| Well, hubby had his first Why Catholic? class last night, and I spent the evening at Panara (National, near St. Louis.) I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I LOVE Panara's tomato soup in a bread bowl, which is what I had last night along with their tomato and parmesan panini. I had liked the panini before, but it just didn't taste right, last night. It seemed like there were fewer tomatoes, and it was just a bit on the burnt side. Not enough cheese, either. The tomato soup, however, was fantastic, as usual. I love being able to sit by the fireplace with my laptop, enjoying the free wi-fi, and really enjoying my dinner instead of rushing through it. Is it really any wonder why we invade this place every November for NaNoWriMo? $-$$ | ||
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Friday, October 16, 2009
Panara
Taco Bell
| Well, hubby and I have been anxious to try the new Blackjack taco at Taco Bell, so yesterday, we stopped in at the location on Campbell, across the street from the Wal*Mart Super Center there. Decoration-wise, a Taco Bell is a Taco Bell is a Taco Bell. Nothing really spectacular. Just the same cheesy southwest theme. (With the notable exception of a Taco Bell that I saw in St. Louis that still had the old style brown sign that I remember from the 80s.) The one thing really wrong with Taco Bell is the seating. Too many booths, not enough tables with regular chairs. And when the booths are sized for Twiggy, a size 30/32 like myself just can't get into them. (My mother escaped the fat gene in my family. She's a size 14 and can't even get comfortable in these things.) There were three tables with regular chairs at them. One sized for four, and one on each side sized for two. Sitting at the one sized for four were three elderly people. Well enough. But did the old biddies REALLY have to take up both of the other two tables with their purses? Nothing against Taco Bell. Just saying they might want to rethink their seating arrangement so that nobody has to deal with this problem. If my husband hadn't been there, I probably would have mouthed off to the old biddies. Can't say the third member of their party, an old man, would have objected much. He looked absolutely miserable. But I digress. The Blackjack tacos are really good. I've had them at the location over on National and Cherry, and I've had them at the location on National, near Battlefield. Of the three locations, the Campbell location does it best. Just the right amount of pepper jack sauce. I love it. It's quite possibly the perfect taco. The only improvement I can think of would be to add tomatoes. $ | ||
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Outback Steakhouse
For our anniversary, recently, my husband and I went out to the Outback Steakhouse.
The food was phenominal. I love their brown bread that they bring out, fresh, hot, and with plenty of butter. We had two loaves.
We also shared a bloomin' onion, which is always a good thing. It was a little spicier than I was used to with most onion blooms, but it was a good spicy. It was just enough to give it a nice kick.
I had a ceaser side salad, and Mike had the French onion soup. Both were fantastic.
Then came the main course. I chose the "No Rules chicken parmesan pasta." It was just the right amount of parmesan, and the chicken was so tender and so flavorful. Mike ordered the lamb, and he liked it quite well, but had a bad reaction to the red wine sauce due to his meds (a reaction he probably wouldn't have had if he hadn't had the sangria beforehand). As a result, he was unable to eat more than a couple of bites.
Our waitress, who had already been giving us fantastic service all evening, became concerned about my husband's medical reaction, and immediately fetched the manager, who was also worried. We assured them that they had done nothing wrong, that their staff had done everything right in the food prep, and that it was merely a bad choice on my husband's part to ingest so much alcohol when he knew what the side effects could be. Despite our reassurance, however, the manager still removed the lamb from our ticked, refusing to make us pay for something that we were unable to eat.
Now, normally, I don't feel the slightest twinge about not being able to leave a cash tip and just leaving the tip via the debit card that I pay with, since I almost never have any actual cash on me. But this time I felt really guilty that I had to leave the tip on the card. If I'd have been able to afford it, the tip would have been much bigger than it was. (I was able to afford a 20% tip, and she deserved at least twice that.)
Mike was unable to eat anything else, but I did order desert. They had gotten rid of the Sidney's Sinful Sundae for a while, and only recently brought it back, and am I ever glad! If you have not yet had this delightful desert, and you're not alergic to any of the ingredients, I strongly suggest it. It is a ball of vanilla ice cream, rolled in coconut, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream, and fresh strawberries. There is nothing better.
In all, despite Mike's medical reaction, it was a really great evening.
$$-$$$, depending on what you get, whether or not you get an appetizer or desert, and whether or not you get alcohol.
The food was phenominal. I love their brown bread that they bring out, fresh, hot, and with plenty of butter. We had two loaves.
We also shared a bloomin' onion, which is always a good thing. It was a little spicier than I was used to with most onion blooms, but it was a good spicy. It was just enough to give it a nice kick.
I had a ceaser side salad, and Mike had the French onion soup. Both were fantastic.
Then came the main course. I chose the "No Rules chicken parmesan pasta." It was just the right amount of parmesan, and the chicken was so tender and so flavorful. Mike ordered the lamb, and he liked it quite well, but had a bad reaction to the red wine sauce due to his meds (a reaction he probably wouldn't have had if he hadn't had the sangria beforehand). As a result, he was unable to eat more than a couple of bites.
Our waitress, who had already been giving us fantastic service all evening, became concerned about my husband's medical reaction, and immediately fetched the manager, who was also worried. We assured them that they had done nothing wrong, that their staff had done everything right in the food prep, and that it was merely a bad choice on my husband's part to ingest so much alcohol when he knew what the side effects could be. Despite our reassurance, however, the manager still removed the lamb from our ticked, refusing to make us pay for something that we were unable to eat.
Now, normally, I don't feel the slightest twinge about not being able to leave a cash tip and just leaving the tip via the debit card that I pay with, since I almost never have any actual cash on me. But this time I felt really guilty that I had to leave the tip on the card. If I'd have been able to afford it, the tip would have been much bigger than it was. (I was able to afford a 20% tip, and she deserved at least twice that.)
Mike was unable to eat anything else, but I did order desert. They had gotten rid of the Sidney's Sinful Sundae for a while, and only recently brought it back, and am I ever glad! If you have not yet had this delightful desert, and you're not alergic to any of the ingredients, I strongly suggest it. It is a ball of vanilla ice cream, rolled in coconut, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream, and fresh strawberries. There is nothing better.
In all, despite Mike's medical reaction, it was a really great evening.
$$-$$$, depending on what you get, whether or not you get an appetizer or desert, and whether or not you get alcohol.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Jack in the Box
This is yet another fast-food place that we Springfieldians long for. Is it the mini tacos? Is it the fact that everything is available 24 hours a day? Is it the egg rolls? What is it, exactly, that we love about Jack in the Box?
That being said, I had the new taco nachos. They're topped with cheese sauce and sliced jalapenos, and they're fantastic. I also had an order of egg rolls and a jr bacon cheeseburger. Hubby had eggrolls, taco nachos, and their fantastic potato wedges.
Like at White Castle, Jack in the Box was a bit slow, but it was worth it, and I can't wait for my next visit.
$-$$
That being said, I had the new taco nachos. They're topped with cheese sauce and sliced jalapenos, and they're fantastic. I also had an order of egg rolls and a jr bacon cheeseburger. Hubby had eggrolls, taco nachos, and their fantastic potato wedges.
Like at White Castle, Jack in the Box was a bit slow, but it was worth it, and I can't wait for my next visit.
$-$$
White Castle!!!
If you can't tell by the title, I'm excited. This is the first in a mini-series of posts straight from the greater St. Louis area. My husband and I come up here every once in a while to visit his family, and something we always have to do is go to White Castle. This trip was no different.
White Castle is open 24 hours, so you're always going to get your belly bombers fresh. It's a good thing. Is there anything more perfect than a mini-burger, grilled on a bed of onions, and topped off with two little pickle slices? I thought not.
