Not enough food for the hungry masses
If you were looking for anyone last night, all you had to do was go to Sekai Asian Bistro. The whole village turned out for their free dinner like this group of friends. One problem -- most did not get any dinner. The turnout was just too overwhelming for the staff. I was told they were only anticipating 60 people, I think 600 showed up.
I arrived to step all over Liliana Dones, then fall into Michelle Niemeyer. Martin Zilber and I said hello. I saw Gary Hecht at a table, too, practically the whole Village Council was there. Sue McConnell was at an outside table and my friends Leela and Deese were all the way inside in the back at a table, next to a my friend Q who was with her friends.
My friend Audrey and I pushed our way to the back and joined the others. Basically, what I am trying to say is that it was not a comfortable place to be if you are claustrophobic. It was hot, crowded and foodless.
We did drink though. We attempted to get food, but the line was too long. Town clairvoyant, Ellen got in line behind us and said, "Is this the food line?" I said, "Yes," and she said, "Bye!" and she walked out. She did return for a drink at the back table with us and proceeded to tell me that she has been cyber bullied on her MySpace page -- in French. Never a dull moment with Ellen.
The staff was overworked and going nuts, but they were all polite and doing the best they could despite the overwhelming circumstances. Patrick, above, even took the time to pose for me when I asked. They are all great people there.
This one left over salad plate was basically how it was all night though. No food or only left over food, from the early arrivals.
Anyway, as the food was placed out, one dish at a time, people clamored all around it and snatched it up like rats. My friends were cracking up because every time I tried to get a photo of a plate of food, it was impossible. It went so fast, by the time I got my camera up and ready, there was just an empty plate left.
Sekai Asian Bistro is a great place and I don't think they needed to sell themselves this way. Many people told me that they went because they read it in the Grapevine, so maybe overpublicizing it was not a good thing. Anyway, I'll be back when I can relax and eat like a human being. The food and staff are worth a return trip.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:00 AM
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12 Comments:
A group of us headed into check out Sekai around 6:30p last night. The place was mobbed. Food line out the door. We ended up grabbing a cocktail while in line and the line seemed to move fairly quick. When we got to the food though, all that was left was salad. Got a nibble of beef from a friend and decided that it wasnt worth fighting people for food so we headed out.
Its always sad to see how events that are supposed to be good times seem to bring out the worst in people. Certain people would just camp out at the food stations, taking 3-4 helpings when the new food came out and sticking around for more rather than being polite and taking 1 and letting others get a taste. Rude people pushing thru the crowd without saying "excuse me" too. I always find it funny when people twice my age dont use common manners that we are taught when we are little kids. In Miami though, rudeness and the "I, me" attitude seems to be the norm.
Though we didnt really get to try out the food, we liked the looks of the place and the servers were really friendly, especially considering the situation. I thought it was nice of Sekai to be so bold as to offer a free buffet to gain some attention and hopefully it pays off. We will definitely be back to try out Sekai under more normal conditions.
yeah, the place was a circus. I got there around 7pm, people were just Attacking the few dishes they brought around, was like a feast of Pirahnas.. I just surveilled the scenario, patiently, calmly, and finally grabbed some good shrimp, rice, etc. The place looks good and the food tasted ok, good looking waitresses too. Will be back soon.
CI
Eventually I camped out the food stations, however since I was practically guaranteed food I only took one piece of something I thought I would like, as well as trying to give some to the staff who were serving drinks, they were happy for that! This was already round 8:00, however before that it was a mad house.
The food was pretty good, and the staff was great. I'll be coming back soon.
What do you mean give some to the staff?
What a scam, typical for modern day mankind. Free food, but only expected about 60, were they serious or just stupid? People showing up, being rude, acting like Pirahnas, circus atomosphere. My wife and I predicted such tumult and knew to stay away from this kind of predictible result. What's worse is that Grovites fell for the greed advantage of free something, got disappointed and got what such mentalities deserve. Oh, I know, you all had a great time rubbing up against each other as in misery loves company. Typical mass greed.
Think of how successful Earth Hour would have been last Saturday if there had been FREE FOOD!!
I got a little bit of food and what I got was good. Perhaps Sekai underestimated the power of a free food offer, but they meant well. I hope everyone who was there goes back to give them a real chance. I know I will. Just the fact that they opened their doors to the community the way they did earns them that in my book.
Kudos to Atchana's at the Mutiny and Sekai for opening their doors to the Grove. I was able to "sample" food at both and would definitely return. Both owners deserve a lot of credit. We have some good restaurants in the Grove with reasonable prices - let's get back to them and give them a chance to make it. Tough economy and the summer is coming up.
what a disaster, come on, 60 people? I was disapointed and I arrived at 6:30 pm there was not much food left....
Hey -- it was a happening -- and it seemed like the whole Grove turned out! What an incredibly fun place to live -- and I, too, applaud the owners for undertaking a monumental task -- we certainly knew what to expect and loved being in the middle of it!
Wow, it was a happening! What a great informative discription describing a common denominator of 600 people out to get something for nothing from a business mentality who did not know that a free food offer would suck in a herd of tumultuous free loaders. Let us see if so many free loaders continue to show up!
I went back today for happy hour after checking out the place last night but finding the crowd to be quite annoying. Only in Miami could people complain about getting stuff for free HAHAHAHA. If you didnt like it there last night, you couldve simply left. Thats what I did. Went and enjoyed a bite elsewhere. But I wont do anything but applaud their effort to get people to stop by.
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