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I had a couple hours to kill before a Yelp event last evening and rather than go home decided to check out a downtown spot as I've been a little light on my Yelp reviews lately. I've been intrigued by The Tap on Mass Ave, a name that makes me laugh since it's not actually on Mass Avenue (though it is adjacent). Located on the ground floor of Pulliam Square, the old Indy Star area that was torn down and replaced by luxury apartments, The Tap seems to be a trendy downtown brewery and beer bar for those who work downtown. I parked one block over on Mass Avenue and accessing all of it by wheelchair was fairly basic as downtown's accessibility has massively improved in recent years.
The Tap has 50 hand-selected beers on tap and hundreds of brews available by bottle. The actual brewery is located in their Bloomington location. The food is fairly typical bar food ranging from burgers and other sandwiches to pizzas and charcuterie spreads. The menu changes quarterly.
I arrived in the double-glass doors to a hosting area. There's outside dining/drinking available with live music and events throughout the week. The indoor area primarily consists of a front dining/drinking area with the bar, a back private room that can be used for events and the areas are all fairly spacious. A word of caution for wheelchair users - the front room is ALL elevated tables that are not wheelchair friendly. The outside area is pretty much completely wheelchair friendly, while the back room has a couple dining options for wheelchairs. I'd really like to see at least one decent option out front. I realize they probably don't get a ton of wheelchairs in there, but this is 2016 and it's a brand new building. It's just kind of lazy planning in my book.
I was escorted to an appropriate table in the back, a spacious four-top. The area was being used for what looked like a small staff meeting of some sort and one other table had a group of young women. So, it was pretty quiet. It did have a handful of televisions. It was a rather plain decor in the back, but it's a great option for a private party as the acoustics do make for being able to hear.
My server was Liz. I can't say enough good things about her. She was on her game. It had to be weird as I was dressed as a priest. Maybe she was Catholic and concerned I'd condemn her to hell? While I am actually ordained, I was really in costume for a nearby Yelp event. Still, it was fun to get reactions. That said, Liz was top notch. She was friendly, helpful, patient and honored a couple special requests related to food.
I ordered their special Beer Cheese Burger, though requested the cheese be left off. Yeah, I'm weird. It came with the usual veggie toppings plus bacon on a toasted brioche bun. It comes with Tap Fries with parmesan garlic aioli dipping sauce. They don't look at you too weird if you also want ketchup. Or catsup if you prefer. I don't like saying catsup because it makes me feel like I've sacrificed a cat. The fries are sort of a shoestring variety with perfect seasoning.
I ordered my usual unsweetened iced tea. I contemplated a brew, but was heading down into the catacombs under City Market and figured being slightly intoxicated was ill-advised.
The entire meal came in at just under $15 - a tad higher than your average fast food meal, but it's on par with Mass Avenue and the food is fresh and prepared well. Highly processed food usually disagrees with me - this didn't and that's a good sign.
Again, Liz was fantastic. She checked in regularly, but not overwhelmingly. She made sure the refill was done and got my special orders correct. She was super friendly. She didn't flinch when I wanted to linger and didn't bring me the bill until I indicated being ready for it. I loved that as it made me feel relaxed and able to just chill out until my event. I'm sure they'd have loved it if I was drinking brews, but I never felt pressured to vacate.
I bounced between a 3-4 star rating. The lack of accessibility concerns me, though I have to say they quickly knew where they could seat me and they accommodated quickly even though there was a meeting going on in the back room. The food was quite good and nicely portioned, but the clincher for me was Liz's service. She snags that extra star and I'm sticking with a 4-star review. While I'm not on Mass Avenue a whole lot, I'll definitely be back. | 2positive
| 800 |
From beginning to end, this was a superfluous dining experience, perhaps one of the finest of my life, and certainly the grandest overall meal and service I've enjoyed here in Santa Barbara since moving here 4 years ago.
Earlier in the week, I was in line at another restaurant waiting for a to-go order, and I met a gentleman named Curtis; during our conversation he asked me if I had been to Finch & Fork, as he was a server there, and raved about the cuisine. I asked him when would be a good time to come check it out, and he recommended Sunday for the prime rib special.
So, today (Sunday), I brought a friend and we gave it our first go-round. Although we arrived early (5:30pm), the atmosphere in the bar area was lively and we had a good first impression from the overall decor. A friendly hostess greeted us straight away and sat us at a comfortable table.
Curtis was our server. He spent a few minutes walking us through the menu and explained the farm to table concept they embrace. In particular, he recommended the seabass as well as the prime rib, giving a description of each that left our mouths watering.
To get the full experience, he recommended an appetizer for us and, after hearing his comments, which sounded like something you'd hear from a gourmet chef on the food channel, there was no way we could turn it down.
The sunchoke & spinach schmear with smoked salmon and toasted brioche was excellent. A nice portion for two to share as an appetizer, we still had some remaining after finishing the delicious homemade brioche, when suddenly Curtis appeared with a side plate of extra brioche for us. It was like magic! He'd read my mind as I'd considered asking him for more.
We were off to such a good start that we decided to go try another appetizer, and went with the deviled eggs with smoked trout. The presentation was beautiful, as Curtis explained the eggs were soaked in beet juice, providing a purple hue in addition to a crisp and slightly tart taste to the rich filling. Another home run!
It was then we deemed it best to follow our server's recommendations from here on out. So, I tried the prime rib and my friend ordered the local sea bass.
My words can not do justice to the overall superiority of each entree, although I wish I could relay the description Curtis provided, which was what really sold us on these plates to begin with. I did take pictures though and would highly recommend each dish (although the prime rib is a Sunday only special). Had the prime rib not been an option, I'd have tried the jumbo scallops, as those sounded enticing. Next time I will!
I usually don't order dessert, but Curtis insisted we try at least one, and specifically the fire roasted banana milkshake. Derived from carmelized bananas, local McConnell's ice cream, graham crackers and salted caramel, and topped with a toasted meringue, this was hands-down the best milkshake I've had in my life, and if there's one better out there someone please let me know about it. My friend ordered the creme brûlée, which was served with fresh honey and honeycomb on the side and fresh local fruit. Again, awesome! The honey was a very nice touch.
Throughout our meal, it was as if each course was competing with the prior course. Just as we thought our taste buds had maxed out, the next course took them to yet another level. Not only will I sleep well tonight, but my taste buds will get some much-needed rest after receiving more activity than they had in years.
In reviewing the meal with my friend, we came to the conclusion that the aspect of the dining experience that really put it over the top was the service. My friend of 40 years old and well-traveled commented that Curtis was the best server he'd ever come across. He seemed to have a genuine passion for the cuisine, spent an inordinate amount of time and effort caring for us, and upon receiving our compliments, deferred the praise by paying homage to his chef.
Yes I've had servers before that have really pumped up certain dishes, but in this case the glowing recommendations were delivered upon time after time. It's like when someone tells you something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Well in this case, it was as good as advertised, and it was very well advertised.
The manager also checked in on us to make sure everything was good and we were enjoying ourselves. It couldn't have gone better!!!
Sorry for the long review, I usually don't write reviews, but in this case I feel compelled to spread the word, as Curtis kindly did for me while I was waiting in line earlier in the week. If you give this place a try, ask for Curtis! But even if you don't get him you'll still be pleasantly pleased with your meal. | 2positive
| 852 |
They get one star for the preparation work of the table being pre-set for our party of ten upon our arrival and for the new server who was really nice. Beyond those redeeming qualities, I would have given zero stars if allowed on Yelp.
This place exemplifies the saying of how to trying to put lipstick on a pig is futile; it really doesn't dress up very well... at all.
The drink orders were taken with a smile and we gave kudos to our young, smiling server. She was sweet and really tried hard, stepping out when she knew she was over her head due to massive kitchen errors.
Because our server was underage, she couldn't deliver any of the drink orders and it took almost 20 minutes for those to come out, even simple glasses of wine. There were only three other tables of two in the entire restaurant, it was otherwise empty. So we weren't really sure what took so long.
When our orders were taken; we requested some appetizers to precede our meal selections for lunch. And then we waited. It was another 40 minutes before any food came out.
Three... then a couple more... then a couple more... then couple more... and only after all of the main entrees had come out did then two of the appetizers... then two more... then wait... then one more find its way to the table.
And everything was just...plain...wrong. Though Reuben sandwiches were ordered, what was served were ham and cheese. The jerk burger (a signature dish) was over-done, charred, and just bland meat that needed condiments to give any moistness to it and the burned bun.
I had asked for a side salad and was told that I could only order a regular size salad. Well, I like to have salad to accompany (or precede) my meal. The "caesar" salad was a handful of lettuce thrown on my plate. What was odd, I mean really odd, is that it was made with arugula and greek olives. The "dressing," served on the side, was a glob of mayonnaise that had some vague flavor wafted through it.
The shrimp tostadas were overcooked shrimp on over-cooked pita chips. Sad and flavorless.
The fried pickles were the worst. Now, I travel quite a bit. When I think of fried pickles, I think of a BASKET of fried pickles. This was to be a side dish that we were told was able to be shared at the table. We were given a small cup with six just pickle slices, each so thin and then fried that they burned in the fryer. The disintegrated like thin cardboard, leaving a burned dry paste in one's mouth.
Mac and Cheese - as a side, came in a small soup cup. It wasn't a side that could be shared. It was... okay. It wasn't fancy and as a "sharable" side, there was not enough of it, but at least it had some flavor.
The winning dish was the mushroom cap appetizer. There were six on a plate stuffed with cheese, prepared correctly so that they were warm, there was flavor, and the texture hadn't been cooked out of them.
This being just outside of Nashville, I wanted a great dining experience. Being told that this was associated with a golf/country club, I had high expectations. Here, they set the bar so low, I bruised my ankles. There are so many places in this town and surrounding area that we could have enjoyed. We were ALL disappointed with the experience we had.
The manager on duty was apologetic, telling us that the managers and owner were off site and not available. She was untrained to resolve problems and over her head, trying to remain poised, but defending her kitchen staff. She initially told me that romaine lettuce was no longer purchased by the restaurant so using arugula was the way they now make a caesar.
I noted that other problems and she said that "the chefs take pride in their work." They do?
When she saw the pictures I had taken she became a little more concerned. I ran down the list of issues and it was only at that point that she noted that what I was served was not a caesar and that maybe my food wasn't up to their standard.
She then explained it away, stating that the menu was only two days old, so they're getting used to it. She vacillated between having a condescending tone (using words such as "obviously we...") to being embarrassed by the poor performance of the kitchen.
Dear management:
Stop offering a caesar salad when there's no romaine and you add greek olives.
Offer sides that are real sides, not a few pieces of something thrown into a cup.
Even if appetizers are ordered at the same time as the entrees, they should come out first. (This was explained away as their understanding that we wanted to be in and out in under an hour - a misunderstanding of a call we placed saying we'd be there in an hour. And, given that we didn't see any food until after an hour, their poor performance doesn't match their words.)
The kitchen staff needs to learn about real food.
I could go on. I won't. This place was a waste of time and a misplaced waste of calories. We could have eaten at a diner and had a better experience. Next time we might. | 0negative
| 914 |
Dear Chef Michael,
I have an embarrassing confession. I had no idea who you were when I decided to visit your latest B Spot Burgers location in Indianapolis, one of eight locations for the world of burgers that you apparently dominate. I had no idea that your burgers had been voted America's best burger at the Sobe Burger Bash in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014.
I kind of wonder what happened in 2013.
I'd never heard of your Fat Doug, Yo!, or Porky award winners. While I've heard of the James Beard Foundation Award, I sheepishly admit not knowing you'd won it. I'd heard your name, but had no idea you are ALL OVER the Food Channel.
So, I apologize.
I'd heard that B Spot was your place, but for all I knew you were some rockin' local chef with a penchant for burgers. Gee whiz. You're pretty awesome.
So, I arrived at your new spot that opened in the last week or so with fairly high expectations. It's also set in the modestly high-end Ironwork alongside Ruth's Chris and Sangiovese. That's pretty amazing company.
I was a little thrown off by the two rather haphazard accessible parking spots, one marked only by the pavement marking and the other a better but still non-ADA compliant spot.
I arrived early in the dinner hour on a Wednesday and was seated fairly quickly at a 4-top very near the entrance. The staff were incredibly friendly, though I'd say they were slightly off in timing. Still, it wasn't a big deal. After I initially waited a few minutes for my server, once Malinda arrived she was terrific and had clearly learned her stuff about the restaurant, your food, and the differences between certain items. I was impressed.
I wasn't completely thrown off by the whole "ala carte" thing - there are no sides with sandwiches with sandwiches ranging from a $7.99 basic burger to right around $10.99 for some of the specialty burgers. Sides include Lola Fries, shoestring fries with rosemary for $3.99 and others ranging from $2.99 - $8.99 in price. You have a few other sandwiches, but clearly specialize in burgers. That makes sense. You also serve a ton of beers and some awesome looking shakes, though for $5.99 and up I'd expect that shakin' to be topless.
I was tempted by your award-winners, but for the first visit kept it basic with a cheeseburger, ordered mid-well, along with Lola fries and my usual unsweetened iced tea. The entire bill came in at just over $16.
Michael. Can I call you that now? I have really wrestled with this review.
I don't eat a lot of red meat anymore, but this burger was worth the splurge. It was thick, juicy, and the bun was absolutely delicious. The fries were also quite good. I enjoyed the iced tea and appreciated having a server who served up two refills so I could linger a bit.
I love that your servers can process the credit card from the table - in this day and age, it's rather nice not having that card leave my sight. I hope this catches on.
But, I've got to be honest. There were a few problems that, at least I'm hoping, are slight kinks to be worked out. The parking concern is modest, though may become an issue during crowded times. I found the service a couple times to be a tad slow including the initial introductions and the initial wait once seated.
There was one fairly major faux pas. I was seated in a corner table - at the time not surrounded by people. As crowds arrived, the unfathomable choice to seat a party of five at a table near the main aisle was made. This not only blocked aisle access, but it also blocked my exit. I actually had to move my table, without help from your staff, in order to leave. That's inexcusable and, quite honestly, a pretty serious fire hazard (especially when your outside area is closed off). This also delayed my leaving - which can be important when people are waiting! I could also tell this 5-person party was uncomfortable and on more than one occasion had to move to allow someone through the aisle. If I noticed this, why didn't the staff?
Essentially, the food and service were a 4-star experience for me on this visit. If I could go 3.5 overall, I would. However, my modest concerns added to this make me feel like I have to round the score down rather than up. My gut feeling? As the bugs work out, you'll have a solid 4-star experience and maybe even prove to be one of Indy's premier burger joints.
Good service. Very good food. Average, industrial atmosphere with terrific outside options. Logistical issues. If your price point is going to be higher than most other burger joints in town, and it is, then you need to make sure the service and atmosphere match it. Tonight? It didn't. It was a good experience but, let's be honest Michael, you can do better.
Thanks for listening.
Richard | 1neutral
| 854 |
This Culver's has many wrinkles to iron out. The first time I went through the drive-thru to grab some custard. It was midweek and wasn't busy, so I was so excited for this location. I was shocked that every time after that night the wait has been ridiculous and it has been nothing but a hectic mess.
I ate in on a Friday night with my son and it was packed. I get how things can get a bit out of hand when it's busy, but you could clearly see the issues. This location has teens working here that aren't trained properly. The customer service and friendliness is missing. My son and I ordered burgers, cheese curds and 2 concrete mixers. They ask every time if you want your receipt and they really shouldn't because they don't know how to keep food orders together enough to go receipt-less. I love the fact that you get a number and have your freshly made items brought to you, but this system doesn't work as well as it seems.
I watched workers searching for numbers in the busy restaurant with trays of food getting coughed on by patrons as they walked by...there's no designated space for the numbers so these poor kids were running around looking up and down isles and all around tables. When we were finally brought our food the kid took our number without giving us our concrete mixers. After I realized what had happened I had to get up and look for our desserts. There would have been no way someone would have found us when the kid took our number prematurely.
The last issue I had with our eat in experience is that the teens that were bussing the tables really weren't bussing the tables. Patrons had to ask if their dirty table could be wiped down. Thankfully the food was hot and delicious.
So, lets talk about this location's cluster of a drive thru situation. What the hell are they thinking? This used to be a dairy queen. This was not built to be a Culver's with the "pull up and wait" system. If they want to do this they need to have designated parking spots for this...numbers would be great too. Instead they have people pull up to the left, right and middle. What happens is 6 cars end up blocking the entire drive-thru. People in the back get their food and have to wait until the people in front get their food.
This happened to me tonight when we ordered 2 concrete mixers to go. After ordering the girl in the window gives me a number and tells me to move up...to where? She closes the window and I sit there not able to move with a line of cars piling up behind me for 10 minutes. Never did she come back to the window to explain. Finally the 2 cars in the middle column move (since the guy in the back already had his food they both left at the same time) and I move up. I waited another 8 minutes before a manager comes to tell me that the chocolate custard machine broke down, he was called in to fix it, and that fresh custard is being made...please move up to an actual parking spot...something that should already be part of the system. I wait another 5 minutes before a girl comes out with our custard in a drink carrier and hands us 2 coupons for our trouble. I look at the custard and wonder why, if it was "fresh" it was already melting. What's even worse I had my son hand me my custard as we were driving home and it was completely wet with chocolate custard on the outside of the cup. So I had to drive one handed home with the other hand sticky with chocolate. We were given no napkins and sloppy cups. Ugh.
This location needs to get tips from the location in Town and Country on Hillsborough. The Hillsborough location hired people, including teens that understand customer service. All the workers including the teens are very friendly. The restaurant is clean and tables are bussed reasonably. The drive thru system makes sense with designated waiting spots. They have a system. A working system that makes me want to skip Citrus Park and go to Hillsborough instead.
3 stars because I'm a new fan of the Culver's chain and the food is still good. I hope to come back in a few months to find all the wrinkles ironed out. | 1neutral
| 762 |
I'm going to give this place a non biased, non vegan's review. First you should know that there is no meat on the menu. If you want that this is NOT your place. I am NOT a Vegan nor Vegetarian. However my fiancee' is and life is always better when you share, right? So often we're scrounging for restaurants we will both be satisfied at.
First con; How the Hell can you FIND this place?? It seems like all the New restaurants (Treehouse included) have these small cool typeface, INVISIBLE signs. It's impossible to see it while driving down S. Grand when there is a base thumping 1980 cadillac tailgating you and a dazed hipster couple wandering onto the street n front of you. So I'll make it easy:. Look for ORPHEUM Cleaners with the old Red and White colors. Orpheum has been there at least since the late 60s, so you can't miss.it. Lulu's is on the same corner across the side street.
Upon walking into the restaurant it was clean and basic. Not much decor, but some good looking original Printmaking on the wall I want to go back and check out. No one greets me. WAAaaaay Down is a counter with some people hanging out talking. No one says anything and I get the idea I just crashed a party at someone's house. After some wandering around and seeing a person take food out to the patio I figure out I order at the counter. Once the hipsters finish their conversation at said counter and I actually get to TALK to the staff the experience begins to improve. I grab 2 menus. The guy informs me that you order, pay at the counter and food will be brought out. We had a good conversation about beer (They have a few in bottles, and the new 4 Hands Single Speed is FANTASTIC). I like places that talk to you like a person rather than a customer. This is that place! Now I appreciate the time he takes with each order and recommendations. My Fiancee' gets the Orange Cauliflower Stir Fry and I the Spring Roll Burrito. Also grabbed a beer to sip while waiting. The Patio outside is lovely. It's quiet and is on the side street OFF South Grand. Personally I LOATH dining outside right on S. Grand. It's noisy with constant ambulances, cop cars, thumping music, and passersby... It stinks from the wall of constant car exhaust. Plus there is always the danger of somebody we used to know walking by and spoiling my dinner by stopping to "Chat" or toss a dirty look in my direction. But the Patio at Lulu's is quite secluded and green. You won't be bothered even though it's just a few yards off S. Grand.
The food came our pretty fast! But it was FRESH! The server was really nice as was the order counter guy and they genuinely wanted to hear our thoughts on the dishes. They grow most if not all of the Greens on site. My Spring Roll Burrito was AMAZING!! Crispy (lightly breaded) fried cauliflower and a SAVORY asian sauce that was both spicy and sweet. NOT TOO SPICY. It was Hearty even for a non vegan has some really interesting flavor combinations. I didn't get the impression that it was just a bland fiber bomb of weedy junk someone tossed on a plate. Thought and Care went into both of our dishes and the taste proved it. Juliana's was just as delish. We both ate every single bite and were both full. I like the Pay & Go service. So many restaurants on South Grand have INEFFICIENT, ARROGANT waiters like the HORRID Cafe Natasha I reviewed last year that I'd rather NOT deal with them. I actually did toss a couple bucks in the Tip Jar at the counter. It was CHEAP! For the two entrees and craft beer plus Billy Goat chips side I paid about $27.00. We will be back again and again this summer as we want to try all of the menu items before they change over. I would have given this place 5 Stars easily if upon entering I didn't have to feel like I was wandering around in somebody's living room for 5-10 minutes. I'm sure they will get a handle on this shortly as the staff are truly friendly and care about your dining experience. The Food is STELLAR no matter if you eat meat or not....and let's face it there are TONS of places to get a burger in StL so just look at this as another Great Ethnic restaurant to try rather than some Vegan-Eat-Straw-Guilt dining spot. It's cheap and you won't be disappointed! | 2positive
| 788 |
We were in town for Spring training (Go Phils!) and looking for dinner. As we walked along the strip of shops and restaurants on Main Street, my family and I all asked simultaneously - "what smells so good?" That good smell of smoking meats was emanating from Brady's, so in we went. Don't be wary of my 5-stars as Jimmy P cautions, I mean them.
We love BBQ (we hail from Oklahoma and Texas, respectively) and have lived in the Memphis area as well as Carolina. As avid consumers of all things smoked, we know what good 'Q is and the smell from Brady's was promising.
The place itself is everything a little 'Q joint should be - some old posters and pig-themed folk art, college banners, beer signs and a blues soundtrack on the scratchy radio. Rough wood floors, not too brightly lit and welcoming picnic tables and also bar seating that goes inside and outside (you can sit at a sidewalk counter window).
I read in other reviews that the service is spotty and rude. It took a little while for our server to come to our table, but then everything went off without a hitch. Absent from our server's demeanor, however, was the saccharine Southern sycophant attitude oft-encountered down here. She was all business and we were fine with that - meat is serious.
We ordered two sampler platters and my son got the kid's brisket sandwich - all good value for money. The restaurant menu offers dry and wet BBQ options - we chose dry. There are three sauces on the table - sweet, spicy, and mango. I will detail each item ordered and what we thought of it below. There were also a wide array of sides on offer - which is sometimes a bad omen for 'Q - focus on the meat, but this was not a foible and the sides were delightful. Portions were generous and prices were more than fair for BBQ.
Here is what we had:
Spicy sausage - the smoke flavor on this was outstanding. The "skin" of the sausage was taught without being cracked and the inside was perfectly moist - all signs of a good pit master. The meat in the sausage was dense and spicy (as promised) with a hint of sweetness. the sausage came sliced with no hint of juiciness dripping out of it - signs that they did not cut too soon. This was the most addictive thing we ordered.
Brisket - good bark, moist meat, spice rub just right, delicious. This atop a piece of white bread with a little spicy sauce was heaven. My son who is an EXTREMELY picky eater declared this meat divine. He earnestly asked us how vegetarians could live without it.
Ribs - these were the winner for my husband and they were good. Great smoke ring, moist, spiced just right, and meat still clinging to the bone enough to pick them up, but easily slipping off and tender as you bit into it. Really masterfully executed.
Chicken (chicken? I'll do it for free) - I love chicken and chicken that's been cooked in the smoker can be great - or it can be a dry rubbery mess. This, like all the other meats, was really just as it should be: crispy skin, moist meat - heavy, but not overwhelming smoke. Also, there was not the raw bit around the bone (happens in the smoker a lot with the low temps) - another A+ for the pit master. I loved this with the spicy sauce.
Pulled pork - delightful - all the attributes it should have - smoke, moisture, tenderness. Oustanding with the mango sauce.
Sides - as mentioned above - they offer a wide variety of sides and also a "try" for a dollar. Portions are big and the "try" size is big for the price. We had black-eyed peas that had big chunks of smoked meat and the flavor that can only come from a finish in the smoker. I tried the dill macaroni salad - pasta was firm, flavor was dill (as promised) and not too saucy - a nice contrast to the meatiness. Southern green beans - also meat flavored and smoky yum. Collards - equally good with a hint of pepper vinegar - legit! I also had a salad (I know!), but I needed something to (err) combat the meat storm. It was good and fresh.
The matriarch of the family ("GG" Great Grandmother) came by our table. She is a charmer and gave my son a free Brady's "Smokin in the Harbor" t-shirt. She also asked if we tried the cornbread pudding explaining that she and her daughter had worked hard to perfect it. I love this dish and remember my Granny making corn soufflé (similar) and got excited about it. She brought a free "try" for us and it was AMAZING. Texture, taste, corn, WOW. Somewhere between savory and sweet - if you know the dish and love it (even if you don't) - TRY THIS. For a dollar - you aren't risking much and it is out of this world.
A decent beer selection - although I drank Miller Lights with a slice of lime and salt (you can take the girl out of Oklahoma). They also have wine. Overall, as we make our spring pilgrimages to the Phils - we will be back and you should come too. | 2positive
| 908 |
I notice a lot of these begin with "I'm new to sushi". Just to be clear, I am not new to sushi. I've been eating sushi heavily for about 2 decades, on both coasts, throughout the Midwest (don't laugh, some of the Midwestern cities have large Asian populations and fantastic sushi) and in Japan. I make my own sushi (usually chirashi, because, well, lazy, plus love that style of rice). And I simply like to eat raw food, including steak, so I'm finnicky about freshness.
Mizu looked like it would be a nice spot to hit in St Louis; easy to find, and as a city-center restaurant, presumably pretty good to compete. But it turned out to be pretty much all location. I wouldn't go back, especially with so many other nearby options.
First, let's start with service. Yes, they were absolutely understaffed. Although the place was barely full (we were the only ones waiting) it still took a long time to get people their bills, get the table cleared, and get us seated. Then, it took even longer for our waiter to get to us. For some reason, he decided the girls at our table were in charge of ordering, and, after getting only part of their orders, scurried off....without even checking with the guys. This sort of uncoordinated, fragmented, inefficient back-and-forth continued the whole time....in the end, we had orders we didn't make arriving at our table, orders we did place not showing, and absolutely no effort to keep us all eating at the same time.
They skimp a bit on the food; standards like miso and salad weren't included, but hey, fine. Tea was not replenished. We ordered a few different appetizers and meals; because there was no tempura appetizer, we got that as a meal (appetizer quantity, plus rice). Pretty much anything deep fried tasted fine. Not mind-bending, but fine. The pepper-based appetizer was lovely.
But you come to a sushi restaurant for some high quality fish and unique, tasty maki. This place had neither. The maki were bland, no unique flavoring even with unusual names and descriptions. The sushi...well, I got my usually chirashi, and I wish I'd stuck to deep fried, because that might have covered the low quality of the fish. Oh, one or two types were good...but the majority were mediocre. Squashy and stale-tasting, with that crumbly texture that suggests freezing and freezer burn; the salmon tasted washed out, the tuna was definitely going off, and these are high-use sushi mainstays; of all the fish there, these should have been the types least likely to be sitting for the week it tasted like they'd been sitting.
How would it compare to my local sushi? It had nothing on the Quad Cities area's two top competitors, Shogun and Osaka, in terms of quality and freshness, despite beating them on price by about 25-30%. Sad to say, it didn't even exceed my expectations for one of the QCA's older sushi restaurants, SuperTarget. Yeah, that's right, SuperTarget outdoes this place on everything but style; they have an onsite chef who takes personal pride in his work and his fish, and I've almost never had less than fresh offerings there, although nothing so stellar as our actual Japanese restaurants. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but it's a freakin' SuperTarget; the service is better.
In the end, the hostess came over to apologize, but it was waaaay too late. And too little; I had a minor misorder issue at Taki in Des Moines, and despite it being a busy night, that restaurant's head chef took a personal interest, sent us over the best fish they had in that night, treated us to another appetizer and a round of drinks, came over to apologize personally, and did an impromptu round of sake bombs with us. And we hadn't even been kept waiting long, had other food in the interim, and might never have realized our order hadn't come on time. We essentially never stopped eating (especially once the free appetizers started showing up)...we just weren't eating in the order that chef felt best represented his restaurant, and he expected better from his staff. He took so much pride in his work that, while busy, he noticed an issue and corrected it before it was an issue to us, and he did it in such a way as to make me supremely confident of good service and sushi at his restaurant. (I will say that for take out, I favor Appare's chirashi. It just...doesn't...end. And has multiple types of preserves/ salads (octopus and seaweed). And more sushi than even I know what to do with.)
Mizu is probably a fine place to go to be seen, hang out at the bar with a cocktail, and pretend you're into sushi, if that's still a reason to pay for a high-priced dinner and lousy service. But if you actually like sushi, I wouldn't recommend it, and if you're just starting out on sushi, absolutely not! you'll never eat it again. Wait, more for me. Yes, newcomers to sushi, you go there. | 0negative
| 852 |
Often times we go to particular places for one thing or the other, and I don't know about you....but customer service is EVERYTHING. I understand you want to know about...IS THE FOOD GOOD BRUH...is it worth my drive....and TRUST ME when I get to that....you'll gas up and get there.
As I was saying....CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EVERYTHING. I scheduled a business meeting there at lunch not having been to this establishment and many people I know hadn't been to this place to give a heads-up so allow me to tell you....THE CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOTHING SHORT OF 5 STAR at LUNCH! Both hosts were recent graduates of h.s., one on his way to SEMO. They were well versed on the menu, the specials, the lay out, and you knew from the moment they opened their mouths to the moment you sat down after them having carried your tray, and retrieved your beverage of choice...THEY WERE HIRED TO SERVE YOU, and that they did with excellence and pride in what they did.
I know....where is this place....and why haven't I heard about it.....well had it not been for my travel through the 170 corridor, and then catching a super late at night (early a.m.) advertisement I wouldn't have known about this SOUL FOOD GEM! I know...there are a few spots that BOAST, but this isn't one that does, but once you GO, EAT, and ENJOY it will easily become your FAVORITE. I didn't visit the restroom areas, but if it was anything like the front of house (clean as the dept of health....white glove military clean...) and the dining area.....I'd believe you if you said you could eat off the toilet seat it was that clean. NOW ON TO THE FOOD:
The had some very tempting choices, and almost exhaustive (The WIDOWMAKER, SHRIMP PO'BOY and the TRIPLE DECKER CLUB) were amongst the heavy hitters as far as sales go. I personally wanted a good crispy tripe sandwich, but the manager (who hadn't tried it...) said I'd order from the table first if I were you. Which was her way of encouraging me to order from the steam table that offered liver and onions, smother pork chops, fried chicken, smothered fried chicken, meatloaf as entrees, then followed by sides such as green beans, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, cabbage, black eyed peas, and few other mentionables. The WAY BACK WEDNESDAY special was an entree with two sides and I cautiously proceeded ahead. I had the meatloaf, cabbage, and mac n cheese there were accompanied by cornbread muffin.
MEATLOAF was more than enough, and I'd guess it was 5-6oz of a thick slice wonderfully tasty monolithic masterpiece of juicy, well seasoned beef with some green peppers, onions throughout. It has house made tasty gravy over it that didn't over-power it, but complimented it. I actually and eventually ended up mixing it ( the meatloaf and gravy with my mac n cheese). Now I must tell you this meat loaf didn't have the traditional layer of baked on ketchup or tomato paste to top it....and honestly it didn't need it at all.
MAC N CHEESE - This is look a mix of grandmas home made mac n cheese that was made by CHESTER CHEETAH. Let me explain: most home made macs have that baked crust that sometimes...often times....has areas of burns that we just chalk it up to the mac game, and it's still edible. Other times home made macs are so cheesy that they are soupy and you'd have to bake them in a crematory before you get a crust. This mac n cheese was a mix of golden yellow and orange deliciousness. I'd err on the side of caution of one of the BEST if not THE BEST SOUL FOOD MACS in our area ( I do have a favorite MAC...and it's from of all places a BBQ joint in the loop....UNTOUCHABLE) ...it paired well with my meatloaf and gravy for sure.
FRIED CABBAGE: Just like my grandmama or my momma, or I make....straight from the south. It wasn't terribly overcooked but tender and flavorful. A hint of salt, pepper, garlic...( I believe it even had some cayenne pepper flakes that gave it a nice kick) and possible in a light chicken stock broth. Had I not been on this diet I would've had to take the corn bread (sweet I might add) and mix it up in my cabbage,unbuckle my belt, kick off my shoes....and call it a done deal!
My only negatives are be cognizant of your clientele with music volume.....you may want to turn it down 1-2 notches so they can enjoy your food, the establishment, and one another without having to talk over or louder than the background music, and I wanted to speak to the owner (as well as my constituent did too) to simply behold the owner of this gem. TRUST I WILL BE BACK, and will tell others of the wonderful experience we had. We don't have a place like this in St. Charles County and if you're looking for, or considering a second location...I'd highly encourage you to head WEST ON 70, so we can bless you! Until then....I make it back I have a date with a CRISPY FRIED TRIPE SANDWICH.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, and thank you for your memorable service/experience. | 2positive
| 891 |
It's a rainy Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis. I spent most of my morning hanging out in my house trying to get my body to work the way I wanted it to work.
Finally, about 1:30pm I got myself going well enough to start thinking about lunch. I wasn't wanting to travel far and I was in the mood for something simple. I'd been wanting to check out Art's Skillet for quite a while, but my schedule isn't real complementary to their hours of 6am - 4pm, Monday - Saturday. The last time I drove by while they actually were open, they looked so crowded that I found myself not wanting to mess with the crowd.
Today was perfect. I mean, sure, I was a disheveled and unshaven mess from the aforementioned rough day physically, but the rain seemed to have impacted their crowd a bit and it was an ideal time to give them a try.
Art's Skillet is located on Pendleton Pike in what most would be likely to call a "bad neighborhood," though I've personally never had much of a problem there. It's in a free-standing building that has been a few other restaurants including a doughnut shop that is now located in the adjacent strip center. I can still remember what a dump this building was the last time I entered the building and, quite honestly, I wasn't expecting much in terms of appearance today.
I was wrong.
Art's Skillet, named for owner/founder Arturo Ugaldo, is a warm and hospitable little joint from the moment you enter its simply yet beautifully decorated walls. It's a small restaurant, in fact, I think at one point it may have even been a Rally's a few years back, but Art has done some amazing things with the interior and even added some outdoor seating.
I once again continued my tradition of ordering lunch items from a place primarily known for breakfast, primarily because I'd seen they recently added breaded tenderloin and I thought I might find a new gem for my friend Rick Garrett (aka, The Tenderloin Connoisseur). Next time around, and there will be a next time, I will likely go for breakfast as I wouldn't be surprised if it knocked this rating up the final star. I was greeted warmly by a server, whose name I never caught, as she was carrying a tray of food to another party. Yep, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for a server who can multi-task and still be friendly. She quickly got back with me and took my drink order of the usual unsweetened iced tea. I then added the breaded tenderloin platter that includes one side (in my case, fries) for $7.29. The entire meal came in at $10.12 and was one of the higher priced options on the menu.
The meal itself was a solid 4-star experience. The tenderloin was a nice sized, obviously breaded tenderloin but lacked the flavor and consistency of the truly top of the line tenderloin sandwiches. It's easily in the top half of tenderloin sandwiches that I've experienced, but if I were looking for a truly top notch tenderloin I'd likely go elsewhere. The fries were fairly straightforward fries, but they were nicely browned and served in a larger than expected order. I definitely got a great value for the price. I also got my usual refill and the offer of one for the road - more big pluses.
The server was a delightful young woman who was attentive without hovering and consistently friendly. She was the kind of woman who uses the word "sweetie" and seems to actually mean it. On a day when I wasn't feeling great, her service was warm and welcome and exactly what I needed.
It is important to note that only the Westside door actually has a wheelchair ramp. There's one accessible parking spot there, though it's not ADA compliant. However, the other side doesn't have a ramp at the entrance so you'd need to be able to jump the curb if you're in a wheelchair.
Art was present and onsite, a quiet yet friendly man who started the restaurant after the 2012 economy crash cost him his job.
As I noted, they have a massive breakfast menu and apparently a quite wonderful cinnamon roll that I didn't try this time around. I would also note that this is also a restaurant that can easily serve Spanish speaking customers, though I was also impressed with the diversity of its employees and customers.
While it was undoubtedly helped by the fact that they weren't packed, I was also impressed that nobody flinched when I decided to linger a few minutes enjoying some reading.
All in all, I'm happy to say that Art's Skillet is definitely a new indie gem on Indy's Eastside. While I'm not quite prepared to take it all the way up to five stars, it was a wonderful weaving together of good food, great prices, and absolutely terrific customer service. | 2positive
| 834 |
It was my goal to find a small sort of upper scale lounge for a birthday party and so I thought Plan B would be the best place to throw this 15-20 person birthday party. Boy was I wrong. Let me tell you this great story.
It first started with a few calls to the catering division of Plan B to discuss options as to how many guests, pre-order of appetizers and the whole schbang. After working out the fine details I decided to order off their catering menu the Guacamole and Melange Platter both of which are supposed to feed up to 14 people. So I figured this should be plenty of food for 15-20 people to snack on.
When we and our guests finally arrived we were greeted to our food sitting out already in the open and 1 bartender to serve our entire party. To be completely honest, he was running everywhere trying to get us the right beers, new food, etc.. He did a good job for what he was given. He was also the only person on the entire team whom seemed to actually care if we needed anything or if we were having a good time.
After further inspection of the extremely small sized "platters" and knew it wouldn't be enough food so I immediately ordered 2 more appetizers off the menu to supplement the food portions. Not to exaggerate but these portions were about the size of a small bowl of Guacamole you would get a mexican restaurant like Matador again made for 1-3 people, not even a larger size bowl. Then it accompanied again a small bowl of pico de gallo which was definitely brought out extremely too soon as everything was dry and room temperature. In addition, we ordered the Melange platter which had stale cheese and meat on it and it was hardly an amount I would classify as a platter or could server a group nonetheless. The portions were made to feed/snack up to 3-4 people. Total cost for 2 platters was $42 for Guacamole and $62 for the Melange Platters at a tootal of $104.00 + tax and mandatory tip of course. All said and done were were close to $300 out the door.
Everything seemed to go great but then the extra appetizers never showed up, so I asked the bartender and he said he would find out. Several people throughout the night approached me, some of which I knew that worked at Berryhill. Each of them said they would check on everything. Nobody ever came back.
Like I said previously the bartender however was slammed and needed assistance but did his very best when helping fulfill drinks and requests.
Mr. Berryhill showed up towards the end of the night and sat down at the bar. I thought this would be a great time to discuss our experience. When I tried to explain to him my concerns and unhappiness he began battering me with questions like, "Do you know how expensive avocado's are?" and "Maybe you're not familiar with how fine dining works?". These were straight up insults not having any idea who he was talking to and how big of foodie I truly am, he couldn't be farther from the truth. His solution is to insult his customers instead of be nice, hear them out and find a solution that works. Instead he pawned me off like I was wasting his time with a few insults here and there.
I will be honest I've heard nothing but negative things from friends and acquaintances regarding John BerryHill but I don't make opinions about someone or something until I experience it myself, but I'd have to say this experience confirms everything for me. Anyone can agree that this is beyond unprofessional and quite unacceptable. He did nothing to say, you know what I am sorry about your experience let me buy you a drink or get some more food out here for you. He just simply didn't care and frankly that's not how you run a restaurant or any business for that matter.
As you can imagine I was pretty heated given the demeanor and incoherent statements for which I was privy too. So I wrote an email the next day to the catering office basically explaining my situation. They told me that I was basically unrealistic about my requests about portion sizes and didn't even address the other concerns that were much more series. Oh well, I guess they are all drinking the kool-aid.
I highly recommend you go to a real fine dining restaurant like Chandlers for a party or any other one that can provide you with upscale food, great ambience and excellent service because it's obvious BerryHill cannot provide this, and if they can they surely do not have the right management in place to make that happen.
I will never be caught in another one of the Berryhill's restaurants and if I could I would have given negative stars. | 0negative
| 836 |
Let's start with the big one: this is a bakery.
It's not a restaurant. Really. Disregard the seating. It's a bakery that realizes you might want to eat your order right there. So when you hear all these other people complaining about the twenty-minute waits and the frantic and occasionally hit-or-miss counter service, remember that you are, in fact, visiting a bakery. You want great table service, try Bern's, or heck, try any actual restaurant. You want it fast? Go to McDonald's. Are you with me? This is a bakery. You're gonna stand in line, you're gonna make everyone else in line groan as you change your mind at the last minute, and yeah, you might need to dial back your expectations from those poor inundated cashiers to "bakery counter" levels of service. Check your order, keep your receipt, and plan to wait a while if what you're ordering isn't premade and ready.
Yeah, sure, I'd love food like this in a restaurant setting, but this isn't one. It's a bakery with seating, and that's fine. If you're really in a hurry, call your order in ahead of time, have it waiting for you when you get there. They're great about that. But again, don't go there expecting tableside service, or even a particularly smooth queueing system. This is a bakery, and it's a busy one. Expect it to feel like a bakery. People will mill around oohing and ahhing at the treats. Lines double suddenly and get messy. This is just how it goes, chief.
Now, you want a killer array of sweets and breads, plus some really great sandwiches? Good, you're in the right place. Butcher-paper-wrapped, sealed with masking tape, those sandwiches are the real deal, and the nine-inch "small" will fill up most sane people. Those double-meat twelve-inch versions for three bucks more? Heh. Listen, I'm the size of a halfway-decent starter home, and my last bites of the twelve-inch are the slow, determined, plodding steps of a prizefighter stumbling away from a most Pyrrhic victory. If you've had the misfortune to dine on what the national chains call a "sub," you're probably expecting something much more manageable and less filling. This is a hungry person's sandwich. Don't worry, you can take half back home with you. Most do.
That Cuban's a sight. Thing of beauty, let me tell you. I have to wonder if the folks who complain about the meat quality got theirs pressed, and if they let it sit a while after pressing, or if they tore right in. Heat and pressing release the juices and wake up the flavor, and letting it sit a bit lets all those flavors mingle. When I bit into my last one, the salami had a nice sharp edge, the ham was smooth and warm behind it, and that classic Cuban pork was right there under it with a faint clove-and-pepper note. They survive rides home beautifully, and if you call and have 'em made it advance, they'll be sitting there, mingling ahead of time...and you'll dodge all that prep wait. Just a suggestion.
Of course, if you just show up and you're looking for something to tide you over while they prep your sandwich, let me heartily recommend the quesito, or the guava pastry. Yeah, their cupcakes are great, their brownies divine, but come on, you're going Cuban here, right? You want a nice strong cafe con leche and a quesito or a guava pastry...or both in one. The guava cheese pastry is delightful stuff.
They'll put lettuce and tomatoes on your Cuban if you ask for 'em, but come on, show a little respect for that sandwich. It doesn't need watery produce. You can ride with tradition and ask for mustard-no-mayo, but the stock configuration, with a nice, clean house mayo, works really nicely, and lets the meat speak for itself. Your call; white or yellow paint on that Cuban, it's still a winner.
You might want to try the medianoche, too -- their Cuban's goods reframed upon soft, chewy sweet egg bread. Nice change from the crackly-pressed Cuban bread. The steak sandwich is another real winner. Simple, clean and classic, this is chopped steak tenderized in a rich garlic and sour orange mojo with Swiss cheese on Cuban bread. Press it, let the heat wake it up, and let it sit a few, then dig in. If you like scachatta -- bakery sheet pizza -- they make a nice one, too.
If you want table service and a less-than-harried queue, look elsewhere. You want carb heaven plus killer sandwiches, though, just put on your best patient smile, brace for the bakery counter experience, and enjoy the heck out of your goodies, whether there or back home. This is one heck of a bakery. | 2positive
| 798 |
Despite having written a couple dozen Yelp reviews, I still have not written one for the single restaurant I've been to most in my life. Wow.
My family and I have been coming to Palmas Verdes since they opened, which I think was around 2003. To say that we adore it would be an understatement. I routinely go with my parents, and I've also taken no fewer than four people I've dated. Plus my aunt one time. There's no telling how many thousands of dollars we've dropped at this place. For some pretty good Mexican food with casual decor and a low-key vibe, it's really hard to beat.
First off, the drinks. Starting a year or so ago, Palmas Verdes introduced a happy hour special. Sunday through Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m., beers and house margaritas are half price. Now, neither one was expensive on regular price (a 32 oz Dos Equis is $4.20ish, and the jumbo margarita is around $6.50). At happy hour, it becomes an unbeatable deal. And unless you're just itching to drink, one jumbo 'rita will satisfy you. You'll be buzzing with more than that. I've yet to try the top shelf margaritas (those are not covered by the happy hour special), so if someone has, drop me a line. I'm curious.
Next, a review of a Mexican restaurant isn't complete without discussion of the chips and salsa. I'd say this is a big reason why Palmas Verdes has become a huge favorite of ours. The chips are well cooked, almost never soggy or too salty, and served warm. Their homemade salsa is a combination of a tomato puree with some chunks of tomato and assorted ingredients. If you're looking for something a bit zestier, ask them to bring you the hot salsa. It, too, is homemade, and packs a bit more of a punch. And of course, if you're glutton for punishment like me, they can also bring you a bottle (not homemade) of the El Yucateco Chile Habanero sauce. And if all those complementary options aren't enough, they also have a homemade green salsa. It's 59 cents for a small bowl, but you should try it at least once. Of note, if you order the pork tips with green chili sauce, it's the same thing that will come with your entree.
I've probably tried close to 20 things on the Palmas Verdes menu. A lot of the dishes are subtle variations on one another.
One of the more unique dishes and a personal favorite of mine is the Camarones (shrimp) Chipotle. This is, shockingly, a shrimp dish in a chipotle sauce. I find their chipotle sauce to be really unique and not quite like anything I've had anywhere else, so this has become one of my most-often-ordered dishes.
