This place has a huge buffet. There is a small area where you can select your own items to be cooked the way you like. There are tons of premade items, all which I really liked. Art even tried some sushi -- two which he liked fine and one he absolutely hated. It was amusing for the rest of us at the table :) For Leo, who doesn't like Asian food, there were salads, fresh fruits, desserts.
The next time I'm in the mood, this will be the place I choose. It was yummy.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Turkuaz Cafe
I've driven by here numerous times when their tiny parking lot was full. I found it empty (at 4 PM, what my mom would call "lupper") and decided it was time to try it.
I asked the waiter for suggestions. He recommended the combo pide so I could try multiple things. Good for me!
First I was brought red lentil soup. I really liked it. Next was the "three salad plate" -- a bit of cabbage, coban ( tomato, cucumber, parsley, and green onion), and kisir (bulgur, parsley, and green onion). There was a small portion of each, and I liked all of them.
Next was the pide, which their menu describes as a bread boat. I suppose I'd call it the same, but it was flatter than bread (but cutely shaped like a boat!). There were several sections -- fish, cheese, eggplant, spinach, and some meat. It was interesting, but not something I am likely to seek out in the future.
I asked the waiter for suggestions. He recommended the combo pide so I could try multiple things. Good for me!
First I was brought red lentil soup. I really liked it. Next was the "three salad plate" -- a bit of cabbage, coban ( tomato, cucumber, parsley, and green onion), and kisir (bulgur, parsley, and green onion). There was a small portion of each, and I liked all of them.
Next was the pide, which their menu describes as a bread boat. I suppose I'd call it the same, but it was flatter than bread (but cutely shaped like a boat!). There were several sections -- fish, cheese, eggplant, spinach, and some meat. It was interesting, but not something I am likely to seek out in the future.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Golden Corral
My class reunion was Saturday. We had a blast! One of my classmates is thinking of moving her family to Bloomington, so Sarah and I met Martha and her family for dinner. Since her husband has to be careful with his diet and she had two kids (aren't they all picky?), Martha requested a buffet close to where she was (37 & 3rd). That would be Golden Corral...
As expected, there was a lot of food on display. I liked the pot roast a lot. The meat loaf and green beans were ok. The rice pilaf sucked. The "medium" sirloin was well done and was barely touched. The friend chicken wasn't very good either (how is that possible???). It was comical that I'd tried just about every meat on the buffet and little else. So I decided to swap to desserts. The cupcake was stale :( The rice krispy treat was yummy. I didn't really like the chocolate chip cookie and only ate half. Heck, I didn't even finish my ice cream with caramel sauce.
So, there was a lot of food. Much of it went back uneaten. But with so many different items from which to choose, I did have plenty to eat. I must say, however, it's the first time I've ever eaten at a buffet and thought about having a snack a couple hours later.
We did have a lovely chat with Martha's family :) Her husband is very nice, one of her boys quite chatty, and our waitress kept our drinks full for a couple hours.
As expected, there was a lot of food on display. I liked the pot roast a lot. The meat loaf and green beans were ok. The rice pilaf sucked. The "medium" sirloin was well done and was barely touched. The friend chicken wasn't very good either (how is that possible???). It was comical that I'd tried just about every meat on the buffet and little else. So I decided to swap to desserts. The cupcake was stale :( The rice krispy treat was yummy. I didn't really like the chocolate chip cookie and only ate half. Heck, I didn't even finish my ice cream with caramel sauce.
So, there was a lot of food. Much of it went back uneaten. But with so many different items from which to choose, I did have plenty to eat. I must say, however, it's the first time I've ever eaten at a buffet and thought about having a snack a couple hours later.
We did have a lovely chat with Martha's family :) Her husband is very nice, one of her boys quite chatty, and our waitress kept our drinks full for a couple hours.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Bajio
I love Mexican food. Lena and I decided to stop in Bajio when we were on the west side of town. It was Tuesday, so her favorite thing was on special -- tamales. I had a chimichanga. We both added melted cheese poured all over our food (.99 cents extra). My chimi had chicken, black beans, some cheese, and I don't remember what else. It's all sitting there so you can pick whatever you want. It was good, not great.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Crazy Horse
The weather was hot. The kids were at home. After a three hour hair appointment, I was quite hungry. I decided to go somewhere I couldn't take the kids that had shaded outdoor seating. Crazy Horse.
I quickly ordered a glass of wine to cool down. When it was served, I decided to order Mushroom Pasta -- tender cracked pepper fettucine in a light garlic wine sauce, tossed with sliced and sauteed portabello mushrooms.
Well, the garlic was heavy, the mushrooms not portabello, and I couldn't figure out where the pepper was. But I liked it anyway. And I enjoyed sitting outdoors so much that I opted for another glass of wine. The service was rather slow, but when you're sitting outside on a lovely day with a glass of wine in your hand, who really cares (until it runs out... LOL) ?
I quickly ordered a glass of wine to cool down. When it was served, I decided to order Mushroom Pasta -- tender cracked pepper fettucine in a light garlic wine sauce, tossed with sliced and sauteed portabello mushrooms.
Well, the garlic was heavy, the mushrooms not portabello, and I couldn't figure out where the pepper was. But I liked it anyway. And I enjoyed sitting outdoors so much that I opted for another glass of wine. The service was rather slow, but when you're sitting outside on a lovely day with a glass of wine in your hand, who really cares (until it runs out... LOL) ?
My Thai
Can you believe this place has a name like that and doesn't serve mixed drinks? LOL.
When I arrived, I was told to sit wherever I wanted. It was a hot day, but with a bit of a breeze. I chose to sit right on the front porch. How cool.
When I spied Drunken Man Fried Rice (aka Khao Pad Kee Mao) on the menu, I knew I had to try it. They started me off with some veggie soup that was wonderful, then brought the entree before the soup was gone. It was decent -- spicy fried rice with green pepper, onion, green onion, basil and egg. I don't think the basil really went with the rest of it, but whatever. And when they said Spicy in the menu, they meant it. I ordered Medium and went through two glasses of water and three sodas :-o But of course I'm a lightweight.
All in all, it was an enjoyable meal.
When I arrived, I was told to sit wherever I wanted. It was a hot day, but with a bit of a breeze. I chose to sit right on the front porch. How cool.
When I spied Drunken Man Fried Rice (aka Khao Pad Kee Mao) on the menu, I knew I had to try it. They started me off with some veggie soup that was wonderful, then brought the entree before the soup was gone. It was decent -- spicy fried rice with green pepper, onion, green onion, basil and egg. I don't think the basil really went with the rest of it, but whatever. And when they said Spicy in the menu, they meant it. I ordered Medium and went through two glasses of water and three sodas :-o But of course I'm a lightweight.
All in all, it was an enjoyable meal.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Mandalay
Just what I needed -- Mandalay. LOL.