And their pulled BBQ pork sliders aren't too bad, either. And I love their cheese fries. Let's face it. There's not a single thing on the menu that doesn't taste good.
And they're cheap. Even a Crave Case of 30 sliders is less than $20. Perfect for road trips. Or one or two really hungry teen boys. Or one or two really hungry Anderson men. I have witnessed my husband devouring an entire Crave Case by himself.
The service was a little slow, this time, and the Sprite was flavorless, as if there was no syrup, just the soda water. But that's unusual, so I overlooked it.
$, $$ if you're really hungry.
White Castle is open 24 hours, so you're always going to get your belly bombers fresh. It's a good thing. Is there anything more perfect than a mini-burger, grilled on a bed of onions, and topped off with two little pickle slices? I thought not.
And their pulled BBQ pork sliders aren't too bad, either. And I love their cheese fries. Let's face it. There's not a single thing on the menu that doesn't taste good.
And they're cheap. Even a Crave Case of 30 sliders is less than $20. Perfect for road trips. Or one or two really hungry teen boys. Or one or two really hungry Anderson men. I have witnessed my husband devouring an entire Crave Case by himself.
The service was a little slow, this time, and the Sprite was flavorless, as if there was no syrup, just the soda water. But that's unusual, so I overlooked it.
$, $$ if you're really hungry.
Whisler's
Whisler's is a recent addition to downtown Springfield. Long a mainstay in Carthage, their newest location is located less than a block from the current bus terminal, and just a short walk from the square, the Rare Breed (for teens), and Hollywood Theaters, just to name a few excellent places in the downtown area.
The fare at Whisler's is simple. They offer sliders. In other words, they're a rip-off of White Castle, something we in Springfield have long desired. (My grandmother swears there used to be a White Castle on Jefferson. Corporate has no record of one ever being there, and my grandmother is most likely wrong, but I don't argue with her.)
They do offer, however, some interesting twists, such as the sow and cow (burger with bacon) and the pig and bull (bacon with a slice of ham). It's all fantastic. I had a couple of sow and cows, and my husband had a bag of 5 cheeseburgers.
Their cheapest, basic slider is $1.25, and they're slightly larger than the White Castle burger, but that's it. (Come on, seriously. How can anything be better than a fresh White Castle?)
Their shakes are also simple. They come in the basic flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, and are the same thing you can easily make at home for less.
The one good thing is that the place is so small that you can easily see them making your burgers, and thus catch mistakes, as I did, having asked for no mustard or onions. (If they grilled their onions, like White Castle, that'd be fine. But fresh? Icky.) (Hmm.... and can we tell I'm craving White Castle?)
All in all, not bad, but I'm only going when I'm desperate for White Castle and can't afford to either go to St. Louis or to Applebee's, which also has sliders, and can't stand the thought of getting the frozen ones.
$
The fare at Whisler's is simple. They offer sliders. In other words, they're a rip-off of White Castle, something we in Springfield have long desired. (My grandmother swears there used to be a White Castle on Jefferson. Corporate has no record of one ever being there, and my grandmother is most likely wrong, but I don't argue with her.)
They do offer, however, some interesting twists, such as the sow and cow (burger with bacon) and the pig and bull (bacon with a slice of ham). It's all fantastic. I had a couple of sow and cows, and my husband had a bag of 5 cheeseburgers.
Their cheapest, basic slider is $1.25, and they're slightly larger than the White Castle burger, but that's it. (Come on, seriously. How can anything be better than a fresh White Castle?)
Their shakes are also simple. They come in the basic flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, and are the same thing you can easily make at home for less.
The one good thing is that the place is so small that you can easily see them making your burgers, and thus catch mistakes, as I did, having asked for no mustard or onions. (If they grilled their onions, like White Castle, that'd be fine. But fresh? Icky.) (Hmm.... and can we tell I'm craving White Castle?)
All in all, not bad, but I'm only going when I'm desperate for White Castle and can't afford to either go to St. Louis or to Applebee's, which also has sliders, and can't stand the thought of getting the frozen ones.
$
Mexican Villa
I've been craving Mexican Villa for a long time. It's something I grew up with, but it was only recently that I was brave enough to venture away from the simple order of three tacos and try the sancho enchilada style.
The appearance of this wonderful dish is deceptive. It looks like you could easily eat the whole thing by yourself, but do not be fooled! It is bigger than it looks, with a more complicated flavor blend than might be guessed by the unassuming flour tortilla, enchilada sauce, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes on the outside. Inside is perfectly seasoned beef. Though it doesn't look it, it probably weighs a little over a pound.
Something that is a must for anyone who visits Mexican Villa is the sweet sauce. It's a house favorite, and nearly everyone there is eating it. (It could be said that those who aren't eating it simply don't have good taste.)
There are several locations around town. My husband and I favor the one on South Campbel. The food is always good and fresh, the service always friendly, and the atmosphere just right.
$-$$
The appearance of this wonderful dish is deceptive. It looks like you could easily eat the whole thing by yourself, but do not be fooled! It is bigger than it looks, with a more complicated flavor blend than might be guessed by the unassuming flour tortilla, enchilada sauce, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes on the outside. Inside is perfectly seasoned beef. Though it doesn't look it, it probably weighs a little over a pound.
Something that is a must for anyone who visits Mexican Villa is the sweet sauce. It's a house favorite, and nearly everyone there is eating it. (It could be said that those who aren't eating it simply don't have good taste.)
There are several locations around town. My husband and I favor the one on South Campbel. The food is always good and fresh, the service always friendly, and the atmosphere just right.
$-$$
Bambu
Bambu is the local Vietnamese restaurant. It is located on Battlefield, near the intersection with Republic, in the same shopping center as Just for Him and Catherine's. If you have not been there, yet, I strongly suggest that you go. It is a truly unique experience in Springfield.
First, Bambu is the only place in town that you can get anything this authentic as far as foreign food goes. Second, it's the only place in town, that I know of, where you can get boba tea, which is kind of like a smoothie with large tapioca pearls. It really is awesome.
They have several different types of pho, or noodle soup. My husband's favorite is the P6, which happens to have tripe in it. There's a reason it's labled "for the adventurous." I, myself, got the lemongrass chicken, medium in spicyness (though it also comes in mild and hot). The pho is served with a pile of greens: jalapeno slices, mint sprigs, and sprouts. The other dishes come with a pickled carrot medly that could make a great appetizer on its own.
They also have some great deserts. Mike had the chocolate flan, and I had the bananas foster cheesecake skewer. It is little deep-fried bites of bananas foster cheesecake alternating on the skewer with slices of strawberry.
The service is friendly, with just the right amount of attention from the waitress. The only potential problem with the atmosphere is the fact that there are two tvs in close proximity, neither on mute, and on different stations.
$$
First, Bambu is the only place in town that you can get anything this authentic as far as foreign food goes. Second, it's the only place in town, that I know of, where you can get boba tea, which is kind of like a smoothie with large tapioca pearls. It really is awesome.
They have several different types of pho, or noodle soup. My husband's favorite is the P6, which happens to have tripe in it. There's a reason it's labled "for the adventurous." I, myself, got the lemongrass chicken, medium in spicyness (though it also comes in mild and hot). The pho is served with a pile of greens: jalapeno slices, mint sprigs, and sprouts. The other dishes come with a pickled carrot medly that could make a great appetizer on its own.
They also have some great deserts. Mike had the chocolate flan, and I had the bananas foster cheesecake skewer. It is little deep-fried bites of bananas foster cheesecake alternating on the skewer with slices of strawberry.
