This review is for the breakfast buffet only. This is a standard hotel restaurant. The breakfast buffet is a good value, with a wonderful atmosphere. Nothing stands out to me, but would not hesitate to return when I am back at the Fountainbleau! Miami!
(3)
Cameron L.
Went to dinner with high expectations. Had a foreign waiter, not sure if it was the language barrier or if he was being an asshole but he refused to let us order appetizers and our entrees at separate times. Argued that he didn't have a certain wine by the glass that we wanted but he did. We spoke to the manager and expressed our disappointment. The only thing we received was a new waiter. Once the manager left, the table next to us started talking to the manager and said they had a horrible experience but had waited to hear someone else's opinion voiced before saying something. In the end, we ordered a few pizzas, meatballs and the lobster guac. They were all awesome. The waiter had also told us the snapper was awful and to get anything on the menu besides that. The table behind us also said they ordered the sea bass and returned it immediately due to it being "fishy". I love the fountainbleau but even pool waiters said it's not worth it to dine inside the resort.
(2)
Jennifer O.
I loved this place. Great selection. Different flavors. Our server Terry was amazing. He was so attentive of our needs. He offered up options as my friend has many food allergies & he explained dishes in detail. Food was very good. prices not so much, but then again this is Miami Beach. I will be back for another visit.
(4)
D C.
The everyday $30 breakfast buffet has high quality food. The made to order omelets, fresh squeezed OJ and pastries are the highlights. The service is prompt and courteous. The only draw back is the price.
(4)
Anne S.
A one star is generous for the sloppy service ..2hr wait for 1st course, which was served w: the main meal. don't step foot in this putrid pit. I invited a glamorous gang for dinner to be horrified with the drop-off dinner- slammed on the table to slurp like savages. And to think the manager accepted this as the norm when we confronted him- Vida to my vicious death- stay away!
(1)
Jeremy G.
We went here for breakfast rather than dinner so I can't comment on their other menus. The place appears to be half American (Vida) and half Sushi (Blade) and depending on the time of day it's either two restaurants or one, at breakfast for example it was all Vida. We ordered some standard Diner fare, the 2 eggs (with ham and toast) and Eggs Benedict. The Eggs Benedict looked and tasted great, my dish however was spoiled by the industrial factory made slice of "ham" which the only thing it shared with a pig was genetics. I mean, when you're paying $20+ for a breakfast choice why can't they get a real slice of ham that looks like it was sliced from a pig? The service was excellent. The hostess who greeted us looked like it was way too much effort to show us to her table and that she was late for her nail appointment at the Spa. If you want an expensive breakfast that is marginally better than a Diner then this is the place. Our check came to almost $70 for $20 worth of food in a normal NY Diner.
(3)
Aeris L.
Very bad bad bad service, absolutely will not back here anymore. Food is very pricey but the quality is just so so. Not recommended!
(1)
Elise G.
Terrible food. Expensive too. Calamari Frito: Meh. The first batch came out cold. The second batch was under seasoned and mushy. Warm Crab Dip Gratin: Descent. Creamy and rich with chunks on the inside and a crumbly, baked top. I've had better at the Palamino in San Francisco, CA. Rotisserie Chicken Wings: Good. They were deep fried, not rotisserie, but still good. Hot with a lot of meat. Both wings and drums. Butter Lettuce Wedge: Not good. The beets were undercooked and the hearts of palm tasted like cleaning solution. We modified the salad and got mozzarella cheese instead of ricotta cheese, which was a bad call on our part. But the salad itself just wasn't a good combination of ingredients. Coffee: Awesome coffee. Rich, creamy, and not bitter at all. Our server was nice, but too chatty and not very attentive.
(2)
Brian C.
A great case study of righting and wrong. My first experience here was not good. The food was amazing, but the service simply sucked. I tweeted the hotel and voiced my unhappiness. They responded immediately and had the manager on the phone with me in a few hours. We returned for a second go-round and was blown out of the water with the level we had expected. I highly recommend the beef tenderloin. Absolutely perfect. I'd skip the desserts and opt for the dessert counter down the hall as the alternative.
(4)
Renee B.
The ambiance was great and inside an amazing hotel, however the restaurant itself was nothing to write home about. Our server seemed irritated by everyone, especially that we were a 2 top taking up a booth (which the hostess seated us there, not by request). The service was slow. And my poor husband's fish came out COLD! You can imagine how our not so pleasant server reacted when we told him! The manager was very nice however and took the dish off our ticket. The tried to get a replacement dish but my husband didn't want anything. My pasta was just ok. Maybe it was an off night, but I will never go back.
(2)
Karen M.
Great breakfast menu with lots of healthy options. Although sort of pricey, the service and atmosphere was excellent and I will definitely return my next trip in Miami! (Try their granola and yogurt with fresh fruit). Gratuity was also included so make sure you don't miss it!
(5)
Chris M.
For the fountain blue this restaurant is sub par!!! Very poor service and food! My gf and I ordered the churasco. I asked for A-1 steak sauce with it. When the churasco came the beef looked appetizing but the rest of the vegetables/potatoes looked disgusting. I took my first bite of the churasco and so did my gf and we both gave each other weird looks. It tasted like a sour vinegar taste. Very strange and weird taste. I cut another piece and dabbed it into the A-1 and I spit the churasco out because I literally almost threw up. My gf started smelling and tasting it slowly and it turns out its marinated in VINEGAR and the vinegar sauce is served with the churasco. It's absolutely disgusting!!!!! I pushed the plate away and the server never came back. A manager noticed the plate was pushed away and asked if everything was ok. I told her the churasco is disgusting and tasted like vinegar. She explained that the chef marinates it for two days and I told her that should be written on the menu. I was expecting a simple delicious cut of beef I could enjoy with A-1. My gf decided she couldn't eat hers either and the manager took both back. I was given the menu by the manager and I ordered a burger. My gf was too disgusted to eat anything else. The manager didn't charge us for either churasco dishes. She apologized and was professional and I give her credit for trying. The server sucked!!! He was un attentive and carefree. I don't recommend this restaurant!
(2)
Ziva A.
I am just writing a review on one item I ordered here. The Lobster Guacamole was delicious! This dish is very inventive and a fresh spin on lobster. I would make one recommendation, the pita they served it with should of been toasted inside of served cold. Or serve it with chips rather then bread. Anyway it was great and I will say it was worth the $17.
(4)
Deborah M.
My husband and I came here recently, on our first night visiting Miami. We stayed at the Fontainebleau and Vida was convenient for us. This place was amazing! I loved everything we ordered! The florescent menu was unique and is great for those of us who don't see so well in the dark. The service was superb. I would highly recommend dinner here!
(5)
Jimmy B.
Sadly we showed up at the end of lunch right before dinner so the menu was limited. Since there were few options to choose from I had a crazy idea to ask if I could do a half/half option. It never hurts to ask, right? The waitress got a kick out of the question and offered the Penne as a side dish so I took it. First time having Churrasco with Chimichurri and it was delicious. the meat was cooked just the way I like it and it was covered with sauce and fries. I had no idea the Penne dish would be so large for a side either. It was filled with pulled chicken, leeks, mushrooms, and an herb cream sauce. I would swear they took the recipe from Maggiano's because it tasted the exact same as the Rigatoni "D" dish served there. This is a hotel restaurant so don't expect the prices to be low. They charge my friend $9 for a bottle of water and $9 for the side dish. I think we ended up paying about $45 each. The food was good, but definitely not worth the price. We were there for a convention and able to expense it so I can't complain.
After having a conversation with our waiter my vegetarian diet, I ordered the mashed potatoes with no meat. I received it with meat on top. I got charged a $2 fee to send it back and "change my order", only to receive cold mashed potatoes, half an hour later. It also had some small, hard, unidentifiable objects in it, looked like pieces of plastic perhaps. The pasta was less than buffet quality, not fresh, and dried up as if it had been prepared a couple days before. Don't let the swanky lighting and cool music fool you, avoid this place at all costs. This was a $4 meal at best, for $80.
(1)
Gloria F.
I came here only because room service was quoting a time of 50 mins. Standard mediocre hotel restaurant fare coupled with pretty bad service. It actually might not be vida but more a function of the Fontainebleau which leaves me speechless (in a bad way).
(2)
Emily B.