Noah was kind enough to come down to help me prepare my new house. He was shocked to find Leo, his friend, and Lena all over the vacant house (NOTE: so was I). After Noah helped me do a few things, I decided to treat him and Lena (Leo had disappeared once the work commenced) to dinner. We went looking for outdoor seating and ended up at Mandalay. It's so nice of the restaurant to have a picture menu in addition to the one with explanations :)
We ordered the Mandalay Special Appetizer which came at the same time as the food. I hate it when that happens! It had samosa, egg rolls, and fritters. My favorite was the fritters -- some type of bean inside? The others were ok.
I had Fried Mixed Vegetables with chicken. It was good enough, not great. Noah had the Fried Thick Noodles with beef, chicken, and shrimp - egg noodles, mixed vegetable and spices. He said it was ok. Lena tried the Mandalay Nan Gyi Salad (a warm salad of thick noodles, chicken, peanuts, and Burmese dressing) then complained about all the peanuts. Duh, child. RTFM.
Noah was kind enough to come down to help me prepare my new house. He was shocked to find Leo, his friend, and Lena all over the vacant house (NOTE: so was I). After Noah helped me do a few things, I decided to treat him and Lena (Leo had disappeared once the work commenced) to dinner. We went looking for outdoor seating and ended up at Mandalay. It's so nice of the restaurant to have a picture menu in addition to the one with explanations :)
We ordered the Mandalay Special Appetizer which came at the same time as the food. I hate it when that happens! It had samosa, egg rolls, and fritters. My favorite was the fritters -- some type of bean inside? The others were ok.
I had Fried Mixed Vegetables with chicken. It was good enough, not great. Noah had the Fried Thick Noodles with beef, chicken, and shrimp - egg noodles, mixed vegetable and spices. He said it was ok. Lena tried the Mandalay Nan Gyi Salad (a warm salad of thick noodles, chicken, peanuts, and Burmese dressing) then complained about all the peanuts. Duh, child. RTFM.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Cozy Table
I happened to be driving past Cozy Table when I was very hungry. Strolled in, asked the waitress what she recommended, and went with it -- a turkey club & fries. I also chose the chicken bowtie soup.
After I was seated, I started looking around. It definitely had a Diner feel. The clientele looked a bit rough (note: I was in a sundress and sandals and WAY overdressed). I saw signs of the Mediteranean -- the Greek Key, Venus de Milo, Michelangelo's David (hey! I've seen the original statue and there is no fig leaf!!!).
The chicken noodle soup (not bowtie, but who really cares?) was quite good. The club sandwich arrived and it was HUGE -- each wedge about 5" tall. There wasn't deli turkey like I usually find on a club sandwich. They had actual chunks of turkey. Due to size, I had to disassemble the sandwich to eat it. It was really good. The fries were seasoned similar to Rally's (going from memory here -- I haven't eaten at Rally's in 20 years). I really liked them.
It was a good meal. Sometimes my kids miss the diners that sprung up in the last place we lived. I'll have to bring them here.
After I was seated, I started looking around. It definitely had a Diner feel. The clientele looked a bit rough (note: I was in a sundress and sandals and WAY overdressed). I saw signs of the Mediteranean -- the Greek Key, Venus de Milo, Michelangelo's David (hey! I've seen the original statue and there is no fig leaf!!!).
The chicken noodle soup (not bowtie, but who really cares?) was quite good. The club sandwich arrived and it was HUGE -- each wedge about 5" tall. There wasn't deli turkey like I usually find on a club sandwich. They had actual chunks of turkey. Due to size, I had to disassemble the sandwich to eat it. It was really good. The fries were seasoned similar to Rally's (going from memory here -- I haven't eaten at Rally's in 20 years). I really liked them.
It was a good meal. Sometimes my kids miss the diners that sprung up in the last place we lived. I'll have to bring them here.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunny Palace
I'm always a bit leery of restaurants in strip malls. But Lena and I had 30 minutes to kill while Plato's Closet looked at some of her clothes and Sunny Palace was next door. So we thought we'd give it a shot.
Entering the place at 2:30 in the afternoon, I was surprised to see people at two other tables. I noticed they were all Asian. It made me think that perhaps the place is authentic? Lena ordered some type of seafood meal and I had curry chicken. When our food arrived, I realized was completely different from the other two tables (even the serving dishes were different). Aha, we got the Americanized version. No problem.
I really liked my curry chicken. Lena liked all of hers but the shrimp. I reminded her we now live in Indiana :)
Entering the place at 2:30 in the afternoon, I was surprised to see people at two other tables. I noticed they were all Asian. It made me think that perhaps the place is authentic? Lena ordered some type of seafood meal and I had curry chicken. When our food arrived, I realized was completely different from the other two tables (even the serving dishes were different). Aha, we got the Americanized version. No problem.
I really liked my curry chicken. Lena liked all of hers but the shrimp. I reminded her we now live in Indiana :)
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
O'Charley's
When I lived in Florida, this was one of the restaurants we frequented. It had something to do with free kid night... This was my first trip to the one in Bloomington.
We ordered our drinks right away -- sodas for the boys and sangria for me. It tasted good, but I didn't notice any alcohol in it. The rolls were delivered shortly thereafter, and was as wonderful as I'd remembered.
Leo opted for the Top Shelf Appetizer combo as his entree. I ordered a 6 oz sirloin with a Caesar salad and baked potato. Art chose the Steak and Chicken Tenders combo. We both requested our steaks be medium.
The Caesar salads were delivered and much to my liking. I hate a boring Caesar dressing.
Leo liked his chicken tenders and potato skins. He really disliked the deep-fried spicy Jack cheese wedges. I didn't try one so don't know if it's just because he doesn't like that type of cheese.
Art and I were both given well-done steaks -- completely brown throughout. The waitress asked us to cut into them while she waited, and I immediately sent mine back (I've only done that one other time in my life). Art said his was ok, then referred to it as Beef Jerky and gave it to Leo. Leo also took a bite or so and left it on his plate. I wonder how much that uneaten steak added to the bill? Anyway, mine was eventually returned. There was blood on the plate, so I thought it would be medium (or perhaps closer to rare). The very center had some pink. Outside of that one-inch center, it was all brown. Did they just pour blood on the plate to make me think it wasn't medium-well? That's pretty sad. At least the potato was good.
It was a definite miss for us. The waitress was extremely attentive. She even convinced the manager to not charge for my meal since I had to wait an extra 10 minutes for the second steak. I might return, but definitely no steak.
We ordered our drinks right away -- sodas for the boys and sangria for me. It tasted good, but I didn't notice any alcohol in it. The rolls were delivered shortly thereafter, and was as wonderful as I'd remembered.
Leo opted for the Top Shelf Appetizer combo as his entree. I ordered a 6 oz sirloin with a Caesar salad and baked potato. Art chose the Steak and Chicken Tenders combo. We both requested our steaks be medium.
The Caesar salads were delivered and much to my liking. I hate a boring Caesar dressing.
