We waited almost an hour to get sat after having reservations when food finally came out it was not what we ordered ,server mentioned that that's all they had left to serve , It was ok but was really looking forward to what my date and myself order bad experience overall all.đ I don't mind spending a few hundred on food at all but this time it was NOT Worth it!
Jonathan
Long time customer and went on Valentine's Day. They were overbooked and had to wait an hour for a table and I had a reservation. The line was 20-30+ deep for the 3 hours we were there. A lot of disappointed customers. The service was slow, we waited 20 minutes to get bread and water, 30 more minutes to order our food, and another 30 minutes before our food came to the table. The food was average at best that night. The food and service is usually much much better. The over booking was their problem.
Rachel
We had reservations for Valentine's Day which we know is going to be busy but Cafe La Maze clearly overlooked. We arrived at 5:25pm for our 5:20 reservation. Got seated 6pm. Our server was incredibly nice. We order cocktails, mine was huge but very watered down. We did not get our food until after 7pm and it was cold and honestly not that good. We used to come here quite frequently but this was our last visit. It is just not the same.
Linda
Cafe LaMaze overbooked their reservations for Valentine's Day. Service was terrible. After being seated for one hour I asked if we were going to get salad. I wanted a vinaigrette dressing and I was brought malt vinegar that is for fish. The music was so loud, we couldn't talk to each other. I saw other people's dinner salad and it was on a nice plate with croutons and other items. My salad was on a bread plate with one cherry tomato. We haven't been here in years because of the past bad service. We will not be returning.
Joanne
Valentine's Day is NOT the time to dine here. We've enjoyed their menu for lunches several times. Special event times are crowded, noisy and rushed. Jasmine, our server was exceptionally good given the crowd. Food was served hot, but my 12 oz filet mignon was not as tender as it should have been. The rib eye was much better. Green beans and carrots were undercooked. Baked potatoes were perfect. We will return to Cafe LaMaze for weekday lunch, but will not brave another holiday meal there again.
Kathy
We had a 5 o'clock reservation and when we arrived early there was a long line of people with reservations. After waiting about 20-30 minutes we were seated. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. She unfortunately had to keep apologizing for the delay in getting our food. We were finally served at about 6:40. Our food was barely room temperature. The experience for Valentine's Day was less than enjoyable. I think maybe they were not prepared for the crowd.
renee
Quality of food horrible for the price. Rib eye was cooked wrong and it was inedible, maybe 2-3 waitresses for a busy Saturday night , service slower than a snail. We had to go to the bar for a beer vs waiting for help. Friends got the tomahawk and what they paid for this was insane!! Our rib eye was bigger than their tomahawk. The only thing big about the tomahawk was the bone! Music was great but will not go for dinner again. Drinks were pricey yet alcohol was very minimal in the drink! Very sad since we went in the past and it was good but this was years ago. Do not recommend
Nathan
This was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. The only edible item on the table was the baked potato. Everything else was completely inedible. The steak was rock hardâso overcooked I couldn't even compress it with my hand. I was never asked what temperature I wanted, so I reasonably assumed medium rare. Instead, it came out well done and tough beyond belief. The lobster was just as badârubbery, overcooked, and nearly impossible to shred. Lobster should be tender, not something you have to fight with. Service was just as unacceptable: â˘I had a reservation for 8:00, but my order wasn't taken until close to 9:00 â˘My Shirley Temple never received a single refill â˘When the food was clearly inedible, I was not offered a replacement or refund â˘Instead, they gave a small discount and forced me to pay for food that could not be eaten Being strong-armed into paying $194 for inedible food is unacceptable. This felt less like a dining experience and more like a scam. Beware: if your food comes out wrong or overcooked, don't expect them to make it right. You may be forced to pay anyway. I will never return, and I strongly caution anyone considering dining here.
James
Absolute worse dining experience ever. Waited more than 30 minutes for just our drinks. Appetizer took another 30 minutes after that. Entrees sat waiting to be brought to our table for more than 30 minutes after the appetizer. Multiple wait staff, including the owner/manager, looked at our meals but let them sit there rather than help our waitress deliver hot food. Even the cook went to tell the owner TWICE that our food was sitting there and she ignored him. After finishing our meals, the salads were finally delivered. We brought all of this to the attention of the owner and she was defensive and not had excuses, rather than apologize. Most disappointing Christmas Eve meal ever. Will never dine there again and will tell everyone I know about our terrible experience.
patkM5306TL
Ordered a Thanksgiving meal like I do every year this year the price was double and the portion was half the size a glass of champagne which at other places is normally five dollars this place charged me $14. Because you can buy the bottle for 6.50$. The waitress overcharged me for a salad that shouldâve been included, but I said itâs OK. I never got any gravy or any roll that was supposed to come with. It portion was very small. Turkey was very dry. Bad experience will never go back again. My total bill came out to be almost $80 with a tip which I should not have left, but I never do that. This will never go back.
