Viva La Frida es Muerta...
(Verdad!)
"We had some good times but it's time to move on."
-Lucas Diaz
Monday, February 05, 2007
(Verdad!)
"We had some good times but it's time to move on."
-Lucas Diaz
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Creative Loafing's 2006 Best of the Bay - Best Local Blog - Runner Up and "One of the best civic-oriented chronicles in the Bay Area and a must-read for those in Central Tampa" Wayne Garcia - Political Editor, Creative Loafing (2005)
Selected by the TBT* as one of the six must read blogs of Tampa Bay area (2005)
This was the original Seminole Heights blog with commentary about life in and around the urban neighborhood of Seminole Heights in Tampa, Florida. Musings about other topics as my mood permits. The blog is essentially inactive since I moved to Lutz. Go to The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog - www.seminoleheightsblog.com for active content.
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- David Scott Banghart
- Parent to two rescue dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier and a Catahoula mix.
Creative Loafing's 2006 Best of the Bay - Best Local Blog - Runner Up and "One of the best civic-oriented chronicles in the Bay Area and a must-read for those in Central Tampa" Wayne Garcia - Political Editor, Creative Loafing (2005)
Selected by the TBT* as one of the six must read blogs of Tampa Bay area (2005)
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34 comments:
That would be fabulous news if it's true. Hopefully the new owners will be more respectful of the neighborhood than the current owners.
Has anyone noticed all of the homes for sale and rent in close proximity to Viva La Frida's coincidence or effect?
Do Hondurans "Clan"?
Anyway, anyone know any more?
Si, Hondurans "Clan"
Another bit of good news. Do we know what they want to do with the property?
They will probably add more walls inside, move in 12 other families (all either friends/family), park 30 cars in front and every Friday night, those that live within a mile will be treated to the blastings of Paolo Cruz, Gypsy Kings, etc... I can hardly wait!
My, my, you can cut the ethnicism with a great big butta knife up in here! I expected better from the good people of Seminole Heights, or as my anti-gay friends call it ... oh, never mind.
ratsasss, I think I'm in love with you.
ROFLMFAO !!
6:04, what *do* your anti-gay friends call SH?
So sad, it will be missed.
Why all the negative and derogatory comments? How about something positive for a change? If you have some solutions voice them.
Solutions to what? They are closing down and moving, that's the solution. I live several blocks away from there but had I known they had live music until late in the night to early morning, I wouldn't have bought far, far away. It's bad enough that our neighborhood has rude inconsiderate people drive through with their music but it's another to have a business that blatantly disregard the noise ordinance. I think the owner should have better sense than to think it's acceptable to have loud music playing in a neighborhood. We are country of 300 million which means you need to have consideration.
Thanks for the update, Kelly...We had been wondering what was going-on with the place for a while. A shame that it did not work-out...always seemed like an interesting place and the Mrs. & I love live music. I do empathize with the neighbors, however. Don't know the solution outside of someone with deep pockets coming-in and investing in some top-notch acoustic engineering...and I do not see that happening anytime soon.
OK..... I'm pretty positive that I won't miss the place =P
Because your aim's that good?
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Hey Ratsass... where ya been man?
Are you of Cuban decent? Just wondered from your past post about Cuba and Castro. Good to hear from ya.
You know, I thought the place was awesome. Out of the ordinary, eclectic, cool place. It's a shame. On one hand I love having live music in the neighborhood, on the other I feel for the immediate neighbors. Wonder what the Hondurans will do.
Hey Anon 1:06 you can move any time you want. The other 299,999,999 won't miss you!
I have to agree with shrekswife. I always thought that Frida's was more of a wannabe "happening place" that happened to serve food than a serious restaurant. Horrible acoustics, service that might or might not take a long time, and .. er, interesting food. To run a restaurant you need to be on top of everything, every day, all the time. Go to the Front Porch and watch Patrick circulate. (Yes, it helps to have a liquor license for dinner business. But there are lots of businesses around Frida's that could have given it big lunch traffic if they'd wanted it.)
So Chris you are saying the Front Porch is better Viva? Last time I went into the FP it was a dump and the wait staff was non-existent. I never had a problem with the food or service at VLF. I must be missing something here.
meh... I'd put them both in the same boat. People dressing up and playing restaurant.
9:02, you must be. I've been to the Front Porch lots of times (we live in the neighborhood) and I've been much happier with it than I ever was with VLF.
cookie puss, ditto for you. Front Porch has been around longer and has had more major improvements than VLF, and they don't have to depend on lame gimmicks like gender-reversed Shakespeare to try to bring in crowds.