When I'm not craving the shrimp, I tend to gravitate toward the Burrito Fundido (a cheesy burrito stuffed with chorizo). Palmas Verdes's chorizo is well seasoned and very flavorful. If you'd prefer your beef in the less-sausagey variety, don't hesitate to order the chimichangas, which come with your choice of beef (this is chunks/shredded, not ground beef) or chicken. Here again, the meat quality is very good. If that sounds nice but you're looking for a healthier alternative to the fried tortilla, try the Burrito Jalisco, which is topped with lettuce and pico. And if cheesy rice mixed with onions, peppers, and your meat of choice sounds good, try the LP Special. A final reasonable option is one of the combo plates. The option with an enchilada, two tacos, and chile con queso tends to be one of our favorites.
If you're feeling particularly carnivorous and are in the mood for a lot of meat, try the parrillada. A part of the grill menu, this is a way to get chicken, pork, shrimp, and chorizo all on a giant plate with a few onions and green peppers for flavor. The menu has options to make this for one person or two; my parents routinely split this dish FOR ONE and sometimes still have leftovers. I've never seen the parrillada for two. They probably have to sacrifice a whole farm to make it.
A final note: Palmas Verdes is part of the Las Palmas family in Nashville. Despite the menus and dishes being very similar, I have to say that I've had much better experiences at Palmas Verdes than the other Las Palmas locations. Something about the food is just...fresher. I'm under no illusions -- the stuff's all coming from the same place, I'm sure. I can't describe it, but my whole family agrees. | 2positive
| 768 |
I have been wanting to try Archie's for a long time, but the reason for my 2 star review is mostly due to a lack of service and it's not low budget either, so, "Meh, I've experience better".
I ate there yesterday and today for lunch, and if today was better than yesterday I would chock it off as an off day, but I had a two different servers on two different days it lacked both times.
Yesterday was my first experience, and I was told to sit anywhere. I was brought a menu, although the Blue Cheese Burger on the sign when I walked in caught my eye. The server was moving around so I called her over and asked for recommendations. She went over a couple of burgers and then said French Dip, and that stuck with me. I was also considering the Mushroom Burger, but I wasn't starving and these burgers are 1/2 lbs, and I had a homemade burger the night before.
So far everything is good, I get my food in a fast turn around, and it comes right from the kitchen, I am guessing the cook. While I was waiting I heard another table order the same thing and ask for horseradish, so I asked for that when my French Dip arrived.
I was given two much horseradish, and I hate to waste food, but it's not a big deal. Then I realized I didn't have any silver ware, and although I am in view of the waitress, she's not paying attention to me. So I used my finger to apply the horseradish rather awkwardly. She doesn't check on me, and it wasn't busy, just a couple of tables split between two girls.
So overall, the French Dip is good, and the Au Jus is great, but there definitely was only enough for half a sandwich, and it was quickly soaked up by the bread. The fries were just okay, nothing special just like something you grab from a freezer and fry, no seasoning, no distinct flavor, hot and fresh from the fryer, but quite boring, and not something you look forward to eating again.
So I shake my Au Jus cup because the waitress is in her own world, and I am not in it, and she readily acknowledges that I need more Au Jus and more is brought out. At this point I have switched from my finger to the spoon for my espresso in trying to get more horseradish on the 2nd half of my sandwich, when she arrives with the Au Jus, she's like, "Oh do you need silver ware"? Really at this point I have made it work, so I said no, because I am halfway done and my spoon is better than my finger. My biggest gripe here is that server wasn't really present, and it showed. You can tell when someone cares.
Overall I was pretty happy with the French Dip and was going to rate 3 stars, and just knock off the service as an off day, but I went back today and just more hiccups.
Today I arrived for lunch and I ordered the Mushroom Burger from yesterday. I was promptly greeted, brought a menu, and asked for something to drink. I said nothing and I would like to order. She said okay, what would you like, I said Mushroom Burger cooked Medium, and I can substitute anything for the fries. She goes through the list so fast (It's not busy either) that I have to her repeat everything, and I catch Texas Toothpicks again in the rapid fire list, I clarify what they are, Jalapeno's and Onion straws, and it's a $1.95 up charge, so I agree.
She doesn't write down the order, but it's not busy and most servers that do this are good at their job, so I figure everything will be good.
It takes quite a while for my burger to come out, I know medium is a few minutes on each side, so after quite a longer wait than expected my burger comes out and it's charred up and looks overcooked. She drops the food and leaves. I take a bite and sure enough it's cooked well done. I was on a lunch hour and I usually don't send back food unless I need to, in this case it was edible, so I just ate it. I was hoping she would show up, so I could mention to her, it's overcooked, let the cook know, but I will eat it. She does show up roughly half way through. I mention to her, and she doesn't really acknowledge me, and says, I will mention something and that's it, and then I never see or hear from her again until she brings my check. Overall the burger was nothing special, just a big burger lacking flavor and overcooked.
I get my check no explanation, no followup, no apology, nada. I am thinking this was strange. So I look at the order to the kitchen, and there's no temp on the ticket, it just says, Mushroom Burger. So now I know this waitress messed up my order, has shifted blame to the cook, and when she picks up the check doesn't say a word nor when she returns my CC.
If she would have owned up to the mistake, apologized, tried to do anything but ignore me and not speak to me I might have been able to overlook, but this wasn't acceptable. I paid over $15 for my meal w/out a drink, and that's not good enough value for my $$. Yes I still tip when they suck, because I used to serve, but over $15 is too much $$ for a sub-par experience; AS THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT $15 options in the Reno area! | 0negative
| 973 |
I'm a breakfast guy. My wife and I have joked about starting a blog reviewing breakfast places, since we love trying new ones, and I always feel like a critic. I think we've actually tried more breakfast places in Chicago than in St. Louis, but I'm sorry to say that's at least in part due to the fact that the pickings are kind of slim in STL, at least for quality places (hint: Original Pancake House in Chesterfield, and La Bonne Bouchée on one of their good days).
Here are some of the factors against which any breakfast place I visit is judged:
** Interior should be bright and spacious -- lots of windows, clean bright decor
** REAL creamer/half-n-half must be provided (in a pourable dispenser; no tearing off teeny-tiny lids)
** Coffee has to be decent (not too strong, preferably not a burnt-toast flavor of over-roasting)
** Pancakes shouldn't be tough/rubbery, but also shouldn't turn to mush on contact with syrup. Light/fluffy (with a little egg) is ideal.
** Omelettes should be big and fluffy with the cheese/fillings on the inside. (NOT flat or with all the cheese sprinkled on top.) The ultimate sin in a ham and cheese omelette is using lunch meat ham slices cut in to squares. Cubes or I'm never coming back. American cheese should be an option whether or not cheddar is offered. Bonus points if swiss cheese is an option.
** Fruit shouldn't be canned or under-ripe. Crunchy honey dew and cantaloupe sucks.
** Potato product (whether in the form of cubed potatoes or hash browns) have to be decent. No overly-done or greasy hash browns, no dehydrated/dry/leathery potato cubes, should have some flavor.
** All the usual stuff: competence, speed, friendliness, professionalism.
THE GOOD:
--------------------------------
The Egg & I actually nails the first two of those criteria (though the creamer container they gave me was only filled about 1/5 of the way until I asked for more).
The potatoes didn't look all that appealing, but they actually turned out to be really good!
THE KIND-OF GOOD:
--------------------------------
The pancakes were just ... eh. Turned to mush a little too quickly on contact with syrup, but tasted decent, weren't rubbery.
The omelets were also a mixed bag: very thin/flat/small, with no cheese in the center (only on top, but at least there was enough of it). It was actually fairly tasty, and had cubed ham, though not enough of it. It's not my favorite style of omelet, but it did earn some points.
The coffee was a little strong, and in order to avoid having to refill it for you, they left a carafe on the table. I have mixed feelings about places that do that. (The upside is less risk of being annoyed by your server never coming around.)
THE BAD:
--------------------------------
The overall experience was a let down: They don't allow (even a smaller portion of) pancakes to be your bread option, and the english muffin was over-toasted and poor. Not only that, but they refused to let you pay extra to get pancakes as your bread (instead of toast or english muffin). If you want a pancake, you have to order a pancake at full price. Which, by the way, was $5 for A SINGLE PANCAKE. The waitress offered that additional ones "might" be less than $5, but she wasn't sure. When I asked her if she could please find out, she acted annoyed. Turns out that each additional is $2. So, when she assured me that each was "the size of my head", I ordered 2 (since we were sharing/splitting our orders with each other). When the food was delivered by the server (someone different than the waitress), she looked puzzled that the two pancakes were so small, each about half the normal size. So, $7 for two small-ish pancakes. I agreed, saying that I was told each would be the size of a small dinner plate (I refrained from comparing to body parts like our waitress). She said she'd look in to it, left, and then I realized we had no syrup. Spent about 5 minutes waiting for our waitress to return, trying a couple of times to get somebody's attention. Finally had to go to the hostess to ask her to please find our waitress so that we could get some syrup before it was all completely cold. The server who was puzzled over the pancake size showed up about 10 minutes later with a third pancake of the same size.
Here's my question to breakfast places: Proteins (meats, eggs) are what cost you money and make you money. When you can satisfy your customers with dirt-cheap pancakes (basically just flour), why get stingy and annoy them? $5 for a single pancake, really?! It's not hard to make a good pancake, and it's basically free money, since they cost nothing to make.
At least the bill was correct, which was a little surprising. | 0negative
| 827 |
On the outside you won't expect much but when you open the doors, you step into another world. Dark, mystic room, the vibe from it you know it's a fancy restaurant. The orange glow of the lights bouncing off the large mirrors and red velvet walls. We were greeted by the friendly staff at the hostess stand and only waited around for a minute or two before being seated.
We were there to celebrate our honeymoon. We got seated in this room that had different Greek statues. The room was just beautiful.
Our waiter Davor was the sweetness and just gone above and beyond in service. When we made the reservation it ask if it was for whatever reason. We had put special occasion.. we won't expecting much of it as to why they ask. But restaurant notice the detail and gave us a little let celebrate card n it was sweet. Davor ask what the occasion was and he congratulate us. He even spread the word to his fellow staff and just made it even more special. He was constantly checking in and just a delight.
We order the oysters for appetizer.. n my gosh they were the freshest that I ever taste. And the garlic truffle sauce it was . The meal comes with french onion soup, a garden salad with house made dressing, baked potato with the work. First out was the French onion soup. I've never been a fan of French onion soup before tonight. The rich, savory flavor was superb. The fontina cheese on top was thick, slightly charred and tasty had to really be gentle to not spill any soup to break that open.
Next came the salad. The husband had the thousands island dressing and that was creamy, flavorful, you can tell the difference from that and store brought. I had Davor pick out mine and he pick this white balsamic Italian dressing that I didn't think I would like but it was perfect, it wasn't to citrus or vinary it was perfect combination of both. The tomatoes they de-skin and it was just sweet and fresh. Avacodo was fresh.. not a bit of brown on it.
At this point my stomach was content I was I can handle the entrées. I hadn't really ate much.. but I was wrong. The husband order a 10 oz medium cooked steak strip that came with a baked potato and crispy fried onion and green beans. Again I let Devor pick for me between the duck confir and something in the seafood section which we went with the red Snapper. The steak was perfection. Buttery soft, crispy on the outside, cooked perfectly medium on the inside. Not bloody. The green bean was okay. The baked potato was pretty standard to me. It was well baked, soft on the inside, topped with sour cream, bacon bits and chive. Didn't he even touch the baked potato cause he was stuff from eating half his strip. Now my dish the American Red Snapper.. oh that white truffle sauce was delicious. Truffles can be over powering if done incorrect personally it can ruin an entire meal if added to much. But that white sauce they spice it up with just the right amount that it enhance the flavor of the meal. My pallet was dancing. Definitely have to try it alone before combining it with the Snapper and the mashpotato and arugula. The Snapper had a nice color on top but when you put the fork through it, it was not dry and breaks apart nice. Combine that with the sauce, its melts in the mouth. Arugula isn't my thing cause to me it leaves a funny taste but this entire I couldn't taste it at all. Mix that with their chive mashpotato and the truffle white sauce I was eating it like a child with their candy. I ate half the main course before I was stuff!! Devor reserved a table up there for in the desert room that was ready as soon as we finished our dinner.
Stuffed, we ventured to the dessert room. Devor was explaining to us prior to COVID they would give tour of their cellar but due to COVID they can't. The desert room ambiance was romantic. You had your own private section, there was panio player for entertainment. We order the Cappuccino Bern's steakhouse cause that was highly recommended. Vincent our server took care of us and it said it like sneaking in another desert cause it taste like tiramisu. Their bean soak in I forgot what for 10 days which made it taste decadent. We also order the pineapple upside-down cake. My husband don't like sweet but he ate half of it so that says a lot. The cake was soft with a hint of rum taste. The caramel added a hint of sweetness n the ice cream added a good refreshing.
Bern's is expensive but the amount of food you get at such quality, coupled with the ambiance and service, it's well worth it | 2positive
| 843 |
I've dined at the New Orleans location twice since its opening and experienced a drastic change from my first experience to my most recent. Normally I don't like to base a low rating of an establishment on the behavior of one or two servers, but let's face it: service is equally as important as food, especially at a nicer restaurant such as Fogo de Chao.
I had made reservations in advance for my dad's birthday and it was my parents' first time here. The server asked if we wanted to do the Coolinary menu or the full experience menu. The difference was that the Coolinary menu was priced at $40 per guest (versus $50 for the full experience) and didn't include premium cuts of meat. We decided to go with the premium menu because why go to a Brazilian steakhouse and not get to eat their best cuts of meat? The problem was that we probably only got to try the premium cuts a handful of times at most. What's worse, they didn't come out until towards the end when everyone was already full (I could be wrong but I really think it's intentional on their part). They were few and far in between. Like other reviewers have mentioned, the same servers with the same cuts of meat kept coming around again and again. We had to ask for premium cuts at least three times and had to wait 15+ minutes each time for them to bring it out.
Aside from that, the service SUCKED, for lack of a better term. I've worked in restaurants on and off for TEN YEARS, so I'm usually lenient on service. For example, if I see that a server is slammed, I'm understanding. However, our server disappeared after the beginning of our meal and we never saw him at our table again. A different server finally brought us our check at the end after we waited for half an hour and flagged her down. Meanwhile, we saw our original server standing around in the back of the restaurant doing - you guessed it - absolutely nothing. He just gave up after bringing our drinks. The only good thing about him was that he poured me a generous sample of wine to try. We would have ordered dessert had we been given the option. Also, I'm lactose intolerant and do not eat anything with dairy. Someone dropped off mashed potatoes and I asked if they put dairy in it. He replied that there was no dairy, only water and butter. Shouldn't people who work in the food industry know that butter IS dairy??
Saving the best for last... There was one server there who was the self-proclaimed "lamb guy" and responsible for the various lamb cuts. He came by with lamb chops that were perfectly cooked medium. We enjoyed it and asked for more. He came back later with a new rack and asked us if we still wanted it even though it was more rare than the first rack we were given. We said it was fine but when we cut into it, we saw that it was bleeding. A different server came up to our table and asked if we needed anything, so I told her that the lamb was more rare than we expected and asked if it was okay that we get more cooked medium. She said of course and went into the kitchen. After that, the "lamb guy" came up to the table and yelled, "You guys! I asked if it was okay that the lamb was rare and you said yes. Now you went and got me in trouble!" and walked away. I was dumbfounded and couldn't even respond. I'm shocked that he would approach us just to say that and then leave. First of all, it was certainly no one's intention to get him "in trouble." Excuse me for going to a steakhouse and asking for a premium cut of meat cooked to the temperature I want. Yes, he did tell us his rack was more rare but I hadn't expected it to be bleeding. He came by in a huff later and without a word, cut the medium cooked lamb chops and dropped it on our plates with attitude before storming off. The manager came by our table a couple of times but I didn't want to say anything to her because I didn't want to ruin my dad's birthday by complaining.
I may or may not return but if I do, it won't be for a very long time. I've read several Yelp reviews of people complaining about service and I truly hope management reads this and takes it into consideration. I understand that it might be slim pickings out there for hiring servers but this location shouldn't just hire anyone who's willing to apply (sure seems that way). This place has potential. Maybe Corporate can come in and give them proper training.
TL;DR service needs a lot of work. Better off going to a steakhouse elsewhere. | 0negative
| 841 |
Overall a great place to eat for under $10, including drink and tax.
I visited on 4/13/2013 around noon. When you first walk in, you wait in line to pay and be seated. I don't mind paying before the meal, but if you intend to tip your server based on the quality of service, then bring cash to do so, because if you want to use your card, you must do so before you even take one look at the buffet.
The first thing you need to do after they show you to your seat, is visit the sushi bar. The cold sushi is amazing and fresh, and even creative. There were a few different kinds that I have never seen before. The spicy mayo, or "Yum-Yum" sauce is good, but not spicy enough for my liking. Wasabi sauce is offered, but is too spicy for me. Honestly, you don't really need any sauce. The sushi itself is pretty good considering I paid just $10 for all I can eat. I can tell the sushi chef working this day knew what he was doing. But, as you know, sushi is dependent on the knowledge of the person making it. This guy was good though. The only issue I had is that the warm, or fried, sushi was a little cold and soggy. This is where you should spend the most time. 8.5/10.
Aside from the sushi, the next best thing I found on the buffet was the Crab Rangoon. I had never seen it made in a tear drop shaped bite size friendly portion. They were small enough to fit the whole thing in your mouth, and delicious too. I always hate it when they make it in folded triangles or the tear-drop shaped kinds that are too big and break all over your shirt when you bite into them. The interior was amazing too. The only thing they could do to make it better would be to put real crab in them, which we all know isn't going to be found at the $10 buffet. 9/10.
I was too full to even attempt the Hibachi grill. They have one though, and it looks great! Same goes for the salad and fruit bar.
There were also a few things I had never seen before, which was fun to try. They have a fried cheese jalapeno, which is just the right amount of spicy, and is also in friendly bite size portions. They also had something called Thai chicken, which was in a red sauce that combined the right amount of spice and sweetness. It was pretty good too.
With the exception of the chicken on a stick (which was one of the best I had ever had), and BBQ chicken, (which was a little on the fatty side), all the chicken I tried was a little over cooked. I actually kind of enjoyed this, as it made the big pieces of chicken a little crispier, but I know many Americans don't like tougher chicken. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they were overcooked, and not under-cooked, but they definitely left the chicken in the fryer a tad too long. They had a lot of it though, and all of them were covered and smothered in sauces. 5.5/10
The "prime rib," if you can call it that, was horrible. It was overcooked, and tasted like pre-chewed meat mush. They should re-label it meat flavored imitation pot roast. The stuffed potato, or potato skin, was unimpressive as well. These mishaps led me to forgo the remaining American and Mexican dishes on the buffet, of which they had many to choose from. Pizza, fries, wings, soft tacos that looked more like enchiladas, mac and cheese, greens, cheesy imitation crab, all the standard filler in type foods are here for you to peruse if you so wish. The only other interesting things I wanted to try, but had no room in the belly to do so, was the baked ham and salmon. I'll try them next time, as they did appear appetizing. 3/10.
Don't get excited about the dessert bar. It's all the standard mini-cakes, cookies, and ice cream from a scoop that's been used by everyone that day sitting in a running vat of cold water being held in a freezer with no handles on the door so you have to press your whole hand on the glass in order to open it, which hadn't been cleaned in awhile so you could see all of the 200+kids hand prints on the glass. But if you can open the door without being a germ-o-phobe like me, they have 8 or 10 different kinds of ice cream to choose from. 3/10
The overall cleanliness was good. I saw no major messes or issues, and this comes from the previously mentioned germ-o-phobe. The bathrooms appeared in above average condition, but, I visited the restroom an hour after opening. I did like that they had motion activated paper towel dispensers. I greatly prefer these, as blow driers do not offer me the ability to take an extra paper towel to use to open the door. I absolutely hate blow dryers, especially when you are forced to pull on a handle to exit the bathroom. Half of Americans don't wash their hands!!!
The service was good too. Very prompt with drink refills and removal of dirty plates. This is all I can ask of a buffet server, as I get my own food. She got the standard buffet server tip, which is different then if you actually bring me my food, talk to me, and have to remember what I want to eat. How different? Buy me lunch and you'll find out. | 1neutral
| 954 |
My wife, daughter, and I were eager to try Brickside Grille for the first time. Sadly, our experience was largely disappointing, on several fronts.
First, we arrived and were seated at 6:40, but didn't take the first sip of our drinks or taste the delicious bread rolls until 7:10. Thirty minutes is rather an unacceptable amount of time to wait for drinks. Why did it take so long? Two reasons. First, before we ordered, we pointed out to the server how much our daughter (9 years old) was craving scallops, but we know her palate and could tell that most of the exotic flourishes of the complementing starch and vegetables would be lost on her -- so we asked if she could order simply a smaller order of scallops, either broiled or pan seared, since $25 was going to be quite a lot for a child's appetite, who wouldn't appreciate all of the accompaniments. Our waitress, Ashley, said she would check with the chef, to see what could be done. She disappeared for nearly 10 or 15 minutes, and when she finally returned, the word was, "The kitchen can prepare the scallops in a simple broiling, but the price will still be $25." Now, there, I think a mistake was made -- because where we would have been happy to pay $16 or $17 for just the scallops, now we elected to downgrade to the mussels appetizer for her, which is only $9.50 for your enterprise. A stubborn kitchen simultaneously forfeited $6 or $7 and disappointed the customer.
So, next, we place our dinner order. We asked for a dozen oysters. Ashley asked, "Do you want all of them to be Chesapeakes?" My wife asked, "Which of the oysters on the menu are at the $2 per oyster rate, and discounted if we get the full dozen?" Ashley said, "I think you can get any of them for the same price." So, we ordered two of each of the 6 varieties on the menu, expecting to pay the discounted menu price of $17 per dozen. We also ordered calamari, but because we saw another patron return the calamari given that it had too many hot peppers, I asked that the kitchen "go light" on the peppers. We also ordered drinks -- I had planned to order a draft beer, but the draft compressor was broken, so I chose a (more expensive) bottled beer. My wife ordered a cosmopolitan, which frustratingly, the mixed drinks are not priced on the menu.
We then waited another solid 15 minutes to get one bottle of beer (no glass), and an apology from Ashley that she had forgotten what my wife had ordered to drink (a cosmopolitan). Once reminded, I asked if she could bring me a beer glass when she returned with the cosmo, and could we get some bread rolls that all of the other tables seemed to be enjoying. Another 5 or 6 minutes pass, and the cosmopolitan arrives with the bread, but no beer glass. I ask again for a beer glass for my bottle of beer.
The oysters finally arrive, along with the calamari, which is (not to our surprise, at this point) loaded with hot peppers, and quite greasy and over-cooked. After another delay of about 15 minutes, the entrees arrive, and I will say that they were delicious.
But, then comes the time for the bill. Where is the bill? Where is Ashley? Neither appeared for at least 5 minutes after our plates had been cleared by staff. Finally, the bill comes, and I soon can see that Ashley had entered our 12 oysters in 2-by-2 fashion. So, there was an order for 2 Chesapeakes ($4.00), and 2 Beach Blonds ($5.20), and so on... totaling a whopping $30, when we had been led to believe that they would total $17. I pointed out the problem to Ashley, and she goes off again to consult the management, and there I sit waiting (again) for over 5 minutes for her to return. She apologized for entering the oysters incorrectly in the register, and then said we would "only" have to pay $24 for a dozen mixed oysters. Wow, what a bargain, that we pay the full $2 per oyster rate when ordering in bulk.
As the final point of damage, I learn only when the bill arrives that this establishment prices a cosmopolitan (with well vodka) at $9.00 a drink. I've paid $9 for a basic cocktail in New York City -- I didn't know that Lionville commands the same rate.
I wrote this letter to the management, via their web site. No response for many days. So, I then called the restaurant to see if they had a direct e-mail address I could contact. I was given the owner/manager's e-mail address, to which I sent my note. Six days later -- still no response. So, now my letter goes up for all to see on Trip Advisor, Yelp, OpenTable, etc.
Long story short -- the restaurant's food had quite the potential to win us back as loyal customers; but given the level of service and the billing practices that we encountered on our first visit, I'm not sure we'd be coaxed into trying Brickside Grille a second time.
EDIT: After this Yelp review caught the management's attention, they did mail us gift certificates to be used for a free Sunday brunch for three patrons. The brunch was very good. | 0negative
| 910 |
The battle line has been drawn - Charlotte Pike.
On this side, atop a little hillock, is all of Vietnam's most powerful weapons. And on the other side, actually everywhere below the hill, is the rest of the city.
Miss Saigon. Boom!
Kien Giang. Bam!
Vn Pho. (sound of a sniper's rifle) There is no escape. The attack is relentless. Only a white napkin of surrender will end it. The Vietnamese restauranteers have formed an elite Sriracha squad and they have our taste-buds in sight, locked and loaded.
I was tasked to infiltrate and come back with recon intelligence of Miss Saigon. The word was the chefs of this place were brewing a secret sauce - one part hot, one part spicy and every bit a hellish disco on your tongue. Also news was that the ravishing Italian actress, Vermicelli, was being held captive in the kitchen. They said, "Hey man! You are from Asia, right?"
"Technically, yes," I replied, giving my most dashing smile.
"Then you are it."
"Ok!"
"Here is a top secret watch."
"Oh cool. What does it do? Does it have like a parachute or something?"
"No. It can tell time."
"Oh."
"And date."
"Hmm..."
"And if you press this button..."
"Yes...?"
"A small light comes on."
"Neat. What is the point?"
"It's late. What time do you have?"
I looked at my new top secret watch. "It says 8:30."
"You must hurry. They close by 9:30 and then it'll be too late. Vermicelli will be no more."
So I hopped into my sexy Honda Civic and zipped to Miss Saigon, careful to put on my turn lights and stopping at every stop sign. An aquarium greeted me. Suspicious looking fish swam in it. Was Vermicelli buried in there? Was she! GASP! sleeping with the fishes? A waiter beckoned me to a corner table. I had a clear shot of the kitchen. The air was heavy with chili sauce and something redolent.
"What will you have?" the waiter asked.
I scanned the menu. Egg yolk in soda? WTF, man?
"Beer!"
"And to eat?"
I snapped my finger and asked the waiter to come closer. I looked around and whispered. "I am on a mission."
"Like from San Francisco?"
"No, idiot." I said that too loud. A couple of patrons looked at me with suspicion. An old lady reached into her bag and retrieved a shotgun. I smiled. She smiled and put down the gun and picked up her chopsticks again. "No," I whispered. "I cannot eat meat. Get me something that doesn't have meat and still tastes good. Go!"
The waiter ran off. I sank in my trench coat, put on my dark glasses and tipped my hat forward. I wanted to be anonymous. The waiter returned with my beer and announced merrily, "Mr Alfred, your beer."
"HOW..." I yelled and then quickly lowered my voice again. I grabbed his stupid tie and yanked him forward. "How did you know my name?"
"Your license, sir. I checked your id."
I let him go. Rookie mistake. Everyone has one every day. I asked for a straw and began enjoying my beer. Soon the waiter returned with a bowl. He placed it and said, "Enjoy" before running away into the kitchen. It was as if he had something to hide. The mystery deepened. I pressed the button on my watch. The light came on. 9:15PM. I had about 15 minutes to complete my mission. But first a man has to eat.
I dug in. Memories of my mother suddenly exploded all over my head. Fragrant memories of me running along the beach, my dad climbing down a coconut tree, my servants frying curries under a thatch, my dad drinking beer through a straw, my aunts instructing the servants to add more lemongrass and spices, my servant feeding me with her own chopsticks, my servant choking me accidentally, my dad laughing at me, the spices mountaineering up my windpipe and then free-diving into my lungs, me crying, my mother crying, my dad crying with laughter...all memories exploded in that one spoonful of sauce at Miss Saigon. I began to cry.
Afterwards, I wiped my face with a hanky and honked my nose. The old lady came up to me, placed the shotgun on the table and patted my head three times. "There! There!" she said and left.
I called the waiter and hugged him. Like a mad Frenchman I kissed his cheeks and thanked him for the dish that reminded me of my childhood.
"Are you crying because it was hot or because you are sad?" he asked with a little bit of empathy.
"Yes," I replied softly and left.
Back at HQ, my commander demanded to know what happened to Vermicelli.
"The Eye-talians are after me. What is the latest update?"
"Sir," I said, standing up and placing my gun and badge on his table. "She is not Italian anymore. She is a new person. And so am I." | 2positive
| 831 |
Very bizarre experience. I felt like I was a diner on Kitchen Nightmares if Gordon Ramsey left in the middle of the episode. I read many rave reviews about this place on Yelp, so we were pretty excited to try it. I made a reservation expecting this place to be packed. We walked in at 6:45 or so to find 3 tables taken and were instructed to seat ourselves. The first thing that stood out was the strange decor. There are literally no wall decorations other than one TV. The walls are painted red and a pea green color but nothing else, even on the tables. It was like they started renovations and never finished.
My review is sort of long, so I just want to point out we did NOT eat at the Friday/Saturday night special event they do. I am thinking that is actually a good experience since the chef is there that night. He was not there when we were on a Thursday. I think this was one of those experiences where it's totally different when the owner isn't there.
Onto the food. A waitress came by and explained the menu briefly. We looked over the menu for a few minutes and were ready to order, but the waitress was nowhere to be seen. About 10 minutes later, a new waitress came and took our order. To start, we tried the breadcrumb fried green olives stuffed with mozzarella cheese. I have never received an olive appetizer with only 6 olives. This was $5, so each olive was nearly $1. Olives are one of my favorite foods so I was pretty excited for these. Upon trying one, I was disappointed. The breadcrumbs were flavorless, and there was virtually no cheese. There was also no dipping sauce, which would've greatly helped these. I'm just glad there were only two of us, or I barely would've gotten to try these. This was an unappetizing appetizer. Finally a third waitress brought out our entrees. For dinner, my boyfriend tried their chicken parm sandwich. You may notice on the Yelp pics they have a black carbon focaccia option. We asked the difference in flavor between this and the roasted garlic, and they said, "none it just cleanses your toxins and is made with activated charcoal." The sandwich came with a side of "Tuscan chips" which turned out to be stale tasting chips without really any seasoning. We were expecting herbs, parm, really anything. The sandwich was okay and looked appealing. When eating, it was difficult to taste chicken under the pounds of mozzarella, but it was fresh mozzarella.
Now for entree I ordered: the chicken Caesar pizza. I wanted to come here since I was craving pizza that night, and I LOVE pizzas topped with salad. Normally I'm excited to watch the chefs cook in an open kitchen, but not in this case since I saw the roasted garlic focaccia crust was pre-cooked, topped and baked in the oven. The crust looked more like a giant bread bowl since it was so thick, at least 1.5" all the way through. It was topped with their signature house chicken which unfortunately tasted and looked like it was cooked in a crock pot with a bottle of that fake lemon juice. I LOVE lemon but this flavor was very bizarre and artificial. The worst part was that the chicken had soaked the bottom of the pizza making it incredibly soggy. The plate was covered in juice from the chicken. The pizza was supposed to be topped with Caesar salad, but it was really just some romaine with a dressing that wasn't Caesar or enough dressing. No croutons, cheese, etc. I do not understand why you would pre-cook or use such thick crust in a sit-down restaurant. I would've rather had blaze pizza than this since at least they cook it fresh. I do NOT recommend the pizza.
I thought it was very strange that we had three waitresses. I know sometimes shifts change, but all three of them were there the entire night other than disappearing for awhile. More oddly, the front of the house sat at a table eating and hanging out with a family near us the entire time, and the staff would stop by to try the wine. I really think it must be a different experience when the owner is there for their Friday & Saturday night special event. I wanted to try that, but after this experience, we definitely would not risk $100 going back for that special. I really think Mangia should reevaluate the execution of its appealing menu. The pizza should be freshly wood fired and not focaccia. I didn't even taste garlic in the crust. The appetizer should be more generous and served with a sauce. The chips should be fresh and actually tossed in Italian ingredients. | 0negative
| 811 |
We were in Santa Barbara for the weekend to celebrate my wife's birthday. We arrived around 2P and walked around the pier and a bit on State Street. Then off to check into our motel and get settled. As we had brought our laptop I decided to check Yelp for a good place to eat dinner that night. Right away at the top of the list came up the The Palace Grill with 71 reviews and 4 1/2 stars. I looked at a few reviews and clicked on the link to their website. Everything checked out and I was quite enthused about going there for dinner that evening.
We arrived about 5:45 and was seated immediately. The hostess was really friendly and everything was off to a good start. Next our waitress arrived, again another sweet and friendly person. We got our drinks and the buss boy brought us a basket of muffins and butter. There was quite a variety and all very, very good. It was now time to order and I decided on the house specialty, stuffed blackened filet mignon, and my wife got divers scallops. I added a bowl of seafood gumbo and my wife got a Creole Caesar salad. Oh, let's not forget that if you want their famous bread pudding for desert, you have to order it at the same time you order your meal. They have to prepare it and then bake it, all taking about 30 minutes.
The soup and salad came promptly. I was looking forward to the gumbo as I am a fan of soups and spicy food . It looked good and I was ready to dig in. As I spooned through the soup looking for signs of shrimp and crayfish I saw none. But what was in abundance was pieces of Ahi tuna and loads of rice. There was also a bit of oil or grease that collected on the top so I mixed it around. Now, I'm not really a big fan of tuna in such a soup, and would prefer to have only shrimp and crayfish, that's just me, but I was going to let my taste buds decide. I tried the first spoonful and to me it was not at all what I expected. It was very bland and tasteless and had no kick to it at all, and as I said there was no shrimp or crayfish in sight, just tuna and rice. I was not impressed at all. Campbell's soup makes a thick and chunky variety called Grilled Chicken Sausage Gumbo that has the Palace's gumbo beat hands down! As for my wife's salad... she said it was OK, but nothing special. I also noticed her moving some big un-edible pieces of romaine hearts to the side of her dish.
While waiting for our main course to come I was checking out the decor of the room. There are playing cards stuck on the ceiling, really! There is also a huge painting on the west wall of a black trumpet player dressed in a white suit. Not bad, it added to the room and gave it a feel of down south. But what I didn't expect to see next to the painting crawling down the wall was a cockroach, and on the shelf below it several other dead ones. May wife saw the look of surprise on my face and had a look. I almost wish she hadn't because no one wants to see such a thing. In fact, the young women sitting at the table next to the wall called one of the waitresses over and showed her the dead cockroaches. She promptly got a wet cloth and whisked them away. But still.... this was not a good sign and sort of set the mood for dinner.
After about 20 minutes I was wondering if our dinner was ever coming. At that point our waitress came by and said our food would be out shortly. It really made me wonder if she had put the order in promptly or just forgot. I say this because the people next to us got their food about the same time as we did, and they arrived 10 minutes after us .Oh well, that's life.
The food came and I dug in. It was nicely presenter and looked good, but didn't have much flavor. The stuffed filet was cold and tasteless. When I think of something blackened it brings forth memories of robust flavors and heat, but this had none. The scoop of mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables looked nice, but lacked flavor just like the filet. As for my wife's scallops... they were extremely salty and had an odd grilled flavor to them. Again, not a good experience.
The owner's wife stopped by the table to chat a while. She was so nice I didn't have in me to tell her what I really thought of the dinner. I just told here everything was fine and left it at that. I know, I probably should have.... but I didn't. I hate any confrontation, that's just me.
Well, we finally made it to desert and for what it's worth it was probably the only half way decent part of the meal. The waitress brought the bread pudding out and separated the center with two spoons and pored the whiskey cream sauce all over it. As the pudding was a bit dry on it's own, the sauce moistened it up nicely and made it quite tasty. I enjoyed it.
All in all I was disappointed with our dinner. When you go out and spend well over 100 dollars for a meal you expect it to be good. I can understand an unlucky experience with the meal, but one live cockroach crawling around and two dead ones visible is inexcusable! | 0negative
| 971 |
We love love four seasons, but we wanted to try out a new resort we would like to fall in love with also. Terranea would've been perfect but since this is a short one night trip, we wanted to cut out the driving time. We stumbled upon Bacara which is less than an hour drive. Before I start talking about the cons, let me start with a very short list of pros:
1. Beautiful location speaks for itself. Very inviting.
Now, the cons:
1. Arrived at 930am. Checked in, no rooms available. We totally understood so no biggie.
2. The provided shuttle carts were driving too fast around the resort. Nearly hit my 4 year old.
3. They finally called us around 11am saying our room is ready. But the moment we step in, No bath tub to be seen even though they specifically advertised it on their website. Basically, false advertising! I called the front desk to ask if we can be switched into a different room with a tub. She gave me this "from my understanding, there's a tub in that room." Really? I'm not blind. She said there is a room that they can switch us over to but it's not available yet. Again, we were very patient except now it was approaching noon and my kids needed to have lunch.
4. We head over to the bistro because that's basically the only thing we can do at that point. Hungry kids needed to be fed right away. I ordered my kids' chicken fingers. For a $17 kid's meal, it better be THEE best chicken fingers they've had! Negative!! I cut open a tender and it was completely dry. My kids didn't even want it. Ugh, I knew it... Should've stopped by McD's before heading here.
5. Received the call at nearly 1pm that our room is ready. We get inside but our bags were still no where to be seen after front desk reassured us that our bags will be in shortly. My kids wanted to go to the pool but we didn't have our bathing suits. Finally bags arrived at 230pm and we can start the day.
6. this room was also messy. One of the mattress was exposed. Bath tub was dirty on the bottom. It felt like a rushed cleaning job to prepare for the next guest, us.
7. We heard from everyone that the ribs at the bistro was amazing. But because we were exhausted to get ready, we called bistro and see if we can some how order their food and have it delivered to us for in room dining. They said yes, absolutely! We were excited because We were eyeing the lobster mash potatoes that came with the filet mignon and the bbq ribs. Those were the only 2 meals we ordered between the 4 of us. Took us 40 minutes to receive our meal. And are you kidding me?!?! For 2 $35-$45 something entrees, our bill was $125!!!! the lady on the phone forgot to tell us the additional hefty fees will apply. 2 meals = $125!!! Outrageous! We were all starving at this point. Ribs were good and enough to share. My filet mignon on the other hand disappointed big time!! Upon looking at my plate, I did not receive the lobster mash potato (again, false advertising!) and only got the regular mash potatoes. No lobster to be seen anywhere on my plate.!! My steak came out rare after ordering medium well. At this point, I've just had it. I just "dealt with it." What can they do at this point?
8. I needed a drink stat. We tried opening the complimentary wine they had. But c'mon, if you're going to provide wine with a cork, also provide a good wine opener. Basically, we tried to open it but failed. At that point, I wanted to eat, sleep and get the night over with.
9. This is not a relaxing room to stay in. I could hear every lil step and door slamming from my neighbors. That's how thin the walls are.
10. Ahh finally, the morning we check out. Did I mention that the bed frames stick out like a sore thumb?!?! I hit my knees a few times as I'm turning the corner. Definitely NOT safe especially if they pride themselves as a family resort. And guess what?!?!! My 18 month tripped and hit his forehead right on the corner. Immediately after the accident, my husband calls the front desk for the nearest ice. They said its at the front desk. Are you kidding me?!?! My husbands runs for his life to get an ice pack and we're 6 buildings away? UGH So after less than 24 hours in the room, not only are we leaving very disappointed, we're leaving with a baseball size bruise on my son's forehead. NOT ONCE DID THEY HAVE ANY CONCERN OF WHY WE NEEDED AN ICE PACK.
11. And upon checking out, there were additional food charges at the pool that we did not order. After 24 hours, we were charged $350 for mediocre food and only 2 alcoholic beverages. At that point, We were In a rush to leave this "luxury resort".
If our incidents happened at a 2-3 star hotel, then we would be ok with. We would go with it. Because we are big believers that you get what you pay for. But we are paying for a 5 star resort so we would expect nothing short of a 5 star experience. Very very disappointed of all the inconveniences, false advertising and overall experience. | 0negative
| 937 |
You spin my head right round, right round, when you go down, when you go downtown. Yes, I did change the lyrics. How does one justify America's oldest Farmer's Market, the Reading Terminal Market, when writing a review... You don't.
Your head literally does spin around when you enter for your first time. Once you know the market well and where your favorite purveyors are, I'm sure it's a walk through the park. I had to see it all.
A portion of the market does have Amish vendors, but you will only find them here Wednesdays through Saturdays, even though the rest of the market is open seven days per week.
There are over eighty vendors and covers over 1.7 acres. Two descendants of original shops are still there. This market has also been in numerous movies, including Trading Places.
I walked into aromas of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and convinced myself, it was too early plus it was only vendor one, even though ten minutes later I was eating some of the best and hot pepperoni pizza I have had.
There are six bakeries, two of which I purchased baked goods from and one that I have reviewed so far. I was not thrilled with Le Bus http://www.yelp.com/biz/le-bus-bakery-philadelphia-2, but I was very happy with Termini Brothers Bakery, which I will review eventually.
They have a nice wine shop and beer garden where I noticed a few drinking beer at ten in the morning, a tea shop, coffee, dairy shops and a juice bar, where you can get blended and frozen concoctions.
A homemade ice cream parlor http://www.yelp.com/biz/bassetts-ice-cream-philadelphia, cheese shops, fresh flowers, organic produce and raw milk. One place that I really loved was Salumeria, what an awesome market filled with Italian groceries, hoagies, salads and international cheese.
Local produce stands are huge and if you love variety this is your place. All locally grown and talk about a variety of mushrooms! Shops galore for cookbooks, used books, linens, pottery, crafts, handbags, a general store and Amy's Place filled with unique gifts, especially for a house warming gift or a new bride.
There are a good dozen or more meat, poultry and seafood shops and some will cook it right there for you. I did notice that on each cash counter, they do have posted whether or not they accept credit cards and if they do the minimum amount to charge.
Now I'm getting hungry, amazing pulled pork and beef brisket http://www.yelp.com/biz/tommy-dinics-philadelphia#hrid:kJ9LwByjlxBcrf_cNZyJUA/src:search/query:Tommy%20DeNic's, pizza, pasta to go or eat there, sandwiches, cheesesteaks http://www.yelp.com/biz/by-george-philadelphia, perogies or crab cakes at Coastal Cave, mac & cheese or fried chicken at Delilah's http://www.yelp.com/biz/delilahs-at-the-terminal-philadelphia-2
You can sit down in one restaurant and have a wonderful breakfast, which gets packed, there is sushi, a spice shop http://www.yelp.com/biz/spice-terminal-philadelphia, a little Thai market and chocolates galore.
Originally named the Jersey Market, since most farmers, fisherman and hunters were carrying their goods from the neighboring state to be sold here. After many complaints from the town folks of this non refrigerated outdoor market, it was dismantled and two new markets evolved from this, the Farmer's Market and the Franklin Market.
This site has been in use as a Farmer's Market since 1860 on High Street, it soon was renamed Market Street and moved indoors in 1892, because of health risks, traffic nuisances and it needed to be controlled. The Reading Railroad built the Reading Terminal Market as part of their use for downtown passengers.
The hustle and bustles, aromas and excitement fill the air and whenever I have out of town friends or family, who want to tour historic Philadelphia, I am bringing them here.
The market is closed on certain holidays and they do not keep long evening hours. Parking at several local garages can be validated inside the Terminal and will reduce your $10.00 cost to $4.00, if you are there for two hours or less.
Many places offer a seven dollar meal deal and have them well posted. From what I noticed they seemed like a good deal. I am not sure what the story of Philbert is, I do know that he is a pig that was created by Eric Berg and he is surrounded by money. Anyway, he is pretty cool and located at the end of the central cafeteria style dining area.
I do hope that I did the Terminal some kind of justice, it is too awesome for words! There are out door cafe tables for two & bongos playing outside..
So, as I am walking through the market, everyone was staring at me and I do mean everyone. Finally two police officers approach me and say "you can not wear that t-shirt in here"! As I am looking down to see what in the world I had put on that morning, my daughter said " Oh yes she can, six time Super Bowl champions"! The officers laughed and said, "yeah, I guess she can"! What was I thinking?! | 2positive
| 827 |
After returning home from a one night getaway in this hotel (to visit the fantastic Van Gogh Up Close exhibition in the Art Museum) I am now reevaluating hotel rates in general - what is it exactly we are paying for when we are booking hotel accommodations: the room/suite itself, the service, the location, the view?
How do I rate the hotel in general if all the listed factors vary greatly from each other?
We have had a similar experience before, also in Philadelphia. The Palomar (a Kimpton hotel) had a fantastic spa room I greatly enjoyed, but the service was not up to par.
Here, in the Rittenhouse Hotel, it was the other way around: the staff was indeed superb and flawless in every way (every single one we met), but the rooms were not quite meeting our expectations.
The 2nd room was adequate (after we moved from the first which had not been to our liking), but we have had bigger and better rooms (and suites!) elsewhere for HALF the rate we paid for a "deluxe room" at The Rittenhouse.
So is the prime location worth the prime rate? Or the view onto neighbouring buildings and the park? Or does the outstanding service justify the outrageous rate?
The deluxe room 912, while kept up over 20 years, seemed outdated. The furniture had chips and nicks, and the curtain even had a burn hole from a cigarette! (Since when is this property a Non Smoking property? For how long has this hole been there already?)
While this was not disturbing us, the very high price was simply not matching the room's condition. It was absolutely clean, but it seemed strangely outdated. The style was very pleasant, and I would keep that (so this is not about fashion!), but when things get damaged or worn, they should be replaced. Especially at a rate like The Rittenhouse's!
If we had paid around $200-250 for this room, I would have been absolutely happy and would have simply ignored the chips, nicks and the burn hole. But with over $500 per night (incl. museum tickets, valet parking, breakfast for 2, taxes and fees we paid $517) you are really getting onto another level here, and I am afraid that their rooms are not worth that price.
Now that the Hersha Group (owner of properties like Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn etc) recently bought The Rittenhouse Hotel (March 2012), maybe they will take some steps to refresh the rooms.
I had serious doubts that our first (small looking) room really had the advertised 600 sqft, in fact I suspected that a mistake had been made and we had mistakenly been put into a "superior room" (their term for standard room).
The front desk reassured me that our room indeed was a "deluxe" room (one step above "superior") and that it really had the advertised 600 sqft, only the layout was different from room to room, and therefore it looked different than the picture online.
But without me asking they were looking for another room right away, found one, and a servant led me there to evaluate it.
On the way to the new room he asked me whether I had seen the large bath room, and he mentioned that its huge space is counting to the room's square feet measurement. I had seen the bath in the first room we were put in and had to tell him that they were actually not big at all, and that I was actually a bathroom nut who chooses hotels by their bathrooms, and that I am usually staying in hotels who offer spa bath rooms. And those spa bath rooms were really not comparable with the Rittenhouse bath rooms. He was a bit silent after that and then we changed the subject.
