by Betty N. on
**BEST PLACE TO SING AND GET HAMMERED WITH FRIENDS AND STRANGERS** Of course we decided to karaoke on a whim. No reservations meant anything goes. So . . . we decided to join a birthday party in the front lounge area and sang our hearts out for 2 hours with no room fees. We paid our dues in drinks. Barry, our VJ, was awesome. He played our requests with a good sense of humor and a cheery attitude. It was nice having the bar right next to the front lounge for easy access. The place was clean, spacious, nicely ventilated with dim lighting. Comfortable couches and good-sized tvs. Only negative was that the front area did not have the latest and greatest songs within the last 2 years. Boo. Enjoyed the vibe here very much. Shots were generous and the people were AWESOME. RECOMMEND.
by Bobby Orn on
Great concept. Clumsy, peculiar and surly execution. We made a reservation for 7 people. Two of us arrived twenty minutes ahead of the appointed time, with the intent to sample one of the establishment's unique libations at the bar while waiting for the rest of the group. The hostess greeted us at the front door, bouncer-at-an-uppity-LA-nightclub-style. We actually had to ask for her permission to let us in to sit at the nearly empty bar to wait for the rest of the party. Once at the bar, we ordered zanhoritas, a tequila carrot drink. It was a small pour for $10, but tasty and inventive. We also requested some bread to nibble on, which arrived more than 15 minutes later, kind of odd considering the place was not yet busy and the bread was of the baguette-from-the-grocery variety, served cold. The friends arrived at the appointed time, and the group of 7 was seated at a collection of tables moved together in the bar area. The server read the specials to us as written on the chalkboard. I guess I am glad Hooked on Phonics worked for her, but she was unable to expand on the descriptions when prompted. It ended up being a moot point, since many of the dishes named were sold out. Service was unbearably slow, with multiple requests needed to get a water glass refilled. Diners were delivered their meals at inscrutable intervals (i.e., people ordering the same dish at the same time received their respective dinner plates 10 minutes apart.) The server had no idea which dish went to which diner. In fact, she could not match the dishes to the names of the dishes on the menu. Actual conversation in 2 Acts: Act One: Server to me: Did you have a salad? Me to Server: No ma'am, I ordered the pork belly appetizer. Waitress (shouting to table): Who ordered the salad?! Table: (Shrugs and chins moving side to side.) Intermission: Server stalks away. Food given to 5 diners, no explanation of when food would arrive to other 2. Almost 10 minutes pass before server can be located. Act 2: Me to Server: Excuse me, ma'am. We are still down a shrimp and grits and I am still waiting for the prok belly. Server returns with a now cold pork belly on lettuce leaves and scolds" I already asked you if you ordered salad!" At this point, it would take some standout food to overcome the challenges to a positive dining experience presented. Unfortunately, the food did not deliver either. East Side, you are an angsty teenager in a world of well behaved grown up restaurants. Unfortunately, that is not what I am looking for in a dining experience at this point. I think we need to see other people.
by Reggie Sacayanan on
Bongo's is dope and is always full of beautiful women. One minor problem, every speaks Spanish! So unless you speak Spanish or you speak the language of dance your gonna look like a wall flower. After going to Bongo's I took some Salsa classes, and got Rosetta Stone. So next time I am in Miami I will be ready!