Date of dining experience: June 21, 2015
Place: Schlafly Bottleworks
Location: 7260 Southwest Ave. in Maplewood, MO (at Manchester)
Appetizer: Smoked Trout Spread ($10.50) - cream cheese, smoked trout, and pita chips. This dish was not quite what I was expecting, but it was still okay. It had a very strong flavor, but the pita chips helped to offset the spread.
Entree: Grilled Rainbow Trout ($17) - Troutdale Farms rainbow trout, griddled red potatoes, hericot vert, and grilled lemon butter. This dish was also not quite what I was expecting, but in the opposite way. It was very bland, almost with no flavor. However, the griddled red potatoes were good.
Beer: Sampler tray (6 brews)
1. Pale Ale (ABV: 4.4% - IBU: 25) --- Pale Ale is a smooth, balanced, copper-colored session beer with mildly spiced flavor and aroma from the East Kent Goldings hops. The bready, light caramel malt compliments the hint of fruitiness contributed by the London Ale yeast.
2. Hefeweizen (ABV: 4.1% - IBU: 16) --- Hefeweizen is a light, unfiltered wheat beer, often served with a wedge of lemon. Made with thirty percent American winter wheat, it is balanced with sweet golden malted barley and Tettnang hops from Oregon that evoke a hint of spice.
3. Kolsch (ABV:4.8% - IBU: 25) --- Kolsch is a classic golden ale that uses a centuries old yeast strain sourced from a famous Kolsch brewer in Koln, Germany. Fermented at 62 degrees, then cold conditioned, it has the delicate fruity aroma of an ale with the crisp, clean finish of a lager.
4. Dry Hopped APA (ABV: 5.9% - IBU: 50) --- Dry Hopped American Pale Ale (APA) is charged with American hops to create a bold, aromatic ale. Assertive hop flavor joins the pine/citrus aroma characteristic of American hops to balance the full body provided by North American malts.
5. Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5.7% - IBU:40) --- Oatmeal Stout is a super-dark ale. This classic British-style beer features roasted barley and oatmeal, lending aromatic coffee and raisin notes. This medium-bodied stout is built on a base of North American malted barley and oats for smoothness and sweetness.
6. Raspberry Hefeweizen (seasonal) rotating option. --- This is the same as the regular Hefeweizen with pureed raspberries added during the primary fermentation process.
The service was okay and the atmosphere was great, but the overall experience was just okay at best. It was a slight disappointment because I had three other people with me that I had been telling how awesome this place was. I have eaten here once before and it was extremely good that time. This time it was not. I will go back here again to see which one of my experiences was more the norm.
My fear is that Schlafly is becoming so popular that they are creating more of their products more quickly and the quality of everything is suffering because of it.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what your experience is like. Enjoy!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Nobu's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 20, 2015
Place: Nobu's Japanese Restaurant
Location: 8643 Olive Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Soup: Miso ($1.75) - absolutely delicious!
Sushi: four different rolls. Check out the website for pictures of some of the rolls offered.
1. St. Louis Roll ($6.70) - tuna, cucumber, avocado, and masago. There may have been pickled radish as well.
2. Spicy Tuna Roll ($5) - spicy tuna and cucumber.
3. Rainbow Roll ($15) - tuna, salmon, red snapper, and white tuna on a California Roll (which is crab, cucumber, avocado, and masago).
4. Spider Roll ($15) - soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado, masago, and spicy mayo.
Entree: Sashimi Moriawase ($35) - Raw tuna, yellowtail, jumbo clam, fluke, salmon, shrimp, and sea urchin, served with shredded radish and rice. All of these are typical sashimi fishes, except the sea urchin, and all amazingly delectable! The sea urchin is a little different. The flavor is kind of "dirty," for lack of a better descriptor. It is also not a solid meat, but it's hard to describe. You'll just have to try it for yourself.
Sake: two varieties, one hot and one cold.
1. Hot Sake ($8.50 large size) - very good, but definitely a strong alcohol flavor. I learned that it is customary to refill the cups of others and not your own (someone will return the deed).
2. Cold Sake (premium) - Junmai Nigori ($15 large size) - also good, but not as good as the hot sake. This sake does have a slightly cloudy look and sweeter taste, so more people may like this one better.
For those of you that know me, you know I love sushi and sashimi. I thought every one of these items was amazing, but not everyone will. If you taste something you don't like, just eat some rice and you'll live. It won't kill you, and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Note: Nobu's is little more pricey than most other Japanese restaurants, but well worth it (in my opinion). Some of their fishes are flown in directly from Japan and they never use frozen fillets. They prepare their sushi only from live fish and clams delivered by a Chicago supplier 3-4 times a week, so you know it's going to be fresh. The website states that if they don't receive live fish, they won't serve it in their restaurant.
The atmosphere is fantastic, all the workers are actually Japanese, and the service was great. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! (They do have non-sushi and non-sashimi items on the menu as well.) I will definitely be back for more sushi and sashimi.
Enjoy!
Place: Nobu's Japanese Restaurant
Location: 8643 Olive Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Soup: Miso ($1.75) - absolutely delicious!
Sushi: four different rolls. Check out the website for pictures of some of the rolls offered.
1. St. Louis Roll ($6.70) - tuna, cucumber, avocado, and masago. There may have been pickled radish as well.
2. Spicy Tuna Roll ($5) - spicy tuna and cucumber.
3. Rainbow Roll ($15) - tuna, salmon, red snapper, and white tuna on a California Roll (which is crab, cucumber, avocado, and masago).
4. Spider Roll ($15) - soft shell crab, cucumber, avocado, masago, and spicy mayo.
Entree: Sashimi Moriawase ($35) - Raw tuna, yellowtail, jumbo clam, fluke, salmon, shrimp, and sea urchin, served with shredded radish and rice. All of these are typical sashimi fishes, except the sea urchin, and all amazingly delectable! The sea urchin is a little different. The flavor is kind of "dirty," for lack of a better descriptor. It is also not a solid meat, but it's hard to describe. You'll just have to try it for yourself.
Sake: two varieties, one hot and one cold.
1. Hot Sake ($8.50 large size) - very good, but definitely a strong alcohol flavor. I learned that it is customary to refill the cups of others and not your own (someone will return the deed).
2. Cold Sake (premium) - Junmai Nigori ($15 large size) - also good, but not as good as the hot sake. This sake does have a slightly cloudy look and sweeter taste, so more people may like this one better.
For those of you that know me, you know I love sushi and sashimi. I thought every one of these items was amazing, but not everyone will. If you taste something you don't like, just eat some rice and you'll live. It won't kill you, and what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Note: Nobu's is little more pricey than most other Japanese restaurants, but well worth it (in my opinion). Some of their fishes are flown in directly from Japan and they never use frozen fillets. They prepare their sushi only from live fish and clams delivered by a Chicago supplier 3-4 times a week, so you know it's going to be fresh. The website states that if they don't receive live fish, they won't serve it in their restaurant.
The atmosphere is fantastic, all the workers are actually Japanese, and the service was great. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! (They do have non-sushi and non-sashimi items on the menu as well.) I will definitely be back for more sushi and sashimi.
