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...

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 :-)

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. 

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

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 :)   

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.

I ran back to the salon, opened my food, and several of the hairdressers wanted to know what I was having.  They all had recommendations for my future trips, too.  The buttered chicken was good, but  I think it's better (and more expensive, of course) at Amol India.  But I'm sure I'll be back to Bombay Cafe the next time I'm getting my hair done!  If you happen to pass by then, please act like you didn't see me :)

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!!!