Ate at Piramide
Four of us ate at Piramide last night. That is the "fancy" Mexican place on 5th Ave at 12th Street. While my meal and everyone elses is fresh in my mind I will pass on my take on this place.
The staff was very pleasant and attentive. Before the chips hit the table 3 people had greeted us (including the person i asume to be the owner). Each one asked if this was the first time we had eaten there and how we knew about the place. Seems excesive but it is good business. It determines whether any advisertising they are doing is working or are people coming in through word of mouth.
Upfront.. don't order the Guocomale.. which is made at the table. It was not bad but price wise the worst choice. The avacado was cubed in to small peices.. well spiced and fresh. But... $9.00 is a lot for the dish and I would suggest that you pass on it. It was made with one avacado so each of us got aboout 2 tablespoonfuls. the chips were nothing to comment about.. not homemade.. commercial dyed chips.
I had the crab meat salad that was served in a fried over sized cornship-type basket. It was a good choice. It was my entree and there was plenty of it and it included nice tomatoes (grape) and a lite dressing. It was delicious. The chicken was lovely.. served with spinach. Two people at the table ordered that. There was a salmon that was broiled, lightly spiced and overcooked. Pretty typical that fish is overcooked, right? Definely the weakest of the dishes.
They now have a beer and wine license. I had a Chianti that was $8.50... the most expensive choice of the per glass choices. It was a Reserve Chianti Classico and just fine. The beer choice that was listed was pedestrian but the server gave us other choices including a lovely Belgian and a hearty local ale.
I think if this place does do well... it will be word of mouth. I will try it again but at this point I am giving it a thumbs up.
The staff was very pleasant and attentive. Before the chips hit the table 3 people had greeted us (including the person i asume to be the owner). Each one asked if this was the first time we had eaten there and how we knew about the place. Seems excesive but it is good business. It determines whether any advisertising they are doing is working or are people coming in through word of mouth.
Upfront.. don't order the Guocomale.. which is made at the table. It was not bad but price wise the worst choice. The avacado was cubed in to small peices.. well spiced and fresh. But... $9.00 is a lot for the dish and I would suggest that you pass on it. It was made with one avacado so each of us got aboout 2 tablespoonfuls. the chips were nothing to comment about.. not homemade.. commercial dyed chips.
I had the crab meat salad that was served in a fried over sized cornship-type basket. It was a good choice. It was my entree and there was plenty of it and it included nice tomatoes (grape) and a lite dressing. It was delicious. The chicken was lovely.. served with spinach. Two people at the table ordered that. There was a salmon that was broiled, lightly spiced and overcooked. Pretty typical that fish is overcooked, right? Definely the weakest of the dishes.
They now have a beer and wine license. I had a Chianti that was $8.50... the most expensive choice of the per glass choices. It was a Reserve Chianti Classico and just fine. The beer choice that was listed was pedestrian but the server gave us other choices including a lovely Belgian and a hearty local ale.
I think if this place does do well... it will be word of mouth. I will try it again but at this point I am giving it a thumbs up.
Comments
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thanks for the review.
do you recollect whether or not they offer standard mexican fare as well, or is the whole menu more upscale? -
I've been meaning to check this place out.
Here's the menu:
http://menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=47431&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=0 -
thanks, flexi!
it seems that the prices are a tad steep, but if the food is really good then i'm willing to splurge once in a blue
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I am pretty sure that they do a lunch special (at least during the week) so that might be a nice way to check this place out without spending a lot. By the way the music was a nice mix.. everything from techno to Mexican bands...but low volume. There was good separation of the tables so concersation was easy. Those things are important to me.
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I don't expect fish to be overcooked, no.
$15 for a burrito or a plate of tacos is not encouraging, and between Sunset Park and LA Taqueria, not bloody likely. But if the other entrees (mostly in the high teens) were great . . .
I like high-end Mexican when it's good (which usually means, in Mexico City), and I don't mind paying what I'd expect to pay at stone park or al di la or whatever but it better be reeeealy good, as I expect those places to be.
Did you per chance eat at Alma? It's on Columbia St in Red Hook. I loved it, but heard a lot of complaints that it was good-but-expensive-for-mexican. But what I had there was delicate gorgeous duck and other premium ingredients prepared with alot of subtlety and served on a fab roof deck, so I found the prices fair.
The other point of comparison around here is Maria's at Union and 4th Ave. I don't think their food is good enough to justify their prices, but some folks luuurrrrve it. I think it's just Okay.
They also have very good very fresh guac - I'm willing to mash avocados at home but I don't think everyone is, so they have to pay the premium. -
I have eaten at Almas and it is really good. There is no comparison to Piramide when it comes to the space. the roof area at Alma's is very special. Eating there is an event. I have only eaten at Maria's once and that was for a Birthday party so the table was 14 people. That night the service was bad and the food was nothing special.
I understand what Pitu is saying about spending a lot for Mexican Food.