Enjoy!
Coffee Cartel - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 20, 2015
Place: Coffee Cartel
Location: #2 Maryland Plaza in St. Louis, MO (at Maryland and Euclid in the Central West End)
Coffee: Thai Iced Coffee = amazing! They serve an amazing Thai coffee. I've only ever had Thai coffee this good in Vietnamese restaurants.
All I had here was the coffee, but it is an amazing place! They are open 24 hours and their menu includes food (sandwiches and bakery items), coffee drinks, espresso drinks, liqueur drinks, ice creams, shakes, malts, smoothies, fountain drinks, bottled drinks, and award-winning frappes.
On top of that, they have WiFi, cool paintings from local artists on the walls for sale, outdoor patio seating, and a back room with a pool table. You can also borrow board games and card games from the counter by giving them your ID while you use the game.
I highly recommend visiting Coffee Cartel, even if all you get is a coffee. You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Coffee Cartel
Location: #2 Maryland Plaza in St. Louis, MO (at Maryland and Euclid in the Central West End)
Coffee: Thai Iced Coffee = amazing! They serve an amazing Thai coffee. I've only ever had Thai coffee this good in Vietnamese restaurants.
All I had here was the coffee, but it is an amazing place! They are open 24 hours and their menu includes food (sandwiches and bakery items), coffee drinks, espresso drinks, liqueur drinks, ice creams, shakes, malts, smoothies, fountain drinks, bottled drinks, and award-winning frappes.
On top of that, they have WiFi, cool paintings from local artists on the walls for sale, outdoor patio seating, and a back room with a pool table. You can also borrow board games and card games from the counter by giving them your ID while you use the game.
I highly recommend visiting Coffee Cartel, even if all you get is a coffee. You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Olympia - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 20, 2015
Place: Olympia Kebob House & Taverna (Greek)
Location: 1543 McCausland Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Salad: Greek ($5 small) - Crisp lettuce tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and onions, topped with Greek olives, feta cheese, and house-made Greek dressing. I would have to say this is probably the best Greek salad I've ever eaten. The house-made Greek dressing is absolutely perfect.
Entree: Deluxe Gyro ($9.50) - A mixture of lean ground beef and lamb, vertically boiled on a rotisserie, thinly sliced and served on pita bread with onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce. A gyro is always a good choice an any restaurant that offers one.
Beer: Mythos (from Greece). This beer is light and crisp. It is similar to a Heineken, but with a better flavor. It was the perfect starter beverage for a hot day!
Wine: Santorini (from Greece). This dry white wine is also very light. It complimented the flavors of both the salad and gyro very well.
I have said this in a previous post, but this is my favorite place if I'm in the mood for Greek food. No other Greek restaurant that I've been to can compare to the quality of Olympia. The server was great and the atmosphere is always nice. On this particular visit I sat outside on the patio. It was a hot day with a light breeze; perfect for outdoor dining.
My favorite dish at Olympia is probably the Dolmades, so I highly recommend that someone at your table order this so you can try it!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Olympia Kebob House & Taverna (Greek)
Location: 1543 McCausland Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Salad: Greek ($5 small) - Crisp lettuce tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and onions, topped with Greek olives, feta cheese, and house-made Greek dressing. I would have to say this is probably the best Greek salad I've ever eaten. The house-made Greek dressing is absolutely perfect.
Entree: Deluxe Gyro ($9.50) - A mixture of lean ground beef and lamb, vertically boiled on a rotisserie, thinly sliced and served on pita bread with onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, feta cheese, and tzatziki sauce. A gyro is always a good choice an any restaurant that offers one.
Beer: Mythos (from Greece). This beer is light and crisp. It is similar to a Heineken, but with a better flavor. It was the perfect starter beverage for a hot day!
Wine: Santorini (from Greece). This dry white wine is also very light. It complimented the flavors of both the salad and gyro very well.
I have said this in a previous post, but this is my favorite place if I'm in the mood for Greek food. No other Greek restaurant that I've been to can compare to the quality of Olympia. The server was great and the atmosphere is always nice. On this particular visit I sat outside on the patio. It was a hot day with a light breeze; perfect for outdoor dining.
My favorite dish at Olympia is probably the Dolmades, so I highly recommend that someone at your table order this so you can try it!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Square One Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 19, 2015
Place: Square One Brewery & Distillery
Location: 1727 Park Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Scotch Egg ($5) - A hard boiled egg wrapped in house-made pork sausage, deep fried and served with Pale Ale mustard. Depending on where you go, this might be called a Scottish Egg. Either way, they are always delicious every time. It's the perfect starter while you wait on your entree.
Entree: Bavarian Weizen Chicken ($16) - Airline chicken breast, pan roasted with fresh herbs, finished with Bavarian Weizen beer and served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. And the word that comes to mind is "awesome." You can never go wrong with some chicken at a pub.
Beers: Sampler Plank (4 beers, 5 oz. each)
1. Helles Lager (ABV: 5.5% - IBU: 28) - One of the most popular beers on draft in Bavaria, a Helles is a pale or golden lager. This beer, although related to the Pilsner (which looks similar), accentuates the malt profile with a nice balance of hop flavor and aroma.
2. Wohldbrau (ABV: 3.75% - IBU: 7) - Named in honor of the head brewer, David Wohldmann, and completely created by him, this hazy straw colored ale is a classic Berliner Weisse. From it's dry and tart flavor, one can see why they are the Champagne of the north. They offer it straight (which is the way I had it), or you can ask your server for house-created syrups to add for a touch of fruit and hint of sweetness. --- A Berliner Weisse is always going to be a "sour" type of beer.
3. Belgian Spicy Blonde (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 15) - This is a twist on the traditional Belgian Wit, an unfiltered wheat beer. Unlike the European version, the Spicy Blonde features the combination of lemon grass and ginger both in the flavor and aroma.
4. Irish Red (ABV: 6% - IBU: 28) - Brewed in collaboration with Six Mile Bridge Brewery, this medium-bodied, dark copper ale was brewed with clover honey, added in the kettle. It finishes with a hint of hop bitterness and a smooth mouthfeel. --- This one is probably my favorite of the four brews I tried.
Square One is pretty good and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are into craft beers or local restaurants. This is not my favorite brewery in St. Louis, but the atmosphere is very nice. They even have an outdoor courtyard for seating on nicer days. The bartenders were all very personable and answered all of my questions with seeming annoyed. I would go back here again, but it will probably never become my "go-to" restaurant.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Square One Brewery & Distillery
Location: 1727 Park Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Scotch Egg ($5) - A hard boiled egg wrapped in house-made pork sausage, deep fried and served with Pale Ale mustard. Depending on where you go, this might be called a Scottish Egg. Either way, they are always delicious every time. It's the perfect starter while you wait on your entree.
Entree: Bavarian Weizen Chicken ($16) - Airline chicken breast, pan roasted with fresh herbs, finished with Bavarian Weizen beer and served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables. And the word that comes to mind is "awesome." You can never go wrong with some chicken at a pub.