I found their bathrooms really kind of ordinary. Separate shower stalls are standard today, and the low tub was not comparable to anything other hotels would offer nowadays (google "Fuji tub" to see what is out there in other hotels). It even lost its water while I was still sitting in it (seal was not tight).
But we greatly enjoyed the 2 corner windows we had in deluxe room 912, which was actually laid out pretty well with its furniture, and it felt indeed spacious.
The vanity section between the room and the bath was also designed well. Make up mirror and big dressing mirror were helpful, and the free Fiji water and the fresh nuts were a nice greeting, along with a welcome card from the management.
Another plus was the free Internet (wired and wireless), the turn down service with robes and slippers and LaCroix chocolates, and the generously sized tubes of Aromatherapy toiletteries. They also offered complimentary shoe shining over night.
II actually would like to return to this property, if they'd offer a good deal. You know, if they had a loyalty program which would offer perks and exclusive offers to members only.
Oh, I forgot - they do have that already - but unfortunately it costs $150 yearly to join the "Access Level" and even $1200 yearly for the "Leaders Club Unlimited Level"... (Seriously!)
So where will I stay next time in Philly? | 0negative
| 878 |
I have lived in New Orleans for five years and I am glad to finally find a well-equipped, 24-hour gym. I have been a member at Elmwood and several other local gyms and this is the only gym in New Orleans that really caters to bodybuilders and people who are really into fitness.
There are 2 floors of weight-lifting equipment. The upstairs has a large, free-weight area with benches of many different angles and a huge quantity of dumbbells and plates. They also have many different plate-loaded machines so you can do plate-loaded bench presses, leg presses, hack squats, shoulder presses and virtually every necessary lifting motion without a spotter. There is also an electronic spotting machine which is really cool. This equipment is very modern, very well-maintained and is comparable to what you would find at the best gyms in Atlanta or Dallas, for example.
Downstairs, there is a large room full of various cable and pulley machines. There are probably about 20-25 different machines so you can work any muscle in your body at various angles. Again, the equipment seems brand new and is well-maintained. For resistance training, this is easily the best gym in New Orleans. Certainly, not everyone here is a body builder but there are more bodybuilders here then at any other gym in New Orleans. Interestingly, I've actually seen a few celebrities working out here with the personal trainers.
For Cardio equipment, Nola Fit is also pretty impressive. There are approximately 10 treadmills and 10 ellipticals each with their own television. This is nice equipment- mostly LifeFitness, I believe. There are 4 Expresso bikes where you ride through various courses and see a virtual scene displayed on the screen in front of you complete with other riders competing against you. This is a very good place for Cardio.
The staffing hours are limited so this is not a great place if you are new to working out and need a lot of help with how to use the machines and need a lot of instruction. Staff is friendly and helpful when there but not intrusive. This is not a place where you have staff standing around, watching you work out. There are personal trainers available though so that would be a reasonable starting point for someone new to fitness that plans to take it seriously in the future. There are not as many classes available as Elmwood, for example, but there are plenty of options for those who want group fitness.
This gym is always very clean and well-lit. It is accessible 24/7 which is great for those of us who work unusual schedules. Parking is generally easy to find on the street near the gym.
There are locker rooms and showers that are very nice and always clean. There are large, flat-screen TVs in the weight rooms and you have access to the remote controls so you watch Sportscenter or a football game while you are lifting.
The most common criticism of this gym seems to be the price. This is not a cheap gym and not the best choice if you just want to occasionally use a treadmill and maybe do some light weightlifting occasionally. You get what you pay for and at Nola Fit, you are paying for 24-hour access to the best-equpped gym in New Orleans. With a six-month membership, I think I'm paying between $85 and $95 a month. I consider this a good value for someone who will use this gym regularly. I actually think I was paying a similar rate at Elmwood and I much prefer Nola Fit (for quality of equipment, 24/7 access and location).
I really like the location as well as it is next to several good lunch restaurants. At night, there are generally some other people walking the street, wandering between bars, so I think it's reasonably safe at night. You don't really worry about being mugged on the way to your car.
My only personal criticism would be the temperature at which they keep the gym. Thermostats in the weight rooms are set at 72. The clocks have thermostats that read at 74 degrees in the upstairs weight room. This seems very warm for a gym that seems to otherwise cater to bodybuilders and fitness devotees. The better gyms in Atlanta and Dallas seem to keep it much cooler. I don't like limiting intensity due to overheating. The only other bodybuilding gym I have every been to in Louisiana is Red's in Lafayette. I believe they keep the temperature in their weight room at 65 degrees. I think 67-68 degrees would be an ideal temperature for the very active clientele that Nola Fit has.
I like everything else about this gym though and recommend it to anyone who wants a well-equipped gym that they will use at least 3 times a week. | 2positive
| 810 |
I wanted to check out a Mexican restaurant around my area, and I asked "Siri" about it , so this restaurant came up, i have being to other ones from the same chain and have had ok experiences however i told my self today I oughta check out one of these in the " nice side of town" since they tend to give better service , well......I can see why they have a 2.5 star rating.
I have worked and managed restaurants for at least 10 years and done management training about customer service skills ,and let me tell ya! This place has a lot of room for
Improvement , starting from the moment you walk in to the restaurant.
As son as I stepped in thru those door I was not greeted at all by the hostess ,I had to stand there to wait for her to do so , ( I still said hi first )then I promptly asked for the rest room.
The men's rest room also has a lot of room for improvement ,1.- for instance the odor as soon as you walk in, they had at least 6+ of those deodorants laying around and they all were VISIBLE to guests. As if they were some type of ornamental items.
2.i asked the hostess what the specials were for the day , first thing she pointed was to the clock before she even said the spatial of the day which she didn't know by heart she had to go grab a menu or pamphlet ( which I understand she might be new or something idk,also the language barrier could be an issue I may add I've being told I can come across as a little intimidating to others , not that I mean to but it's just the way I carry myself everywhere )
3. She mentioned the happy hour specials about $1 off and also said something about "mini chimis " and she was hesitant about it , not very convinced about it. Which also doesn't look good , all employees need to be sure about all specials and if not have a daily special menu or " cheat sheet" handy so they don't have to walk away from the guest area and miss another one coming in.
4. I walk myself to the bar area and a women dressed with a tuxedo style attire greeted me promptly but in a "dry and cold " manner lacking of hospitality and/or welcomeness , she placed some
Silverware and a menu and asked me if I was ready to order even tho I had just ordered a small pitcher of beer. The right question should have being "
Would you like to order something from our menu..our happy hour starts in about an hour ...etc c etc.
But none of that was done.
5.-my salsa and chips were not refilled nor the bartender asked me for anything else until 45 minutes went by ( don't believe me ? Check your cameras ) she instead went and had a "meeting" with other employees , I don't know if it was work related but that's besides the point , she never checked with me for 45 minutes nor sent anyone Else to check on me. Keep in mind The restaurant was very slow from 2 to 3 pm , also saw the store manager I believe walk around the store several times and not "touch tables" with any of the guest let alone to me.
6.-a different bar tender girl came along after 3 pm (night shift I suppose ) and she was just as distant as the other tender , after I finished my small pitcher of beer around 3:10pm (hour and 10 minutes later ) I asked about special happy hour again but when I asked she was cleaning the blender and I said " excuse me " to what she answers "yes" ( but didn't Approached me to listen to what I had to say since I was siting at the extreme opposite corner of the bar , I wasn't going to yell across the room and say what I needed.
Then I said : I have a question but with a certain tone of voice , not disrespectful but yet acknowledging I wanted her to approach me.
You as an enployeee even as a manager of this restaurant after reading my comments may or could be offended for absolutely no reason , but if that's the case (I hope not because that's not the purpose of this review ) you should actually feel grateful that someone a customer that is , took the time to write this long review on your staff and premises to pint point something that you probably don't see while your "managing" , feedback from your guests is crucial is what gives you the opportunity to grow as a company and as a business. Good or bad I necessary for growth.
Shorty after this I waned to pay my bill and get going , so I looked around and nobody was near by , I strongly dislike when this happens , there's no reason why a bar customer should be unattended let alone for that long period of time.
So I stood up to draw attention to me but no success i sat back down and stood up again but this time I made noise with the stool/bar chair and no luck again , despite the fact that the manager and bartender were behind me having a "meeting" , so I got up for the 3rd time
And went to the restroom and as I walked toward the back I notoced there were 4 female employees at the main entrance where register is at just chatting about non work related stuff , I went back to the bar and still no attention until i had to say I needed to cash out and had a really.... | 0negative
| 995 |
It is so unfortunate that such tasty food can be so unenjoyable due to such terrible service.
We happily waited for a table, and when our party of four was seated, we waited at least 20 minutes to be greeted by a server. A bar tender eventually came to take our drink orders. They took a little while even though we only ordered soft drinks/water. We also had to remind someone that one of the orders was missing.
We ordered an appetizer from the bartender at the same time - just chips and dip. We waited about ten minutes. The queso and chips were nice and warm, the guac tasted fresh, and the mango salsa was good, too.
It would have been nice to have received silverware, napkins, and plates at this point, but we made do without. Eventually, someone brought us one silverware roll... Then another. At this point, we're laughing because... What the heck? Finally, we receive the last two rolls of silverware. We never received separate plates for the appetizer. Not a big deal to us, but usually standard in case anyone has a problem with double dipping.
Now for our entree order. We had a Mexican pizza, a plate of three tacos, a quesadilla, and chicken and Portobello mushroom fajitas. Another wait. We're super chill about it all.
Food comes out. We've got the Mexican pizza, the quesadilla, tacos, and all the fixins for fajitas, but no fajitas. We wait a couple minutes. The three lucky eaters began, not realizing that the stuff in front of our friend wasn't her main dish, but once we do, we share a few bites. Finally, our friend points out to our server that she doesn't have her meal. He clearly did NOT realize, which means he really didn't check his table to see if everything was correct. When it finally came out, the plate had steak instead of chicken. Our friend politely pointed that out and asked if she could just get some fajita chicken brought out. She didn't want the plate to be taken bc she was quite hungry at this point. Another wait. 10 minutes go by. The rest of our table has finished our meals. I start looking around for a manager. I get up and stand at the bar. It still took a couple minutes to make eye contact with staff. There were 5-6 employees very nearby - all with their backs turned towards me, looking through the kitchen window. One employee saw me waiting at the bar but did not venture to ask if he could help. Once I got someone's attention, I was able to ask for the chicken. It came out a few minutes later.
A few other things. A couple of people tried the steak fajitas since it was there. The steak was burnt. My partner even likes a little char, but even he thought it was pretty terrible. The Mexican pizza was good, but stuck to the pan. We managed with a knife and some determination. Think about trying to eat a Mexican pizza without the bottom hard shell layer. It doesn't work. This is pretty basic food service logic. The customer should not have to work that hard to eat the food. Other than that, the black beans were salted to hell and back. The rest of the food was tasty.
In between finishing ¾ of the food and still waiting on the chicken, the hostess came back to offer us the utensils she must have forgotten at the start. We laughed aloud. Did she expect us not to have gotten food after all that time?
Our waiter apologized multiple times. He said it was busy, he was taking care of another, large table. It's Mardi Gras season. He was very sincere in his apology and very nice. I've been in his shoes before. He may need a little extra training in things like checking the table/order and consolidating steps. I gave him some feedback concerning the problem with the chicken as nicely as I could, but I truly felt he needed to hear it since that was a really bad experience.
The manager heard the conversation and came up to ask about it. I told him about the same thing with a couple of extras, like about the black beans and pizza stuck to the pan. He was also apologetic and used the same reasoning (busy, Mardi Gras, etc). Now, it's not like they weren't busy, but there were a few empty tables by that time. This part of the city didn't have a lot going on in the area at that time. Honestly, at some point, a manager has to just say, "We need to do better." He did offer a gift card since we'd already paid. I told him that it should go to my friend since she's the one who waited for her food for so long. Plus, I live in Houston now and will not be back to this establishment. | 0negative
| 836 |
Final score: Just under 4 stars.
The price and presentation:
Yes, it's BBQ fusion, and yes, that is a cop-out in Santa Barbara, since everyplace that seems to specialize in fusion does well. That being said, it is solid fusion with a few exceptions. While I am still not sure why Santa Barbara cannot have a BBQ stop similar to those available in SLO or LA, I will take what I can get. The menu pricing floats between $10-$13, and with the quality of most of the ingredients, it is really worth it for dinner. The amount of ingredients in the sandwiches are not limited by the size of the (amazingly delicious) bread, and that is very appreciated. The presentation is plane-American, and while it appears to be a step higher than Smoki-O's or Oklahoma Joes, it's lack of personality both in plating and seating area leaves a lot to be desired. Granted, this place is 3 days old, but having a successful sports-bar-like eatery such as Union Ale (and the upper-scale American Ale) you would think that design should have been addressed early on. The brick walls, while lovely, are unbalanced, with the gorgeous barrels for the mixed drinks adorning the wall behind the bar/register juxtaposed with 30 square feet of just brick on the attached wall. A mural of old-timey brewing processes or some other upscale country artistry would do the place a world of good. The tables, while a lovely finished wood, are empty of decor in the interior dining area, and the outer has a small succulent plant. Giving the restaurant more personality by adding a small succulent or some other pleasant feature would elevate the feel of the interior greatly. Candles would also be a smart choice, preferably in some container that is made from wrought iron.
The food:
I have had the Pho Dip, Korean Pork Shoulder, and Pezole Chili, all of which are good meals that could be improved with just the slightest bit of re-imagining. The quality of the ingredients is very high; fresh and tasty you can tell that Tri Tip Company is sourcing from quality vendors, which you can tell is factored into their price. I do not have enough room to critique everything, so I will focus on my favorite:
The Pho Dip-
It tastes like, well, Pho soup in sandwich form. The crunchy and awesome bread does not take away from the texture of the bean sprouts, beef, and fresh veggies that are so indicative of the soup it is mimicking. The tri tip is very tender and the flavor is not overpowering. It is served with a side of very authentic tasting Pho broth for dipping, as well as some potato crisps. I HIGHLY recommend this sandwich.
What can be improved:
The tri tip, while tender, is somewhat over-done and the meat is cut less like thinly sliced rare beef (like you would find at a Vietnamese restaurant) and more like thinly sliced beef found in beef and broccoli at a Chinese restaurant. While not a horrible offense, it does take away from the texture of the tri tip. Speaking of the tri tip, it appears to be slow cooked on low heat as opposed to the preferred high heat char that tri tip is known for. The Maillard process that happens when tri tip is cooked over high heat really completes the texture of the meat making it actually Tri Tip, otherwise it is simply fatty brisket. While it is still delicious, this change would greatly improve the mouth feel of the sandwich.
The dip is delicious, and while the waiter pointed out that I could ask for more, the amount given was maybe 2 tablespoons and it was served in a tiny to-go salsa container. The sandwich couldn't be jammed into the cup without ruining the integrity of the sandwich, and while drizzling the delicious concoction on top worked, it sort of defeats the whole "Dip" part of the name. Give me half a cup in a small bowl, don't worry, I WILL finish it.
The "Citrus" Hoizen was just hoizen, not a bit of citrus detected. Just call it hoisen and add a lime to the plate.
The veggies where sloppily put on the sandwich, with one half having 6-8 slices of Jalepeno, all the onion, and all the bean sprouts while the other half was devoid of everything except for 4 large pieces of basil resting on the meat. This isn't a ding to the sandwich, but come on, dressing a sandwich is like, cooking 101.
The potato crisps are completely out of place here. They are just standard, sea salt crisps, made in house from the looks and taste, and while there is nothing wrong with them flavor-wise, there should be something to complement the sandwich. Why not try Sriracha and lime flavor?
I WILL come back, and hopefully catch Matt to pass on some of my ideas for the food. | 2positive
| 829 |
I loved, loved, loved Osteria! I went a while back on December 23, 2008, when B and I went to visit his family in PA. I just found some notes I took on that experience, so here goes:
Our group showed up before our actual reservations, so we sat at the empty bar for cocktails. P got his Maker's Manhattan (I thought the Manhattan was perfect, just the way I would make it) and we were sat right away in the sunroom. It had a nice feel, very rustic. The bread bowl was squarish and funky and looked like it was carved right out of a tree. I didn't have any bread because I didn't want to waste any belly room. The menu looked incredible.
Our server was very efficient and funny with funny mustache and sideburns. He was patient with us while we took our time poring over the menu and asking him every question that could possibly be asked about it. I serve as well, and I get people like me, and yes, it takes patience to deal with us. He gave me a really good recommendation on wine, which I ordered. It was delicious. B started with prosecco, P still had his manhattan, A had one as well, and N ordered a Maker's sour, which she was not crazy about.
Antipasti:
B had the rabbit terrine. It was right up his alley. To me, it was like mild spam. I'm not a huge fan of meat cooked down, pulled apart, and pressed back together. B loves the stuff. The arugula that came with it was over-salted.
P had house cured prosciutto. Good stuff, but I honestly didn't pay too much attention to it because I was obsessed with my own dish.
N had celery root fritters with green apple slaw. It tasted exactly as I would imagine a dish like that would taste.
A had pizza with chanterelle mushrooms. It was very tasty. I could taste the wood fire it was cooked in.
I had the wood-fire grilled octopus, and let me tell you, it was one of the most amazing things I have ever put into my mouth! N wouldn't try it, but everyone else LOVED it! I'd never had octopus cooked that way. It was so tender, nice grilled flavor, simply seasoned with salt, pepper, lemon zest and olive oil with small cubes of potatoes. It was like a dream!
Primi:
P - Guinea Hen tortellini was a bit too salty, but tasty. The pasta was so thin it reminded me of wonton skin. Lots of poultry inside and tasted of it.
N - Postage stamp ravioli with trumpet mushroom. It was only ok. The filling tasted like butter popcorn. Not my favorite.
A - Pizzocheri (buckwheat parpadelle with swiss chard, potatoes, and cheese). This dish was insane! I've been obsessed with finding the perfect recipe since I had it! It was so soothing. I love the combination of swiss chard and potatoes anyway, but this was just obscenely good! I think I ended up eating all of A's. I just kept taking bites of it until it was gone.
Secondi:
B - baby suckling pig special. Big piece of crispy skin, rib bone and meat. It was very good, but again, a touch too salty. It reminded me of siu yuk (chinese roast pork) without the five spice and all the fat.
P - swordfish on cauliflower risotto. I'm not a big fan of swordfish. It was just a touch dry for me, but he loved it.
N and A both had the monkfish. N wasn't feeling it, so she gave it away. Wish I'd had more of it. It was cooked perfectly with a mediterranean sauce. Very moist and kind of slippery. I love fish like that! It was a really light dish with ample flavors.
Me - wood-fire roasted leg of venison (yes, i love the wood fire). I thought it would be bone in, but it wasn't. I can't remember the puree beneath it, but it was intensely flavored-a bit sweet, mustardy, and salty with bits of chestnuts. The meat was cooked perfectly rare red in the center. The cut was a tad chewy, but the flavor was great! A, who normally eats her meat gray, took down the bloody piece I fed her like a champ, her eyes rolled back like she was going to pass out. It was that good. It was our favorite of the five dishes, I think. I also ordered a side of endive salad with persimmon and pomegranate. Very refreshing-bitter endives, sweet persimmons (hachiya?) with a simple, tangy dressing. I need to make this!
Dessert:
P - quince and chestnut fritters. Tasty doughnuts, small, dense and crisp with a maple glaze.
N - molasses pumpkin upside-down cake with cranberry gelato. It was too sweet for N and the gelato was too tart. B liked and finished it.
A - polenta pudding with hazelnut. She and B loved it.
Me - persimmon tiramisu. I was surprised by how much I liked it. Lady fingers soaked in cointreau. Moist, light and delicious! Brought me back to Club Harle in Japan, with their little custards and parfaits. This was exactly like that. This was one of those rare times where everything I ordered was perfect. It was the perfect end to my perfect meal. | 2positive
| 896 |
I really wanted to like La Belle Epoque. I read some of the bad reviews before going and thought people were just being overly picky. Boy was I wrong, and I wish I had listened to those reviews and gone elsewhere!
My husband, brother, sister-in-law, and I dined here last Friday (6/22/12). We went to La Belle Epoque to try out a new (to us) place and to celebrate my husband's promotion that we'd just found out about. We had a 7:30 reservation, and our experience at the restaurant was miserable from beginning to end. I don't ever plan to return to this restaurant, and I would tell anyone who asks me about it the same--that's how bad our experience was. And in my 29 years of life, I think I can only say that about 1 other restaurant and it was a lousy chain restaurant, which is what I've come to expect from such establishments.
Let me begin with the good: I love the decor in the restaurant. The hostess was friendly, and we didn't have to wait for our table. The escargot was delicious! My brother was very happy with his entree, duck a l'orange. That's it.
Now the bad. We ordered some appetizers to share: escargot and the cheese plate. First of all, they charge $12 for six tiny pieces of cheese that couldn't have added up to more than 1/4 of a pound of cheese total--that's highway robbery, and the waitress should have warned us about how small the plate is, since we made it clear we planned to share it between 4 people. She did not. Secondly, when the plate was brought to our table, the expediter did not tell us any of the names of the cheeses. So I asked and she grabbed someone else to come explain the cheese plate to us. This person (I think it was the manager) described the cheeses but still didn't tell us the cheese names, even after I explicitly asked (I can only presume she didn't know either).
We ordered drinks (wine) and entrees at the same time we placed our appetizer order, and then the waiting began. We had arrived at 7:30, and while the appetizers were brought promptly, we waited for our entrees for 50 minutes, which is unacceptable (they arrived around 8:45). Our waitress did stop by at one point to say, "Your entrees should be ready soon," which I suppose was her version of an apology, however, even after that, we waited another 15 minutes. My husband and I ordered the lamb chops, his medium, mine medium rare. Both of our plates came out well done. I sent mine back, but he kept his because he doesn't mind overcooked meat (even though to me, his still wasn't cooked to the standard he'd requested, and we told the waitress that). My sister-in-law ordered the flounder, and she found 4 pin bones in it, one of which she almost swallowed. My brother ordered the duck a l'orange, and he loved it and had no complaints about it. At one point the waitress did stop by to apologize about my lamb and refill 2 water glasses on our table, but she skipped mine which I'd passed over to be filled because it was empty. I had to flag her down to get her to refill it. After about 15 minutes, she brought out my fresh plate of lamb chops which were cooked just as I'd requested, medium rare. This time, however, the sauce and the french fries were inedibly salty. My husband and brother both tried them and said the same thing. I didn't, however, have the heart to send it back again, so I just picked at the meat and left the fries on the plate.
I expected, with all the trouble we'd had (though, in fairness, my sister-in-law did not alert the waitress to the bones she'd found), that we'd get comped for something, like not being charged for the wine or 10% off our bill or something--but, we got nothing. Instead we paid almost $200 (including tip) for one of the worst restaurant experiences of my life. And because I don't feel that it's fair to penalize waitstaff for problems in the kitchen, which were our most serious complaints, we still tipped our waitress pretty well in spite of some of the problems with her service, but we left the restaurant all saying, "We would never go back to that place."
One final note, I contacted the manager via email to tell her in detail about our experience and see how she would have handled it the night of, and this is the response I got: "Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry to hear of your bad experience. I will take your experience into account for the future." Basically a form email and terrible customer service! | 0negative
| 816 |
We are huge fans of Jets Pizza but we moved to this area recently and while I am not a review writer, I cannot keep my mouth shut this time, this establishment is so poorly run. The first time I placed an order they told me it would take an hour. My four-year-old son was craving pizza and it it had been a long day at work so I was good with that. An hour and 20 mins goes by so I called to check in. The folks there said that the driver couldn't find my address and I asked them why didn't you have them call me I'm in a new neighborhood that is only about 2 miles away from them. They then explained that they had the wrong number in the system, but when I called they are the ones who asked me if the number on caller ID was correct. it was a mistake made by the person that took my number down. But again these folks have caller ID. They did make an attempt to correct the error and I was very appreciative although we got our pizza over two hours later. They assured me that they made notes in the system about our address being new and they corrected my phone number. The second time I placed an order it was very important because it was for these hard-working fellows that have been working on my home for several days and I wanted to appreciate them with lunch. When I made the order I was sure to tell them what happened the first time and reiterated if there's any issues finding my address to have the driver call me because again they said the order would take over an hour and I really needed this food to take care of these guys that were working out in the sun all day. 45 minutes goes by and I was just feeling a little anxious because of what happened the first time, so I called just to double check that everything was good and they said their driver was about to leave in 10 minutes. After an hour and 15 minutes I called back, they said they apologize but they still had the number wrong in the system and the driver couldn't get a hold of me because again he couldn't find the address, keep in mind this is the same driver from the first time. They said they would get the pizzas out to me as soon as possible. At two hours I called back again and this time the guy tells me that their manager said the pizzas couldn't go out because they were too cold at that point yet they hadn't made new pizzas or called me to notify me or anything. they just canceled the order without even notifying me. I literally almost burst into tears because it had been two hours, three calls, and I had promised these guys that I would buy lunch for them and there was no empathy from the folks on the other end and no communication. They finally agreed to go ahead and make the pizzas and get them out! at the end of this whole ordeal it was close to three hours before we got this order. You would think that we would never order from this place again but another time my husband was a glutton for punishment. We had some neighbors over and he recommended Jets Pizza to them even though we had had several issues including the two I mentioned before getting orders to our home. The neighbors called even gave them our address which should've had extensive notes in there and ordered pizza for their two teenage girls our three year old or four year old last Saturday. what was supposed to be a fun evening. After the pizza didn't arrive over an hour later , the neighbors called and they said the same thing that the driver couldn't find the house and even though they did have the correct number, nobody called to notify them and they had just cancel the order. Needless to say we called Papa John's and just went to pick up the order ourselves. If you live in a new neighborhood and your address isn't in the system don't even bother ordering from this place but if you absolutely love jets like we do, I would advise just picking up your order because this location will not pick up the phone and call you if there are any issues, And sadly you will be waiting and waiting and waiting and they don't care. | 0negative
| 776 |
So I have been here three times in the last month mainly for happy hour. Happy hour Monday-Thursday has some drink and food specials from 4:30-6 PM. So here is a rundown of the food I have sampled.....Agedashi Tofu...this was decent. It was fried which I am not used to, but it was really tasty. Takoyaki - these are a fun snack to eat, little balls of battered octopus served with slightly salty takoyaki sauce and bonito flakes on top. My husband really enjoyed this dish, however, I would have liked to see a little more octopus and a little less batter. However, it did taste very authentic to the ones I had in Japan. Salmon Skin Chips - this is something I have never seen on a menu anywhere so I was eager to try it. Basically it was deep fried salmon skin that reminded me of pork rinds. It was good but maybe a little to salty and just like pork rinds very rich. This would be good to share with a whole table but too much for my hubby and I to eat on our own. Ika Geso (fried squid tentacle) - this was the only dish that my husband and I didn't enjoy. The batter was bland and the squid was too chewy. Probably could have used a side dipping sauce. Hiyashi Wakame - seaweed salad. This is an acquired taste for most. If you like seaweed salad, you will like this one. Gyoza - pork dumplings - these did not stand out as being exceptional in flavour. However, they were pleasant and cooked perfectly. I adore dumplings and I would order these again. Grilled Saba - light and flavourful and cooked perfectly, the fish flaked onto the fork. Saba is not a strong flavoured fish and this is great for those who like a less "fishery" meat. This is one of my favourite dishes on the happy hour menu and I definitely recommend it. I think it would be nice with a fragrant yuzu dipping sauce just to bring out some of the flavour. Vegetable Tempura - a good selection of lightly battered eggplant, yam, zucchini and Enokitake mushroom. This was delicious, not greasy at all, and a very good compliment to most dishes here. Kuddos to Nomiya for using the mushrooms...I haven't had these mushrooms in a tempura before. Really lovely texture and flavour. Sticky Chicken - Moist juicy chicken deep fried to a crispy perfection and then finished with a slightly sweet sauce. Not too sure what was in the sauce but my guess is a balance of mirin and soya sauce. Really great balanced dish, and this one would be a good one for those that are not familiar with Japanese food. Katsudon - This is a bowl of rice topped with vegetables a pork cutlet, egg, vegetables, and condiments. This is a solid dish and good for meat eaters although I found that the pork was a little of the tough side. Katsu Curry - Rice with a curry sauce and a pork cutlet. This dish I liked a whole lot better than the Katsudon. The curry sauce was flavourful without being overly spicy and the flavours really seamed to work with the pork. While I found the Katsudon flavours to be slightly clashing and perhaps took away from the balance of the dish. Unagi Ishi Yaki - basically fried rice cooked in a hot stone bowl. This was decent but not the best I have had in Edmonton. I found that there wasn't enough toppings to make the dish flavourful. Kimchi Nabe - This is Nomiya's version of a hot pot. We were warned to order a side of rice with this dish because there was very little noodles in it. This is fine, but generally I am confused by the dish. It was an amazing delicious broth. Super spicy and flavourful. Definitely if you like heat, this is a good one to try. However, I found that handful of glass noodles they threw in irritating. Not enough to eat, and just enough to get in the way, I feel like why do they need to put them in at all? What I would have liked to see in the dish was more tofu and veggies and no noodles, and just order a side of rice to eat with it.
All in all for the amount you are paying during happy hour there are definitely enough hits to make it worth your while. We also tried the Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen which is not on the Happy Hour Menu but really decent bowl. Flavourful and just as good as say the Prairie Noodle Shop where the prices are higher. The noodles were cooked really well. Our server each time was quick and attentive and the shop is pleasant in the minimalist Japanese type of way. | 2positive
| 815 |
We went to Italiasia because we had a certificate. Saving $10-15 is always nice but we are fortunate enough that that doesn't predicate our choices. The fun of certificates is discovering new restaurants. Sometimes to great results. NOT THIS TIME.
The concept sounds great. Southeast Asia and Italy. It is not necessarily complex and it is certainly not innovative but there is, in the hands of a good chef, potential in this particular fusion. A few area chefs are still rocking this concept. It was not ridiculous to think that a small chain might provide a savory meal with a well-figured out structure to menu and staff. This experience makes me rethink that entire previous statement.
It IS a hotel restaurant and I did see that in my online research. I wasn't put off because this area supports much business travel (located within 2 miles of an International airport) and 2 other small chains in the area are at the height of providing delightfully composed plates based on local agricultural choices as well as sushi grade seafood and housemade sauces and seasonings. Sadly, not here.
First we ordered the "Deconstructed Seafood Rangoon." I've had this old favorite, nicely reimagined before and enjoyed it. Here the menu description promised shrimp, scallops and lobster. The dish arrived on a plate but appeared to be a soup. Perhaps the cream cheese based sauce was supposed to be a thin one. However, if that was the idea, there was no spoon provided. After a few minutes of trying to take bites of the bland, dripping, small freezer shrimp (maybe one piece of lobster, no scallop), we just gave up and left the rest of the sopping mess on the plate. It was very difficult to eat and there was nothing that tasted good enough to entice us.
For entrees we ordered the Italian Angus Burger and the Yellowfin Tuna Salad sandwich.
I was not only excited about fresh Tuna Salad (ecstasy when truly fresh) but the described combination of capers, egg, etc. on tomato focaccia with Asian Slaw seemed like the light but comforting meal for which I was hoping. In theory, it is why I still enjoy fusion restaurants. Sometimes an individual chef's takes on such dishes works. Sometimes, it doesn't. This time, I didn't even have the luxury of what a chef's idea might have been. They were out of this dish. Out? A dish that is relatively inexpensive to make, can be almost fully prepped hours in advance and, anything leftover at the end of the night can become something else the next day as an inexpensive app special... out? OUT?
Fine, I quickly peruse the menu and choose an entrée that I cannot even recall. All I can remember is that the server told me they were also out of that. Again, I cannot recall what it was but it was a top tier, highly featured entrée. I was, at that point, shocked.
I ended up ordering the "Garden Sandwich." We are talking about a basic portabella mushroom sandwich, very easily made fresh and, while boring, a hearty and delicious vegetarian option. Alas, no. It was soggy, salty and sadly unseasoned, not under-seasoned, unseasoned. I think one would have to try to so thoroughly destroy this king of mushrooms. I then think that perhaps the "Asian Slaw" and "Sweet & Spicy Pickles" that the menu claims come with every meal might dress it up a bit. I realize there is not any slaw on my plate. There is a pickle. It is limp and in no way "Sweet" or "Spicy." It has been living in a jar somewhere for the last few years before it made it's way to my pathetic plate as a water-logged piece of old cucumber. I asked about the slaw and the server, looking embarrassed, came back with a small bowl of shredded red cabbage. No seasoning, no oil or mayo/aioli or vinegar or garnish. Nothing. Seriously. In the meantime, my fries were very overcooked. There was nothing on my plate to eat and I was still hungry.
As for my partner's burger. The middle was cold. Cold. From the freezer. Gray and cold. He stopped eating about the time I did and asked if there were any leftovers at home. The promised Prosciutto that was part of this burger was, as he described it to me, a piece of salami wrangled from the cellophane of some bottom shelf brand.
When we asked for the check, the server, still looking quite sheepish, pointed out that we hadn't made the certificate minimum. He suggested dessert then immediately added that they didn't have any of the desserts on menu but had cakes. Cakes? (No Crème Brule? No Cannoli?) We told him to bring us whatever looked best. He brought a slice of something with red in it and I recognized it as one of the pound cakes that had been listed as 'on sale' in a local grocery store circular that week. I didn't want it then and I didn't want it now. We tipped the pathetic but well-meaning server as nicely as possible but the fact is we had just spent an hour and half (yes, there is that too: we waited for everything) in a restaurant that seems within weeks of closing. Please close, Italiasia. You have nothing to offer. | 0negative
| 894 |
OLD SANTA FE - Vs. NEW SANTA FE
It is very hard for me to write this review, as I don't enjoy writing bad reviews, especially when it is for one of my past favorite restaurants. It is important to understand the reason for my negative review is mainly for "Value" received and a disappointment in comparison of the "traditional" Basque style of dining.
First I will give a little history of the old Santa Fe and also a little of my experience of Basque style dining. We lived in California but have been coming often to the area to frequent local Basque restaurants. We have come a lot to JT in Gardnerville since 1970, as it is one of our favorites. We visited the Overland and even the Ormsby House in Carson City when they had a Basque style Restaurant. When we visited Reno, we visited Louie's and then also discovered the Santa Fe Hotel, and it immediately became one of our favorites. We then moved to Reno and became "regulars" at the Santa Fe. There were usually four of us who ate there regularly each week and sometimes we also brought our family members there on Sundays. We would always bring friends visiting from out of town here as well.
I mentioned the main reason for my negative review was for "Value" received and also non-traditional Basque style amenities. As to the value issue, the past Santa Fe usually had a choice of five or six different main entries and the complete meal was $19.00. It included all the "Traditional" Basque style items including a choice of a second main course side entree. Sometimes it was tongue, lamb, Paella, spaghetti or chorizo. Each person could pick what second side dish they wanted. All other Basques restaurants also offer a second side, but most have only one item, which is different each night. Santa Fe was one of the few that gave you a choice. The "new" Santa Fe does NOT offer a second side dish at all, as do all other Basque style restaurants, which was a major disappointment.
As I had stated you had a choice of four or five items for $19.00. As a comparison of the old Santa Fe Vs. the new, a New York steak that was $19 is now $35.00, which is an 84%, INCREASE. Lamb was $19 and now it is $37.00 (a 94% Increase). Chicken is even $28 now. My point and my major disappointment is this amount of increase puts it way out of the category as a "family" style Basque restaurant and also is much higher that other comparable Basque style restaurants. Added to this much higher price was the missing second side dish as well.
When we learned in 2017 that the Santa Fe was closing, we did a lot of research trying to find out about any re-opening. There were many rumors and we finally heard in May of 2019 it was scheduled to re-open, and the news was it was going to stay the same for the most part but cleaned up. The opening was then delayed till July and we could not wait to go there. On our first visit was when we were shocked at the high prices, the missing second side dish, the small serving bowls, the salty salad, and no coffee. We were assured that all suggestions would be taken into account and items changes where needed.
We went back a second time in hopes of them having changed what was needed. There still was no second side dish, still the same high prices (they even raised the steak from $34 to $35). The salad was improved and the bowls were a little larger, but all in all, still a major disappointment.
Summary: This was one of our favorite restaurants. We ate here weekly and also brought friends and family. We really want it to succeed. With the high price and the low value compared to all other Basque restaurants, we don't see how it can continue operating this way. I had thought they would have realized the need for a major price adjustment and an adjustment on what was included in the meal. To even offer a less expensive steak like a sirloin ($24 to $26) would be a start. I can't imagine going to a Basque style restaurant with your friends and family and paying $35 for a meal compared to $19 to $25.
By the way, they did an excellent job on the interior and re-doing the bathrooms, which is a huge improvement. The staff was all very friendly and the service was excellent. I am sad to say that we will not be back unless we hear there were some major changes. | 0negative
| 794 |
What a fun and unusual night.
I saw several news stories about this place when they first opened, and jumped online for reservations. It took six weeks to find a date that works. I guess others felt the same.
Hubby and I visited on the Sunday night of Memorial Day weekend, and they appeared to be at capacity, so I guess others seeking a reservation where they didn't have to work the next day felt the same.
We followed their request dress codes, and we read reviews and knew how to valet park, and knew where to enter... so by several of the other reviews listed, felt slightly ahead of the game for once.
Once you go down the "cellar stairs," the foyer did not disappoint. The images you've seen are real, and there's even a book welcoming you that makes you feel like you're on the set of a Harry Potter movie.
We had arrived early knowing traffic on lower Broad would be challenging, but not quite as bad as we thought, but we were still seated promptly at a four top near the bar and very close to the entrance. It's cute that they give you personal pen lights to be able to read the menu, because it is so dark in there, you definitely need them.
Our server was Ariel, and she was quite good throughout. The host had given a "mini tour" showing you where the slight-of-hand magicians were in the dining room, and directions to the restroom, and cigar smoking patio, etc. - but your server really keeps you in the know for the most part.
We knew this would be an expensive dinner and that you were paying for the experience... so prices didn't scare us much.
We opted for the Crab Cake appetizer at $20, and we both agreed it was very good. The server had brought rolls as well, and we each tried the "Disappearing Mule," a more citrus-y than norm mule served in a sturdy cut glass tumbler ($15 each). You know it's fancy when your server also asks if you want tap water, sparkling water, or some other water... we're not that pretentious, thanks.
After enjoying our appetizer, we took our drinks to go try and catch the in dining room magicians, but in our timing/experience, they were both quite crowded, and at 5'3" I couldn't really see either of them. Our server had told us she would come find us when dinner was served, and she did.
We wandered about since the dining room magicians were so popular, and there is a cool player piano that plays on voice command, and the cigar bar patio is lovely with multiple seating areas and a large waterfall to one side. It appears photography was allowed out there, so I will post that photo of the water feature for the curious. We checked out some of the shadow box framed playing cards and magic sets on display, then dinner was ready.
I opted for the Roast Chicken served atop Creme Fraiche with pistachio and beets ($32) - very good, although it's always hard to eat chicken on the bone with a knife and fork. Hubby had the New York Strip ($56) and when the server had mentioned their specials, opted for a special sauce for that evening of a Coffee Rub with mushrooms. By this stage of life I know that when you order the specials and they don't tell you the price... be prepared. Yea, that sauce was $18. It was delicious, but if you're on a budget, leave nothing to chance. Hubby added a baked potato to his a la carte entree.
We also had a margarita on the rocks, and for dessert we had the Cheesecake and Flourless Chocolate cake, both of which were very good.
It was interesting to me that about the time we were halfway through dinner, I noticed the magician closest to our table had empty seats in front of him and no crowd at all, so I think catching them with an ideal front row close up seat is just the luck of the draw. (Get it? Card tricks?) :)
We had to ask our server for the photographer to come by and take our picture... it's free, so by all means ask as well.
Our timing was great that the next seating of the 20 minute theater show had just opened as we were finished, so while that show was a bit cheesy/gimicky, it was cute.
You'll be here several hours, so you'll probably visit the restroom anyway, but be sure you do. The hallway feels like Alice in Wonderland and the decor there is very fun as well.
Dinner before tip to server and parking valet (which is free, by the way) was $212.
Was it fun? Yes.
Will we go again? Maybe, for a special occasion bringing friends or something. I do enjoy someone who picks a theme and dives in 110%, so sure probably at some point we'll be back. It just takes a lot to get us out of Franklin and into downtown Nashville, so we're not in a hurry to return for sure. I'm glad Nashville being the "it city" is bringing such unexpected surprises to our mix! | 2positive
| 880 |
I have a love handle, hate handle relationship with this place. I really love that they think outside the box using parts that people are less familiar with. Personally I love chicken gizzards I love sweetbreads I love beef hearts I love beef tongue. I am definitely not one that grossed out by that stuff because honestly it's if it's cooked right it's great. Accommodations of stuff on the sandwiches are good sometimes I think there either just throwing anything together or they're reaching a little too far and some of the combinations. But that's what makes it so unique and different from anything else you've tried. They're not afraid to take chances with their cuisine. Unfortunately when I went there waffle iron was broken how is really looking forward to try and sweetbreads and Waffles. But my wife had a pork belly sandwich and I had a sandwich with chicken gizzards at work fried with a jerk BBQ dust or something on it. On my wife sandwich the pork belly was super thick and cook perfectly. What pork belly is good I think it has too much fat for me. But that's why people love pork belly. I mean in the sandwich were talking about inch thick buy an inch wide strips of pork belly. It was like blocks of pork belly. So if that's your meat it would be excellent. I have the chicken gizzard sandwich which I like chicken gizzards I'm not big on fried chicken gizzards with all the breading and everything. It was interesting but honestly chicken gizzards are chewy and they are very difficult to eat in the sandwich. I will say this it did look like the chicken gizzards were sliced to be more thin. We also had a side of smelts which were excellent but it was just a side of smelts there's no sauce to dip it in or anything like that. I would have came up with a some type of aioli or remoulade to dip the smelt into. And actually the smelts were one of my favorite. But I had to ask for Mayo or something cuz they were a little dry to eat just plain. They go very well with a squeeze of fresh lemon. We also had the popcorn which the flavor of the day was beef fat. So for 4 bucks you get a basket of popcorn and instead of covered in movie theater butter was just covered in beef fat. This is one of those love hate things about the place. So popcorn popcorn adding beef fat is adventurous but not necessarily enough of a flavor changer. It just provides a heavy fat greasy Taste of popcorn I mean I literally could only eat like a small handful of it. I also had a side of sweet breads. They were fried a little crispy hard on the outside with like a crust. I thought they were overly salty. But if you peel off some of the crust they were just fine. But I think they could cut back a little bit on the salt. Now my wife's a chocolate fan and she had the flourless chocolate cake with the raspberries Jam. Absolutely they nailed that. So in a nutshell, this place is for adventurous eaters that are willing to have an open mind to trying something new and who knows you may just love something and become your new favorite. Only big disappointment is I spent $80 I'm two sandwiches and some sides. It's like I don't know where it came from. I'm in the sandwiches are round $13 and for $13 these are Big sandwiches. $4 for popcorn I would give a basket of popcorn each day when they come in if I could. I mean think about it it's kind of ingenious popcorn is so cheap and then you just drizzle something like beef fat, a byproduct of what you already cooking and charge $4 for it. It's actually a great idea for the owners to make a nice profit on it. In all it's a great place to try. I don't know that I could eat there on a regular basis. The food is just so over-the-top that it can't beat in every day. Can you imagine coming in everyday and eating pork belly and sweetbreads in other organ meat. You'd be leaving in an ambulance on the way to the cardiac center. But it's definitely place you got to get to once in awhile. | 2positive
| 753 |
I should have paid closer attention to Lauren L.'s review. We were craving burgers on Saturday and remembered Twenty Manning. I'd only been here once before, and was underwhelmed by the food enough not to come back, but not enough to hold a grudge. And the service had been fantastic. Since it was supposed to be "reimagined", I figured it'd be safe to give it another try.
We walked in around 5pm. The place was basically empty: there were three tables filled and a few people at the bar. We were seated at a very small bench table, which didn't make much sense considering the nicer window seats available with more room, but we were too hungry to be picky.
Our perky waitress appeared a minute later to plunk down the menus, and we both opted to start with mojitos, which are a little light on the booze (and I'm not big on overdoing the liquor) but very fresh and refreshing.
The waitress came back and asked whether we were ready to order. I asked what the specials were, since she hadn't mentioned any, and she just pointed to the weekly special on the menu. All it said was "lobster roll." Ok, fair enough: I asked what it came with, in terms of sides, and she looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "It's lobster, sort of a mayo sauce, and a roll. About this big." Um. Not what I asked. At $19 for mayo salad on a roll, you can at least tell me if it comes with fries.
We got the crabcakes and gazpacho as appetizers to share; I went with a turkey burger (and the $2 add-on of a slice of cheddar cheese) and my gf went with the tuna burger.
I can't complain about the appetizers. The crab cakes were tender and not overly full of filler, though they were only about 2" in diameter--fine for an appetizer but again, at $9.50, you'd think they could be a little bigger. The gazpacho was good, with a very tasty pineapple-basil sorbet floating in it. The gazpacho itself had an interesting combination of jalapenos and Thai bird peppers: just enough to tingle, but I'm not sure I really wanted the spice in a gazpacho. It ends up reading a little too much like salsa when it's missing strong cucumber and fresh pepper notes, which this one was.
Our water didn't get refilled and our appetizer dishes didn't get cleared before the runner came out with the mains: our waitress was nowhere to be seen. My gf dove into her burger, which she said was moist but not very flavorful. I was hopeful about mine. It came on a very flimsy brioche bun (a thicker one might stand up better to fillings) but looked good, with as much color as one can expect on a turkey burger without turning it into a cardboard puck.
I couldn't even pick up the burger, because everything kept falling off: the bun was just too small and far, far too floppy. I'm used to messy foods, so I put on my game face and tried to saw at my burger with (butter)knife and fork. It was an exercise in futility: I might as well have been sawing at a piece of cowhide with a blunted spoon. I managed to saw off a small corner piece and gave it a try. The first chew was pure salt: I worked my way through it and got some encouraging good-quality-turkey flavor, but then hit the texture: dense, hard, and very difficult to get over. I almost never send anything back to the kitchen, but this was unpalatable.
No worries, I thought. My waitress will come by, and I'll just get a salad instead, or something along those lines.
Five minutes went by. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Our waitress bustled back and forth seven or eight times, without so much as making eye contact or glancing at the table. My gf was done with her meal; our waitress was chatting with her fellows at the end of the room. The restaurant still wasn't full.