Certain ethnic food, peasant food just shouldn't cost that much because the ingredients are not pricey and the preparation not finicky. Many years ago I ate in a Chinese Restaurant in DC. If I remember correctly the name of the place was The Empress. It was the restaurant Henry Kissinger had practiced his Chinese Food eating skills before his trips to China. This place defined pricey..30 years ago it was over $100. ... and that wasn't because everyone ordered 3 pound lobsters. In the mix there were "lowly" dishes but prepared with fine balanced ingredients and cooked by an outstanding Chef. It gave me an understanding that even food I consider easy to make, or cheap eats can be brought to another level.
Indeed there are plenty of mexican places between Sunset and Ps that will do the job if you want Mexican Food... Just thought of another moderately priced place that is terrific.. Eloras -
Blech. I think Elora's is awful.
I'd go to La Taqueria, D. F. or a dozen other places before I'd go to Elora's, and I live near it. -
i know it's a totally different type of mexican, but when i want to splurge on that type of food, i've been into chiles and chocolate or la taqueria for the more traditional mexican.
i think both places are excellent.
order in from chiles and chocalate quite often. -
i enjoyed chiles & chocolate the one time i had it, and yes, it's very different from standard stuff. unfortunately, they don't deliver as far south as i'd like
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Had brunch there yesterday with hubby after reading about it on this board and another PS board. Will never go again.
While the brunch was priced well ($12 for brunch with coffee or tea and an alcoholic drink included, they also had a muffin bar), the service was terrible and the food was just ok.
The waiter himself was very nice and provided good service, but it took 45 minutes for our food to come out and we had only ordered egg dishes off of the menu-there were about 3 other tables filled while we ate and we heard every other table complain about a long wait for food. As a matter of fact, the man at the table next to us complained that it took 55 minutes for his food to come out and when it finally did, it was wrong!
The waiter and the manager were very apologetic, but for a first visit to a restaurant-it really turned us off (especially since everyone else in the place was also complaining!).
And, as I said, the food was ok, nothing special. i don't see this place lasting long. -
i was thinking when i walked by pyramide yesterday that perhaps they know they aren't going to last long....
the choice of lining the outside of the restaurant with plywood doesn't really seem to say i'm here to stand the test of time.
even shellaced, that plywood is going to look horrible in a couple years... -
Longtime Sloper.. Now I am thinking that part of the problem is the efficiency of the kitchen. Friday nite the food did come in a timely fashion but for a restaurant to make people feel comfortable the pace of the food coming is important. We don't want to be rushed and we don't want to over-wait.
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Yes, the atmosphere and decor in the restaurant was very nice, and, as i said, the waiter was also. but, it doesn't make up for waiting so long for the food, totally killed it for us.
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LongTimeSloper wrote: Had brunch there yesterday with hubby after reading about it on this board and another PS board. Will never go again.
I heard they did unlimited drinks (champagne?) for brunch, was that true on your visit? Personally, that would be my only reason to visit :P
While the brunch was priced well ($12 for brunch with coffee or tea and an alcoholic drink included, they also had a muffin bar), the service was terrible and the food was just ok.
The waiter himself was very nice and provided good service, but it took 45 minutes for our food to come out and we had only ordered egg dishes off of the menu-there were about 3 other tables filled while we ate and we heard every other table complain about a long wait for food. As a matter of fact, the man at the table next to us complained that it took 55 minutes for his food to come out and when it finally did, it was wrong!
The waiter and the manager were very apologetic, but for a first visit to a restaurant-it really turned us off (especially since everyone else in the place was also complaining!).
And, as I said, the food was ok, nothing special. i don't see this place lasting long.
I don't do mexican that's $20++ for dinner. It would have to be really amazing (Oaxacan?), because I'm a pretty good cook and can make this stuff at home. -
The brunch menu had an option of having unlimited mimosas for $10 extra. If you just get regular brunch without the $10 extra-then it is one drink each.
Hubby sort of got stiffed there because he doesn't like mimosas and he ordered a bloody mary (the only other alcoholic drink on the brunch menu) and he was told there was something wrong with the bloody mary mix, so, no bloody mary's. he ended up having plain orange juice. -
LongTimeSloper wrote: and he was told there was something wrong with the bloody mary mix, so, no bloody mary's.
something wrong with the bloody mary mix??? As a former veteran of the food service industry, I find that a pretty lame and somewhat embarrassing excuse. Who is managing this place?
In the time that it took them to come up with that excuse, they could have gone to the Met to buy a bottle of mixer or--god forbid--the ingredients to make a real bloody mary. google is your friend. -
Yes, i totally agree! how hard is it to make bloody mary mix yourself? Just another reason for us not to go back.
Oh, and the icing on the cake was that the bill was wrong. How hard is it to get a bill correct when 2 people ordered the brunch which is pre-priced at $12 each? we didn't have any extras. -
We saw a play at Gallery Players (4th ave 14th street) and when we got out it was after 10pm. We walked back to 5th Ave and landed up at Piramide. It has been a long time since I have eaten there. I admot I am suprised that they are still open because I do not often see lots of people in there.