I was blown away by this place and cannot understand why it didn't have a higher average review. I actually ended up eating here two nights in a row, opting to forgo places like GOTHAM Steakhouse and 1500 Degrees. In town for a conference at neighboring hotel, the Eden Roc, I ventured over to the ever-luring Fountaine Bleau property in search of a fine dining experience. While this property has many options, Vida's diverse menu won us over. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. Warm, yet modern. Several different styles of seating from cozy booths to two-tops, to picnc-style tables, to a sushi bar. The brightly-lit kitchen is open, but placed in the back of the restaurant so as not to cause commotion for eaters. The volume of the music (electronic) and the level of lighting are two things this place has down right off the bat. Perfect for a date night, entertaining clients or dining with family. No audiovisual distractions to worry about. The next thing that did it for me was the service. Really impressive. The first server to come to your table is your main server for the night. However, you will be visited by a different person for water, bread, refills, food-running, food clearing, etc. It sounds like it could be obnoxious, but it's not. It's perfectly timed and highly attentive without ever feeling like someone is swarming your table or hovering over you. What's also nice is that each one says their name and welcomes you to the restaurant. Even if that person's sole job is to put down a basket of rolls. Moving on to the actual food, which came out fast compared to what some of the reviews are saying. Deciding what to eat is the hardest thing, as their menu has everything from yummy-sounding crab cakes and pizza, to specials like rotisserie meats and lovely fish dishes. They have a sushi chef on-site as well, which was also enticing. My taste buds, needless to say, were having a hard time pinning down the craving. As per the waiter's reco, I went with honey-glazed salmon and it was the best choice. Cooked perfectly and served atop a lemon risotto with green beans, I was in heaven. My dining partner had the rotisserie rosemary-lemon chicken and she said it was succulent and delicious. They also bring freshly-made butter and warm rolls to the table prior to your order. On night two, I enjoyed a 10 oz veal chop served with a mushroom and onion sherry-based sauce over a bed of creamy garlic polenta. This was another stellar dish, but not as mind blowing as the salmon. My dining partner enjoyed their Spaghetti Marinara and comments included that the sauce was fresh and the dish was perfectly portioned. For dessert we enjoyed an apple tart which was a flavor explosion and came with housemade apple cider caramel and a scoop of caramel pecan ice cream. Again, the service was impeccable.
(4)
Murray B.
Had the Short Rib Grilled Cheese for lunch. It was messy and difficult to eat. Taste wasn't anything memorable. Fries were good. Service was good. Atmosphere a little hectic.
(2)
Rhonda G.
So slooooow. Honestly don't go in here if you are starving because you will die while you wait. I ate here twice within a couple of days and both times were painfully slow. Grilled cheese is pretty bland. Pizza is pretty good. Kind of pricey for mediocre eats though. Think airport food meets resort hotel and that my friend is Vida.
(2)
Emily R.
This is a small bakery and to go sandwich shop inside the fountain blue hotel. It was very crowded but the line went quickly with three people working at the registers. The servers behind the counter were friendly and patient and very informative. They seem to be very proud of what they were serving. I ordered the Oreo cookie gelato and it was just delicious. I would love to go back.
Came here for the New Year's Eve dinner buffet. $65 per person - I obviously had high expectations. Few things were good, nothing out of the ordinary. There were some really delicious pizza, cheese and bacon balls, vegetable empanadas, and salami and cheese. I was pleased with the appetizers and based on them, was excited for the entree options. I was surely let down. I tried a number of items, nearly everything, and was unhappy with all except the prime rib, which was ok. But then, dessert made me happy again. A huge variety of some really awesome desserts. However, I wasn't fully satisfied upon leaving because the main part of the meal was a huge disappointment. I would say it was worth more like $20, at most. Save your money for something better.
(3)
Kayla D.
I went here for breakfast and it was really good. I ordered off the menu instead of the buffet. The service was great and I would definitely go again.
(4)
Francisco X. P.
It was a pretty good lunch I had with my Crab cake starter. Then I ordered a Ceasar salad and the Calamari. Unfortunately the Ceasar was WAY over dressed for my liking. If I had had a longer lunch break I'm sure it would have been taken care of. I did mention it to my server and he was prepared to take action, but I asked him not to worry. The Calamari were perfectly flash fried and made great croutons. Call me Coo Coo, but I love Calamari on my Ceasar. I've actually written to Carrabba's to add it to there menu. No bites yet. You can have Shrimp, or Chicken, but alas no Calamari option. I say Try it you'll like it!!! So order the Calamari seperate and toss them on your Ceasar. You'll thank me I Gar RonTee it!!
(4)
Joe S.
Service is excellent, dishes well presented. I would give a 5 starts if calamari was better, after all I recommend to eat at Vida.
(4)
Shane R.
good service. huge open atmosphere. you might as well get the buffet from a value perspective. most things were decent. pouched eggs were great. still, overall not worth the money.
(2)
Robert J.
Stopped in during our first morning in the hotel for a quick breakfast. There didn't seem to be many other options around besides the little coffee shop place. Buffet was kind of our only option and it is PRICEY. I suppose that's to be expected from all the restaurants in the hotel... FOOD: The buffet actually had a large selection and a lot of variety. Most of the food seemed to be of average quality, with a few options being below par. The Oatmeal was mushy and bland (more than usual). There were heat lamps over a lot of the food; who knows how long it's been left out. A lot of the fruit was unripe DRINKS: The OJ was delicious and fresh- I had seconds. The coffee was average. I felt like I was in a pretty nice restaurant, but the food didn't measure up. The service was attentive, even for being a buffet-style place. We felt bad afterwards for spending this much money of food that wasn't anything special. Didn't go back during our several-day stay.
(2)
Jen J.
My friend and I went for a last minute late lunch. In summary, this was average. Food: 2.5/5. The free bread was actually very good--The rosemary loaf was very warm and soft. The cracker was crispy. I ordered the rock shrimp orecchiette, which was very average. The shrimp tasted like they were frozen just minutes prior, with that kind of watered down seafood taste. Pasta was not memorable. I wouldn't order this again. Service: 3/5. We were seated quickly, but the server took a while to greet us and bring water. We also didn't receive the bread service (flat Parmesan cracker and Rosemary loaf) until we had been waiting 15/20 minutes after we ordered. But generally, the staff was very friendly. Ambiance: 4/5. The restaurant was very busy, but we got a table by the window, which gave us ample people watching opportunities but also was private enough that we could chat.
(3)
Audrey P.
Not worth it, don't waste your time or money, the worse sushi I had so far. The servers are nice but that don't make up for the quality of the food, very disappointed definitely not coming back here.
(1)
Karl K.
After a long three days of meetings at the resort, I was on my own for lunch. I picked Vida for it's location (middle of the resort) and its trendy menu. I really enjoyed the Lobster salad; however, it was a bit pricy. The service was good, the waiter was attentive, and I saw the manager working the tables ensuring that everyone was being taken care of. The restaurant was neat and tidy, not too busy. It has partial views of the resort. Overall menu was fair; however, it is pricey, but not considering where you are.
Overpriced bland food and horrendous service. First our hostess had exceptionally strong b-face. For a luxury resort it's ridiculous to have such a bad first impression. B-face is an epidemic at this establishment. Even our waitress seemed like she hated her life and her job. I think the bad service is caused by the mandatory 18% service charge. The servers throughout the resort are complacent and have no motivation to give proper service. Management needs to keep their staff accountable.
(1)
Catie G.
We came for dessert only to validate our parking. EXCELLENT customer service because several other hotels on the Beach would have half-assed it at this point. Nice dessert selection, decaf Cappacinos appropriately frothy and decent pool views.
(4)
Tom M.
Staying at the Sorrento Tower on a first time exciting Miami vacation. We wanted dinner after a full day out and didn't want anything extensive - Vida seemed to fit the in-hotel need. So met Camille (lead hostess) and Victoria at the desk. No greeting - a stare - ugh, could we see a menu? "American"? She says. We're thinking ugh. American meaning English language?! No, duh was the look, or Japanese. So, leave it there - but you get the idea. Greeting was no smiles and was unbelievably B.A.D.!!! (This is what you want greeting your guests??!!!!!) So we chose American and got seated right by the hostess highway area. Uhhhh, what about the rest of the nearly empty and many nice other tables? Again, another annoyed look, as I pointed another nicer more comfortable table. No words, just led us and sat us. Wow! So here comes Alex, not warm but not unfriendly. Could do a world of hospitality training on him but he was decently pleasant and fine. The food --- I don't think any chef of any decent reputation would hang their future on the quality of food or ingredients. The ribs were lathered, slathered, soaked in bbq sauce that was wayyy too sweet. Bottom line. All those pit bosses out there would throw this back. Ok but far from great. The cole slaw lacks any flavor and the mashed potatoes. Hmm, from a box?? Seemed lacking great flavor. Ok, my other had salmon (Atlantic of course), and we should all know Atlantic means farmed which means grain fed. Ugh. Anyway it looked decent and was just that. Servers did not seem happy, no one seemed happy and it became easy to be disappointed. This hotel needs to do better for its guests. Considering the price, I'd look elsewhere until they make changes!! Whew, I'm done here!!
(2)
Mike P.
