Anyone eaten at BICE?

[Debs Hill]

Was thinking of driving over to PBH during our hols in July to eat at Bice, but have heard mixed reviews. Would love to hear from anyone who has eaten there about the food, service and whether it is child friendly?
Thanks
Debsx

 

[damo]

At Beeeechay???

It looks really nice but we didn't try it while we were there. We just like to say its name as we walked past.

 

[Motherfletcher]

We have one here in Naples and I don't know anyone that has ever been to it.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Yes we have and it is Excellent. It is authentic Italian, not to be confused with Italian American.....no spaghetti and meatballs here . The food, wine and service are outstanding. Last time I was there I had tagatgelli with wild boar. The chef came over to our table and asked how I was enjoying it. He explained how it was just shipped in from Italy that morning and told me about the preparation. Their pastas are light, the sauces are flavorful but not overpowering... It was just wonderful. We ate there twice last visit and plan to go this trip too.

 

[Cinderella822]

Yes we have and it is Excellent. It is authentic Italian, not to be confused with Italian American.....no spaghetti and meatballs here . The food, wine and service are outstanding. Last time I was there I had tagatgelli with wild boar. The chef came over to our table and asked how I was enjoying it. He explained how it was just shipped in from Italy that morning and told me about the preparation. Their pastas are light, the sauces are flavorful but not overpowering... It was just wonderful. We ate there twice last visit and plan to go this trip too.

I've been wondering about Bice also. We stayed at PBH last summer and almost ate there, but then changed our minds as we asked some people working at PBH and they said it had gotten bad reviews. We're staying again this summer and are rethinking our decision. How do the prices compare to some of the other nicer restraurants, like Emeril's? We don't mind spending money for a nice meal, as long as it's worth it.

 

[goofie4goofy]

I've been wondering about Bice also. We stayed at PBH last summer and almost ate there, but then changed our minds as we asked some people working at PBH and they said it had gotten bad reviews. We're staying again this summer and are rethinking our decision. How do the prices compare to some of the other nicer restraurants, like Emeril's? We don't mind spending money for a nice meal, as long as it's worth it.

It is expensive. However that is up to you. We ordered drinks, an expensive bottle of wine, etc...

I found it to be worth it, but that was LAST year. Things change fast in the restaurant world. I don't remember our bill, but it was a few hundred dollars, which is the same amount we ususlly spend in the other upscale restaurants in USO.

We also love The Palm at the HRH. It's just the two of us so we order 1 steak and 1 lobster and share it. If you are a big lobster fan (we have it all the time at home and I need my fix) this is the place! They also remove the meat from the shell for you table side. The steaks are superb as well. The drinks are huge - monster martini's and the service is excellent.

We have dined at Emeril's and Tchoup Chop and we prefer Tchoup only because of the menu choices. Both are excellent, but love sushi and the fish that is prepared there....and the Mai Tai's are reallllllllly good

Mama Dellas is another excellent choice. It is Italian American food and it is really really good. It is not as expensive as the others and the atmosphere can't be beat. We always eat there too. Their spaghetti and meatballs are excellent, they remind me of my Grandmother's.

I would love to read some recent reviews of Bice as well, as we will be there in 2 weeks.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I would love to read reviews from posters here that have eaten at Bice recently. We stayed at PBH in Feb 07 and were dissuaded by more than a few folks, employees and guests. We stayed a whole week and it was a busy week more than a few times I walked upstairs to have a peek and it was never crowded and most times empty. I suspect Bice may not be doing as well as they would have liked. Mama Della's, Tchoup Chop and The Palm are wonderful but I would LOVE another high end option.

If anyone eats here soon please report back!



I enjoy Gayot restaurant reviews immensely! Have a look at theirs for Bice Orlando.
http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/info.php?tag=ORRES050503&code=OR

Here is a very recent review: http://search.cityguide.aol.com/orlando/restaurants/bice-orlando/v-191896/reviews

Great restaurant! 03/05/2007


My wife and I have dined here twice. Both were special occasions and both dinners were fabulous. We did 4 courses both times, and, although it is quite expensive, the ingredients and food quality are top notch. The dining room is beautiful. One time we sat outside, there was a full moon and got there early enough to hear the opera from the balconies of the hotel. Service was outstanding. We recommend this restaurant highly as a special occasion restaurant. Ask for Christopher, he was our server both times and provided us memorable dining with first class service and personality. A+

Here is another not so stellar:

Traveler rating:
Orlando: Bice: "Cuisine not up to service or prices"
Mar 9, 2007
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34515-d610547-r7007601-Bice-Orlando_Florida.html


This is an attractive restaurant with charming, attentive service. It is quite pricey and several of the dishes at our table were a few clicks below Olive Garden. As an example, one diner's lobster was very tough, my spinach and cheese torteloni was a laughably small portion (about 4 quarter sized torteloni) and completely uninteresting. I will not be returning.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Thanks for the info Fan2CSkr! I think we will pass in Bice this trip. It is too expensive and there are too many great places to eat at USO. I don't mind spending the $$ but if it's iffy it's just not worth it.

Any night of the week Emeril's, Tchoup Chop, The Palm and many of the WDW restaurants are busy because of the locals, not just visitors. For Bice to be empty is a little When we were there last year, it was a slow time and the restaurant was packed!

