so surprised by the check amount that I felt I should have paid more and left a well-deserved hefty tip.

Overall Price Rating - 5

5) Overall Satisfaction - I was extremely pleased with Mimi's in every aspect. The hospitality I received, above all,  has yet to be met by any other establishment I've been to. The food was great, the service was wonderful, the environment was very inviting and the price is very reasonable. I was very impressed with my dining experience at Mimi's and will frequent their establishment. So I urge you to do the same.

Overall Satisfaction - 10 

Group consensus - Both of us felt that Mimi's is unparalleled in any aspect by any other restaurant or business in general, and recommend that whenever possible, you should experience their excellence.

Food - 5  

Service - 5

Environmental comfort - 5

Price - 5

Overall satisfaction - 10