Miami is pretty hit or miss when it comes to food. Vida missed. We figured this would be a nice option then the more expensive choices within the Fontainebleau. I had the Salmon and my wife had the Sole, both around $30 dollars. The salmon was fine, but wasn't a step up from your local restaurant. My wife's Sole was comical. 2 small fishstick sized pieces of fish were placed on a tiny bed of 1 fingerling potato that was cut up and a 1 piece of cauliflower that was spread throughout the plate. When the waiter put the dish down we both burst out laughing. One of the service members who came around with water smiled and commented that he doesn't know how anyone eats that dish since it's so small. Again, this was $30. While laughing we asked for a side of vegetables, and were charged another 10 on top!! So for a 45 dollar bottle of Pinot Noir, small Salmon dinner, incredibly hilarious Sole dinner, and a side of Vegetables my bill came to $140 with tip included. Unbelievable. The waitstaff was very pleasant. Either pay a bit more for the better options within the hotel or eat somewhere else.
(1)
Kay Corri A.
Went for Sunday Brunch with family visiting from NJ and had a great time!!! Everything from the atmosphere to the food was perfect! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Jacquie M.
Great food! Great the staff! I went with a friend who has food issues. The waiter made sure to have her comfortable with her food issues. They made sure she was good with the food. The staff, the manager made sure she was comfortable well adjusted! I would come again!
(5)
Joanna D.
The breakfast buffet was amazing. We also came here for lunch one day, and the food was great for lunch too. Great atmosphere. Delicious food. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Brenda P.
The Fontainebleau already has a culinary trifecta perfection in place: Hakkasan, Gotham Steak and Scarpetta. There is also Vida. The only problem is that Vida does not excel like the others and cannot be in that same category. What it does do is provide you with an indoor dining option so that you can get away from the hot mess that is La Cote and their poolside dining (if you can even call it that). We opted for this trying to get away from 2 days of disappointment at the other places. It is very beautiful inside and also provides for great people watching, albeit a little dizzying. You see everyone walk by the arched hallway framed by clear glass with frosted a bamboo design. We had the following: Crunchy spicy tuna roll- excellent Margherita pizza- very good Gluten free margherita pizza- good Chicken quesadilla- blah The margherita pizza came with a side of a stringy piece of metal. At first it looked like a piece of burnt crust that had fallen off but once our friend picked it up we realized that it was indeed metal. They took the pizza back right away and offered to replace it. They also took it off the bill. The manager came by and apologized. He said they figured out it was a piece of metal that must have fallen off from the oven as they took the pizza out. It still doesn't make sense but nothing we can do. I do know that had my friend bit into that or swallowed it, the situation could have been very serious. I was actually shocked that they did not comp the entire thing! That said, the place is very nice and I am sure this was a rare occasion and not the norm. I will give them the benefit of the the doubt. We did not order any dessert or coffee because we were just over the lack of options at this hotel (unless you want to go completely upscale with your lunch). I wanted to give it three but had to take away the third star because of the metal incident and how it was handled. I know I will be back to the hotel (because it's one of my favorites) and I hope they have improved greatly by then.
(2)
Angela R.
The grilled chicken and grilled asparagus were very tasty. Was very please they were cooked with no sugary sauces. A true healthy meal. Kinda expensive though.
(4)
Edward M.
We ate here the first day we arrived at Fontaine blue. I ordered a drink called old fashioned. It literally had no alcohol in it with a ton of ice. One of the worst cocktails I have had at a restaurant. It didn't end there, for lunch I ordered the burger and requested it to be cooked medium. After waiting about 25 minutes the food finally came out. My burger looked liked it had been charred and burned. It was not medium whatsoever or medium well. Very disappointing lunch. We were here with 2 couples and they had a similar experience with there lunch and we all ordered different plates.
(1)
Lawrence P.
For a hotel with amazing restaurants (IE: Hakassan, Scarpetta, etc), Vida is just downright average at best. The only food worse in the hotel then Vida is the the poolside food... which is why during a weekend stay, we opted for Vida to get away from the crappy poolside food. Although not as bad as the aforementioned poolside food which, by the way is an embarrassment, Vida is, average at best. The decor is nice enough. As for the food, we had the crunchy spicy tuna roll and margherita pizza which were both good. But if you want something other than pizza... don't do it!!!
(2)
Sandra W.
Was on a trip and stayed at the Fountainbleau. We had breakfast here every morning. Food was really fresh and the service was great. It is a little pricey though, paid $75 for two for the breakfast buffet. That's usually a nice steak dinner back home, but we were on vacation, so splurged a little. Good food though.
(4)
Christine P.
The continental breakfast buffet is TOTALLY worth the $22 when you consider the following: Bagel and lox are $17; and a lousy cup of coffee is $6. (And truly, the coffee wasn't lousy, but quite good.)
(4)
Brandon H.
Ordered Lobster Guacamole. I sent it back. It was DISGUSTING. I left and didn't have to pay
(1)
Dave F.
This is a very average hotel restaurant which does a better breakfast and lunch than dinner. The location is off of the Bleau Bar down a hallway toward the pool in the Fontainebleau Resort. We started dinner with a spinach and artichoke dip Not terribly difficult to make, but the texture was that of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup. The color was also odd as it didn't seem to have any green in it. So, we asked our nice server what was the deal with the appetizer? She said "maybe it needs to cool down", eg coagulate. That was a zero, so we moved on. I order Grilled Grouper and asked to switch the side to a salad which was a 8 or 9 dollar upcharge. (I declined and asked her to eat the mashed potatoes.) My guest ordered Grilled Salmon. The Grouper was good, but tiny. The presentation of the dish was mostly plate, and very little Grouper. Very white, like the Resort! This was probably my fault as I declined on the mashed potatoes. But seriously, 4 ounces of fish? My guest had the Salmon and didn't complain. Because the restaurant is located in the Billion dollar remodeled Fontainebleau, there's an automatic 18% gratuity added regardless of the level of service received. I asked the server if she was rollin' a Lambo, but she declined to answer. I am ok with the 18% as the service was 18% on my server sliding scale. All in all, dinner was a sub-optimal experience. I had breakfast here and a Chopped salad with Shrimp for lunch and both were at least 3 star quality, so the restaurant deserves 2 stars versus 1 on food. To be specific, I'd give 3 stars for breakfast and/or lunch and 1 star for dinner. The ambiance is chic and fairly plain, but matches the hotel. This is not a place I'd put on my "Must try while in Miami Beach", but it is one of the only open spots during the day should you stay in the unique FontaineBleau Resort
(2)
QueenB B.
I love this place. I ordered the cooked samon roll which was the only hot roll served. THE BEST SUSHI IN MIAMI. I have been to almost every sushi place in Miami. The service is awesome the best in Miami. The service was better here than in Gotham. The hostess in gotham is snooty and rude. Vida is awesome I would recomment it.
(5)
Gisela C.
I had dinner at Vida on a Saturday night, around 7:30, the place was kinda empty but that didn't stop me. Every restaurant at the Fontainebleau is supposed to be fantastic so what the heck? The menu options were "eh" and we were advised by one of our waiters (6 in total that night came to our table) that the chef was redoing the menu and therefore was not offering specials of the day for now. Boo! I love ordering from the specials! No worries, I ordered the Churrasco and I have to tell you that the fondant potatoes were sooooooooo good, I would seriously go back just for that! My dad enjoyed the Salman, I think it had a ginger sauce and he loved it. As for desert, the menu was again "eh" - we had the banana creme brulee... it wasn't something to brag about, but it wasn't bad either. Would I go back? Of course, I can't wait to see what the new menu looks like. The steak was good, very good quality and those potatoes... mmm.
(3)
Adam G.
Service was very poor, had to ask to fill water, plates were not cleared when they brought the next course out. They forgot some of the order, the pizza was very average and a side cup of rice was $8 dollars.
(1)
Linda R.
I would actually give this 3 1/2 stars. We ate at the Sushi bar and did not order anything from the main menu. The 2 Sushi chefs have 20 plus years of experience and we had really good food. Sit at the sushi bar, order directly from the chef and watch as he expertly prepares your dinner. It's an amazing art form that's yours to behold. My husband is new to sushi and we ordered a sea weed salad and a variety of rolls, and nigiri. The eel was especially good but I must say that we both enjoyed the company of the chef as well as the food he prepared for us. Enjoy!
(4)
Mama Z.
I was very pleased with the service, staff and food. They were absolutely lovely to me and my toddler. I would go back again in a heartbeat.
(4)
Anthony C.