Finally, after about 25min during which nobody even asked if everything was ok (clearly not, judging by the uneaten food) she finally came by to clear the plates and only when she had the plate with my untouched (save for a sawed-off corner) burger did she bother to ask, half-turning away, whether something was the matter.
I kept my cool; I don't want to be the asshole making a fuss, even after sitting there with a growling stomach while my server ignores me. I said that unfortunately the burger was too dense and salty. She looked from the burger to me, and said, "I'll see if we can do anything about it." You'll see IF you can do anything about it? Come on, that's just bad form. The manager did come over a couple minutes later, and I once more explained. She was very nice, asked if I wanted anything else (at this point, no) and took the burger off the bill. Our waitress came by to ask if we wanted anything else, while practically throwing the bill on the table. I've had better service at highway rest stops.
Save your money and go elsewhere. In retrospect, we should have just gone to Monk's. Value for dollar was already poor, but the service really makes this place terrible, and a big step down from what it was before its overhaul. | 0negative
| 919 |
Decided to try this hotel due to 1: getting a good deal 2: pictures featured online seemed very cute and chic. Well where to start we arrived a little after 6pm which meant all we wanted to do was check in leave our bags and start our vacation. The front desk lady was nice upon checking, however, when we asked what restaurant she would recommend close by, her response was " I wouldn't know, I don't know the area". Seems a bit odd but ok , that's why we have Yelp. The lady at the front desk did tell us that the rooms do not get cleaned daily, which was a weird thing to say but didn't think much of it. The lady did let us know that parking was not included, but we could park in front of the hotel for $30 a night in a public parking area in which if we leave and parking gets full we are out of luck since it's first come first serve. When we started walking toward the elevator area the closer we got the stronger the smell got of weed. YES Weed! Getting off the elevator on the 2nd floor BAM we get hit again with the smell all down the hallway up to our room. I was under the impression that it was a smoke free hotel, but I guess it's nicotine free not weed free. Upon entering our room, the room looked very vintage,cute. I didn't check the room for cleanliness since it "appeared" clean. The room size was good we had two full size beds. The room also had a small sitting area in front of a window but a very odd window. When you opened it, you were able to see other rooms and some kind of opening to the roof. I made sure to keep the curtain close,since I didn't want to come back to the room and find someone staring into the room from the other rooms or a ghost ( lol) .We noticed right away that the restroom door had a frosted window, odd but if you are alone or with your significant other then it's fine, BUT not when you have a teen with you! We had to place a towel over the door to avoid been seen. Before leaving the room, my nephew decided to go to the restroom, to our surprise it got clogged! I will say this, the response time from maintenance was great!! Less than 10mins to arrive and fix the problem. After that , everything flushed well. I will say I made a huge mistake of not properly checking the room. Once we returned from our day out, decided to take a shower oh boy ! When you turn on the water you start to hear a ringing noise coming from the faucet and when I say it was loud it was loud like a high pitch note being played directly in your ear. This caused an unpleasant shower time aside from the waterfall shower head. Having this type of shower head makes it hard to not wet your hair. Another odd thing about the room , there was a mini refrigerator BUT! It was locked ?? Who locks an empty refrigerator?? The following morning, decided to get coffee in the coffee station at the lobby not worth the price. When I returned to the room to lay back down, I felt something in between the bed sheets and to my surprise! It was an earring! Does that mean that the sheets weren't changed before our check in?? Now I'm starting to think how clean is this room. Surprise after surprise.( pictures will be posted). Decided to get dressed and talk to the front desk about what had been found in our bed and how the room needed to be cleaned. I let the lady at the front desk know what happened and she was very nice about it saying she would be sending housekeeping and apologized. We proceeded to leave for the day thinking that by the time we get back to our room, it would be cleaned. SURPRISE! It was not. Oh but the kicker, sheets were left behind so I CAN DO MY OWN BED !!! I go on vacation to avoid cleaning and doing my bed to now I'm having to make my own bed in the middle of the night during my vacation. So remember the $30 parking, turns out that there were a lot of cars parking OUTSIDE of the parking area for $0 dlls and not getting a ticket or towed. Check out time,the lady at the front not sure her name since she did not have a name tag, but assuming she was the manager asked us if our room had been cleaned. I informed her that the room was not cleaned and that the sheets were left on the dresser. She seemed very surprised and apologized for house keeping and credited one night. This hotel had good potential however housekeeping is not up to par. Regardless if it's because of COVID that the rooms don't get cleaned daily when someone is occupying them should not be the reason why housekeeping should become very relaxed and not do a job well done. For the price of a night, ranging from $150 up to $430 dlls a night depending on the date, the housekeeping should be better than it is.
IMO I would not return to this hotel because of the housekeeping. I would rather go to another hotel where I would feel that the room is clean.
I gave three stars due to management attention regarding our room. | 1neutral
| 948 |
This was my wife and I first time here on a Saturday night, which was surprisingly not that crowded, which makes a perfect segway to the first part of my review.
1. There was no wait at all upon entering the restaurant. We were a little confused because there was no host or hostess, so we kept asking ourselves "Should we seat ourselves? Is someone here?" Literally no one was manning the front door to offer a proper greeting for first time visitors. When the hostess finally came, she was a sweet older women who looked to accommodate us on a seating preference.
2. The wait time still got worse. Which again, I'm not sure why this business has yet to tighten this experience for their customers as I have read previous reviews on waiting too long for service! We sat in the high chairs alongside the centered bar and we must of saw 3-4 total waitresses who walked by and not service me and my wife! Guess what....the sweet short old lady had to ask us if we were seen by anybody yet...smh! Luckily, I really was in a mood for seafood or we would of been outta here in a heartbeat! So after 15 minutes of being seated we were serviced by waitress Shauna. I'll get to Shauna and the kitchen staff in a minute.
3. For starters, we ordered the Crab Dip, which was fairly decent. They pack too much cheese for my liking, but my wife loved it! Most of the crab was hidden at the bottom lol. They give you plenty of sliced garlic bread for dipping so you should be good without having to ask for more, which again may be okay, since its hard to get a waitress to your table. Shauna was very friendly but looked erratic at times which I'm not sure why as it did not looked as fast n busy on a Saturday night. At one point she just snatched our dip, without even asking if we were done with it. It was clearly a 1/4 or might even a 1/2 of serving left and she just wanted to take it for whatever reason, I'm not sure.
4. Now for the entrees!! Their Steampots are a total ripoff!! Joe's Crab Shack is much better! At least Joe's Crab Shack gives you the andouille sausage with your corn on the cob and potatoes. I had the AJ Classic steampot with Snow Crab, shrimp, mussels, and clams. My wife had the crabcakes with corn on the cob and old bay fries...well at least she thought she had! For starters I made a mistake of not noticing on their menu that they DO NOT list the serving amount of their seafood. Seafood must of not been in season, because I had one cluster of snow crabs that had to be under a 1/2 pound, unacceptable!! They were not meaty at all. The clams, mussels were just born from their mother's of something. Littlenecks is an understatement. I had about 4 medium size shrimps and a bunch of potatoes in a watery garlic broth! Stay away from their pots! At the end of the night I was eating off my wife plate which she wasn't all that impressed with either as their crabcakes are less crab more filling, big disappointment. Then Shauna and the cooks messed her order of fries as they brought out regular cut fries with coleslaw. Shauna did apologize and brought out a cup of old bay seasoning for my wife to sprinkle on herself along with taking the charge off the bill. Oh by the way, do not get the crab cakes fried, too much breading as it it, so get them broiled instead. Their so called homemade lemonade was also a joke! I took two sips and had Shauna take it off my bill as well for a water, which was pretty much what it tasted like. More like Minute Maid lemonade..smh Why AJ Stephens...why!! I really was rooting for you guys, but after this experience I can take my $75 to another established seafood restaurant. Oh and lastly, the manager came over. I think he was name was Gary or John, he's one of three managers/owners. He promised me and my wife dessert and free draft for our troubles for waiting too long to be served and we never received them. I hope this review opens their eyes to bring on more staff, not to be stingy in their portions in their steampots, and to have authentic homemade lemonade, along with a slew of things in this review. Take this on the chin and tighten up as my man Robert Deniro would say! | 0negative
| 786 |
Located in the growing Nickel Plate district of Fishers, The Well Coffeehouse is one of three non-profit coffeehouses dedicated to making a difference in both local and global communities. The other two are located in Brentwood and Nashville, Tennessee.
A missional coffeehouse? Aren't those the kinds of dreary and drab coffee joints housed in old timey houses with dilapidated interiors? Not anymore. The folks behind The Well believe strongly that you can have both a solid business model and a mission focus. The Well proves their point and, to date, has funded 13 wells in places such as Malawi, Togo, Kenya, the Congo, Senegal and Central African Republic.
While the mission is important, it doesn't result in an inferior product that you pay more for just because it's for a good cause. In fact, I'd dare say that my cup o' joe at The Well was one of the best cups of coffee that I've had in quite some time.
The Well in Fishers is located in a relatively new building near 116th and I-69. There's an adjacent parking lot, it's free!, and also nearby street parking. If you park in the parking lot, there's ample accessible parking and an automatic door to get into the building that leads to The Well on the right. The door to The Well isn't automated, though the glass door is pretty manageable. There also tends to be people hanging out there as that entrance is right by where you pick up your order. I didn't enter through the street entrance - it looked like there may be a step, though I wouldn't be surprised if there was also a ramp as Fishers tends to be pretty good about accessibility. The counter is obvious inside The Well - while there's no signage directing you how everything works, you go up to the right side of the counter to order and your order will be delivered when they call your name at the left side of the counter. I will note that if you enter through the parking garage, you need to make your way to the right side to order - when the place is crowded, which I've heard is often, this may involve moving a chair or two as tables in the open concept floor/dining area are packed fairly tightly and nearly every one was in use when I arrived in the early afternoon on a Saturday.
I arrived at the ordering counter and looked at their menu board. The selections are fairly basic. While they offer plenty of options, they're refreshingly devoid of that one-stop shopping feeling. They offer both drip and pour-over coffee options along with espresso, cappuccino, lattes along with other specialty drinks and some non-coffee (hot chocolate, tea, etc.) options. As seems to be customary for coffeehouses, they offer baked goods There's a breakfast and lunch menu on their website, though I didn't see evidence of this menu at Fishers. It's mentioned in another review and I'll just assume I missed it. It definitely leans toward the healthier side of life with light sandwiches being in the $5-8 range. As also seems to be customary for coffeehouses, they offered a sales area with t-shirts, coffee cups and bags of coffee among some other items.
The atmosphere is warm and casual. They offer two small "conference" rooms, though neither one would be big enough for an actual "event." All of the tables except one seating area are easily accessible. There was a fun personal touch with a Christmas Tree where they were asking customers to make ornaments to decorate the tree.
There's no denying that The Well is inspired by faith, though it's more a faith in action joint than a preach at ya joint. In fact, the only place where the faith is obvious is in the co-founder's bio on The Well's website.
I ordered a pour-over, most of which are in the $3-4 range. Mine, the Honduran Finca El Tigre, was smooth and spot on perfect with hints of cashew and Fuji apple. It's on the mellower side of coffee. I will note that I ordered it "to stay" and it was delivered "to go," a minor issue but still worth noting.
I wrestled between a 4-5 star rating. I loved the atmosphere, though the order counter definitely gets overly crowded and the dine-in tables are fairly close to it. I found the lack of signage a minor problem as someone could easily wait in the wrong line and get frustrated, while the minor error with how my coffee was delivered (not as ordered) is also enough for me to lean toward a strong 4-star rating for now with a future visit planned despite the fact The Well is not really in my neighborhood.
With a noble mission, friendly staff and a high quality product, The Well is a welcome addition to the Central Indiana coffeehouse scene and a mission-oriented business worth supporting. I definitely recommend checking it out. | 2positive
| 831 |
This place is odd, I went there for a slice, since I just read a good review in Reno News and Review, I had heard not to go there before, but NY is known for Pizza, so I always want to try what is supposed to be the best, so based on the GLOWING REVIEW from someone who said he used to live there, and this place is the best of the best, done right, exactly how it is there, etc. I thought it was worth a couple of slices, to see if I agree. I wish you could rate the food differently as I would give it 3 stars, but the place is SO ODD, it's next to Audio Express, when you walk in, you have no idea if you are in a greeting area, or what, you just feel lost, it's REALLY informal, I mean casual to the T, you can't tell who works there, everyone is dressed more casual than I think I have ever seen in a restaurant, I ask about slices, and it's NOPE only lunch time, I almost walked, the inappropriately dressed woman - looks like she be on the beach - offers me a personal size, so I sit down to figure out if I am going to give it shot, and before I get there, let me tell you this place is biggest hodge podge of tables, I have never seen a place look so sloppy, there's no napkins on the tables, no cheese, red or black pepper, salt, I mean it just looks like you are in a Bronx ghetto, with tables in random places, JUST ODD, so I am looking at the menu, and I see two pizzas that looking appealing the Bronx Zoo and the Yonkers, the Yonkers appeals to me as it has pancetta, mushroom, black olives and sausage, never had that combo before so it sounded interesting vs. Bronx Zoo (BZ), which is your standard combo. I ask for advice, as I usually do to make sure I order the best they have to offer, the lady describes another pizza, and then I asked here, did you eat this? Then she has to ask other people there, if she had it, I mean how corny was this? One of the guys she talks too, I am assuming the owner, says he likes the Yonkers over the BZ, so I take his recommendation, I sit on the other side because this place feels and looks odd, I see there's a TV, and I figure I will zone to the games while waiting, then I tell the lady I want my pizza, well done, she seems confused, and asked if I want it burnt, I said crispy, thinking this might help her to understand a request that is not unheard in pizza dining, I should have said burnt as what I got was a big slop of food, the center was caving in like a sinkhole, the dough was watery and soggy, the only part that was crisp was the outside crust, I mean if this was crispy it was a far cry, the dough was like hand tossed at Pizza hut, not thin cracker like, more like medium thickness, it wasn't consistent either some part were high, some lower, I mean no consistency, the piece fell about so bad in my hand, that I tried to fold it over, didn't work it was just like a topping slop all over my fingers, so I am eating toppings, but not able to eat as a unit, so that I could enjoy pizza as it is meant to enjoy, topping, sauce, crust, I had to get a fork to eat everything that is falling out. I asked for napkins when I got my pizza, they only gave me 2! That's it! I had sauce, and cheese, and grease all over that napkin within 2 seconds, and my nose was runny due to a cold, 2nd napkin gone! Again, WHAT PIZZA restaurant in the UNIVERSE doesn't put out napkins? I grabbed pizza toppings the only ones available, from 3 different tables, again, what PIZZA restaurant isn't laid out with the standards? I could understand 1 or 2 tables missing items, but not every table, the table I sat at had the back of the chairs were on a walkway, when there was plenty of space to move the table forward, one table had a table cloth while all the others were bare, I mean this place is SO ODD. Back to the pizza, I actually like the toppings and the crust, and sauce, even though I ate everything separate from each other. The only topping that I couldn't taste was the pancetta, everything else was dominating, so I would have like more pancetta, so that I could taste the 1 topping that really stood out and I was waiting to experience, The lady never asked how my food was, if should would have asked I would have told her, she never asked if I needed anything, and this place wasn't busy, so a couple of last points, these people who are regulars come in, and they forgot the guy's soup with the salads they served to his wife and daughter, they didn't even care though, it was that casual, and it wasn't busy, last the lady didn't even know that she didn't give me my check, I walk by her, to wash my hands after the greasy mess on my hands to go to the bathroom, I hadn't paid, and she thought I left with food on the table, finally she comes by and was OH I didn't give you your check yet? I feel bad writing this, because I would like to see them succeed, they have tasty food, just MISFIRING HORRIBLY, & they really need MANAGEMENT! Here's from RNR http://www.newsreview.com/reno/peace-of-the-pie/content?oid=8055538 | 0negative
| 981 |
Ok the owner contacted me as he was concerned about my negative review and informed me that he had recognized the drop in quality and that he had worked with a chef to revamp the menu and that I should return to try it out again. I will raise my prior 1 star (that I wanted to give a zero for) to two stars just for the fact that he has recognized there are some serious issues here and he says he is working on it. I'm nothing if not reasonable and I really do care that our NOLA restaurants meet a certain standard. So I'm perfectly willing to sample a revamped menu and try food again. I also LOVE food and I would be extremely happy if Nacho Mama's served food I liked as it would give me more dining options.
My initial plan was to return three times to sample things to give a fair evaluation. I asked the owner what he recommended and he told me the tacos (with his favorites being the panko crusted catfish and the arbol steak), the taquitos appetizer, shrimp chimichurri, fajitas, or one of the signature tortas. So one day when I wasn't feeling particularly hungry I finally got the courage up to sample some Nacho Mama's food again.
I really had to force myself to go inside as I've got powerful memories of bad experiences in there and getting sick from eating the food so I had to really focus some willpower to just walk in. First impression was that there was a fantastic smell of food cooking so that is a big thing and eased my initial anxiety. The menu is definitely revamped and much improved looking from what was in there previously. I ordered the two taco plate and got a chicken and lime shrimp with a side of guacamole, and an iced tea. My initial visual impression when I got my food was that the rice in a scoop ball looked like I didn't get very much rice (it was plenty but visually it initially looked small until I spread it out); I also thought the tacos were a bit lighter on the fillings compared to other places; I also hought the shrimp were smaller than all the other shrimp tacos I've had in the area which isn't necessarily bad as sometimes they can soak up more flavor but my initial thought was ummm small baby shrimp. The food smelled good and I started with the chicken taco which had some good flavors but I found it very dry (compounded by the corn tortilla which I think might be the worst chokingly dry soft corn tortilla I've ever had and it crumbled apart it was so dry). The shrimp tasted good but again the tortilla was very dry but not as dry as the chicken. If I didn't know better I would say they were stale but all they really needed was a bit of steaming to soften them up more so an easy fix to greatly improve that experience. I next ate my rice and black beans which had a very good flavor and I liked those. When I payed my bill it came to $13.44 so with tip that seemed a bit expensive for two tacos so that didn't seem like a good value to me for what I got and I would probably head to Juan's or Sarita's if I just wanted some tacos and I would get more bang for my buck. So I was thinking that it was improved from what it used to be but it still isn't that great... and then I had a slight bit of a tummy ache that night which I attributed to the tough tortillas.
Sticking to my initial game plan I decided to once again venture forth and sample the fajitas. I ordered the shrimp and steak combo and when it came out I was rather shocked at how small an order it was. There were only four shrimp and five pieces of meat on the platter! I had a huge plate of "fixings" with guacamole, sour cream, fresh salsa, cheese, and lettuce that was much larger than my fajita plate. There just seemed to be some great disconnect between the two things and I was left with lots of extra fixings. My fajita's alone were $18.66 (before tip) and for like another $2 they would have thrown in rice and beans. The fajitas tasted "ok" but I felt that it was a horrible rip off for such a small portion of meat and I could have had a lot better food at many other places for that price. I was still considering returning one last time to fulfill my initial plan until my stomach started gurgling and then I got to spend all last night and a lot of this morning with a very sick stomach. I have figured out that this isn't due to food poisoning as the effects on my stomach are much more akin to what happens when I eat something with evil fake fat, like Olean, in it. So something that they are using to cook with is having a serious adverse effect on my stomach but it isn't to the same degree as food poisoning.
My END evaluation is that the food here is a terrible value that just isn't up to par (cheap drink specials though). I seriously believe this place needs EXTREME changes to produce decent food and I gave the owner the contact info to apply to Gorden Ramsay's show. I can't see myself ever returning to eat here unless Gorden whips this place into shape as I don't want my stomach feeling like this again! | 0negative
| 959 |
I eat a lot of cheesesteaks. I have been eating them for close to a half century. I don't know if that qualifies me as an expert or a candidate for a massive heart attack, but just so you as readers know, I am not an out-of-towner from Iowa directed here by my concierge during a convention.
This place has been open almost a year, and after having driven past it several times, I decided it was time to give it a shot. A new joint, smack in Center City dedicated to furthering the art of the cheesesteak is something I have put off visiting far too long.
Right off Rittenhouse Square, Cleavers is a brand-spanking new take on a classic Philly tradition. They absolutely push the envelope in terms of steak sammies, but in a positive way. Chicken steaks, which have long been accepted as a healthier alternative share the stage with portobellos in addition to the classic rib eye. Chicken can be ordered as breaded cutlets or flame-grilled. There are a number of salad options, and "sandwich" ingredients can be had as wraps, or even in bowls. There is a huge selection of reasonably priced beers, ciders and "hard" sodas as well as scrumptious milk shakes (with or without liquor added.) But I digress. I came here for a cheese with.
.. and a cheese with is what I got. Iconoclasts, but not without respect, Cleavers are not divas. Whiz is proudly served along with American, Sharp Provolone and even Mozzarella. I went with a blend of Whiz and American... and pizza sauce. Cheese, fried onions and sauce is my "goto" so I thought it best to start with what I usually order.
A "classic" steak is $9.95 which seems on the high end, but when you consider the quality of the ingredients, the massive quantity on the sandwich, and the fact you can relax with an adult beverage, while someone schleps your food up the flight of stairs to your table within minutes, you realize the extra buck or so is for good reason (not to mention the location.) You order at a counter, grab your drink and head upstairs. No phony "Pat's" rituals, and I suspect they would gladly take your order in Spanish.
As you might be able to glean from the picture, one of the first things you notice about a Cleavers steak is that they blend EVERYTHING together on the flat top. This is not a bunch of meat with some cheese melted on top, with onions tossed on and then a dollop of sauce ladled over it. This approach, IMO is the best in achieving the "gestalt" where each bite is a blend of all the elements from first to last.
Here is the catch ... The rolls (which I understand are baked especially for them by Abruzzi bakery in Point Breeze) though fresh, chewy and available seeded or unseeded lack CRUST. I'm not even talking Sarcone's or Carangi crust, but these have less than an Amoroso or Liscios. I'm sure it's a conscious decision on their part to go with a softer roll. Maybe it appeals more to the first-timers who likely make up much of the clientele.
My son's Whiz/American steak held up well, but he did not have sauce or fried onions. The amount of moisture in mine (coupled with the enormous quantity of meat) required about a third of the sandwich to be consumed with a fork. I could NEVER have eat this walking down Chestnut, or driving my car down 76 (not that I normally recommend THAT but I have accomplished both in the past.)
The roll was not "wonder bread" by any means, but as a warning, if you like your steaks with sauce as I do, be prepared to eat it like a meal.
They offer a variety of fries waffle (traditional and sweet potato) and steak cut as well as pickles, chicken fingers, fried green beans and zucchini sticks. One order of anything is enough to share with 2-3 people.
My wife, being health-conscious, ordered the salad. It was basically a regular iceberg salad with steak meat tossed on top. It didn't really work out, because she didn't wolf down all the meat first, so it got cold.
The meat here is chopped coarsely, which is great...neither whole-slice like Steve's or minced like D'Allesandro or Momma's. Still, it is meant to be eaten right away.
I'm not sure how well their rolls are going over with the locals who eat at John's Roast Pork, and Chink's (Joe's) or Chubby's etc. Because of their location, it seems they mostly get out of towners from the hotel trade sent by the local concierge to assure they will have a happy and hygienic experience. And they will. I'm not sure they will ever become legendary in the sense of our hole-in-the-wall joints. They are a little gimmicky, but show respect for the tradition wile having some fun... and we can all use some.
They are worth a visit, and in their neighborhood, the Steve's outpost is their only real competition. I wish them well, and will return when I'm in the hood again. | 2positive
| 866 |
My distinguished dinner colleague and I after a long sight-seeing drive of majestic Tucson decided upon a fine dinner of America's favorite diner. Knowing that we are always very happy with the flavorful food, amazing ambiance, and spectacular service how could we go wrong?
Upon navigating some thoughtful road cones set up by the neighboring business we reached our "very close to the door" parking spot, but were surprised to not be met by the standard valet. Perhaps it was due to our late arrival.
When entering we were met almost immediately by a vivacious young woman with a goat like bounce in her step who guided us to the closest open booth to minimize the amount we would have to walk. Very thoughtfully she informed us "this boot is open".
She could obviously tell we were people who knew what she wanted as she immediately asked for our drink orders without the slightest hint of making us feel bad by assuming we needed a menu. Our experience was showing!
The family sitting behind my partner had obviously had a long night at a wine tasting up state as their poor children could no longer keep their eyes open, a sure sign of an active day is a child too sleepy to stay awake at 11pm. I knew we were in like minded company.
After a deep conversation we ordered our food. My cohort being a small woman and in need of keeping up appearances opted for light meal of side salad and french fries with a light dusting of shredded cheddar cheese melted atop. I as a large strong and sturdy man had worked up a voracious appetite on our adventures and ordered potato bacon croquettes, lightly fried tenderloin of chicken, and a fresh mozzarella battered British style and and cooked to a golden brown in pure extracted vegetable oil. Afforded an array of vibrant sauces I opted for the tomato mother sauce, a western style tomato based sweet sauce referred to as barbecue, and mustard and honey vinaigrette. Our mouths watered with anticipation.
My partners fries came out with the aforementioned shredded and melted cheese, but as an extra they gave us the very finest pale white with red flecks of local pepper sauce atop it. It was at this point we were given the lovely option of dinnerware to eat our various food items with. My booth-mate while appreciative of the extra service was nevertheless not wanting to show herself as not properly dainty asked to have the fries as originally ordered. They were returned and sensing my companions frailty the cheese was left cold so as not to create a non lady like goop.
Things seemed to be going perfectly. I plunked my beautiful croquette into the beautiful dish of vinaigrette only to discover they had accidentally given me the mustard maple syrup cinnamon dip normally reserved for special occasions that include accidentally mistaking honey for maple syrup. This surprise unfortunately turned my croquettes into some sort of breakfast treat reserved for the day after a night of intense badminton and rabble rousing. Having already ran this poor yet upbeat server into nearly four trips to the kitchen I opted to stick to the "barbecue" styled sauce.
Upon finishing our meal we were immediately given the inclusive task of helping the newly arrived employee in her duties. We helped by handing her various containers she hastily filled to accommodate the next guess of our booth. It is wonderful to be included in the tasks of the proletariat. A truly inspiring and community building exercise.
Upon paying and leaving my partner needed to relieve herself in the private privy in the rear of the restaurant. While I waited outside enjoying glances between the views of the bubbling fountain that created a wonderful lake with feeding stream to my vehicle and the inspiring views of local barbarians jamming cuts of meat into their mouths while boasting of their recent conquests being sure to demonstrate their manhood with views of their mastication techniques I enjoyed a miniature cigar imported from the far state of Virginia.
A breakdown of ratings
Parking Maze - 5Stars
Valet - Absent
Server -Bouncy Goat
Chef -Washed hands while in bathroom
Sauces - The maple mustard vinaigrette left much to be desired
Fried potatoes - Decent but awkwardly wide and with a strange semen like sauce atop which
was not asked for
Salad -prefered eating technique, fingers
Bathrooms - not as nice as agua caliente park, better than mt lemon
overall 1/2 of a star. Could have been better even for a Denny's along the freeway at 11pm on a Wednesday night. | 0negative
| 777 |
This place is as gloomy as they come, despite the huge open space and nice decor. We stopped here on St. Patrick's Day evening around 7:30-8pm and it seemed pretty slow. The three of us stood at the hostess stand for several minutes watching employees stop by to grab menus and leave, not one said a word to us or even bothered to see if anyone was standing by the door. Someone eventually came to take us to a seat and she seemed like she would rather have been literally anywhere else. We were not greeted cheerfully or told any specials, were not brought water, nothing. We just sat at our table for several more minutes waiting for anyone to greet us.
I'm going to pause right here and say that from here on out I take full responsibility for staying to find out what happened next. All three of us knew exactly what type of dinner we were going to have from this point forward, and we still chose to stay and see what happened next. We read the warning signs, and then promptly disregarded them.
There was muffled music playing on a speaker, it seemed like it was coming from behind the door we were sitting near but it gave the whole room a really strange vibe. Eventually our server came over and she was extremely pleasant and it was actually surprising to have someone in the restaurant be welcoming to us. We were all disappointed that the prices were quite high for the meat and didn't include any sides, and the sides were very pricey, in our minds. We ordered drinks, we ordered food (brisket tacos to start, a corned beef and cabbage special, and a fried chicken sandwich with french fries for me, one of us didn't have dinner, just drinks). The drinks, appetizers, and meal came out all at once. The brisket tasted good, but the slice of meat inside the tortilla was super weird and awkward. There was also just no other flavors with the tacos. There was some cabbage, and of course we were given hot sauce and 4 or 5 different barbecue sauces, but for the price of the 3 tacos I would not say they were worth it at all.
The corned beef and cabbage special was $12 and there was so much fat on the corned beef I think my brother in law ate 1/2 of it and we fed the rest to our dogs at home. It was a bit tough, not super flavorful. The cabbage was undercooked. He was very disappointed.
My fried chicken sandwich: I have never in my life had fried chicken that tasted like chalk, but that was the texture of the breading on the chicken and there was NO seasoning in it whatsoever. I added a ton of salt and Lawry's Seasoning to my sandwich, which helped. The bread was SO dry, and the sandwich was so boring I almost fell asleep eating it.
Here's where we should talk BBQ sauces: the Carolina sauce was just mustard and vinegar. I can't imagine there being one other ingredient in that sauce because it was potently vinegar and mustard. The other sauces were either vinegar or sweet, indistinguishable.
Now for the fries: for $3.50 I got a very small boat of what I would consider the world's worst french fries. These fries were so saturated with oil it was dripping out of them. They were also cold when I got them. There was a very nice server (manager?) who came up and asked us how everything was tasting and I was honest with him about the fries. He was super apologetic and told me that Brother John's appreciates feedback from their customers. He told met he fries would be taken off the bill and they were removed from the table. A few minutes later he came over with a $10 gift card to return and apologized again. I thought this was a super nice gesture, but because the rest of our food was so grim and the atmosphere was so sad I couldn't bear to break it to him that we probably won't ever return. No bother, because when the bill came to our table we were still charged for the fries. We didn't dispute it. We just paid and left. It's been awhile since I have been to a place I had such high hopes for and been this let down. On to the next, I guess. | 0negative
| 752 |
Commander's is one of the most iconic restaurants in New Orleans and is probably the first place everyone tells you to try when you come to visit. The restaurant's location is ideal walking as it's located in the garden district full of historic/Celebrity homes as well as the famous Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. A little secret is that you can go inside commanders and they supply a stack of self guided walking tours on their menu which you can use while waiting for a table.
I've been here about 5 times now and I've had extremely different experiences in all my visits. I've been here for their Bunch about 3 times and dinner twice.
DINNER: Dinner experience is fantastic and they really make you feel special. The service is top notch with some of the best service I've ever had and the atmosphere is much more intimate (darker dining room, quieter, etc). 5 stars
BRUNCH: Brunch is awesome because they offer 0.25 cent martinis (3 for every entree you order). Brunch is much more laid back with brighter rooms and much more causal dining experience. The martini deal is only offered on weekdays unfortunately but they do have weekend Jazz Bunch in the court yard which I hear is amazing. The service is significantly worse for Brunch however. I've had it three so far my waiters have been terrible.
My most recent experience was horrible with a waiter named Edward. I came with two friends and we ordered the 3 course meal with turtle soup, quail, souffle bread pudding, order of gumbo and order of cajun shimp. When we placed our order, Edward immediately says "WOW, I guess you guys aren't very hungry then... (in a very very condescending way)." We said that is more than enough food for us and we're spending the entire day eating around new orleans are don't want to get stuffed. He then goes on a rant that we aren't allowed to order Martinis then for everyone which we weren't planning to and he walks away without even taking our drink order. About 5 minutes later he said the exactly same thing to the table next to us who was a lady dining with her husband and she wasn't taking any of that. She snapped back at him saying "we will order whatever we feel is enough!" and he responds with "I'm a blunt person, I say it like it is." Without even an apology. We could tell most of the tables he was waiting for was getting frustrated with him. He also did not give us ANY attention after we place our order. Not one "need anything else? or hows your food?" To top things off, for dessert he said "assuming how much you ordered earlier, I doubt you'll want to see our dessert menu right?" WHAT AN ASS! Regardless of that 1 bad experience, Commanders has otherwise been great.
FOOD: The food her is amazing and they have a lot of options for 3 course meal deals which are very reasonably priced ($35-40). My recommendations:
Seafood gumbo: easily the best gumbo I've had in new orleans. Very flavorful and tons of shrimp and crab meat.
Turtle Soup: Definitely what Commander's is known for. They add sherry in the beginning which i think is a bit much. I would taste it before they add it then have them add it later since they usually put too much and it has too much of an alcohol taste.
Quail: AMAZING! I've had it about 3 times already and honestly sometimes it tastes better than others but overall, still a great dish.
Blackend fish: SOOO GOOD. Amazingly cooked and perfectly seasoned. Not too salty like a lot of restaurants make it.
Cajun Shrimp: was alright. Nothing special and the portion was a bit small. The shrimps were large and the veggies and sauce mix very well but this dish isn't anything you couldn't get somewhere else.
Bread Pudding souffle: INCREDIBLE. Hands down best thing at this restaurant. It's very sweet so i'd share it with 2-3 other people.
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Overall, despite having a bad experience with the waiter Edward, I would still give commanders a solid 4 stars. 3 stars for Brunch and 5 stars for dinner. The atmosphere, amazing food, reasonable price, incredible service and variety of dishes makes this place a must try. I also include all of the fun things to do around commanders part of the dining experience. Make sure you see the benjamin button house right behind the restaurant as well as the Lafayette Cemetery which you can find an awesome walking tour online. 1 star for Edward, 5 stars for everything else.
*ALSO DON'T FORGET! You must wear a collar shirt if your a male with long pants. NO SHORTS. My friends wore jeans with a dress shirt for brunch which was OK but I'm not sure about dinner. They are extremely strict and will send you home if you don't dress appropriately. | 2positive
| 832 |
I have been wanting to try this restaurant for quite some time now, being of Filipino descent. I went with 2 other people (non-Filipino) and the menu has mostly Filipino items, w/a few American items and sushi. First thing I asked our server was, "Do you have San Miguel?" She had no idea what it was, and I told her that it was a Filipino beer. Our server wasn't Filipino, so I understood that she may have never heard of it. I realized that I overlooked the San Mig on the menu, so my friend and I ordered it. My other friend asked for a Vodka and Club Soda. Our server looked confused and didn't know what club soda was. We all kind of looked at each other and my friend just told her to ask the bartender and he would know what it was. Between the 3 of us, we ordered 2 orders of LUMPIA (fried Filipino eggrolls). My friend also ordered a PORK SIOPAO (steamed bread buns) for appetizers. For all entrees, you get soup AND a choice of steamed or fried rice. I ordered "NIPA STYLE BARBEQUE" - 2 pork kabobs w/steamed rice. One friend ordered the "CHICKEN ADOBO" w/white rice, and the other friend ordered the "PORK ADOBO" w/fried rice. We had to repeat our orders several times to our server because she said that she could not pronounce many of the menu items, and didn't know what they were. We shrugged it off and just looked forward to our food! I decided to also order some "Nipa Hut Style Noodles" (PANCIT) for the table - because no Filipino meal is complete without pancit!
We first received our soup - a chicken soup w/ clear noodles. Everybody loved this soup! It was classic comfort food, and extremely tasty. We then received our orders of LUMPIA and my friend received his pork siopao. The lumpia was AWESOME, and my friend really enjoyed his pork siopao. As we were working on our apps and soup, the PANSIT arrived for all of us to share. It was very good and had a home-cooked taste to it. My friends loved it! I was VERY happy with my pork kabobs. They were tasty and well-marinated. My friend who ordered the PORK ADOBO loved it. I tried some of it, and the pork was very tender and delicious! My suggestion : Get the steamed white rice w/ your entrees. Do NOT get the fried rice. It wasn't tasty, and you may be disappointed if you are "into" fried rice. My friend who ordered the CHICKEN ADOBO loved her dish as well.
For dessert, I noticed TURON (fried sweet banana fritters) on the menu that I was encouraging my friends to try, which comes with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. There were also several kinds of Filipino ice cream listed. I told my friends about the MACAPUNO (young coconut) ice cream, and how good it is. We asked the server if we could substitute the macapuno for the vanilla. She said she would ask and get back to us. She came back and said they were out of MACAPUNO , but that they had the UBE (purple yam) ice cream available with the turon. It was strange because there was NO Ube Ice cream listed on the menu, but I noticed that the other table had a scoop of it over their dessert. I then went to the bathroom at this point after I told the server I would have UBE ice cream with the TURON. When I got back from the bathroom, my friends were laughing and said "They're out". I said, "Out of the UBE ice cream? That's OK, just enjoy the TURON on its own". Then one of my friends said, "No , they are out of both UBE ice cream AND turon".
HAHA! The place wasn't crowded at all, and our server had just told us that UBE ice cream was available for the turon, instead of the Macapuno we were hoping for. Furthermore, the table next to us HAD ube ice cream,and now they were telling us that they were out of everything we asked for? It was SO laughable by this point. The food was really TOO good for us to say that this experience was bad. The service was a little off, and awkward- and I have a few suggestions to the restaurant:
* First and foremost, the food was well above average in taste, quality, and portion. The food was certainly good enough for us to want to go back.
* For a server in a Filipino restaurant to NOT know about what San Miguel is, is like going to Busch Stadium and having a concession worker not knowing what Budweiser is. Also, not knowing what "club soda" is , is rather puzzling. For us to also have to repeat our entrees several times, only to have the server say that she couldn't pronounce the items , let alone, KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, is something that this restaurant can work on. Maybe Nipa Hut can train future servers on pronunciations, basics of each item, brief history, etc.? For the record, our server was very nice and pleasant, but clearly inexperienced and unknowledgeable with very basic items...
* Nipa Hut in STL needs more advertising, and maybe have more of a web presence. | 2positive
| 898 |
What a shit show. Good fucking GOD.
So I live 1/2 block from here and despite being a nerdy gamer I had no idea it existed. A week ago I came in and spent just under $200 on games. Games I know I could get online for 1/2 that price, but I like to try and support local business - especially ones that are run by women or black/brown folx.
Today I decided to have my annual solo birthday lunch here. I was wary of the prices, which are exorbitantly high, but I thought, screw it.
Their website says to make a reservation through a website, so I did. The website for some reason would not allow me to adjust from "2 guests" to just one, so I let it say two. It was for roughly a half hour after I made the res, so I walked on over 10 minutes later, a bit early.
The outdoor table that was reserved for me was huge and set for six. When I walked in, the person at the register (also a server?) seemed immediately annoyed with me. They pointed out the res for for 2 and I apologized and explained, which only seemed to further annoy them.
When I was seated outside, I found that the tables are on such an EXTREME slant that it was physically uncomfortable. I could feel my calves burning trying to maintain a steady posture, so I went in and asked if there was any way I could switch to an indoor seat.
The only available indoor seating was traditional Asian sunken-style tables. You are essentially sitting on the floor and there is a pit beneath the table where your legs dangle in. This offers ZERO back support, and I was at that moment almost inclined to just leave, but I really wanted to make it work.
I ordered the Rook Burger With Fries, described as having dijon mustard, "golden onions" and swiss. I asked to sub cheddar for swiss. $14.50. I also ordered an iced tea and asked for lemon, $3.50 (only one refill allowed,) and the mozzarella sticks, $7.00; and to really go for it, the strawberry shake, $8.00. If you're counting, that's $33 for a one person meal. Not INSANELY high, but that's before tip and tax of course.
My tea came out...no lemon. I didn't notice until the server walked away. I tasted it, and instead of the sort of basic iced tea one would expect, it was some kind of herbal blend. I wasn't thrilled, but it's not the end of the world. However I sat waiting for any sign of my server so I could get that lemon, and they never reappeared.
Roughly 15-20 minutes later another person appeared with my app ANY my entree', thus eliminating the entire purpose of an app. He set it down and I immediately noticed a massive burn on the top bun of the burger. A dark black burn that covered 70% of the top. I asked this person to please bring me some lemon, so he went to go get that.
I opened up the burger to discover a huge white blob of mayo on the inside. I DESPISE mayo. It is the most disgusting substance in the world. There is no mention of mayo being on this burger on the menu; the other available burger SPECIFICALLY mentions mayo, so I had no reason to believe this one would have it. Additionally I noticed the cheese was white, and was concerned it was the swiss and not the cheddar. It also occurred to me at this moment I had yet to receive silverware or a napkin.
But worst of all - the "golden onion" turned out to be grilled onion. If there is anything I hate more than mayo, it's grilled onion. They literally make me wretch. The other burger on the menu is listed with "red onion", so I just assumed this was yellow, not red, onion. Any time I order a burger that says on the menu it has grilled onion I ALWAYS ask them to substitute raw onion.
The server came back with my lemon and I asked about what was going on with the mayo and cheese, so he went to inquire. He came back and said that the dijon mustard is mixed in WITH the mayo, and at that point I was just like...done. The original server/greeter made me feel unwelcome, I waited for an order only to have it come out with mayo and grilled onion when the menu doesn't mention this at all - with a giant burn on the bun...
I just excused myself politely and left, and trust me, I'm never coming back. The great irony is - I am not really that picky. But you have to actually say on your menu what somebody is getting! If a burger comes with a mayo and dijon mix and grilled onions, that's what your menu should say.
So I guess today's solo birthday lunch is gonna be WaWa, and honestly I wish I could just return my $200 in games. I'm really bummed out, as a biracial genderqueer person, because I thought maybe I could make this my go-to for gaming purchases and special meals... but clearly I'm never setting foot in this place again. | 0negative
| 890 |
** BE WARNED, THIS IS NO LONGER A FRENCH INSPIRED MENU**
La Peg has been a great restaurant with great atmosphere and really good service. What has been my favorite thing though, is its French inspired, creative menu. Escargot broiled in delicious garlic, a wonderful beef tartare with capers and shallots. Beef bourguignon poutine, god yes!
Also, the style and atmosphere was comfortable and unpretentious. The beer garden furthered that relaxing and casual atmosphere.
Until last night, the last time I had been to la peg was 6 months ago with friends from out of town. My girlfriend and I would take family and friends to la peg anytime someone visited because we genuinely loved it.
We went last night to get out fix of some French staples, but when we arrived, one look at the menu made me realize this place has made a turn for the worst. What followed was honestly one of the worst and confusing dinners I have ever eaten in Philadelphia.
The restaurant is still named "La Peg" which is so confusing when you consider the "new" menu. Not only is it now just standard American menu but it is honestly one of the most boring menus I have ever seen.
Salads: chef salad, garden salad, and a Waldorf salad.
BORING
Appetizers: Clams casino, shrimp cocktail, crabcakes
SO BORING!
Entrées: Burger with ice burg lettuce and tomato, NY strip with broccoli, broiled salmon, POT ROAST???
SO GODDAMNED BORING
it's like they got a new chef and he took a look at the old menu and was like "I have no clue what poutine even is but I graduated from the Oscar Meyer cooking school for boring ass steakhouses and I trained at Applebee's for 3 years"
So we were so disappointed and I wanted to walk out before we ordered because I just don't want anything from the menu. I wanted something that would tantalize my tastebuds but now I was gonna order either a a damn steak with broccoli or a burger.
Our server, Sergio, is the ONLY reason I am even giving a star. This poor Frenchmen was our server the last time we came to this wonderful French restaurant. Now he has to sit there and explain to us that they changed the menu to something that isn't even French INSPIRED.
I order a burger, medium rare is what I ask for. My Griffins is chatting with Sergio how much she loved the old La Peg's menu and he tells her he could ask the chef to do something off menu. We are typically not those people and decline the offer as to not be "those people" but Sergio insisted it would probably be a delight to the chef so we agree and Sergio pops to the back to check with the chef. He returns momentarily and informs us the chef has mussels that he would happily make her a moules frites.. Would she prefer a wine or beer broth for the mussels. She, of course, decides wine broth. When our food comes out, my burger is so very clearly a frozen patty (perfectly flat on top and bottom of patty and PERFECTLY round with the texture of beef pellets mashed together) which I'm guessing is also why it wasn't cooked medium rare, or medium, or even well done. It had been cooked to the point of no moisture left in the hockey puck. It came topped with watery iceburg lettuce and American cheese. It also came with a massive portion of cheap frozen French fries you would swear you bought at acme in the frozen section.
I was sad and so very frustrated at what this restaurant was becoming. Then my girlfriend told me to taste her mussels.....OH BOY
The chef had made her a mussels Frite in a wine broth BUT the weird and awful thing is he used red wine????? No garlic, no shallot or onion...just red wine, butter, and tarragon. It was bland and so funky tasting because of the red wine that wasn't even completely cooked out. This spoke volumes to both of us...before we were hoping maybe the chef was just under the thumb of a controlling owner who was making them change their menu but was still French trained and a good chef. Our meals last night told me 3 VERY important and damning things:
1) they've lost their identity
2) they've cheapened on their products
3) they have someone in the kitchen who, clearly isn't familiar with anything other than standard cooking methods and dishes
La Peg, please change your name and stop serving French baguettes for table service. It's confusing as shit. I'm so frustrated at you because I see the potential you once had and I see it all but gone now. Maybe your focus is now on a hipster filled beer garden so the restaurant part isn't important to you anymore, I don't know.
I'm sad that I won't be back. Sergio deserves better than you | 0negative
| 835 |
My wife is Japanese and having been to Japan numerous times I have a taste for this type of food. Living years in Hawaii also helped refine my taste for Asian food. My wife visited on opening day and shared with me that the Ramen was just not up to par. It was what she described as noodles in a tasteless broth begging for more salt. My wife ordered another noodle based dish today (without the broth) and has an upset stomach as I type. Hopefully she gets to keep her lunch.
Others have reviewed the noodles, so I will review my order - a large Poke bowl.
The tuna was fresh and is something I would order again if I were to visit again and at a lower price point. The server forgot the side of shoyu based sauce and returned with it after I was halfway finished. I was glad in a way because the fish was more enjoyable without the sauce. I can overlook minor oversights like that - and don't sweat the small stuff. My only complaint in regards to the food itself is that there wasn't enough rice in the bowl. There was however plenty of fresh fish - and I'm glad they didn't skimp on that.
Despite my good dish, I believe that this establishment needs a restart. There is so much wrong that they need to close down for a week or two and have a re-opening after getting their shop in order.