Leo liked his chicken tenders and potato skins. He really disliked the deep-fried spicy Jack cheese wedges. I didn't try one so don't know if it's just because he doesn't like that type of cheese.
Art and I were both given well-done steaks -- completely brown throughout. The waitress asked us to cut into them while she waited, and I immediately sent mine back (I've only done that one other time in my life). Art said his was ok, then referred to it as Beef Jerky and gave it to Leo. Leo also took a bite or so and left it on his plate. I wonder how much that uneaten steak added to the bill? Anyway, mine was eventually returned. There was blood on the plate, so I thought it would be medium (or perhaps closer to rare). The very center had some pink. Outside of that one-inch center, it was all brown. Did they just pour blood on the plate to make me think it wasn't medium-well? That's pretty sad. At least the potato was good.
It was a definite miss for us. The waitress was extremely attentive. She even convinced the manager to not charge for my meal since I had to wait an extra 10 minutes for the second steak. I might return, but definitely no steak.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Puccini's La Dolce Vita
It was Lena's 20th birthday! Yay! I sent an email during the day, asking where she wanted to go. She responded that she wanted to try the Italian place next to the Indian places. LOL. I knew where she meant, though. I cringed a little thinking about how much it was going to cost to take my three kids to such a nice place.
Naturally, when we got home, Lena's friend was over. As I get my three wedged into my tiny car, Lena calls out to her friend, "Come eat with us!" Yikes. Now I get to pay for another kid.
Luckily, we were early and the only ones there. This was lucky because the kids were all dressed like kids -- Leo in his baseball uniform (game right after dinner), Art in athletic shorts and sandals, etc. After listening to the kids butcher all the Italian words on the menu, we ordered. Leo asked the waitress what it meant when mozzarella was carmelized. She said it was burnt on top. LOL.
I ordered a glass of chianti and most of the kids opted for water. There was a lot of wine in that glass. And the next one :)
About ten minutes after we ordered, we were brought some bread and butter. What took so long? It wasn't like it was fresh from the oven -- it was room temperature. The kids dove on it and had quite the debate about how best to get real butter onto bread.
Dinner eventually arrived. I had tortellini con zafferano (with saffron), two kids had meat lasagna, one had pollo alla parmigiana (chicken parmesan), and another had penne alla vodka. Mine was ok. I had a bite of the penne alla vodka, which was much better. The two loved the lasagna. Leo declared D'Angelo's to be better for chicken parmesan.
We had a few desserts for the birthday -- creme brulee, tiramisu, and cheesecake. All were fine, but the tiramisu wasn't even close to the one from Feast. I think the favorite part was the caramel poured all over the plate the creme brulee was served upon. Lena nearly picked it up and licked it.
When I received my bill, I saw there was an automatic 20% gratuity added. Really? For a table of 5? and 20%? I usually tip at 20%, but this waitress didn't deserve that much. We were the only patrons and she only checked on us once when she wasn't delivering food. The bread took awhile to be delivered. Kids ran out of water and had to wait until the food arrived to request a refill. It's hard to flag down a waitress when she's always in a different room.
Naturally, when we got home, Lena's friend was over. As I get my three wedged into my tiny car, Lena calls out to her friend, "Come eat with us!" Yikes. Now I get to pay for another kid.
Luckily, we were early and the only ones there. This was lucky because the kids were all dressed like kids -- Leo in his baseball uniform (game right after dinner), Art in athletic shorts and sandals, etc. After listening to the kids butcher all the Italian words on the menu, we ordered. Leo asked the waitress what it meant when mozzarella was carmelized. She said it was burnt on top. LOL.
I ordered a glass of chianti and most of the kids opted for water. There was a lot of wine in that glass. And the next one :)
About ten minutes after we ordered, we were brought some bread and butter. What took so long? It wasn't like it was fresh from the oven -- it was room temperature. The kids dove on it and had quite the debate about how best to get real butter onto bread.
Dinner eventually arrived. I had tortellini con zafferano (with saffron), two kids had meat lasagna, one had pollo alla parmigiana (chicken parmesan), and another had penne alla vodka. Mine was ok. I had a bite of the penne alla vodka, which was much better. The two loved the lasagna. Leo declared D'Angelo's to be better for chicken parmesan.
We had a few desserts for the birthday -- creme brulee, tiramisu, and cheesecake. All were fine, but the tiramisu wasn't even close to the one from Feast. I think the favorite part was the caramel poured all over the plate the creme brulee was served upon. Lena nearly picked it up and licked it.
When I received my bill, I saw there was an automatic 20% gratuity added. Really? For a table of 5? and 20%? I usually tip at 20%, but this waitress didn't deserve that much. We were the only patrons and she only checked on us once when she wasn't delivering food. The bread took awhile to be delivered. Kids ran out of water and had to wait until the food arrived to request a refill. It's hard to flag down a waitress when she's always in a different room.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Mancino's Pizza & Grinders
Leo's baseball game was over, and he was begging for food. I gave him the list of places we've yet to go, and he picked one with "pizza" in the name. Cool! I lived in Bloomington for years before, have drove past Mancino's countless times, but never stopped in. If it's still there since I first saw it 10-15 year ago, it must be good. Right?
After waiting nearly ten minutes for the drunk (hopefully -- I'd hate to think she's always this stupid) chick to order her food, it was our turn. Leo convinced me to get breadsticks to go with our food. In addition, I had a stromboli and Leo had the Italian sandwich. We both opted for half sandwiches and fries. While waiting, we saw someone walk past with their whole sandwich -- about 18" long. Wow, I sure am glad I ordered the half!
I took a quick trip to the ladies room while awaiting our food. Apparently locks were beyond the capabilites of drunk chick, so I walked in on her. Oops. Waited until she was done and returned to the ladies room. Obviously peeing in the bowl was too difficult for her -- potty-training my sons required less clean-up. Not only was there pee all over the toilet seat, but for about a foot around the toilet in all directions. I must admit I'm a little impressed -- perhaps I could hire her to water my lawn...
When the food arrived, it was great. The breadsticks are just like Noble Romans (my favorite). The sandwiches were both awesome. And thankfully drunk chick got her food to go so the place was quiet.
After waiting nearly ten minutes for the drunk (hopefully -- I'd hate to think she's always this stupid) chick to order her food, it was our turn. Leo convinced me to get breadsticks to go with our food. In addition, I had a stromboli and Leo had the Italian sandwich. We both opted for half sandwiches and fries. While waiting, we saw someone walk past with their whole sandwich -- about 18" long. Wow, I sure am glad I ordered the half!
I took a quick trip to the ladies room while awaiting our food. Apparently locks were beyond the capabilites of drunk chick, so I walked in on her. Oops. Waited until she was done and returned to the ladies room. Obviously peeing in the bowl was too difficult for her -- potty-training my sons required less clean-up. Not only was there pee all over the toilet seat, but for about a foot around the toilet in all directions. I must admit I'm a little impressed -- perhaps I could hire her to water my lawn...