We were walking the board walk looking for a late dinner when we happened upon the Fontainebleau. My girlfriends family had said it was a must see in Miami Beach, and seeing as we were starving, we figured we would duck in and wander around then grab a bite to eat - two birds with one stone. The resort is a beautiful both inside and out, a labyrinth of glass and stone. We walked from one side to the other hardly seeing another person. We passed a few of the hotels restaurants on the way, but the prices were prohibitive for the casual late meal we were planning. Reaching the end of the road we found Vida, and liking the menu, sat down for dinner. Our first impression was good - we ordered the caprese salad as an appetizer and it was out in minutes. It was very good, but for the price I had expected something a little more impressive. This was the last time we would be impressed with the speed of anything at Vida. With our appetizer we requested a wine list which I am assuming must have been stored at the other end of this vast hotel, as it took forever to retrieve. I next conjecture that, once we ordered the wine, our server walked back to his distant wine vault, replaced the list, walked back to our table with bread, returned the quarter mile to the vault, got our wine, and then returned to cork the bottle. The bread must have gone stale on this long journey, as it was dry and cold. When we finally got to dinner, I had the floridian cobb salad and my date had the rotisserie chicken. Like our appetizer, the food was good, but unimpressive considering the price. All said, I can't say my biggest complaint is the food, but the service. Terrible lack of attention, even when we deliberately tried to wave down wait staff. My water glass was only filled for me once - every additional fill had to be requested. The final blow came as they began setting the tables up for breakfast around us while simultaneously ignoring us. As we signed the bill - extravagant for the average food and terrible service, I wasn't planning much of a tip. The wait staff must have been cognizant of how poorly they treated us though, as they added an automatic 18% gratuity to the bill. I didn't get food poisoning, so I didn't give it one star. Go somewhere else.
(2)
Ivano B.
The brunch buffet is simply decadent. Endless choices from the regular brunch items to very special dishes. Go nuts and try as much you can but no matter what try the lobster mac + cheese!!
(4)
Elle R.
I had breakfast here with my family. The staff was very nice and helpful. They offered the kids at the table each their own portable dvd player and videos to choose from to keep occupied as well as a coloring book. The orange juice was DELICIOSO! Fresh squeezed and our glasses were frequently filled. The breakfast buffet was plentiful. The BEST breakfast potatoes I have ever tasted! The french toast off the menu was also the BEST I have ever tasted. It had a nice flavor with orange zest caramelized into the bread. I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast!
(5)
Ricky O.
Sushi is really good!
(4)
Laura G.
My girlfriend chose Vida as the location for her 22nd birthday simply because she fancied the art on the walls. "Pleasseee" she said to me. I agreed, I do anything to please her. I made reservations for 8 though open table, which worked out very well because i was able to change them about 3 or 4 times. The big day finally came. I baked some fruit tarts and headed for Vida. The moment I arrived the hostess had our table ready, but read we wanted a booth near the window, so in a matter of minutes she set the new table and escorted us. Our waitress made sure every place setting had a tartlet each of which she brought out a plate for. The waitress patiently waited for the rest of the guests to arrive and took our order. 5 onion soups, 2 calamari, 1 spinach asparagus soup. The french onion soup was terrible, overly sweet, under-cheesed just terrible. The calamari were salty and greasy. We didn't want to make a big deal out of it so we just nodded our head and said it was fine. Then came the entrees, the sushi was good. I have no complaints there. We ordered two lobster roles , a salmon roll, and a roll wrapped in cucumber with shrimp. They were decent. Our friend's pasta on the other hand was terrible, she of course lied because our waitress was so nice. At the end of the night and after we ate our tarts, the waitress brought out a complementary slice of chocolate cake. It was more frosting than cake, not good. When I wend to pay the bill I almost had a heart attack. I cannot believe they would charge me this much for such terrible food. All in all, for the price and the fact that it is the Fontainebleau and they can afford it, they should really fix their menu. They are loosing clients. I guess what they say is true, "you don't sleep in a restaurant, why would you eat in a hotel?"
(3)
Melissa G.
There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.... Those were the thoughts that ran through my head while I dined at Vida. I had just arrived a few hours earlier from NYC and I was ready to have a good time. I knew it was going to cost me a pretty penny to be in Miami but I wanted to get what I paid for.... Found the set up of Vida and Blade to be extremely odd. It's basically in the same restaurant, so one would think you could order off either menu, no? Not the case. My dining companion was not into sushi so we opted for Vida. Wish we went to Blade, but I'm not confident it would have been that much better. Service was ify, although the waiter did try his best. I firmly believe that if you get the bread and it's not delicious it's not a bad idea to leave before your food arrives. That's just my experience... bad or mediocre bread usually results in food of the same quality. I couldn't decide what to get so I ordered the pesto pasta. My sister ordered a pizza. The pizza arrived 20 min before my food due to "a mix up" in the kitchen. Restaurants if you are reading this please take note: Do NOT serve someone at the table before the other person's food is ready. SERVE EVERYTHING AT ONCE. It totally ruins a dining experience for everyone at the table when they cannot eat together. The pizza was nasty, the pasta was anything but italian. The waiter gave us a free dessert for our troubles. We opted for the fondue thinking how can they mess that up... well somehow they did. It was not hot?! very strange. Thank god it was free. Wish this didn't cost us $100 but live and learn and don't return here.
(2)
Regina Q.
this place sucks.
(1)
Kymbre D.
I did not enjoy Vida as much as I expected as I enjoyed almost all of the other restaurants during my stay at the Fountainbleau. I found the service to be lackluster at best and the food was not well prepared at all. I guess once I was notified that the kitchen closes at 3pm and I arrived at 3pm as per my online reservation through opentable.com (which by the way, also had a 3:30pm reservation available) I guess that explains why the food was room temperature and flavorless. I would never dine at this restaurant again, nor suggest it to any friends...sorry. Also, if their kitchen closes at 3pm, 3p and 3:30p reservations should not be suggested on the web site.
(2)
Donnie S.
The food here was decent, but the prices are as outrageous as you would expect for a restaurant in a pretty upscale hotel. There was 20% gratuity included on our bill for just my wife and I. Personally, I think that's lame. As a result, my water glass sat there for 15 minutes while I looked around for my waiter. And I got the breakfast buffet, he didn't have to do anything! My wife ordered a club sandwhich, someone else brought it to our table. 20% my arse. The only reason I'm giving 3 stars is because the eggs benedict on the buffet were delicious and the bacon was cooked perfectly.
(3)
Mary H.
Food was excellent, service was not. We sat for at least 10 minutes before someone came over and there were probably 6 other people in the restaurant. I had the flank steak with a chimichurri sauce, which was fantastic, my hubby ordered the lamb which was equally as good. Had the banana creme brulee, yum!!
(3)
Nancy H.
Of all the options at the Fontainebleau we found this to have the best service, and to be worth the money. The food wasn't amazing, but of all the restaurants at the resort, this was definitely the best and we were sad to find it as we were checking out. My friends got the French Dip which they loved, the sandwich is huge. Another friend got the Turkey Club which is very salty. Their fries are very good. My chicken quesadilla wasn't amazing, but for only $11 at the resort, it was the most worth it meal we had had the 4 nights we were there. The dessert we got was the banana creme brulee which was very yummy. The desserts at the resort were always the best parts of the meal. This really only deserves 3 stars but it's definitely the best lunch option at the resort, even better than Fresh or the pool and definitely better than LaCote so it gets 4 stars in relation to the other restaurants at the hotel
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Thomas W.
This review is for the breakfast buffet only. This is a standard hotel restaurant. The breakfast buffet is a good value, with a wonderful atmosphere. Nothing stands out to me, but would not hesitate to return when I am back at the Fountainbleau! Miami!
(3)Cameron L.
Went to dinner with high expectations. Had a foreign waiter, not sure if it was the language barrier or if he was being an asshole but he refused to let us order appetizers and our entrees at separate times. Argued that he didn't have a certain wine by the glass that we wanted but he did. We spoke to the manager and expressed our disappointment. The only thing we received was a new waiter. Once the manager left, the table next to us started talking to the manager and said they had a horrible experience but had waited to hear someone else's opinion voiced before saying something. In the end, we ordered a few pizzas, meatballs and the lobster guac. They were all awesome. The waiter had also told us the snapper was awful and to get anything on the menu besides that. The table behind us also said they ordered the sea bass and returned it immediately due to it being "fishy". I love the fountainbleau but even pool waiters said it's not worth it to dine inside the resort.
(2)Jennifer O.
I loved this place. Great selection. Different flavors. Our server Terry was amazing. He was so attentive of our needs. He offered up options as my friend has many food allergies & he explained dishes in detail. Food was very good. prices not so much, but then again this is Miami Beach. I will be back for another visit.
(4)D C.
The everyday $30 breakfast buffet has high quality food. The made to order omelets, fresh squeezed OJ and pastries are the highlights. The service is prompt and courteous. The only draw back is the price.
(4)Anne S.
