25 replies to this topic

[lakeheron]

Roberto's is having Friday night twofers starting this Friday. It'll probably run until the snowbirds are back.

[Catinmex]

The flyer says for May and June, but maybe he'll keep it going if it works for him.

[Jeanette]

The flyer says for May and June, but maybe he'll keep it going if it works for him.

It certainly worked well for Roberto - AND us - throughout most of last summer. We ate there an average of 3/month happily enjoying the discount, the reasonable wine list, adequate service, lovey atmosphere, and often really good food.

[Jeanette]

It certainly worked well for him - AND US - last summer. We ate there an average of 3/month happily enjoying the discount, along with the good service rvice, good reliable cuisine, terrific atmosphere
.

[lakeheron]

In the past he has extended the months it was in effect in order to keep his staff employed during the low season. I think it went through September or even part of October last year.

[gringal]

Which reminds me....those waiters are having lean times this season. Tip with heart.

[moonhill]

I could use some advice. We've tried Roberto's several times over the past two or three years, and every time we say we'll never go back. But so many people seem to rave about it that we keep giving it another try. What are we missing? Is there a different menu that the "regulars" see that we don't? I would gladly try it again just to solve the mystery, but I could use some suggestions on what his best menu items are because we seem to always order the worst things they're preparing that day.

[crjd]

We have not been to Roberto's in three years as our previous experiences were less than favorable. What's changed and what's currently recommended on the menu? Thanks.

[gringal]

I'm curious about what items you ordered that you found disappointing. That would help.

For instance......the steaks they serve are okay......but not outstanding, so I wouldn't call this a top steak house. However, my husband had a good vacio last week. Large and tender.

We tend to order the fish dishes, which are always well prepared and very good. Not big on sandwiches, but he has good quality burgers.

Sunday brunch is a treat, with big fruit plates, many choices of main dishes and even a small dessert.
Prices are, IMO, very reasonable. The menu price includes soup, salad, spreads, bread basket, carrot croquettes as well as the main entree at dinner. We most often eat lunch there, and those prices include soup or salad along with the croquettes, bread basket and the main dish....nearly all under 75 pesos. Monday lunches at 55 pesos. Hard to beat for what is served.

As those who have been there already know, the setting is very attractive, and he NEVER plays techno rock at lunch. lol.

[lakeheron]

I like their crab-filled shrimp and their crabcakes. When I was a red meat eater I liked their steak Diane. Their poblano soup is wonderful. I like the pinot grigio wine there too.

[HelperGuy]

I always found the food middlin', meaning I wouldn't make it my first choice, nor my least favorite. The carrot croquetas are great in concept, but always overcooked. We've had great Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners there, but what killed it for me was the twofers: same great starters, and one portion split onto two plates for the main course.

[gringal]

I'll let you know whether I think that statement has any legs to it (about the one portion split into two plates) after I try a twofer one of these Fridays. I do know I never leave there hungry, and usually have a take home box left from the entree.

[HelperGuy]

Hey, when my very petite girlfriend leaves a restaurant hungry, you know somethin's up. But I prefer to be corrected here, because I like Robert and I like his setting.

[gringal]

The size of the person has little to do with the amount of food needed to satisfy. Some small people have remarkable metabolisms.
But......everybody has a different perception of how much is "enough". Just as everyone is a food critic since everybody eats.

[HelperGuy]

Yeah, Gringal, but you're getting into esoteric territory now. My girlfriend (and we can all assume I know her pretty well these days) eats very small portions.

[lakeheron]

We are going there tonight for the first night of twofers. I'll report back.

[gringal]

Report from the twofers:
We both had fish dishes. Both were delicious and there was NO WAY we could have eaten double portions of what we were served, tonight. First, Caesar salads. We passed on indulging in the croquettes and the bread basket. We felt very well fed.
The place was mobbed......most had made reservations, as we will the next Friday around.
IMO a very good deal for a good meal.

[lakeheron]

Well, where to start about our experience at the first twofers night at Roberto's. We are loyal customers and have been going to Roberto's since the restaurant was located on the lake where Yves' is now. We've seen the good and bad there. Sometimes the food and service has been exquisite and sometimes lacking. But last night gets the blue ribbon for being worst in show.

We arrived at 6:30 and were seated immediately since we'd made reservations. We sat for 55 minutes without service. The place was mobbed, of course: to be expected at the first night of the twofer offer. There were two waiters for the entire restaurant plus the bartender. Finally we talked to the bartender who came to our table and took the order. We had a tough time getting refills of wine and never got the second basket of bread we requested. People who had come after us were served and leaving when we were getting our soup/salads. Strangely enough when dishes started coming out there would be enough for 3 or 4 tables all at once and then a long wait ensued for other tables. The poor people at one table who had been seated not too long after we arrived were still waiting for food when we left at 9 or so. In sum, the restaurant was in total chaos.

When the bills came, one couple was overcharged by $100 pesos which fortunately was caught by the couple and corrected. When my husband asked the waiter for change for $100 peso bill so we could leave a tip, he came back with two $50s which didn't give us the bills we needed to give a proper tip. He did apologize for the bad service, saying he was assigned tables inside and out and that he couldn't keep up and that the service was uneven because the two waiters had different tables and sometimes orders from one table got in before the other. Sigh...

I don't know if the price of beer which was $40/bottle is normal or not. But two beers for $80 seemed excessive. Maybe I just never noticed before because the overall experience was so much better.

The food was okay, served at the appropriate temperature, but portions were indeed tiny. For example, instead of two crabcakes only one was served. The veggies amounted to a condiment. There were about 10 pieces of carrots and a tiny broccoli floret. The arrachera and salmon were both way overcooked and my request to hold the mustard sauce was ignored.

Thankfully we really enjoyed the people we were with and Bobby's rottie, Sheba, visited our table which pleased me. (But wouldn't please everybody, I know). Go back? Probably not til we hear things have improved.

[gringal]

Well, that's two experiences from last night. Mine was much more positive......but it's all about what happens at one's own table.
We arrived without reservations and had to sit inside. The bad news is that it was hotter there. The good....that we were very visible and closer to the kitchen. Probably also depended on what was ordered. We didn't have a bar order, so no mistakes there, and our bill was accurate.
One thing that definitely could stand improvement: By now the restaurant knows that those Friday twofers are going to bring a lot of customers and there should have been extra waitstaff. Many had already made reservations. The waitstaff was spread way too thin.
Even so, we were in and out of there in less than an hour and a half....since it was still light when we left. We arrived around 6:30.
We'll go back, but with reservations made.