The service is friendly, with just the right amount of attention from the waitress. The only potential problem with the atmosphere is the fact that there are two tvs in close proximity, neither on mute, and on different stations.
$$
Ziggies
Again, this was a trip with the step-daughter.
We stopped in at the location attached to the Price Cutter on South National, right there at National and Republic. It's the smallest of the Ziggies locations, and generally just as busy as any of the others.
Like at IHOP, I had an omelette. Their version of "create-your-own" is called the cafe omelette, and you get to choose three toppings. I picked ham, gyros meat, and tomatoes. It was sort of a compromise between my craving for breakfast and my craving for a gyro.
Fantastic food and service as usual.
$-$$.
We stopped in at the location attached to the Price Cutter on South National, right there at National and Republic. It's the smallest of the Ziggies locations, and generally just as busy as any of the others.
Like at IHOP, I had an omelette. Their version of "create-your-own" is called the cafe omelette, and you get to choose three toppings. I picked ham, gyros meat, and tomatoes. It was sort of a compromise between my craving for breakfast and my craving for a gyro.
Fantastic food and service as usual.
$-$$.
IHOP
It's not often that Mike and I go to IHOP. We generally go to the one on South Glenstone, right there across from the Wal*Mart on Independence, and we generally only go when we're seriously craving pancakes.
Well, we were seriously craving pancakes, recently, and so we took the step-daughter (who was with us for a full week) to IHOP for breakfast. They're doing the NFL theme stuff, right now, but that didn't seem interesting to us.
My pancakes tasted a little undercooked, but it was a first offense, so I didn't say anything. But the whole thing was really good. I had the create your own omelette with bacon, ham, and tomatoes. Yum! It was cooked just right. At IHOP. they understand what I mean when I ask them to cook my eggs scrambled, dry.
The waitress was attentive, as usual, and earned a nice tip.
$-$$.
Well, we were seriously craving pancakes, recently, and so we took the step-daughter (who was with us for a full week) to IHOP for breakfast. They're doing the NFL theme stuff, right now, but that didn't seem interesting to us.
My pancakes tasted a little undercooked, but it was a first offense, so I didn't say anything. But the whole thing was really good. I had the create your own omelette with bacon, ham, and tomatoes. Yum! It was cooked just right. At IHOP. they understand what I mean when I ask them to cook my eggs scrambled, dry.
The waitress was attentive, as usual, and earned a nice tip.
$-$$.
Jade Dynasty
Jade Dynasty is in the buidling that used to house the Hard Wok Cafe. Like its predecessory, Jade Dynasty is a Chinese buffet, and it has a great deal of selection. On this visit, they also happened to have some pho, which is a Vietnamese beef soup with thin broth. It was alright, but the chunks of beef were extremely fatty and tough, making the large pieces difficult to chew and swallow.
It's standard buffet fare, otherwise, but definitely of higher quality than, say, New China Buffet (where I have gotten food poisoning, before.) It is, however, the only buffet in town where the macoroni in cheese is not just good, but good enough to go up for seconds.
The service is so-so, with the waitress only coming around occasionally to refill drinks, and the guy at the Mongolian BBQ is way too chatty. To be honest, I'm not all that impressed. I've also stopped getting the soft-serve ice cream since I overheard the manager tell one of the employees that he needed to clean the softserve machine, that it should have been cleaned two days before.
$-$$, depending on if you go for lunch or dinner. Does not include alcohol.
It's standard buffet fare, otherwise, but definitely of higher quality than, say, New China Buffet (where I have gotten food poisoning, before.) It is, however, the only buffet in town where the macoroni in cheese is not just good, but good enough to go up for seconds.
The service is so-so, with the waitress only coming around occasionally to refill drinks, and the guy at the Mongolian BBQ is way too chatty. To be honest, I'm not all that impressed. I've also stopped getting the soft-serve ice cream since I overheard the manager tell one of the employees that he needed to clean the softserve machine, that it should have been cleaned two days before.
$-$$, depending on if you go for lunch or dinner. Does not include alcohol.
Gem of India
With the same bit of extra money that took us to Hemingway's, Mike took us to Gem of India, and we enjoyed their lunch buffet.
Gem of India is the only Indian restaurant in town, and the food is always good. I've yet to have a bad experience there. The service is good, too.
The buffet is a little on the high side as buffets go (around $10/person), but it's totally worth it when you realize some of the spices that go into traditional Indian cooking. We're talking a hint of saffron in the rice, folks, and saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. Thankfully, it takes very little to get a great deal of that wonderful, subtle flavor that saffron is famous for.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The basmati rice at Gem of India is the only rice that I have ever had that I can eat without adding anything to it. When I make plain rice at home, I have to have milk and sugar in it. When I have rice at a Chinese restaurant, I have to have sweet and sour or cashew sauce on it. But at Gem of India, the rice is so perfect, so lightly flavoried, so tenderly cooked, that it needs nothing to make it better. (To be honest, though, I have been known to mix it with curry or whatever other sauce I've got on my plate, just to add that perfect texture to the sauce and help get more of that delicious sauce into my mouth where it belongs, tantalizingly teasing my tongue.)
Whether you go for lunch or dinner, I strongly suggest getting some gulab jamun (mill/wheat balls soaked in syrup) for desert. And, if you're wanting something a bit more exotic to drink, the mango lassi is always worth it.
We also went a second time this past week with my step-daughter, and not only did we get the buffet, we also got an order of goat curry to share, since the goat is not available on the buffet. It's something I recommend to anyone who wants a bit of an adventure.
$$-$$$, depending on when you go, and what you order. (The goat is a bit on the expensive side, since it's considered an exotic meat, here.)
Gem of India is the only Indian restaurant in town, and the food is always good. I've yet to have a bad experience there. The service is good, too.
The buffet is a little on the high side as buffets go (around $10/person), but it's totally worth it when you realize some of the spices that go into traditional Indian cooking. We're talking a hint of saffron in the rice, folks, and saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. Thankfully, it takes very little to get a great deal of that wonderful, subtle flavor that saffron is famous for.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The basmati rice at Gem of India is the only rice that I have ever had that I can eat without adding anything to it. When I make plain rice at home, I have to have milk and sugar in it. When I have rice at a Chinese restaurant, I have to have sweet and sour or cashew sauce on it. But at Gem of India, the rice is so perfect, so lightly flavoried, so tenderly cooked, that it needs nothing to make it better. (To be honest, though, I have been known to mix it with curry or whatever other sauce I've got on my plate, just to add that perfect texture to the sauce and help get more of that delicious sauce into my mouth where it belongs, tantalizingly teasing my tongue.)
Whether you go for lunch or dinner, I strongly suggest getting some gulab jamun (mill/wheat balls soaked in syrup) for desert. And, if you're wanting something a bit more exotic to drink, the mango lassi is always worth it.
We also went a second time this past week with my step-daughter, and not only did we get the buffet, we also got an order of goat curry to share, since the goat is not available on the buffet. It's something I recommend to anyone who wants a bit of an adventure.
$$-$$$, depending on when you go, and what you order. (The goat is a bit on the expensive side, since it's considered an exotic meat, here.)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Hemmingway's
Well, after Mike re-upped our mobile phone contract with Sprint, they gave us a $100 credit, which paid off entirely this month's bill and will also pay off part of next month's. (And if you're wondering how two people can share a cell phone plan and have a bill under $100, the answer is simple. We have all texting blocked on our phone, which means there are never any texting charges, nor do we have internet on our phones.)
So, with some extra money, we chose to treat ourselves, and on Thursday, this meant breakfast buffet at Hemmingway's.