A one star is generous for the sloppy service ..2hr wait for 1st course, which was served w: the main meal. don't step foot in this putrid pit. I invited a glamorous gang for dinner to be horrified with the drop-off dinner- slammed on the table to slurp like savages. And to think the manager accepted this as the norm when we confronted him- Vida to my vicious death- stay away!
(1)Jeremy G.
We went here for breakfast rather than dinner so I can't comment on their other menus. The place appears to be half American (Vida) and half Sushi (Blade) and depending on the time of day it's either two restaurants or one, at breakfast for example it was all Vida. We ordered some standard Diner fare, the 2 eggs (with ham and toast) and Eggs Benedict. The Eggs Benedict looked and tasted great, my dish however was spoiled by the industrial factory made slice of "ham" which the only thing it shared with a pig was genetics. I mean, when you're paying $20+ for a breakfast choice why can't they get a real slice of ham that looks like it was sliced from a pig? The service was excellent. The hostess who greeted us looked like it was way too much effort to show us to her table and that she was late for her nail appointment at the Spa. If you want an expensive breakfast that is marginally better than a Diner then this is the place. Our check came to almost $70 for $20 worth of food in a normal NY Diner.
(3)Aeris L.
Very bad bad bad service, absolutely will not back here anymore. Food is very pricey but the quality is just so so. Not recommended!
(1)Elise G.
Terrible food. Expensive too. Calamari Frito: Meh. The first batch came out cold. The second batch was under seasoned and mushy. Warm Crab Dip Gratin: Descent. Creamy and rich with chunks on the inside and a crumbly, baked top. I've had better at the Palamino in San Francisco, CA. Rotisserie Chicken Wings: Good. They were deep fried, not rotisserie, but still good. Hot with a lot of meat. Both wings and drums. Butter Lettuce Wedge: Not good. The beets were undercooked and the hearts of palm tasted like cleaning solution. We modified the salad and got mozzarella cheese instead of ricotta cheese, which was a bad call on our part. But the salad itself just wasn't a good combination of ingredients. Coffee: Awesome coffee. Rich, creamy, and not bitter at all. Our server was nice, but too chatty and not very attentive.
(2)Brian C.
A great case study of righting and wrong. My first experience here was not good. The food was amazing, but the service simply sucked. I tweeted the hotel and voiced my unhappiness. They responded immediately and had the manager on the phone with me in a few hours. We returned for a second go-round and was blown out of the water with the level we had expected. I highly recommend the beef tenderloin. Absolutely perfect. I'd skip the desserts and opt for the dessert counter down the hall as the alternative.
(4)Renee B.
The ambiance was great and inside an amazing hotel, however the restaurant itself was nothing to write home about. Our server seemed irritated by everyone, especially that we were a 2 top taking up a booth (which the hostess seated us there, not by request). The service was slow. And my poor husband's fish came out COLD! You can imagine how our not so pleasant server reacted when we told him! The manager was very nice however and took the dish off our ticket. The tried to get a replacement dish but my husband didn't want anything. My pasta was just ok. Maybe it was an off night, but I will never go back.
(2)Karen M.
Great breakfast menu with lots of healthy options. Although sort of pricey, the service and atmosphere was excellent and I will definitely return my next trip in Miami! (Try their granola and yogurt with fresh fruit). Gratuity was also included so make sure you don't miss it!
(5)Chris M.
For the fountain blue this restaurant is sub par!!! Very poor service and food! My gf and I ordered the churasco. I asked for A-1 steak sauce with it. When the churasco came the beef looked appetizing but the rest of the vegetables/potatoes looked disgusting. I took my first bite of the churasco and so did my gf and we both gave each other weird looks. It tasted like a sour vinegar taste. Very strange and weird taste. I cut another piece and dabbed it into the A-1 and I spit the churasco out because I literally almost threw up. My gf started smelling and tasting it slowly and it turns out its marinated in VINEGAR and the vinegar sauce is served with the churasco. It's absolutely disgusting!!!!! I pushed the plate away and the server never came back. A manager noticed the plate was pushed away and asked if everything was ok. I told her the churasco is disgusting and tasted like vinegar. She explained that the chef marinates it for two days and I told her that should be written on the menu. I was expecting a simple delicious cut of beef I could enjoy with A-1. My gf decided she couldn't eat hers either and the manager took both back. I was given the menu by the manager and I ordered a burger. My gf was too disgusted to eat anything else. The manager didn't charge us for either churasco dishes. She apologized and was professional and I give her credit for trying. The server sucked!!! He was un attentive and carefree. I don't recommend this restaurant!
(2)Ziva A.
I am just writing a review on one item I ordered here. The Lobster Guacamole was delicious! This dish is very inventive and a fresh spin on lobster. I would make one recommendation, the pita they served it with should of been toasted inside of served cold. Or serve it with chips rather then bread. Anyway it was great and I will say it was worth the $17.
(4)Deborah M.
My husband and I came here recently, on our first night visiting Miami. We stayed at the Fontainebleau and Vida was convenient for us. This place was amazing! I loved everything we ordered! The florescent menu was unique and is great for those of us who don't see so well in the dark. The service was superb. I would highly recommend dinner here!
(5)Jimmy B.
Sadly we showed up at the end of lunch right before dinner so the menu was limited. Since there were few options to choose from I had a crazy idea to ask if I could do a half/half option. It never hurts to ask, right? The waitress got a kick out of the question and offered the Penne as a side dish so I took it. First time having Churrasco with Chimichurri and it was delicious. the meat was cooked just the way I like it and it was covered with sauce and fries. I had no idea the Penne dish would be so large for a side either. It was filled with pulled chicken, leeks, mushrooms, and an herb cream sauce. I would swear they took the recipe from Maggiano's because it tasted the exact same as the Rigatoni "D" dish served there. This is a hotel restaurant so don't expect the prices to be low. They charge my friend $9 for a bottle of water and $9 for the side dish. I think we ended up paying about $45 each. The food was good, but definitely not worth the price. We were there for a convention and able to expense it so I can't complain.
(3)Diana G.
We made reservations at Vida for my birthday (a party of 14) because we heard it was great for groups. It really wasn't, it was kind of a nightmare actually. As soon as we ordered drinks the server told us that we could not itemize the bill and it could only be split evenly among x amount of people. How is that even fair when some were having appetizers and some (including myself) were having the churrasco entrée? We didn't really have a choice, most people had already ordered and our group was famished. The service was lackluster, probably because the 18% gratuity was already included. The food was decent, nothing really out of the ordinary. The ambiance was a little loud for my taste. The worst part was that the server charged my sister for the entire amount of what the table had ordered, plus her part of the bill, and my boyfriend's. We didn't find out until she tried to use her card later that night. She was charged a ridiculous amount of money 3 times, the bank immediately put her account on hold for fraudulent activity. I would NOT recommend this place for groups.
(2)Brenda F.
After having a conversation with our waiter my vegetarian diet, I ordered the mashed potatoes with no meat. I received it with meat on top. I got charged a $2 fee to send it back and "change my order", only to receive cold mashed potatoes, half an hour later. It also had some small, hard, unidentifiable objects in it, looked like pieces of plastic perhaps. The pasta was less than buffet quality, not fresh, and dried up as if it had been prepared a couple days before. Don't let the swanky lighting and cool music fool you, avoid this place at all costs. This was a $4 meal at best, for $80.
(1)Gloria F.
I came here only because room service was quoting a time of 50 mins. Standard mediocre hotel restaurant fare coupled with pretty bad service. It actually might not be vida but more a function of the Fontainebleau which leaves me speechless (in a bad way).
(2)Emily B.
I was blown away by this place and cannot understand why it didn't have a higher average review. I actually ended up eating here two nights in a row, opting to forgo places like GOTHAM Steakhouse and 1500 Degrees. In town for a conference at neighboring hotel, the Eden Roc, I ventured over to the ever-luring Fountaine Bleau property in search of a fine dining experience. While this property has many options, Vida's diverse menu won us over. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful. Warm, yet modern. Several different styles of seating from cozy booths to two-tops, to picnc-style tables, to a sushi bar. The brightly-lit kitchen is open, but placed in the back of the restaurant so as not to cause commotion for eaters. The volume of the music (electronic) and the level of lighting are two things this place has down right off the bat. Perfect for a date night, entertaining clients or dining with family. No audiovisual distractions to worry about. The next thing that did it for me was the service. Really impressive. The first server to come to your table is your main server for the night. However, you will be visited by a different person for water, bread, refills, food-running, food clearing, etc. It sounds like it could be obnoxious, but it's not. It's perfectly timed and highly attentive without ever feeling like someone is swarming your table or hovering over you. What's also nice is that each one says their name and welcomes you to the restaurant. Even if that person's sole job is to put down a basket of rolls. Moving on to the actual food, which came out fast compared to what some of the reviews are saying. Deciding what to eat is the hardest thing, as their menu has everything from yummy-sounding crab cakes and pizza, to specials like rotisserie meats and lovely fish dishes. They have a sushi chef on-site as well, which was also enticing. My taste buds, needless to say, were having a hard time pinning down the craving. As per the waiter's reco, I went with honey-glazed salmon and it was the best choice. Cooked perfectly and served atop a lemon risotto with green beans, I was in heaven. My dining partner had the rotisserie rosemary-lemon chicken and she said it was succulent and delicious. They also bring freshly-made butter and warm rolls to the table prior to your order. On night two, I enjoyed a 10 oz veal chop served with a mushroom and onion sherry-based sauce over a bed of creamy garlic polenta. This was another stellar dish, but not as mind blowing as the salmon. My dining partner enjoyed their Spaghetti Marinara and comments included that the sauce was fresh and the dish was perfectly portioned. For dessert we enjoyed an apple tart which was a flavor explosion and came with housemade apple cider caramel and a scoop of caramel pecan ice cream. Again, the service was impeccable.