From what I understand they had a good launch in terms of guests, but it is obvious to me why the place was empty today. I would summarize it as bad noodles (according to my wife and her Japanese friends who also opined), very little human service (by their design), an experience to be forgotten, and prices exceeding the quality of food and level of service.
In my opinion they need to do the following:
1. Improve the noodles. Ramen and noodles must taste excellent especially when faced with other Asian food snobs and their well travelled spouses. Plus you are marketed as a noodle shop so your signature noodle based dishes must be outstanding. There is Japanese anime everywhere, and it's all about the noodles. Mediocre food in this market is a death sentence for your business.
2.0 Improve the experience. In Japan when I go to a Ramen shop do you know what I see? A chef. Cooking ramen. Dressed in traditional clothing. Often the chef will talk to you and build a relationship. Open up the kitchen so we can see the magic happen. And be sure that the chef is magic with the noodles and looks the part. This is your chance to discriminate against us white boys. Give me the authentic Asian experience. I want to see an Asian man or woman making some noodles. Not white, not Mexican, not African American. Asian. Currently the chef's identity remains an unsolved mystery. The food appears from behind a concealed kitchen.
2.1 Improve the experience. The up front ordering is not a good experience. The default behavior of the ordering app is to login and requires creating an account. A small link to the bottom allows you to login as a guest, which isn't obvious unless you look closely. Creating an account requires us to have a longer term relationship. I'm not doing that before I have taken the first bite or have met the Ramen chef. I'm not sure how servers are compensated, but currently it's very hands off. Because you pay first, there isn't a tip line and you wouldn't want to tip prior to judging the service.
Scrap the iPads! Ultimately a person took our order anyways so the complex ordering system was all for nothing.
Seriously, go low tech first. Once you master good food, good service, and a great experience then consider introducing high tech. Keep it simple until then. If your servers depend on tips, I can guarantee you they won't be around for long because the ordering process discourages tipping.
3. Close the store for a short time. Fix the obvious. Have a soft launch with friends and family. Fix it again based on their feedback. My wife and I live near by and are happy to provide constructive criticism because despite my poor review today I hope to see them survive. If they act upon the feedback they just might survive another day. I however am unlikely to visit again unless it is after a re-launch or I start to see more positive Yelp reviews as a sign of improvement. | 0negative
| 771 |
This review is for the Dim Sum only.
What is dim sum? Dim sum is an Asian "brunch" that usually gathers friends and family together with of course delicious food and tea!
With the review I'm about to give this place, please don't think I'm being some sort of snobby person.. I consider this place A-OK because of the quality of the food and service. In all honesty, I'd give the food a 2/5 stars...I will explain why in my review..
First off, let me begin that I am originally from San Francisco, so I've eaten dim sum my whole life! So for comparison..it would have a lot of competition.
Secondly, this is probably the "best" dim sum place in the west bank..so if you've never had dim sum, you should definitely give it a try! You'll fall in love with it! But if you're vegan..I highly suggest you don't come, haha. We Asians love our meat :)
Thirdly, this place can get packed around noon..so try coming anytime before that if you can! I think they only open on weekends. Very packed for Sundays!
*Plus: Located next to Hong Kong Market..go grocery shopping afterwards!
LOCATION/PARKING/DECOR:
This place is located in a plaza next to Hong Kong Market and other small little stores around the area. It's not hard to miss a giant panda bear!
Parking lot is huge..so not too hard to find parking in my opinion.
The place is quite big..it's combined with the Panda King Buffet next door. It has a nice Asian touch/decor touch to it and there tables are big enough for your food ;) I also think it would be nice to have a banquet here of some sort.
SERVICE:
I would give the service 4/5 stars. They staff is friendly and try to be accommodating as much as possible. Most of the staff speaks Vietnamese with a little bit of Chinese (owner is Chinese). My parents are Chinese and since they come here a lot, the staff has learned to adapt to my parents Ching-lish.
Today's (7/7/13) visit was a kinda slow with our waiter.. When we were seated at our table from one of the hosts, our waiter took about 5 minutes to get to table to take our drink orders. Our waiter spoke only Vietnamese (for an Asian language) and when my parents tried to order tea, the waiter didn't understand. My parents pointed out the tea to him on the clipboard and he still didn't understand it.. He told us he would be right back after he got some help. We saw another waiter from a different table come by moments later and he helped us with our order and brought out the pot of tea immediately. Suddenly 10 minutes after our original waiter had left (thought he got help from the second waiter), he comes by with a pot of tea thinking we never received it.. When we got it, we were all thinking "what the heck? That took forever for him to return! O_O" I don't blame him because it's not his fault for not knowing Chinese..cause there aren't much Chinese people in the area. But I do feel that he was a bit slow at taking orders and serving us.. Props to the second waiter who wasn't even working at our table for serving us in a timely manner!
The dim sum girls that push the cart around are nice. They always ask if you want anything and they always know what my family and I want. :) PLUSSS!
FOOD:
The food quality just don't fit the requirement for my taste buds. Maybe it's because I've eaten from many dim sum places before this one. 2/5 stars.. (sorry I'm so harsh). Honestly if you've never eaten dim sum, this is a good place to try it..from what I've heard, it's the "best" in the west bank and it's the only place my family comes to eat for dim sum (we love good dim sum!). If my parents come here often, that's good enough for me :) I think compared to other places that I've eaten at, the food doesn't have much flavor to it and it tastes quite bland......
If you have never ate dim sum, here are some recommendations that you can never go wrong with:
+ Egg tarts
+ Shrimp dumpling
+ Siu Mai (Comes in Chicken, pork, etc.)
+ Sticky fried rice
+ Steamed pork ribs
+ Chicken feet (tastes better than it sounds!)
+ Pineapple bread (pronounced ball-lu bao...)
+ Calamari (fried squid)
+ Duck (with steamed buns is good too)
OVERALL:
+ Good service - very accomodating
+ Easy parking
+ Huge place, nice decor
+ Located in a plaza .. next to Hong Kong Market
- Food is OK. (READ MY REVIEW!!)
- Can get crowded around noon, so try coming early!
Hope you guys enjoyed my review! :)
Yay for trying new food!! (if you haven't had it before..) :D | 1neutral
| 830 |
I have lived in reno for I have lived in Reno since 65 and I started going to Miguel's when Miguel was still alive way out self Virginia has his little restaurant out there and then he moved it up to Midtown what they call Midtown now and I've taken my whole family eye for boys and all their family all their friends are there and told all kinds of people about to be going there for years and then slowly III new Elmer when I did hair over on Prater I met Elmer not his wife Elmer bought it from Miguel's daughter and he used to be nice and now the busy or gets the nastier and router and just everything is sad because they have good food but their food now is like hitting Miss sometimes it's good sometimes if you can't eat it at torrible you know and you try to tell him and he takes offense just over the hamburger meat or tasted rotten one time and he actually got mad they got mad I called in I called in an order and it got messed up and she blame me for it and yelled at me so I didn't go in for a long time because of her being rude and stuff cuz that you know at what it used to be my favorite restaurant and now their food is up and down I'm down you never known the way that they treat you there like rushing in and rushing out in rushing you in and being very nasty and I had another little episode I didn't finish my margarita they took it when I came back my son try to save and tell him they don't know it was finished but it wasn't finished the whole place or at the atmosphere is just is just changing it's not like it used to be at all friendly and he used to be friendly and now it's just give me the money give me the money there was super rude there Foods you know don't know you don't know if it's going to be good or bad and I love that place last time I went in there had the margarita episode and she just showed me on Miguel's wife and acted like I was some piece of crap like I was nothing I mean absolutely nothing so I think Modell's is really really gone downhill and I'm not the only one who says it people you know they're just too quick and I think I was I think of his make the money get him and get him out it doesn't matter if their food is good or not you can't say anything like if they serve your Coke and there's no carbonation in it a Pepsi and you try to say hey babe I think you're a mean Habib Miguel I think your carbonation is gone do they get upset upset you can't tell him anything you can't you do and you're not yelling or screaming just trying to tell him something they're just rude his wife is really rude extremely not just a little bit she there's no friendly to her and I hate to see if it's a Prejudice thing or not because I am white but anyhow I don't like being treated like a piece of crap and I've been going in there forever but she's always been rude and now this last past I'm over the margarita and and he came up there when we were trying to talk and he just turned around and walked away didn't even want to handle it so I just want to it's going down their food is going down used to be good and it's just no good no more they're just too greedy it's not a good atmosphere anymore they just want to hurry up and get everybody knew anybody they can in there and get out and kind of hurts my feelings that's all I wanted to say I also wanted to let you know I was in there with my son and his wife cuz I all my whole family everybody goes in there and that's how they treated us but that's going to be the last time they treat us like that it's really sad because I guess I'm going to lose Miguel's used to be my favorite restaurant is still sketchy you don't know if they'll be good about around they're going to treat you even their workers were treating you bad they're all like a little click thing now they don't care of Miguel used to come up and sit down with you and talk to you and it was a good atmosphere left and now it's a cold atmosphere everything about it bye they donot appreciate the business and I've know Elmer since he opened it's all about money now I was a good customer eat there Weekley almost now get them in and get them out no bueno. Anymore at all sad when u start not caring for people who have supported yr business for years locals I never thought I'd be reviewing them like this I work with people every day. And tell where good Mexican food is I've sent alot of people no more | 0negative
| 891 |
Before I go on and on about how delicious the food was, I'm going to tell you a bit about the company. Dinner Lab started in New Orleans and now also operates in Austin and Nashville. What they do: Take talented local chefs that don't have the opportunity to cook the food they love in the restaurant at which they work, and give them a venue to cook their dream meal. Each dinner is done pop-up style. The locations vary and are usually very unconventional (think empty warehouse). The chef cooks a five-course meal paired with drinks, while guests sit at long tables, make new friends and eat to their heart's content.
I chose to attend the Puerto Rican dinner cooked by talented chef Francisco "Paco" Robert. 24 hours before the event we got an email with a link to the address of the dinner. We pulled up to a warehouse space off of 4th Ave South and walked through a maze of open studs to find a beautiful setup.
Dinner Lab really knows how to fancy up an empty space! We arrived at 7 and were welcomed with cocktails. They had a nicely stocked bar, with a talented bartender ready to mix things up to your liking. I went with one of the house drinks which was a sweet tropical punch with a starfruit as garnish. Fancy pants!
Our first course was Bunuelos de Bacalo, which are cod fritters. The fritter was served with pickled squash and a lime-crema. This reminded me of Jamaican fish cakes, which I love. It had just the right amount of fishy flavor that was cut nicely with the lime-crema. The drink pairing was a passion fruit mojito which was added some complimentary sweetness to the saltiness of the cod.
Our second dish was a bean stew with pig tails. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I like all the parts of the pig that most people turn away from, so seeing this on the menu made me happy. I loved the flavor of the pig tails. They were cooked until they were fall-off-the-bone tender and with the beans made a really thick hearty stew. It was paired with a Yazoo Hefeweizen (a beer that is normally too "banana-y" for me) but I thought this pairing was genius. The light fruitiness of the beer really cut the thick fattiness of the stew.
Next up was ceviche on roasted eggplant with corn salsa and almonds. I have to be honest- this was the only dish that I thought fell short. The eggplant was overcooked and was pretty soggy and if you add tender and soft ceviche to it, you get an overly mushy plate. I feel like the fish would have been better showcased on a eggplant chip or crusty bread. The upside was the corn and almonds were a really nice addition and added a tad bit of much needed crunch. The ceviche was paired with a white Spanish wine that I enjoyed, considering I'm mostly a red wine gal.
Alright people, hold on to your panties, here is the Pièce de résistance of this meal: Lengua a la Fricasse. This dish is braised beef tongue with a pumpkin mash, an onion raisin slaw and some fried pig fat cracklings. I could hardly contain my excitement over this dish! The tongue was perfect, cooked so long and low that the meat just melted in your mouth. And to Chef Paco's credit, the tongue retained amazing flavor and didn't have the curse of being bland. The pumpkin mash and the onion raisin slaw added a really nice sweet note to the fatty tongue. And who can say no to FRIED FAT?! Everything about this dish was beautiful and I will probably try to recreate this in my kitchen sometime soon when I'm feeling brave. The Lengua was paired with a Spanish red wine.
Let's talk dessert, because this meal ended on a high note. It's hard to find a well-rounded chef that can also make a really stand out sweet dish (hello every season of Top Chef- I'm looking at you) and Paco had this DOWN. Dessert was Tembleque a Coconut Flan served with dulce de leche, spiked peaches and ajonjoli (candied sesame seeds). I have a soft spot for flan and this was made slightly different, using starch instead of egg as a binder. The consistency was smooth and cool and was cut with the rum of the peach. I will admit that I made sure to pick up all the caramel from the plate with my finger. I HAVE NO FOOD SHAME. The drink that was paired with this was like a Puerto Rican version of egg nog, but fancier and way better than any egg nog I've ever had. It was thick and sweet (condensed milk FTW) and I even went back to beg the bartender for seconds.
Overall, I was totally impressed with this dinner and everything Dinner Lab is trying to do. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the polite and attentive waitstaff and the fact that everyone made a pointed effort to make guests comfortable, happy, and encourage mingling. | 2positive
| 868 |
Visited Cigar City Brewing on Saturday afternoon. Ordered two Flights before the crowd got to be too much and left.
Quality
Cigar City Brewing has some serious history. Founded in 2007, this brewery did a lot to change the beer scene in Florida. They have some of the most recognizable beers in stores and bars across the state, and are widely considered among the best in the World at what they do, just look above their back bar and you will see the hardware to prove it. With all the success, I was still very glad to see the willingness to mess around with new ideas and flavors. The back room had a ridiculous 26 beers on tap, which I only wish I had enough time to try all of. I ended up sampling eight I had never had before, Oatmeal Raisin, Cherry Grove, Cucumber Saison, Port-Barrel Aged Barleywine-Style Ale, Nitro: Xenu, Nitro: Minaret ESB, Cask: Template Stout, and Pants! Pants! Pants! DPA. It was an eclectic selection and one that showed me they are much more than just Jai Alai and Maduro. My favorite of the bunch was Nitro: Xenu a delicious and light honey cream ale. It only had small hints of honey, but made for a perfect and refreshing beer. I also fell for the Port-Barrel Aged Barleywine-Style Ale, which was very well balanced and brought out the best from the port influence. I was less enthusiastic about the too heavy and too sweet Cask: Template Stout, and the cucumber explosion that was their Cucumber Saison.
Quantity
Even though they have it set up for you to order Flights of 4, you are able to order individual samplers. I appreciated the slightly larger size, giving guests a better chance to enjoy and analyze, before committing to a draft.
Value
The 5oz tasters ranged from $2 to $4, which was a decent deal considering the slightly larger sample size.
Ambiance
Cigar City Brewing is an institution in Tampa. Not only is it a shrine for beer lovers, it also brings tourists as a touted top attraction. The massive warehouse that houses the facility and taproom is found in Carver City. The surrounding area is very industrial as a result of the stricter laws when it was started. Outside the front door they have a few picnic tables and a food truck was posted up, I am sure it is a prime spot for any truck. When you enter you have the ability to walk to the left for a tour or head deeper into the taproom. The taproom space is divided into two bar areas with some retail and merchandise items in the center. The front bar is smaller and more of a casual hangout. The back bar is much larger and comes with a constant battle to grab the next round. I preferred the space in the front, but I got all my beer in the back. They did not have any televisions or screens any where, which made their discount for beer during World Cup games seem odd. I think at least one or two screens would be a good idea. In the background soft rock played, but don't expect to hear it in the busy back area.
Crowd
I figured the brewery would be busy on Saturday afternoon, but I was not expecting it to be standing room only. It only took a quick look at the larger back bar area to realize, we were never going to get a seat there. We lucked out and found a table close to the door, but watched as many others were left standing with their beers. Others opted to take a tour, likely with hopes of more space when they came out the other end, but based on the flow, I feel like they were in for disappointment. The crowd tended to be family-oriented with lots of kids and dogs. I also got the impression it was a lot of out-of-towners, many of whom were just looking for something to do and not really invested in beer.
Service
They have two bars. There is the casual bar up front, which has a limited tap list and only serves drafts, but has friendly and available bartenders ready to help. Then there is the frantic bar at the back, which has a ton of options and allows you to select flights, but in turn has a never ending line preventing any real interaction with the staff. I had no complaints as they did a good job keeping the crowd moving, just expect more of an assembly line mentality in the back.
Parking
Cigar City Brewing is a big name in beer, so it was not a surprise pulling up to the giant facility that houses both their brewery and their tap room. This also meant a massive parking lot that easily handled the multitude of guests on Saturday afternoon.
Extra
My biggest issue with Cigar City Brewing was how crowded and chaotic it got, which I can hardly fault them for. They have done a great job crafting excellent beers to bring in folks, and I just wish I had the patience to deal with the massive crowd to try more of them. I also wish they had some televisions, especially for a big sporting events like the World Cup. | 2positive
| 891 |
My classmates at my jewelry class were raving about Gangster Vegan. I'd been to Media somewhat recently to walk my dogs at night. They love sniffs on State Street, which requires a slow walk, and allows me to take in all the new places. But apparently this place has been here a while, and I missed it. THANK YOU, classmates, for your raving! I went straight from class to get dinner here!
They have replaced the awful, overpriced fro-yo place that dwindled here farrrrrr longer than I'd ever imagine it could. I am SO happy that these folks are cooking up a better vibe here! Yay!!!!
As I approached, I smelled garlic butter wafting onto the street from Fellini's, and then a huge steak smell hit me, from any number of nearby places (probably all of them). I was starting to worry I'd made a mistake getting vegan. But they came through big time! And I am sure my meal was a lot healthier than those other tempting options.
When you enter, the 2Pac table is on your right, and Biggie is on your left. This is perfect because you're facing south, so it puts 2Pac on the west, and Biggie on the east.
Other rappers are featured on other tables. They're beautiful. And, there is a classic Philly mural on the wall!
I had called ahead, and took about 20min to get there (more than enough time), so I was bummed to find them only 1/4 though my order when I arrived. I get it if they had other walk-ins, but at dinner time on Sat, they gotta handle this. Hire more staff, please. I was tired and hungry from a long day in class, and ended up waiting another 10-15mins. In light of my added wait, it was frustrating to see a tip jar, and also be asked to tip, specifically in a step I had to pass through in my credit card transaction. My total was $34, which is decent money for takeout. Are these guys not paid enough? I want them paid fairly, but takeout should be tip free, IMO. I know this is becoming a thing, but it's not my thing. So I caved under pressure and did a tip, but felt frustrated later because I had to wait a long time even though I called ahead. This is my deal, I get it, but just a heads up for those who aren't prepped for the set up here, and have guilt triggers like I do.
That all said, the guys were very sweet and chill. The one who helped me most was Phoenix (sp?), and he was very friendly, and happy to explain things, answer questions, and was gracious that I told him I was there based on people who loved their food.
The food?
Absolutely DELICIOUS! Lots of amazing flavors and seasoning going on. Gourmet skillz in every bite! Media has something to be damn proud of in this place!
I sampled:
AY PAPI (Burrito Bowl)
Brown Rice, Romaine, Black Beans, Walnut Taco Meat, Pico De Gallo, Pickled Jalapeño, Avocado, Cashew Nacho Cheeze, Cilantro Date Dressing
DIRTY SOUTH (BBQ Bowl)
Brown Rice, Marinated Kale, Black Beans, Roasted Beets, Marinated Mushrooms, Carrots, Pickled Cabbage, Sunflower Seed Cheeze, Homemade BBQ Sauce
MOS DEF (Banana Chocolate Pie)
Bananas, Coconut Oil, Dates, Maple Syrup, Cacao Powder, Cacao Nibs, Sunflower Seeds, Vanilla. (NUT FREE)
The tastes going on are awesome, and the meals are HUGE and filling. The Walnut Taco Meat, doesn't taste like meat meat, but it definitely gives you that seasoned taste, and replaces meat beautifully (and I am a meat eater). The sauces they put on top are excellent, and even the rice at the base of the dish, is cooked with such good seasoning it could stand on its own. Everything was delicious!!! It came within reach of the best bowls I've ever had in my life, at Taco Grilla in Key West (IDK if those can ever be topped), but please, this is a huge compliment. Those bowls are Michelin bowls, IMHO... and these come within reach!
The pie was definitely not what "normal" banana chocolate pie would taste like... kind of a goat cheese or yogurt tang, mixed with banana and then chocolate was the low note subtle flavor. The crust tasted like carob to me. I am not a fan of carob, and it's not a listed ingredient, so I'm not saying that was in it, but it tasted carob-y, IMO. It was different and interesting, and made with skill for sure. I'm glad I tried it. If I am craving sweet sweets I wouldn't go for these, but for something savory-sweet and healthy it was nice.
So the food is 5 stars for me, but the long wait, was a drawback this time, and also the menu priced the bowls at $12 each online, but I was charged $13 each. So I wish they'd keep their info updated.
I will be very happy to return. My classmate also said the kale salad was THE BEST SALAD she's ever had, so I gotta try that next! So much on the menu I want to eat. | 2positive
| 864 |
RUN, don't walk, to Blue Sage! It was hands down one of my new favorite finds - so delicious! This places boasts catering to vegans, vegetarians, and other food-restrictive diets, but this food can stand up on its own - vegetarian friendly or not!
I came here midweek with 2 coworkers for a fun evening out, and we ordered a variety of plates to share. One of our tablemates is a gluten free, vegetarian, who doesn't eat sugar or soy. Everything we had on the table was within those parameters (excluding ONE dish which had edamame in it, which she ate around). Below is what we ordered:
My least-favorite of this night would have to be the Taquerias we ordered. The tacos are served on three warm, soft artisanal yellow corn tacos or there's the option for gluten-free blue corn johnnycakes - we opted for the second ones. The johnnycakes were super soft and fluffy, like - well, a johnnycake; not exactly a tortilla but still good. We ordered two different ones, both which were piled HIGH with toppings and potatoes. Although I appreciate the potato aspect of the taco, it ultimately ended up being too much of the same texture. There was no crunch, or sharpness, or zing - which is probably why these were our least favorite. They were still really good - but paled when juxtaposed with the remaining dishes. We ordered the two below:
- Buddha: sweet potato hash, chile creme fraiche, peanut, avocado, heirloom pico, cucumber. Good, the chile creme fraiche had a bit of spice, but very subtle.
- Bravas: Spanish potatoes, heirloom pico, irish cheddar, creme fraiche. Familiar with patatas bravas, I was expecting this one to have a bit of heat to it - but the flavor all melded together, nothing flavorful really stuck out.
The talented chef makes Empanadas from potato masa (so they're gluten free!) and were absolutely amazing. We ordered the Empanada Rizada con Queso (beluga lentils, black kale, quesa fresco with toybox tomato avocado relish, gazpacho, sweet pepper escabeche). I wasn't expecting much from these, but omg yum! The potato masa made for a hard exterior shell that immediately gave way to the potato-ness you expect. Thin wrapper, filled with goodness inside - slightly bitter from the kale, perfectly balanced with the queso and the sweet pepper escabeche. Definitely a must order! These bad boys come 2 or 3 to an order, you can choose!
My absolute favorite of the night was the Med Plate appetizer. This was falafel, baba ghanoush, feta, grilled asparagus, and baby beets. The falafel was perfection - super crunchy, highly flavorful, and perfectly soft in the center! Sometimes falafel can be too dry, but this had the perfect balance of texture and moisture! These, dipped in the baba ghanoush was heaven. The baba was super creamy, slightly garlicky, and 100% delish - it's hard to find baba I DON'T like, but this one definitely hit the nail on the head. The pita it was served with was warm, and salty - a perfect pairing. (Pita is not GF.)
We also ordered the Roasted Fingerling Potato Salad, which I normally would never order - I mean, a salad with potatoes on it, that's kinda funky.
But I'm so glad we did - it was sublime! Roaster fingerlings with char-grilled onions on spring mix, topped with maple pecans, buttermilk blue, maple mustard vinaigrette. We subbed the blue cheese for feta, and feasted on this bad-boy of a salad. The beets were out of this world, and the potatoes actually went really well with everything! The real star of this dish, though - the salad dressing, that was AMAZING.
Can't skip dessert, of course - we shared the Hazelnut toffee basket. Although it was vegan (no dairy!) it tasted like a very rich chocolate ganache - almost sinful, and thankfully we shared it 3 ways. We didn't even finish it, but it was really good! Very curious about how it's made, from a culinary standpoint - it was beautiful!
** My friend went back here for dinner recently and ordered the Falafel Wrap - which is roughly the size of an adult forearm (read: MASSIVE). She brought in leftovers for lunch the next day, and that wrap was awesome! Definitely ordering this (and everything else on the menu) next time I come here - it was THAT good, even a day later! For the record, it was falafel fritters, tomato relish, grilled red onions and peppers, cucumber yogurt, red pepper hummus. Served with baby greens and chile lime vinaigrette
I seriously cannot wait until I can get my butt back here! Check it out, you won't be sorry! BYOB which is always a plus, and plenty of seating for large parties, or small. Prices are super reasonable, especially considering the quality of ingredients! | 2positive
| 807 |
I am absolutely appalled and livid at this scum of a restaurant and the owner. They served my TWO YEAR OLD child a raw burger and he now has extreme food poisoning!
My husband, my 2 year old son and I came for dinner May 22nd at 5pm. We were seated outside, they are under staffed so it took forever to get orders in and for our food to come out. My son ordered the burger off the kids menu. It came out and he had a couple of bites while holding the burger with both hands. The amount of flies that were landing on our food was gross so we asked to be moved inside. Upon being moved inside under the super bright lights and cutting my sons burger we could plainly see the whole inside of his burger was RED, raw and uncooked! A waitress came by and was appalled and went to tell who I now know is the owners husband who tried to discretely walk by to look until I caught his eye and he took the burger and went to make a new one. While it was alarming, we didn't realize how bad it would get since he had only consumed a couple of bites but in only a few short hours at 11pm my son was asleep in bed and throwing up everywhere.
He continued vomiting non stop so we took him to the ER where he was given an anti nausea pill while we waited to see the doctor. This pill did nothing and my son continued to vomit except now the contents of his stomach were empty so he was vomiting up bile and dry retching. Upon being admitted he was given an IV and more anti nausea medication so he could try to get some sleep.
We were at the hospital until Sunday where they ran tests and by pure luck decided it was 'only' food poisoning and not E. coli or salmonella as at that time he had no diarrhea or bloody diarrhea.
Upon 11am on Sunday when The Lazy Gator (or lazy owner/lazy cooks it should now be called) opened my husband called and spoke with the hostess and asked for the owner and was told she doesn't come in today so he asked for a manager and she gave the phone to a waitress. This waitress said she would get the owner 'Sunny' to give him a call back. Never heard one word back from her. I reached out via Facebook and Facebook messenger and heard nothing back. My husband, growing frustrated at 3pm drove to the restaurant himself and surprise surprise Sunny was there! She claims no one told her. Not one word of sorry and the best she could do was give a check back for the amount of the meal minus the 20% tip which against my better judgement I left since it wasn't our waiters fault.
All day Sunday my son continued throwing up, not eating or drinking and having diarrhea. The owner finally replied to my message saying she had "sorry ur going thru that talked to my husband earlier" - and????? The level of pitiful ownership or conscious she has is frightening. We took him to his pediatrician first thing Monday morning who confirmed it was food poisoning. He took 3 stool samples from my sons diarrhea to test for bacteria/e coli etc.
As Monday progressed my son continued having diarrhea every 15 mins and he has developed such severe diaper rash he screams in agony to be changed, CANNOT WALK ON HIS LEGS AS HE IS IN SO MUCH PAIN, has to walk on his knees or crawl.
We consulted with a lawyer who was phenomenal and caring (more than we can say about this trash of an owner) and the only thing that is saving her ass from getting her restaurant closed and owned by us is the fact that her husband took the burger away as soon as he saw it so we do not have the burger to test and food poisoning cases are notoriously hard.
All up this has cost my family missed days of work, paying for daycare that my son is too sick to go to, a $150 rug that is now ruined with throw up and diarrhea and would cost more to have cleaned than it's worth, hospital and doctor visits, 30 diapers in 2 days, pedialyte, ondanestron pills, diaper rash creams, the list goes on..
Do yourself a favor and avoid this place like the Black Plague that it is - as a patron or as someone looking for work. Do not take this risk your health is more important. Do not risk your livelihood this lady is a cold hearted B who is morally corrupt - do your own research she has questionable allegations against her for buying meat illegally. | 0negative
| 818 |
Hubby and I decided to try Sage Mediterranean last night. I'd been wanting to go there for a while as I love Mediterranean food. We like supporting local businesses when we can and I have really been wanting to work my way up Bridge Street since there are so many restaurants in Phoenixville now.
We like to go out to eat once a week so working our way down Bridge Street is a doable venture. Still, it's kind of scary to try a new venue when you know for sure where you can get a good meal. I'm guessing we probably eat a meal out in the $75-$100 area once or twice a month. The other two times we usually keep it under $50 or go out for breakfast which ends up being around $35.
To start with we asked our waiter for appetizer suggestions. We settled on one he suggested - the crab stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon. We specifically asked if the dish would be enough for two. The waiter said it would be. I don't know about you but 2 medium sized stuffed shrimp was not satisfying. It came on a very large bed of undressed spring mix. We should have been urged to ordered two appetizers.
I'd been helping our son move into his new apartment and was hungry as heck! You know when you are so hungry you'll eat just about anything? Well, hungry as I was the shrimp were not all that great.
For dinner my husband ordered another special recommended by the waiter, Linguini Fruit de Mer. The sauce was bland and starchy. The pasta was overcooked and mushy. The shrimp still had the tail shells on them which my husband did not like. The waiter never came by to give him grated cheese or even ask if he wanted any. The salmon had a nasty frozen salmon flavor. My husband does NOT like fish that has been frozen. We both thought the waiter, although very polite and nice, ignored us.
I ordered the Greek Salad and Shrimp Scampi Appetizer as a main course with a side of asparagus for my dinner because I like eating a lot of vegetables.
-The Greek Salad was nothing special. I order it frequently at many, many restaurants. I expected a typical lemon, garlic, and olive oil dressing. Instead it was dressed with what tasted like maybe an Italian salad dressing? There was no description of the salad on the menu. There were two tomato wedges, two 1/4" thick diagonally cut cucumber slices, a few kalamata olives scattered around and maybe 4 pieces of feta. It was disappointing to say the least.
-The Shrimp Scampi was not a true shrimp scampi. It tasted more like a shrimp picatta with a very big lemon flavor and capers. The flavor was great if you were ordering shrimp picatta. The primary flavors should have been butter, olive oil and garlic with all other flavors taking a back seat (lemon, white wine, crushed red pepper, parsley, etc.). Again, the shells were left on the tails. I can vouch for how annoying it was.
-The asparagus, like the shrimp appetizer, came on a large bed of spring greens. It was $6. Once I removed all the lettuce I was left with about 1/4 cup of asparagus. It had been grilled, which was fine, but the stalks were so thin I could barely stab them with my fork. Picture a cocktail straw and you'll have a pretty good idea of how thin the spears were.
The waiter forgot to bring us the tea we had ordered to drink with dinner. We ended up telling the busboy who reminded the waiter. He brought it out at the end of our meal with an apology. It was not hot. This was the time when we would normally have been thinking about coffee and looking at the dessert menu. Considering the the poor service we got and the unfulfilling meal there was no way we were staying for dessert and coffee.
It took forever to get our check. When we did we were happy to pay and leave.
Since this place is BYOB I couldn't help but wonder if everything might have been a bit rosier if we'd had a few glasses of wine. We had a nice time with one another even if the dining experience wasn't so great.
During the meal we both wished we'd either gone to Il Granaio down the street or The Olive Tree in Lionville. | 0negative
| 755 |
I've long heard about BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, though for the most part the friends I know who are fiercely loyal to it patronize the Noblesville location of this growing national chain that started in California in 1978.
There are three Central Indiana locations - Noblesville, Avon, and this location in Greenwood adjacent to the mall.
I was in the Greenwood area for Independence Day festivities and opted to snag a new dining experience and Yelp review. As I'm also participating in a steps challenge for work, no small commitment for a footless guy in a wheelchair, I decided I'd combine dinner with mall walking (or wheeling in my case).
While BJ's is technically part of the mall, it's not, to my knowledge, able to be entered from the inside of the mall. Greenwood Park Mall has expanded and developed a row of outside retail spots including Bar Louie and BJ's. They've got a couple accessible parking spots, not really enough, and they were taken so I ended up parking at a different mall entrance, wheeling through the mall, and entering through the BJ's exterior door that has a concrete ramp up to the door. The entryway actually has a revolving door, though it also has two side doors that can be used by those unable to access through the revolving door.
Once you enter, you arrive at a hosting area. The dining areas surround you - they are huge and enhanced by high ceilings and a rather warm, comfortable interior that is pretty grand. There's also a bar area. I did laugh - it was kind of comical that in order to access wheelchair friendly tables we had to go to the left, through the bar area, toward the back of the restaurant, then to a ramp that took us to the dining area that was actually immediately to the left of us.
In other words, kind of poor design even if accessibility was actually addressed. The ramp itself is very nicely done.
I was seated at a comfortable 4-top. I think I arrived at some sort of shift change - an early evening hour around 5pm. I'm not a big fan of the not so silent whispering "Are you going to take this one?" I get it, but if you're going to have those customer service impacting discussions you should probably take them to the back. Quite simply, it's unprofessional.
This discussion did not involve the young woman, Barbara, who did become my server. It more involved two others who simply appeared to not want to be.
As I'd never been to a BJ's, the modest delay in getting a server allowed me time to peruse the menu. I opted for my usual unsweetened iced tea, of course. I had decided on a Brewhouse Burger, but my server informed me of a special on the "works" burgers that included one appealing option. So, kudos to Barbara for a solid recommendation. I ended up going with a bacon cheeseburger that comes with fries, bottomless (though I was not offered anymore). They do cook to order and mine did arrive medium well.
I think the casualness of the holiday created a slower pace. My understanding is this location is usually quite crowded - today's crowd was pretty modest and it just seemed like everything was off rhythm a bit. It wasn't bad, not by any means, but everything took just a little bit longer than I'd have expected. Granted, this isn't fast food but when I can read an entire People magazine before food arrives then I think it's safe to say things are just a touch slow.
Barbara, for the most part was spot on. She was friendly, helpful and made sure the iced tea got refilled more than once. She didn't mind when I wanted to linger a bit and do some more reading. I was in the mood for a quiet, casual meal and I did definitely get that. Of course, I did mention not getting offered more fries - not a huge faux pas, but if you're going to tell a customer they're bottomless then at least one offer seems reasonable.
The bill did initially have a mistake - I got charged the regular price for the burger ordered, not the sale price. However, when I mentioned it this was fixed without question and I was actually thanked for pointing it out. Again, kudos for that to Barbara.
The burger was good - a decent sized slab o' meat and a good serving of lightly browned, seasoned fries. If I were to order the burger again, I'd likely opt for my original order which didn't quite have as many of the additional toppings. The seasoning on the fries is a tad heavy for my taste, but they were good and I'd easily eat them again. You can also upgrade to sweet potato fries.
BJ's is a tad higher priced than most places within the fast casual arena, an interesting fact given that this mall also has an Applebee's. This area has a lot of restaurants and BJ's is clearly a popular choice. Having had both BJ's and Applebee's, I'd say that BJ's is a bit fresher and a bit more upscale in terms of environment.
With a handful of minor issues, a 3-star rating feels accurate for today's experience. I'd go back, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. | 1neutral
| 906 |
MMM OOOH YES(insert various moans of pleasure). That was me, on New Years Eve at midnight, my first 2010 mouthful was of buttery vinegary almondy Truite Meuniere. Our tres french 10:45 dinner at Bistrot La Minette was perfect, absolutement magnifique!
We arrived a bit early and had cocktails at the tiny bar (a champagne with a splash of St Germaine and a Sazerac), and it was at the very first, just so very pleasant, we were greeted warmly, had a nice chat with the bartender and were seated before our res time.
We were snuggled into a sweet little two top with a super comfy banquette, It was so charming, every thing the napkins, the water bottles, the cute little bread bucket, the server...he was just sweet and happy and though probably exhausted from the long night, we saw no sign of it.
We polished off our bucket o' baquette in moments, it was perfect, the butter was even special. When our server informed us that it would be a few minutes till another loaf came out of the oven, I was happy to wait.
As a first course we had Terrine de Foie Gras (NYE special) and Flammenkuche (Alsatian tart of creme fraiche, bacon & onions). Le foie, what can I say, it was heavenly, it was so good I ate it in teeny tiny lady like bites so I could make it last, it was all I could do not to faint with pleasure. I offered the Bf a bite, but only because I love him, and he was like oh my god, is that mayonnaise...now he was referring to the texture which was so ridiculously unctuous. In exchange for the wee bite I was given a large slice of flammenkuche,,sweet, bacony creamy..chewy..is there a french word for umami?.
To counteract the enormous amount rich fattiness we had just eaten we ordered a Salade Verte to share as a mid course. (Hoping that french paradox would happen, the salad would magically erase the-foie-bacon-cremefaiche calories)
It was simply wonderful, soft boston lettuce tossed with a dijon-y vinaigrette and chopped chives. Perfect Simple.
We brought a bottle of Moet White star with us ($20 corkage, totally reasonable) and got a pitcher of house wine ($20 so reasonable!) with the entrees , which was totally decent, drinkable and came in the cutest little stoneware vessel.
Now my Truite Meuniere, I will say I was perhaps une petite dissapointed that it did not come out whole on a sizzling copper plate, boned sur la table, they way Julia Child's first one was, but I quickly got over that once I tasted it . Ahh mon dieu, it was just so good, and was served on what I can only describe as a hillock of haricot verts, with a few fingerlings scatted about. I was soo happy to have a generous amount of veg on my plate, j'adore les haricot verts!
I am so tired of the singular fava bean, the duet of asparagus, the lone lump of spinach.
As wonderful as my trout was my greedy eyes were drawn to the perfectly cooked Entrecote de Boeuf (rib eye) across the table from me, nor could I keep my hands off the adorable little casserole of potatoes gratin. Despite a warning from both our server and my Bf that the plate was hot I practically lunged for it.
The Steak was so delicious, it was just so delicious..it was the last bite of 2009, a delicious ending to a really awful year. Did I mention that it was delcious?
At midnight they brought around glasses of champagne and we all toasted, there were no silly hats or noise makers or singing of auld lang syne, which was fine, it would have detracted from our eating
There was no way we were leaving without dessert and though I had planned on cheese, I had not planned on the generous portions, a cheese plate could've killed me so we split a Chocolate Pots de Cream..which was as we came to expect perfect.. ( did I growl at the busboy when he tried to take what he thought was an empty plate away?..maybe) Our server brought us a small complimentary taste of caramel ice cream and pear sorbet...he said to make up to the wait for our first course, but we never noticed the time.
The pear sorbet really no way to describe it without the obvious.. it was like biting into an incredibly juicy ripe pear that just happened to be frozen, I slipped teaspoon of it into my glass of champagne..I suggest doing the same.
We smuggled the lovely chocolates, that arrived with the check (so reasonable!), in our pockets for later.. left the remainder of our bottle ofchampagne for our server and went out into the the new year full of good cheer and good food and hope for the future.
La Minette gave us some of that hope, it was warm and friendly, delicious and above all gracious. Grace is an underestimated quality and one that truly makes a difference.
Merci Beaucoup La Minette et Une Bonne Annee! | 2positive
| 856 |
Ok I'll make this short, I kinda promise lol.
I rarely go here because it's 20+mins from my house. I live in NW Boise, this shit is in south Boise.
So yeah, I rarely go. I'd probably go more if we had more locations and if I had a big ass family to feed lol.
Costco on Oct 8th received 500 count of a 3 pack Cabbage Patch Dolls for $19.99.
As a kid, my mom went CRAZY for them....back in the 80s. She camped out for them, like so many did when they were originally released.
That year, we woke up Christmas morning to THIRTY of them, displayed, sitting on the couch.
We still have almost all of them.
I had a boy, Marshall, a girl named, Julia, and I eventually got a preemie, but I can't remember his name lol. I'm pretty sure my parents knew at that moment that I was.....not a straight kid hahahaha!
So when I read an article the other day that Costco has this set of 3 for that price, I sent her the article and she asked me to look for them in the Boise store while my brother and sister will look for them in the Rochester NY and Syracuse NY stores.
Boise was sold out in a week. Nampa/Caldwell...same deal. However those stores got 250 units vs Boise's 500.
Anyway, I went and asked a lady if they were in stock, super nice lady and she said they sold out super fast, but to go up front and talk to a person wearing a red vest and they can tell me if they'll be getting them back in before Christmas.
I went up to a CUSTOMER SERVICE representative, a red vest supervisor named, Austin. His customer service skills are the F'N WORST! He had ZERO interest in helping me.
I told him I was looking for them and was that I was told to look for a red vest person.
Me: I'm looking for this and that and wondering this and that (giving you the short version lol)
Austin: ok? And what? They're sold out, I told you that.
Me: umm ok, no you did not. Are you gonna get them back in?
Austin: no
Me: can u check because lady in clothing said they may be back in before Christmas
Austin: no. Is that all?
Me: WOW! ok then!
Seriously, the white wall behind him had a better personality and probably would have been a better customer service rep.
The lady in clothing told me that they look it up on the computer for you to get the info.
He literally pissed me OFF! He absolutely no desire to do his job and if I was AT ALL douchey, no lie, I would legit admit that to you guys.
But I needed help and I was super friendly with him. I never have reason to be mean to customer service reps because I used to be one and I KNOW how important it is to be respectful. Even after he basically refused to help in any way...I was still nice. I just laughed, and said, wow! Ok then.
I waited because I really wanted to find these for my mom, so I could get them for my 2 little nieces.
I then went up to, Shad. INCREDIBLY! INCREDIBLY! nice person. I told him briefly how my interaction with Austin was....just bad.
He didn't pay much attention to that and thats fine.
He was so friendly. He actually shook my hand, he was so nice when telling me how fast they went and how surprised he was they went as fast as they did.
He ACTUALLY LOOKED IT UP on the computer...just like nice lady in clothing said they would do and I didn't even have to ask him lol.
He showed me the date that all the stores got them, how many units each store received...he was super helpful. He also said to probably not expect them to come back in.
Then he joked about how the media is always late reporting things like that....how the stories (if they do one) always come out a week or 2 AFTER the product is gone hahaha!
So I'm sad I couldn't help my mama out :( Amazon has them for $45 bucks. Those are just people looking to rip people off. The SHADE of it all haha!
Shad, if by some incredibly random chance you see this, you're a good man. You know how to deal with the public and even if you get burned out with them, you still keep it professional and I cannot thank you enough ESPECIALLY since it was a f'n MAD! HOUSE! In there when I went.
Austin could learn a lot from guys like you.
Thanks for your help.
One last bit, parking at this store....suuuuuucks! Hahaha! Park at the movies and walk over hahahaha! Because that's basically where you'll end up lol
Ok, I lied about this being short! Eeek! Sorry! I can't help myself!
Thanks, Yelpers!!!
Cheers! | 1neutral
| 844 |
Okay guys, I almost never give one stars, but this place has made my terrible list.
One of my Tampa friends suggested we go to this place after we failed to come up for a place for Mexican nearby. "OMG the mac and cheese is amazing and everything we had there before was good!" she said. They were maybe half capacity when we went in with three waitresses working. It took a few minutes to even be acknowledged for drink orders, and the girl apologized profusely. It wasn't a big deal because we got caught up discussing things on the menu.
My friends ordered starters (soup of the day and the fried green tomatoes/mozzarella) with their meals and I decided I needed some greens with my dinner. So, here is exactly how I ordered my meal: I want to get the B.L.T.C.E. Which is better, waffle fries or the kettle chips? Fries? Okay, I'll do it with those and I also want a small side house salad. This is important later.
Salad showed up and it was bigger than expected. It had mixed greens, figs, tomatoes, some cheese and nuts, and it was tossed in a really good dressing. I didn't think much of it to be honest. Sandwich came and it was a disappointment. Two very large pieces of bread with greens, tomatoes, a fried egg, and some bacon hiding under the shredded cheese. Well, after cutting it in half so I could hold it properly and not have everything fall out, I bit into it and found the piece of bacon I just started to chew was straight up fat. I then dissected the sandwich and found all 4 pieces of bacon were 50-75% fat. Sticky, squishy, gross fat. After cutting it away (woohoo an ounce and a half of meat! /sarcasm) and putting the meat back in the sandwich, I found the glaze on the pork didn't go with the cheese at all, and the bread started to get soggy. I left half of it on the plate and decided to just have my waffle fries instead. Those were fine but it's hard to screw up a fried potato in any form. I also took a spoon of my friends' mac n cheese and wasn't crazy about it. I liked the spicy bite but the cheese tasted like that processed junk that shouldn't even be labeled as dairy.
Two out of three of us don't eat chocolate, so we were excited to check out the sugary sweet things afterwards because there were some interesting things to choose from. I ended up trying their seasonal fruit skillet which really should have just been called an apple cobbler with ice cream. There was no mix of anything there, and left me feeling kind of annoyed at my choice. Plus apples are always "in season" so something in me is willing to bet they don't even change it throughout the year. I managed to try a bite of my friend's salted caramel creme brulee too. Hint: it's plain old creme brulee over a thin layer of salted caramel. It's not like the flavor is mixed in somehow and you can't really put a layer of something on creme brulee or it will defeat the brulee part. It was good, but even bad creme brulee is good.
The bill comes around and there's something fishy. Sandwich is on there, drink is on there, the apple thing is on there, but why is my small side house salad $7? You can sub your fries for the mac n cheese or side house salad for $2.5, so I would assume adding a salad would be close to the cost of a side of mac n cheese. A mac n cheese side alone is $4.5, so in theory my salad should be around that price too, not $7. After trying to figure out if something was wrong in the semantics of how I ordered (Did I have to order my sandwich with "a small side house salad" and then ask for waffle fries?) I just came to the conclusion that my waitress is a little dumb and told her I didn't want to argue about it but a side salad shouldn't be almost the same cost as my meal. I ordered it how the menu told me to order it, (I guess) she put the order in as a half-size of a regular salad, and I got billed for something bigger than what I asked for. She asked if I wanted to speak to a manager, and I said no. I just got back into Tampa after driving to and from Gainesville, I didn't want to sit around and argue semantics for a common menu item when I still had an hour drive home to go and exactly zero patience. If there are two options for a "small side house salad" she probably should have clarified what I wanted. I don't know the menu to know if whatever I received is the correct one, especially when the one in the notes below the sandwiches doesn't list the ingredients in it.