Beers: Sampler Plank (4 beers, 5 oz. each)
1. Helles Lager (ABV: 5.5% - IBU: 28) - One of the most popular beers on draft in Bavaria, a Helles is a pale or golden lager. This beer, although related to the Pilsner (which looks similar), accentuates the malt profile with a nice balance of hop flavor and aroma.
2. Wohldbrau (ABV: 3.75% - IBU: 7) - Named in honor of the head brewer, David Wohldmann, and completely created by him, this hazy straw colored ale is a classic Berliner Weisse. From it's dry and tart flavor, one can see why they are the Champagne of the north. They offer it straight (which is the way I had it), or you can ask your server for house-created syrups to add for a touch of fruit and hint of sweetness. --- A Berliner Weisse is always going to be a "sour" type of beer.
3. Belgian Spicy Blonde (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 15) - This is a twist on the traditional Belgian Wit, an unfiltered wheat beer. Unlike the European version, the Spicy Blonde features the combination of lemon grass and ginger both in the flavor and aroma.
4. Irish Red (ABV: 6% - IBU: 28) - Brewed in collaboration with Six Mile Bridge Brewery, this medium-bodied, dark copper ale was brewed with clover honey, added in the kettle. It finishes with a hint of hop bitterness and a smooth mouthfeel. --- This one is probably my favorite of the four brews I tried.
Square One is pretty good and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are into craft beers or local restaurants. This is not my favorite brewery in St. Louis, but the atmosphere is very nice. They even have an outdoor courtyard for seating on nicer days. The bartenders were all very personable and answered all of my questions with seeming annoyed. I would go back here again, but it will probably never become my "go-to" restaurant.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Four Hands Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 18, 2015
Place: 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Location: 1220 S. 8th St. in St. Louis, MO
Entree: Juicy Lucy ($10) - Chihuahua cheese-stuffed Missouri grass-fed beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, and ketchup on a house beer bun. This was an extremely good burger. The beer bun alone is worth trying it, but the cheese-stuffed patty doesn't hurt either!
Beers: Three brews (one pint, two samples) - all equally delicious.
1. Single Speed Ale ($5 for 16 oz) - American blonde ale with Jasmine (ABV: 5%)
2. Vigilante ($3 for 5 oz) - amber ale with Kolsch yeast and lime zest (ABV: 5%)
3. Opus ($3 for 5 oz) - saison brewed with tea and zest (ABV: 5%)
Four Hands is amazing and definitely one of my very favorite breweries. All of their products are delicious and high quality. The bartenders are very friendly and personable. The atmosphere is wonderful and clean, with a giant glass wall that allows you to see all of their tanks in the back.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Place: 4 Hands Brewing Co.
Location: 1220 S. 8th St. in St. Louis, MO
Entree: Juicy Lucy ($10) - Chihuahua cheese-stuffed Missouri grass-fed beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mayo, and ketchup on a house beer bun. This was an extremely good burger. The beer bun alone is worth trying it, but the cheese-stuffed patty doesn't hurt either!
Beers: Three brews (one pint, two samples) - all equally delicious.
1. Single Speed Ale ($5 for 16 oz) - American blonde ale with Jasmine (ABV: 5%)
2. Vigilante ($3 for 5 oz) - amber ale with Kolsch yeast and lime zest (ABV: 5%)
3. Opus ($3 for 5 oz) - saison brewed with tea and zest (ABV: 5%)
Four Hands is amazing and definitely one of my very favorite breweries. All of their products are delicious and high quality. The bartenders are very friendly and personable. The atmosphere is wonderful and clean, with a giant glass wall that allows you to see all of their tanks in the back.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Kirkwood Station Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 17, 2015
Place: Kirkwood Station Brewing Co.
Location: 105 E. Jefferson in Kirkwood, MO
Appetizer: Famous Brew Master's Beer Cheese Soup ($4 cup) - A combination of their Sugar Creek Lager with real cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, perfectly blended with pureed vegetables and spices, then topped with their original pretzel croutons. This was absolutely delicious and a must-try if you ever eat here!
Entree: Bourbon Chicken ($16) - Grilled chicken glazed with a sweet Tennessee bourbon sauce and served with a baked potato and chef's fresh vegetables. This was a great meal and really went well with most of the beer options on the table.
Beers: Sampler Platter (10 different brews).
1. Grass Cutter - Cream Ale (ABV: 4.5%)
2. Sugar Creek - Lager (ABV: 4.2% - IBU: 9)
3. Blackberry Wheat - very light blackberry finish (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 11)
4. Belgian Witte - unfiltered wheat beer (ABV: 4.8%)
5. Marzen - a German style amber lager also known as Oktoberfest (ABV: 4.6% - IBU: 23)
6. Midnight Train - a dark German lager also known as a Schwarzbier (black beer). This is a very light and easy-to-drink style of lager, so don't let the color fool you! (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 23)
7. Big 5-Oh - a Belgian style saison/farmhouse ale (ABV: 7.8% - IBU: 28)
8. Oatmeal Stout - a very dark ale; much better than the one at Granite City (ABV: 6.2% - IBU: 50) --- This brew has a higher IBU than most Oatmeal Stouts, but you really can't tell by the taste.
9. Rye APA - an American style Pale Ale (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 45)
10. IPA - an American style India Pale Ale (ABV: 6.3% - IBU: 65)
Of all these beer samples, I'd have to say my favorites were probably the Big 5-Oh, Marzen, and Rye APA, though the Midnight Train was also pretty tasty. My least favorite was definitely the Sugar Creek Lager; it's just a bland American light lager. The weirdest of these was the Blackberry Wheat, with an initial taste of a regular dark wheat beer, a slight bitterness in the middle, and just a hint of blackberry flavor on the finish/aftertaste.
My only complaint about Kirkwood Station is that the service was extremely slow, but it was also packed so I can't really complain that much. The service was great. My waitress was really nice and very apologetic when the kitchen got behind. The atmosphere was also very good, exactly what you would expect from a microbrewery.
Overall this was a fantastic meal with some pretty good brews. I'd say it's definitely worth at least one visit! Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Kirkwood Station Brewing Co.
Location: 105 E. Jefferson in Kirkwood, MO
Appetizer: Famous Brew Master's Beer Cheese Soup ($4 cup) - A combination of their Sugar Creek Lager with real cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, perfectly blended with pureed vegetables and spices, then topped with their original pretzel croutons. This was absolutely delicious and a must-try if you ever eat here!
Entree: Bourbon Chicken ($16) - Grilled chicken glazed with a sweet Tennessee bourbon sauce and served with a baked potato and chef's fresh vegetables. This was a great meal and really went well with most of the beer options on the table.
Beers: Sampler Platter (10 different brews).
