Problem: Despite it being a Friday night in Uptown Charlotte, there were no crowds busting at the doors - the atmosphere was the perfect balance of relaxed and upscale. Along with the great ambience came great food. For starters, our server brought us complimentary Spanish flatbread covered with a light tomato sauce. It was very refreshing and made me excited for the rest of the meal. My friend and I ordered three tapas: - Pimientos Rellenos, stuffed roasted peppers -Tigres, mussels in spicy red sauce. My friend who doesn't even like seafood enjoyed them, so I would say they are pretty special. -Albondigas, beef meatballs with tomato sauce. This is the dish I would recommend to anyone who comes to Malabar. Not only were the meatballs exceptional in texture and taste, but the sauce was what really what blew me away. It was all at once rich, light and creamy that it became the main part of our meal because we couldn't stop dipping our bread in it. While I didn't order it this time, I will be stopping by Malabar soon to try their paella. I hear that they are made to order and would take 35 minutes to prepare. I will keep you posted and find out if it is as good as it sounds!
How would this review be described?
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A: positive

Problem: I stayed at the Americas Best Value Inn for CES 2013. Here's the listing of problems I had starting at Day 01. My room had no hot water, at best between warm and cold. The heater wasn't giving off any heat and there phone wasn't working. The front desk did get the maintenance to come right away which was a good sign but the problem never got solved. I thought it was just my room next to me reported the same problem about the water. At the end of walking through CES I was hoping to relax in the jacuzzi but sure enough, ice cold. Day 02. After complain a third time I asked for another room and again the front desk helped out and put me three building back. Everything worked in this room except the Internet having to weak of a signal which I needed for CES. Thank goodness I had a smart phone, so that to me is just a nitpick. Day03. As I was taking my last shower before I check out the whole water line just shuts off. Thank God the heater worked or I'd be freezing while calling the problem to the front desk. This is all the reports of problems I had. My opinion. I ended up having one of the worst times at a motel. The front desk is great and the maintenance get to you very quickly and that's why it even got two stars. So if you don't want to chance it like I did, go send the extra money. I fortunately got this room at bottom rate during the summer of 2012 but if I had to pay the active rate I would have probably gone off. That's my reports and opinions. I hope this helps others.
How would this review be described?
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A: negative

Problem: Oooooh em gee!!! Serrano wings, fish taco, braised pork belly, steak and egg, ribeye pho!! It was amazing.. Everything melts in your mouth, I can't wait to come back! However.... On our steak and egg the egg was more than overcooked, it could've been a frisbee!! We requested a new one and OMG the same thing except the yolk was runny. Serious?! Hahaha I still can't figure out how amazing everything is and the egg is your failure... Isn't that like the very first thing we all learn to cook?! Lol. Yum!
How would this review be described?
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A: positive

Problem: Where to start with Gilley's?? The girls in their cute little cowboy hats and tiny bikinis drew me in but the food kept us there and left us satisfied. There are posters all over TI advertising the place, with the girls in their (tiny) black bikinis front and center. My husband and I were looking for a bit to eat on our last night in town and got tired of walking around so we settled on Gilley's. I am an avid country music (and western wear) fan, so I felt right at home. You walk through the bar and dance hall section to the restaurant in the back, which has a completely different feel than the front of the establishment. I immediately regretted our choice when I realized Yelp's average was an unimpressive 2.5 stars, but since we were hungry we decided to stay anyway. And boy, am I glad we did!! My husband had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of the two-cheese mac & cheese, and I had the Gilley's chili with a side of mac & cheese. The chili wasn't at all anything to write home about - a little too thin and runny and the texture of the beef reminded me of Taco Bell. However, the chili came with jalapeno corn muffins which were AWESOME... cakey and dense but not dry with the perfect amount of jalapeno flavor. I ordered two more on the side for $1. My husband made a complete mess of himself eating the pulled pork sandwich, declaring with confidence that it was easily the best one he had ever had. While I make dramatic declarations like this all the time, he does not, so this is quite an impressive comment coming from him. The mac & cheese was excellent, and service was very friendly and prompt. Lona, our waitress, took care of all our requests very quickly. I did leave with an empty plastic boot, which you can get filled with a margarita for $17. Since I wasn't up to being three sheets to the wind 16 hours before needing to board a plane, I opted to take it home empty. It was cheaper than the cowboy boots I had been ogling at Boot Star in Fashion Show the day before! For the first out of two times on our trip, I was glad I didn't heed Yelp's advice and miss out on this one (the second location I almost passed up was Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill at McCarren Airport - see review)
How would this review be described?
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A:
positive