Pele's Wood Fire - Park and King

[fieldafm]

The food itself is very good.  That is what you are paying for.

Great bread(certainly on par or better than French Pantry), great pizza(the only recognized Neapolitan pizzeria in the city), great entrees(particularly impressive was the chicken carbonara), very authentic zeppoles and although I have never been a coffee person... the fact that they serve Segafredo brand espressos, etc is a nice touch.

The wine menu could use some guidance.

[ben says]

yes...the prices seem high....but, hey, you're getting fresh ingredients and an awesome decor....that costs $ folks

You don't try to recoup your buildout costs within the first week. They aren't paying for the buildout all at once, so why should the customers.  I'll have to try the place before I really weigh in, but just because you put fancy lights on the building I should have to pay an arm and a leg.

That's what I mean. I can't really comment on food, decor, staff, etc, but I can comment on what everyone perceives to be high prices. I've been about as excited as one can get with Pele's opening up. That being said, I think they're making a crucial error if they out-price themselves (especially considering Carmine's, popular Carmine's, is right down the block). 

[cline]

yes...the prices seem high....but, hey, you're getting fresh ingredients and an awesome decor....that costs $ folks

You don't try to recoup your buildout costs within the first week. They aren't paying for the buildout all at once, so why should the customers.  I'll have to try the place before I really weigh in, but just because you put fancy lights on the building I should have to pay an arm and a leg.

but hey, if people want cheap, Wal-marts have dining in them

I hear Winn-Dixie does as well

[tufsu1]

That being said, I think they're making a crucial error if they out-price themselves (especially considering Carmine's, popular Carmine's, is right down the block). 

which goes back to my original post....this is not a pizza place.....it is a date-night restaurant

[fieldafm]

With such a huge bar... any word on what "Happy Hour" might consist of?  As a frequenter of happy hours across the city... I sure would enjoy another option...

They are going to do something like what European Street/Mellow does with a beer card.  Heard no mention about happy hour specials, etc.  Considering they are just open for dinner this week, not serving a full menu yet and still only 3 days in infancy... would imagine happy hour is something still TBD.

They do have plenty of taps, a decently impressive beer selection... and points given for having Rogue gin.

I for one, had no reservations about the prices after an examination of the menu.  It's a completely different quality from a run-of-the-mill pizzeria.  The prices, I felt, clearly reflected the quality of the food.   You get what you pay for.   

[tufsu1]

btw....the beer prices are in fact quite reasonable...nice beers like Bold City 1901 are $5 a pint

[thelakelander]

That being said, I think they're making a crucial error if they out-price themselves (especially considering Carmine's, popular Carmine's, is right down the block). 

which goes back to my original post....this is not a pizza place.....it is a date-night restaurant

If you're dropping that kind of dime, I hope you're scoring at the end of the night!

[Tacachale]

That being said, I think they're making a crucial error if they out-price themselves (especially considering Carmine's, popular Carmine's, is right down the block). 

which goes back to my original post....this is not a pizza place.....it is a date-night restaurant

If you're dropping that kind of dime, I hope you're scoring at the end of the night!

I have every intention of making this my next date night destination. To quote my cousin, a happy wife is a happy life.

[Captain Zissou]

yes...the prices seem high....but, hey, you're getting fresh ingredients and an awesome decor....that costs $ folks

You don't try to recoup your build-out costs within the first week. They aren't paying for the buildout all at once, so why should the customers.  I'll have to try the place before I really weigh in, but just because you put fancy lights on the building I should have to pay an arm and a leg.

I agree...but if the upfront and operational costs are higher, it would seem to me that higher prices would cover that.

but hey, if people want cheap, Wal-marts have dining in them

Hahahahahahaha.....  Ok Mr 'I usually eat at Hooters 3 times a week, but when I'm not there I eat at Winn Dixie'.  I respect your opinion on most things, but on this one I need to call you out.

As I said, I'll weigh in more thoroughly once I have eaten there (tonight or tomorrow night), but if the price of their margherita pizza is what people have said it is, this place is overpriced.  Build out aside, it shouldn't cost that much. 

[Captain Zissou]

btw....the beer prices are in fact quite reasonable...nice beers like Bold City 1901 are $5 a pint

This is strike 2 against you in this thread tufsu.
I'd tread lightly if I were you.

[tufsu1]

by no means am I a foodie...but even I can tell the difference in quality between Hooters ingredients and those of Pele's

[tufsu1]

btw....the beer prices are in fact quite reasonable...nice beers like Bold City 1901 are $5 a pint

This is strike 2 against you in this thread tufsu.
I'd tread lightly if I were you.

wait...so Bold City beers aren't good?

heck, I'd be the first person to complain if a Bud Light pint was $5....but I expect higher prices for better beer

[ben says]

yes...the prices seem high....but, hey, you're getting fresh ingredients and an awesome decor....that costs $ folks

You don't try to recoup your build-out costs within the first week. They aren't paying for the buildout all at once, so why should the customers.  I'll have to try the place before I really weigh in, but just because you put fancy lights on the building I should have to pay an arm and a leg.

I agree...but if the upfront and operational costs are higher, it would seem to me that higher prices would cover that.

but hey, if people want cheap, Wal-marts have dining in them

Hahahahahahaha.....  Ok Mr 'I usually eat at Hooters 3 times a week, but when I'm not there I eat at Winn Dixie'.  I respect your opinion on most things, but on this one I need to call you out.

As I said, I'll weigh in more thoroughly once I have eaten there (tonight or tomorrow night), but if the price of their margherita pizza is what people have said it is, this place is overpriced.  Build out aside, it shouldn't cost that much.

I don't care if you're making the mozzarella by hand, the dough fresh everyday, and the sauce is simmered for 5 days straight. No Neopolitan pizza, of that size, should cost $10. Same reason I stopped buying their pies at RAM...appetizer portion, entree price.

[tufsu1]

dude...a 10" pizza at Olive Garden costs $10 these days

[Captain Zissou]

btw....the beer prices are in fact quite reasonable...nice beers like Bold City 1901 are $5 a pint

This is strike 2 against you in this thread tufsu.
I'd tread lightly if I were you.

wait...so Bold City beers aren't good?

heck, I'd be the first person to complain if a Bud Light pint was $5....but I expect higher prices for better beer

Not at $5 a pint.  Almost all Bold City should never be more than $4.  At some places they're $3.50. Those places are somehow making money on the beer, so I don't see why Pele's thinks they can demand $1.50 extra. I often get a pitcher of Dukes for $10 at one place.  I won't tell you where because I don't want them jacking up the price, but they do great business.  Based on ingredients alone the beer should never command $5 prices, especially not the red ale.  A stout, maybe.  The Magnum P Rye, of course.