Priority Pass is the world’s largest network of independent airport lounges, with over 1,200 locations around the world. The number of Priority Pass members has increased greatly the past couple of years, as now there are quite a few credit cards with lounge access.
Continue reading: Review: Corona Beach House Miami Airport (Priority Pass Restaurant)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
That's great they spell it out like that and add in the tip. This is how all PP restaurants should work.
Yes, each time I go, they are VERY nice to say "oh you are good to go... no need to sign anything". The location in the middle of concourse at MIA North Terminal Entrance and that fact is the best reason to visit.
The reason they don't price the drinks is that they're super expensive - if I recall, a mojito was about $13.
This food looks Sad!
This is your job, Lucky and Ford. Thanks for taking one on the chin for all of us.
PF Changs @ LAX does check-in card scan at the host table as well. You give the slip to the server.
We've eaten there several times using PP. The food is generally very good, especially the burgers. Service has been hit and miss--it can be very slow when they're busy, so give yourself plenty of time to eat there before boarding it it looks full.
You STILL have to worry about a tip if you order items MORE than $25.50 (+18% = $30) . So the "drinks without prices" makes it tough to estimate. Guess you have to let the server figure it out 😉
I have had dreadful experiences each time I went (but then again, it was all "free" so can I really complain?)
First time I had clearly processed, flavorless guacamole that was frozen in the middle. When I complained, they replaced it with another. Guess what, still frozen. With crunchy ice chips in the middle. Unbelievable.
As a member of the service industry, I always still tip, but I've had awful service each time as well, no servers checking on us after initial order, waiting 20 minutes for a drip coffee, etc. It's clear that they aren't motivated to provide great service since the tip is built in. So the issue of poor service in PP restaurants (either because they don't expect to be tipped, or they are already guaranteed a specific tip, both of which can be problematic) remains. I have similarly poor service experiences at Bobby Van's in JFK.
On the contrary, I have had excellent service at the Cadillac restaurant in IAH, and the PF Chang's in LAX.
Lucky, it’s worth mentioning this place used to allow you to grab food and go at their express counter. The have made to order sandwiches, salads and bottled drinks. I used to to use that all the time and not have to tip. Well they no longer allow you to grab and go unless you order from the sit down menu.
We dined there twice connecting to and from Haiti: breakfast and lunch. Food was just as described. My wife had a Santa Fe salad and liked it very much; I had a grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad. Service was very good. Waters were offered as we left after lunch. Didn’t know about the gratuity included; we left cash on the table both times.
Not my favorite PP restaurant (Timberline Steaks At DEN) but a solid choice nonetheless.
@Michael - tipping for crap is whats wrong with this whole nonsense of tipping in the US.
@James - Unless I'm misunderstanding I don't see how you have to worry about tipping. If your total, including the tax and tip is $45 they will take off the $30 allowance and you pay $15. The tip in the total before the allowance takes all the stress off the servers.
Sorry if this double posted. It seems since I had a critical comment in a different post my new comments appear to post and then disappear so I'm trying again.
Went back in June and had breakfast there after landing and then dinner there before my return flight. At the time, you could cram two meals into a day if they were at least four hours apart (or so I was told). If I caused the once per 24 hour rule, my apologies.
I thought the food was average but the price was right. Because we were well under the limit at breakfast, our server encouraged us to pick up gum, bottled water, whatever at the attached store. I guess they wanted to run up the tab (and tip).
Guacamole ok.
Nachos decent (as if that fat/salt slab is a good id before a flight).
Chicken burger dubious quality chicken (not that it wasn't fresh, but was odd consistency, like it was pressboard chicken)
Service surprisingly effecient if you are proactive.
Pelligrino was my beverage of choice.
My wife and I ate there last week before our BA flight in F. The food here was much better than the slop offered by BA and the service was much friendlier. You are right about the time to get through security etc. Check in and security took us almost 2 hours even with TSA Pre.
I'm based in Miami and travel AA frequently. I've visited Corona Beach House at least a dozen times on an arrival. I've never been turned away with a same-day boarding pass for a flight that arrived in Miami.
They grab and go option was great while it lasted - and you could use it upon landing, so you could get some lunch/dinner for later in the day.
Too bad they stopped that!