(4)Murray B.
Had the Short Rib Grilled Cheese for lunch. It was messy and difficult to eat. Taste wasn't anything memorable. Fries were good. Service was good. Atmosphere a little hectic.
(2)Rhonda G.
So slooooow. Honestly don't go in here if you are starving because you will die while you wait. I ate here twice within a couple of days and both times were painfully slow. Grilled cheese is pretty bland. Pizza is pretty good. Kind of pricey for mediocre eats though. Think airport food meets resort hotel and that my friend is Vida.
(2)Emily R.
This is a small bakery and to go sandwich shop inside the fountain blue hotel. It was very crowded but the line went quickly with three people working at the registers. The servers behind the counter were friendly and patient and very informative. They seem to be very proud of what they were serving. I ordered the Oreo cookie gelato and it was just delicious. I would love to go back.
(3)Jennifer A.
Vida is located within the beautiful Fontaine Bleu, so even if you end up not enjoying your meal, at least you'll enjoy your surroundings. Everything is gorgeous. This review is based on breakfast only. I suggest you go with the American Buffet for 30 bucks. By the time you order a breakfast entrée, coffee and OJ it would probably be more than 30 and the buffet almost includes every entrée offered anyway. Good spread, all kinds of eggs, breakfast meats, pancakes, waffles, even meat and cheese plates, fruits and a ton of croissants. They also have an omelet station as well. The silver doll pancakes were my favorite thing, they were sooooo good, I want some right now. And the syrup was very rich and accompanied the pancakes perfectly. The staff here is super friendly and attentive....if I was in town for longer I would have came back here for dinner or something, they had a sushi bar.
(4)Alana A.
Came here for the New Year's Eve dinner buffet. $65 per person - I obviously had high expectations. Few things were good, nothing out of the ordinary. There were some really delicious pizza, cheese and bacon balls, vegetable empanadas, and salami and cheese. I was pleased with the appetizers and based on them, was excited for the entree options. I was surely let down. I tried a number of items, nearly everything, and was unhappy with all except the prime rib, which was ok. But then, dessert made me happy again. A huge variety of some really awesome desserts. However, I wasn't fully satisfied upon leaving because the main part of the meal was a huge disappointment. I would say it was worth more like $20, at most. Save your money for something better.
(3)Kayla D.
I went here for breakfast and it was really good. I ordered off the menu instead of the buffet. The service was great and I would definitely go again.
(4)Francisco X. P.
It was a pretty good lunch I had with my Crab cake starter. Then I ordered a Ceasar salad and the Calamari. Unfortunately the Ceasar was WAY over dressed for my liking. If I had had a longer lunch break I'm sure it would have been taken care of. I did mention it to my server and he was prepared to take action, but I asked him not to worry. The Calamari were perfectly flash fried and made great croutons. Call me Coo Coo, but I love Calamari on my Ceasar. I've actually written to Carrabba's to add it to there menu. No bites yet. You can have Shrimp, or Chicken, but alas no Calamari option. I say Try it you'll like it!!! So order the Calamari seperate and toss them on your Ceasar. You'll thank me I Gar RonTee it!!
(4)Joe S.
Service is excellent, dishes well presented. I would give a 5 starts if calamari was better, after all I recommend to eat at Vida.
(4)Shane R.
good service. huge open atmosphere. you might as well get the buffet from a value perspective. most things were decent. pouched eggs were great. still, overall not worth the money.
(2)Robert J.
Stopped in during our first morning in the hotel for a quick breakfast. There didn't seem to be many other options around besides the little coffee shop place. Buffet was kind of our only option and it is PRICEY. I suppose that's to be expected from all the restaurants in the hotel... FOOD: The buffet actually had a large selection and a lot of variety. Most of the food seemed to be of average quality, with a few options being below par. The Oatmeal was mushy and bland (more than usual). There were heat lamps over a lot of the food; who knows how long it's been left out. A lot of the fruit was unripe DRINKS: The OJ was delicious and fresh- I had seconds. The coffee was average. I felt like I was in a pretty nice restaurant, but the food didn't measure up. The service was attentive, even for being a buffet-style place. We felt bad afterwards for spending this much money of food that wasn't anything special. Didn't go back during our several-day stay.
(2)Jen J.
My friend and I went for a last minute late lunch. In summary, this was average. Food: 2.5/5. The free bread was actually very good--The rosemary loaf was very warm and soft. The cracker was crispy. I ordered the rock shrimp orecchiette, which was very average. The shrimp tasted like they were frozen just minutes prior, with that kind of watered down seafood taste. Pasta was not memorable. I wouldn't order this again. Service: 3/5. We were seated quickly, but the server took a while to greet us and bring water. We also didn't receive the bread service (flat Parmesan cracker and Rosemary loaf) until we had been waiting 15/20 minutes after we ordered. But generally, the staff was very friendly. Ambiance: 4/5. The restaurant was very busy, but we got a table by the window, which gave us ample people watching opportunities but also was private enough that we could chat.
(3)Audrey P.
Not worth it, don't waste your time or money, the worse sushi I had so far. The servers are nice but that don't make up for the quality of the food, very disappointed definitely not coming back here.
(1)Karl K.
After a long three days of meetings at the resort, I was on my own for lunch. I picked Vida for it's location (middle of the resort) and its trendy menu. I really enjoyed the Lobster salad; however, it was a bit pricy. The service was good, the waiter was attentive, and I saw the manager working the tables ensuring that everyone was being taken care of. The restaurant was neat and tidy, not too busy. It has partial views of the resort. Overall menu was fair; however, it is pricey, but not considering where you are.
(4)Michelle C.
This spot seriously deserves 5 stars for breakfast, it makes me remember one of the reasons why I chose to stay at F. Bleau in the first place. No matter how long the lines are in the morning , it was so easy to get seated, there are 3 friendly hostesses who never make us wait more than 10 minutes at most. for breakfast you have two options, you can either order an entrée and be served at the table, or you can choose from the buffet such as continental for 24 or American for 30, it isn't cheap but you can literally get as many plates as you please so you will be full for the day. continental was just a range of fresh fruits, cereals or pastries American was the entire buffet, pastries, fruits, eggs , custom omelets, piles of bacon, bagels , cereals and yogurts too every single thing I have eaten in that buffet was delicious , from the egg benedicts to crispy bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs , and the freshest bagels with all kinds of cream cheese, cute little blueberry or corn muffins and very tasty airy croissants , I miss this place already on some days I tried just regular breakfast with a berry platter and a bagel, ill admit this place is expensive, it was almost 15 for fruits which come with banana bread, and 7 bucks for a bagel, it really is a huge size so you get what you pay for they also have unlimited refills on OJ [probably the best since its straight out of Florida, not that artificial crap], and the coffee was so good that I literally asked the waiter to write down the brand, it was Colombian so it was smooth and bold the waiters were so friendly and sweet, and they served us very fast too, they even start to remember your name which is great on a personal level, it shows they care service charge is automatically added to the bill , 18 percent next time I come back here I will make sure that im the first one in line.
(5)Carla Z.
Overpriced bland food and horrendous service. First our hostess had exceptionally strong b-face. For a luxury resort it's ridiculous to have such a bad first impression. B-face is an epidemic at this establishment. Even our waitress seemed like she hated her life and her job. I think the bad service is caused by the mandatory 18% service charge. The servers throughout the resort are complacent and have no motivation to give proper service. Management needs to keep their staff accountable.
(1)Catie G.
We came for dessert only to validate our parking. EXCELLENT customer service because several other hotels on the Beach would have half-assed it at this point. Nice dessert selection, decaf Cappacinos appropriately frothy and decent pool views.
(4)Tom M.