Well Chris, I wondered how long it would take before someone remarked negatively to your comment on The Front Porch, just knew that was coming. You must be new to this blog because you allowed another opportunity for many folks to do just that by opening up that Pandora’s Box.
Well Chris, sorry to hit a sore spot. Guess you like the place, cool.
Now for the shocker, both VLF and FP have taken their plays directly out of the "how to set your restaurant up for failure" handbook. I've seen a few hundred come and go, and my hopes for FP succeeding are pretty slim.
I actually like Patrick and wish him nothing but the best, but a major change in tactics is necessary for that place to make it.
Again it's dressing up and playing restaurant, sorry to kick your puppy.
At least we got Cappy's...
Since The Front Porch can of worms has been opened...I have not been there yet. I've been reluctant because of all the negative feedback on this blog. Every time my wife and I drive by it in the evening, it seems like they have a pretty good crowd, though. This seems to go against the logic of it being not very good. Is it really that bad?
6:08, FP was there before Frida's and it'll be there long after Frida's has gone. If Patrick is doomed to lose, he's taking a loooong time to do it. You're not by some chance a competing restauranteur, are you?
Stevekforida, go ahead and visit the restaurant. It's got a really nice bar inside with a good beer menu, and their food is pretty good. The service is good, and it's a very friendly atmosphere. A good first step is their nachos and beer.
That's right SteveFlorida, go to FP yourself and form your own opinion. You are correct, lot's of negative feedback on this blog aimed at Patrick's business whenever those can seize on the chance, always happens.
Please take Anon 1:35's suggestion and why not report back here about your first time experience? I would rather hear an unbiased first timer's opinion for a change
The Front Porch has not been there longers than Viva's. So there.
Angelica used to run a fantastic little mexican restuarant, called Angelica's, in Ybor City. It was in the Centro Esnanol courtyard, which is now where Centro Ybor stands.
I used to eat there all the time...Food was WONDERFUL, great atmosphere, loyal clientele.
If she could have picked up that restaurant, as it stood, and placed it in Seminole Heights, people would have clamored over each other to get in there.
Not sure what happened with VLF but it was completely different from the Angelica's that I knew and loved, especially the food.
Anyone else eat at Angelica's in Ybor?
Business math 101:
doors open != successful
I eat at Front Porch at least once a week. They used to be open for lunch and I'm not sure what happened there, but we certainly need a decent lunch place in Seminole Heights during the week. Some of us actually live AND work here.
As for the food at FP, it's good. They have great little thin pizza's, excellent meatloaf, good steaks, chicken marsala. Nice little bar area. I'm partial to the "shrinking violet" martini myself. Service is sometimes slow...but hey, it's a neighborhood restaurant. Staff is friendly.
And speaking of friendly I hope most of the wait staff a Frida's finds a job. The food there was always good. Yes, service was slow, but it was a relaxing fun place. I'm sorry the neighbors hated the band and parking, but those are things some of us have to get used to. I know I did, and I moved on.
And speaking of more great food. Have you been to Merino's Deli yet?? Great! Small place, but we so needed a good lunch spot. Too bad he's not open on Sunday's.
Oh and what happened to Brunch at the Front Porch? Went by a week or two ago and they weren't open. Man they make killer Bloody Mary's!!
I haven't been to the FP inmonths. But, the last time I went there dinner cost the same as in a really nice restaurant. The food was fine for a neighborhood restaurant and, of course, there were drinks. Nothing upscale but casual food. Unfortunately I cannot afford FP prices moe than onece or twice a year (for dinner).
VLF had erratic hours that changed irregularly. Lunch is on...oops, no it's not. Service was terrible and I, for one, was only in love with a few thing they served.
FP apparently is starting that "you'll never guess when I'm open" routine. Sunday Brucnh was the ame as the Hyatt Regency in price but not quality or choice. Booze is not cheap and sodas were over a dollar can and not glass or ice. Hmmm, not friendly tomy budget.
Patrick is nice and friendly. Angelica was not.
So, go wherever suits your fancy. We all have different budgets and tastes. Angelica and I didn't not go toether
Patrick runs a great bar...and that's it.
Rumor mill has it he's losing money on food hand over fist.
How many people have told me that they only go for the booze... too many. You can read examples of it in all the positive comments. Booze first, food is usually not mentioned or just "okay".
I was talking with someone today who said they used to work at FP and left to go to Nicko's and with the same base pay now make more than when the employer was FP - go figure. Too pissed by the time food got there to take it out on the tip and wait staff or too broke by the time they were done to tip?
Personally, I always tip right at 20% or just over at Nicko's as I get great service and plenty of food - not great food but it matches my expectations for the location.
If I wanted to spend $$ then I would certainly expect everything else to be comparable. FP - not!
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