When the food arrived, it was great. The breadsticks are just like Noble Romans (my favorite). The sandwiches were both awesome. And thankfully drunk chick got her food to go so the place was quiet.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
China Wok
Lena and I were busy working on the new house. We'd successfully installed the new hardware on the toilet that had been running (YES!) and she was begging for food. I didn't want to take a long break. I remembered China Wok was nearby and suggested we give it a try.
The menu was the typical Chinese-fast-food-type menu with about 500 things on it (how do they do that?!). I ordered Curry Chicken. She had Beef with Broccoli. We both opted for fried rice and ordered a can of soda. It was $10 and change. You've got to be kidding me... Wendy's across the parking lot would've cost us more.
After about five minutes, our food and fortune cookies were brought out. The fried rice had these weird pieces of snow-white chicken in it. My curry chicken had a bit of spice to it, but was so terribly salty. I felt my blood pressure increase during the meal. LOL. Lena thought her food was ok, not great.
For the price, location, and speed (closest restaurant to my new house), I'm sure I'll return...
The menu was the typical Chinese-fast-food-type menu with about 500 things on it (how do they do that?!). I ordered Curry Chicken. She had Beef with Broccoli. We both opted for fried rice and ordered a can of soda. It was $10 and change. You've got to be kidding me... Wendy's across the parking lot would've cost us more.
After about five minutes, our food and fortune cookies were brought out. The fried rice had these weird pieces of snow-white chicken in it. My curry chicken had a bit of spice to it, but was so terribly salty. I felt my blood pressure increase during the meal. LOL. Lena thought her food was ok, not great.
For the price, location, and speed (closest restaurant to my new house), I'm sure I'll return...
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
King Gyros
Ever go into a place that looks like a dive and fall in love?
Gosh, that sounds like my love life, too!
Anyway... Lena and I dropped Leo off at baseball pre-game warm-ups. We had about 30 minutes, so shot straight over to King Gyros. We each ordered a Gyros Platter and baklava. About five minutes later, we each had warm pitas, a huge pile of gyro meat, a long square of feta cheese, sliced onions, tomatoes, about 1/3 cup of tzatziki, and a chunk of baklava. We proceeded to dive in and were blown away. This stuff was amazing. Since we were on a tight schedule, I shoved the (thankfully in plastic wrap) baklava in my purse to take to the game. I stuffed myself with gyros (how do you pronounce it anyway?). Lena ate some of hers and brought the rest to the game, where she proceeded to make gyros in the stands. They were so good! I swear we could've sold them for a profit to the people in front of us that were eating Subway (ha!).
The baklava didn't make it to the seventh inning stretch. Come to think of it, it didn't make it to the seven batter. LOL
I will be a regular here. Wow.
Gosh, that sounds like my love life, too!
Anyway... Lena and I dropped Leo off at baseball pre-game warm-ups. We had about 30 minutes, so shot straight over to King Gyros. We each ordered a Gyros Platter and baklava. About five minutes later, we each had warm pitas, a huge pile of gyro meat, a long square of feta cheese, sliced onions, tomatoes, about 1/3 cup of tzatziki, and a chunk of baklava. We proceeded to dive in and were blown away. This stuff was amazing. Since we were on a tight schedule, I shoved the (thankfully in plastic wrap) baklava in my purse to take to the game. I stuffed myself with gyros (how do you pronounce it anyway?). Lena ate some of hers and brought the rest to the game, where she proceeded to make gyros in the stands. They were so good! I swear we could've sold them for a profit to the people in front of us that were eating Subway (ha!).
The baklava didn't make it to the seventh inning stretch. Come to think of it, it didn't make it to the seven batter. LOL
I will be a regular here. Wow.
Bear's Place
I was childless for a few hours and decided to try something new. I stopped in Bear's Place, had a ten minute wait for anyone to notice me (patrons only at one other table), and eventually got a menu. I ordered a red wine (served warmer than room temperature) and a Little Bear -- the signature meal but smaller. I was sadly unimpressed with the burger. There's nothing I like better than a greasy pub burger. This just isn't it. Sigh.
Pizza X
It's a Friday night. I bought a house that day. What better way to celebrate than with a champagne toast? I invited a few friends and my daughter. Sarah came, my daughter came, and she brought her friend Casey. After the champagne ran out (not including the underage college kids, of course!), we moved on to wine. I had a call from Mouhamadou and invited him to join us.
And then more wine.... with many laughs out on the deck.
Pizza X was eventually called. For five of us, we ordered two pizzas, bread sticks, and cheese bread. Somehow we didn't eat it all (LOL). I was completely wined up and just didn't think much of any of it. It was ok. The Tootsie Rolls were a cute touch, but I really like Aver's Pizza a lot better.
I think we killed four bottles of wine... before we went out! Yikes. No wonder I woke up with a killer headache and one less tooth than I started with :-o
And then more wine.... with many laughs out on the deck.
Pizza X was eventually called. For five of us, we ordered two pizzas, bread sticks, and cheese bread. Somehow we didn't eat it all (LOL). I was completely wined up and just didn't think much of any of it. It was ok. The Tootsie Rolls were a cute touch, but I really like Aver's Pizza a lot better.
I think we killed four bottles of wine... before we went out! Yikes. No wonder I woke up with a killer headache and one less tooth than I started with :-o
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Basil Leaf
Since I'm a single mom and (virtually) never have a break, I've declared it Mothers Week. I deserve more than one day, right?
It was a beautiful afternoon. Driving home from work, I realized I didn't really want to go home to the mess/bickering/noise that exists at my place. Instead I ventured to 4th Street and wound up at Basil Leaf. Since it was early, I was the only customer outside, picked a seat in the sun, cranked up the music on my iPhone, and ordered a glass of wine. Nice. Flipping through the menu trying to decide what to order, I saw the signature dish and ordered it. If the restaurant is named after it, surely it's good.
The waitress brought a bowl of miso soup. It was a lukewarm broth with a couple chunks of tofu, green onion, and basil thrown in. It was ok. By the time my meal arrived, there were other patrons so I had to turn down the Aretha. Sigh. The Basil Leaf appeared to be a stir fry of chicken, green beans, carrots, .. next to a dome of rice. They seasoned it the way my kids would -- with tons of soy sauce. It was so incredibly salty that I had to make a big decision - do I order the second glass of wine even though I'm in an outdoor cafe and there's a cop car parked 40' away? Uh, yes. Surely I'm still legal to drive, right?
I love the patio. The wine was good (I had Malbec). The food, not so much. I like to be able to taste something besides soy sauce.
I continued the evening with a mall massage. Ahhhhh. I should do this every day!
It was a beautiful afternoon. Driving home from work, I realized I didn't really want to go home to the mess/bickering/noise that exists at my place. Instead I ventured to 4th Street and wound up at Basil Leaf. Since it was early, I was the only customer outside, picked a seat in the sun, cranked up the music on my iPhone, and ordered a glass of wine. Nice. Flipping through the menu trying to decide what to order, I saw the signature dish and ordered it. If the restaurant is named after it, surely it's good.
