It’s important to make a good first impression, people always say — and that goes for restaurants, too. Unfortunately, Canela Café didn’t do a very good job at making a good impression during my first dinner there on a recent Friday night.
Let me regress for a minute. My very first impression of this Upper East Side café was good. The place embraces you with warmth as soon as you walk in the door. The colorful artwork adds to its charm and the black and white photos give it a nostalgic feel. The menu, on paper, didn’t let me down either. Its variety is impressive — cold tapas, hot tapas, vegetarian tapas, salads, sandwiches; it goes on and on.
Really, it wasn’t until after we ordered our food that Canela’s warmth turned to cold. We ordered a glass of their white wine sangria (very yummy, by the way), a plate of garbanzos fritos (chickpeas fried in a light tomato sauce with sausage), tostones Caprese (fried green plantains topped with mozzarella, tomato and basil) and one of their montaditos (in a nutshell, bread with toppings; we chose shrimp in bearnaise sauce.)
After one waitress brought us bread and our sangrias, we were pretty much forgotten until nearly an hour later when our food arrived. That’s the only time we were asked if we’d like more sangria, even though our glasses had been empty for a while — and yes, we wanted another one. Since the restaurant was packed, we got a table in the back, almost in the hallway that leads to the bathrooms. That might have been part of the problem, but being out of the way shouldn’t be an excuse for inattentiveness. The wait time didn’t help either. I understand that because the restaurant was full, their kitchen might have been backed up, but no one stopped by to kindly let us know that.
D complained to me and I hoped the food would bring the restaurant some redemption.
It didn’t.
The montadito was heavy. The sauce was soaked up by the thick slice of bread on which the shrimp was served, which made it soggy and a little mushy in your mouth. Since the shrimp were small, the bread seemed to overpower them. The chickpeas were alright, but too greasy compared to other garbanzos fritos I’ve had elsewhere. The tostones Caprese were the best of the bunch. I like the creativity of the dish and it tasted good, but after the whole experience, I think nothing would have blown us away.
To their credit, they didn’t charge us for our second round of sangrias, but we still left dissatisfied.
Maybe they were having an off night because I wondered how our impression could have been so different from that of others who have given Canela good reviews. Heck, it was even featured on the Food Network. The restaurant was bustling, so clearly it must be good. What did we miss, then? Did we order the wrong things? Were we there at the wrong time? Was it an isolated incident?
I guess I’ll find out when I give Canela a second try. Hopefully, if given a second chance, it’ll erase that not-so-good first impression it left on my mind and on my palate.
Canela Café
5132 Biscayne Blvd.
305.756.3930
tags: tapas bars, Canela Cafe, first impressions
I’m typically the person who tends to let things go after I moan and complain a bit, but I just don’t understand restaurants in Miami. So many of them seem to offer the same experience. At first all seems well. You read the reviews, people say great things and they just let you down. What’s with the service here? Why should you let them off the hook? I think it is time that the people of Miami-Dade should quit putting up with poor service and pre-established tips and demand a great experience. There are many other restaurants here so find a new one!
Anyone else with me?
If you actually read the reviews, you realize two very important things. One, this is just another middling cuban joint with pretensions to being a Spanish tapas bar in a strip mall, and, two, Miami needs some new food critics. My friends, I would never wait more than 20 minutes for a refill-there’s a liquor store right there!-did you have a flask with you? It shows how desperate we are for a decent meal!
Paula-
Thanks for giving us your honest impressions of Canela Cafe. I have to say that I have not been back after my first impression just after they opened over a year ago. Since I was living in the area, I was so excited to have a new restaurant that I pounced upon their arrival. I didn’t even get as far as you did because I was ignored when I walked in the door. It was lunchtime, and they had just opened, but still! I stood at the counter, looked at the menu for a few minutes, and since no one had asked if I wanted to order or to sit down, I just left.
Hopefully, they can get it together before their time runs out. On another note, has Corner Muse closed, or is 18th St. Cafe some newer version of it? Mind you, I have been away for a while! Corner Muse was one of my favorite spots though, and I was sad to drive by the other day and see a different name in the window.
Paula, I have been to Canela 5 times in the last six months … they must’ve been having an off night. I’m not a pushover for bad service, believe me.
I wouldn’t go back if it didn’t offer a genuine neighborhood cozy feel with decent food at reasonable prices. It isn’t a middling Cuban restaurant, it’s a mom and pop outfit where mom is cooking in the kitchen. I’d rather eat there than some overpriced gourmet or some corporate shtick. I love the sautéed mushrooms and grilled asparagus with aioli that comes as an alternative to rice and beans in the main courses. Gambas al ajillo are also great as well as the traditional tapas cheese and ham platters or the pimientos de piquillo. The marinated olive tapa and seasoned butter is to die for. The churrasco and palomilla I had there were also good.
I don’t care if the mom is cooking, the pop is cooking, or the abuela is cooking. If you can’t get your food, you’re still hungry.
Corner Muse is reopening as 18th St-same owners.
It had to have been an off night. I’ve been there countless times with no issues whatsoever (aside from some specials having run out which I consider par for the course). I think you should give it another shot because we’ve always enjoyed our meals there, both food and service-wise.
As for MF’s comments that it’s a “middling cuban joint with pretensions to being a Spanish tapas bar ” give me a break. Restaurants aspire to be fine dining, destination restaurants, etc. I don’t think anyone actually aspires to be a Spanish tapas bar.
I love mom and pop shops so I really wasn’t expecting perfection. Walking out that night I saw some dishes on other people’s tables that looked splendid — a calamari salad-type dish was one of them — which made me think I should go back to try other items on their menu. It may take a little bit of time but I’m sure I’ll give it another shot.
“I don’t think anyone actually aspires to be a Spanish tapas bar.” Just every middling Cuban joint.
Sounds like you got the typical Miami experience at a Cuban joint. I wouldnt go back. Those places are a dime a dozen. Dont give them the satisfaction. I used to go a place in the Grove about 3 times a week for a good couple of years. They pissed me off one day and I havent set foot in there in 6 months. DOnt miss it one bit. There are plenty of eating options in Miami.
” ‘I don’t think anyone actually aspires to be a Spanish tapas bar.’ Just every middling Cuban joint.”
Yep MF, you’re right. I’m sure you’re an expert an middling joints since that’s where your tastes probably lie. How’s about you stay away from Cuban joints and satisfy yourself at the Cheescake Factory in Aventura - that way you get the large portions you crave and avoid those middling Cubans.
I recently relocated to Miami and live a bit down Biscayne. A couple friends and I sauntered into Canela Cafe, and it’s now become our routine destination. I’ve easily been there a dozen times in the few months since I’ve moved down here.
The service was friendly, the food was good, and the atmosphere was nice and casual. I think perhaps your visit was an anomaly.
Thanks for sharing, Sabring. I’m starting to believe it’s probably been enough time and I should give it another shot.