Needless to say, I won't go back. If I'm driving the hour to Tampa, I'll go to Datz instead (they were closed by the time we got back into town otherwise I would have suggested it). I get better, more competent service there without a mouth full of pork fat. | 0negative
| 906 |
The good news about Johnny G's Smokin' Pig Shack is that they were showing a game from Euro 2012 on the televisions in the dining area; the bad news was that I got to watch an entire half of the game sitting at the entrance while I waited for my order that I had called in nearly an hour before.
Without even addressing the quality of the food, this restaurant (which in a previous incarnation was an Italian restaurant called Francesca's) is absolutely doomed unless it can get a competent manager. Though the restaurant was crowded, there appeared more than enough staff members on hand to handle both the guests dining in as well as the multitude of customers ordering takeaway. The problem is that the staff (mostly teenagers from the look of it) had absolutely no direction and as a result, the few who really did try and help customers were overwhelmed while the remainder simply stood around looking totally confused. In fact, it was a teenager behind the counter who seemed to be the only one with a clue as to what he was doing while the only adult I saw quickly became so overwhelmed at the cash register that she literally threw her hands up and scurried into the kitchen, abandoning the register and the growing line of take out customers waiting to pay for their meals.
As to the food, I ordered several items from the menu as I'm always skeptical of a place north of the Mason-Dixon Line that touts itself as having either "Southern BBQ" or "Carolina BBQ" because in just about every case, it's neither. I went into this restaurant not expecting Carolina BBQ because it's just about impossible to duplicate unless you've got a North Carolina native in the kitchen. But as it turns out, I couldn't find a whole lot of anything generally "Southern" about the BBQ either. The quality of the pulled pork on my sandwich was good and the meat was tender, but it was fairly devoid of flavor. Andrew got a brisket platter which just looked like beef with jarred gravy slathered on it. I don't know if it was good or not, but slices of meat with viscous gravy slapped on the top layer does NOT qualify as Southern. Not even close.
What annoyed me more than anything else about the quality of the food is that the sandwich was luke-warm and my sides were cold. I had assumed that because my food was taking so long that they were preparing it right then and there; unfortunately, I soon learned that I was wrong because when I opened my takeaway container, the fried pickles were limp and the fried breading was so soggy from sitting in the container that it slid off the pickles. Additionally, the cheese in my mac & cheese had re-solidified as it had been clearly sitting for quite some time in a separate styrofoam cup (I'm still not sure why it was separated from the rest of the entree). They both tasted just fine but if I'm forced to wait over an hour for my food, which I was told would be ready in 25 minutes, then it had better be piping hot.
We also ordered personal pizzas to see what the quality would be like and to snack on them tomorrow. I'm assuming that shades of Francesca's are still around as there are some clearly Italian components to this "Southern Style BBQ" restaurant, which I have actually no issue with. The quality of my pizza was actually very good but like the pork sandwich, it was also luke-warm, which is annoying because it means that every component of our order had already been prepared and was sitting for quite some time in the back and was allowed to get cold before it was finally brought out to us.
And then there's the lemonade, which hadn't been prepped ahead of time and was mixed right in front of us after we waited an additional ten minutes, and by mixed I mean a giant packet of Kool-Aid was dumped into a vat of room-temperature water and stirred with a giant spoon by a slightly-disgruntled server (yep, I paid money for that). When I took one sip at home, I dumped it out and chalked it up as a loss considering rainwater has more flavor than the beverage I was served.
Johnny G's has a lot of potential but whoever is in charge REALLY needs to get his or her act together because the quality of the food and the quality of the staff are both reflective in the quality of the manager. And the quality of the manager (who never showed himself or herself in the time we were there) is two stars at best...and that's only because I'm just happy that there's a restaurant around here that serves something other than cheesesteaks and hoagies. And just as a recommendation, please take away the overabundance of Conway Twitty record covers and pig figurines on shelves. That's not Southern...that's just plain tacky. | 0negative
| 847 |
This is one of the worst restaurants I have ever dined in. A couple weeks ago, I went there with my wife and two other couples. The service was slow, my Filet Mignon was laced with gristle and veins and tasted very much like a substandard cut of meat. The noise level was so intense and the seating so tight we were all quite uncomfortable and I was very disappointed.
About a week later, some other friends invited us to dine there again. We were a party of eight. Our reservations were for 6:30pm on Christmas Eve. We were very well aware it would probably be over crowded, loud and slow, however, we went along with the party and hoped for the best. THIS TURNED INTO A TOTAL DISASTER.
We arrived (with reservations for 6:30pm) at 6:15pm. The restaurant was overbooked. We stood waiting because there were very few places to wait in this meg-shift waiting area, and a bar that had no seating excepting for a folding chair which was occupied by a half-dressed young lady of the night who appeared to be on some sort of mind altering substance and was playing with her phone the whole time we were there. We were finally seated one hour and and forty minutes later from this very uncomfortable inadequate and over crowded holding area. The noise level was so intense and the mob waiting was so cramped and loud, I felt like we were in a mass human "crush" at a soccer game. We were standing only a few feet away from the host and could not hear her un-amplified voice calling names. At 7:15 pm we were finally seated, not in the dining room but in the bar. Two tables jammed together, of which, one was broken-down and wobbly. We put the edge of the table on the top of the other table to stabilize it and our feet on the bottom broken support to hold it in place. The TV's were blaring and noise level so loud we couldn't comprehend our wait person when she finally came to our table one half-hour (7:30pm) after we were seated. In the meantime, we witnessed an accident at another table. A lady sat down on her chair and it collapsed. She was not a heavyweight, the chair was broken. She was okay, but we were happy our table had been stabilized. Next...the nightmare onslaught resumed.
Our drinks were ordered first. My wife and I ordered Moscato. Another couple ordered Martinis. We were served disgusting tasting mini bottles of a cheap Brut that looked like something purchased from the corner mini-mart. The other couple's martinis weren't right for some reason, and they had to be replaced. We couldn't hear what happened due to the noise. By 8:00pm our drinks were resolved and our food ordered by 8:15pm. We waited (and the beat goes on). At a few minutes after 9:00pm, food arrived. I had ordered mashed potatoes and was given french fries. I did not order a steak. My wife ordered prime-rib and the large portion she was served was about 80% solid fat. It was uneatable. Also, the vegetables she ordered were not served. The gentleman next to me wasn't served at all. The next couple both ordered prime rib and couldn't even eat it. I'm not sure how it was resolved, and the furthest couple on the other end appeared okay but we couldn't tell if they had any issues. At 10:00pm the gentleman next to me finally received his dinner, but they did not give hime what he ordered. He wound up eating nothing. I never got my mashed potatoes and my wife never got her vegetable. The gentleman whose wife and him were served the wrong martinis and uneatable steaks, calmly found the Manager and explained what was going on. . Eventually, we offered us free deserts. My wife and I were comped by the restaurant, and the gentleman who never received his dinner was comped but charged for his wife's dinner. The desserts that arrived finally were all wrong but we took them "to-go." My wife was finally given her vegetables after we received our desserts. We did not know how the gentleman and his wife were comped (who spoke to the manager). The whole time we were in the bar (not the dining room), The table next to us was loud and constantly yelling at the wait staff and calling them names for their poor service. Their distraction was annoying, and crude. When we received our final tabs, they were inaccurate, and had to be re-calculated. Myself my wife, and another couple who rode with us finally got up and walked out at about 10:15pm. The other two couples were still seated when we left (probably resolving their checks). This restaurant should close their doors for good. It is absolutely the worst dining experience I have ever endured in my life (excepting when I ate snake meat and monkey in the jungles of Vietnam).
My wife and I will never darken the doors of this restaurant ever again. The End! | 0negative
| 854 |
Finally, a quality seafood restaurant in the Reno/Sparks area!
I first moved to Nevada nine years ago. Since the day I first arrived, I've searched for a place where I could get a decent seafood meal for a reasonable price.
Fairchild's Oyster Bar inside the Silver Legacy was a great find for quality, but the prices were high and the location was inconvenient.
Long John Silver's was cheap and convenient, but their fish was often overcooked and they only had draft beer for a short while while a wonderful fellow named Don was manager.
I've been to every so-called seafood restaurant in the area at least once and short of sashimi-style offerings, nothing had satisfied me...
...until now, that is.
Off the Hook! is an easily overlooked restaurant tucked away in a lot adjacent to the Career College of Northern Nevada. The facade is fairly plain and unadorned save for a posted menu, their current special and a cartoon worm with expressive eyes wrapped around a hook.
The interior is similarly simple, possessed of little more outside the kitchen than a cozy dining area with small tables and chairs. Upon entering, I was greeted by the delightful scents of roasted garlic, hot clam chowder and deep-fried shrimp. I took a look at the menu and discovered immediately that Jason and John B., the proprietors, had a well-developed sense of humor. It carried the format of a set of directions while maintaining the convenience of a menu.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
First, choose your critter:
Tilapia - Like goldfish, but big, silver, and tasty
Shrimp - Think of them as micro lobsters...
Chicken - Crossed the road and hopped into the pot
Dog - No, not that kind... the 100% kosher beef variety
Potato - The lowly spud that's high in spices (Taco Only)
Next, choose its outfit:
1: Battered & cooked in 100% canola oil (our specialty)
2. Grilled in our special garlic olive oil sauce (we're pretty good at this one too)
3. Other - You have an idea? Let us know!
Now, choose its starring role:
Fish & Chips Style - with fries & homemade cole slaw
Regular Size - $7
Large Size - $9
Each additional size - $2
Taco Style - On a soft corn tortilla with spiced cabbage & Mexican queso
Potato - $1
Dog - $2
Fish, Chicken, or Shrimp - $2.50
Salad Style - On a soft bed of mixed veggies
[With your choice of ranch, 1000 island, or Lemon Vinaigrette dressing (all homemade)]
With a critter - $4
Without a critter - $3
Supporting Cast:
New England Clam Chowda - $3
Soup of the Day - $3
Homemade Cole Slaw - $1
Fries - $2
Soda/Tea/Bottled Water - $1
Nectar/Frappuccino - $1.50
Cup of Coffee - $1.50
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Looking over the menu, I selected the large battered fish and chips for $9 and one of the temporary specials: Deep Fried Dill Pickle Chips for $1.50. It was displayed prominently along side offerings of 6 fiery hot chicken wings with celery & bleu cheese for $3.00 as well as coconut-style fish and shrimp.
It was only after I ordered that I noticed something at the top of the menu:
"Our entire menu is completely GLUTEN-FREE! In fact, there is only one item in the entire restaurant that isn't gluten-free. See if you can find it."
Surely, all hope was lost. Gluten-free restaurants I've been to in the past were atrocious. But when the food arrived, I found that I couldn't have been more wrong.
The three enormous pieces of fresh tilapia were absolutely succulent, having been generously coated in gluten-free beer batter and deep fried to a golden brown. The fries were fresh and tasty, clearly cut from real potatoes on site. The cole slaw was also incredibly fresh and was of the semi-sweet vinegary variety rather than the mayo-laden version, and the deep fried dill pickle chips were superb, coming with a container of delicious dill cream dipping sauce that I found ideal for my fish as well as the pickles.
I hadn't had seafood that good since my last trip to Monterey Bay. Everything was perfect and the price was right. There was so much food, I ended up taking some home as well.
Jason & John came and spoke to us, asking how everything was and making conversation. We learned that they had been open since September of this year and that a case of Autism in the family being cured by a change of diet had played a major role in their choice to make the restaurant gluten-free.
Both Jason & John had lost weight and felt better since going gluten-free and are proud to offer great tasting, affordable, healthy food to people suffering from Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, Diabetes, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and Wheat Allergies as well as perfectly healthy people who simply appreciate great tasting food that won't bankrupt them.
Gluten-free diets have been proven to promote good health, weight loss, elevated mood, proper digestion, energy from improved metabolism and faster natural healing when compared to diets containing gluten.
Check out Off the Hook! today! | 2positive
| 855 |
I have never been soo disappointed. :( I drive by this place every day and when I saw the signs and lights change I thought nothing but happy thoughts. I listen to Bubba on occasion and I grew up watching Hulk, so to find my experience so disappointing really stings. Lets start with the walk-up...
At the very least I expect a warm smile and a pleasant greeting at the entrance... Nope. You first walk down a long hall, first past the bathrooms (ugh) then the kitchen entrance (ugh ugh, I'll explain later), then past some Hulk Memorabilia (actually quite cool but poor location), then to the server station. No smile on this hostess. It looked like I inconvenienced her to stand up and seat us at an outdoor table, a situation I assumed was within her scope of work. She waved for us to follow her, picking up menu's from what appeared to be an angry group leaving, handing her the menu's as they walked out. She seemed surprised, but relieved she didn't have to go searching for menus.
And then we were seated, at the worst outdoor table in history. There are 50 tables outside, 49 of which have an umbrella. The hostess (attempts) to seat us at the outcast table, to which my (easygoing and laid-back) fiance suggest we sit at a waterfront umbrella'd table. Ok, we're now seated. All is well right? Not so much...
About 10 minutes later our kind hearted server takes our drink order, 2 on-tap beers. 10 minutes later I walk up to the bar to re-order our yet-to-be-delivered drink order, when I get a tap on the back. It's our server, with our drinks. I reluctantly walk away from the bar, having stood there for 3-plus minutes without getting any attention from what surprisingly appeared to be a well-staffed, low-occupancy bar tonight. So I sit down and order another round immediately, not knowing whether our next round will come before midnight. It's 7pm. Server apologizes for the 1st time. Then we place our food order, this is when the fun begins. Ha.
We start with the calamari app. Pretty easy from a chef's standpoint right? Don't over-fry it and serve it over a tasty tomato sauce. Yep, WELL overcooked (calamari was like chewing on thick rubber bands, but the sauce, the sauce was actually quite good) And the quantity was lackluster at best. Of the 20% that was edible, it didn't let us enjoy a sauce that could have really made the appetizer. On to entrees. Yay.
I order the Mahi Mahi tacos. They come in 3's with sea-salt thick-cut fries and homemade cole slaw. My fiance ordered the yellowfin tuna burger, and the server asked her how she wanted it prepared. Hmm, I don't think yellowfin tuna works well with anything less than "cooked". So she asks, "How do you prefer it be prepared?" Which he responds, "to be honest we haven't had one second of training on this menu so I have no idea" Well that kind of sent our already disappointing dining experience right down the drain. She ordered what I ordered and once again we were dining "sans-server" for 20 minutes, until the overcooked calamari graced us with it's rubbery presence. It was at this time the server "up-sold" us to a pitcher of beer, which we would have accepted regardless, but moreso since we didn't really feel like waiting another 30 minutes for him to come around again.
Then the food came. It's really hard to mess up mahi tacos. But somehow they did it. The fish was as rubbery as the calamari, which is actually quite impressive. I mean, to make a flaky white fish the consistency of a gelatinous tentecaled sea creature takes some creativity, but they nailed it. It was almost returnable, but seeing as that process would have taken another hour-plus of server interaction, we choked it down and looked around. It appeared that every other table around us was in a similar situation. Someone asking for a server, someone asking where their drinks are, someone asking for their check, someone asking for a noose... Ok, maybe not that bad but... ok, it was that bad. It's too bad our taco's were the worst part of the entree, the fries were perfectly cooked and seasoned nicely, and the coleslaw was absolutely delicious. We loaded the tacos with the 'slaw to ease the agony of eating ridiculously overcooked Mahi.
I saw a sweet elderly couple walk from the parking lot, on to the outdoor dining area, approach the server to ask to sit at an empty table, ONLY to be re-directed by the server to the hostess station for seating. For God sakes man these people don't have much time, seat them, THEN TELL the hostess that the table was seated. You have to be flexible and accommodating.
It was when we asked for our check that we finally got the pitcher of beer we ordered during the appetizer. I'm running out of room, but all in all, this place needs SERIOUS WORK. Won't go back until it has a "restaurant stakeout" make over. | 0negative
| 861 |
I must've passed be here hundreds of times, but--surprisingly--I had never been in. The only question I can ask now is...why have I denied myself? Barbuzzo is one of the six eateries co-owned by Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran that dominate the 13th Street corridor and helped revitalize the Midtown Village neighborhood in Center City. It is known for its Mediterranean plates, chic atmosphere and a traditional wood fire oven--naturally, I was ready for some delicious pizza. I was not disappointed.
My reservation was for 1:45pm and I got there a few minutes early and immediately noticed that it was pretty busy even though it was only lunchtime. I've noticed in Philly that so many people go out for lunch, and places get even more crowded than during the dinner rush on some days. Although it wasn't that busy for a Monday afternoon, it was noticeable--it might have also been due to the narrow, deep layout of the restaurant's interior that is typical of many Philly food spots. The inside had a hip vibe with metal chairs, cozy table setups including square of old menu used as paper decoration for some of the plating, track lighting and lots of wood--maybe this was an homage to their eponymous wood oven? The interior did seem a bit on the dark side, but my table was near the large front window so there was tons lots of natural light.
The Sheep's Milk Ricotta appetizer was plated beautifully. It almost seemed as if there were ricotta mountains and the balsamic vinegar acted as the valley or river running through. The ricotta was super creamy and smooth and whipped with fresh herbs, and garnished with good quality, fruity olive oil and acidic balsamic that brought out the natural sweetness of the ricotta. It was plated with some grilled bread that was hot and crisp on the outside, but chewy and not too hot in the middle--side note: I had visited a few places the week before (See next post!), and I had been waiting all week for someone to give me hot bread. Thank you Barbuzzo for anticipating my primordial desire for bread and fire. The cold ricotta spread on the warm toasty bread made for a good temperature contrast as well.
Up next was the Salsiccia Pizza, which I have to admit I was the most excited for. I mean come on--how can you not order a pizza when there's a wood burning oven?? As they brought the pizza to the table, the first thing I noticed was the smell of the fresh basil, and the herbs baked into the fennel sausage. The second thing I noticed was its size: it was huge! I can definitely eat a lot, but I ended up taking one of the generous quarters home (Hello midnight snack!). The crust was chewy with a slightly crisp at the edge, though I wish there was a little bit of char. It was definitely browned on the bottom though. The addition of the chili oil and fresh oregano garnish served table side was a nice touch and helped highlight the flavors of the pizza toppings. The taggiasca black olives were pungent salt bombs of flavor--you can tell these weren't from a can--and the tomato sauce was still very acidic in a way that played well with the brininess of the olives. The salty pecorino cheese crumbles contrasted with the subtle meaty and earthy flavors of the sausage. The smoked mozzarella blanketed the whole pizza in cheesy goodness and was strong enough to stand up to the other flavors.
For dessert, I honestly wasn't sure what I was expecting. I have a friend who tells me that the Salted Caramel Budino is his favorite dessert in the entire city. High praise considering such confectionaries as Beiler's Bakery, Franklin Fountain, Scoop DeVille, Magpie Artisan Pie Boutique, and more, are all within about a mile of 13th Street. However, I was still worried--what if dessert isn't as good because it's restaurant week? Maybe they're just going to serve something unpopular or that they over-ordered. My worry was for naught--the Salted Caramel Budino was glorious. It's served in this cute little mason jar, and it actually is a great way to prepare a lot of these bad boys ahead of service. The vanilla bean caramel is so good it's honestly like crack--I could eat it by the jarful. The vanilla bean gave it a slight floral taste and the sea salt just took it over the top. The unsweetened whip cream is a good choice since the caramel is so sweet. The word "budino" actually translates to pudding, and while the pudding layer underneath was also tasty, but really just a vehicle to shovel more of the caramel into my mouth. The dark chocolate crust is sort of drowned out by the other layers, but still lends the dish a bit of crunch and texture--just enough to know its there, especially towards the bottom. Plus, over time the chocolate layer absorbs some of the cream and softens up, allowing the flavors to intermingle. This dessert was amazing!
Overall, really brought their A-game; great meal with delicious food and great service. I left feeling satisfied and having gotten my money's worth. | 2positive
| 876 |
I have had Acero bookmarked for over a year and was sooo excited to finally get a chance to eat here last night. The parking is ughhhhhh. You have to find a spot somewhere on the street and walk to your destination. They sit on the corner right before Schlafly's at the end of their parkign lot. The restaurant is on the small side, upscale with that casual vibe. The ambiance and decor could be construde in many ways, from date night, girls night, quiet dinner alone to casual drop in. It is trully nice
As soon as we walked in the hostess immediately greeted us because she had to assist us with the door coming in. She was super friendly and welcoming. She continuously thanked us for stopping in. We had our choice to either sit at a table or the bar. We opted for a table, which I see now was a mistake. We should have opted for the bar. The bartender, Anthony I think was his name, you could tell he knew how to take care of his customers. He was engaging with them, explained the menus (food & cocktails) and was just all around well rounded in which I expect my server to be.
Our server was Marco, whom was beyond disappointing which really added to my displeasure, not to mention continuosly MIA. The hostess assured us that either way, sitting at a table or the bar, we would be well taken care of, that apparently wasn't the case. As this being our first visit as with anyone dining somewhere for the 1st time. The server should be able to guide you through each of the menus, the server should also know each of the menus, the server should be able to answer questions and explain and the server should be able to suggest options and if not ASK!!! I could see if he was new or the restaurant was busy, but neither was the case. If it wasn't for his fellow employees (the hostess, the busser and another waiter) picking up his slack our experience would have been even worse.
We chose to try their tasting menu in which I would highly recommend to anyone trying this place for the 1st time. The tasting menu is $35 for 4 courses with some choices having an additional upcharge. It truly gives you a very good taste of their menu at a reasonable price. Also, the tasting menu provides the perfect portion sizes for each serving, so you will not walk away feeling hungry.
We began with salads (the Bibb Salad & Insalata Mista) which were delicious. I favor the Insalata Mista over the Bibb. It provides are more complex, flavorful salad experience. Our second courses were bruschetta, gnocco fritto and the tagliatelle. The bruschetta I would opt out of because they provide you with bread for the table, which is very good and beyond suffient. The bruschetta was simply a large piece of garlic cheese bread, add onions and blue chees. It was different. The gnocco fritto was interesting, to describe it basically, it's beignets with Prosciutto di Parma,olive oil and sea salt. The tagliatelle was a hearty ragu over pasta that was served warm. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the meaty sauce was good, for an extra touch added olive oil on top, that sits on the table to take it over the top. For the third couse we had the grass fed ribeye and the scallops. The scallops weren't completely cleaned because I was crunching on something but besides that they were tasty accompanied by the sauteed mushrooms, served warm. The puree was flavorless and left on the plate. The ribeye plate was good with the potatoes and brussel sprouts even though it was served to us warm. And to finish out the dinner we ended with the warm chocolate torte, which was literally a semi-sweet brownie split open with ice cream in the middle, served room temp. I had to remove the ice cream which was another disappointment.
I have entirely mixed feelings from the whole experience. It was not busy last night in the restaurant. It was not even semi busy. I should not have had to ask multiple times for simple things from our waiter. We should not have had to continuously rely on other staff to assist us because he was MIA. All I can say is that I left out upset and highly disappointed. And what's confusing is plates being brought out with gloves as if they are hot and they're not, let alone the wait times for food to come out to the table. I noticed this was a similar pattern throughout the other tables as well. | 0negative
| 790 |
This is the Casino closest to me, so as a result this is where I go the most when I gamble, it isn't super amazing but it's not bad by any means; everything is certainly acceptable for the most part. This review is from somebody who mostly does table play and live poker. In a nutshell here's what I think:
The Good:
* If you go enough in a month, you can get some seriously awesome coupons. The free bet coupons are what shine the most. Say you have a $10 coupon and you go play blackjack, and you win, not only will you get $10 for what you won but another $10 for the original value of the coupon. This is an excellent deal. You'll be extremely lucky to actually get these in the mail but if you do, use them, they're awesome.
* A few area-unique pleasant surprises in the selection of the table games; they offer one called lunar poker which is 5 card draw poker against the house, really fun. They have one called High Card Flush where you try to get more cards of the same suit than the dealer has, I'm personally not big on this one but it's a matter of taste, still worth checking out. There's nothing I like to see more in a casino than games that not many people have.
* In the table gaming area, smoking ventilation is reasonably decent. I personally don't mind a little smoke in a casino in small doses, and while some of the slot machine areas can get a little too smoky like anywhere else, the table gaming area is decent enough. The craps table has a non-smoking half which is nice.
* Good food pretty much everywhere, if you got comps use them. Buffet is good, grill on the casino floor is pretty good, breakfast café is good, and they have an Auntie Ann's pretzel stand in the front area, although you can't use your comps there. Still, nothing better to celebrate winning than a good pretzel! Free soda is nice but that's pretty much expected.
* Staff is really nice and friendly! Always nice to have somebody fun to talk to at the table, especially if you're not having the best luck. It's also usually adequately staffed too so enough tables are open no matter how busy it is.
The Bad / Not Amazing:
* Hotel rooms aren't great, the TV's are designed not to let you change the input so if you want to hook up your Xbox you're SoL there. They aren't DISGUSTING or anything but would I pay money to stay the night? No way! if you have a free room I say use it if you have enough free time, but if not, you're really not missing much, don't worry.
* Poker room, in my opinion, has the least impressive bonuses in the area. All they have are 5 "Aces Cracked" bonuses which are usually gone long before lunchtime, and a standard bad beat jackpot. No high hands or anything like that. It's not a BAD poker room by any means, and I'm not saying don't play poker here, but I think it could use some kind of high-hand bonus or maybe they could offer 7-card stud, even if only available on request with enough staff. Not terrible by any means but not as good as other places in the area.
* Reward point tiers reset too often (every 6 months), and I've stayed in line for some stupid pointless events sometimes, one was a merchandise giveaway that was basically just a bunch of useless trinkets from the gift shop that they decided to get rid of, and a few t-shirts from movies that were already 2 years old, I stood in like for 3 hours for that and it was absolutely pointless. Another one was one where they gave away tote bags where 1 in 4 had free slot play, I stood in line for at least 2 hours for that and my bag didn't win, I'm fine with not winning but they seriously had 3 people giving out the bags at a time to at least 500+ people, and that's just ridiculous.
* The atmosphere isn't anything to write home about, honestly the "Hollywood" theme is kind of cheesy and while it's okay if you're a local, this isn't the casino I would try to impress somebody from out of town with. It's great if you want to just get some buddies to play some blackjack and watch the Cardinals/Blues and have a beer but if you're looking for a Vegas atmosphere you're going to be disappointed. Even with the new remodel, it still doesn't compare with Ameristar or especially River City. | 1neutral
| 796 |
Winery tasting rooms are popping up like daisies in Garden City. Par Terre is a new posey to add to your wine room bouquet. Husband and wife owners, Travis and Mallory Walker, opened this tasting room in April (2018) with inaugural releases of four wines. This might be a good spot to let the winemakers speak, as pulled from their web site: "Par Terre is a small production winery...focused on delivering simplicity and balance, a personal connection, an artful expression, and a committed pursuit for happy excellence."
Cheers to that!
Both Travis and Mallory were dancers with professional ballet companies before changing career directions to create wine. Their logo is a clever juxtaposition of wine bottle profile with graphic representation of leg with ballet shoe en-pointe. The name Par Terre derives from a dance term meaning on the ground.
They have a delightful story to tell that we learned while sipping wine in the tasting room, with Mallory as charming host, of starting out wine making in the garage of their San Francisco home and how that led to Par Terre. Life transitions and end of dance careers led them first to Boise then to Walla Walla where Travis earned his enology and viticulture credentials through a college there and worked five years in a commercial winery in Idaho as Mallory worked with Sunnyslope Wine Trail administration since Idaho is where they wanted to plant roots to start their own label.
Pride in the art of getting things right combined with technical skill is shown in these inaugural bottlings. We walked out with multiple bottles and look forward to more tasting room visits with more of their wine coming home with us. We also look forward to introducing friends and family to this wine...and readers of this review too!
TASTING DRILL: Only $5 for the tasting flight. Refunded with purchase.
WINES: The goal here is to produce wine from all Idaho grown grapes, but like many local wineries dealing with the grape shortage as a result of the severe winter of 2015-2016, three of their four wines, the 2017 Rose and 2017 Semillion, and 2016 Syrah use Washington fruit in these bottlings. Grapes for the 2016 Merlot were sourced in Idaho. These are all easy drinkers for "school night" wine and also good enough to serve when "company's comin' ''. Priced between $18 and $24 / bottle, the price is right too.
*Rose: A writer of a recent wine journal article suggested we can point to Millenials for the demise of cloth napkins in restaurants and the ascendance or Rose in winery production. Alas, I used to say, to both. I like cloth napkins and I have long thought 'good Rose' was an oxymoron. But a couple of local area wineries tasty bottlings have made me rethink Roses for casual sipping. This one is a lovely color, delightful nose, fruit forward with a nice acid balance, crisp finish and it speaks to its' Syrah origins on the palate.
*Semillion: Fermented with skins on and since the grape is a golden one it translates to color in the glass and to my palate a sort of lemon-meets-apple-peel and some weight. It spends no time in oak, so fruit shines forward.
*Merlot: Aged 14 months in 80/20 French and American oak, soft tannins make it drinkable now and, trust me, you'll want to drink it!
*Syrah : One of my favorite of red varietals and I enjoyed theirs for the pepper-berry the wine can be. Straightforward with soft tannins making this a good choice to drink now.
Being at an age where I no longer trust even buying green bananas, because who knows what could happen in the time it takes them to ripen, I appreciate having as part of our wine collection...ummm...stash wines I don't need to lay down to enjoy. Like all of these.
TASTING ROOM LOCATION & HOURS: In a quasi industrial park / retail strip mall on Chinden, you'll see The Recycled Room on the far end of the building on one side of them and Treasure Valley Barber in another building on the other side with Par Terre tucked on the 'intersection' in between. Tasting is held at the tasting bar. There is also a high counter with a few seats plus a couple of lower tables with bench seats in the barrel room space and also a sofa. Light, bright, welcoming start up space where you can buy a glass or bottle to sip and enjoy there if you like. They are currently open Noon to 5:00 pm (the last tasting pour at 4:30) from Thursday through Sunday.
ACCESSIBILITY: One marked accessible (aka ADA) space in parking lot near door. Level in the door and all on one floor. Standard height seating options.
PARKING: Private paved lot and ample amount number of spaces. | 2positive
| 807 |
I've given this place 2 chances to impress and both have failed rather miserably. We only went back a second time because a friend wanted to try it out and heck we figured why not? Not doing that again. I'm not a food snob but I have certain expectations for my money and more importantly my palate. I'll happily pay plenty, I don't care, as long as it works in my mouth and brain.
First off the service and ambiance was perfectly fine.
Now, why you're here, Down to the Food.... three words, no four words, BLAND. UNINSPIRED. OVERPRICED. BLAND.
Everything was presented very very well but sorry guys, presentation does NOT disguise the fact every bite (almost) I'll get to this, was a complete an utter let down, not just for myself but every single person we've been with. (8 in total.)
-The 'almost' was the ceviche (and pear pintxos). The ceviche, very nicely done taste wise, with a big "BUT"....again presentation was very nice, BUT for $16 I would've expected more than a meager couple tablespoons (at very best) and let me add another BUT ... the real kicker, they mixed in a pile of chip bits to add the illusion of larger portion size and screwed with the overall textures of the dish. Man, just DON'T....DON'T. If I want to add chips I'll use the damn chips provided on the side. Don't mess with a good thing.
-The pizzas while it sounded great on paper, once it hit my tongue, a let down due to uninspired blandness.
-The pork rib, same thing, complete utter disappointment. Ive made better simple ribs at home with my eyes closed and both hands tied behind my back, with my nose.
-The Gorgonzola Bacon pintxos? A complete disgrace. Chunks of loose cheese with chunks of loose bacon with a dribble of honey on a crunchy toast... cmon, sounds good but it just doesn't work as is guys. Its too big for one bite, so One bite and its all over the bloody table, you're left with an empty toast and you have the choice of throwing said empty toast back on the plate and moving on or scraping up all the individual pieces and rebuilding tiny piece by tiny piece like a uncouth child. Man. Take this disaster off the menu or change its execution. Whoever conceived this one needs a slap. Brutal.
-The pear pintxos was quite good and well conceived. Finally the one single something along with (the {unfortunately chip riddled} ceviche) that excited my palate and worked with the ingredients.
What can I say about The Holy Roller's food in a nutshell? It's as though the chef went to presentation school and that was it. If you're going to charge these prices then the ingredients, while well chosen and sounding great on paper completely fail in almost every dish in execution and are in need of a complete overhaul to stave off the lack of actual flavours, and furthermore it's touching palates which are now sad and bored. Looks great, tastes like abject boredom. My palate here? Like a kid dragging a soggy withered balloon. For the prices? Not worth it. Not, even, close.
Our entire party was thoroughly disappointed (both times) again 8 people, and this second visit left me even more PO'd and disappointed. We all had differing items from the menu and like I said each one of us was a few sentiments below "meh". Our party had their hearts set on trying this place so I said little and expressed no excitement beforehand of my previous experience so as to let each person make their own unbiased opinion. If this overall unfavorable sentiment doesn't say something or say enough then I don't know what to tell you. Looking at other reviews I feel like I'm and both parties in their entirety are taking crazy pills. Perhaps your sinuses are nonfunctional and you just cant taste anything or perhaps just haven't experienced enough of the actual stellar Edmonton food scene to know when something just isn't good by comparison or worth your time and money.
I most definitely CAN and HAVE made vastly superior dishes at home, just for fun, without breaking a sweat and I didn't go to cooking, sorry, presentation school either, so why would I pay for far far far less when I choose to go out? Ambiance? NOPE. Service? NOPE. Presentation? NOPE. If you're dazzled enough by these things to not recognize the mediocre food then that's a shame for you. I pay for FOOD and all it entails and all the other things are just a nice perk nothing more. I'll go to another restaurant where I feel I get what I pay for....food that's inspired.
You know that feeling when you feel like you've been duped and ripped off, and you go for it again with the same result? This has been our experiences with this place. We will never be returning nor recommending.
"Eek me thinks not" indeed. | 0negative
| 839 |
I haven't yelped in a while but after the experience I had at The Southern recently it inspired me to write about it.
First, let me premise this review by saying I have been to The Southern at least six times. I have been for lunch, dinner and just drinks. On each occasion I left saying the food was average or better, but the service was definitely below average. It's a shame because i think the place has the potential to be great if the owners wanted.
Lets get to the evening of May 7th. I made reservations a week in advance because my leadership meeting was being held in Nashville this year. Not too much pressure considering the Vice President of our company and 5 of my peers were in town and relying on me to pick the spots we would eat at. I chose The Southern because it was in walking distance to our hotel and we could go honky-tonkin by foot after dinner. We arrive at 7PM and everyone in the group was excited about the look of the space and the place was already starting to buzz. We were seated promptly and that was where everything started to go down. I'm going to guess we sat without anyone checking on us for 5 minutes. Which in the restaurant world is a lifetime to leave your guests waiting. Especially a party of seven that's gonna dump a ton of cash in the joint. When the waiter finally did arrive he was less than pleasant and I actually felt like we were a nuisance to him. We came to find out quickly he was covering for our actual waiter and I can only assume he was upset about it. Anyway, a drink order was taken and again it seemed a long wait for our drinks to arrive. Upon arrival of drinks two of the seven drinks were not made as asked for and needed to be sent back. However, we could not find our server to send them back so a person from our group walked them back to the bar and had two new drinks made. Once our server appeared we let him know of this and his response to the group was "it's busy tonight and I have a lot of tables" to which several in the group took offense too. I guess a party of seven knowing your gonna get a guaranteed 20 percent gratuity added to the bill isn't that important in his mind? Anyway, the service continued in this manner through each course. Salads were wrong, entrees were wrong, waiter didn't care. It got to the point of embarrassing and uncomfortable and we were just trying to get through the experience so we could leave and enjoy our night on the town. Well, I guess after multiple complaints to the waiter about our food and service the manager decides to come see us to ask how everything was. Of course he got an earful from our VP about all the issues we were having. It appeared to me that the manager was empathetic and he did apologized for the inconvenience. I know this is getting long but bare with me.
We did not order dessert and went straight for the check. When the check arrived of course it had the 20% gratuity already added. We expected that there would be a comp or two, like the salad that was returned uneaten or a drink that was sent back but there was not. Our bill was over $800.00 and we felt like we had just been bent over. My VP is not a complaining type of guy and was about to just pay the bill and leave it at that, but I felt that over $160.00 tip was not warranted and a complaint to the owner was. So we asked to speak to him. He came to the table and we let him know how we felt about the lack of service to which he reluctantly credited the 20% gratuity to allow us to calculate our own tip. At this point i can see the waiter who is standing off to the side become visibly angry. he is actually flailing his arms and going around the restaurant telling the other servers what is happening. I am thinking this guy is an idiot to act this way in the middle of the dining room. Well, the bill gets paid and we head outside. Once outside I realize our VP was not behind us and so I went back in to find him and I saw him walking from the restroom and close behind him was our waiter. Apparently, the waiter followed him into the restroom and threatened to " kick his ass" if he saw him out that night. Not wanting to get into a confrontation we walked outside and are standing in front of the restaurant talking about what just happened when the owner came out and pointed at me and my VP and said he never wanted to see us in his restaurant again and called,e a "jackass". We were in complete shock at that point and couldn't believe that an owner would act in such an unprofessional manner and even more so that he would allow his staff to act so unprofessional. Fortunately for the waiter he did not run into us that night.
Let me say that the owner will not have to worry about me entering his restaurant again. I will never bring a client, family member, friend, peer or refer the restaurant to anyone I know or don't know. If I could rate lower than one star I would. | 0negative
| 950 |
For some reason, this restaurant reminds me of 'The Cheesecake Factory'. I mean, the menu reads the same, I think some of the dishes are similar and hell, both sell a crazy variety of cheesecake. I just wanted to point that out because I've felt that way for years. Odd similarities.
Anyway, I've dined in this place SEVERAL times since 2005, when I first came here with my ex. Each time, there was always something weird going, either inside the restaurant or just outside the door. More on that later.
This last time, I came in with some friends from Pensacola. Why on Earth they decided to dine at a chain restaurant for their first visit to New Orleans is beyond me. Have you ever wondered what the deal is with that? New Orleans is unique right down to the core, from the eclectic mix of individuals to the cuisine to the architecture. Why travel hundreds and sometimes, thousands of miles to eat at a chain restaurant that you can experience anywhere. Why not actually try something that's bred in the city you're visiting and remains only local. Does McDonald's in Atlanta taste any better than McDonald's in Texas? No, because it's friggin' McDonald's.
In any case, this is what they wanted and so we decided to dine. As usual, while the hostess seated us immediately and was courteous, it took quite a while before we got a waiter. 10 minutes must have passed before we flagged someone down to find our server. Eventually some guy stumbled from the bar area to take our order. At first, we only ordered drinks and mine was a simple Jack Daniels and Coke. That's typically my weapon of choice, for those who don't know me well yet. The drinks took a VERY long time to arrive. Finally, they showed up and my friend's wife got the wrong wine. The waiter argued with us, explaining that we were wrong. The wine wasn't even the proper color. He finally went to the back and brought out what she had ordered.
For the sake of keeping this review within the 5,000 character limit, I am only reviewing MY order. I placed a request for the Lemon Garlic Chicken with Rosemary Glaze and it came with garlic mashed potatoes. The food arrived promptly this time so no complaints there. My chicken, however, was EXTREMELY salty. I was surprised that the intense amount of salt content didn't dry out the bird. I then sampled the mashed potatoes and they, too, were overly salty. It took me almost 4 Jack & Cokes to rinse away the sodium. I also want to add that in all the times I have been frequenting this establishment, my entrees have either been too salty or too bland. Wait staff are not very attentive at all, especially when it gets later in the evening and there's usually a raucous going on inside or outside the joint. Allow me to explain....
The last three times that I've dined at this location, the police have been there and it's never on pleasant terms. On this last visit, my party and I walked up the sidewalk and two cop cars were parked nose-to-nose in front of the doors. When we walked in, our eyes immediately started burning and our noses running. It was from a cloud of pepper spray in the area. What the hell was going on?? I immediately ran to the restroom, where 3 women were seated on the bench just outside. Two of them were arguing very loudly and suddenly, they began exchanging blows. It appeared as if they had already had an altercation once earlier that evening. One of the women's dresses was ripped at the shoulder, exposing her bra. The other girl was laying face down on the bench. Another girl had a badly bruised eye and was covering it with a pack of ice. Another woman had scratches on her face and down her arm, clothes ripped. As soon as the two women began throwing punches, two cops rushed in immediately and grabbed the women. Someone fired off another round of pepper spray but I could not tell where it originated from. After I cleaned up in the bathroom and came back out, one of the women was missing and the others were in handcuffs.
I saw what I presumed to be the manager near the entrance speaking to police, his hair disheveled and shirt wrinkled and un-tucked. Later, our waiter explained that the women engaged in a boxing match inside the restaurant when one of them was caught dining with the other's boyfriend. Punches were exchanged, the manager jumped into the fray, customers fled and the cops were called. Again, I'm just reiterating what the waiter told us. This is not the only time I've dined here where cops were called in.
I'm going to close with this: The food is okay. That's all. There are better places to dine, in my opinion, especially if you're in the Uptown area. This restaurant is too streaky, suffers from poor wait staff, under-seasoned or over-seasoned dishes and seems to be a prime location for physical altercations. I'd pass on this one and you should, too! | 0negative
| 873 |
I have been dining at this restaurant for a few years now and I think it has changed management and owners at least twice that I know of. The current management/owners have made some minor improvements including creating a hostess/checkout stand after closing one of the doors (this place is located in a strip mall and occupies a couple of suites) adding a couple of flatscreen TVs (for the solo diner but unfortunately the close captioning is not turned on the muted TVs) and keeping the floors clean but overall the decor of this place is not a draw at all. In fact, if I was to give a rating on the decor alone this place would fail miserably achieving quite possibly the lowest rating I could give. But fortunately for you my readers this is not why I highly recommend this place.
First let's talk about pricing and value. On their website and throughout the Bay Area located in the free coupon mags you will find a coupon for this place which gives you two dollars off the standard price of $19.95. This makes it basically an all-you-can-eat joint for $18 so fairly decent there. It used to ring in at $14 which was a tremendous deal but several years have passed and the buffet items, which are your side items to the meat, have been upgraded slightly as well.
Next I would like to describe to you the buffet. It is a smaller two section buffet containing both hot and cold items. On the right you can get soups, and various salad items. Highlights include the tabbouleh and the tomatoes. The tabbouleh is perfectly prepared with just the right amount of vinaigrette and mint. The tomatoes are beefsteak tomatoes cut into large wedges and I choose the creamy ranch dressing. On the hot side they always have white and yellow rice, black beans, a layered dish of ground sirloin eggplant and topped with a cream sauce and plantains. All of which are delicious. Also included on my last visit was largely sliced zucchini and squash cooked with onion. As good as these items are in my opinion I consider them a prelude to what is really the draw of this place and that is the meat.
Like most Brazilian steakhouses the meat is brought to your table and sliced or served to you by the cook, is served from a rotisserie and it is a wide variety of meats including chicken, pork, lamb and steak. The similarities end there. As any good grill master will tell you, wood trumps gas all day long. This really brings out the flavor in the meat. I find it truly been delightful to be surprised each and every time I come to this restaurant with a different flavored meat. On this occasion, it was a Parmesan crusted pork loin that garnished my attention twice. It was tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful with hints of smoke from the wood and just enough Parmesan. In the beef department, I have seen filet, prime rib and top sirloin served and most of the time, the top sirloin is actually better than the filet. The Prime rib is always juicy and tender. The filet is typically overcooked and is sometimes wrapped in bacon which I find to be incredibly salty. The chicken is usually little drumsticks which are fairly thick in size and moist and flavorful. My wife tells me the lamb is always truly nice although this can be overcooked sometimes, you do have the option to tell the cook how you would like it to be prepared however, which is a nice touch. They also have a homemade sausage which can be paired with some sort of mustard sauce you can find on your table. The sauce serves as an incredibly wonderful addition to the flavors of the sausage. It is a mild sausage and the sauce really helps spike it up.
For beverages, they serve Pepsi products, a few beers and some wine but the highlight is truly their sangria. I must be forthright in telling you that I typically don't like sangria at all and I've had sangria from a variety of restaurants and never found it to be all that spectacular. Mostly I find that restaurants don't steep the fruit long enough and the bitterness of the dry red wine leaves me disappointed most of the time. This is not the case at TerraMar, It is homemade and it tastes simply wonderful. It is priced at $18 a pitcher or $5.25 a glass, the pitcher is the better value and you will thank me that you ordered more. The fruit for the sangria is perfectly minced into small pieces and you can tell by the color of the fruit that is been saturated in the wine for quite some time. Detecting notes of apple, pear, and cherry it's truly a delight. Warning, you will drink more than you think and eating the fruit in this case, will definitely affect you and your inability to eat more meat, which from a man's standpoint is a real drag.
Taking everything into consideration I still rate this place as above average. It's affordable, and with some of the highlights on the buffet and some of the meats being truly delicious it stands above other restaurants in the same pricing category. | 2positive
| 896 |
We decided to try out the Blind Owl, despite the critical reviews that we had seen. My wife and I are servers and are sometimes a little more patient with a dining experience. It sometimes works the opposite way as well. We see things that are going on that other diners may ignore.
Unfortunately, it was the latter in this case. We got there on a busy Thursday evening. We were told that there was going to be a 15-20 minute wait, or that we could look to see if there was an empty table in the bar. There was a table in the bar, but it was dirty and my wife wouldn't let me bus it so that we could sit down and dine. We were seated in a little more than 5 minutes, to our peasant surprise. That was where the pleasantries ended. The rest of the wait time happened at our table before our server made it by to get our drink order. We were at the table for at least 10 minutes before our server, who was very nice, but obviously overwhelmed, came to get a drink order.
We ordered a flight of the Owl's beers, which were better than I thought they would be. It did take another 10 minutes to get the beers to the table. We ordered the pretzels as an appetizer at the same time. By the time our server came back, we forgot that we hadn't our meals yet.
As it turned out, the estimate of 15-20 minutes wait time was actually accurate, it was just at the table instead of up front. This is not a good way to start the dining experience. If the servers are that far behind, leave people on the wait instead of having them wait at the tables. Their expectations are much different at the table.
