Pele's Wood Fire - Park and King

[5ptscurmudgeon]

OK, there been smoke wafting out the chimney for weeks now with soft openings going on...The slices have passed over palates. Start singing neighborhood.

[tufsu1]

yes...they have been having private dining this week...the restaurant opens to the public at 11am on 1/1

There is also Facebook page for Pele's...search for it.

[BrooklynSouth]

I was walking by last night around 5:15 and I saw they had the orange neon signs above the door turned on. I noticed lights and activity through the windows and it drew me across the street. I looked in the window and all the waiters were dressed in black and folding white napkins. I could see all the way to the back of the restaurant into the kitchen where many cooks were moving around. This place looks amazing! It's definitely going to be the place to take a date in Riverside.

[5pointy]

Did Pele's Wood Fire open Jan 1 as planned? Anyone here tried it yet?

[ben says]

Did Pele's Wood Fire open Jan 1 as planned? Anyone here tried it yet?

I too am looking for a review. May take a party of 8 there tonight or tomorrow, just want to make sure they're open and ready.

[fieldafm]

They are open for dinner this week, the only cavaet being-with a limited menu. 

Their real menu will be VERY good, but just bear in mind that the menu you will get this week will be very limited in scope.  I listened to someone complain about that last night, to which I replied 'that's better than my first experience at Carmines when I tried ordering 5 things on the menu' to which I was told 'we don't have that yet'.  Then why hand someone a full menu when you know full well you aren't serving it?

That being said, Pele's food is superb.  When the kitchen and staff get humming, it will probably be the best addition to the neighborhood in years.

[ben says]

They are open for dinner this week, the only cavaet being-with a limited menu. 

Their real menu will be VERY good, but just bear in mind that the menu you will get this week will be very limited in scope.  I listened to someone complain about that last night, to which I replied 'that's better than my first experience at Carmines when I tried ordering 5 things on the menu' to which I was told 'we don't have that yet'.  Then why hand someone a full menu when you know full well you aren't serving it?

That being said, Pele's food is superb.  When the kitchen and staff get humming, it will probably be the best addition to the neighborhood in years.

Can you give me anymore information on the "limited menu"?? I'm fine with a limited menu, but I'd like to know just how limited, and what kind of food they're serving, considering I may take a good amount of out-of-town guests there.

[TPC]

A group of friends and I tried to go eat there Saturday night but their kitchen had just closed, it was 7p.m. BTW. The crew from Intuition was right in front of us and they got turned away as well and I was walking out the door I told a group walking up that they were closed as well. In all they turned about 15 people away in the short period of time I was there so there is definitely a lot of people who want to eat there. Hopefully they will have regular hours and a full menu soon.

[acme54321]

Went last night, the food was really good.  The prices were a little steep though.

[fieldafm]

They are open for dinner this week, the only cavaet being-with a limited menu. 

Their real menu will be VERY good, but just bear in mind that the menu you will get this week will be very limited in scope.  I listened to someone complain about that last night, to which I replied 'that's better than my first experience at Carmines when I tried ordering 5 things on the menu' to which I was told 'we don't have that yet'.  Then why hand someone a full menu when you know full well you aren't serving it?

That being said, Pele's food is superb.  When the kitchen and staff get humming, it will probably be the best addition to the neighborhood in years.

Can you give me anymore information on the "limited menu"?? I'm fine with a limited menu, but I'd like to know just how limited, and what kind of food they're serving, considering I may take a good amount of out-of-town guests there.

I don't work there... so your best bet is to call them directly.

[02roadking]

I always take these reviews with a grain of salt. I'll check them out myself real soon.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/peles-wood-fire-jacksonville

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I always take these reviews with a grain of salt. I'll check them out myself real soon.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/peles-wood-fire-jacksonville

I can't blame you.

Everyone's a critic.  This stood out to me the most:  "Even the final course of the coal-fired Manhattan ribeye (medium well for me) which is dry aged then cooked directly on the coals of the fire was perfectly tender and seasoned..."  Really?!?

For such a glowing report and detailed mentioning of the ingredients/preparation, you ordered a medium well steak?  Sorry.  Incorrect.  Please come again and we'll serve you sirloin, because you apparently don't have a clue.

[goldy21]

I dropped in on New Year's Day and they had a limited menu consisting of their signature limoncello chicken wings with shaved parmesan and lemon zest (outstanding), three or four different pizzas, and a dessert.  They will open for lunch full time on Jan 11.

I think what they're doing is really smart.  They're slowly ramping things up so their kitchen and waitstaff can execute properly.

Overall, this place is going to be a phenomenal addition to the neighborhood.  It's got a huge bar with a great selection of 30 beers on tap.  The pizzas are perfectly sized for splitting between two people and range from $15 - $20.  The sample dinner menus posted on their Facebook page look terrific as well.

[tufsu1]

A group of friends and I tried to go eat there Saturday night but their kitchen had just closed, it was 7p.m. BTW. The crew from Intuition was right in front of us and they got turned away as well and I was walking out the door I told a group walking up that they were closed as well. In all they turned about 15 people away in the short period of time I was there so there is definitely a lot of people who want to eat there. Hopefully they will have regular hours and a full menu soon.

well considering they didn't open to the public officially until Sunday, that might explain things.

[cline]

So are we not allowed to critique online food reviews unless we've actually met the person in real life before?