Amber M.
Yelp
I'd like to preface by stating that I typically fight the urge to leave reviews hence my new account. I find the modern "review" culture to be quite nasty & damaging to the restaurant business specifically. All it takes is one bad day in the kitchen, one short staffed shift and one reviewer who has absolutely no knowledge on the topic or grace, types a few words and wreaks havoc on someone's business.
I decided to leave a review in hopes that my knowledge and unsolicited advice can possibly improve a business that has such great potential but is most likely falling victim to inflation and supply chain issues. I wanted to help so bad that night, I literally wanted to step in the back and offer a hand. With that being said, here's what I would like to share:
I treated my family to dinner (7 adults+) on a Saturday evening in hopes of enjoying a delicious meal while watching the sunset over the ocean on a Saturday evening. After the removal of charges for a few dishes our total was approx $400 with drinks. I had expected to spend upwards of $600. Marisol at the Cliffs does not claim to be a 5 star restaurant, which was not my expectation anyway.
Upon arrival the valet staff was friendly and quick to provide service which I appreciated very much. When I walked in, I was greeted with a smile and a warm welcome by staff. Patrons were also quite friendly and chatty.
We were seated immediately, we sat in a back corner of the patio which was appropriate being that we had small children in tow. VIEWS ARE SPECTACULAR by the way.
Drink & meal orders were taken in a timely fashion and we ordered a variety of dishes which were brought out all at once which I appreciated greatly.
My comments below are recommendations for improving the menu and meeting the expectations of your guests from the perspective of a fellow business owner and Executive Chef with years of experience in customer relations. While my recommendations may not be practical for your restaurant, I feel the following changes would have a positive impact on your operations for the back of the house without imposing a heavy increase in expenditures.
Steak Au Pouvre $55-
NY steak or Ribeye cut if cost effective, (Steak Au Poivre: Peppered Steak) Pepper HEAVILY and salt appropriately, meaning determine the measured amount based on the size of the steak. Use a measuring spoon if you have to. It's critical that the food is salted sufficiently, otherwise you will kill a potentially great dish. Over refrigeration= grey colored steak, no juices = no bueno. Sear, do not fry the crust hard.
Also, if you're not purchasing prime beef (not cost efficient at the current price point) a quick bath in butter and fresh garlic and herbs post sear will help improve the flavor. Lightly salted and hint of rosemary won't be sufficient, trust me, your not serving Gordon Ramsay, most guests will appreciate the added flavor.
USE AN INSTANT THERMOMETER. It's your friend not enemy.
Au Poivre sauce is just that, a traditional recipe.
Airline Chicken $34-
I would humbly reccomend it is removed from the menu unless executed in perfection. Salt is your friend, if you have to use a measuring spoon than do so. The sous vide at 162 decreased to 140 for 3 hours may be more appropriate. The protein breaks down and becomes a mush when over cooked. 162 and post sear is an ineffective technique. Post sear leaves the skin soft and chewy. I'd stick with a classic sous vide boneless skinless chicken breast recipe and post sear, simple white wine sauce, shallots and mushrooms with bright green garnish.
Filet $55-
Salt and pepper sufficiently, garlic butter toss at the end. Over searing causes a hard exterior crust destroying the tender cut. Serve pretty side up, presentation is everything, to most patrons.
Sides were sufficient, I would assume the mishaps are due to staffing issues and being overwhelmed in the back of the house. I hope my advice doesn't come off pretentious or impractical for your operations.
I mentioned my concerns to staff, and dishes were swapped/replaced with ease. Management handled my concerns expectionally well with understanding.
The server was excellent and handled the back and forth well despite having to replace a number of dishes. Management offered to remove the dishes from our bill without my request which I thought was a prime example of excellent customer service. (Still tipped as if the items were left on the bill).
I could be wrong about everything I mentioned and I caught them during a bad night. I'd love to return one day in hopes there has been some improvements. It's not easy working the back of the house. Every restaurant has their obstacles but the overall atmosphere and customer service is expectional. A few changes in the right direction would really make this place a gem in the Central Coast!
Best of luck!