Staying at the Sorrento Tower on a first time exciting Miami vacation. We wanted dinner after a full day out and didn't want anything extensive - Vida seemed to fit the in-hotel need. So met Camille (lead hostess) and Victoria at the desk. No greeting - a stare - ugh, could we see a menu? "American"? She says. We're thinking ugh. American meaning English language?! No, duh was the look, or Japanese. So, leave it there - but you get the idea. Greeting was no smiles and was unbelievably B.A.D.!!! (This is what you want greeting your guests??!!!!!) So we chose American and got seated right by the hostess highway area. Uhhhh, what about the rest of the nearly empty and many nice other tables? Again, another annoyed look, as I pointed another nicer more comfortable table. No words, just led us and sat us. Wow! So here comes Alex, not warm but not unfriendly. Could do a world of hospitality training on him but he was decently pleasant and fine. The food --- I don't think any chef of any decent reputation would hang their future on the quality of food or ingredients. The ribs were lathered, slathered, soaked in bbq sauce that was wayyy too sweet. Bottom line. All those pit bosses out there would throw this back. Ok but far from great. The cole slaw lacks any flavor and the mashed potatoes. Hmm, from a box?? Seemed lacking great flavor. Ok, my other had salmon (Atlantic of course), and we should all know Atlantic means farmed which means grain fed. Ugh. Anyway it looked decent and was just that. Servers did not seem happy, no one seemed happy and it became easy to be disappointed. This hotel needs to do better for its guests. Considering the price, I'd look elsewhere until they make changes!! Whew, I'm done here!!
(2)Mike P.
Miami is pretty hit or miss when it comes to food. Vida missed. We figured this would be a nice option then the more expensive choices within the Fontainebleau. I had the Salmon and my wife had the Sole, both around $30 dollars. The salmon was fine, but wasn't a step up from your local restaurant. My wife's Sole was comical. 2 small fishstick sized pieces of fish were placed on a tiny bed of 1 fingerling potato that was cut up and a 1 piece of cauliflower that was spread throughout the plate. When the waiter put the dish down we both burst out laughing. One of the service members who came around with water smiled and commented that he doesn't know how anyone eats that dish since it's so small. Again, this was $30. While laughing we asked for a side of vegetables, and were charged another 10 on top!! So for a 45 dollar bottle of Pinot Noir, small Salmon dinner, incredibly hilarious Sole dinner, and a side of Vegetables my bill came to $140 with tip included. Unbelievable. The waitstaff was very pleasant. Either pay a bit more for the better options within the hotel or eat somewhere else.
(1)Kay Corri A.
Went for Sunday Brunch with family visiting from NJ and had a great time!!! Everything from the atmosphere to the food was perfect! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Jacquie M.
Great food! Great the staff! I went with a friend who has food issues. The waiter made sure to have her comfortable with her food issues. They made sure she was good with the food. The staff, the manager made sure she was comfortable well adjusted! I would come again!
(5)Joanna D.
The breakfast buffet was amazing. We also came here for lunch one day, and the food was great for lunch too. Great atmosphere. Delicious food. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)Brenda P.
The Fontainebleau already has a culinary trifecta perfection in place: Hakkasan, Gotham Steak and Scarpetta. There is also Vida. The only problem is that Vida does not excel like the others and cannot be in that same category. What it does do is provide you with an indoor dining option so that you can get away from the hot mess that is La Cote and their poolside dining (if you can even call it that). We opted for this trying to get away from 2 days of disappointment at the other places. It is very beautiful inside and also provides for great people watching, albeit a little dizzying. You see everyone walk by the arched hallway framed by clear glass with frosted a bamboo design. We had the following: Crunchy spicy tuna roll- excellent Margherita pizza- very good Gluten free margherita pizza- good Chicken quesadilla- blah The margherita pizza came with a side of a stringy piece of metal. At first it looked like a piece of burnt crust that had fallen off but once our friend picked it up we realized that it was indeed metal. They took the pizza back right away and offered to replace it. They also took it off the bill. The manager came by and apologized. He said they figured out it was a piece of metal that must have fallen off from the oven as they took the pizza out. It still doesn't make sense but nothing we can do. I do know that had my friend bit into that or swallowed it, the situation could have been very serious. I was actually shocked that they did not comp the entire thing! That said, the place is very nice and I am sure this was a rare occasion and not the norm. I will give them the benefit of the the doubt. We did not order any dessert or coffee because we were just over the lack of options at this hotel (unless you want to go completely upscale with your lunch). I wanted to give it three but had to take away the third star because of the metal incident and how it was handled. I know I will be back to the hotel (because it's one of my favorites) and I hope they have improved greatly by then.
(2)Angela R.
The grilled chicken and grilled asparagus were very tasty. Was very please they were cooked with no sugary sauces. A true healthy meal. Kinda expensive though.
(4)Edward M.
We ate here the first day we arrived at Fontaine blue. I ordered a drink called old fashioned. It literally had no alcohol in it with a ton of ice. One of the worst cocktails I have had at a restaurant. It didn't end there, for lunch I ordered the burger and requested it to be cooked medium. After waiting about 25 minutes the food finally came out. My burger looked liked it had been charred and burned. It was not medium whatsoever or medium well. Very disappointing lunch. We were here with 2 couples and they had a similar experience with there lunch and we all ordered different plates.
(1)Lawrence P.
For a hotel with amazing restaurants (IE: Hakassan, Scarpetta, etc), Vida is just downright average at best. The only food worse in the hotel then Vida is the the poolside food... which is why during a weekend stay, we opted for Vida to get away from the crappy poolside food. Although not as bad as the aforementioned poolside food which, by the way is an embarrassment, Vida is, average at best. The decor is nice enough. As for the food, we had the crunchy spicy tuna roll and margherita pizza which were both good. But if you want something other than pizza... don't do it!!!
(2)Sandra W.
Was on a trip and stayed at the Fountainbleau. We had breakfast here every morning. Food was really fresh and the service was great. It is a little pricey though, paid $75 for two for the breakfast buffet. That's usually a nice steak dinner back home, but we were on vacation, so splurged a little. Good food though.
(4)Christine P.
The continental breakfast buffet is TOTALLY worth the $22 when you consider the following: Bagel and lox are $17; and a lousy cup of coffee is $6. (And truly, the coffee wasn't lousy, but quite good.)
(4)Brandon H.
Ordered Lobster Guacamole. I sent it back. It was DISGUSTING. I left and didn't have to pay
(1)Dave F.
This is a very average hotel restaurant which does a better breakfast and lunch than dinner. The location is off of the Bleau Bar down a hallway toward the pool in the Fontainebleau Resort. We started dinner with a spinach and artichoke dip Not terribly difficult to make, but the texture was that of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup. The color was also odd as it didn't seem to have any green in it. So, we asked our nice server what was the deal with the appetizer? She said "maybe it needs to cool down", eg coagulate. That was a zero, so we moved on. I order Grilled Grouper and asked to switch the side to a salad which was a 8 or 9 dollar upcharge. (I declined and asked her to eat the mashed potatoes.) My guest ordered Grilled Salmon. The Grouper was good, but tiny. The presentation of the dish was mostly plate, and very little Grouper. Very white, like the Resort! This was probably my fault as I declined on the mashed potatoes. But seriously, 4 ounces of fish? My guest had the Salmon and didn't complain. Because the restaurant is located in the Billion dollar remodeled Fontainebleau, there's an automatic 18% gratuity added regardless of the level of service received. I asked the server if she was rollin' a Lambo, but she declined to answer. I am ok with the 18% as the service was 18% on my server sliding scale. All in all, dinner was a sub-optimal experience. I had breakfast here and a Chopped salad with Shrimp for lunch and both were at least 3 star quality, so the restaurant deserves 2 stars versus 1 on food. To be specific, I'd give 3 stars for breakfast and/or lunch and 1 star for dinner. The ambiance is chic and fairly plain, but matches the hotel. This is not a place I'd put on my "Must try while in Miami Beach", but it is one of the only open spots during the day should you stay in the unique FontaineBleau Resort
(2)QueenB B.
I love this place. I ordered the cooked samon roll which was the only hot roll served. THE BEST SUSHI IN MIAMI. I have been to almost every sushi place in Miami. The service is awesome the best in Miami. The service was better here than in Gotham. The hostess in gotham is snooty and rude. Vida is awesome I would recomment it.
(5)Gisela C.