1. Grass Cutter - Cream Ale (ABV: 4.5%)
2. Sugar Creek - Lager (ABV: 4.2% - IBU: 9)
3. Blackberry Wheat - very light blackberry finish (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 11)
4. Belgian Witte - unfiltered wheat beer (ABV: 4.8%)
5. Marzen - a German style amber lager also known as Oktoberfest (ABV: 4.6% - IBU: 23)
6. Midnight Train - a dark German lager also known as a Schwarzbier (black beer). This is a very light and easy-to-drink style of lager, so don't let the color fool you! (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 23)
7. Big 5-Oh - a Belgian style saison/farmhouse ale (ABV: 7.8% - IBU: 28)
8. Oatmeal Stout - a very dark ale; much better than the one at Granite City (ABV: 6.2% - IBU: 50) --- This brew has a higher IBU than most Oatmeal Stouts, but you really can't tell by the taste.
9. Rye APA - an American style Pale Ale (ABV: 4.8% - IBU: 45)
10. IPA - an American style India Pale Ale (ABV: 6.3% - IBU: 65)
Of all these beer samples, I'd have to say my favorites were probably the Big 5-Oh, Marzen, and Rye APA, though the Midnight Train was also pretty tasty. My least favorite was definitely the Sugar Creek Lager; it's just a bland American light lager. The weirdest of these was the Blackberry Wheat, with an initial taste of a regular dark wheat beer, a slight bitterness in the middle, and just a hint of blackberry flavor on the finish/aftertaste.
My only complaint about Kirkwood Station is that the service was extremely slow, but it was also packed so I can't really complain that much. The service was great. My waitress was really nice and very apologetic when the kitchen got behind. The atmosphere was also very good, exactly what you would expect from a microbrewery.
Overall this was a fantastic meal with some pretty good brews. I'd say it's definitely worth at least one visit! Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Granite City Brewery - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 16, 2015
Place: Granite City Food & Brewery
Location: 11411 Olive St. in Creve Coeur, MO (West Oaks Shopping Center)
Entree: Grilled Salmon Oscar ($20) - Atlantic salmon topped with steamed asparagus, lump crab, and hollandaise. Accompanied with broccoli and wild rice. This dish was absolutely delicious! I will be going back to this restaurant just so Audry can try it. The salmon was perfectly grilled, the broccoli was perfectly steamed, the asparagus was perfectly sauteed, and then it was topped off with lump crab and hollandaise! Wow!
Beer Sampler: Eight small samples of beer for only $5! For the price, you can't beat it! Unfortunately, all of the beer tasted pretty watery. But I hear that Granite City brews the beer for all of their restaurants in a central location and ships the beer to the restaurants for fermentation. That shipping process really hurts the beer.
1. The Northern - Pale Golden American Lager (ABV: 4.5%)
2. The Bennie - Deep Garnet German Bock (ABV: 5.5%)
3. The Two Pull - Amber German/Bock/American Lager blend (ABV: 4.5%) --- This is a half & half glass of The Northern and The Bennie. Honestly, it's better than either of the two alone. It was devised by a guest and became a regular on the menu.
4. The Duke - Copper Pale Ale (ABV: 5.2% - IBU: 59) --- Overall, this was decent.
5. Batch 1000 - Light Copper Double India Pale Ale (ABV: 8% - IBU: 76) --- Again, this was decent. But it was nowhere near as strong of a hop flavor as one would normally expect with it being a double IPA and having a 76 IBU.
6. Broad Axe Stout - Opaque Black Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5%) --- This stout was nowhere near was stout should be. I'd say this is definitely the "Bud Light" of craft stout brews.
7. Irish Red (seasonal) - a little weak for my taste.
8. Belgian Golden Ale (seasonal) - two different bartenders told me that this was a very strong ale, and it is. However, when you add in the "watered down" factor, this one was the only of the eight that I actually thought tasted decent. This was definitely my favorite of the eight beer samples. I'm just glad I didn't order a full glass of any of them!
The atmosphere and service are both great. Overall, I'd go back here again at least one more time. But, honestly, there are much better places to get good craft beer in the St. Louis area.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Granite City Food & Brewery
Location: 11411 Olive St. in Creve Coeur, MO (West Oaks Shopping Center)
Entree: Grilled Salmon Oscar ($20) - Atlantic salmon topped with steamed asparagus, lump crab, and hollandaise. Accompanied with broccoli and wild rice. This dish was absolutely delicious! I will be going back to this restaurant just so Audry can try it. The salmon was perfectly grilled, the broccoli was perfectly steamed, the asparagus was perfectly sauteed, and then it was topped off with lump crab and hollandaise! Wow!
Beer Sampler: Eight small samples of beer for only $5! For the price, you can't beat it! Unfortunately, all of the beer tasted pretty watery. But I hear that Granite City brews the beer for all of their restaurants in a central location and ships the beer to the restaurants for fermentation. That shipping process really hurts the beer.
1. The Northern - Pale Golden American Lager (ABV: 4.5%)
2. The Bennie - Deep Garnet German Bock (ABV: 5.5%)
3. The Two Pull - Amber German/Bock/American Lager blend (ABV: 4.5%) --- This is a half & half glass of The Northern and The Bennie. Honestly, it's better than either of the two alone. It was devised by a guest and became a regular on the menu.
4. The Duke - Copper Pale Ale (ABV: 5.2% - IBU: 59) --- Overall, this was decent.
5. Batch 1000 - Light Copper Double India Pale Ale (ABV: 8% - IBU: 76) --- Again, this was decent. But it was nowhere near as strong of a hop flavor as one would normally expect with it being a double IPA and having a 76 IBU.
6. Broad Axe Stout - Opaque Black Oatmeal Stout (ABV: 5%) --- This stout was nowhere near was stout should be. I'd say this is definitely the "Bud Light" of craft stout brews.
7. Irish Red (seasonal) - a little weak for my taste.
8. Belgian Golden Ale (seasonal) - two different bartenders told me that this was a very strong ale, and it is. However, when you add in the "watered down" factor, this one was the only of the eight that I actually thought tasted decent. This was definitely my favorite of the eight beer samples. I'm just glad I didn't order a full glass of any of them!
The atmosphere and service are both great. Overall, I'd go back here again at least one more time. But, honestly, there are much better places to get good craft beer in the St. Louis area.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Breakaway Cafe - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 16, 2015
Place: Breakaway Cafe
Location: 8418 Natural Bridge Rd. in St. Louis, MO
This was probably my simplest meal ever. I usually have water with my coffee, beer, and/or wine, but this time all I had to drink was water! :-)
Lunch: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ($8) - broiled white meat chicken dipped in marinara sauce and topped with provel cheese, served on a toasted bun with choice of french fries, cole slaw, pasta salad, or cottage cheese (I chose french fries). This was absolutely delicious. It was a very nice sandwich version of the dinner plate everyone loves. The french fries were also perfect, not too soggy or overcooked. If you order this, just be careful! It can be a little messy. You will definitely need multiple napkins and don't forget to lean over your plate to save your shirt some embarrassment the rest of the day. :-)
The restaurant was packed, so service was a little slow, but still tolerable. I highly recommend Breakaway Cafe if you are in need of a quick lunch and are in the UMSL area.
