Posts by Nathan Watson2

Maria Hughes11 said:Hey everyone, has anyone here actually been to the party at the Radisson out on the "VIP deck"? They’re asking for a ridiculous amount of money, and I'm trying to figure out if the atmosphere and the food are even remotely worth the price tag. Any thoughts? Thanks a ton

Not really... much like the Ritz-Carlton, the Four Seasons, or any of those other supposedly "top-tier" hotels.

placidbison21 said:Greetings.
Has anyone attended a wedding at either the Hilton or through their legal counsel recently?
I am curious about your general impressions regarding the catering, the lighting, and the overall ambiance.
Thank you.

I’d personally steer clear of the Marriott, though that’s just my two cents and I know it might work for some... if you look right across from the Marriott, there's that venue called The Grand, which holds up to 350 people. It’s perfectly fine—nothing flashy, but compared to the Marriott, it's night and day.
The Hilton is alright; in my opinion, it's just decent, middle-of-the-road stuff. 🙂

copperowl13 said:Does anyone have any actual intel on Sala? Please say yes... I’m seeing a total vacuum of feedback here, which is a bit unsettling. I would truly appreciate some insight—how is the food? How was the service? Any grievances or things I should watch out for?

Thanks

The catering actually comes from Arcade; they handle all the prep too (which is honestly my one little gripe), because if you've ever attended an event there in the evening, you'll know what I mean. It isn't bad at all, really—it’s just a shame that the kitchen facilities aren't located right next to the venue itself. As for the service, Tony is quite seasoned when it comes to management, so the professionalism and overall hospitality are truly top-tier. If you're deciding between the indoor hall and the outdoor tents, I’d personally lean toward the hall. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the serving and plating are done using restaurant carts, so I should probably mention that, as I'm not sure how much that might bother you or potentially affect your impression of the venue's overall class.😛

coastalwalker10 said:Well, if you're so certain, maybe you should just switch careers altogether... but what I'm saying here is factual, accurate, and completely without error. If anyone is skeptical about whether the Pirate can actually accommodate a crowd of 200, feel free to go ask the owner yourself; I've personally been at several events there that proved it. As for you using this space to promote the venues where you work and then lecturing everyone else, that's your prerogative... but I am simply speaking from what I have seen with my own eyes. Whether anyone chooses to take my word for it or not is entirely up to them.

Now, if I may quote you back to yourself: by what authority do you suggest I change professions (especially after being the one to quote me first)? But honestly, it doesn't matter. People come here to find information that interests them and to make informed decisions; our little disagreement isn't particularly interesting to anyone else and serves no purpose. Furthermore, at twenty-four years old, having completed two high schools, a university degree, three foreign languages, and having worked through 150 parties and formal galas—protocol dinners, presidential functions, international summits—I see no reason to change my career path. Meanwhile, you perform your catering duties on the azure coast or at Kozjak, or wherever else; it makes no difference to me!
The sheer absurdity lies in your assumption that I am somehow advertising a specific hall; I was simply pointing out the venues I believe offer the best value for the money. You mentioned attending a 200-person party at the pirate venue, but I actually worked at the pirate venue when there were 200 guests present, and if you truly believe that is how things ought to look... well, more power to you, I respect your opinion, but it certainly isn't a requirement. You claim the side tables at Hotel Lav are "perfectly" arranged—thank you very much, I was the one setting them. And get this: along with fifteen students (whom you criticize Pleter for using, even though we agree that while culinary school graduates have an advantage, everyone should really be performing these tasks as qualified servers), I was one of only three fully trained servers in that five-star hotel. The pirate venue is hosting 72 parties this year, which speaks volumes about their performance; you don't hit those numbers by accident, and Mark runs the show brilliantly. Even Aria—as much as I might dislike her for every possible reason—clearly does an excellent job with her fifty-odd parties; people love her, for reasons I cannot fathom, but they do. So, the idea that I have some vendetta against these venues is nonsense. I won't repeat myself, but the intensity with which you attack the halls I am supposedly "promoting" is quite fascinating... let's call it that. And just as I said at the start, this whole debate is unnecessary, as was your initial decision to quote my message. Your response could just as easily be "Bravo, buddy" or something far more colorful; we are never going to agree, and that is perfectly fine. Feel free to crown yourself the moral victor if that provides you any satisfaction, while I will likely continue "promoting" via private messages. Have a lovely day!

