kefi

• Location – 18852 NE29th Ave,Aventura,Fl.

• Cuisine – Faux Continental

A new restaurant in Aventura, Gagit has to be one of the first to try. Gagit and guests arrive at 7pm on Saturday night, pull up to the UBS Bank building and are sent to the back where the restaurantis, a not so glam place.One look at the empty restaurant with many smiling managers doing nothing but smiling, I thought of a recent episode of Ramseys Kitchen Nightmares and hoped this wasnt a sign of things to come tonight.

Since the restaurant was so empty we decided to go outdoors for a drink with the faux Delano setting of cabanas and hammocks.As we were seated our dinner waiter arrived to take our drink order. He must have come from the Aventura Car Watch for his knowledge of drinks and food was laughable. It took him three trips to get our order right,by that time we were getting hungry so we went inside to the now 30% full restaurant. We were seated at a table that two chairs and a table had to be balanced to sit down on a flat surface,the manager had to do this after the assistant failed ,what a embarrassing way to start the dinner.They blamed the construction of the floor for this.

We now ordered a starter of Calamari in marinara sauce while we studied the menu.The menu looked like a combination of Capital Grille, Palm, Oceanaire, and Martarano in price alone for this level for a local restaurant is a no no in Ramseys book.The Calamari arrived and before we could eat we had to ask both Mr Carwash our waiter and a smiling manager for plates and a serving spoon.We should not have bothered the Calamari was sauteed to perfection , but the sauce was without seasoning or spice ,a bad sign for our mains to come.

My main was Chicken Scarpariello, boneless chicken on the menu but not on the plate, it was bone in chicken.It included sweet sausage,olives,and fresh herbs. but this mixture was as flavorless as the Calamari ,The chicken itself was to tough for stew and it was as far from the Scarpariello served with excellence at Kitchenetta of Fort Lauderdale as one can imagine. Mrs Gagit was served Salmon Napolean , another dish were the tasteless sauce overpowers the fish rather than enhances it. Another of my guests ordered Grilled Shrimp served on rice very ordinary and no where near this great dish at Oceanairre. The last dish was Crusted Tuna where again the flavorless sauce overpowers the delicate fish.

We decide to order one dessert for the table, the head waiter , who must be the car wash manager , suggested a special ice cream dish ,that was so served so frozen it had to be returned, just coffee now please an the bill please.

The check arrived and for a measley sum of $300 ,we did get to experience a Kitchen Nightmare . For under half that price in Aventura , Pilar is the restaurant to go for quality food, reasonable prices, and a experienced waitstaff.

Let the Truth be Told, Kefi is a perfect candidate for Kitchen Nightmare, however it is probably to late and that means we will be going to a new restaurant in the spot within six months.

[rating:0.5]