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Breakaway Cafe
Location: 8418 Natural Bridge Rd. in St. Louis, MO
This was probably my simplest meal ever. I usually have water with my coffee, beer, and/or wine, but this time all I had to drink was water! :-)
Lunch: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ($8) - broiled white meat chicken dipped in marinara sauce and topped with provel cheese, served on a toasted bun with choice of french fries, cole slaw, pasta salad, or cottage cheese (I chose french fries). This was absolutely delicious. It was a very nice sandwich version of the dinner plate everyone loves. The french fries were also perfect, not too soggy or overcooked. If you order this, just be careful! It can be a little messy. You will definitely need multiple napkins and don't forget to lean over your plate to save your shirt some embarrassment the rest of the day. :-)
The restaurant was packed, so service was a little slow, but still tolerable. I highly recommend Breakaway Cafe if you are in need of a quick lunch and are in the UMSL area.
Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Rich & Charlie's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 15, 2015
Place: Rich & Charlie's Italian Restaurant
Location: 4487 Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis, MO
Bread: This was typical Italian restaurant starter food; nothing special.
Salad: Unlimited Rich & Charlie's Famous Salad - with purchase of any pizza, pasta, or sandwich. Again, typical Italian restaurant salad. This salad was also nothing special, though it did have a nice amount of cheese. ($5.50)
Entree: Tortellini ($14) - Meat filled, in cream sauce with mushrooms, peas, and parmigiano cheese. This was fantastic. I mean, it is a pretty typical dish, but it was delicious.
Additional pasta taste: Pasta con Broccoli ($14 - but I didn't pay for it) - cream sauce with mushrooms, broccoli, and a touch of tomato. This is usually my go-to for pasta because broccoli is my favorite vegetable. After tasting this dish, I'm really glad I had the tortellini. It was very bland and the "touch of tomato" seemed to have been forgotten.
Wine (starter): House Sauvignon Blanc. This delicious white is always a good choice, with or without food, especially in the summer. It is very light; not very filling at all.
Wine (entree): House Chianti. This delicious red is also always a good choice, especially with Italian food or in the winter. It seems to warm the body and add to the "comfort food" factor of pasta.
Rich & Charlie's has three locations in the St. Louis area, but I wouldn't consider it a chain restaurant. The atmosphere is great and service is typically very good.
If you're in the area and in the mood for some nicely priced Italian, check it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Rich & Charlie's Italian Restaurant
Location: 4487 Lemay Ferry Road in St. Louis, MO
Bread: This was typical Italian restaurant starter food; nothing special.
Salad: Unlimited Rich & Charlie's Famous Salad - with purchase of any pizza, pasta, or sandwich. Again, typical Italian restaurant salad. This salad was also nothing special, though it did have a nice amount of cheese. ($5.50)
Entree: Tortellini ($14) - Meat filled, in cream sauce with mushrooms, peas, and parmigiano cheese. This was fantastic. I mean, it is a pretty typical dish, but it was delicious.
Additional pasta taste: Pasta con Broccoli ($14 - but I didn't pay for it) - cream sauce with mushrooms, broccoli, and a touch of tomato. This is usually my go-to for pasta because broccoli is my favorite vegetable. After tasting this dish, I'm really glad I had the tortellini. It was very bland and the "touch of tomato" seemed to have been forgotten.
Wine (starter): House Sauvignon Blanc. This delicious white is always a good choice, with or without food, especially in the summer. It is very light; not very filling at all.
Wine (entree): House Chianti. This delicious red is also always a good choice, especially with Italian food or in the winter. It seems to warm the body and add to the "comfort food" factor of pasta.
Rich & Charlie's has three locations in the St. Louis area, but I wouldn't consider it a chain restaurant. The atmosphere is great and service is typically very good.
If you're in the area and in the mood for some nicely priced Italian, check it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Spiro's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 15, 2015
Place: Spiro's North (Greek)
Location: 8406 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis, MO
Greek Salad: absolutely fantastic with everything you expect from a Greek salad. The ingredients were mixed and chopped on a cart at the table. ($3 with luncheon)
Entree: Combination - small portions of each of the three main Greek dishes listed and described below. ($9)
1. Mousaka - Layers of potatoes, eggplant, baby zucchini, and ground chuck, chopped with a light bechamel sauce. Mousaka is always delicious, but a little on the heavy side due to the potatoes.
2. Pastichio - Layers of long macaronie and ground chuck, topped with a light bechamel sauce. This is always a good choice. To get an idea, think of a macaroni Hamburger Helper made lasagna-style.
3. Dolmades - Seasoned ground chuck and rice wrapped in grape leaves and topped with egg-lemon sauce. This is by far my favorite of the three. For those of you who don't like eggs, there is no actual egg or egg flavor. The only flavor you get from the sauce is delicious lemon.
Greek Coffee: amazing! You have to wait a little bit for it, but it is fantastic coffee that needs no additives. At $4 it is a little on the pricey side, but well worth it at least once. One word of advice: do not drink the very last little bit of coffee in the pot they bring to the table. The pot will fill the little cup they give you about two and a half times. After that, don't drink anymore. I didn't know this the first time I had Greek coffee and ended up with a mouthful of coffee grounds. Not a good experience.
The atmosphere is very quiet and perfect for conversation. The waiter was amazing. He seemed to genuinely love his job and was very polite and appreciative.
This place is definitely worth a try if you are in the UMSL area and need a quick lunch. But if you want the best Greek experience possible in St. Louis, I would have to recommend going to Olympia (which I will write about very soon).
Try this place out and let me know what you think. The prices are perfect for a great, low-cost lunch. Enjoy!
Place: Spiro's North (Greek)
Location: 8406 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis, MO
Greek Salad: absolutely fantastic with everything you expect from a Greek salad. The ingredients were mixed and chopped on a cart at the table. ($3 with luncheon)
Entree: Combination - small portions of each of the three main Greek dishes listed and described below. ($9)
1. Mousaka - Layers of potatoes, eggplant, baby zucchini, and ground chuck, chopped with a light bechamel sauce. Mousaka is always delicious, but a little on the heavy side due to the potatoes.
2. Pastichio - Layers of long macaronie and ground chuck, topped with a light bechamel sauce. This is always a good choice. To get an idea, think of a macaroni Hamburger Helper made lasagna-style.
3. Dolmades - Seasoned ground chuck and rice wrapped in grape leaves and topped with egg-lemon sauce. This is by far my favorite of the three. For those of you who don't like eggs, there is no actual egg or egg flavor. The only flavor you get from the sauce is delicious lemon.
Greek Coffee: amazing! You have to wait a little bit for it, but it is fantastic coffee that needs no additives. At $4 it is a little on the pricey side, but well worth it at least once. One word of advice: do not drink the very last little bit of coffee in the pot they bring to the table. The pot will fill the little cup they give you about two and a half times. After that, don't drink anymore. I didn't know this the first time I had Greek coffee and ended up with a mouthful of coffee grounds. Not a good experience.
The atmosphere is very quiet and perfect for conversation. The waiter was amazing. He seemed to genuinely love his job and was very polite and appreciative.
This place is definitely worth a try if you are in the UMSL area and need a quick lunch. But if you want the best Greek experience possible in St. Louis, I would have to recommend going to Olympia (which I will write about very soon).