coastalwalker10 said:Look, you can't really put a high-tech service robot in the same league as a seasoned professional from a place like the Ritz-Carlton or a top-tier steakhouse... I mean, let’s be honest, the level of service these robots provide is just incredibly subpar. I actually saw one the other day where they were clearing plates using little carts, just rolling them right past all the guests in the middle of the dining room, and frankly, I don't think that qualifies as actual service at any recognizable standard of hospitality.

It is quite rare to encounter such a concentrated amount of nonsense packed into a mere three sentences; frankly, I am relieved that your wedding will be held in a different venue so we won't have to cross paths. Using service carts is a perfectly standard and appropriate practice in any dining establishment where the kitchen is located away from the main hall. For instance, at the Hilton, where a single chair costs 75 dollars, they mimic this exact method by clearing plates onto a side station situated immediately next to the main table, performing the cleanup right in front of the guests. Furthermore, Doolittle doesn't even employ five qualified servers, so attempting to place them in the same conversation as Pirate, Duilio, or Braid is simply absurd. The Executive Chef at Doolittle, Mr. Rogulj, actually served as the head chef over at Duilio back in the nineties. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and you are more than welcome to host your wedding at the Sheraton or The Little Tavern, but when discussing establishments that have spent decades proving their excellence through thousands of banquets—venues whose staff has served four different Presidents and the highest levels of military leadership—it is pure idiocy to suggest that Doolittle stands on equal footing with them. These are the only places left that prepare authentic traditional dishes from scratch using thirty distinct ingredients, without relying on pre-made mixes, stocks, or Fant. Warm regards, and I wish you all the best (in your future married life). 🙂👋

coastalwalker10 said:Look, man... you just gave this whole exhaustive presentation on the lighting setups and who owns what, yet somehow you’re still missing the mark (just saying). I really don't think you can compare paying extra for the pre-installed lighting at a venue like the Hollywood Palladium $667 to walking into a completely dark hall where you end up shelling out five times as much just to get some basic lights set up. Besides, I know for a fact the Palladium can handle a crowd of 200 people easy; I’ve been to those kinds of parties myself, and trust me, there were 200 of us there, everyone fit perfectly, and we all danced our hearts out. If that venue isn't your vibe, fine, but I don't see why you'd cast doubt on the capacity when it clearly holds that many

1) I generally enjoy it when someone tries to lecture me on things I know firsthand, simply because it happens to be my actual profession.🍿
2) And technically, sixteen people can live in a one-bedroom apartment, so please, tell me if you think that's considered "normal."🙂
In my opinion, Pirate is an excellent venue—great management, great service, great food... easily among the best in the city for parties of up to 120 people.

coastalwalker10 said:Oh, come on now... honestly, everything she listed earlier is better than this current option... in my opinion, Aria definitely has much better taste when it comes to recommendations... take the Pirate, for instance—the food is fantastic, and they include all those little extras like mood lighting that most other spots would charge you an arm and a leg for, sometimes up to $1333

That lighting setup used by the pirate and at Atlanta was actually coordinated and installed through a specific agreement between the venue owners, Mark and Katherine, and the folks over at Rockefeller led by Mr. Michael. Naturally, they offer that specific lighting as the standard package because it's already integrated into the space, which keeps the initial overhead lower for everyone involved. It isn't some grand gesture directed at you newlyweds just because they think you're wonderful—though I'm sure they do—it's simply a strategic business decision made between them for mutual benefit. No one is stopping you from choosing your own lighting if you prefer something else. That setup is just the baseline, which is why it costs "only" that much... let's not get carried away 🥱

coastalwalker10 said:Regarding the Pirate, if you're looking at a group of about 200 people, it’s an ideal spot for a party. Otherwise, I personally can't stand it when a venue has such a massive amount of empty space on the dance floor; it ends up looking like half the guests aren't even dancing, when in reality, everyone is actually out there on their feet.🙂

