Portosole — Restaurant in Coral Gables

I honestly think this restaurant deserves ZERO stars for their poor customer service. I originally made reservations for Portosole with my family, because the food looked great on their website. Even though the food looked great, unfortunately the service in this Restaurant was one of the worse experiences I've ever had in my whole entire life. I am born and raised in Miami. My family and I eat out frequently in the gables. Never have I gone somewhere in the gables and felt so discriminated. Not only by the Manager, but by the actual owner himself as well. I made reservations a week prior for a party of 8, I even agreed to purchase a cake from the Restaurant for $75. (Which I could've purchased anywhere else, but I choose to trust them) Everything was going well until the evening came, the first couple of guest show up to the reservation 10 minutes upon arrival to 8, they checked in at the front desk of the Restaurant and were asked where the rest of the party was, that they can only hold the table for 10 to 15 mins. As I said earlier these were my guest and they had arrived 10 minutes early. My reservation was at 8pm and they had arrived at 7:50pm. One of guest which was a family friend of ours walked in with a Balloon that said 28. Not a bundle of balloons, but just one pair that said 28, for my sisters birthday. Now if I would've been told due to Covid guidelines or safety precautions that the restaurant was not allowing balloons. I would’ve understood completely the situation. But this poor young lady who went out of her way to make someone feel special was not allowed at all to enter the restaurant with balloons, not even to say hello to my party or excuse herself for a moment and let them know that she would be right back that she had to put the balloons away. She called me and told me as per the manager the balloons were not allowed at all and that she was advised to put them away in her car and give them to my sister after dinner. I called as I was arriving to the restaurant and I asked to please speak with the manager. He explained rudely to me that they were not that type of restaurant. As soon as I heard those words, being a young lady from a strong and successful hard working family, and a medical professional myself. I felt so insulted and shocked by his choice of words. I asked to please speak with someone higher. He advised me I could speak with the owner that was also there that night . The owner was kind to take the call, I was hoping finally someone with great customer service skills that can help me resolve this tiny matter. I was very polite and explained to him the situation. I told him his Manager explained to me their policy. I asked him nicely if there was anyway, he can make an exception or accommodate us outside so that we can just have the balloons to surprise her with. I explained that being that we are in a pandemic and with everything going on, unfortunately there aren't many options we had to celebrate my sisters birthday that this was our only one and we just wanted to make it as special as possible. He cut me off and explained polices are policies. I asked him again nicely, if I can just walk in with them and give them to her so she can see it, if it bothers the guest around me I will take it out. He then said to me, he did not care about the guest, he himself did not want balloons in HIS restaurant, because it was his restaurant and it was not that type of place. I was insulted again! I told him what if we were your daughters and someone had spoken to us in that way, how would you feel... he told me I would tell them the same that that's not that type of restaurant. I was then insulted more when he advised me next time to rent their Private room and higher a DJ and decorate as much as I want, as if I was a child. As if he was insinuating that's what we wanted. First off I didn't even know they had a private room, if I was offered that in the beginning, I would've taken it, but not for the DJ or decorations just for the privacy. Being hurt and disgusted by the mans tone, I...

Today, I visited Portosole Restaurant based on a recommendation from someone who knows someone working there. I won’t mention names, as that’s not the point, but my experience deserves to be shared.

Upon arrival, we were seated at a table for two right next to the door, and several staff members promptly attended to us. The service appeared professional at first. We placed our order, and everything arrived quickly, but unfortunately, the food was more cold than hot. We also ordered two glasses of wine. Although the staff offered us additional options, we explained that we don’t eat much, which seemed to be frowned upon.

The food was just “okay,” far from what one would expect from a restaurant in Coral Gables. Nonetheless, I was with my wife, and we were enjoying a pleasant moment together.

When we finished, the bill arrived with the last plate: $268, including a $42 automatic 20% tip. I handed the server three $100 bills, and he thanked me. However, that was the last time I saw him. I waited for almost half an hour for my change, but neither he nor any other staff member who received the payment ever returned. It was outright disrespectful.

I wanted my change not because of the money itself but because I was actually considering reserving the place for a year-end dinner with my employees. Unfortunately, I lost my change, and they lost me as a customer forever.

I can’t understand why some Miami restaurants treat customers based on how much they consume or whether they order dessert or coffee. Does asking for water, ordering small portions, or skipping dessert make someone less worthy of good service or tipping? Even if that were the case, every guest deserves excellent treatment the moment they walk through the door.

Sadly, Portosole failed to deliver both the service and the dining experience expected from a place like this. It was a complete waste of time and money, especially when considering alternatives like Cote or Komodo, which are miles ahead in terms of quality and customer care.

It’s disappointing that these types of practices still occur in such a competitive dining scene as Miami’s. I will not return, nor will I recommend this...

It was our second visit and I have to start by saying that the food is excellent but there are things that should not happen in a place like this and for that reason I am giving it 3 stars unlike my first visit was 5 stars. My reservation was at 9:30 PM, I arrived at 9:00 PM, I was attended by a man who seemed to be the manager or the owner, he explained that my table would not be ready until 9:30 PM and I understand perfectly but, What is unacceptable is that in a place like this my wife and I have to wait for a table standing outside the restaurant because they don't have room, at the bar or they don't have an area to sit and wait for the table. 30 minutes later I realize because I entered again that the people who were at the bar had already sat at a table and this man was unable to notify us so that we could sit down to eat at his bar in his restaurant if he is the owner, and record that several times he looked out and saw me and my wife standing outside waiting, it was my intention to sit down and have a drink at the bar while the table was ready, if it had not been for the time that it was, of course I would have left It was also that they could charge me from the credit card that you have to leave at the time of making the reservation. In addition, the table was not ready at 9:30 p.m. as he had said, it was ready at 10:00 p.m. and to add insult to injury, we sat down and the waiter who attended me the previous time and I think he knows very well good to do his job, very professional the truth but that day I don't know what happened to him, he tells me to order the food that the kitchen was about to close, that is also unacceptable. For the rest, as I already mentioned, the food is excellent, as is the service, except for the situation explained above. Don't do that, your restaurant leaves a lot...