Try this place out and let me know what you think. The prices are perfect for a great, low-cost lunch. Enjoy!
DOUBLE POST: Epic Pizza & International Tap House - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 14, 2015
Place 1: Epic Pizza and Subs
Place 2: International Tap House (iTAP) - Soulard
Location 1: 1711A S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Location 2: 1711 S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Yes, these are two different places, two very different places. They happen to be next door to each other in the same building, sharing a bathroom at the back.
A little background: Epic Pizza and Subs pretty much only sells food. International Tap House definitely only sells beer. You can place your order and pay for it at the counter of Epic Pizza and they will deliver it to your table next door at iTAP. Yes, seriously. I know, right?! It's completely amazing and more places should do this type of thing. iTAP does have four locations. This particular location is the one in Soulard (in case you look it up online). This iTAP offers 44 rotating draft beer options. Some of the other locations have more and some have less, but all four locations boast literally hundreds of bottled beer options from around the world.
Pizza: 14" Margherita ($16) - tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and sliced tomatoes. Absolutely mind-blowing pizza. Not only is the best Margherita pizza I've ever had, Epic Pizza has the best pizza of anywhere I've ever had, period. The crust is absolutely perfect: not too thick, not too thin, not too greasy, etc. Delicious!
Draft Beers (at iTAP):
1. Schlafly Summer Lager - German-style Helles (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 17) - only available April through August. For those that don't know, Schlafly is a St. Louis brewery.
2. Unibroue Blanche de Chambly - Belgian (Witbier) White Ale (ABV: 5% - IBU: 10) - Blanche de Chambly made the #10 spot on the Wine Enthusiast list of the Top 25 Beers of 2014. Blanche de Chambly has earned 22 medals and awards, with the most recent medal being the silver in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute. Blanche de Chambly was the first refermented white beer brewed according to Belgian tradition in North America.
Unibroue is located in Canada and is probably my favorite brewery. My #1 favorite beer is their La Fin du Monde. The Blanche de Chambly is very similar to La Fin du Monde and was described to me as being the "little brother." They are very close, but you can definitely taste the differences in ABV and IBUs.
*FYI (for comparison): La Fin du Monde is a Triple-style Golden Ale (ABV: 9% - IBU: 19). To this date, La Fin du Monde has earned more medals and awards, including some of the world's highest honors, than any other Canadian beer. La Fin du Monde has earned 30 medals and awards, with the most recent being the bronze in 2011 at the Denver International Beer Competition, the gold in 2011 at the Mondial de la Biere (World of Beer) in Montreal, and the platine (platinum) in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute.*
I digress... (sorry about that, I got a little excited for a minute).
The atmosphere at iTAP is absolutely fantastic and the bartenders work their way around to the tables for orders as well. It's a lot easier to do that at iTAP because all they sell is beer. The person who delivers your pizza is from Epic Pizza, but getting your pizza delivered is the last you'll see of them.
These two places are a must-try in the St. Louis area. I recommend trying them both at the same time! The best pizza ever and hundreds of beer options... yeah, it sounds like the best night ever.
Give these places a try for yourself and let me know what you think. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
Place 1: Epic Pizza and Subs
Place 2: International Tap House (iTAP) - Soulard
Location 1: 1711A S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Location 2: 1711 S. 9th St. in St. Louis, MO
Yes, these are two different places, two very different places. They happen to be next door to each other in the same building, sharing a bathroom at the back.
A little background: Epic Pizza and Subs pretty much only sells food. International Tap House definitely only sells beer. You can place your order and pay for it at the counter of Epic Pizza and they will deliver it to your table next door at iTAP. Yes, seriously. I know, right?! It's completely amazing and more places should do this type of thing. iTAP does have four locations. This particular location is the one in Soulard (in case you look it up online). This iTAP offers 44 rotating draft beer options. Some of the other locations have more and some have less, but all four locations boast literally hundreds of bottled beer options from around the world.
Pizza: 14" Margherita ($16) - tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and sliced tomatoes. Absolutely mind-blowing pizza. Not only is the best Margherita pizza I've ever had, Epic Pizza has the best pizza of anywhere I've ever had, period. The crust is absolutely perfect: not too thick, not too thin, not too greasy, etc. Delicious!
Draft Beers (at iTAP):
1. Schlafly Summer Lager - German-style Helles (ABV: 4.5% - IBU: 17) - only available April through August. For those that don't know, Schlafly is a St. Louis brewery.
2. Unibroue Blanche de Chambly - Belgian (Witbier) White Ale (ABV: 5% - IBU: 10) - Blanche de Chambly made the #10 spot on the Wine Enthusiast list of the Top 25 Beers of 2014. Blanche de Chambly has earned 22 medals and awards, with the most recent medal being the silver in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute. Blanche de Chambly was the first refermented white beer brewed according to Belgian tradition in North America.
Unibroue is located in Canada and is probably my favorite brewery. My #1 favorite beer is their La Fin du Monde. The Blanche de Chambly is very similar to La Fin du Monde and was described to me as being the "little brother." They are very close, but you can definitely taste the differences in ABV and IBUs.
*FYI (for comparison): La Fin du Monde is a Triple-style Golden Ale (ABV: 9% - IBU: 19). To this date, La Fin du Monde has earned more medals and awards, including some of the world's highest honors, than any other Canadian beer. La Fin du Monde has earned 30 medals and awards, with the most recent being the bronze in 2011 at the Denver International Beer Competition, the gold in 2011 at the Mondial de la Biere (World of Beer) in Montreal, and the platine (platinum) in 2011 at the World Beer Championship held at the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute.*
I digress... (sorry about that, I got a little excited for a minute).
The atmosphere at iTAP is absolutely fantastic and the bartenders work their way around to the tables for orders as well. It's a lot easier to do that at iTAP because all they sell is beer. The person who delivers your pizza is from Epic Pizza, but getting your pizza delivered is the last you'll see of them.
These two places are a must-try in the St. Louis area. I recommend trying them both at the same time! The best pizza ever and hundreds of beer options... yeah, it sounds like the best night ever.
Give these places a try for yourself and let me know what you think. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
Picasso - Champaign, IL
Date of dining experience: June 13, 2015
Place: V.Picasso Wine Bar & Restaurant
Location: 122 N. Neil St. in Champaign, IL
Appetizer: Prairie Fruits Farm soft cheese ($5) - served with Hopscotch bread, roasted charred grape jam, olive tapenade, and Hank's Honey from Willow Creek Farm. I love cheese! This was no exception. My favorite cheeses are usually the soft ones; the softer the better. The bread was also fantastic, but my favorite accompaniment was the honey. I know, it sounded a little weird to me at first as well. But it was all deliciousness. :-)
Entree: Pan Roasted Duck Breast ($23) - served with sweet corn risotto, brandied black berries, spinach, and a Willow Creek Farm 6 minute farm egg. This duck was prepared perfectly. Every bite was fantastic and all the flavors combined extremely well.