The waitress brought a bowl of miso soup. It was a lukewarm broth with a couple chunks of tofu, green onion, and basil thrown in. It was ok. By the time my meal arrived, there were other patrons so I had to turn down the Aretha. Sigh. The Basil Leaf appeared to be a stir fry of chicken, green beans, carrots, .. next to a dome of rice. They seasoned it the way my kids would -- with tons of soy sauce. It was so incredibly salty that I had to make a big decision - do I order the second glass of wine even though I'm in an outdoor cafe and there's a cop car parked 40' away? Uh, yes. Surely I'm still legal to drive, right?
I love the patio. The wine was good (I had Malbec). The food, not so much. I like to be able to taste something besides soy sauce.
I continued the evening with a mall massage. Ahhhhh. I should do this every day!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Cafe Django
I was in the mood for some background music, so convinced Sarah to meet me at Cafe Django. The weather was just nice enough, so we sat on the back deck. We found out later that there was a $5 cover charge to see the band, but no cover charge to hear them out on the patio. Yes!
While waiting for Sarah, I ordered a carafe of sangria. I haven't had good sangria since I was in Barcelona couple years ago, and I lived on it there :) I was really excited to see the variety of fruit floating inside -- apple chunks, strawberries, and blueberries sitting at the bottom. There was probably more, but I was too delighted with the taste to drink it slowly :)
We had no idea what to order, so asked for an appetizer. The waitress suggested Momos, so we had the Beef Momos. Looking through the menu, I noticed the entire menu is labelled to let you know which items are/can be vegan. Sarah and I both like meat, but this would be important to others...
Sarah settled on the Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian stir fry with beef, tomatoes, and onions over rice. There were papas fritas (aka french fries) on the side. I had the House Curry with Lamb. Sarah's was ok, but the beef was really chewy. Mine was wonderful! Just a touch spicy (as I'd ordered it), so we had to order another carafe of sangria. Sigh. ;)
The live jazz started up inside. We decided to prolong our meal with tiramisu. It was tasty, creamy, but did not have that strong bite of a real tiramisu.
Sitting outdoors on a beautiful evening, listening to live jazz, having a wonderful meal with a great friend -- what could be better?
While waiting for Sarah, I ordered a carafe of sangria. I haven't had good sangria since I was in Barcelona couple years ago, and I lived on it there :) I was really excited to see the variety of fruit floating inside -- apple chunks, strawberries, and blueberries sitting at the bottom. There was probably more, but I was too delighted with the taste to drink it slowly :)
We had no idea what to order, so asked for an appetizer. The waitress suggested Momos, so we had the Beef Momos. Looking through the menu, I noticed the entire menu is labelled to let you know which items are/can be vegan. Sarah and I both like meat, but this would be important to others...
Sarah settled on the Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian stir fry with beef, tomatoes, and onions over rice. There were papas fritas (aka french fries) on the side. I had the House Curry with Lamb. Sarah's was ok, but the beef was really chewy. Mine was wonderful! Just a touch spicy (as I'd ordered it), so we had to order another carafe of sangria. Sigh. ;)
The live jazz started up inside. We decided to prolong our meal with tiramisu. It was tasty, creamy, but did not have that strong bite of a real tiramisu.
Sitting outdoors on a beautiful evening, listening to live jazz, having a wonderful meal with a great friend -- what could be better?
Friday, May 11, 2012
Feast Bakery Cafe
Gosh, who knew my little blog would get me free food? As I was sitting at work yesterday, five desserts from Feast showed up at my desk. Considering I work about 45 minutes from there, it was quite a treat. Thanks Tom! <waves> I will re-review this place once I go for a meal. Until then, here's the scoop on the desserts :)
Tiramisu -- I lived in Italy. So did my friend Shar. We dove into this tiramisu as if it was, well, hell, I dunno... as if it was tiramisu! I had a bite before she got to my cube. I declared it better than sex. When she had a taste, her eyes rolled back in her head and she had a similar comment. I think one other person got a taste of it, but we devoured the rest. It was a-maz-ing.
Peanut Butter Pie -- This was also great. Not nearly-orgasmic like the tiramisu, but an awesome dessert. I think I had about half of it, too. I'm surprised I didn't go into a sugar coma yesterday!
Coconut Caramel Cupcake -- This was large with lots of icing and something in the middle. It was also very good. Half of it actually made it home, where Lena pounced on it. She was only eating the frothy icing (which was nearly an inch think in places), but I think she evenutally ate the rest of the cupcake.
Apricot Chocolate Brownie -- Good. Not my favorite. Perhaps because there was actually something healthy involved? LOL
Salted Chocolate Caramel Shortbreat -- I'm not a chocaholic. Some have tried to tell me I'm not really a woman since I'm not totally into chocolate (well, I am an engineer...). This dessert was designed for a woman other than me, because it was very chocolaty. The salt/chocolate combo was really odd to me. Definitely #5 of the 5.
I'm very excited about going to Feast now to see what they can do with real food. And have some more tiramisu :-D
Tiramisu -- I lived in Italy. So did my friend Shar. We dove into this tiramisu as if it was, well, hell, I dunno... as if it was tiramisu! I had a bite before she got to my cube. I declared it better than sex. When she had a taste, her eyes rolled back in her head and she had a similar comment. I think one other person got a taste of it, but we devoured the rest. It was a-maz-ing.
Peanut Butter Pie -- This was also great. Not nearly-orgasmic like the tiramisu, but an awesome dessert. I think I had about half of it, too. I'm surprised I didn't go into a sugar coma yesterday!
Coconut Caramel Cupcake -- This was large with lots of icing and something in the middle. It was also very good. Half of it actually made it home, where Lena pounced on it. She was only eating the frothy icing (which was nearly an inch think in places), but I think she evenutally ate the rest of the cupcake.
Apricot Chocolate Brownie -- Good. Not my favorite. Perhaps because there was actually something healthy involved? LOL
Salted Chocolate Caramel Shortbreat -- I'm not a chocaholic. Some have tried to tell me I'm not really a woman since I'm not totally into chocolate (well, I am an engineer...). This dessert was designed for a woman other than me, because it was very chocolaty. The salt/chocolate combo was really odd to me. Definitely #5 of the 5.
I'm very excited about going to Feast now to see what they can do with real food. And have some more tiramisu :-D
Monday, May 7, 2012
Noodles & Co.
My niece has told me this is her favorite restaurant. Lena and I wanted to eat somewhere outside (a lovely afternoon). Noodles & Co. had outdoor seating and parking nearby -- both surprising on the Saturday afternoon of IU graduation weekend.