I had dinner at Vida on a Saturday night, around 7:30, the place was kinda empty but that didn't stop me. Every restaurant at the Fontainebleau is supposed to be fantastic so what the heck? The menu options were "eh" and we were advised by one of our waiters (6 in total that night came to our table) that the chef was redoing the menu and therefore was not offering specials of the day for now. Boo! I love ordering from the specials! No worries, I ordered the Churrasco and I have to tell you that the fondant potatoes were sooooooooo good, I would seriously go back just for that! My dad enjoyed the Salman, I think it had a ginger sauce and he loved it. As for desert, the menu was again "eh" - we had the banana creme brulee... it wasn't something to brag about, but it wasn't bad either. Would I go back? Of course, I can't wait to see what the new menu looks like. The steak was good, very good quality and those potatoes... mmm.
(3)Adam G.
Service was very poor, had to ask to fill water, plates were not cleared when they brought the next course out. They forgot some of the order, the pizza was very average and a side cup of rice was $8 dollars.
(1)Linda R.
I would actually give this 3 1/2 stars. We ate at the Sushi bar and did not order anything from the main menu. The 2 Sushi chefs have 20 plus years of experience and we had really good food. Sit at the sushi bar, order directly from the chef and watch as he expertly prepares your dinner. It's an amazing art form that's yours to behold. My husband is new to sushi and we ordered a sea weed salad and a variety of rolls, and nigiri. The eel was especially good but I must say that we both enjoyed the company of the chef as well as the food he prepared for us. Enjoy!
(4)Mama Z.
I was very pleased with the service, staff and food. They were absolutely lovely to me and my toddler. I would go back again in a heartbeat.
(4)Anthony C.
We were walking the board walk looking for a late dinner when we happened upon the Fontainebleau. My girlfriends family had said it was a must see in Miami Beach, and seeing as we were starving, we figured we would duck in and wander around then grab a bite to eat - two birds with one stone. The resort is a beautiful both inside and out, a labyrinth of glass and stone. We walked from one side to the other hardly seeing another person. We passed a few of the hotels restaurants on the way, but the prices were prohibitive for the casual late meal we were planning. Reaching the end of the road we found Vida, and liking the menu, sat down for dinner. Our first impression was good - we ordered the caprese salad as an appetizer and it was out in minutes. It was very good, but for the price I had expected something a little more impressive. This was the last time we would be impressed with the speed of anything at Vida. With our appetizer we requested a wine list which I am assuming must have been stored at the other end of this vast hotel, as it took forever to retrieve. I next conjecture that, once we ordered the wine, our server walked back to his distant wine vault, replaced the list, walked back to our table with bread, returned the quarter mile to the vault, got our wine, and then returned to cork the bottle. The bread must have gone stale on this long journey, as it was dry and cold. When we finally got to dinner, I had the floridian cobb salad and my date had the rotisserie chicken. Like our appetizer, the food was good, but unimpressive considering the price. All said, I can't say my biggest complaint is the food, but the service. Terrible lack of attention, even when we deliberately tried to wave down wait staff. My water glass was only filled for me once - every additional fill had to be requested. The final blow came as they began setting the tables up for breakfast around us while simultaneously ignoring us. As we signed the bill - extravagant for the average food and terrible service, I wasn't planning much of a tip. The wait staff must have been cognizant of how poorly they treated us though, as they added an automatic 18% gratuity to the bill. I didn't get food poisoning, so I didn't give it one star. Go somewhere else.
(2)Ivano B.
The brunch buffet is simply decadent. Endless choices from the regular brunch items to very special dishes. Go nuts and try as much you can but no matter what try the lobster mac + cheese!!
(4)Elle R.
I had breakfast here with my family. The staff was very nice and helpful. They offered the kids at the table each their own portable dvd player and videos to choose from to keep occupied as well as a coloring book. The orange juice was DELICIOSO! Fresh squeezed and our glasses were frequently filled. The breakfast buffet was plentiful. The BEST breakfast potatoes I have ever tasted! The french toast off the menu was also the BEST I have ever tasted. It had a nice flavor with orange zest caramelized into the bread. I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast!
(5)Ricky O.
Sushi is really good!
(4)Laura G.
My girlfriend chose Vida as the location for her 22nd birthday simply because she fancied the art on the walls. "Pleasseee" she said to me. I agreed, I do anything to please her. I made reservations for 8 though open table, which worked out very well because i was able to change them about 3 or 4 times. The big day finally came. I baked some fruit tarts and headed for Vida. The moment I arrived the hostess had our table ready, but read we wanted a booth near the window, so in a matter of minutes she set the new table and escorted us. Our waitress made sure every place setting had a tartlet each of which she brought out a plate for. The waitress patiently waited for the rest of the guests to arrive and took our order. 5 onion soups, 2 calamari, 1 spinach asparagus soup. The french onion soup was terrible, overly sweet, under-cheesed just terrible. The calamari were salty and greasy. We didn't want to make a big deal out of it so we just nodded our head and said it was fine. Then came the entrees, the sushi was good. I have no complaints there. We ordered two lobster roles , a salmon roll, and a roll wrapped in cucumber with shrimp. They were decent. Our friend's pasta on the other hand was terrible, she of course lied because our waitress was so nice. At the end of the night and after we ate our tarts, the waitress brought out a complementary slice of chocolate cake. It was more frosting than cake, not good. When I wend to pay the bill I almost had a heart attack. I cannot believe they would charge me this much for such terrible food. All in all, for the price and the fact that it is the Fontainebleau and they can afford it, they should really fix their menu. They are loosing clients. I guess what they say is true, "you don't sleep in a restaurant, why would you eat in a hotel?"
(3)Melissa G.
There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.... Those were the thoughts that ran through my head while I dined at Vida. I had just arrived a few hours earlier from NYC and I was ready to have a good time. I knew it was going to cost me a pretty penny to be in Miami but I wanted to get what I paid for.... Found the set up of Vida and Blade to be extremely odd. It's basically in the same restaurant, so one would think you could order off either menu, no? Not the case. My dining companion was not into sushi so we opted for Vida. Wish we went to Blade, but I'm not confident it would have been that much better. Service was ify, although the waiter did try his best. I firmly believe that if you get the bread and it's not delicious it's not a bad idea to leave before your food arrives. That's just my experience... bad or mediocre bread usually results in food of the same quality. I couldn't decide what to get so I ordered the pesto pasta. My sister ordered a pizza. The pizza arrived 20 min before my food due to "a mix up" in the kitchen. Restaurants if you are reading this please take note: Do NOT serve someone at the table before the other person's food is ready. SERVE EVERYTHING AT ONCE. It totally ruins a dining experience for everyone at the table when they cannot eat together. The pizza was nasty, the pasta was anything but italian. The waiter gave us a free dessert for our troubles. We opted for the fondue thinking how can they mess that up... well somehow they did. It was not hot?! very strange. Thank god it was free. Wish this didn't cost us $100 but live and learn and don't return here.
(2)Regina Q.
this place sucks.
(1)Kymbre D.
I did not enjoy Vida as much as I expected as I enjoyed almost all of the other restaurants during my stay at the Fountainbleau. I found the service to be lackluster at best and the food was not well prepared at all. I guess once I was notified that the kitchen closes at 3pm and I arrived at 3pm as per my online reservation through opentable.com (which by the way, also had a 3:30pm reservation available) I guess that explains why the food was room temperature and flavorless. I would never dine at this restaurant again, nor suggest it to any friends...sorry. Also, if their kitchen closes at 3pm, 3p and 3:30p reservations should not be suggested on the web site.
(2)Donnie S.
The food here was decent, but the prices are as outrageous as you would expect for a restaurant in a pretty upscale hotel. There was 20% gratuity included on our bill for just my wife and I. Personally, I think that's lame. As a result, my water glass sat there for 15 minutes while I looked around for my waiter. And I got the breakfast buffet, he didn't have to do anything! My wife ordered a club sandwhich, someone else brought it to our table. 20% my arse. The only reason I'm giving 3 stars is because the eggs benedict on the buffet were delicious and the bacon was cooked perfectly.
(3)Mary H.
Food was excellent, service was not. We sat for at least 10 minutes before someone came over and there were probably 6 other people in the restaurant. I had the flank steak with a chimichurri sauce, which was fantastic, my hubby ordered the lamb which was equally as good. Had the banana creme brulee, yum!!
(3)Nancy H.
Of all the options at the Fontainebleau we found this to have the best service, and to be worth the money. The food wasn't amazing, but of all the restaurants at the resort, this was definitely the best and we were sad to find it as we were checking out. My friends got the French Dip which they loved, the sandwich is huge. Another friend got the Turkey Club which is very salty. Their fries are very good. My chicken quesadilla wasn't amazing, but for only $11 at the resort, it was the most worth it meal we had had the 4 nights we were there. The dessert we got was the banana creme brulee which was very yummy. The desserts at the resort were always the best parts of the meal. This really only deserves 3 stars but it's definitely the best lunch option at the resort, even better than Fresh or the pool and definitely better than LaCote so it gets 4 stars in relation to the other restaurants at the hotel
(4)