 

[Cinderella822]

Thanks for all the tips. I think we may pass on Bice again. I was interested in The Palm from what I've heard, so maybe we'll try that. We did do Emeri's, Tchoup Chop, and Mamma Della's on our last trip and loved them all. I was hoping to try all different places this time around.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Thanks for all the tips. I think we may pass on Bice again. I was interested in The Palm from what I've heard, so maybe we'll try that. We did do Emeri's, Tchoup Chop, and Mamma Della's on our last trip and loved them all. I was hoping to try all different places this time around.

The Palm is outstanding! I actually prefer the one at the HRH over the one on 2nd Ave NYC (by me)....maybe it's because I am on vacation. We have been going there longer than Bice was around and the food & service has been consistantly excellent over the years. It seems as though we enjoy the same USO restaurants....we go to all of the above too. It's a good bet for a great meal.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

The Palm is outstanding! I actually prefer the one at the HRH over the one on 2nd Ave NYC (by me)....maybe it's because I am on vacation. We have been going there longer than Bice was around and the food & service has been consistantly excellent over the years. It seems as though we enjoy the same USO restaurants....we go to all of the above too. It's a good bet for a great meal.

*OT* I had no idea there were three Palms in NYC! I ate at the one on 50th st last week. We saw Wicked at The Gershwin and it was right across the street! Learn something new everyday. So offhand do you know if any one is better in NYC? I just had a look at their locations and am also shocked to see there is one in East Hampton. Seems like they are everywhere and that isn't always a good thing. A lot more locations have opened since I last looked.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I wish you guys wouldn't have talked yourselves out of going to Bice on your next visit. I was really hoping for some reviews. We considered going there on our last visit, but skipped it because noone on here seemed to have tried it. We'll have 5 nights of dinners to fill in July , & I was hoping to give Bice a try. Someone (or many someones) needs to change their mind & go there.

 

[goofie4goofy]

*OT* I had no idea there were three Palms in NYC! I ate at the one on 50th st last week. We saw Wicked at The Gershwin and it was right across the street! Learn something new everyday. So offhand do you know if any one is better in NYC? I just had a look at their locations and am also shocked to see there is one in East Hampton. Seems like they are everywhere and that isn't always a good thing. A lot more locations have opened since I last looked.

the Palm on 837 2nd Avenue is their Flagship and the original (I think), hence the 837 Club (their points card). there are many steakhouses that have branched out and hold their integrity...Morton's is one that comes to mind. We have eaten in many Morton's across the country and have always had great dinners in all. I love all of Bobby Flay's restaurants and Emeril's. In Las Vegas there are many "duplicate" restaurants (I call them) of NYC restaurants Prime, Le Cirque, Emeril's to name a few and i have found them all to be excellent as well. So I think if the chefs are talented and trained in the tradition of the restaurant, espically at that price, they are all great.

I have only dined in the 2nd Ave Palm...so I cannot compare.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I wish you guys wouldn't have talked yourselves out of going to Bice on your next visit. I was really hoping for some reviews. We considered going there on our last visit, but skipped it because noone on here seemed to have tried it. We'll have 5 nights of dinners to fill in July , & I was hoping to give Bice a try. Someone (or many someones) needs to change their mind & go there.

You could be that someones and report back!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

the Palm on 837 2nd Avenue is their Flagship and the original (I think), hence the 837 Club (their points card). there are many steakhouses that have branched out and hold their integrity...Morton's is one that comes to mind. We have eaten in many Morton's across the country and have always had great dinners in all. I love all of Bobby Flay's restaurants and Emeril's. In Las Vegas there are many "duplicate" restaurants (I call them) of NYC restaurants Prime, Le Cirque, Emeril's to name a few and i have found them all to be excellent as well. So I think if the chefs are talented and trained in the tradition of the restaurant, espically at that price, they are all great.

I have only dined in the 2nd Ave Palm...so I cannot compare.

Aside from Morton's over 80 restaurants the others are under 10 and thats still manageable by its head chef/owner. We ate at Mortons in AC last month and it was a decent good meal but for the $ of that meal I could have had that and more elsewhere. Overrated living off its name. But of course that just my opinion. Many say its the best steak house anywhere. Looking over the Vegas restaurants in the major hotels is like strolling the streets of Manhattan for sure. We ate at Il Mulino New York in Caesars and it was very good but still prefer its NYC location best.
I enjoy Bobby Flay and Emeril restaurants too, great creative food!
So many restaurants so little time!

 

[goofie4goofy]

Aside from Morton's over 80 restaurants the others are under 10 and thats still manageable by its head chef/owner. We ate at Mortons in AC last month and it was a decent good meal but for the $ of that meal I could have had that and more elsewhere. Overrated living off its name. But of course that just my opinion. Many say its the best steak house anywhere. Looking over the Vegas restaurants in the major hotels is like strolling the streets of Manhattan for sure. We ate at Il Mulino New York in Caesars and it was very good but still prefer its NYC location best.
I enjoy Bobby Flay and Emeril restaurants too, great creative food!
So many restaurants so little time!

You sound just like me! I love dining out and trying different restaurants, not just for the food but for the atmosphere. Many of my memories are around dining experiences The Morton's that we frequent most is the one in Great Neck and I believe it is managed by the head chef/owner, that is why it is so good. Have you tried Becco in NYC yet?? We loved it.

The restaurant on my wish list is The French Laundry in Napa. It sounds like a life altering experience

Sorry for getting OT, but foodies have to stick together!