Lena ordered Chicken Noodle Soup and I had the Thai Curry Soup. They were delivered to us outside, and we dug in. I now understand why I see noodles being slurped up from the bowl -- there was no way to get a long noodle to sit nicely in a spoon. They would slide out. I briefly thought about cutting them with a knife (would Miss Manners faint at a knife inside a bowl of soup?), but then just started slurping away. My soup was ok, nothing great. Lena felt the same about hers. Sigh.
The people watching was extraordinary. Lots of graduates and their proud families. Lots of small dresses and high heels. Dudes in ties and shades, trying to look cool. People standing in the middle of Kirkwood to get pix with the Sample Gates in the background. There was one happy couple -- the dark-headed guy holding up his diploma and his cute blonde girlfriend holding up hers -- upside-down. Was that on purpose? Another dude, after his pic, started immediately running back to the curb. A car had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting him. Ok dude, you got the diploma but don't know to look before crossing the street?
I'm not sure what the fuss is with Noodles & Co. Did we order the wrong thing?
Lena ordered Chicken Noodle Soup and I had the Thai Curry Soup. They were delivered to us outside, and we dug in. I now understand why I see noodles being slurped up from the bowl -- there was no way to get a long noodle to sit nicely in a spoon. They would slide out. I briefly thought about cutting them with a knife (would Miss Manners faint at a knife inside a bowl of soup?), but then just started slurping away. My soup was ok, nothing great. Lena felt the same about hers. Sigh.
The people watching was extraordinary. Lots of graduates and their proud families. Lots of small dresses and high heels. Dudes in ties and shades, trying to look cool. People standing in the middle of Kirkwood to get pix with the Sample Gates in the background. There was one happy couple -- the dark-headed guy holding up his diploma and his cute blonde girlfriend holding up hers -- upside-down. Was that on purpose? Another dude, after his pic, started immediately running back to the curb. A car had to slam on brakes to avoid hitting him. Ok dude, you got the diploma but don't know to look before crossing the street?
I'm not sure what the fuss is with Noodles & Co. Did we order the wrong thing?
A Taste of India
It was probably a bad idea to go out to dinner on graduation weekend. But still...
It was a lovely evening. My daughter Lena and I wanted to have a nice dinner without my sons. We invited them to join us for Indian food, knowing they'd decline. They did :)
I've been told by an Indian (who stood me up on Valentines Day -- WTF?!) that A Taste of India was the best Indian in town. With it being graduation weekend, there were tons of Indian families all dressed up, eating in large groups. It was warm, the storm looked like it was far away, so we opted to sit on the patio. Ten minutes later, our orders were taken -- naan & garlic naan, butter chicken, curry chicken, and a diet coke. After waiting for thirty minutes, I flagged down a different waiter, asked if I could at least have my diet coke and if the naan usually took so long. I know they were busy with graduation weekend, but still... If I knew it would be a busy evening, why didn't they know and prepare? Besides, there were still a number of empty tables.
After my complaint, everything arrived at the same time about 5 minutes later -- soda, naan, rice, chicken, and the storm. And a promise for free dessert since we had to wait so long. We moved our table in from the edge of the porch and ate. As we were finishing, the rain started coming sideways so I went in to pay. Naturally, the unprotected entrance was filled with people standing watching the rain so I had to stand there, in the pouring rain, and wait for them to see me and move out of the way. Let me tell you, none of those people wanted to move. After two moved, I darted in and shoved the other one out of the way. Thanks, bitch.
We didn't get our free dessert. We got an apology and 10% off. The same group of people was huddled around the door again, so I had to do a bunch of loud "Excuse me's" so I could leave. Apparently they've never seen rain before?
Well, the service sucked. Perhaps it's less authentic, but I prefer Amol India. The only way I'll be back is if Anand wants to go there on a date (which he's mentioned before).
It was a lovely evening. My daughter Lena and I wanted to have a nice dinner without my sons. We invited them to join us for Indian food, knowing they'd decline. They did :)
I've been told by an Indian (who stood me up on Valentines Day -- WTF?!) that A Taste of India was the best Indian in town. With it being graduation weekend, there were tons of Indian families all dressed up, eating in large groups. It was warm, the storm looked like it was far away, so we opted to sit on the patio. Ten minutes later, our orders were taken -- naan & garlic naan, butter chicken, curry chicken, and a diet coke. After waiting for thirty minutes, I flagged down a different waiter, asked if I could at least have my diet coke and if the naan usually took so long. I know they were busy with graduation weekend, but still... If I knew it would be a busy evening, why didn't they know and prepare? Besides, there were still a number of empty tables.
After my complaint, everything arrived at the same time about 5 minutes later -- soda, naan, rice, chicken, and the storm. And a promise for free dessert since we had to wait so long. We moved our table in from the edge of the porch and ate. As we were finishing, the rain started coming sideways so I went in to pay. Naturally, the unprotected entrance was filled with people standing watching the rain so I had to stand there, in the pouring rain, and wait for them to see me and move out of the way. Let me tell you, none of those people wanted to move. After two moved, I darted in and shoved the other one out of the way. Thanks, bitch.
We didn't get our free dessert. We got an apology and 10% off. The same group of people was huddled around the door again, so I had to do a bunch of loud "Excuse me's" so I could leave. Apparently they've never seen rain before?
Well, the service sucked. Perhaps it's less authentic, but I prefer Amol India. The only way I'll be back is if Anand wants to go there on a date (which he's mentioned before).
Monday, April 30, 2012
Red Lobster
This is one of those places that I didn't ever plan to go. I'm not really a seafood fan. I lived near a coast for about ten years, so the thought of chain seafood in Indiana wasn't very appealing. But my date (yes, I do have those!) wanted to go there.
There were very few people in the place on a Sunday evening. The service was very attentive -- so much that we had to send the waiter away a few times because we kept chatting instead of looking at the menu.
The waiter brought these amazing bread/biscuit-type things. I'm not sure what they were, but I could've just eaten those. I was surprised to see there was a separate, dated menu with a few "fresh" options. I recall trout and tilapia both being on there, so I suppose it's possible... I instead ordered the Mahi Mahi -- the most flavorless fish I know (did I mention I'm not a seafood fan?).
A salad was brought fairly quickly. It was ok but took up some of the space I needed for the bread :) When the mahi mahi arrived, it was served atop rice pilaf and next to the tiniest baked potato I've ever seen. Everything tasted fine -- nothing exceptional (but the bread) and nothing bad. If someone has a seafood craving, I suppose it'll do. But I'm not one to have those...
There were very few people in the place on a Sunday evening. The service was very attentive -- so much that we had to send the waiter away a few times because we kept chatting instead of looking at the menu.
The waiter brought these amazing bread/biscuit-type things. I'm not sure what they were, but I could've just eaten those. I was surprised to see there was a separate, dated menu with a few "fresh" options. I recall trout and tilapia both being on there, so I suppose it's possible... I instead ordered the Mahi Mahi -- the most flavorless fish I know (did I mention I'm not a seafood fan?).