But seriously... 🙂🙂🙂

coastalwalker10 said:Oh, come on now... honestly, everything she listed earlier is better than this current option... in my opinion, Aria definitely has much better taste when it comes to recommendations... take the Pirate, for instance—the food is fantastic, and they include all those little extras like mood lighting that most other spots would charge you an arm and a leg for, sometimes up to $1333

Of course the Pirate has excellent food and service, and as for the location, it’s hardly a question mark. Mark runs the place incredibly well; he really knows how to handle people, which explains why they manage such a high volume of weddings every year without breaking a sweat. In my estimation, the Pirate is the premier spot in the city for weddings in the 100 to 130 guest range. If you're hosting a much larger crowd there, you're either being completely irrational or you simply don't understand how logistics work (though, granted, everyone is entitled to spend their money however they see fit). The reality is that hitting 130 guests there is peak performance; anything beyond that is just improvised chaos and crowding..

Aria is by far, by far, the most overrated venue—not just in this city, but in the entire country. There isn't anything inherently bad about that hall; in fact, everything is perfectly fine, but there is absolutely nothing exceptional about it. The food, the service, the location, the atmosphere—nothing stands out. They can probably thank some higher power for their recent luck, given they only pull in about 50 weddings a year. You all keep padding Kerum's budget and helping out Katya, but you won't find anything quite as good as 👍 Rial's prosciutto

analogdrifter51 said:Honestly, I think hunting down the perfect sale is hands down the worst part of the whole process 😵😵😵😵😵

So, have you all managed to lock down a space yet, or are you still out there searching?

For a feast like that:
1. Dodger Stadium (either on the terrace or indoors)
2. Hotel Washington (Duilovo)
3. Salo Robot
Anything else is just a step down and way too pretentious... shoot me a DM if you want the specifics.

Joshua Fowler3 said:And a hrana u robot?

Honestly, the food at Robot is better than what you'd find at Imenjak or anywhere else in Dugopolj... though I suppose it doesn't quite reach the heights of Duilov or Pleter. That said, it’s perfectly fine—actually, if I'm being somewhat objective (though taste is such a fickle thing), I’d say it’s better than your average fare.

Joshua Fowler3 said:I looked into Imenjak too, but my guest list is over 200 people. I’m worried about it getting way too crowded, so I was leaning toward Robot instead. Thanks so much for the input.

Hey there... Honestly, you really shouldn't worry about capacity issues at the Robot venue. You can comfortably fit 250 people in there without any trouble, leaving plenty of breathing room between the tables and a massive dance floor. If you're looking for venues that can handle a crowd of that size without breaking a sweat, I'd suggest checking out Robot, Hotel Duilovo, or the Poljud Restaurant (operated by pleter usluga). If you haven't toured them yet, it might be worth a look; they are all miles ahead of anything like a bolero, those random halls out in Dugopolj, or whatever else you might find. You truly can't go wrong with any of them.👍

copperhound84 said:Hey everyone 🙂
I’m officially on the hunt for a band in the San Francisco/Savannah area, so I was wondering if anyone currently working in the industry could give me a heads-up on some recent ballpark prices. I really don't want to get ripped off or overpay for something mediocre. Any advice or leads would be a huge help. 😁

If you want a great vibe, I’d highly recommend a group like 7-Eleven; they are fantastic at reading the room and really tailor their set to what the couple actually wants. Now, if you happen to have a bit more wiggle room in your budget, then you absolutely have to look into Milan Terze—honestly, you can't go wrong there, he's easily my number one pick.
From a wedding I recently worked:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c43fz5_uGc

Nathan Moore94 said:Hey everyone, we're still on the hunt for a wedding photographer since we haven't booked anyone yet. I'd love to hear your recommendations for both photo and video—specifically if you could share some price points. Also, what’s the consensus on Smile Studios? Is their pricing actually worth it? thanks!