For those who are reading this and are new to the area, Hemmingway's is this lovely seafood restaurant up on the fourth floor of Bass Pro. Dinner can be a little on the expensive side, but breakfast and lunch are both nicely priced, and the breakfast buffet is the best deal they've got, at under $10 a person, including drinks. It's named for the author, and most of the decoration is the heads of various animals. (Like the rest of Bass Pro, definitely NOT Vegan friendly, which is just fine with me. Nothing against Vegans, but some of the tactics of organizations like PETA just REALLY piss me off.)
Anyway, as I said, the buffet is well priced, and most of the food on it is standard fare. There's ham, sausage, bacon, sausage gravy, biscuits, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, and french toast. There's even fried catfish, in keeping with the seafood theme. On the cold bar, this time, there was mini-muffins, fruit, and strawberry yogurt.
While most of the food was still fresh, the pancakes were not. There were only two left in the container when I got to them, and they were tough. While yes, it was at the end of breakfast (we were there around 10:00), it doesn't seem to me like much of an excuse when everything else was kept full and fresh at that point.
The service was a bit slow, and she only showed up once after taking our drink orders, to refill our sodas, but I know that's not normal at Hemmingway's, so I brushed it off.
$-$$$, depending on appetite and when you go, as well as whether or not you get any alcoholic drinks, like their fantastic pina colada.
So, with some extra money, we chose to treat ourselves, and on Thursday, this meant breakfast buffet at Hemmingway's.
For those who are reading this and are new to the area, Hemmingway's is this lovely seafood restaurant up on the fourth floor of Bass Pro. Dinner can be a little on the expensive side, but breakfast and lunch are both nicely priced, and the breakfast buffet is the best deal they've got, at under $10 a person, including drinks. It's named for the author, and most of the decoration is the heads of various animals. (Like the rest of Bass Pro, definitely NOT Vegan friendly, which is just fine with me. Nothing against Vegans, but some of the tactics of organizations like PETA just REALLY piss me off.)
Anyway, as I said, the buffet is well priced, and most of the food on it is standard fare. There's ham, sausage, bacon, sausage gravy, biscuits, eggs, potatoes, pancakes, and french toast. There's even fried catfish, in keeping with the seafood theme. On the cold bar, this time, there was mini-muffins, fruit, and strawberry yogurt.
While most of the food was still fresh, the pancakes were not. There were only two left in the container when I got to them, and they were tough. While yes, it was at the end of breakfast (we were there around 10:00), it doesn't seem to me like much of an excuse when everything else was kept full and fresh at that point.
The service was a bit slow, and she only showed up once after taking our drink orders, to refill our sodas, but I know that's not normal at Hemmingway's, so I brushed it off.
$-$$$, depending on appetite and when you go, as well as whether or not you get any alcoholic drinks, like their fantastic pina colada.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Olive Garden
Recently, the roommates were kind enough to treat my husband and myself to Olive Garden. This is one of few places where you take your leftovers home, have them the next day, and they're just as good as they were fresh.
Hubby and the male roommate had the soup, salad, and breadsticks. It costs a bit more at dinner, but it's still a good price. The female roommate had the steak crostada, and I had the chicken crostada. Both are new dishes. The chicken crostada comes with pasta in a tomato alfredo sauce. The steak's pasta comes in a 4 cheese sauce that looked really good, and tasted just as good as it looked according to the female roommate.
I was not sure exactly what a crostada was. I only knew two words: "asiago cheese." That was enough to sell me on wanting to see how they tasted. They're a thin, crispy Italian pie. In this case, made with uber thin pie crust and plenty of asiago cheese. Yum!
As always, the salad and bread sticks were great. I swear, I could make a meal out of that alone! And the waitress was a quick learner when she realized we were serious about the request for lots of freshly grated cheese, so props for that.
The wait wasn't too long. We got there early enough to have only a 15 minute wait. And the atmosphere is one of my favorites in town despite the occasional crowds. And you gotta love any place that gives you complementary Andes mints to finish off the meal. I just wish I'd been able to save room for desert.
$-$$$, depending on how much you eat, what you eat, and whether or not you get desert and/or one of their house wines.
Hubby and the male roommate had the soup, salad, and breadsticks. It costs a bit more at dinner, but it's still a good price. The female roommate had the steak crostada, and I had the chicken crostada. Both are new dishes. The chicken crostada comes with pasta in a tomato alfredo sauce. The steak's pasta comes in a 4 cheese sauce that looked really good, and tasted just as good as it looked according to the female roommate.
I was not sure exactly what a crostada was. I only knew two words: "asiago cheese." That was enough to sell me on wanting to see how they tasted. They're a thin, crispy Italian pie. In this case, made with uber thin pie crust and plenty of asiago cheese. Yum!
As always, the salad and bread sticks were great. I swear, I could make a meal out of that alone! And the waitress was a quick learner when she realized we were serious about the request for lots of freshly grated cheese, so props for that.
The wait wasn't too long. We got there early enough to have only a 15 minute wait. And the atmosphere is one of my favorites in town despite the occasional crowds. And you gotta love any place that gives you complementary Andes mints to finish off the meal. I just wish I'd been able to save room for desert.
$-$$$, depending on how much you eat, what you eat, and whether or not you get desert and/or one of their house wines.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Mille's
Last night, my husband and I were fortunate enough to be treated to Mille's Turn of the Century Cafe downtown by my godmother and her husband. It was my first time, and I was impressed.
First, the decor. There are a ton of art-deco pieces, including a fabulously funky gold chandalier, as well as a bunch of political cartoons from the early 1900s. The only truely disturbing piece that I could see was in the women's bathroom. We're talking about George Costanza from Seinfield, dressed ONLY in boxers, socks, and shoes, sort of kneeling on one of those couches that you see in Gone with the Wind that Scarlett has draped herself over. You know, the one that has a higher back at one end than at the other? Anyway, his hands are on the taller end, and the leg in front is kinda kicked up, just resting on the knee, and underneith, it says "The Timeless Art of Seduction." It really is creepy.
Despite the creepy picture in thee ladies restroom, everything else was fantastic, especially the food. I had the ribeye sandwich, which comes with a side of au jus. It was a bit on the spicy side, but very yummy. They've also got GREAT sweet tea.
My godmother and her husband ordered the potato trio appetizer to share with everyone. It came with waffle fries, shoestring fries soaked in vinegar and sea salt, and sweet potato chips. Fantastic.
I will also give them this. The service is beyond what you normally expect in these downtown places. The servers were highly attentive. We just could not have asked for better service.
$$-$$$, depending on what you get and whether you go for lunch or dinner. Could get into the $$$$ range if you throw in alcoholic drinks and deserts (and I refrained, though I was tempted). But very worth it.
First, the decor. There are a ton of art-deco pieces, including a fabulously funky gold chandalier, as well as a bunch of political cartoons from the early 1900s. The only truely disturbing piece that I could see was in the women's bathroom. We're talking about George Costanza from Seinfield, dressed ONLY in boxers, socks, and shoes, sort of kneeling on one of those couches that you see in Gone with the Wind that Scarlett has draped herself over. You know, the one that has a higher back at one end than at the other? Anyway, his hands are on the taller end, and the leg in front is kinda kicked up, just resting on the knee, and underneith, it says "The Timeless Art of Seduction." It really is creepy.
Despite the creepy picture in thee ladies restroom, everything else was fantastic, especially the food. I had the ribeye sandwich, which comes with a side of au jus. It was a bit on the spicy side, but very yummy. They've also got GREAT sweet tea.
My godmother and her husband ordered the potato trio appetizer to share with everyone. It came with waffle fries, shoestring fries soaked in vinegar and sea salt, and sweet potato chips. Fantastic.