A salad was brought fairly quickly. It was ok but took up some of the space I needed for the bread :) When the mahi mahi arrived, it was served atop rice pilaf and next to the tiniest baked potato I've ever seen. Everything tasted fine -- nothing exceptional (but the bread) and nothing bad. If someone has a seafood craving, I suppose it'll do. But I'm not one to have those...
Thursday, April 19, 2012
HuHot Mongolian Grill
I've been to Chinese restaurants that had a Mongolian grill section, but this was the first time I've been to a restaurant that was exclusively that.
So here's how it works. There is something resembling a salad bar. Take a dish, walk the length of the bar, and put in anything that appeals. The first things are raw meats and seafood. Then there are a bunch of vegetables (some of which I couldn't identify). Move along to the next bar, and there are sauces and oils. Unlike other MGrills I've been to, they kindly had recipe cards for you to aid in selecting how many ladles of each sauce/oil (and the meats/veggies, if you want a specific item). The sauces are sorted mild to hot, so you can avoid a big surprise.
Walk your overflowing bowl over to the grill, and there are a few guys cooking. As you wait for yours, they have a bit of fun with throwing/spinning their utensils. Get your freshly made concoction, dive in at the table, and repeat. By the time we'd returned to our table, we had soup/salad (mine was soup/his was salad) and torillas waiting. Tortillas???
I tried a couple times, and still had the same trouble I've had at other places (without the use of recipe cards) -- anything I make is not as good as if i order off the menu. I knowI just need more attemps at sauce/oil combinations -- my first was too peanutty and the second too sweet. But it'll be fun to keep trying :-)
So here's how it works. There is something resembling a salad bar. Take a dish, walk the length of the bar, and put in anything that appeals. The first things are raw meats and seafood. Then there are a bunch of vegetables (some of which I couldn't identify). Move along to the next bar, and there are sauces and oils. Unlike other MGrills I've been to, they kindly had recipe cards for you to aid in selecting how many ladles of each sauce/oil (and the meats/veggies, if you want a specific item). The sauces are sorted mild to hot, so you can avoid a big surprise.
Walk your overflowing bowl over to the grill, and there are a few guys cooking. As you wait for yours, they have a bit of fun with throwing/spinning their utensils. Get your freshly made concoction, dive in at the table, and repeat. By the time we'd returned to our table, we had soup/salad (mine was soup/his was salad) and torillas waiting. Tortillas???
I tried a couple times, and still had the same trouble I've had at other places (without the use of recipe cards) -- anything I make is not as good as if i order off the menu. I knowI just need more attemps at sauce/oil combinations -- my first was too peanutty and the second too sweet. But it'll be fun to keep trying :-)
Monday, April 2, 2012
Malibu Grill
After a very rainy weekend, it finally cleared off Sunday afternoon. I gathered Leo & Art into the car and off we went in search of a restaurant with outdoor seating. Malibu Grill wasn't full, so we went there. I quickly ordered a glass of wine and settled in on the patio.
I started searching the menu, only to discover I had the four-page drink menu. OMG, what a lot a drinks! I swapped to the food menu and selected the Penne alla Vodka (BTW, if you are in Italy, remember to pronounce both n's in penne!). Art opted for the special, swordfish. Leo ordered a double-cheeseburger.
The penne was very good. The double-cheeseburger was way too much for Leo; he should've ordered the single. Art enjoyed his first encounter with swordfish (although he was hoping to get the sword... LOL). It was a great meal, but I need to save it for special occasions (more special than a sunny Saturday afternoon...). It was probably the most expensive meal we've had yet.
I started searching the menu, only to discover I had the four-page drink menu. OMG, what a lot a drinks! I swapped to the food menu and selected the Penne alla Vodka (BTW, if you are in Italy, remember to pronounce both n's in penne!). Art opted for the special, swordfish. Leo ordered a double-cheeseburger.
The penne was very good. The double-cheeseburger was way too much for Leo; he should've ordered the single. Art enjoyed his first encounter with swordfish (although he was hoping to get the sword... LOL). It was a great meal, but I need to save it for special occasions (more special than a sunny Saturday afternoon...). It was probably the most expensive meal we've had yet.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Macri's Deli
When I lived in Bloomington before, Macri's was the restaurant at which I ate the most (well, other than McD & BK drive-thrus). I was in love with the nachos grande and the BRT. Even better, they had Monday nights kids-eat-free. Not the usual kid-per-adult, but two kids per adult. Since my (now ex-) husband and I have four kids, it was a steal. We were probably there every Monday. LOL.
So, when I moved back to Bloomington in August, I quickly searched for Macri's. It wasn't there :-( Some months later, I saw a sign that they were reopening downtown. YES!!! During the next few months, I often drove past to see if they were ready yet.
They are ready. Hallelujah! Leo and I opted to split and order of mozzarella sticks and both had BRTs with fries. The mozzarella sticks are huge -- closer to the diameter of a half-dollar than the typical deep-fried-cheeze-sticks. There were five in the basket and were wonderful.
When the BRT (bacon, roast beef, turkey) arrived, I was nervous. Would it be as good as I remembered? I started hesitantly by nibbling on a french fry. It was fabulous -- perfectly cooked to a golden brown. I picked up my sandwich and bit in. OMG, they did it! I don't think the bread was the same (keep in mind, I'm trying to remember from 2001), but the sandwich was wonderful. Leo was delighted as well.
Macri's, welcome home! We missed you!!! :D
So, when I moved back to Bloomington in August, I quickly searched for Macri's. It wasn't there :-( Some months later, I saw a sign that they were reopening downtown. YES!!! During the next few months, I often drove past to see if they were ready yet.
They are ready. Hallelujah! Leo and I opted to split and order of mozzarella sticks and both had BRTs with fries. The mozzarella sticks are huge -- closer to the diameter of a half-dollar than the typical deep-fried-cheeze-sticks. There were five in the basket and were wonderful.
When the BRT (bacon, roast beef, turkey) arrived, I was nervous. Would it be as good as I remembered? I started hesitantly by nibbling on a french fry. It was fabulous -- perfectly cooked to a golden brown. I picked up my sandwich and bit in. OMG, they did it! I don't think the bread was the same (keep in mind, I'm trying to remember from 2001), but the sandwich was wonderful. Leo was delighted as well.
Macri's, welcome home! We missed you!!! :D
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Brother's Bar & Grill
"They have food?"
Sarah and I have drank more here than we'll ever admit, but had never eaten there. We thought the Indiana Sweet 16 game would be the best time to start. Go early enough to get a seat, have a relaxing meal, and wait for the game. Whoops. Apparently a couple hundred other people had the same idea (well, from the looks of them, some had a liquid dinner). We searched the place and found a table and a couple chairs on the balcony for smokers. The table was wet, but we could see the TV. Good enough!
Considering the place was jam packed, we had an extremely attentive waitress. Perhaps she noticed our ages and realized we'd tip better than the college kids :D I went for a simple cheeseburger and fries (and a vodka/diet coke or two...). Sarah had some kind of wrap. Mine was ok, but not the greasy pub grub for which I was hoping...