We celebrated Thanksgiving here. The food and drinks were good, but the restaurant felt a little short-staffed as the bartender (we sat at the bar) was also taking orders at tables and running food. Everyone we encountered was very friendly and kind. The food was good but felt it had been sitting a while. Dimming the overhead lights just a bit more would have enriched the atmosphere. We appreciated the talent of this live singer/ sax player it was a bit loud for the space.
Emily Ann kelley
GREAT PLACE--- Nice draft beer selection. From the outside you can't tell how cool this place is. The prices are are more on the higher side. But, you can find appetizers that are reasonable. On Thursday nights starting at 7pm, they have a live band playing Jazz. Really fun and local people sing. It's not karaoke though, so if someone wants to sing they have to sing well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robert
My family have been patrons of Cafe La Maze through the generations since it first opened. When my father and uncles returned from WWII, this was the place âto impress a ladyâ. Our family have been residents of National City from the 1920's and family still resides there to this day. This restaurant has been very special. However, it is just a different atmosphere (vibe) now under new ownership. Still some of the touches remain, but overall it is very different and lost its charm. This is what we experienced: 1. Noise Level. The DJ on Friday night was way too loud. You cannot have a conversation at a booth without yelling. It felt like you were at a nightclub, not at a restaurant. The music before (Ray Carrion, and others) played more âdinner musicâ and it still had the old school charm of yesteryear. Now? I'll go to a nightclub after dinner if I want that. 2. Service (Bar) We ordered drinks before we ordered. We received our drinks after our appetizers...25 minutes later! The bartender was slammed busy with no help. You would think on a Friday night at the dinner hour and beyond they would have 2 bartenders ( or at least a Bar Back). 3. Food - We ordered the new menu item The Tomahawk Ribeye for 2. It came with roasted Brussels sprouts, asparagus, Rice Pilaf( our choice). I asked if they would slice the steak, and ordered a side of mushrooms. The steak arrived not sliced as I requested, and without mushrooms, so I sent it back and they did make an attempt to slice it, but I finished the rest at the table. Also, all came on a large cutting board ( customary for this dish) and 2 very small appetizer plates. I asked for a serving spoon to serve the rice and mushrooms and a serving fork for the asparagus. They came back with 1 teaspoon and 1 small soup spoon! It was comical! The price for food, drinks, and tip was almost $300 for 2 people ( which is in line for the type of meal and cocktails) but the attention to details are lacking.
Francisco Alderete
The food was excellent, staff were friendly and very attentive making sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal. I drove past this place numerous times for several years and I regret not giving it a try along time ago. I will be returning soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sergio
The Prime Rib is what this restaurant is known for, and it was definitely a let down, plus it was overwhelmingly expensive.
We waited almost an hour to get sat after having reservations when food finally came out it was not what we ordered ,server mentioned that that's all they had left to serve , It was ok but was really looking forward to what my date and myself order bad experience overall all.đ I don't mind spending a few hundred on food at all but this time it was NOT Worth it!
Long time customer and went on Valentine's Day. They were overbooked and had to wait an hour for a table and I had a reservation. The line was 20-30+ deep for the 3 hours we were there. A lot of disappointed customers. The service was slow, we waited 20 minutes to get bread and water, 30 more minutes to order our food, and another 30 minutes before our food came to the table. The food was average at best that night. The food and service is usually much much better. The over booking was their problem.
We had reservations for Valentine's Day which we know is going to be busy but Cafe La Maze clearly overlooked. We arrived at 5:25pm for our 5:20 reservation. Got seated 6pm. Our server was incredibly nice. We order cocktails, mine was huge but very watered down. We did not get our food until after 7pm and it was cold and honestly not that good. We used to come here quite frequently but this was our last visit. It is just not the same.
Cafe LaMaze overbooked their reservations for Valentine's Day. Service was terrible. After being seated for one hour I asked if we were going to get salad. I wanted a vinaigrette dressing and I was brought malt vinegar that is for fish. The music was so loud, we couldn't talk to each other. I saw other people's dinner salad and it was on a nice plate with croutons and other items. My salad was on a bread plate with one cherry tomato. We haven't been here in years because of the past bad service. We will not be returning.
Valentine's Day is NOT the time to dine here. We've enjoyed their menu for lunches several times. Special event times are crowded, noisy and rushed. Jasmine, our server was exceptionally good given the crowd. Food was served hot, but my 12 oz filet mignon was not as tender as it should have been. The rib eye was much better. Green beans and carrots were undercooked. Baked potatoes were perfect. We will return to Cafe LaMaze for weekday lunch, but will not brave another holiday meal there again.
We had a 5 o'clock reservation and when we arrived early there was a long line of people with reservations. After waiting about 20-30 minutes we were seated. Our waitress was prompt and friendly. She unfortunately had to keep apologizing for the delay in getting our food. We were finally served at about 6:40. Our food was barely room temperature. The experience for Valentine's Day was less than enjoyable. I think maybe they were not prepared for the crowd.