I will also give them this. The service is beyond what you normally expect in these downtown places. The servers were highly attentive. We just could not have asked for better service.
$$-$$$, depending on what you get and whether you go for lunch or dinner. Could get into the $$$$ range if you throw in alcoholic drinks and deserts (and I refrained, though I was tempted). But very worth it.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Crosstown BBQ
If you live in the area, you've seen Steve's commercials. It's one of the most memorable commercials for a restaurant chain EVER. In this area, it's just as memorable as "twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun." However, the food is way better than any Big Mac, and the service outranks that fancy "Millionare's McDonald's" in Manhatten, anytime.
Crosstown Bar-B-Que is famous for its sandwich platters and hand-cut fries, not to mention the ribs. And Steve makes his own sauce DAILY, and even sells it. He makes two different varieties: mild and spicy. The mild is what I prefer. The spicy is...well... Let me put it this way. The Angry Whopper is MILD. Steve's spicy sauce is so hot even I can't handle it, and I can handle Sonic's Island Fire Burger without flinching.
There is always a fantastic smell just getting near the case. This is because the smokers are always going, and the food is always fresh. Have the burnt ends if you like. They're $7.99 for a plate of them that includes two sides. My husband really likes the Bluto and the K.C. Melt, and me? Well, my favorite is a regular sandwich platter with beef and pork, and cheese on the side to dip fries and sandwich in.
And there's another great thing about Crosstown. If I go somewhere else and ask for cheese for my fries, I'm just going to get a little cup. There's never enough cheese. But Crosstown? There's MORE than enough, and it's always fantastic. In short, I've got nothing but good to say about this place.
$-$$
Crosstown Bar-B-Que is famous for its sandwich platters and hand-cut fries, not to mention the ribs. And Steve makes his own sauce DAILY, and even sells it. He makes two different varieties: mild and spicy. The mild is what I prefer. The spicy is...well... Let me put it this way. The Angry Whopper is MILD. Steve's spicy sauce is so hot even I can't handle it, and I can handle Sonic's Island Fire Burger without flinching.
There is always a fantastic smell just getting near the case. This is because the smokers are always going, and the food is always fresh. Have the burnt ends if you like. They're $7.99 for a plate of them that includes two sides. My husband really likes the Bluto and the K.C. Melt, and me? Well, my favorite is a regular sandwich platter with beef and pork, and cheese on the side to dip fries and sandwich in.
And there's another great thing about Crosstown. If I go somewhere else and ask for cheese for my fries, I'm just going to get a little cup. There's never enough cheese. But Crosstown? There's MORE than enough, and it's always fantastic. In short, I've got nothing but good to say about this place.
$-$$
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sonic
I've been boycotting Sonic for over a year because they support Planned Parenthood. (For more on my pro-life views, see http://danalas.livejournal.com) However, my dog really loves their chili cheese coneys, and I've been craving a cherry-chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper. So, off my husband and I went to Sonic in order to spoil our doggie who is to be put down on Thursday because his doggie lung cancer metastasized into the brain, making the poor thing partially blind, and he's been in a lot of pain, so it really is the most merciful thing to do.
Anyway, because of these unfortunate circumstances, we made our way to the Sonic location on Republic (near Republic and Glenstone). I gave in to my cherry-chocolate cravings, made easier by the fact that they now offer the Route 44 size for free with combo purchase. My choice? The #5, the bacon cheeseburger toaster. My husband's choice? The #3, a coney, with an added grilled chicken wrap (sans tomato). The coney was quickly devoured by our sweet, loving, and sadly doomed pup, as well as about half my chili-cheese fries and my husband's tots.
My toaster was as good as I remembered it. There's just something about that hickory sauce. My husband described his wrap as "pretty good." They got my drink order almost right (a little too much chocolate and not enough cherry), and they also screwed up my husband's. He ordered a watermelon Sprite, and they brought him a regular Sprite.
Other than the drink problems, though, it was worth abandoning my unspoken personal boycott, especially for the most wonderful dog in the world.
Anyway, because of these unfortunate circumstances, we made our way to the Sonic location on Republic (near Republic and Glenstone). I gave in to my cherry-chocolate cravings, made easier by the fact that they now offer the Route 44 size for free with combo purchase. My choice? The #5, the bacon cheeseburger toaster. My husband's choice? The #3, a coney, with an added grilled chicken wrap (sans tomato). The coney was quickly devoured by our sweet, loving, and sadly doomed pup, as well as about half my chili-cheese fries and my husband's tots.
My toaster was as good as I remembered it. There's just something about that hickory sauce. My husband described his wrap as "pretty good." They got my drink order almost right (a little too much chocolate and not enough cherry), and they also screwed up my husband's. He ordered a watermelon Sprite, and they brought him a regular Sprite.
Other than the drink problems, though, it was worth abandoning my unspoken personal boycott, especially for the most wonderful dog in the world.
Dominos
I finally took care of my pizza craving after class today by utilizing the Dominos in the Plaster Student Union at MSU.
I normally really like Dominos. However, I would really advise against getting one of their "big slices" too soon after the lunch rush. What's left over between the lunch rush and the time they manage to get fresh pizzas out is....not so great.
The service is better in the off times, though, which offsets it. I just adivse getting, say, the 6" pizza, since they have to be made fresh. I'm thinking that, next time, I'll try the pasta bread bowl.
$-$$
I normally really like Dominos. However, I would really advise against getting one of their "big slices" too soon after the lunch rush. What's left over between the lunch rush and the time they manage to get fresh pizzas out is....not so great.
The service is better in the off times, though, which offsets it. I just adivse getting, say, the 6" pizza, since they have to be made fresh. I'm thinking that, next time, I'll try the pasta bread bowl.
$-$$
Taco Bell
Okay, so yesterday was the first day of the summer semester, and I packed a cheese sandwich for lunch, but it just didn't work. So, I convinced my husband, after we went to DeSales, to take me over to the Taco Bell on Sunshine.
It is one of the Taco Bells in town that carries sweet tea (the one over by MSU does not). I got a couple of grilled chicken burritos (sans sauce), an empenada, a couple of the new pina colada fruitistas (one for me, one for my husband) and a large sweet tea (for the male roommate).
So, is it just me? Or has Taco Bell downsized the ammount of filling it puts in its tacos and burritos? Even the caramel empenada seemed a bit smaller than it used to. They were fairly good, though. And my husband and I love the new pina colada Fruitista. It tastes just like the real thing!
Today, I went to the Taco Bell over by MSU. My husband had one of the volcano tacos and one of the volcano burritos. The taco, he said, was tame, but the burrito lived up to the volcano name. I was still seriously craving pizza, and they did NOT have any empenadas up. So, I grudgingly ordered a couple of the grilled chicken soft tacos. Still not bad, but I can't say it was a fair shake, since I was wanting pizza.
$
It is one of the Taco Bells in town that carries sweet tea (the one over by MSU does not). I got a couple of grilled chicken burritos (sans sauce), an empenada, a couple of the new pina colada fruitistas (one for me, one for my husband) and a large sweet tea (for the male roommate).
So, is it just me? Or has Taco Bell downsized the ammount of filling it puts in its tacos and burritos? Even the caramel empenada seemed a bit smaller than it used to. They were fairly good, though. And my husband and I love the new pina colada Fruitista. It tastes just like the real thing!
Today, I went to the Taco Bell over by MSU. My husband had one of the volcano tacos and one of the volcano burritos. The taco, he said, was tame, but the burrito lived up to the volcano name. I was still seriously craving pizza, and they did NOT have any empenadas up. So, I grudgingly ordered a couple of the grilled chicken soft tacos. Still not bad, but I can't say it was a fair shake, since I was wanting pizza.