The pretzels were pretty good, but over 30 minutes after we sat at our table, our appetite was already pretty stoked. Watching the tables around us, we saw the manager summoned to all of tables immediately surrounding ours. There were big issues with timing on all of their food and/or drinks. Two of the tables were a little larger than normal, a 6 top and a 9 top. The person table had a trickle of food arriving at it lasting about 4 trips and 8 minutes to get all of the diners their food. One of the other tables commented that it took them 20 minutes to get their drinks. All three tables had legitimate complaints. You might ask how we had time to observe all of this going on around us. It was because we didn't have food or drinks to occupy our attention.
Our sandwiches arrived a little more than an hour after we sat down. The Owlapeno burger was well named, but poorly executed. The burger was overdone and the fries didn't even look good, not to mention taste great. The chicken sandwich lacked moisture and had no sauce. We actually had the opportunity to try other dishes as well. Three or four times during our time at the restaurant, different servers and runners tried to deliver food to our table.We were almost hungry enough to let them. As it turns out, the food was intended for different tables. In a new restaurant, it is understandable that not everyone knows ever table number, but 4 times in one meal?
The manager visited every table in the section except ours. We didn't call for him, but we watched him as he chided our server for not using coasters at one of their tables. With all of the things going wrong in the dining room, that is the one that he chose to bring up of his own volition? It reminds me of Roman emperor fiddling as Rome burned.
The Blind Owl really has some nice marketing and branding, once you get into the building. We were told that it had opened a month ago, but as yet does not have its menu online. There are a few patron photos of the menu, which helped us have and idea of what we were going to eat. As it turned out we had plenty of time to look over the menu before we ordered. With all of the attention that has been paid to the branding of the store, I would have hoped that they would have spent a commensurate amount of time training the staff and management. I know why they have the bocce and cornhole spaces out back. Its because you're going to have time to play a rather long and drawn out game before your meals get to you.
If you have to visit, eat first and just come for a beer. | 0negative
| 796 |
I do believe this was my first visit to Queens Village and I was very impressed with this section of the city, the streets were clean, wide enough, tree lined with beautiful brick homes, like row homes, but they all seemed to match, I'm sure this is an affluent area to live in. There was not one sign of trash, folks that were strolling, jogging, dog walking or just sitting outside at one of the many cafe's were all dressed nicely and were clean cut, in other words, not a bum was to be found. For some reason it kept taking me back to Boston and that made me very happy.
The Irish Times blends in perfectly with this neighborhood, on the outside, walking inside was a queer situation, unique for sure, where you enter is just a landing and you are unsure as to whether you should take the flight of stairs up to what seemed like a very small bar area with no tables or down to the second or third level, which had another bar on an in between level.
The second level had maybe six two tops and one large booth tucked in the back corner, the bottom level had four larger tables. Now mind you the space is all wide open from ceiling to the bottom floor which is over fifty feet under ground. We stood on the landing for just a moment or two and then the bartender, who was manning the upper level bar, assisted in seating us on the second level.
The bartender at the second bar was also the only server on, so it was a good thing they were not busy. She was quick to greet us, bring us our drinks and then to answer our questions, however she was not friendly, she did not smile once or have one ounce of enthusiasm and she makes the worst margarita I have ever had in my life. I know, I'm in an Irish Pub and I should be drinking ale or whiskey, but I just don't care for either.
The broccoli bites that we ordered appeared to be hand made, the portion was large and upon request we were served a cheddar sauce to dip them in, they were pretty good.
The cream of potato soup was just that, with large chucks of potato, it was good, but with celery, onion, cheddar cheese and bacon, it would have been much better. I'm in an Irish Pub, so I had to have an authentic Irish dish, which is always a hard decision for me, but when I ordered the fish and chips, our server said that I made a good choice and she was right, well half way right.
At least four large beer battered cod were fried to a crispy and crunchy golden brown and this was a beautiful thing! Really, very delicious, but the "chips" were steak cut previously frozen fries, so pale, no crunch, no golden brown and were a total fail. Another thing that bothers me, if you are going to be in the business of serving authentic fish and chips, why all the use of Heinz malt vinegar? I know, I of all people should not hate on Heinz, but they do not make a good malt.
Hubby ordered a cheeseburger, who knows why, but he enjoyed it and I was jealous of his shoestring fries, they had been previously frozen too and were not crisp and golden brown, but they were much better than the ones I had. The cole slaw that came with my fish was just cabbage, nothing else, but I did like their dressing.
The menu reads potato pancakes $5.00, which I think is very reasonable, what we got was one very large grated potato pancake that covered a dinner plate. I thought it was different to top it with a white cheese, banana and hot peppers, but I enjoyed it, it certainly lacked in onions and the egg was not well blended in and came out like fried egg on certain portions of it.
Here is our real problem with the Irish Times, the food took an eternity to come out and from what I could see, most of the patrons were drinking and not eating. The broccoli bites came first, probably a good twenty-twenty five minutes after we ordered them. The soup took another ten minutes, which is ridiculous for a soup that is on the menu, when we inquired, the server said, " well it hasn't been that long". Our entrees came out a few minutes later, but is still way too long for a burger and fried fish.
It was probably a total of forty five minutes from the time we ordered our food until we finally got everything and when we placed the order, we had asked her not to hold anything back as we had somewhere we had to be. After we finally got all of our food, a couple comes in, orders and is promptly served onion soup au gratin and before they could even get a few bites in their pulled pork sandwiches arrived!
I was not a happy camper and at that point Michael said pay the check, I'm going to the car. I left a lousy five dollars and for me to leave a lousy tip is unheard of, but when she came up with my coat, once we were in the car, I handed her another ten dollars.
Their prices are reasonable and I believe they are cash only, they do have an ATM inside. I would give the Irish Times another try, I did love their fish and would like to try another dish, for this time and our overall experience 2.5. | 1neutral
| 961 |
********UPDATE August 10, 2015 - 3 of the 4 members of my party have "Tummy Trouble" after our night at Chima. More good news. This place is a disgrace. ********
Here's what you want to know: Chima or Fogo. Answer: Fogo...by leaps and bounds!!!! #TEAMFOGOdeCHAO
I would give Chima 2 stars, if i could dedicate 1 star exclusively to my pitcher of Sangria. Otherwise this place was not my cup of tea, hence 1 or -1 star. If you are looking for the short version of this rating here it is: Chima is a wannabe. Very average food, overpriced, and crappy service. Take your money to Fogo and enjoy your dinner.
If you want deets on why Chima blows, read on.
Hostess/Waitress/Service
Just bad.
First, the hostess and at least my waitress Emily had an AT-TI-TUDE, One of those, "I work at a restaurant in CC and you are supposed to care" attitudes. She ran through the rodizio process and how it works ( cuts of meat, salad bar, red stop sign and green signal) at lightening speed. Two of us had been to this type of restaurant and two of my party had not. So I took the liberty of slowly explaining it to to our party members so a human being could actually process the information. From the beginning she kinda seemed like we were bothering her at work. (Which is ironic because she was at work) Not a big deal, but a little annoying. There's more about the hostess, but I don't even want to bother with her....
Salad bar
The salad bar was blah at best. I did like the vegetable cream soup and some of the cheese offerings, otherwise it was nothing special. As a matter of fact I was a little annoyed that there were wedges of iceberg lettuce (presumably for wedge salad), but not crumbled blue cheese or other fixins to make a wedge salad.. Disappointing, but not a huge deal. There were some other things you would find at a very AVERAGE salad bar. Think Ruby Tuesdays salad bar and add smoked salmon. I may not be giving its due, but the point is---you've had better at a boardwalk casinos buffet. But who cares about salad at a steak house. Next...
The Meats/fish
Just...BOOOO!!!!
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING SPECIAL at all. The ribs were over sauced (presumably to hide the fatty, low quality underneath), the other cuts were tough and flavorless (mine were medium in temp...you can order your meats according to your temperature so maybe order it raw?). The prime rib was the worst. Dry tasteless, just not worth the $$$$. The salmon and swordfish were okay at best. I didn't finish either. I think the best thing about the fish were the sauces. Just yuck. I didn't try the chicken offerings, because I was just ready to go.
The check
Not a bad check. And although I only saw Emily 3-4 times in 2 1/2 hours, we were set to give our usual 20% gratuity. We asked Emily to split the check, because the couple we were with wanted to pay via credit card. We split the check in half $93.51 cash, and 93.51 on the card...you know-even Steven. Well Ms. Emily came back and told us Chima does not take coins. Huh???? She said there is no place to put them? So she gave back the $.51 added it to the credit card. Whaaaatttt??? That's perplexing...
I asked Emily what happens if a person were to pay in cash only for a check that included change. For example $55.28. Do you know what she told me? She said they "round it up". HUH??????? What???? So now I'm pissed. Your restaurant doesn't want to deal with change so you "round it up"?????
First of all, IFFFFFFF she didn't just make that up---CHIMA is ridiculous and obnoxious (which I told her). But the good news is, I really DON'T believe that's the policy. I think that was EMILY's policy. The restaurant does not take change? I believe she lied. I think she was being dismissive. I think she was being all "this is an exclusive restaurant and we don't do change". And that's a bunch of BS. Chima is a CHAIN restaurant, hence Ms Donalds and freaking Sizzler (which I've had better food at back in the 1990's, lol). Just because the address is downtown, and you get to overcharge and dress your wait staff in black button down tops and pants---DOES NOT MAKE YOU EXCLUSIVE). I've actually eaten at Michelin rated restaurants on a couple different continents, so give me a freaking break with the "attitude/we're too good for change". I am going to contact the headquarters and find out about this change policy. Honestly, it would not have been SUCH a big deal if EVERYTHING else DID NOT FREAKING SUCK.
It was a crappy experience. Nothing special and HARSHLY overpriced for the butt you have to kiss to get a decent meal and service.
If you are on the fence. FOGO da Chao wins. Never had ANYTHING but GREAT service, awesome and FLAVORFUL food.
I know I made a big deal over the change, its only because I find it insulting.
This is half review, half rant. For that I apologize.
This review was from Sunday August 9th- again, BOOOO!!! | 0negative
| 889 |
I think this building is cursed. Seriously, it's haunted or something. This is the third restaurant that has tried to open in this location in a year and it's a spectacular shit show.
Visited on 02/17/2019 at 12:15PM. I stood at the hostess stand for a good solid six minutes before a surly asian woman with tattooed eyebrows stomped over and barked 'HOW MANY' and I said two and she wordlessly thrust a paper card at me with the number six on it. I took a seat in the crowded foyer and waited.
Finally the lady called my number and a hispanic family tried to jump in front of me with their number 9 paper card (you can't tell it apart from the number 6). An innocent enough mistake I suppose but they had the audacity to throw a fit even though they came in 20 minutes after me and were sitting right across from me. The asian lady and the hispanic family were having a hard time arguing in broken English and I was just standing there like a dummy like "ehhh, can I go to my table now??" Super awkward.
When we were walked back to our table I was shocked to see that the restaurant wasn't even a quarter of the way full. Super weird because there were tons of people waiting in the crowded front area. I noticed terrified asian children bussing tables and every customer in the place looked pissed. It's clear that this place was overwhelmed and the staff weren't trained properly.
After about 20 minutes our server came over and took our drink order. I ordered water for myself and Sprite for the kiddo and she brought out two waters. Another 10 minutes later when I was able to get her attention I asked again about the Sprite and she said all they have is water. o.o I ordered our food and she didn't write it down. She came back about 5 minutes later and asked me my order again.
Another 14 minutes go by and I'm trying really hard to keep my toddler from melting down and to relax and our server comes over and sweetly explains that she just got assaulted by the manager and she's walking out. She apologized and walked out the front door.
About 10 minutes later an asian teenager came over and asked what we ordered. I told him we ordered a full pound of headless shrimp with the classic seasoning, not spicy, and a kid's fried shrimp basket with applesauce instead of fries. This is the third time I have ordered. I tried my best to be very pleasant and pretend like everything was okay but I was screaming internally.
Shortly after that he brought out a fried shrimp kid's basket with fries. I didn't even bother explaining that I asked for applesauce instead of fries. I was just thrilled that we had some food on the table after this almost two hour ordeal. It wasn't long before my order showed up, and it was wrong of course. What showed up was a half pound of shrimp and a half pound of snow crab legs. I was starving so I didn't say anything and just ate it.
Perhaps the saddest part of this whole experience was the food was amazing. The shrimp were plump, tender, sweet, and were so perfectly cooked they'd just burst in your mouth. The crab legs were absolutely the freshest I've ever experienced. I'm used to the crappy frozen ones that still have barnacles attached to them but these were sweet and perfectly steamed. I give the food five stars. $28.19 was the total for the $4.99 kids meal and the $20.99 crab and shrimp bag. Mind you, I ordered the shrimp bag which was three dollars cheaper.
After we were finished the teenage asian brought us a cup of coleslaw and I told him we didn't order that and he took it back into the kitchen. Employees were scrambling, tables were walking out, all the tables around me were bitching and complaining. I asked for the bill and they took off 10% "for the inconvenience" without me even complaining. Gee golly gosh thanks, almost makes up for the price difference between what I actually fucking ordered and what you brought me.
I was super excited to see a crab-boil-type place open up in Brandon but this place was an absolute nightmare. Easily the most stressful and awful dining experience of my adult life. Hurry up and come try this place before it closes again. | 0negative
| 763 |
The worst! I will never eat here or any other Applebees!
The manager should be washing dishes, a position that may suit his personality best instead of a managerial position that allows for him to deal with the customers directly.. He lacks profesionalism and customer service skills.
On April 26, 2013 my sister and I stopped at the Applebees on Aramingo ave for a meal and a couple drinks to celebrate her bday that was the day before.
The waitress sat us down and took our drink orders, my sister ordered a glass of wine and a corona, while I ordered a mojito. The waitress informed us she was only able to bring one drink at a time to a customer...we said fine...my sister asked that she bring the wine first but please do not take too long in bringing the beer, the waitress said ok.
The waitress brought over our drinks to our table, the wine for my sister and the mojito for me, she took our food order, we also placed a food order to go.
A short time later, the waitress returns with the corona for my sister..her glass of wine still full. I took a sip of my mojito and did not like it...it was a bit too sweet for my taste. It actually taste like a soda or spritzer. The waitress stopped at our table and asked me how was my drink? I said I dont like it, a bit too sweet for me. She offered to take it back and bring me something else. I said no thank you , I will keep it, I did not want to make a big deal out of it. The waitress brings over our appetizer, by the way the portions were small, hardly enough for two people to share. My sister asked to try my drink and so she did, she said she liked it, she offered to take my drink and I could order something else...I agreed. I asked the waitress to bring me a glass of wine.
Well, this is when the manager from hell comes over to our table.
The manager walks over to our table...doesnt even introduce himself...his first sentence to me was "Oh no, "THAT" is not happening here! while pointing to our drinks on the table. I asked him what was "THAT" that we are doing? He continues to explain the one drink at a time to a customer rule and that my sister had three drinks in front of her. I explained how she ended up with my drink.
He refused to bring me the glass of wine until there were less drinks on the table.
I could understand if he refused to serve my sister another drink but to refuse ME it just didnt make any sense. He said if I did not understand the rule, he could clear the table. Clearing the table meant, he would call the police and have us removed.
Keep in mind, not at any time was I rude, loud, obnoxious. We had not previously been drinking...the only drink I had was a water. His attitude was unwarranted.
I say to him, it is customerary at times for someone to order a shot an a beer, what does he do in that situation? He continues to say oh no, that is not allowed here at Applebees. He walks away. I am left baffled. The waitress brings over our order. Again, the side portions are small except for the steak but it was overcooked and tasteless. My sister feels bad that I do not have a glass of wine to enjoy with my meal, so she drinks the mojito fairly fast so we would have one less drink on the table. The waitress comes over takes away the empty glass, my sister asked the waitress to bring me my wine...the waitress said no that the manager will still not allow for her to bring the wine. Why??
We finish our meal and our food order to go was ready and we obtained the bill.
Well, here comes the manger from hell again, stopping at our table.
He asked me if "WE" were ok? the "WE" he was referring to was he and I.
I say NO "WE are not ok! He continues to say "I thought you understood the rule. I said I understand the rule but that doesnt mean I agree with it or I am accepting of the rule. And I do not know how the rule even apllies to me. I came to Applebees to eat a meal, have a drink and spend some time with my sister...I have been refused a glass of wine for no apparent reason.. All I wanted was a glass of wine with my meal. Thanks to him, my evening was ruined and my experience here at Applebbes was terrible! At that time he offers to bring me a glass of wine! I said NO! I am done my meal, our order to go is ready and I have my bill ready to be paid, all I want to do is leave! I do not want to stay here any longer! He walks away. No apologies...nothing!
I should of walked out from the begining.
The worst experience ever! | 0negative
| 881 |
If there was a NEGATIVE FIVE STARS RATING, I would post it!
Alrighty then. We have just had the WORST, most overpriced meal and service ever at Jimmy Kelly's Steakhouse tonight! It was my first and LAST time there! DO NOT GO THERE!
You know it's a bad sign when no one on the staff greets you at the formal host stand and keeps on walking by you... (on a slow Tuesday night) .....then you are finally seated, have a server walk up to you to see if you are ready to order a glass of wine (as we sat there with NO WINE LIST nor menu IN FRONT OF US) ....then we were finally served our wine and we sat there twiddling out thumbs and swatting gnats hovering over our wine glasses as we sat with nothing in front of us but empty water and wine glasses until we finally tracked our server down to ask for a refill of water as we continued to wait for what turned out to be an entire 50 minutes to receive an overcooked, flavorless, bloated mussels APPETIZER, which we had to ask about several times, looking around the 1/2 empty restaurant while we constantly BEGGED FOR WATER refills from our server FROM HELL.
My husband ordered a tomato salad and then the server asked him what type of dressing on his house salad....(he let him order 2 salads, neither of which he received after 1.25 hours into service!) and my husband pointed it out as we were waiting for my mussels appetizer and the response was if you order a tomato salad, "they usually just bring that one instead of your house salad" .....so they can charge you $7/8 instead of no charge for the house salad if they were to bring you the one included with your meal...but nooooo, it turns out that you don't actually get the house salad that you just ordered if you decided to order one for the $8 additional surcharge....! WHAT! Really?
We are not penny pinchers and this was a special occasion so not so concerned about price so much but when your server intentionally admits to not bringing something that is included with the meal (without telling us and no mention of it on the menu!) AND that you have ordered and you ask about it after waiting for 50 minutes and the server replies that they usually "substitute" your house salad for something else for an additional charge, that is called screwing you over!
Continuing.....now we are more than 1 hour into my birthday "experience", and I am still sitting there with a disgusting bowl filled to the rim with cold liquid from the bloated mussels, empty shells, empty water and wine glasses and my husband has still not received his salad (neither one of the salads that he ordered, as noted above, which he had ordered to be served with my mussels!)
What happened next was inexcusable on every dining level and I literally predicted it and saw this coming .....and sure enough, the server-from-hell removed my mussels appetizer (SWIMMING in chunks of diced Sysco garlic, wine and butter- ew) and SPILLED about 1/2 of a FULL MEASURING CUP of it all over the table setting in front of me and missed my lap and silk scarf by inches....and he never apologized, nor cleaned it up....!!!!!! Meanwhile, I REALLY wanted to like this place...and it is my b-day!
So by now, I am sitting in a chair seated in front of a white tablecloth covered in cold, wet wine, butter and Sysco chopped garlic as I waited for my filet (ordered RARE - I'm sure you can guess by now, it was cooked medium to mid-well when it arrived and had absolutely NO FLAVOR), cold Bernaise sauce (already coagulated), cold baked potato with no butter and .....this is just the beginning of it....Did I mention that it was my birthday today? Horrified, worst meal/ service ever. Especially the gnats flying around our wine glasses the entire time....do not EVER go here.
At the end of the meal, I actually said something to the server about being extremely displeased (understatement of the century) and he NEVER apologized nor got the manager to apologize. As we left, I said something to the host (manager?) and he literally CHASED ME out of the restaurant when I told him I would be calling the owners tomorrow....! Wow. Very scary. Dinner check $175 for 2 people. Escaping = priceless. | 0negative
| 752 |
Chef Hiroyuki "Zama" Tanaka's reputed for his stellar sushi at eponymous Zama Sushi. In the spring of 2014, he opened CoZara in University City, seeking to expand beyond sushi with a tapas and izayaka experience. There's plenty of space, including a vibrant bar area on the first floor, intimate dining upstairs, and an outdoor lounge area. Last year, they renovated to include a new sushi bar as well!
CoZara's kitchen is currently headed up by Cambodian Chef de Cuisine Phila Lorn. And yes, the Philly pride is so strong with this one, he was named for the city! That's not all that's strong though. Under his leadership, Team CoZara won Open Stove XXXI against Team Morimoto! Lorn's extremely engaging and clearly a Chef's chef.
Cucumber Lemonade [$12]
Cucumber vodka, muddled cucumber, lemonade
To beat the current heat wave, the GF was in the mood for something light and refreshing. This cocktail hit the spot, with a nice tartness from the citrus that was balanced by the muddled cucumbers.
Green Tea Manhattan [$12]
Rye whiskey, dry vermouth, green tea simple syrup
I was in love with CoZara's smooth take on a Manhattan, with the green tea simple syrup providing a subtly sweet and earthy backbone to each sip.
Shishito Peppers [$4.50]
Garlic ponzu, lemon
I love shishitos and this was a simple preparation that worked well. The subtly smoky heat of the peppers was balanced by the garlic citrus ponzu and hits of salt.
Grilled Avocado [$12]
Ponzu, wasabi, spicy crunchy salmon
What an awesome take on tartare. I appreciated that the salmon wasn't minced, but substantively chopped, as all tartare should be! Dressed in a balanced ponzu and wasabi mayo with green onion, a wonderfully grilled avocado served as the vessel.
Salmon Skin Nachos [$9]
Pico de gallo, jalapeno, spicy mayo, truffle eel sauce, ikura
For Cinco de Mayo, CoZara decided to create a special worthy of the holiday. And for obvious reasons, the dish became so popular it went on the menu. Crisp and salty salmon skin chips were topped with poppin' ikura, pickled japalenos, and a fresh pico de gallo. I appreciated that the truffle eel and spicy mayo sauces only lightly dressed the dish because really, it was all about the salmon skin. Basically the pork rinds of the sea!
Smashed Fingers [$5]
Okonomiyaki style, Kewpie mayo, furikake, katsuobushi
The smashed fingerlings were served like the traditional Japanese savory pancake, topped with furikake seasoning and katusobushi, upgraded bonito. The potatoes themselves were poached and boiled in butter - crisp and luxurious.
U Penn Roll [$12]
Spicy crunchy tuna jalapeno maki, tempura Chilean sea bass, sweet spicy gochujang sauce
The GF was in love the Penn roll. The tuna jalapeno maki was topped with tempura Chilean sea bass covered in a Korean gochujang sauce. I appreciated that while this was more of an Americanized specialty roll, it wasn't drenched in spicy mayo. Each of the individual flavors were easily identifiable and worked well together in terms of taste and texture.
Bronzzizle Roll [$12]
Bronzino, avocado, cucumber, crispy shallots, hot oil, japanese herbs
The Bronzzizle roll featured snappy bronzino, lightly seared by hot oil on top, with creamy avocado, and crisp cucumber within the lightly vinegared rice. I loved the garlicky essence of the shallots, which added texture from the fry. The Japanese herbs on top added an herbaceous lightness to each bite.
Whole Ika [$9]
Grilled squid, soy, lemon, togarashi
The whole squid was tender, but with a nice chew and savoriness that lent itself to the soy and lemon. The added dash of togarashi added a nice spicy hit to the tongue.
Salt-Braised Pork Belly [$9]
Warm ponzu, ginger, scallion
Chef knew I was all about the pork belly so brought out his mom's recipe. The salt-brined pork made me nostalgic because it's exactly how my own family does pork belly. With a simple warm ponzu and a ginger-scallion dressing, this was obviously a favorite for me!
Mushroom Wonton [$7]
Truffle soy creme
Mushroom wontons emanated umami and an earthy savoriness, with a crisp exterior and maitake, shiitake, and cremini within. The quintet of wontons came atop a heady truffle soy cream sauce.
Sushi & Sashimi [$36]
Maki, 9 pc sashimi, 7 pc sushi
Our omakase ended traditionally with a gamut of sushi and sashimi, including fatty salmon, meaty yellowtail, tuna, and katsuo. Along with the yellowtail scallion maki, this was the perfect end to our meal.
So if you're looking for a neighborhood haunt for drinks and small izakaya bites, CoZara's got you covered for intimate nights out and Happy Hour. If you're looking for a proper sushi joint, CoZara's a great way to check out specialty rolls and traditional sushi or nigiri. | 2positive
| 787 |
We wanted to love The Libertine. So much. We read that issue of Sauce where they asked the area chefs questions like favorite meal, favorite restaurant, etc. and a ton of them were all kinds of hot for The Libertine.
First of all - I am tired of the "Oh it is your first time, We do things a little bit differently here." No. You don't. You source local ingredients? You have small plates? Awesome! I love that. But everyone has that! And Farmhaus does it best. Oh - Rant Over. The Libertine didn't deserve that, but it has been building for a while and irks me.
The menu is organized by type (veggie, meat, seafood) and things at the top are smaller portions/more like apps and the bottom of the page is in theory more typical "entrees." I will get to why I said "in theory" later.
So - onto the actual review. Valeted our whip which was nice. Had a 6:30pm rezzy and at that point it was crowded out front but inside fairly empty. Service was friendly. They brought out some fried garbanzos beans with something called bacon powder dusted on them. I absolutely love when restaurants do the whole "gift from the kitchen" starter thing. We both enjoyed the fried beans, but couldn't really taste the bacon.
Had some some research and read that the buffalo crispy pig tails and she-crab soup was great. Ordered those, the "Roots" which was beets, balsamic, arugula and potatoes and based on the server's rec the "Sunflower Fried Rice" w/ a sunny side up egg on top.
Server was great all the way through. So I can give them a 4 or maybe 5 for solid service.
Drinks: We had a few different artisan mixologist whatever type drinks. They were decent, but I can't say that they were great. Enjoy the drinks at Taste or Santuria far more (we literally went to Santuria after). We stuck with cocktails but it looked like they had a solid wine and beer list.
Buffalo Crispy Pig Tails: Dug em. Hard to describe. Bacony, chewy morsels with buffalo sauce and a sort of blue cheese sauce on polenta. BrunchPrincess did not like these. I thought they were the best thing we had.
Roots: BrunchePrincess really enjoyed. To me it was a very basic, forgettable beet/goat cheese salad.
She-Crab Soup: This was disappointing. Had read in Sauce and elsewhere that it rocked but it was just ok. Rich, and good, but not great. Had three pieces of spring roll covered in fish roe hanging out in the corner which I actually think detracted from the dish. A bit spicy. Very crabby. BrunchPrincess did not like at all, while I enjoyed it for the most part but there was this odd grittiness to it. Reminded me of sandy steamers or something.
Sunflower Fried Rice: This was my least favorite dish, which was a shame, because the server recced this and was all about it. $19 for salty, soy flavored pressure cooked sunflower seeds that soften and taste like rice with some veggies thrown in and a sunny side up egg on top. I mean - it was neat that we were eating sunflower seeds that tasted like fried rice...but it was not neat that it cost $19 for maybe a 1 cup portion with an egg on top and was way too salty. It honestly reminded me of something you would get at a Chinese buffet.
Cheesecake Dessert: Server recced this as well. We enjoyed it. Had some grape sorbet on top and was the softer type cheesecake. Almost like that "no bake" consistency. The only bummer about this dish is that the crust was HARD. Like really, really hard. BrunchPrincess had to honestly stab it with a knife and really muscle it to get through it. I will say that this was probably our second favorite thing we had, super hard crust aside.
I will add a disclaimer - we were SO CLOSE to trying the burger...but based on the Server's suggestion we went with the Sunflower Fried Rice instead. This was apparently a major, major mistake. Yelp's Aimee K says it is her favorite burger in all of StL, AND the vegetarian bartender at Sancturia told us that she allows her self two burgers a year and the last time she had a burger it was at The Libertine and she loved it. But then again...it seems that if your are a vegetarian and only allow yourself two burgers a year then a McDonald's cheeseburger would probably kick all kinds of ass too.
Have had a string of average lately. It rules that new restaurants are opening constantly but for whatever reason we have been a bit disappointed. BrunchPrincess and I decided the next few times we go out...it is going to be to our favs.
Halfway through our dinner this very, very Clayton 20 something came in and her very, very Clayton Mom met her after a bit. BrunchPrincess nearly gouged her eyes out because she was so obnoxious. At one point she said "OMG Mom - You don't know if I like sweets? I like...LIVE on skittles."
tl;dr? Not bad. Try the crispy pig tails. Try the burger. Don't get the fried rice. Wanted to love it, only kind of liked it. Probably won't be back soon and if we do come back we will get the burge | 1neutral
| 906 |
A friend and I took a trip to downtown Belleville via Metrolink and decided to walk up and down B-Town's suburbanly clean, mostly-closed main drag.
After finding that Circa (the store my friend completely loves) was closed, we walked back towards the Metrolink, and found this place along the way.
First off, this is definitely not my scene... But having worked in a Cougar bar for a few years, I have to say that this is the creme de la creme of Cougar Dens! Yes. This is Illinois. Yes. People tend to conform in the most evil ways possible the more county/suburban IL you get. But come on!
I'm no Cassanova, and don't take compliments very well, let alone get hit on very often (or maybe I'm just dense?)... But there's something powerfully Voodoo about the come-hither, pleasantly predatory looks I was getting from Ms. Cheetah Jacket. Pan to the right, Ms. Zebra Coat gave me the same look that my cat does when she wants me to pet her belly...
A pinch from my friend snapped me back to reality.
The establishment itself was very nice, in that hip, Crate & Barrel "We Play Jazz Because We're Cultured" kind of way. It was cozy... Especially for a Saturday night, where we sat in a corner of the bar room. The hostess (owner?) stated that their patio was jam-packed. I'm not one for patios in the cold weather, anyway. Even heated patios. So that was pretty cool of her to sit us in the people-watching section.
I can't really comment on the service for two reasons: sitting in the bar area doesn't necessarily mean you get served by a server. The rules apply from establishment to establishment and one should never comment on service based on that situation. It was also VERY busy. By the time we left, there was a line out of the door, co mingling with the mass of smokers forced outside to get their fix.
If I could venture into the service, I'd say it was prompt. Getting on in age, I appreciate getting carded, and given menu suggestions by our skilled, but busy bartender. I ordered a barley wine (something heavy to get over Cougars' floral perfumes... reminds me of 8th grade English class for some reason) and my friend ordered a pomegranate martini (which was expertly made and very pretty to look at!).
As for the food... Well... I have a pizza stone at home, and keep a nice bit of naan bread and tomato sauce around for pizzas. So their menu of flatbreads (call them pizzas, dammit. it's still Illinois!) did not excite me.
However, the "Savory Cakes" did.... I've made a savory cheesecake before. It was with roasted garlic, parmesean, and some chives... Sliced thin and served with some shrimp.... That's my idea of a savory CHEESEcake... But there was no "cheese" prefix to this "cake". So I thought that they might be making something really cool, with a savory confection... Maybe biscuit-esque? Hopefully biscuit-esque?
No. It's a cheesecake. Sans sugar, plus savory stuff....
And served with crackers.
I hate it when restaurants serve crackers. It suggests that someone back there is incredibly lazy/unimaginative/both. Serve it with some mixed greens with huge croutons! Serve a savory cheesecake with crusty, local bread! Be bold and serve the savory cheesecake alone, with some sort of tasty sauce drizzled over it!
But don't treat it like a mutant cheeseball (you know, the ones covered in almond slices you see people inhaling at the wineries). Celebrate your creation! They really didn't here. It was, however, a good price (we tried both the savory herb, and smoked salmon-- get creative with some ingredients, people-- The Bread Co next door has similar-tasting cream cheese spreads)
We didn't stay for dessert, and I guess we'll stop back whenever we're back in Belleville for a drink, since your only other nightlife options nearby include soulless Landing-style bro bars, focused on quantity over quality-- a trait I failed to emphasize in this critique.
It is bold in the fact that it caters to both the local, and global wine snob in a very subtle way. They don't segregate the local wines from all the others, and lump them in by category, and not by region. That makes those decide on their wine based on the description over the region... Golf claps to the owners of The Wine Tap. And I will stop by for a tasting flight ($12!! So cheap!) when I'm in the mood for some vino.
Ultimately, however, I don't think this place is my scene for food, drink, or atmosphere (rawr!) but it's well worth the try for some people-watching. The prices are great. The service is spectacular for a place that insanely busy (tempers calm, noses to the grindstone). I suggest bringing a group of friends here. Just call ahead for reservations. | 1neutral
| 815 |
This is a longer review with multiple problems, so here is a bulleted list in case you'd like only the summary. I urge you not to waste your time and money on this place.
* Tense atmosphere with no happy or friendly waitresses
* Long wait for our one orange juice to be delivered
* Extremely disappointing changes to a classic, delicious fruit tart recipe
* No delivery to our table of needed utensils and accessories
* Incorrect order delivered with no apology
* Lie about how long it would take for the correct order to be delivered
* No attempt to appease an obviously dissatisfied customer
* High price tag ($6) for a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice
* No mimosas on the menu despite a small menu of wines
This is the last time my husband and I will eat at Josef's. I was always hoping it would be better than it is.
First, the atmosphere is always tense with none of the waitresses smiling. We've come to think this must be because of the owner, who must make it difficult on her staff. We have never come across a happy or friendly waitress and have never seen the owner happy or friendly.
Second, it took between five and ten minutes for our one glass of orange juice to be served. When our waitress returned to take our food order, I had to ask her when the o.j. was coming because she offered no explanation for the delay. This lack of customer concern proved a trend all morning.
Then I ordered a fruit tart so I could eat something yummy while waiting for our main course. I was very hungry. I've never eaten such a disappointing fruit tart, and I'm a big fan. I can't understand why Josef's would change a successful recipe to something fancier and far less tasty, although it does seem their trend to mess with anything cake-like. Locals' response to their cakes have always been a case of The Emperor's New Clothes, with longtime Renoites singing the praises of dense and relatively tasteless cakes.
What makes classic fruit tarts taste so good is the pie crust layered with fresh custard and then equally fresh fruit, all topped with a light glaze. Josef's does their best to destroy this tastiness with the following: an extremely hard, crunchy, heavily glazed crust that is nothing like a pie crust but seems to be made from oatmeal, a crust that requires a knife to cut it because if you use Josef's cheap forks with rough edges, you will hurt your fingers by crushing hard grooves into them; the crust layered with drizzled chocolate, which (while I'm a huge chocolate fan) detracts from the delicious simplicity of a fruit tart; delicious custard replaced by whipped cream, which makes this not a fruit tart at all but fruit sitting atop whipped cream; and at least some, if not all, of the fruit not fresh but coming from a can or at best a bottle. It was amazing how thoroughly Josef's bakery could turn a wonderfully simple and delicious desert like a tart into something it is not and that is a chore to eat, much like their cakes.
When the waitress delivered the tart, she left a fork but not napkins and no knife. After she didn't return to the table for five minutes after her delivery, my husband went to the counter to request those two items. I really needed the knife, especially, to be able to cut the almost rock-hard crust.
After we received our main course, I cut into the crepes with spinach and mushrooms I had ordered only to find sliced ham. I waited a few minutes for the waitress to return so I could get the food I did order. When she was a no-show, I found her at the cashier counter and told her what happened. She said, "Okay, all right," and didn't apologize. This is a pet peeve of poor customer service. It is not okay, it is not all right, when a customer finds reason to complain to you. The proper response is an apology and a promise to try to fix the situation as soon as possible. It makes me want to scream when employees do this!
After a few minutes after the waitress took away the plate with the wrong order, she returned to say it's coming right out. But it still took five to ten minutes, which made her statement a lie. If it was going to take five to ten minutes, don't tell me it's coming right out. This insulted my intelligence as much as it tried my patience.
Finally, when the waitress dropped off our check and asked how things were, I shrugged my shoulders. She knew how bad it was, and I didn't feel like actively getting angry by listing all the bad customer service and extremely disappointing fruit tart. The worst part was the waitress doing nothing, not even apologizing, at my response. She absolutely knew how frustrated I was.
My husband was especially frustrated by the pretentiousness of the $6 cost for the orange juice. Even though it was fresh-squeezed and delicious, it's a high price for a glass of orange juice. For two dollars more, I should have been able to get a mimosa, which I wanted anyway and is not offered by Josef's despite a limited wine selection. One more disappointment among many! | 0negative
| 911 |
First the good news. The food was exceptionally good. We went on a Monday evening at 630pm and there was only a five minute wait. I had been to Maggiano's many times but not in the past two-three years and the other two people with me had never been there. We were celebrating a birthday so I suggested Maggiano's because the food was so good.
Now the not so good news. Our waiter was really inexperienced and it would be classified as poor service even at a Denny's. I don't blame him so much as I blame management for putting him out there on his own too soon (I'm assuming he is new).
He took our order fine or so we thought. We had the Tomato Caprese appetizer, two Maggiano salads, two Mushroom Ravioli al Fornos, one baked ziti with gluten free pasta. The waiter was cafeful to ask if it was a preference or an allergy. He explained something to the effect that if it were just a preference he could take the order like that but if it were an allergy the chef would come out to make sure it would be perfect. This was a nice touch and in keeping with the level of service one expects from this restaurant.
The Caprese was brought out soon enough and was delicious. The bread was served a bit after that and was very good. While we were waiting for our salads, we noticed there was a dark flake in the parmesan cheese at the table. It kinda looked like a small dead bug but on closer inspection it looked like a burnt crumb of some sort. I gave it to the waiter and asked for it to be replaced. About 15 minutes had transpired since we placed our order when the waiter came to tell us that the ziti could not be made gluten free and asked if we wanted something else that could be made gluten free. We asked about the gnocchi since it was a potato base and he didn't realize what we were talking about. So we said gnocchi and even pronounced it like "no-chee" and he still didn't understand what we were talking about. He brought the chef out and he was able to answer any questions we had. We were pretty disappointed that it took 15 minutes to figure out that ziti couldn't be made gluten free but thankfully they brought out the replacement very quickly along with the Mushroom Raviolis we ordered.
We told him to cancel the salads since they hadn't arrived prior to the entrees. There was an assistant manager with him when the food was dropped off and she apologized and assured us that the salads would be removed from the bill and to make up for it they would comp us a dessert of our choice.
While my fiancee was drinking wine, I ordered a coke which I finished just as the entrees arrived. Not once was I asked if I wanted a refill or, like most places, I was just brought one.
About halfway through our entrees we finally got a replacement parmesan cheese container.
We asked for more bread and the waiter told us "We don't have any. I'm not lying". Five minutes later he brought out bread and said, "Be careful, it's REALLY hot and just from the oven". It was just warm.
The assistant manager came by and asked if everything was "wonderful" and we begrudgingly said yes because I didn't want to make a scene.
He asked if we wanted any dessert and didn't see to be in the loop about the comped dessert so we ordered tiramisu. When he brought out the bill he pointed out they had comped the "gluten free" ziti's replacement as well as took 25% off the bill and we weren't charged for the dessert.
He apologized for the problems and the last thing he said was "the kitchen has some problems tonight". That was the icing on the cake. The kitchen doesn't refill cokes, replace parmesan cheeses, not know the menu, or forget to follow up on salads.
As good as the food was, the poor service (even despite the discount) really soured the evening. Again, I don't blame the waiter. He clearly had to be new and was in over his head. He seems like a charming guy who could grow into being a really good waiter. I gave him a $15 tip despite the urging from the others in my party to stiff him because I used to be a waiter too. I know the management reads these and I hope they address this issues as there are many. If I ever get the urge to eat Maggiano's food it will have to be carryout. If anything, this experience makes me not question my eating at mom and pop restaurants in lieu of the big chains over the past few years. I can't remember ever having sub-standard service in a similarly priced mom and pop restaurant. | 0negative
| 840 |
Shrouded darkness. A yearning responsibility to awaken and choose: fight or flight? A regression to primal instincts and a final release to the euphoric abyss of the Chipotle steak burrito enveloping my mouth. My pupils were suddenly birds penetrating through the barricade of my eyelids. I was asleep, yet awake. Blind yet I could see all. Deaf to every noise except for the annoying screech of that song by Lizzo that was playing on the restaurant radio. Complete and utter bliss. Why would I open my eyes? Why would I continue to chew when it daringly warrants the fate of the bite departing from my taste buds?
All these trivial thoughts died out when I was jolted out of euphoria when the restaurant manager turned up the tv volume to a blaring setting. It was so loud that it was virtually impossible to ignore it. I stared with a sort of unrecognized duty to remain attentive to the content inside the screen. The news station was playing. They discussed the 3 car pileup on the interstate and then the investigation of the murder homicide that took place two nights before. I suddenly felt as though I had seen it all before. When the newscaster switched to the weather segment, my heart began pounding faster. The weatherman said, "Today we have a cold front coming through..." Today... Today was Monday. If I'm not mistaken, yesterday had been Monday as well. Had the day before that been Monday? No this all is impossible and I don't need to worry myself... As I started to think about it some more, I muttered, "But what if..." All of a sudden every person in that Chipotle restaurant had their eyes fixated on me. I couldn't move. Their gaze paralyzed every part of my body. I couldn't close my eyes and make it all go away. I glanced at the tv which had gone quiet and soon realized why. The lady newscaster had begun staring at me as well. And as a break in the silence, she said my name. "Harrian." I tried to respond but I still could not move. Once again she said my name, "Harrian." And before I could devise up a way to respond she continued, "Honey... this is your mom and dad." My heart sank lower than the hardwood floor. I dismissed this thought with ease because my parents had died a decade ago in a car accident. "We miss you. Come home to us. I know that you're confused but we don't know exactly how this message will get through to you. We just need you to WAKE UP!" All I wanted to do was close my eyes to this dream and thus end it because I was mortified. "You've been in a very bad car accident sweetie and it put you in a coma. But now it's time for you to WAKE UP! Come back to us." At this point, tears were flowing down the face of the newscaster and she could hardly speak with a straight tone anymore. After 9-10 seconds she continued the newscast solemnly. The people in the restaurant were still staring deep into my soul. Under my breath, I repeated what the lady newscaster had told me. "Wake up..." As if on cue, every person in the restaurant, man woman and child, began to approach me with purpose. They reached their arms out to me. I still couldn't move. I couldn't prevent the onslaught of hands that was growing near. They began to surround me and place their hands on my shoulders and neck. And finally, in unison, they commanded me to, "WAKE UP!"
Blindingly bright were the surgical lights overhead. I realized quickly that my body was strapped down with two thick leather belts fastened tightly. I was now in a hospital room. I could hear my own heartbeat as though it were broadcast through the loudspeakers. I heard a woman cry, "Oh my God! Oh my God!" and I glanced to my left and saw a woman, my mother running to my side. "He's awake!" I heard the doctors rush into the room with shocked smiles and put their hands all over him, unplugging some tubes, unstrapping belts, and allowing me more room to move. As I stared into my mom's eyes I heard another woman's cry at the doorway. I glanced to my right and saw a woman carrying a baby. Tears began to flow from her eyes and she ran to the bedside next to my mother. She pressed her forehead against mine and I knew at that moment who she was. She was my wife. This was my child. She gently handed me the baby, my eyes fixated on his innocent face. Tears began to race down my cheeks as I looked into the eyes of a human who I had given life to.
Overall, I'd give the Virtual Comatose Simulation at the hospital a 3/5. They didn't even let me finish my Chipotle steak burrito. | 1neutral
| 836 |
Let me begin this review a little differently with some awesome quotes from our waiter.
1. "Hello folks, I'm sorry I haven't been over sooner, but if you would please just give me 5 minutes, I will be back to take your drink orders and I promise to give you 100% of my attention."
2. "No soup or salad orders yet. I'm only taking appetizer orders right now."
3. "I'll bring out some bread when you get your soups and salads."
4. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you order a soup."
5. "You ordered a salad? That's my bad."
Now let's get to the review. First and foremost, this was a celebratory dinner for La Chica's older sister who just got hitched. It was also Valentine's Day, so it was a double fancy whammy event. When we arrived at Bascom's, the first thing we noticed was that apparently the dress code is very relaxed in Pinellas compared to Tampa's upscale restaurants. We were, by far, the best-dressed folks in the joint. Lots of jeans, t-shirts, shorts and Whiney The Pooh hooded sweatshirts. Yes, a grown ass woman was wearing a fucking Whiney the Pooh hoodie at a $$$ steakhouse. Seriously folks, I've seen better dressed people at Applebee's on a regular weekday. There were some real slobs in there.
We wait 30 minutes past our reservation time, which we sort of expected due to it being V-Day and all. No big deal. We were seated, or scrunched into a table for 6 in a tight corner of the restaurant. Problem is that there were 7 of us. No big deal. Let's just get some drinks and food because it's 9:30 at night now and we're just hungry. Just under 10 minutes goes by and finally, our server arrives. See quote #1. We're all like, "oooooooo kaaaaaay then." No big deal. After we get our drink orders in, we place our appetizer orders. Only two people at the table actually order apps, so a party member attempts to order soup. See quote #2. Then another party member asked for some bread. See quote #3. This experience was going nowhere fast with our militant ass waiter, Henry.
Our bottle of wine comes out, and we're excited because we're thirsty. I'm immediately thrown off because the bottle has a twist off cap. WTH? No cork? I've never seen a bottle of wine at a restaurant with a twisty cap before. Did I order MD 20/20?
The two appetizers come out, and since there's no bread yet and we're hungry, they are shared with the table. The calamari is really good. Nice and tender and severed up with a delicious dipping sauce. No complaints there. I didn't try the other app, in fact, I don't even remember what it was. Then, shortly after, the soups and salads arrive. Oh, would ya look at that! Everyone has something except for me. See quote #4. Disappointing, so La Chica offers to share hers with me. If you go here and order a french onion soup, hopefully you'll be lucky enough to receive it because it's actually delicious. It's up there with the likes of Bern's and Ocean Prime, IMHO. So we finish up the soup and here come the main courses. But wait, where is my Caesar salad, Mr. Militant Waiter??? See quote #5. You've got to be fucking kidding me man. Am I on candid camera? Are we filming a movie called 'How to get a Bad Yelp Review in 30 Minutes'? It's laughable at this point. The only thing that keeps me sane is that this wonderful looking 16 oz. NY strip is sitting right in front of me, and it smells amazing. So at this point, I'm just wanting to tear up some meat. I cut it in the middle, and it's cooked perfectly--medium throughout. I take one bite, and the experience just flat lines. No flavor. No spices. No nothing, just bland meat. Not even my $6 mushrooms and onions can save this steak from mediocrity. I've honestly had better NY strip at Longhorn's. It's been a few blue moons since I've been this deflated at a restaurant. Only 1 of the 7 in our party was completely happy with their meal, so this was basically a $400 disappointment, and despite Henry bringing me a free slice of Key Lime pie to make up for his mistakes, I will never set foot in this establishment again. In fact, I think I will stick to Tampa for $$$ and $$$$ rated restaurants, period! | 0negative
| 760 |
First thing first, do they serve good fried chicken? Hell yes! They serve one of the best fried chicken that I've ever had.