Wines: The best thing about this wine bar is that they have small "tasting" sizes.
1. Scarpetta Pinot Grigio 2013 from Fruili, Italy. ($4 taste size) - delicious!
2. Foris Pinot Gris 2013 from Rogue Valley, Oregon ($3 taste size) - also very good, but not quite as good as the Scarpetta.
Coffee: AMAZING! I ordered the French Press ($3). They brought a small, French press to the table still soaking up the flavor of the freshly ground coffee beans. This was by far the best coffee I've ever had at a restaurant.
The atmosphere of this restaurant was excellent, but the service was lacking. The waiter appeared to have just rolled out of bed, perhaps shaved in the car on the way to work (he missed a few spots), may have either been extremely hungover or high on some type of drug, and seemed to ignore the table a few times. However, don't let that discourage you from going to Picasso. I saw many other waiters and waitresses doing a great job. Plus this place has wine on tap. Yes, on tap. It is cheaper to ship in kegs than bottles and apparently keeps longer because it is not exposed to the open air.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: V.Picasso Wine Bar & Restaurant
Location: 122 N. Neil St. in Champaign, IL
Appetizer: Prairie Fruits Farm soft cheese ($5) - served with Hopscotch bread, roasted charred grape jam, olive tapenade, and Hank's Honey from Willow Creek Farm. I love cheese! This was no exception. My favorite cheeses are usually the soft ones; the softer the better. The bread was also fantastic, but my favorite accompaniment was the honey. I know, it sounded a little weird to me at first as well. But it was all deliciousness. :-)
Entree: Pan Roasted Duck Breast ($23) - served with sweet corn risotto, brandied black berries, spinach, and a Willow Creek Farm 6 minute farm egg. This duck was prepared perfectly. Every bite was fantastic and all the flavors combined extremely well.
Wines: The best thing about this wine bar is that they have small "tasting" sizes.
1. Scarpetta Pinot Grigio 2013 from Fruili, Italy. ($4 taste size) - delicious!
2. Foris Pinot Gris 2013 from Rogue Valley, Oregon ($3 taste size) - also very good, but not quite as good as the Scarpetta.
Coffee: AMAZING! I ordered the French Press ($3). They brought a small, French press to the table still soaking up the flavor of the freshly ground coffee beans. This was by far the best coffee I've ever had at a restaurant.
The atmosphere of this restaurant was excellent, but the service was lacking. The waiter appeared to have just rolled out of bed, perhaps shaved in the car on the way to work (he missed a few spots), may have either been extremely hungover or high on some type of drug, and seemed to ignore the table a few times. However, don't let that discourage you from going to Picasso. I saw many other waiters and waitresses doing a great job. Plus this place has wine on tap. Yes, on tap. It is cheaper to ship in kegs than bottles and apparently keeps longer because it is not exposed to the open air.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Global Gourmet - Carbondale, IL
Date of dining experience: June 11, 2015
Place: Global Gourmet
Location: 102 E. Jackson St. in Carbondale, IL
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon ($11) - cucumbers, red onion, capers, dill sauce, and crackers. This is always a fantastic choice for an appetizer! I love my fishes and good salmon makes the Top 10. This is the first time I've had this dish with cucumbers and was hesitant. Surprisingly, the flavor actually adds to the complexity of each bite and accentuates the flavor of both the dill sauce and salmon.
Salad: Caprese Salad ($8) - fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic syrup. This is also always a fantastic choice! The basil and balsamic flavors really "pop" and enhance the flavors of the mozzarella and tomato. My only complaint for every restaurant at which I have had Caprese salad is that there never seems to be enough basil. It's not that I want a lot more basil, I just like for things to be proportionate. It always seems like there is an extra piece of both tomato and mozzarella that don't have a piece of basil. In order to get the full experience, you have to be stingy with your basil on at least two pieces. It wouldn't be that hard to put out the same number of pieces of basil as there is tomato.
Entree: Syrian Aleppo Pepper Chicken ($17) - grilled kebabs of free range chicken marinated in yogurt with Aleppo pepper, garlic, and lemon. I was skeptical of this dish at first, but the owner highly recommended it. And he was right, it is absolutely delicious!
Wines:
1. Picpoul Caves de Pomerols from France, Languedoc. This was a very nice, light starter wine similar to a Pinot Grigio.
2. Muscadet Domaine du Fief aux Dames from France, Listrac. This wine went very well with both the appetizer and Caprese salad. This is also a nice white, but more like a Sauvignon Blanc.
3. Blend (Merlot 80%/Cab 20%) - Chateau le Manceau from France, Bordeaux. This lighter Merlot-style dry red had the perfect amount of Cab-style "bite" to compliment the pepper chicken extremely well.
Dessert: Amazing coffee! And the coffee went well with the rum-based pecan pie I ordered and the blueberry creme brulee my wife, Audry, ordered. Both were delicious desserts, but we were expecting the creme brulee to be bluberry-infused. It really just had about six whole blueberries somewhere in the mix. Still, very delicious.
I feel it is important to note that Audry and I do not usually split our orders, so I usually write about just my own experience. However, for this particular restaurant, she really wanted the smoked salmon and Caprese salad. So, in order to get a taste of everything, we only ordered one entree and split all of the items.
Global Gourmet is a hidden gem. It is definitely the best restaurant/wine bar in Carbondale, but I'd venture to say it's the best in all of southern Illinois. The atmosphere is wonderful and the service could not have been better. The owner was sitting at the bar near our table and we talked for quite a while. It was a pleasure to hear about his past and how Global Gourmet started. The head chef also came over to our table and talked a lot about the foods. It was a great experience, and we found out she was a teacher before going to culinary school (Audry and I are both teachers, in case you didn't know that already).
If you ever find yourself in Carbondale, I highly suggest checking out Global Gourmet. You won't be disappointed. If you do visit, let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Place: Global Gourmet
Location: 102 E. Jackson St. in Carbondale, IL
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon ($11) - cucumbers, red onion, capers, dill sauce, and crackers. This is always a fantastic choice for an appetizer! I love my fishes and good salmon makes the Top 10. This is the first time I've had this dish with cucumbers and was hesitant. Surprisingly, the flavor actually adds to the complexity of each bite and accentuates the flavor of both the dill sauce and salmon.
Salad: Caprese Salad ($8) - fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic syrup. This is also always a fantastic choice! The basil and balsamic flavors really "pop" and enhance the flavors of the mozzarella and tomato. My only complaint for every restaurant at which I have had Caprese salad is that there never seems to be enough basil. It's not that I want a lot more basil, I just like for things to be proportionate. It always seems like there is an extra piece of both tomato and mozzarella that don't have a piece of basil. In order to get the full experience, you have to be stingy with your basil on at least two pieces. It wouldn't be that hard to put out the same number of pieces of basil as there is tomato.
Entree: Syrian Aleppo Pepper Chicken ($17) - grilled kebabs of free range chicken marinated in yogurt with Aleppo pepper, garlic, and lemon. I was skeptical of this dish at first, but the owner highly recommended it. And he was right, it is absolutely delicious!