Quality of food horrible for the price. Rib eye was cooked wrong and it was inedible, maybe 2-3 waitresses for a busy Saturday night , service slower than a snail. We had to go to the bar for a beer vs waiting for help. Friends got the tomahawk and what they paid for this was insane!! Our rib eye was bigger than their tomahawk. The only thing big about the tomahawk was the bone! Music was great but will not go for dinner again. Drinks were pricey yet alcohol was very minimal in the drink! Very sad since we went in the past and it was good but this was years ago. Do not recommend
This was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had. The only edible item on the table was the baked potato. Everything else was completely inedible. The steak was rock hardâso overcooked I couldn't even compress it with my hand. I was never asked what temperature I wanted, so I reasonably assumed medium rare. Instead, it came out well done and tough beyond belief. The lobster was just as badârubbery, overcooked, and nearly impossible to shred. Lobster should be tender, not something you have to fight with. Service was just as unacceptable: â˘I had a reservation for 8:00, but my order wasn't taken until close to 9:00 â˘My Shirley Temple never received a single refill â˘When the food was clearly inedible, I was not offered a replacement or refund â˘Instead, they gave a small discount and forced me to pay for food that could not be eaten Being strong-armed into paying $194 for inedible food is unacceptable. This felt less like a dining experience and more like a scam. Beware: if your food comes out wrong or overcooked, don't expect them to make it right. You may be forced to pay anyway. I will never return, and I strongly caution anyone considering dining here.
Absolute worse dining experience ever. Waited more than 30 minutes for just our drinks. Appetizer took another 30 minutes after that. Entrees sat waiting to be brought to our table for more than 30 minutes after the appetizer. Multiple wait staff, including the owner/manager, looked at our meals but let them sit there rather than help our waitress deliver hot food. Even the cook went to tell the owner TWICE that our food was sitting there and she ignored him. After finishing our meals, the salads were finally delivered. We brought all of this to the attention of the owner and she was defensive and not had excuses, rather than apologize. Most disappointing Christmas Eve meal ever. Will never dine there again and will tell everyone I know about our terrible experience.
Ordered a Thanksgiving meal like I do every year this year the price was double and the portion was half the size a glass of champagne which at other places is normally five dollars this place charged me $14. Because you can buy the bottle for 6.50$. The waitress overcharged me for a salad that shouldâve been included, but I said itâs OK. I never got any gravy or any roll that was supposed to come with. It portion was very small. Turkey was very dry. Bad experience will never go back again. My total bill came out to be almost $80 with a tip which I should not have left, but I never do that. This will never go back.
Restaurantji Recommends
We celebrated Thanksgiving here. The food and drinks were good, but the restaurant felt a little short-staffed as the bartender (we sat at the bar) was also taking orders at tables and running food. Everyone we encountered was very friendly and kind. The food was good but felt it had been sitting a while. Dimming the overhead lights just a bit more would have enriched the atmosphere. We appreciated the talent of this live singer/ sax player it was a bit loud for the space.
GREAT PLACE--- Nice draft beer selection. From the outside you can't tell how cool this place is. The prices are are more on the higher side. But, you can find appetizers that are reasonable. On Thursday nights starting at 7pm, they have a live band playing Jazz. Really fun and local people sing. It's not karaoke though, so if someone wants to sing they have to sing well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My family have been patrons of Cafe La Maze through the generations since it first opened. When my father and uncles returned from WWII, this was the place âto impress a ladyâ. Our family have been residents of National City from the 1920's and family still resides there to this day. This restaurant has been very special. However, it is just a different atmosphere (vibe) now under new ownership. Still some of the touches remain, but overall it is very different and lost its charm. This is what we experienced: 1. Noise Level. The DJ on Friday night was way too loud. You cannot have a conversation at a booth without yelling. It felt like you were at a nightclub, not at a restaurant. The music before (Ray Carrion, and others) played more âdinner musicâ and it still had the old school charm of yesteryear. Now? I'll go to a nightclub after dinner if I want that. 2. Service (Bar) We ordered drinks before we ordered. We received our drinks after our appetizers...25 minutes later! The bartender was slammed busy with no help. You would think on a Friday night at the dinner hour and beyond they would have 2 bartenders ( or at least a Bar Back). 3. Food - We ordered the new menu item The Tomahawk Ribeye for 2. It came with roasted Brussels sprouts, asparagus, Rice Pilaf( our choice). I asked if they would slice the steak, and ordered a side of mushrooms. The steak arrived not sliced as I requested, and without mushrooms, so I sent it back and they did make an attempt to slice it, but I finished the rest at the table. Also, all came on a large cutting board ( customary for this dish) and 2 very small appetizer plates. I asked for a serving spoon to serve the rice and mushrooms and a serving fork for the asparagus. They came back with 1 teaspoon and 1 small soup spoon! It was comical! The price for food, drinks, and tip was almost $300 for 2 people ( which is in line for the type of meal and cocktails) but the attention to details are lacking.
The food was excellent, staff were friendly and very attentive making sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal. I drove past this place numerous times for several years and I regret not giving it a try along time ago. I will be returning soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Prime Rib is what this restaurant is known for, and it was definitely a let down, plus it was overwhelmingly expensive.
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