Carli's Fine Bistro & Piano

Review summary

1. W

   William

   Atlanta Metro

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Had a great time w family. Very cozy great ambiance food very good. Piano man playing.
   

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2. B

   Brian

   New York City

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   The piano music is amazing and is the centerpiece of the restaurant. The decor is lovely and depending on what you want, you can sit inside or outside. The kitchen is clearly a variable response and talking to other people who are regulars— this seems to be a recurring issue. Some of our food was excellent. The chicken was seemingly boiled or overcooked, and although it said grilled, there wasn’t a single sear mark on the chicken. The “glaze” was basically a watery broth with hints of apricot jelly and the garlic cloves were oddly uncooked. The ceviche was excellent with the tostones. The tuna was cooked perfectly and was amazing and despite having very poor timing from the kitchen with an hour wait for the food we had a wonderful time and the service itself was charming, and the drinks were very tasty. The owner is a very nice guy, and it is a pleasure to be able to sit and listen to him play piano and well worth the price of admission. Despite the spotty food service, we would definitely go back.
   

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3. A

   Amir

   Greater Boston

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great little bistro. We sat outside and then got hit by rain so they really accommodated us and squeezed us inside. Great food and great service.
   

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4. R

   Rick

   VIP

   Washington DC

   11 reviews

   1.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on 24 December 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   We ordered cocktails, starters and entrees together. Waitress only brought warm cocktails after reminder 30 minutes later; obviously sitting on the bar waiting for pickup. 30 minutes later my wife got up to ask waitress about starters; waitress returned with only two starters, apologetic that kitchen was down one cook. Two hours after we were seated neither the missing starters nor entrees had been served, and the waitress apologized that chef was "mean" (angry?) and apparently unresponsive to her advocacy for delivering our dinners. She told us everyone else was experiencing the same delay, though I noticed dinners being carried out to patio patrons. When I warned that we were ready to leave at 2 hours, 10 minutes, she presented check for what we had been served since she had no reassurance that the chef would deliver. Over my objection my wife paid and we left to find San Juan restaurants closed. Was this just one bad night? I suspect not. We were drawn to the restaurant by owner/jazz pianist Carli Munoz's reputation and promised nightly performance with visiting musicians. He stood at the threshold of the kitchen and dining room, obviously angry at his kitchen staff. He never approached our table to offer an apology. After 8:00 he began to play ordinary solo piano for perhaps 20 minutes. It was too late and we were too upset to enjoy the dinner and musical experience we had expected. This is a tourist trap recommended by Fodor's - beware!
   

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5. L

   Lisa

   VIP

   Orange County

   7 reviews

   1.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on 24 December 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   The absolute worst experience we had the entire 3 weeks we were in Puerto Rico. The restaurant was overbooked. unapologetic, and unable to honor many of us who had fairly early reservations that night, leaving us with no other option than to walk to the tiny supermarket in town and scrounge whatever we could to cobble together a Christmas eve dinner. As a mom (who had dressed for a night out), I was naturally tasked with finding a grocery store, all the necessary ingredients for a meal and cook it for the entire family, all with unfamiliar and minimal supplies at an Air BnB we had just checked into an hour earlier. I can safely say that no one should trust or count on Carli's Fine Bistro to honor their reservation, or provide them with dinner or food of any kind. When we checked in with the hostess, she told us that she was getting our table ready and it would be a few minutes. We were 15 minutes early. The hostess was terrible at talking to patrons and absolutely lacking in any ability to manage the situation. Fast forward more than an hour past our reservation time, an older man, (manager/owner?) came out to address many families that had been waiting long past the time of our reservations. He told us to sit outside and have a drink and he would get us in for our meal in approximately 2 -2 1/2 hours. Tables were wet from rain, no attempt at all was made to dry any of the tables or chairs, and no one ever apologized to any of the families whose Christmas eve meal was being ruined. Our reservation was at 6 pm, so fairly early. At this point, we realized that only 1 table inside the restaurant had been served any food, and that looked to be an appetizer. In addition there were people still waiting for their table that had earlier resrvations than ours. Open Table still had openings listed at 6:30/6:45 pm for this restaurant?! It was Christmas eve and overbooked I understand. Unapologetic, unaccomodating, and unable to manage your business, unacceptable.
   

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6. R

   Richard

   Las Vegas

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 24 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Be aware when making a reservation that there is no distinction for indoor and outdoor seating. Upon arrival, I was not informed that there were no available tables inside. In spite of recent rain, we were offered outside seating, or wait over an hour for inside seating. Carli, himself, assisted with our tables outside. There were attempts to placate the situation with complimentary appetizers, which were ordered but never received. An hour and a half later we were served. I will return, but will make a reservation in person.
   

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7. J

   Jaclyn

   VIP

   Caribbean

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 20 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Este es mi restaurante favorito y solo por la comida, es por el ambiente, servicio y la Musica instrumental en vivo ….. lo amo
   

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8. S

   Stephen

   New York City

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 18 December 2024

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We chose to eat outside as it was quite cold inside. Service good and the drinks were also good. Both our main courses were tepid as opposed to hot. Otherwise a good place.
   

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9. M

   Marc

   Greater Boston

   8 reviews

   5.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on 16 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent, a real surprise, we loved everything about it. Food exceeded our expectations, service and ambiance was great. Would highly recommend it. Got to be one of the best restaurants in San Juan.
   

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10. H

    Henry

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    This intimate restaurant is perfect for couples date night. Food, drink, and service were impeccable. Piano added ambience, but overall it is quiet enough for easy conversation. Turned out to be a real treat.
    

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