We were able to slowly slide our chairs inside, but the game didn't turn out the way we'd hoped :( We will definitely be back to Brothers, but probably not for the food. Look for us -- the two 40ish ladies sitting at the bar. And buy us a drink :)
Sarah and I have drank more here than we'll ever admit, but had never eaten there. We thought the Indiana Sweet 16 game would be the best time to start. Go early enough to get a seat, have a relaxing meal, and wait for the game. Whoops. Apparently a couple hundred other people had the same idea (well, from the looks of them, some had a liquid dinner). We searched the place and found a table and a couple chairs on the balcony for smokers. The table was wet, but we could see the TV. Good enough!
Considering the place was jam packed, we had an extremely attentive waitress. Perhaps she noticed our ages and realized we'd tip better than the college kids :D I went for a simple cheeseburger and fries (and a vodka/diet coke or two...). Sarah had some kind of wrap. Mine was ok, but not the greasy pub grub for which I was hoping...
We were able to slowly slide our chairs inside, but the game didn't turn out the way we'd hoped :( We will definitely be back to Brothers, but probably not for the food. Look for us -- the two 40ish ladies sitting at the bar. And buy us a drink :)
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Bombay Cafe
I was getting my hair fixed at Les Champes Elyees. The fix was after a series of home-grown disasters that took my hair from the color of a pumpkin to banana to snot. Not a great progression! Anyway, my dear hairdresser Kelly promised to get me back to normal (and succeeded!). But I was hungry while I waited for the chemicals to do their magic! Luckily, there was a restaurant two doors down. She assured me that people often trekked down there while their hair was processing. So, I tiptoed down two doors (on Walnut!!!) hoping that no one would see me, with tinfoil folded into my hair and a black cape over my clothing. The guy behind the counter didn't react whatsoever. I love that man! although fellow patrons were shocked... The guy helped the other customers, discussed various dishes with me, and we decided on buttered chicken (after he assured me it was the best in town). He showed me a cup-size or a platter, which would include rice and salad. I opted for the platter. He told me they called that the American plate. LOL. I had a seat, waited a few minutes, then my meal was ready to go. He suggested I try the stuffed bread the next time I had my hair done.
Five Guys
Once, on a business trip to Washington DC, I was hungry, cold, and just needed to eat something. A Five Guys sign was ahead, so I ducked in not knowing what to expect. Ordered a burger and fries, and proceeded to have the best burger of my life! Not so much a fan of the fries, but there were probably enough there to feed half of the homeless on the way back to my hotel. I stopped again two days later, and on every subsequent trip to DC.
So, when I saw they were franchised, I was SOOOOO excited. I don't get enough trips to DC to fulfill my greasy cheeseburger quota. First one was somewhere in Missouri. Good, but not as good as DC. Next was in Greenwood, Indiana. Ditto. So it was with great trepidation that I entered Five Guys. Would it be as great as DC? Or as disappointing as the other franchises? Well, I have to say it was somewhere in between. It was a great burger, but not as completely outstanding as those in DC. I'll probably return to the one in Bloomington. But if I'm in DC. absolutely!!!
So, when I saw they were franchised, I was SOOOOO excited. I don't get enough trips to DC to fulfill my greasy cheeseburger quota. First one was somewhere in Missouri. Good, but not as good as DC. Next was in Greenwood, Indiana. Ditto. So it was with great trepidation that I entered Five Guys. Would it be as great as DC? Or as disappointing as the other franchises? Well, I have to say it was somewhere in between. It was a great burger, but not as completely outstanding as those in DC. I'll probably return to the one in Bloomington. But if I'm in DC. absolutely!!!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Great Wall
I used to know a lady who said that there was only one Chinese restaurant in the world. When you enter the door, it's a portal to that one restaurant. Great Wall's buffet fit that description. It was fine -- not particularly memorable. There is a small grocery store attached, which Art (my 15 year old son) found interesting. Not every day we see shrink-wrapped squid on a shelf...
Caravan
I had an evening alone, so I thought I'd try somewhere new. Caravan shares an entrance with Puccini's La Dolce Vita on 4th St, which confused me a bit... For some unknown reason, it was freezing in Caravan the night I went. I had to leave my coat on throughout the meal...
The waitresses were very helpful with all the clueless people trying to figure out what things were. I opted for the Sample for One, which had quite a few choices. I chose the following:
The waitresses were very helpful with all the clueless people trying to figure out what things were. I opted for the Sample for One, which had quite a few choices. I chose the following:
badenjaan pallao -- (Persian) Fried eggplant with tomato sauce, served over Basmati rice and topped with Persian yogurt sauce
dinich -- (Ethiopian) Fresh eggplant and potatoes simmered in curry
kik wat -- (Ethiopian) slow-cooked spiced lentils
yebeg wat -- (Ethiopian) Cubes of lamb simmered in spicy Wat sauce
Everything was served on a large piece of Ethiopian flat bread (which I didn't particularly care for) with some salad in the middle. I really liked the lamb. The other stuff was interesting. I couldn't really tell which was which, so I'll just stick with "interesting." :)
I'm glad I went. It was fun to try. But I probably won't be back.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Grazie! Italian Eatery
Happy New Year! Sarah and I decided to begin our celebration at Grazie. I wanted wine. I like dry; Sarah likes sweet. I can handle the Riunite Lambrusco and thought it would be plenty sweet for her. So we ordered a bottle. Cheers!
I love bruschetta. After the waitress corrected (ahem, I was correct!) my pronounciation, she brought it over. There were pieces of toasted bread, a heap of chopped tomatoes, but where was the olive oil? I asked, and she poured some into a dish for me. So I spooned some tomatoes and then some oil onto the toast. I definitely make better bruschetta at home.
Sarah and I both ordered the pappardelle -- fresh pasta, roasted chicken, mushrooms, garlic cream sauce. It reminded me of a dish I had in Siena, although there it included truffles :) I enjoyed it.
Horror of horrors -- they were OUT of tiramisu? What??? On New Years Eve, they were out of the best dessert by 9 or so? How can that be?
So, we ventured off into the night... Brothers? Jakes? Both!
I love bruschetta. After the waitress corrected (ahem, I was correct!) my pronounciation, she brought it over. There were pieces of toasted bread, a heap of chopped tomatoes, but where was the olive oil? I asked, and she poured some into a dish for me. So I spooned some tomatoes and then some oil onto the toast. I definitely make better bruschetta at home.
Sarah and I both ordered the pappardelle -- fresh pasta, roasted chicken, mushrooms, garlic cream sauce. It reminded me of a dish I had in Siena, although there it included truffles :) I enjoyed it.
Horror of horrors -- they were OUT of tiramisu? What??? On New Years Eve, they were out of the best dessert by 9 or so? How can that be?
So, we ventured off into the night... Brothers? Jakes? Both!
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