$
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Golden Corral
Saturday nights at Golden Corral, as you probably know if you've paid attention to the commercials, is beef lover's night, and I am a beef lover. Put a good steak or pot roast or hamburger in front of me, and I will probably not complain.
The roommates treated hubby and me again tonight for dinner, and we went to the Golden Corral on South Glenstone, just outside the Primrose Shopping Center. I am rarely disappointed when we go, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I normally only have one complaint, that I don't have enough room in my stomach, and tonight was no different.
Now I will admit that I have been craving pizza for quite a while. To that end, I attempted to satisfy my pizza craving with the pizza on the buffet. The pizza was not as good as most, but better than some, and has earned the #8 spot in my pizza rankings, making it better than Pizza World, Papa Murphy's and Marco's. (If you're curious, my #1 always has been, and probably always will be, Papa John's.)
While my pizza craving wasn't quite satisfied, it was calmed down enough for me to wait until I could afford some pizza on my own and so that I could enjoy the rest of the buffet. On my plate my first round along with the pizza? Fried chicken, beef tips, rice, pot roast w/potatoes, and a chop steak covered with grilled onions. I also had the macaroni and cheese, cornbread, mashed potatoes, turkey that had a little too much pepper, and, of course, the yeast roll.
Of all the breads that Golden Corral now offers, the yeast roll is what they started out with and is still their best offering. Spread on some of that honey butter and it's a real treat, almost better than desert. That being said, they have also begun offering garlic-cheddar biscuits, whole grain rolls, sour dough rolls, bruschetta, and garlic cheesy bread. I had one of the garlic-cheddar biscuits, and to be honest, they reminded me of the ones at Red Lobster and Rodizio. The bruschetta could have been a little better, but the issue was really quantity, not quality.
The salad bar was fresh, as always, and just as I was heading up, I noticed them putting out some fresh strawberries. I was getting full, though, and hadn't quite made it to the desert bar, yet, so that's where I headed. I have always loved their brownies, and contemplated a slice of the yummy looking red velvet cake, though I skipped it in favor of some banana pudding, coconut cream pie, and ice cream. I didn't quite get to the pudding or ice cream (damn the inability of my stomach to stretch any further), but I can safely say that the coconut cream pie was some of the best I ever had.
Though we had a difficult time finding a table where my male roommate could comfortably sit thanks to the crowds, Golden Corral is far more handicap accessable than the McDonalds we went to the other day.
$$, and breakfast is slightly cheaper than lunch or dinner, but it is served only on the weekends.
The roommates treated hubby and me again tonight for dinner, and we went to the Golden Corral on South Glenstone, just outside the Primrose Shopping Center. I am rarely disappointed when we go, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I normally only have one complaint, that I don't have enough room in my stomach, and tonight was no different.
Now I will admit that I have been craving pizza for quite a while. To that end, I attempted to satisfy my pizza craving with the pizza on the buffet. The pizza was not as good as most, but better than some, and has earned the #8 spot in my pizza rankings, making it better than Pizza World, Papa Murphy's and Marco's. (If you're curious, my #1 always has been, and probably always will be, Papa John's.)
While my pizza craving wasn't quite satisfied, it was calmed down enough for me to wait until I could afford some pizza on my own and so that I could enjoy the rest of the buffet. On my plate my first round along with the pizza? Fried chicken, beef tips, rice, pot roast w/potatoes, and a chop steak covered with grilled onions. I also had the macaroni and cheese, cornbread, mashed potatoes, turkey that had a little too much pepper, and, of course, the yeast roll.
Of all the breads that Golden Corral now offers, the yeast roll is what they started out with and is still their best offering. Spread on some of that honey butter and it's a real treat, almost better than desert. That being said, they have also begun offering garlic-cheddar biscuits, whole grain rolls, sour dough rolls, bruschetta, and garlic cheesy bread. I had one of the garlic-cheddar biscuits, and to be honest, they reminded me of the ones at Red Lobster and Rodizio. The bruschetta could have been a little better, but the issue was really quantity, not quality.
The salad bar was fresh, as always, and just as I was heading up, I noticed them putting out some fresh strawberries. I was getting full, though, and hadn't quite made it to the desert bar, yet, so that's where I headed. I have always loved their brownies, and contemplated a slice of the yummy looking red velvet cake, though I skipped it in favor of some banana pudding, coconut cream pie, and ice cream. I didn't quite get to the pudding or ice cream (damn the inability of my stomach to stretch any further), but I can safely say that the coconut cream pie was some of the best I ever had.
Though we had a difficult time finding a table where my male roommate could comfortably sit thanks to the crowds, Golden Corral is far more handicap accessable than the McDonalds we went to the other day.
$$, and breakfast is slightly cheaper than lunch or dinner, but it is served only on the weekends.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Burger King
Hubby and I had Burger King for lunch, today. We almost always go to the location at National and Republic because the female roommate works there. Besides, it's so darn close, why travel further?
We both had the angry Whopper, which we've been fans of since it came out, and picked up a plain double cheeseburger for our very spoiled greyhound mix. (What can I say? The dog also gets peanut butter and popcorn on a regular basis, as well as your standard doggie treats and the occasional peanutbutter cup and the VERY occasional white chocolate covered cricket. Thank you HotLinx!) We also got a large order of fries for our male roommate, who has been caving french fries a lot lately.
Now, we got in there right at 10:30, which is when they switch over from breakfast to lunch on weekdays. So it was understandable that it took 10 minutes to get the first burgers off the grill and the first fries out of the friers. But at least that meant it was all fresh! And in food, I've always been a big believer that freshness, taste, and accuracy of order is far more important than speed. I'm willing to wait a little longer for better tasting food.
The service, as always, was fast and friendly. I never feel pressured to hurry up and order when I go in, even when it's the middle of a rush. (At least, I never feel pressured by the staff. My husband, on the other hand...)
If I had to make any complaint at all, it's that there's not NEARLY enough angry sauce. I want more angry sauce! It's too mild, though it seems hotter when applied to the burger shots. Perhaps it's the higher concentration on smaller burgers? If it just had a bit more angry sauce, the angry Whopper (for me, sans mayo and jalapenos; for my husband, sans tomato) would be perfect.
$, can be $$, but like at McDonalds, this requires a HUGE appetite.
We both had the angry Whopper, which we've been fans of since it came out, and picked up a plain double cheeseburger for our very spoiled greyhound mix. (What can I say? The dog also gets peanut butter and popcorn on a regular basis, as well as your standard doggie treats and the occasional peanutbutter cup and the VERY occasional white chocolate covered cricket. Thank you HotLinx!) We also got a large order of fries for our male roommate, who has been caving french fries a lot lately.
Now, we got in there right at 10:30, which is when they switch over from breakfast to lunch on weekdays. So it was understandable that it took 10 minutes to get the first burgers off the grill and the first fries out of the friers. But at least that meant it was all fresh! And in food, I've always been a big believer that freshness, taste, and accuracy of order is far more important than speed. I'm willing to wait a little longer for better tasting food.
The service, as always, was fast and friendly. I never feel pressured to hurry up and order when I go in, even when it's the middle of a rush. (At least, I never feel pressured by the staff. My husband, on the other hand...)
If I had to make any complaint at all, it's that there's not NEARLY enough angry sauce. I want more angry sauce! It's too mild, though it seems hotter when applied to the burger shots. Perhaps it's the higher concentration on smaller burgers? If it just had a bit more angry sauce, the angry Whopper (for me, sans mayo and jalapenos; for my husband, sans tomato) would be perfect.