But Belly, if that is the case then how do you justify the rating you gave them?
Well, my fellow Yelper Yelpologists, please read on.
I came here on a weekday with my road trip buddy in December for lunch. Even then, by the time I got here, there was a pretty long line already. What the heck, right? I was already here, might as well wait in line.
Fast forward about 45 minutes later, I was still the 4th in line from the door. But lucky me, one of the staff came out and asked if there were a party of two waiting. BINGO! We didn't have to wait any longer and we got to skip those three parties still waiting ahead of us. Now imagine, if I had been in a party of three or more? The wait would've been at least an hour ON A WEEKDAY! What about on Saturdays? All I can say to you is "good luck".
After we got seated, it took quite a while until a waitstaff actually came to our table - I'd say around 10 minutes or so. By this time, we had browsed the menu and pretty much had an idea of what we wanted and was ready to place an order. I did, however, have a couple of questions for the waitstaff.
I asked what kinds of chicken came with the 'Fried Chicken Mix' meal. I wanted to know if I'd get maybe one breast, one wing, one drumstick; or whatever, right? Her response: "whatever they have ready".
Wait, what? Whatever they have ready? So if they only have drumsticks, all I'm getting is drumsticks?
She then told me that if I wanted specifics like white meat or dark meat then it'd be an extra $2 (if I remember correctly) since it's considered "special order". So a $15 meal became $17 because I wanted white meats. But hey, they said this was the best fried chicken in the country so what the heck, right?
Since the meal came with one side, I decided to get the green beans because it sounded so good on the menu. I also added a cornbread for an additional $0.75 and a glass of fresh squeezed lemonade for $2.50. At this point, my meal already cost a little over $20 not including tax and tips - pretty pricey, don't you say?
The fried chicken took a while to come out, which is understandable because, well, they had to fry the chicken, right? And that alone would take at least 7-8 minutes so I didn't expect my meal to come out quick. However, this is one of the reasons why there's such a long wait outside (along with the fact that we were sitting around for 10 minutes before anyone came to us).
Anyway, once the food came out; dear baby jesus, it was as good as everyone claimed it to be. Keep in mind, this is not Tennessee style fried chicken so it didn't have that spicy taste when you eat it; however, the crispiness, the flavor, the tenderness, the juiciness, and pretty much everything about the fried chicken was on point. The chicken wasn't too greasy to eat that you'd have to use tons of napkins to keep wiping your hands a la popeyes fried chicken, you dig? The skin was crisp to perfection that you'd be craving for more after you're done eating.
The green beans? Oh yum!! It could be a meal by itself because you get green beans, rice, and gravy; and the combination of all this was delicious! The three pieces of chicken AND the green beans AND the cornbread were plenty even for my fatass self. I have to say that if I only had to rate the food alone, it's five stars all the way.
Our waitstaff was ok. As mentioned above, she didn't come to us for quite a while. And even after she took our order, she didn't check on us enough so service was definitely lacking.
I also have to add, that while we were dining, a group of five diners left and therefore the table was available. However, that table was EMPTY for the longest time - I'd say around 15-20 minutes before another party sat there. I thought that the line had died down outside and there was no more wait. Was I mistaken - the line was longer than it was when we first waited. So, why was that table empty for that long? No idea - but this is another thing that would add to the already ridiculous wait time.
At the end of the day, our meals cost around $50 with tips and taxes.
Now to me, having to wait an hour or two for some fried chicken, albeit delicious, and getting slow service, and paying around $25 for my meal is definitely NOT worth it. I came here, I've tried it, but it's not enough to make me want to come back unless I know for sure that there was no line.
I'll stick with my $8 meal from Popeyes. Yes, it's a chain restaurant whose staff would mess up a simple order every now and then; and no, they didn't win a James Beard award. But you know what? I'm totally fine with that. | 1neutral
| 910 |
For a long time a certain stretch of 8th Avenue consisted of nothing more than a downstairs pool hall, a couple of dollar stores, pawn shops, and one abandoned movie theater. In the past few years the neighborhood around this little spot has grown up. A bunch of new condos and renovations brought new residents, followed by new restaurants and shops to the area, turning it into a really lovely neighborhood. Sinema takes it one step further by converting the old Melrose movie theater into a two level food spectacular. Run by Top Chef veteran Dale Levitski (now with less faux-hawk), Sinema is the swankiest place on 8th ave.
First things first, we have to talk about the decor which is absolutely the star of the show. The restaurant is a breathtaking mix of textures, where wood tables and velvet couches mingle and give off a luxurious vibe. The grand staircase is beautifully restored and screams old Hollywood glamour. The walls had bookshelves, carved wood pieces and photos of musicians and actors. But it was all done in a way that wasn't incredibly tacky. The low lighting really pumped up the loungey atmosphere and just made you want to snuggle up with a velvet pillow. Additionally, they have a bunch of projectors playing old movies, and they got bonus points for showing North by Northwest while I was dining. I love me some
Our first appetizer was the Octopus with a cold potato salad and paprika. The octopus was hot, fried, and crispy. The way they fried it was perfect, because it was not greasy at all. The potato salad tasted like a cold version of German potato salad and I really liked the juxtaposition of the hot octopus with the cold potatoes. I only wish I had gotten a bit more of the paprika taste from the plate.
Next up was the Foie Gras served with zucchini bread and curry cashew butter. The Foie Gras mousse looked like a tiny scoop of delicate ice cream and the flavor was luscious. The zucchini bread was soft and added a nice flavor to the dish. For some reason when I ate everything together it tasted like a peanut butter sandwich. I would recommend slightly less of that cashew butter per bite so you can really taste the mousse. I must say that the figs provided a welcome sweetness and everything had a really good salt balance. This is a must-order from the menu.
For his entree Steve chose the lamb. It contained duck fat poached lamb, spiced lamb sausage, barley risotto and anchovy sauce. I have to say I was disappointed by the fact there was only one bone on this dish. If you've been reading me for a while you know I fully endorse full contact cave girl style eating, so only having one bone to gnaw on is quite a bummer- especially for the price tag! I was able to taste a full anchovy on the plate by itself, and I really liked that. But for some reason I wasn't the biggest fan of the combination of anchovies and lamb. I just wasn't into this dish at all.
My beef short rib entree was the clear winner. The short rib was super tender and served pulled apart and shredded. It came with grilled radicchio, truffle dumplings, mushrooms and the most beautiful melty cheese. Overall the dish had a rich stew-like quality and the meat was packed full of intense, rich flavor. The truffle dumplings stood up nicely in the broth and had a fabulous taste and a really smooth potato texture. I can only hope that one day they make a dish where these dumplings are the star. The radicchio added a nice bitterness to the sweet dumplings and cheese. Once Steve tried this dish he looked at me with a blank stare on his face for a few minutes before saying, "I'm speechless. This is one of the best things to ever enter my mouth." So there you go!
I went for the Chocolate. A thick and decadent brownie-like cake was layered with chocolate mousse and violet elderflower mousse, with a malt anglaise sauce. The malt flavor of the sauce was fabulous and reminded me of my favorite vanilla shakes! The cake was hard on the outside and really gooey in the center, but it took a fair amount of fork strength to break through the outer shell. Perhaps a bit overcooked? The mousse scoops were tasty, but I wish I got more of a punch from the elderflower. This dessert was nicely balanced and a good sweet ending, but it was massive and should have been shared.
Overall Sinema was really a good dining experience, but there are a few kinks to work out. Fist of all they charge $3 for valet parking, which in a city of free valet is insane. I hope this nonsense doesn't become a trend. While we enjoyed our meal, other diners weren't 100% pleased. While our octopus came out hot, a friend of ours got a cold order. And the prices are VERY expensive for what you get, especially when that something is fishy tasting lamb.
The decor is beautiful and I will be coming back here to snack at their upstairs bar. The waitstaff was incredibly polite and knowledgeable about their offerings. | 2positive
| 892 |
I have been here more times than I can count, and I've always loved it. Their fries were always on point, their dipping sauces magical, and the wraps at least decent, usually very good.
Then I went there after taking a little Old City hiatus and I was appalled. The service was terrible, the woman at the counter was incredibly rude. The trash was overflowing, the tables were scuzzy, and I felt like I was inconveniencing them by patronising their restaurant.
She was scolding me for not wanting a soda, it made no sense. I ordered the meal combo; wrap, fries, and a soda. Okay, but I don't want a soda, so just a water. She "informed me" in a raised voice that she will still charge me for the water in addition to the meal. I don't understand, you're going to charge me for 2 drinks? I just want a water. So she huffily says it's fine, then charges me for it anyway! ??! What? No, lady, I pay for the combo, I get a drink. That's kind of how that works.
So now she's pissed, the guy from the back has to come up and I tell him the same thing, I just want the combo with water instead of soda, is this really the craziest thing that's ever happened here? The guy tries to offer me a soda, when I tell him I ONLY want the water, not a soda too, he says it's fine, just pay for the combo and get a water. Like, literally less than no big deal.
Oh Lord, I go to pay-- finally. And I only have a big bill. I just got paid, in cash, and I didn't have time to stop at the bank. I only have a $100 or a $50. She says she can't take it. At all. she can't take my money now. Well, it's a holiday, all the banks are closed and there's no MAC machines nearby. I can't give you anything else. This place is filled with customers, you're telling me that you don't have two $20s in your drawer?
Fine, whatever, I'm not in the mood to argue with her.... again. I ask if they take cards, she snaps back, Of course they do! again, this is somehow also my fault. (?) Okay then, the card is all I have if you won't take my money. So without saying anything, she adds on a surcharge for the card and runs it, I notice when I go to sign... Hey, why is this more than what it's supposed to be?
Again, she's mad that I had the audacity to ask why I'm being charged a different amount than what I ordered, I thought she was charging me for the soda + water. She starts in with how "I'm costing them money by holding up the line and now I'm not paying and OF COURSE there's a surcharge, why wouldn't there be and how dare you question me I wouldn't steal from you" and I was like are you kidding me? Now I'm definitely NOT paying a surcharge that I probably would have been fine with before you flipped out. Take my cash or comp my meal. I'm done. I'm so far beyond done.
Guy from the back comes back out, tells her to take the cash, she's glaring the entire time she's counting out my change. Tells me to wait, it'll be right up.
I've found a seat, with my back to the counter. I like to be able to see the door when I'm out and about. So they (dunno if her or him) put my food down on top of the bakery case, and don't say anything. Like, I'm supposed to divine when my meal is ready. After a few minutes, I get up to inquire if I'm actually going to get anything in return for my money and she points at my now cold food on the bakery case. AREYOUKIDDINGME.
Whatever. I'm leaving, I'm furious and I just want to enjoy my food. What's on the tray? no water. no dipping sauce. The sauce is 90% of the reason to go here!!!! It's certainly not the service!!! So I go up to the counter.... AGAIN.
Excuse me, I need the sauce and my water. she yells that I can get my own water, from the case. It's bottled water. ?? What? You have fountain sodas literally right next to you. Whatever. I'll take my bottle of water. the guy comes back out because the lady is yelling again. I tell him I need the dipping sauce. She's like, you really want free stuff? Really? No, crazy lady, I want what I paid for, this is crazy.
Now the guy's pissed and he asks which one I wanted, I told him that I ordered the jalapeno one.... back when I placed this order. He slaps it down on the counter at me.
I'm NEVER going back. I couldn't believe how INSANE that experience was. So if you don't mind getting secretly charged extra, getting screamed at, terrible service, and having a mediocre wrap with really good fries, check this place out! | 0negative
| 868 |
First review of 2020, woo-hoo! So settle in for this straight up NOVELLA. Is this my longest review ever? You bet it is! [TLDR: Amazing meal that's well worth the price tag]:
Wow. Just wow. I'd highly recommend adding this place to your "must-eat' lists. I know, I know - there are obviously a ton of other wonderful, way more affordable restaurants in the city. And I'm aware this is a chain, of sorts. But if you're seeking an upscale, trendy experience with high quality food you can't always get elsewhere, then definitely check this place out. ESPECIALLY if you're looking to impress a date/a client/your in-laws, etc.
We somehow, by the skin of our teeth, managed to snag a New Year's Eve reservation only 2 weeks beforehand. I opted for the 9:15 PM seating because that was the only time slot with table seating, rather than at the sushi bar counter. (**Protip: if you're on the shorter side, request a booth. I noticed that the side two-person tables are pretty high up and your feet will dangle.**)
Now, on to the night. Ambiance is very modern/neon, a la Blade Runner 2049/LA hype. They did NYE with style, complete with black and gold balloons and a cool wall of glittery streamers and "2020" balloons in the hostess area for those of us (all of us) who wanted an IG photo op. Everyone - from the hostesses/coat checkers - to the bartenders, servers, food runners and managers - were incredibly welcoming, congenial, professional and stylish. I know that last one sounds like a weird thing to mention, but it was nice that the staff takes their time to groom/dress to impress and really reminds you of the amount of money you're spending on a nice night out. I wouldn't want ME at work (frizzy bun, no makeup, leggings) greeting me at a fancy restaurant, just saying. (Side note: bathroom area is like a damn SPA...very chic.)
We arrived about 20 minutes earlier than our reservation so they graciously offered us the upstairs lounge area to wait in until our table was ready, which was really nice since we didn't want to stand awkwardly in the entrance. What a beautiful area. VERY low-lit, but comfortable, and we ordered a few drinks (1 Chardonnay, 1 perfectly executed martini) at the bar. Our table was ready right at our reservation time.
Anyway, the FOOD. Everything from start to finish was not only impeccable and presented wonderfully, but came out at surprisingly rapid speeds, but not too fast that we couldn't enjoy it. We ordered:
Drinks at the table: Glasses Vino Verde to pair with the sushi, Malbec to pair with the steak. Great wine and cocktail selection, and obviously HUGE sake selection but I wasn't feeling that adventurous.
Starter: "Chef's Selection" sushi platter at the $65 tier. I think it had +/- 14 Nigiri pieces and 2 maki rolls (1 spicy tuna, 1 yellowtail scallion) and all were SO fresh and absolutely wonderful. A lot had wasabi already on them, so be forewarned.
Entrees: We each got the 12 oz. Wagyu beef strip, medium rare, served piping hot and sizzling on a cast iron, and drizzled with some type of hot garlic oil by the servers. (It's recommended you use your napkin as a bib for this portion if you're dressed nice/don't want burns). Welp, I just about had THE BEST STEAK OF MY LIFE. It doesn't need toppings/sides/fillers....nothing. It was THE quintessential medium rare, beautifully marbled, grade A red meat, with edible unctuous gristle and a crispy sear...seasoned simply but wonderfully, never sinewy, always melt in your mouth, yet not bloody. I stopped talking just to chew in silence, eyes closed, to appreciate this marvel.
Side: We for sure didn't need this since the steak can hold its own as a solo act, but we decided to throw in some duck fried rice as a backup singer. Definitely a must-try when you're here. Incredibly flavorful and presented adorably with a gorgeous yolky duck egg atop a large fluffy/crunchy helping of rice (it can definitely serve 2 people). With the already artery-clogging steak, however, it was too much for one sitting. I should've ordered a veggie to brighten up the decadence. I doggy-bagged half my entree and half the rice and microwaved it for a bougie New Year's Day lunch (I know, sacrilege).
Dessert: The fiery chocolate tart, only cause I saw it on social and wanted to see it IRL. A perfect orb of glossy chocolate surrounding some type of liqueur-flavored ice cream, served with three mini brownies. VERY rich (what other way to end a rich meal?) but peppered with little delightful bites of fresh mystery fruit and edible flowers.
Our server was efficient, very helpful with our questions about the menu and never once forgot to check in despite the insane crowd. A few times, someone who I believe was the floor manager also made sure to check on us, as well.
We didn't stay to see what midnight there entailed, but I imagine it was fun.
The bill was around $340, before tip. Obviously a high price tag, obviously well worth it. Would love to visit back! | 2positive
| 867 |
Came here yesterday for breakfast and i fell in love with the view. We left our dog in the car since we could not bring her on the patio (only service dogs allowed) which is completely understandable, ate as fast as we could so we could take her out to dog beach. We have lived in beach cities all of our lives but this view was amazing. I had the corned beef hash, it was very unique but I really enjoyed it and my husband had the yogurt & granola, delicious. The service was non existant but hey, the environment and ambiance made up for it. I met such awesome people and dogs there on the beach. Today, I came back for breakfast because I had such a remarkable time yesterday. The bartender was super friendly, had great suggestions and was great for conversing since I was there by myself. I explained to him how I'm from Los Angeles but was moving up here Dec 1. and that I really loved this place, since I'm a creature of habit and this place could be my new breakfast place. I was sitting in the sun at the bar and moved inside due to the sun getting a bit too hot outside. I started chatting with the regulars there and they seemed really intriguing and nice, very diverse restaurant, young people, elderly people, business people, everyone that came to the bar whether it was just for a coffee refill or someone in town for business seemed like wholesome people. I ordered a pacifico michelada which are usually my favorites, 2 eggs, extra crispy bacon and a side of fruit. Food and bartenders attentiveness was on point. I was just sitting there finishing my beer about 9:30am, because I had to go back to Long Beach at noon and still had to pack my things at the hotel.Then the dreaded UNIMAGINABLE happened. There was an older man who was apparently the owner who just started literally picking me apart due to my shirt. I was wearing yellow shorts and a cut off shirt and sandals. Yes my shirt did say fuck off, I'm sorry, I'm not from here just came for a few days and came for a quick breakfast by myself to enjoy the sun. Not that it matters but the bar counter was so tall it completely covered my shirt anyway. There HAS TO BE a better more respectful way of letting me know I am out of dress code instead of the offensive and demeaning way he did. How dare you question my morals and principles in front of your staff and customers in your restaurant. I would've definitely understood if he asked me to leave because my shirt or whatever the matter was RESPECTFULLY, not only because I am in nursing school & ALSO in the restaurant industry and my husband is a GM of a bar on State Street BUT I am a human being, you don't just treat people in that impolite and rude manner. He said that his restaurant was a family establishment and I had to put my sweater on because my shirt was completely unacceptable, mind you I didn't see any dress code sign at the front and since i was 1 of 2 customers inside (the other customer was literally saying "are you kidding?!" to the owner while he was on his rant to me, and the bartender just stared at me and looked sorry for me). I was already on my way out, like i said just enjoying the conversation before my 3 hour drive to Long Beach. Nonetheless, I completely complied and put my sweater on, saying I completely understand the situation and respecting his wishes the whole time. THEN he just kept going on and on started talking about my hat, asked me what I was thinking wearing it and completely started talking about my ethics, telling me he didn't understand what was up with me and asked me if it was a Los Angeles thing. He mentioned that he was trying to entertain his guests and that my outfit was deplorable. There was no one inside the restaurant! He even offered to pay for my breakfast if I put on my jacket (but in a very offensive way). I'm sorry sir I AM NOT A LEPER. I did my best to comply and apologized even left your bartender $10 on $20, I even said thank you on my way out to all of your staff members because I don't stoop down to people's levels, were you trying to get a reaction out of me? Is that why you kept pushing the subject? Do you feel better about yourself and your restaurant patronizing people and making them feel humiliated? YOU set the example in your own restaurant for your employees and are the reflection of your staff, I can't imagine how they can deal with your snobbiness & incompetence. Sure, I wore a shirt with profanity, i apologized for offending you. I'm 24 years old, I am NOT your daughter and certainly did not deserve the insolent and uncouth attitude coming from an elderly man and bar owner like yourself. I know you don't know me and I don't know you but I suggest when taking things in your own hands, keep the brashness and arrogance out and politely ask someone to leave. | 0negative
| 903 |
I loooove Northern Chinese food. It's the only time you'll see me recommending a Chinese restaurant, at least when it comes to Edmonton's options. Okay fine, Shanghai 456 would make the cut but technically, that's Shanghainese food. Either way, Wheat Garden Noodle & Dumpling Bazaar quietly opened up last month, taking over the old red house from Old Szechuan, which moved it's digs to Whyte Ave.
Anyways, I was stoked to hear about a second Northern Chinese restaurant opening in town! Finally, an alternative to driving all the way to Noodle Feast.
The interior received a much needed face lift. The walls are freshly painted white and gives the place a much friendlier vibe. Don't expect too much though, there's still plastic mats covering the tables. Typical Chinese décor. There's also a small TV set up playing random Chinese shows that you can only chuckle at. Who cares though. Most importantly, would it live up to the glory of Noodle Feast?
The menu consists of noodles, dumplings and snacks. What I like is that for the noodle section, there's four different styles for you to choose from. Just tell them what type you want when you order them. Don't forget. Go with the wide, flat ones, those are my fav (the third one).
Service is very friendly. The couple (I believe) working are a bit shy but they are quite attentive. Nice that their hours changed since my original visit - they're open for lunch now.
Trip #1
- Beef noodle soup ((#101) ($11.99) - beef with green onion, leak and daikon. The broth is simple and to me, it tastes herbal/medicinal/healthy. You won't be blown away but if you're looking for a bit more kick, add some of their chili oil to your bowl.
- Wide noodles (#109) ($11.99) - wide noodles mixed with Northwest Chinese style spicy chicken, potato, green pepper and onions. This is one of their specialty dishes and have to say this was my favourite dish of the night. Nice bit of heat to the dish, super flavourful and the noodles had a great bite/toothsomeness to them.
-Lamb rice pilaf (#303) ($12.99) - with lamb, carrot and onion. Think biryani but replace with Northern Chinese style spices. Again, another of their specialties and it delivered. Lamb was nicely spiced and flavours were just umami.
- Dumplings all in one ($13.99) - you can either pick one type of dumpling (six types to choose from) or if you want an assortment, you can go with the all in one option. We choose the latter and you get a colorful platter of dumplings, 15 to be exact. The dumplings were pretty good - moist, tender, and juicy. My friends liked it so much we ordered another round.
Trip #2 - I had to come back a second time to try a couple more of their dishes before making a verdict. Bbop and I checked them out Friday for lunch.
- Cold steamed noodles (#301) ($5.99) - comes with cucumber, bean sprouts and gluten. I wanted to try this on my first visit but they don't enjoy cold dishes. Their loss, this dish was doooooooope. So many great things coming from this little dish - the noodles are perfect with a great bite and texture to them that's different than their other hand-made noodles. Tantalizing, prepare for a bit of numbness to reach your lips. The cucumbers and bean sprouts help to cool things off a bit.
- Ground beef noodles (#110) ($10.99) - comes with bok choy, peas and chicken broth. This noodle soup was BOMB. Our favourite dish for sure. The broth was heavenly - almost peanut like but quite light and again, the slightest level of numbness. I was pleasantly surprised as I wasn't expecting this to even have a soup base. What I've learned so far - order their noodle soups with the "hot" icons beside it.
- Lamb noodle soup (#102) ($12.99) - with black fungus, kelp, dried lily and goji berries. I thought this one might be different than the beef noodle soup we originally tried but the broth was identical. Bbop wasn't a fan but at least it gave us a contrasting flavour. For what it's worth, he kept on going back to the other bowl. I really like the black fungus and kelp in the dish. Fungus is just texturally pleasant. Kelp was new to me - it's a seaweed, which reminded me a bit of Hawaii and their numerous algae/seaweeds that they throw into their cuisine.
- Jelly noodle (#302) ($5.99) - stir fried jelly noodle with bean sprouts and vegetables. Thought they might have forgot about this one but they brought out it out piping hot. Poor Bbop, what a rookie, didn't wait and burnt his tongue. I'm not kidding when I say it came out hot.This was my first time having this type of jelly cubes - it was more like a starch jelly. If you've had lo bac go (turnip cake) before, it has that same mushy consistency. Surprisingly good with the chili flakes but a half size would have been more than enough to share. Oh well, nothing wrong with leftovers.
Wheat Garden has "hidden gem" written all over it. Hope the word gets out soon and that more specialized Chinese cuisine gems starts to pop up in the future! | 2positive
| 895 |
Leva. You've been on my list for quite some time, and I was so excited to finally experience the 4 star Leva on a Friday night. There's often an adverse effect to experience when one has high hopes. And I certainly had high hopes. How quickly my hopes diminished.
Leva is a small community style cafe, I'd say about 35-40 seats. Most of the tables are communal, so you sit right with other people. I don't mind these type of settings, but it was very loud and I could hardly hear what my friend was saying to me. There are a few tables for two, so I kept an eye out for one to open up, and asked our server if we could move after the table was cleared. All we had was water, and we had just placed our food order, so it's a fairly easy move. After the table was cleared, I noticed our server and two others looking around, as if they were trying to remember who wanted that table. I approached them and asked if we could move, and I was correct... they couldn't remember who it was for. Not a big deal.
When we placed our food order (one pizza and one salad), we were told the kitchen was really backed up and it might be a longer than usual wait. After 45 minutes, we decided we better order some coffees. However we have not had a server come to our table since taking our food order, so we went up to the bar to order our coffees. I ordered a coffee, and I was asked by our server, the girl who took our orders are our first table, and moved us to the new table, if my latte was to go. I indicated to stay, obviously. My friend ordered a cafe coretto, not knowing what it was. But my friend did ask if it had dairy, and the server offered milk or almond milk as options. Instead, the server should have said that a cafe coretto does not have any milk. It's a small shot of espresso and liquer. The server needs to be trained on how these drinks are made so she can properly inform customers and not offer options that don't exist. Again, the server had asked my friend if the drink was to stay or go. So I said "These are definitely to stay as we haven't even got our food yet".
Well as soon as we sit down, out comes our food. I'm not a very observant person, but my pizza does not look fresh out of the oven. And I was right. It was cold. Honestly, cold. Not luke warm. At that point, we realized that they must have forgotten whose food that was, until we mentioned we were still waiting. It was just a thought, I really hoped it wasn't the truth. Because I'd already waited so long for my food, I started taking little bites of the pizza, waiting for the server to come back. Well, another 45 minutes later, we've definitely finished eating, and a young male server comes over to take our plates and he asks how it was. My response.... "It was actually really disappointing. My pizza was cold, and no one came to check on us.".
The server's response... was so unfortunate. We've all been there, where something just wasn't good and the servers pretty much always handle it very well. This young boy, clearly was inexperienced and not well trained. He explained to me that I should have let him know and he would have heated it up for me. I explained that no one came to check on us, and he actually told me I should have waved him down because they are really busy. I was treated in a way that made me feel I had no right to complain, but I'm not a pushover. His responses were super ridiculous. He then said that there was a mix up as they took it out to our old table, but we had moved, and they didn't know it was ours. Our server who moved us, as well as the two other servers who were looking for us... that made 3 servers out of I think 5 or 6 that knew we moved tables. In a small restaurant. It's not like we disappeared into a black hole! There was quite a bit of back and forth, and it was so unprofessional. He was truly blaming me because we moved tables (we asked before we moved, a server moved us, not unheard of), and because I didn't wave him down so he could "reheat" my $16 pizza.
Anyway, after hearing him say it was "mostly", he finally said he takes full responsibility and asked if I'd like him to take the pizza off the bill. He asked me. LOL... Yes, I'd like you to take the cold pizza off the bill.
So, that was a bit of a cluster you know what. As nice as the boy was, I think, trying to be, there is a clear lack of training for the staff.
So very disappointing and unprofessional. It gets two stars because the salad had nice flavor as did the pizza.
PS - Sorry for the short novel, but when leaving a poor 2 star review, I better back that shit up! | 0negative
| 900 |
I like going out to dine in fancy places and I really don't mind paying extra for a nice dinner. And also I expect high quality service and delicious food to be served...
We had some things to do in St. Pete and after reading a very good review in local newspaper (http://www.tampabay.com/features/food/restaurants/tampas-chart-house-takes-seafood-upscale/1130308) decided to try this place for a dinner. BTW, now it is called "Chart House" and the fact that the owners did not bother to make changes in Yelp's profile can tell you a lot how the restaurant is run. Poorly.
Food.
- Worst Oyster Rockefeller I've ever had. Imagine six tiny fresh oysters warmed in shell and covered with onion + frozen(!) spinach + separated-cream-and-cheese glue for 14.99. I did not even know oysters can be that small! Onions overwhelmed the taste and smell. It was like eating onion soup served in a miniature sea shell.
Oh, have I mentioned that there was no seafood fork with oysters? And I had to use my full-size dinner fork (which was bigger then the shell). Just like eating with a ladle from a ramekin! :)
- Best of Shrimp entree was good. I especially liked the crab stuffing which seemed to be the only one really wow-food in my expensive dinner. And I also managed to get plantain chips (from tuna appetizer) as a side even though they were not on the menu. I like plantains very much. That is ONE STAR in rating.
- For the dessert I had cinnamon with something that looked like cooked sliced apples and whole dry cherries topped with more cinnamon and a scoop of ice cream. I could not tell you was it vanilla or caramel ice cream because everything I had in my mouth was cinnamon.
- Clam Chowder was just a soup. Not bad, not great, thick and chunky, with a good seafood taste.
- Prime rib was good. Potatoes were fine.
- Mud pie was a piece of coffee ice cream (no pie crust) topped with chocolate syrup.
You can definitely have all that food at twice less price in hundred different restaurants.
Service:
When you arrive there's the sign outside "valet parking". And no valets on the sight. :) Do you think anybody rushed to take care of us?! No. We were sitting in car for a while wondering what to do next - honk the horn or just park by ourselves when a guy with cleaning supplies in his hands came out. Lovely beginning, we thought...
You do not need reservation for this place. First of all, because the restaurant is huge, there are plenty of tables, indoors and outdoors. And it is almost empty because people simply don't come back there.
Second, the hostess does not bother to read your on-line reservations form and your requests at all (OpenTable, pay your attention to this fact!). I've asked to be seated outside far away from the entrance door. Showing us toward the table the hostess asked where we'd like to be seated (outside or inside) and chose for us the nearest table to the entrance. Next to a table with a loud company. Cute. In the entire empty restaurant she could not find a quiet place for a couple! Because she even did not care. I've deiced to choose a table by myself...
And the winning prize goes to our waiter!
My husband decided to go with the pre-fix menu (soup or salad, a choice of entree and a dessert) of three courses and I ordered an appetizer, an entree and a dessert so none of us would ended sitting without food.
It turned out it was too complected for this restaurant. ;) The waiter served only my appetizer. I had to ask for the soup my husband ordered. It was brought within several minutes. Enough to make my hot appetizer get cold. But it was not good anyway so nothing could hurt its taste.
Would you believe that he same thing happened to our dessert?! I was speechless when again our waiter served only me with my dessert! And again I had to remind him about my husband's food and again he brought it within a while. Deja vu.
As soon as the sun went down it became impossible to sit outside because of huge flies. So we really had to finish our dinner in a hurry. So at the end I was so glad our dinner was over!
On our way out we decided to take several sweets with us. Usually in pricey restaurants they have cute chocolates wrapped in nice paper with restaurant's name on it. Chart House has round ribbon candies. Pathetic...
Update after I got a manager's reply to my post:
Hi Craig! Thanks for reading my feedback. I've noticed you'd made changes on Yelp's profile, it's good. However, I believe that rebuilding the facade and changing the name of the restaurant doesn't make it "a new store". Honestly, it is a lame excuse. Good luck with fixing your kinks! | 0negative
| 839 |
Okay this is written from a perspective of a vegan so in no way am I parading around like I'm some Hana expert as I've sampled maybe 5% of their menu . . . so there's that disclaimer out of the way!
I used to frequent Hana quite regularly as it was optimally situated right by school and yes, even us vegans enjoy a little sushi sometimes - the avocado rolls and veggie rolls - they count, all right! I was never too sure whether the miso soup contained bonito, but I know a few things that are seemingly "vegetarian" do in fact contain bonito, so be sure to inquire before you order. I do believe the teriyaki tofu is vegetarian, but it's not territory worth venturing into. It's a lump of soft tofu (I don't believe it was silken, but I could be mistaken), with a good amount of teriyaki sauce dumped atop it, sprinkled with a few of those generic bargain frozen veggies (corns, peas, and carrots). I've had the mushroom appetizer (consisting of an array of Asian mushrooms) - which name escapes me and my friend assured me it was vegetarian so I didn't bother asking - again fairly bland, but a dipping sauce did accompany the dish and I was sure to gluttonously soak my tasteless fungi in it.
Okay so as far as sushi goes, I pretty much only order the avocado and vegetable roll. The avocado roll - love it. Generous chunks of avocado and from what I recall it's really quite affordable - cheaper than the way more meager and un-fresh stuff they sell at Loyola food services and even Whole Foods. The vegetable roll - quite nice with a bit of lettuce, carrot, daikon (?), and sometimes avocado - it's been awhile so forgive me, but it's definitely a nice plump roll and it's always appeared and tasted fresh and/or nicely preserved.
So why only the two stars? Well for some reason, despite the fact that I almost ALWAYS make a big deal about my vegan status and request that the sushi preparers be especially careful about not rolling roe onto my sushi rolls - it still happens 75% of the time. I mean sure sure, maybe I should haul my vegan arse to somewhere like a salad bar buffet, but hey, I think it would be simplistic enough to wipe down the sushi preparation board when I've specifically and politely requested this.
I suppose I wouldn't be so irritated if not for the fact that on two of the occasions I had to send the rolls back, the waitress accused me of not specifying to her that I required this special accommodation. First off, I most certainly did, as my companion verified, secondly, the description list did not indicate "roe" as a component of an avocado roll. I surely understand cross contamination occurs more than I'd like to know, but blaming me for the oversight was a bit befuddling and just plain annoying.
My last time dining at Hana, I was placing a to go order and having a light conversation with the long-haired Caucasian male that works (maybe he manages?) during the day time hours . . . apparently he's vegan. So I good natured-ly mentioned how it was sometimes frustrating for me, as a fellow vegan, to sometimes receive my vegetable rolls encased in a thin layer of roe. He laughed and agreed and assured that was no longer the case because the chefs were far more conscientious these days.
So foolish me, I drove all the way back to Mid City to discover many offending orange balls sprinkled about my avocado and vegetable rolls. I called Hana to report this and I didn't really receive any indication of an apology and they simply just asked me to drive all the way back to exchange the rolls - which I did. I certainly didn't expect any sort of gratuity since I had already paid, but I just found it incredibly odd, a bit incensed (due to the lack of an apology, especially after the words that were exchanged with the vegan server!) and a "sign" if you will - that I should never dine there again.
Oh and may I mention that this roe issue has maybe occurred to me one other time at the dozens and dozens of other sushi restaurants I've dined at because perhaps the waiters/waitresses actually note this apparently extraordinary request of mine and communicate it to the sushi chef?
Anyway, I don't feel completely awful about the two star status anyway because my legitimate "sushi aficionado" friends often have to restrain themselves from slapping me every time I mention I used to dine at Hana on a weekly basis. True story! | 0negative
| 797 |
Yesterday, April 5, 2011, I took my family on a ten hour, round trip drive from kentucky to Indianapolis to have a wonderful lunch at Jersey's Cafe. This story is about my bad experience at Jersey's Cafe.
My wife, two and a half year old, six month old, and I are used to eating at all types of restaurants from pizza to medium dining. The kids were having fun, not making a scene, or being overly loud. In fact, another customer commented to my wife that we had cute kids, and we shared small conversation with the table next to us. I have worked in restaurants, as has my wife.
After seeing Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and having reviewed their online menu, I decided to try the Westwood sandwich and their chicken salad sandwich with bacon. The steak sandwich looked amazing, and I eagerly wanted to let its rich flavors of steak, tomato sauce, meatball, cheese, and crunchy crusted roll (roll is "imported" from New York) wash over my senses and transform my lunch into Nirvana. I had high expectations. Sadly, I never even saw that steak sandwich.
We got there at 3pm on that Tuesday. With kids, it's always best to aim for in-between meals, just in case. Their sign warns customers of a 30 minute wait from order to food and blame their success. Ok, whatever. It's made to order, not a problem... I can wait for good food.
One waitress and one new buss-person was working the 45 seat (or so) dine-in area. I let my wife order our main reason for being there, and she ordered the big blue, and I told the waitress that we would each have one (oops, this was the wrong sandwich for me, but exactly what my wife wanted). Waitress suggested getting one of the big blue's and sharing it. Neither my wife nor I wanted to share because of the specialness of the long drive and the anticipation of a wonderful sandwich. This was not the Westwood which I wanted. Probably my fault for ordering the wrong sandwich. I'll grant the Jersey cafe that, but how a restaurant handles problems is as important as how they make food. We also ordered a $3 hot dog for my 2 year old and two drinks (another $4).
After waiting every bit of half an hour, they brought the sandwiches, and I immediately told the buss-person, food carrier that there must be a mistake, that I ordered the steak sandwich. He called over the waitress and I repeated that I had ordered the steak sandwich on the big roll, covered in cheese... you know. We cleared up the issue, I had mis-ordered. I asked what we could do, because I did not want the sandwich in front of me. I didn't really want to wait another 30 minutes for the other sandwich, but the waitress was clear that ANY SOLUTION WOULD REQUIRE ME TO PAY FOR THIS SANDWICH.
It turns out that no manager was there that afternoon, just cooks and waitresses: no supervisor/manager to appeal to. So, I asked if she would make me pay for a sandwich that I ordered and didn't like. She said, in no uncertain terms, that if I ordered it, I'd have to pay for it, regardless of anything about the sandwich. It's an $8 sandwich. So I told her that if I had to pay for a sandwich I didn't want, regardless of what I ordered or received, her tip would be used to pay for it. She got angry, made a comment, stormed off and it sounded like she either bumped something which fell, or threw something on her way into the kitchen. At that point, any tip to her was history. She ignored/avoided us the rest of our time there.
I'm not rich, and I will not pay $6-10 tip for a meal that included an unsolved problem. I understand that people are picky, and often overly picky. Jersey Cafe's policy, though, transforms an otherwise decent eat-in deli into a lunch counter. Why pay a waitress to bring my food when they really want me to order at a counter, pay, get my food and negotiate problems with them holding the money, and me holding the food. That's the problem she and the restaurant creates with such a policy. She was calm when talking about a problem with my money. When I made the problem affect her money, she got angry and emotional. Interesting, huh? If a waitress cannot solve such problems when they come up because of restaurant policy, the restaurant shouldn't have serving staff: they should have counter staff. Were this sandwich joint to have had counter staff, she wouldn't have expected a tip, she never would have gotten personally involved, and I would have probably not expected her to be able to fix that problem. But I would have still asked and hoped they would have tried something to make me happy. I don't want anything for free. I just wanted to taste that steak sandwich, but was not going to pay double.
Overall for the restaurant, I didn't want my money back, I didn't want something for free. I wanted their sandwich. I would have loved to have reviewed their food here, but because of the wait staff and Jersey Cafe's policy, this review is about the restaurant, not the food. I had a bad experience. | 0negative
| 906 |
I had a pretty awful experience at Melange. I had been wanting to try Melange for a while, and had heard good things, so I was really happy when a Groupon came out. I have a good friend that I wanted to take there since he had treated me to dinner a couple of weeks prior. From the beginning our server spoke to us with a condescending tone of voice that was just downright rude and confusing. My friend and I both wondered what on earth we had done to deserve it.
My friend is very particular about corn. He saw an item on the menu and was asking about it...trying to find out if it was kernal corn or on the cob or cream corn because he hates cream corn. She talked to us like we were idiots...."Um no...it's kernal corn. No....it's not cream corn." But in a VERY condescending tone. All evening, there was just a strange air of being condescending. We tried to not let it put a damper on our evening.
It's now time to order. I ordered a steak and explained that I wanted my steak as raw as possible without it being cool in the middle...so between rare and medium rare. She then explains to me in a condecending tone that that would be medium. Seriously? Just give it to me rare.
I ordered the cheese plate, which was really small for the price. My friend got the sliders and they were just o.k. My steak was cooked rare and it was delicious.
Then in the middle of eating our appetizers, our entress arrive. I HATE THIS. How hard is it to time courses so that you're not stacking them on top of each other.
Then it comes time to pay the check. I have a Groupon, so I pull the Groupon voucher up on my phone and place my phone and my debit card in the with the check.
I've been using Groupon for a LONG time and this is always how I've presented my Groupon. The waiter will either take my phone with them and redeem the voucher (which is clearly shown on the screen), or they will write the voucher number down right away and leave my phone with me. She took my phone with her.
Then the evening really gets fun. I have a debit card that I specifically use just for going out. Since I tend to lose my card or leave it behind sometimes, I only put on my card what I intend to spend that night.
The waitress comes back to my table to tell me that my card was declined! So now I'm not only embarrassed that I chose this place to bring my good friend to and we've already been treated poorly...but on top of it I'm embarrassed that my card is declined. This is now the exchange between me and the waitreess.
Her: Your card was declined.
Me: That doesn't make sense. How much did you run it for?
Her: The amount of the bill.
Me: You didn't use my Groupon voucher.
Her: I don't know what you're talking about.
Me: I put my phone with my Groupon voucher pulled up in with the check.
Her: How am I supposed to know why you gave me your phone. You should've told me you had a Groupon.
Me: So it didn't seem odd to you that I GAVE YOU MY CELL PHONE.
Her: I had no idea why you did that.
Me: It didn't occur to you to ask me why I put my cell phone in with the bill?
Her: No
Considering that the vouchers were sold over a month ago, I'm confident that
the wait staff at this point knows what a Groupon is and how they are typically presented. And if she didn't...why not ask me? She was 100% antagonizing us at this point.
The polite correct response should've been, "Oh I'm so sorry. I didn't realize what the phone was for. I hadn't gotten a Groupon that way before. Let me take care of this now." That is good customer service. Not arguing with a customer about what they should've done in order to not endure her mistreatment.
Then I show her the Groupon that I have and give it to her again. She comes back and tells me that I can't use it because it's only good for 4 or more people. I always review my Groupons carefully and I don't see that restriction on there. She gets the manager and they both show me a printed out version of their contract that does show it. Fine.
When I get home, I print out the Groupon voucher and again it says nothing of that restriction. I go to the original purchase page for the Groupon and it does say that restriction. I, in no way, think this part is Melange's fault. It's Groupon's fault that the actual printed and phone vouchers do not show all restrictions. I addressed the issue with Groupon and received a full refund.
My complaint with Melange is the nasty way that we were treated by the waitress and the embarrassment of my card being declined because the waitress couldn't bother to inquire about why I would've given her my phone. I eat out A LOT and I can honestly say in my entire life I have never left a restaurant so upset by the way I was treated.
I wrote an email to the manager and he was apologetic and said that he noticed the strange behavior from the waitress. Although he apologized, he didn't invite me to come back so the wrong could be righted. I doubt I'd ever return. | 0negative
| 956 |
I love pizza. No, really, I do. I can wax poetic about the crusts I have tasted and the sauces I have smeared. I also travel a lot and have been working late, so I've been ordering a lot of delivery. Particularly delivery pizza. So, having tried a few other establishments within the realm of Manayunk (and elsewhere), I decided to give Caputo's a try.
I ordered via their online ordering system which was easy-peasy and then commenced to waiting. It did, in fact, take them just outside of an hour to make and deliver my "Boardwalk" pie, an order of garlic knots and some mozzarella sticks. An hour. I've come to realize that in most of Philadelphia, this is standard. But in my non-Philly brain, I still think that this is slightly insane.
As part of the online ordering system and due to nature of my current living situation sans doorbell, I always give the restaurant (that seems too generous for many of these places...establishment, maybe?) my cell number so upon arrival, the driver can call up and I can come down the three flights to meet him (her? it's never been a her, but I don't want to preclude that possibility). Last night, with all of my windows open, I heard the driver pull up and watched as he got out and proceeded to take out his cell phone. Instead of waiting for the call, I just grabbed my phone and started down the stairs.
My phone never rang and when I opened the door, he was actually walking away from the building. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was going back to his car to check my phone number. I hollered out to him and he came back, saw my phone in my hand and said, "Yeah, that was me trying to call." I said, "Well, you never did call." He looked at me with the skeptical eyes of disbelief and then shrugged, "Guess I had the wrong number." He was a surly, sloppy looking kid and his general demeanor lends itself to the idea that if I had not heard him pull up, I might not have received a pizza to enjoy last night at all. But, again, benefit of the doubt. He was going back to his car to check on my number.
The pizza arrived warmish. It wasn't cold, but it was definitely at that point where the mozzarella cheese has started to congeal a little. The first thing I noticed about this pie was the lack of sauce on it. When their menu reads "drizzled," take them at their word. It was drizzled on top of the mozzarella in a spiral pattern. The garlic knots were also warmish and smelled heavily of garlic (a good sign for garlic knots, a bad sign if you have a hot date later). The mozzarella sticks were...mozzarella sticks.
The garlic knots were okay. The dough was a little dense and pretty dry, for all of its chewiness. They were soft without a real crust on them (so either baked in a really humid oven or in an oven at a lower temp than required). They REALLY needed the side of sauce to alleviate the feeling of having a mouthful of raw dough (the dough wasn't raw, folks, it just felt that way after chewing for a while).
The pizza was okay. It wasn't bad. But it also wasn't stellar. Caputo's sauce is spicy (like in terms of Scoville units), but underneath that heat, there's not a lot of flavor depth. The sauce could probably benefit from a dash more salt and maybe a little more oregano or something. If you are a spice wimp (for instance, you think Pace Picante Sauce in its mild form is a bit too much heat), you might want to steer away from this particular pizza joint. The crust was chewy, but more cracker-like in the unsauced areas than it was crusty and the dough really wasn't all that flavorful.
The mozzarella sticks were the standard arrived-frozen-from-the-distributor slop. Gross. The pug ate them. But then, the pug eats anything. We, the humans, were none too pleased. But that's our mistake for ordering non-pizza food items from a pizza place, right?
In terms of pizza, this one isn't bad, hence the 3 stars. But if you want a mozz' on the bottom, sauce on the top concoction, go with Santucci Brothers. Their pizza is better, their sauce tastier and they deliver WELL within an hour. I'd go with Caputo's over some other places I've tried in the not-so-distant past, but in a head-to-head battle, Santucci Brother's square pizza would totally win. | 1neutral
| 786 |
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