But not so with the makeover of the Palm Room into the new Terrace Grill at the Flamingo Resort Hotel in Santa Rosa. Here's a place that just 11 months ago was so garish that I thought I'd landed in Miami Beach among the fake palm trees and pink flamingoes. The food was shy of being mediocre, the service was slow when it even existed, and the whole experience made me wonder what folks must think of Santa Rosa when they step off the Airporter and check into town for the first time. Shortly after that scathing review was published, I got a call from the management saying that they agreed improvement was in order, executives were meeting to determine the course of action, and they planned to turn the place around. That was gratifying.
Improvement is only possible when one admits that improvement is possible.
Now fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I received a call from Klaus Scheftner, the food and beverage manager at the Flamingo, who told me the change-over had been completed, and he'd be happy to have me stop by and try the restaurant again. I thanked him and told him I'd consider it, but secretly told myself to get in there and see if the place really is any better. As soon as I entered the Terrace Grill, I noticed the change. The place had been de-tacked. Gone are the cheesy palm trees.