If I may be so bold as to offer a personal recommendation, I would point you toward Pixar; they handled my sister's wedding, and honestly, we couldn't have been more thrilled with the results—they were incredibly professional and such a pleasure to work with.

nimbleharbor48 said:Has anyone here actually worked with Unknown? I’m planning a wedding for this September near San Francisco and would love some honest feedback or recommendations.

You really can't go wrong here; the guy is absolutely killing it. Honestly, he might even run the best studio in all of Miami. 👍

William Morgan said:How much of a wait am I looking at for a wedding venue? It doesn't need to be absolutely flawless. Ideally somewhere near San Francisco. Also, does anyone have any solid recommendations? Based on your own experience, how many guests usually show up once you factor in everyone who brings a plus-one?

I’d suggest checking out Lora over at Poljud... they should have everything sorted in just a few days. The manager is a true professional, and the food is top-notch. 👍
As for the price, it really depends on what you pick from the menu, but honestly, you can negotiate pretty much every little detail once you get there in person. 🙂

copperowl13 said:Here are my thoughts on the various venues I’ve visited lately..
1) Phoenix - the service was solid, and the floor manager was incredibly approachable—really went out of his way. However, I wasn't a fan of the interior decor, and the food was just... fine. Nothing to write home about.
2) Macy's - lovely atmosphere inside; honestly, better than Phoenix. The prosciutto and cheese were excellent, the food surpassed what they serve at Phoenix, and the servers were working non-stop.
3) Ino Kastela - meh... I didn't particularly care for the interior design... the food was okay... nothing special, but not terrible either.
5) Bene - the ambiance is great; it's an ideal spot for small weddings of maybe 80 to 100 people... though the food portions are lacking. The seafood risotto was literally just rice, bay leaves, and some uncleaned scraps... actually quite disappointing considering the price point. Plus, you have to pray for good weather if you decide to host anything outdoors.
6) Bolero - you practically have to hunt down the servers to get anything brought to the table... for example, if you order pizza, they might only bring out a Coke, and then if you want actual sides, you have to beg them to bring them over. The prosciutto was subpar, and the pâté? Good grief. The risottos were good, but the beef stew arrived at the table cold. The interior space is decent enough; the ceilings are low, but it's not a dealbreaker. For me, the service felt sluggish—like they were severely understaffed for the crowd size.
7) Castello - this place feels worlds away from Miami... to use the restroom, you actually have to leave the hall. The manager wouldn't even let the newlyweds break glasses or cut their cake at their own table... as for the food, I can't even remember it! :-D
8) Sky - people scattered all over the terrace, making it nearly impossible to gather everyone on the dance floor... the risottos were excellent, but the beef stew was a letdown... it tasted like meat in a random gravy. It wasn't acidic, nor was it baked properly. The lamb was alright. Portions were small. There were about 200 people there, so it got pretty crowded around the tables.
9) Duilio's - the food was fantastic... the beef stew was top-tier... but those wooden ceilings are hideous. If they could just renovate that, it would be perfect.
10) Amigos... if I were hosting a party for 100 people, I’d go there in a heartbeat... the food is superb, right by the ocean... everything was a ten out of ten.
That's my take, anyway... obviously, everyone has their own opinion, and a lot of it depends on the specific crowd you're with... regardless of where you end up. ;-)

That truly has nothing to do with us... when we set the tables, we receive specific instructions regarding which items go where, while everything else is handled according to the guest's request 🙂 and while it would certainly make our lives easier if everything were served all at once so guests could simply choose, that part of the process is really out of our hands. 🙂

If you ask me, Vidal is definitely sitting right at the top of the pack at the moment. While I can't speak from my own personal experience, I spend every single weekend working on the piers, and based on what I'm seeing, the results are genuinely impressive.🙂

Noah Wright4 said:I spent the weekend working at a party with them, too. 😛

They’re great—mostly rock, pretty fun too. I think they go for around $2,400.

Hahaha, are you kidding me? Hold on, does that mean we were working the exact same gig??
Haha, where were you working, though?