08/18/09

where's the cornbread

by willcarrol

the cornbread is gone, they now have inian flatbread, the dry rub for the steak is gone, bbq is gone, and some girl tried to sell me shots at the table as if it were a club, that neon green shot would have paired perfectly with my wine. 4th change of the menu in 6 months, new owners, i'm done with it

• Pros: can't think of any
• Cons: menu changed yet again, new owner is a rocket scientist

06/11/09

Insulted with Cougar Night

by ashleybrunswick

What or what is Jake's doing? Four of us (females in our 30's--all professional with husbands and babies) went to Jake's a couple weeks ago to celebrate a birthday. To our surprise and laughter we were told it was "Cougar Night". Yes, Cougar Night. Not knowing what to expect, we were informed that it is a night when "older" women take center stage. I do NOT classify 32 as an older woman. Based upon the crowd that tried to fill the space, we were immediately offended. Older men (past their prime) sitting at the bar watching TV and sipping drinks was not our idea of a vibe. Maybe they were waiting to pounce the perfect cougar---ie: Joan Collins or Liz Taylor.

We gave it another try this evening, same thing......no young crowd, no activity, no vibe for 4 girls to hang at a bar without their husbands. Mind you, we are not looking for eye candy--rather an environment close to home that resembles New York City.

If we wanted themed nights, we would hopp on a plane to Disney World. Is every establishment in Miami going the way of homogenization? Come on, it's South MIami where individualism thrives. Needless to say, we left early and went to Town. As much as we are over Town, it did create the atmosphere 4 NON cougars were looking for.

We are quite offended by a somewhat decent business that wants to use older woman as a hook for a themed night. In Las Vegas they call this a brothel.

Go back to the basics and stop the show. No one cares.

• Pros: Decor
• Cons: Lack of authenticity

04/09/09

A staggering disappointment

by Trelian

Jake's Bar, as it used to be known has a special place in my heart. It was the restaurant I took my now wife on our first date, where I later asked out, where we and several friends came to have drinks the night I proposed, where I went to celebrate getting into and graduating graduate school, and where I would just frequently eat on a regular basis.

My wife and I loved the duck nachos, she loved the ribs, and I absolutely loved the meatloaf and steak. Needless to say, we know the place.

I recently took a group of friends, excited; only to find this new pretentious decor, akward vibe and a sever case of personality disorder. The Gastropub wants to be a Pan-European restaurant, but fails. The prices have been raised, and all the classics are gone. The classics have been replaced with modernistic European dishes that neither satisfy or impress.

One friend ordered a walnut salad, and received a handful of greens with literally four walnuts in it, all for the price over $13.00. I ordered a raw tuna dish which turned out to be four small pieces of tuna accompanied by a couple wedges of flat bread. I could go on and on.

In the end I was extremely embarrased because my wife and I hyped this place up to all our friends, and in the end it was outright laughable. I apologized to them for the mistake.

It breaks my heart to have a restaurant so dear to my wife and I turned into this mockery. I don't say this often, but I hope this venture fails. When so many other great restaurants falter in these economic times, it would be a crime to keep The Gastropub at Jake's open.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Too numerous