"Upon visiting Playa for my birthday dinner with friends, I ventured in with mixed reviews in mind. As a first-time guest, I was keen on exploring whether the place lived up to its hype. The ambience echoed similarities to the Victory Lounge in Mid-town Miami but exuded a more sophisticated charm. The music, pleasantly moderate in volume, allowed us to converse without any hindrance. I opted for the purple lychee martini, a flawless choice with a rating of 10 out of 10. As for the cuisine, the seafood chowder my friend ordered was flavorful but slightly oil-laden (8/10). My selection, the jerk chicken and shrimp pasta, boasted remarkable flavors with a delightfully light sauce that avoided messiness. The shrimp leaned a bit towards saltiness, while the chicken was exceptional, garnering an overall score of 9 out of 10. Another friend indulged in the wicked shrimp (8/10) and the fried rice (7/10), finding the latter falling short compared to previous experiences. The vegetarian pasta, however, stood out with its fantastic taste and a hint of spice, earning a perfect score of 10 out of 10. Our server offered helpful recommendations throughout. In general, Playa surpassed my expectations, garnering a rating of 9/10. However, my experience was slightly marred by the restaurant's repeated calls regarding my reservation due to their last-minute holiday party. They altered my reservation time a day before and called an hour before my booking to emphasize punctuality as their kitchen would close shortly after my reserved time because of their party. Though slightly inconvenient, my friends and I still managed to enjoy our time."