$, can be $$, but like at McDonalds, this requires a HUGE appetite.
McDonald's
The same roommates that treated my husband and me to Ziggies yesterday treated us to McDonald's this evening after doing some shopping at the South Wal*Mart SuperCenter over on Independance. We went to the McDonald's location right there in the parking lot.
McDonald's normally has some awesome sweet tea. Not so much tonight. It was overly sweet, as if, instead of using sugar, they used aspertame and failed to compensate for the difference in sweetness intensity.
On the up side, they got our order right, and the food was about as fresh as your average fast food chain's food can get. This, of course, is the reason my roommates, husband, and I all tend to special order our food. It forces them to make at least the burgers fresh. Even the fries had just come out of the frier. They could have, of course, given me a fruit and yogurt parfait that was a little less frozen, but at least it was cold and hadn't been out too long.
The location was clean, and the restrooms were fairly clean, but one major problem. Though the restaurant calls itself handicap accesseble, it is not handicap friendly. The doors do not open automatically, meaning that a person in a wheelchair who is alone is going to have to either keep the door open themselves or rely on the kindness of strangers. Even with someone to keep the doors open, the doorways are not very wide.
And then there are the restrooms. I mentioned in my last post that my male roommate recently had his ankle fused. To that end, he is in a wheelchair because he's not able to put any weight on his ankle. My husband helped him get in and out of the wheelchair and to navigate the restroom, and, since our roommate is supposed to keep his leg elevated, that just makes navigation of those tight corners even harder.
For handicap stalls, they're narrow. I also checked out the one in the women's restroom and compared notes with my husband. They're similar, and my husband said that our male roommate's bathroom trip there was more of a struggle than it could and should have been.
$, can be $$ if you're REALLY hungry, but you'd need to eat at least a couple of the most expensive value meals on your own to get $$/person.
McDonald's normally has some awesome sweet tea. Not so much tonight. It was overly sweet, as if, instead of using sugar, they used aspertame and failed to compensate for the difference in sweetness intensity.
On the up side, they got our order right, and the food was about as fresh as your average fast food chain's food can get. This, of course, is the reason my roommates, husband, and I all tend to special order our food. It forces them to make at least the burgers fresh. Even the fries had just come out of the frier. They could have, of course, given me a fruit and yogurt parfait that was a little less frozen, but at least it was cold and hadn't been out too long.
The location was clean, and the restrooms were fairly clean, but one major problem. Though the restaurant calls itself handicap accesseble, it is not handicap friendly. The doors do not open automatically, meaning that a person in a wheelchair who is alone is going to have to either keep the door open themselves or rely on the kindness of strangers. Even with someone to keep the doors open, the doorways are not very wide.
And then there are the restrooms. I mentioned in my last post that my male roommate recently had his ankle fused. To that end, he is in a wheelchair because he's not able to put any weight on his ankle. My husband helped him get in and out of the wheelchair and to navigate the restroom, and, since our roommate is supposed to keep his leg elevated, that just makes navigation of those tight corners even harder.
For handicap stalls, they're narrow. I also checked out the one in the women's restroom and compared notes with my husband. They're similar, and my husband said that our male roommate's bathroom trip there was more of a struggle than it could and should have been.
$, can be $$ if you're REALLY hungry, but you'd need to eat at least a couple of the most expensive value meals on your own to get $$/person.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Ziggies
Today my husband and I had the good fortune of being treated to lunch at Ziggies by our roommates, one of whom was having his first meal out since his ankle fusion surgery a few weeks ago.
My husband and our female roommate both had omeletts with biscuits and gravy. Our male roommate had the chicken fried steak, and I had the French dip. He and I both had side salads. The three of them shared an appetizer of fried mushrooms. I would have had some, too, but I've never liked mushrooms. As it was, it was a fairly large sized order for the price.
I had sweet tea to drink. It's difficult, in this town, to find sweet tea that is just right for my taste buds, and Ziggies rarely nails it. Today, they did. The rest of the food was fabulous. I drank the rest of the au jus after dipping sandwich and fries in it.
As a group, we do have two complaints. For me, and this was a minor one, but there were onions with the lettuce, tomato, and pickles that that Ziggies lists in its menu as coming with the sandwich. The onions are not listed, so I did not expect them, and I really expected a pickle spear, which is what is normally served with a sandwich, not the slices. And there was only one slice of tomato, when the sandwich clearly needed two.
Now I know what you're probably thinking. Lettuce, tomato, and pickle on a French Dip? But it's actually really good. I just had to go with less lettuce than I normally would have because the majority of the leaves were tainted with the taste of onion, something I've never found appealing outside of grilled, nearly carmalized onions on Phillies and White Castles.
The other complaint came from my husband. He felt that the biscuits and gravy were "ice cold." He exagerated, of course. He generally does. But our female roommate confirmed that yes, they were room temperature, especially on the surface, but she also pointed out that she and my husband had both waited until they'd finished everything else before eating them, something that would naturally contribute to their being cold because biscuits cool quickly.
The location that we went to was the one attached to the Price Cutter on South National, near National and Republic. It has recently expanded its hours and is now open 6 AM to 9 PM, 7 days a week. Its service has also improved to match that of the other Ziggies locations, and Wednesdays are free pie day, during which they offer a free slice of pie with the purchase of two entries.
$$-$$$
Price range includes appetizer and desert.
My husband and our female roommate both had omeletts with biscuits and gravy. Our male roommate had the chicken fried steak, and I had the French dip. He and I both had side salads. The three of them shared an appetizer of fried mushrooms. I would have had some, too, but I've never liked mushrooms. As it was, it was a fairly large sized order for the price.
I had sweet tea to drink. It's difficult, in this town, to find sweet tea that is just right for my taste buds, and Ziggies rarely nails it. Today, they did. The rest of the food was fabulous. I drank the rest of the au jus after dipping sandwich and fries in it.
As a group, we do have two complaints. For me, and this was a minor one, but there were onions with the lettuce, tomato, and pickles that that Ziggies lists in its menu as coming with the sandwich. The onions are not listed, so I did not expect them, and I really expected a pickle spear, which is what is normally served with a sandwich, not the slices. And there was only one slice of tomato, when the sandwich clearly needed two.
Now I know what you're probably thinking. Lettuce, tomato, and pickle on a French Dip? But it's actually really good. I just had to go with less lettuce than I normally would have because the majority of the leaves were tainted with the taste of onion, something I've never found appealing outside of grilled, nearly carmalized onions on Phillies and White Castles.
The other complaint came from my husband. He felt that the biscuits and gravy were "ice cold." He exagerated, of course. He generally does. But our female roommate confirmed that yes, they were room temperature, especially on the surface, but she also pointed out that she and my husband had both waited until they'd finished everything else before eating them, something that would naturally contribute to their being cold because biscuits cool quickly.
The location that we went to was the one attached to the Price Cutter on South National, near National and Republic. It has recently expanded its hours and is now open 6 AM to 9 PM, 7 days a week. Its service has also improved to match that of the other Ziggies locations, and Wednesdays are free pie day, during which they offer a free slice of pie with the purchase of two entries.
$$-$$$
Price range includes appetizer and desert.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Mr. Yen's
Okay, so this is what inspired the blog in the first place.
On Friday evening, my husband and I took my step-daughter to Mr. Yen's. And, up until Friday evening, we have always had fond thoughts regarding the building, the waitstaff, the management, and, especially, the food. However, it recently gained new ownership, and since then, it has all gone downhill.
First, there is the building itself. The outside is beginning to fall into disrepair. We are talking about a restaurant where $1,000,000 was spent on the outside alone. The original owner kept it up very well. However, there are hints that the new owner is not doing quite as well in this area.