We were 4 people and ordered 3 main dishes and the Guac. My memory of the Guacomole from way back then was pretty bleak but this time it was good.. well seasoned, not a small portion, perhaps a little too much salt but fine. Entrees were 2 fish dishes, salmon and a "white fish" (think it was Bass and Buritto. Frankly, I don't eat at that hour so I tastes and had a glass of wine. The bill was $82 for the 4 of us and beverage at table were also diet coke and one glass sangria (loaded with fruit..including Mango). Very reasonable.
I won't say the food was extraordianry but it all tasted fine and fresh. It was beautiful evening, after all that rain and we sat towards the fron and the doors were open so it was pleasant. A little to long a wait between the Guac and the service of the mains but no bog deal since we were talking and having a good time.
So my review is sort of amazement that they are still open and not because the place serves terrible food but I just don't see they are filled often enough to make it and a qualified "try it" if the vibe seems right to you and you want an inexpensive meal. I admot it was inexpensive because of the way we ordered but truly you would need to really go heavy on the higher priced dishes to break the bank in this place. -
veets wrote: We saw a play at Gallery Players (4th ave 14th street) and when we got out it was after 10pm. We walked back to 5th Ave and landed up at Piramide. It has been a long time since I have eaten there. I admit I am suprised that they are still open because I do not often see lots of people in there.
We were 4 people and ordered 3 main dishes and the Guac. My memory of the Guacomole from way back then was pretty bleak but this time it was good.. well seasoned, not a small portion, perhaps a little too much salt but fine. Entrees were 2 fish dishes, salmon and a "white fish" (think it was Bass) and Buritto. Frankly, I don't eat at that hour so I tasted and had a glass of wine. The bill was $82 for the 4 of us and beverage at table were also diet coke and one glass sangria (loaded with fruit..including Mango). Very reasonable.
I won't say the food was extraordianry but it all tasted fine and fresh. It was beautiful evening, after all that rain and we sat towards the fron and the doors were open so it was pleasant. A little to long a wait between the Guac and the service of the mains but no bog deal since we were talking and having a good time.
So my review is sort of amazement that they are still open and not because the place serves terrible food but I just don't see they are filled often enough to make it and a qualified "try it" if the vibe seems right to you and you want an inexpensive meal. I admot it was inexpensive because of the way we ordered but truly you would need to really go heavy on the higher priced dishes to break the bank in this place. -
The place reminds me of a Mexican restaurant at an all-inclusive resort.
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veets wrote: We saw a play at Gallery Players (4th ave 14th street) and when we got out it was after 10pm. We walked back to 5th Ave and landed up at Piramide. It has been a long time since I have eaten there. I admot I am suprised that they are still open because I do not often see lots of people in there.
We were 4 people and ordered 3 main dishes and the Guac. My memory of the Guacomole from way back then was pretty bleak but this time it was good.. well seasoned, not a small portion, perhaps a little too much salt but fine. Entrees were 2 fish dishes, salmon and a "white fish" (think it was Bass and Buritto. Frankly, I don't eat at that hour so I tastes and had a glass of wine. The bill was $82 for the 4 of us and beverage at table were also diet coke and one glass sangria (loaded with fruit..including Mango). Very reasonable.
I won't say the food was extraordianry but it all tasted fine and fresh. It was beautiful evening, after all that rain and we sat towards the fron and the doors were open so it was pleasant. A little to long a wait between the Guac and the service of the mains but no bog deal since we were talking and having a good time.
So my review is sort of amazement that they are still open and not because the place serves terrible food but I just don't see they are filled often enough to make it and a qualified "try it" if the vibe seems right to you and you want an inexpensive meal. I admot it was inexpensive because of the way we ordered but truly you would need to really go heavy on the higher priced dishes to break the bank in this place.
I can't believe you went back there veets!
So, how did you like Tommy? We saw it a few weeks ago. -
Hey the other people I was with wanted to eat there and I went along with it.
I did see Tommy last month and loved it.
We saw "Father Mike'... this month the theater does what they call Black box plays.. new plays.. this one was quite good and by next weekend another play will be performed. For $12 you can't go wrong if you like live theater, -
Oh, I thought Tommy was over by now! We loved it also.
I have never gone to any of the Black Box series plays, only the regular season ones. This season we saw every single play they did, we love that place! youngest kid goes to theater camp there in the summer too. Are the Black Box plays cheaper? Cause we pay $18 a ticket plus $1.50 service charge to see the regular plays. -
I think Piramide is on its last legs. I walked by over the weekend and the inside is looking pretty bare. The winter storm door they had up is gone and they have signs in the window selling off some stuff including their mocahete they used to prepare guacamole.
It sad since they got such a big write up a few years ago in the times. Unfortunately I think once Tacos Nuevo redecorated they took some (most) of the customers away from them.
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They had done a Groupon over the summer and I was planning to go -- Groupon either gets me to go to a new place and pay more than the Groupon amount on that one visit but then never go again, or it gets me to go to a new place and then I go back again and again.
They cancelled the Groupon the day I planned to go and it took a while to get the money refunded. What kind of company does that? I was quite annoyed and thought it was pretty rude. You offer a discount and then say "never mind" after some people have planned to go to your business?
Never actually made it down there.
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