[ food Category ]
November 12, 2003

Marbella

Helen and I usually test any new restaurant opening in the vicinity of Ala Moana Shopping Center but we didn't get around to checking out "Marbella" until we had a holiday luncheon there on Veterans Day.

It's a small place, maybe ten-or-so tables, most of them four-seaters, although they have another section that I guess they don't open until dinner time.

The menu is the shortest I have ever seen in a restaurant. Not even a dozen choices, although the server did rattle off a bunch of "today's specials". Helen decided immediately what she wanted, I needed more time to peruse the lengthy list of choices.

There was only one employee, a young woman whom I felt sorry for. She was the hostess, the server, and judging by the serving time, maybe the cook as well.

Helen chose a pasta dish with chicken. From what I could see, she would have gotten more chicken from a KFC drumstick.

I asked for the soup-of-the-day, which I thought was going to be lentil, but it turned out to be mushroom which was in a large, shallow dish so it was really only a "cup" of soup disguised as a bowl. It had sat somewhere so long it had a crust on top. I also made the mistake of ordering grilled eggplant. Reminded me of my mother, who used to fry eggplant slices in Crisco, so you had a very unpleasant sensation of eating greasy mush.

A couple near us had a much better idea of how to cope with Marbella. They had three very large martinis, each, and shared one sandwich.

Across the street is the amusing, always reliable Angelo Pietro and the equally amusing Cuisine Tony. I recommend either of those, but suggest that you avoid Marbella unless you're fond of a large martini. (They did look appetizing.)

Posted by Albert at November 12, 2003 12:38 PM

Comments

 
Posted by Angel on December 16, 2003 11:17 PM:

The restaurant is a small and a comfortble setting. The hostess/server is a nice French elderly woman with a heavy accent. There was another younger woman waiting on tables. I didn't care too much of the food, and yes, the menu selection was very limited, not to mention the price that came along with it (expensive for a small portion). I wouldn't go back there, not because of the food, but the service. The hostess and the other female kept talking "stories" with one another and literally forgot about my husband and I. Waited for a glass of water for at least 15 minutes and a napkin for another 10 minutes! Frustrated, I asked for service, and believe me, I was not pleasant to deal with at that time. By the time we left the restaurant, it had been two hours. Service did suck. I do not recommend this restaurant to any one who is contemplating to eat at that restaurant.

 
Posted by Katharine on November 11, 2004 9:07 AM:

I don't know but I was taught if you donot have anything good to say don't talk!!!...Any new restaurant has to work out all the kinks(wether it be where to purchase food,hiring good help etc.)...It is one of the most hardest ventures...Try opening one your self...There is enough horrible things going on in the world and to talk terrible about someones new venture is just sad...ALOHA,Katharine

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