Puerto Vallarta

PLACE: Puerto Vallarta (3192 S. Linden Rd.  Across from the mall, in the strip mall with Hobby Lobby & TJ Maxx).

NUMBER: (810)732-0212

VISIT NUMBER: 1

PRICE: $$

CUISINE: Mexican

WAIT TIME TO ORDER: ~10 Minutes (we asked for more time; we were asked immediately if we were ready to order).

WAIT TIME TO FOOD: ~10 Minutes

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Moderately pushy.  As this was my first visit, I wanted to look at the menu without interruptions, but that didn't happen.  I felt as though I was inconveniencing the waitstaff by not knowing what I wanted before I sat down.  Not a very good vibe.  The waitress did not know the name of a few of the dishes, had to be shown what they were in the menu, and then proceeded to act as though we were idiots!  Also, received the appetizer (nachos) alog with the rest of the food.

FOOD: Okay, for the price - but if you like fresh cilantro, you'll love this place.

•Skimpy on the cheese in the Chicken & Chorizo Quesadilla, and an adequate amount in the plain Cheese Quesadilla.

•Nacho Supreme was alright - nothing terribly memorable, except the guacamole was nice, creamy, and added a wonderfully "fresh" taste to the dish.  Honestly, for the appetizer/entrée, the guacamole was the best part.

•Pablo Burrito was, again, okay.  The beans had a metallic taste to them.

•Sopapillas were alright, but the tortillas used were too thick to fry properly, so the dessert didn't have a crunch, just a stale "pop".  Flavor was good - cocoa powder and cinnamon on them.

•Xachos (?) tasted like a flan, but again, nothing special.

DRINK SELECTION: Coke, Jarritos; quite a few domestic beers (& O'Doules), Mexican regulars (Corona, Modelos); lots of different kinds of Tequilas, obviously, but only "Gin", "Rum", "Vodka".

SATISFACTION: okay.

WOULD RECOMMEND?: If I was at the mall and didn't want to go out of my way for my favorite Mexican place, I would maybe consider returning.

NOTES: Kid-Friendly.  Very cute and bright decor, but it seems rather kitschy. The booths are gorgeous, though - I love the carvings!

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Capitol Coney Island

PLACE: Capitol Coney Island (G4021 Van Slyke Road, SE corner of Bristol and Van Slyke).

NUMBER: (810)238-5961

VISIT NUMBER: Lost Count

REASON FOR RETURNING: My personal favorite Flint Coney Island.

1. PRICE: $
2. CUISINE TYPE: American
3. WAIT TIME TO ORDER: 15 minutes.  I'll explain in the notes.
4. WAIT TIME FOR FOOD: Did not get food.

5. STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Did not seem understaffed, but the waitstaff who were there did not seem to care about those of us who were waiting for food.

6. FOOD IMPRESSIONS/TASTES: N/A.

7. DRINK SELECTIONS: Pepsi products, plus the usual coffee/juice/milk selection.

8. SATISFACTION: Honestly, none.

9. WOULD RECOMMEND?  Not based on this visit, no.

10. NOTES: They are remodeling from the light-50's diner style they had, to a darker style, and had apparently decided that they only needed 8 booths (plus the bar) for their patrons.  As they are a 24-hour restaurant located diagonally from one of the largest employers in the city (and less than a mile from another), this seems like a rather odd move.

I walked in and sat down, as is normal, and the waitress brought me two menus, asking if I was "dining solo".  I said yes.  She sat both menus down, got my drink order out to me, and walked away, and I didn't see her for another five minutes (when she walked to another table to spend some time with those patrons).  Ten minutes later, she walked over to me to ask if I wanted to order some appetizers while I waited.  She either misheard or didn't believe I was dining alone, but had not thought to check on me until I had been waiting for a quarter of an hour.

I finally got to order what I wanted, and sat back to wait, but ended up having to leave almost immediately due to a phone call.  I never received any apology, though one table did have the chef come out to apologize to them over a food mixup, which I thought was rather appropriate.

I honestly was rather upset by my treatment, and if this had been my first visit, I probably would not be back.  My only hope is that the waitstaff is a bit more attentive to a single diner.