The inside looked as my husband and I remembered it. The menus even looked the same until we opened them up. Some of the prices had gone up, and one item was conspiculously absent: the fried pig intestine. Now, I am not a fan of fried pig intestine. I can't stand the stuff. However, my husband loves it (and yes, he also likes haggis), and he was looking forward to not only eating it, but getting my step-daughter to try some. It was basically his only reason for going to Mr. Yen's.
My husband got the fried dumplings and the Springfield style cashew chicken. It was a little less flavorful than he remembered. My step-daughter got the crab rangoon and beef with scallops. She was perfectly happy. I got the cho cho beef and the moo shi pork. The cho cho beef was just as I remembered. It was perfectly tasty, even when I let it stay on the miniature fire a little too long and it burned a little on one side. The moo shi pork, however, was less pork and more... I don't know what. Yeah, there were chunks of pork. But they were difficult to distinguish from the mushrooms/other fungi, cabbage, etc.
I got very little flavor from the pork, and there was a little too much soy sauce in the rice. (Why, oh why, must the rice come already soaked in soy sauce?) The hoisin sauce also tasted a little off, a bit... I don't know, really. Bitter, is the only word I can think of.
So, would I recommend it? There once was a time when I would call Mr. Yen's the best Chinese restaurant in Springfield. It's still the only place to get good duck, but that and some of the appetizers are the only things really worth getting there.
Price includes appetizer.
$$-$$$
On Friday evening, my husband and I took my step-daughter to Mr. Yen's. And, up until Friday evening, we have always had fond thoughts regarding the building, the waitstaff, the management, and, especially, the food. However, it recently gained new ownership, and since then, it has all gone downhill.
First, there is the building itself. The outside is beginning to fall into disrepair. We are talking about a restaurant where $1,000,000 was spent on the outside alone. The original owner kept it up very well. However, there are hints that the new owner is not doing quite as well in this area.
The inside looked as my husband and I remembered it. The menus even looked the same until we opened them up. Some of the prices had gone up, and one item was conspiculously absent: the fried pig intestine. Now, I am not a fan of fried pig intestine. I can't stand the stuff. However, my husband loves it (and yes, he also likes haggis), and he was looking forward to not only eating it, but getting my step-daughter to try some. It was basically his only reason for going to Mr. Yen's.
My husband got the fried dumplings and the Springfield style cashew chicken. It was a little less flavorful than he remembered. My step-daughter got the crab rangoon and beef with scallops. She was perfectly happy. I got the cho cho beef and the moo shi pork. The cho cho beef was just as I remembered. It was perfectly tasty, even when I let it stay on the miniature fire a little too long and it burned a little on one side. The moo shi pork, however, was less pork and more... I don't know what. Yeah, there were chunks of pork. But they were difficult to distinguish from the mushrooms/other fungi, cabbage, etc.
I got very little flavor from the pork, and there was a little too much soy sauce in the rice. (Why, oh why, must the rice come already soaked in soy sauce?) The hoisin sauce also tasted a little off, a bit... I don't know, really. Bitter, is the only word I can think of.
So, would I recommend it? There once was a time when I would call Mr. Yen's the best Chinese restaurant in Springfield. It's still the only place to get good duck, but that and some of the appetizers are the only things really worth getting there.
Price includes appetizer.
$$-$$$
Housekeeping
This first post is going to be basic housekeeping: explination, groundrules, etc.
I like to eat, and I live in a town with a lot of restaurants. I've also got some fairly sensitive taste buds, and I can sense when a restaurant's food is starting to go downhill. (Don't even get me started on the popcorn offerings of the Boy Scouts or Girl Scout cookies.)
I am also on a budget. My husband is disabled, and I am a full time college student whose main income is through the federal workstudy program as well as grant/loan refunds. I have noticed that there are very few dining guides out there who have a price guide that actually gives me a good idea about the price I'll be paying for a meal. For example, most of them will give a $20.00 and up range for the classier restaurants around town, but more often, if I go in with a $20-30 budget per person, I'm going to find myself begging people to get the least expensive stuff on the menu.
So, with that in mind, here's my pricing guide that lends a little more accuracy.
$ - You can easily spend less than $10/person.
$$ - Restaurants in this range will cost approximately $10-20/person.
$$$ - Restaurants in this range will cost $20-30/person
$$$$ -Plan $30-40/person
$$$$$ - Hope you've got a large income. You'll be spending at LEAST $40/person!
Something else I've noticed about your usual price guides is that they don't tend to include the price of drinks/deserts/appetizers/tips in their price ranges. Unless otherwise noted, my price range is for a meal that includes a tea/soda. Very rarely do my friends and I drink alcohol, and we like to hit buffets for ultimate value, which generally includes desert anyway. I'll also indicate which meal we went for, because there are some restaurants where the prices can be cheaper at breakfast or lunch.
Now, as for the ground rules. Since I'm the only one who will be posting, these apply to comments.
1) Please keep your language clean. You never know when a child is going to be reading this. Anyone who is a parent can testify that children can and do understand and repeat swear words that they've heard/read.
2) Please, no flaming. If you have a genuine disagreement with something I've written about a restaurant, be respectful about it. "Hey, I've got to disagree. I went there and what I had was a lot better than you make it out to be," is respectful. "You ******* *****, you don't know what you're talking about!" is NOT respectful and also breaks rule #1.
3) Be respectful not just of myself but of other readers. Remember the person! If you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it online. I do NOT tolerate cyber-bullying!
So, just be nice, basically, and everything will be fine.
I like to eat, and I live in a town with a lot of restaurants. I've also got some fairly sensitive taste buds, and I can sense when a restaurant's food is starting to go downhill. (Don't even get me started on the popcorn offerings of the Boy Scouts or Girl Scout cookies.)
I am also on a budget. My husband is disabled, and I am a full time college student whose main income is through the federal workstudy program as well as grant/loan refunds. I have noticed that there are very few dining guides out there who have a price guide that actually gives me a good idea about the price I'll be paying for a meal. For example, most of them will give a $20.00 and up range for the classier restaurants around town, but more often, if I go in with a $20-30 budget per person, I'm going to find myself begging people to get the least expensive stuff on the menu.
So, with that in mind, here's my pricing guide that lends a little more accuracy.
$ - You can easily spend less than $10/person.
$$ - Restaurants in this range will cost approximately $10-20/person.
$$$ - Restaurants in this range will cost $20-30/person
$$$$ -Plan $30-40/person
$$$$$ - Hope you've got a large income. You'll be spending at LEAST $40/person!
Something else I've noticed about your usual price guides is that they don't tend to include the price of drinks/deserts/appetizers/tips in their price ranges. Unless otherwise noted, my price range is for a meal that includes a tea/soda. Very rarely do my friends and I drink alcohol, and we like to hit buffets for ultimate value, which generally includes desert anyway. I'll also indicate which meal we went for, because there are some restaurants where the prices can be cheaper at breakfast or lunch.
Now, as for the ground rules. Since I'm the only one who will be posting, these apply to comments.
1) Please keep your language clean. You never know when a child is going to be reading this. Anyone who is a parent can testify that children can and do understand and repeat swear words that they've heard/read.
2) Please, no flaming. If you have a genuine disagreement with something I've written about a restaurant, be respectful about it. "Hey, I've got to disagree. I went there and what I had was a lot better than you make it out to be," is respectful. "You ******* *****, you don't know what you're talking about!" is NOT respectful and also breaks rule #1.
3) Be respectful not just of myself but of other readers. Remember the person! If you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it online. I do NOT tolerate cyber-bullying!
So, just be nice, basically, and everything will be fine.
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