What struck me about this place was how busy it was compared to the other sit-down restaurants in the same terminal. That's probably the Priority Pass effect.
The food was OK, about what you'd expect from an airport beach-themed restaurant, no worse or better. The highlight was the beer - I don't remember if the IPA I had was the same as the one shown in the menu above (New Belgium Voodoo IPA), but it was delicious. My major worry was that I'd be forced to drink Corona, and that's fortunately not the case.
In all, I've most definitely had worse and more expensive airport meals. I'd return here without a second thought.
When the ability to use the grab and go ended, it was a sad day in my family. We would travel and go early and eat at margaritaville outside of security. Ask the waiter to scan the card immediately and then have a leisurely meal. Then walk back to the other side of D gates and go to the Amex lounge for an hr. On the way to our gates hit up corona beach and get $90 worth of snacks and drinks. Then on the way home we would land and hit them up again for $90 in snacks before going to baggage. Just about every time we went id say to my wife...this is unsustainable...enjoy it while it lasts because the end is near. I say this to her still all the time about some of the more lucrative MS methods.
Lucky
They must be paying you for a positive review. The place is not great at all! I've had an average experience AT BEST. One time I sat down (was seated) for about 10-15 minutes and no one even came to my table to wait on me. I got up and left. The best secret to this place is the little "mini market" that offers stuff "to-go", but you mention "to go orders" are not allowed. I suspect you mean ordering from the restaurant?
We ate there yesterday. Service was excellent. Burger was way above average and frys excellent. Nachos were better than most. Offered desert and water as we were not close to allotment. Solid choice for airport food.
Just going to elaborate a strange experience I had there in May 2018 , which you must read , & be careful of not being subjected to the same "scam".
Our family of 4 Priority Pass cardholders ( each with unlimited complimentary visits ) got a bill of USD 137 i.e. 17 USD more than a collective of the 120 USD we were allowed to spend ( including the gratuity ). When we were about to pay this remaining amount , the manager came with a "SUGGESTION".
Pretending to be a good samaritan , she told us that Priority Pass had a "different" set of rules for Miami , where 1 GUEST WAS INCLUDED FREE OF CHARGE , which gives an extra USD 30 for spends in the restaurant. Thus , she offered to scrap out the already charged visit from one of the cards ( Is that even possible ??? ) , and swipe it again showing 1 guest as well , saving us from paying the extra amount. Being the Mr. "Know-all-the-rules" / "I-doubt-such-nice-behaviour" member of my family , I immediately rubbished this claim , but she diverted her attention to the other 3 people , and "convinced" them that this was a "NEW" rule , as Priority Pass was unable to offer an "actual lounge" in Miami and was giving this as some sort of "compensation" . She then impressed everyone by how happy she was that we came all the way from India to explore Central America , etc. etc. , and sadly all my family members BELIEVED her 'nice intentions'.
The reason for this entire "scam" & their guts to do it , were the following :
1. Paying again through a Priority Pass gave them an EXTRA GRATUITY of 18 % , which obviously they would have missed out on had I directly paid the remaining USD 17. And as mentioned by Lucky above , they verbally come & tell you whether you are under or over the allowance i.e. NO PRINTED BILL IS PROVIDED. I am quite sure they must have wrongly shown in their system that something else was also ordered , just to compensate the difference ( and probably eaten / drank the same )
2. At that time , there was no rule of a cardholder visiting this place only ONCE in a 24 hour period. Thus , we have no clue whether the visit that was claimed to be "scrapped" by the manager was done so or not , as our Priority Pass charges do not reflect in our credit card statements. If not , they would have managed ANOTHER EXTRA GRATUITY amount at our expense.
2. They knew that we were not US residents / citizens , and thus highly unlikely to follow up this matter with anyone. Even if we complained to Priority Pass , we would not have any proof of the mischief involved.
As expected , and much to the disappointment of my naive family members , my credit card was charged the cost of a guest visit - USD 27 i.e. USD 10 MORE than what we would have paid.
BEWARE !!
PP recently (August 2019) removed most restaurants from their lounge list. Is this still a PP lounge or was it one that got axed?
For anyone inclined to go search for info on Viena restaurant mentioned here as another option, they are no longer on Priority Pass.