Wines:
1. Picpoul Caves de Pomerols from France, Languedoc. This was a very nice, light starter wine similar to a Pinot Grigio.
2. Muscadet Domaine du Fief aux Dames from France, Listrac. This wine went very well with both the appetizer and Caprese salad. This is also a nice white, but more like a Sauvignon Blanc.
3. Blend (Merlot 80%/Cab 20%) - Chateau le Manceau from France, Bordeaux. This lighter Merlot-style dry red had the perfect amount of Cab-style "bite" to compliment the pepper chicken extremely well.
Dessert: Amazing coffee! And the coffee went well with the rum-based pecan pie I ordered and the blueberry creme brulee my wife, Audry, ordered. Both were delicious desserts, but we were expecting the creme brulee to be bluberry-infused. It really just had about six whole blueberries somewhere in the mix. Still, very delicious.
I feel it is important to note that Audry and I do not usually split our orders, so I usually write about just my own experience. However, for this particular restaurant, she really wanted the smoked salmon and Caprese salad. So, in order to get a taste of everything, we only ordered one entree and split all of the items.
Global Gourmet is a hidden gem. It is definitely the best restaurant/wine bar in Carbondale, but I'd venture to say it's the best in all of southern Illinois. The atmosphere is wonderful and the service could not have been better. The owner was sitting at the bar near our table and we talked for quite a while. It was a pleasure to hear about his past and how Global Gourmet started. The head chef also came over to our table and talked a lot about the foods. It was a great experience, and we found out she was a teacher before going to culinary school (Audry and I are both teachers, in case you didn't know that already).
If you ever find yourself in Carbondale, I highly suggest checking out Global Gourmet. You won't be disappointed. If you do visit, let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Monday, July 6, 2015
Chevy's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 6, 2015
Place: Chevy's Fresh Mex
Location: 12466 Tesson Ferry in St. Louis, MO
Okay - Chevy's is technically a chain, but a very small one. However, my meal was so delicious I decided to put it in the blog.
Starter: Chips and Salsa, like any Mexican restaurant - sort of. The chips light and crisp, on the verge of perfect. The salsa was fresh and you could still taste the cilantro. If you know anything about me, you know I love cilantro!
Meal: Combo Fajita Burrito - fresh grilled chicken, slow-roasted carnitas, and steak with Fresh Mex rice, beans a la charra, cheese, and the famous fire-roasted salsa, all stuffed into a warm four tortilla. This was absolutely fantastic. It is probable that I only think this is the best burrito I've ever had because it contained the salsa with the fresh cilantro in it. Possible, but I don't care because it was delicious!
The atmosphere is typical of a Mexican restaurant. The only bad thing about this visit was the waitress. I'm not sure if she was new or just in a hurry, but she was kind of pushy and frantic. Other than that, this place was great!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Chevy's Fresh Mex
Location: 12466 Tesson Ferry in St. Louis, MO
Okay - Chevy's is technically a chain, but a very small one. However, my meal was so delicious I decided to put it in the blog.
Starter: Chips and Salsa, like any Mexican restaurant - sort of. The chips light and crisp, on the verge of perfect. The salsa was fresh and you could still taste the cilantro. If you know anything about me, you know I love cilantro!
Meal: Combo Fajita Burrito - fresh grilled chicken, slow-roasted carnitas, and steak with Fresh Mex rice, beans a la charra, cheese, and the famous fire-roasted salsa, all stuffed into a warm four tortilla. This was absolutely fantastic. It is probable that I only think this is the best burrito I've ever had because it contained the salsa with the fresh cilantro in it. Possible, but I don't care because it was delicious!
The atmosphere is typical of a Mexican restaurant. The only bad thing about this visit was the waitress. I'm not sure if she was new or just in a hurry, but she was kind of pushy and frantic. Other than that, this place was great!
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Jeni's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 6, 2015
Place: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Location: 389 N. Euclid Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Ice Cream: three flavors (small size).
Flavor 1: Wildberry Lavender - pulverized blackcurrants, cream, grass-grazed milk, lavender, and orange. You can definitely taste the lavender in this ice cream and it is wonderful!
Flavor 2: Red Raspberry Sorbet - red raspberries pulverized with sugar. As simple and classic as they come. Perfect in a glass of champagne or with a poached peach. This was nothing short of amazing and the raspberry flavor will punch you in the face! Definitely my favorite, and it mixes so well with both the other flavors!
Flavor 3: Lemon Frozen Yogurt - lemon juice, biodynamic yogurt, cream, and grass-grazed Ohio milk. Always Jeni's favorite. And this was my second favorite, but everything is so delicious is hard to choose! Definitely a strong lemon flavor, but not so much that it makes you pucker up. This one mixed great with both the other flavors to give you a raspberry lemonade flavor or lemon lavender.
I have only had three flavors, but I would say that Jeni's is the best ice cream I've ever had. And all three of these flavors go very well together in the same bite! The counter service is amazing and very fast. They will even let you sample any of the flavors you would like! The atmosphere is very open, bright, and very clean (which is always a plus)!
I had my ice creams in a cup, but they do make their own waffle cones as well. And their waffle cones are also the best ones I've ever had. They stick a piece of a waffle cone in each cup of ice cream, but feel free to try your ice cream in an actual waffle cone!
If you're in the mood for a sweet treat, look no further than Jeni's! You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think (and which flavors you try)! Enjoy!
Place: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Location: 389 N. Euclid Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Ice Cream: three flavors (small size).
Flavor 1: Wildberry Lavender - pulverized blackcurrants, cream, grass-grazed milk, lavender, and orange. You can definitely taste the lavender in this ice cream and it is wonderful!
Flavor 2: Red Raspberry Sorbet - red raspberries pulverized with sugar. As simple and classic as they come. Perfect in a glass of champagne or with a poached peach. This was nothing short of amazing and the raspberry flavor will punch you in the face! Definitely my favorite, and it mixes so well with both the other flavors!
Flavor 3: Lemon Frozen Yogurt - lemon juice, biodynamic yogurt, cream, and grass-grazed Ohio milk. Always Jeni's favorite. And this was my second favorite, but everything is so delicious is hard to choose! Definitely a strong lemon flavor, but not so much that it makes you pucker up. This one mixed great with both the other flavors to give you a raspberry lemonade flavor or lemon lavender.
I have only had three flavors, but I would say that Jeni's is the best ice cream I've ever had. And all three of these flavors go very well together in the same bite! The counter service is amazing and very fast. They will even let you sample any of the flavors you would like! The atmosphere is very open, bright, and very clean (which is always a plus)!
I had my ice creams in a cup, but they do make their own waffle cones as well. And their waffle cones are also the best ones I've ever had. They stick a piece of a waffle cone in each cup of ice cream, but feel free to try your ice cream in an actual waffle cone!
If you're in the mood for a sweet treat, look no further than Jeni's! You won't be disappointed. Try it out and let me know what you think (and which flavors you try)! Enjoy!
Herbie's Vintage '72 - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 6, 2015
Place: Herbie's Vintage '72
Location: 405 North Euclid Avenue in St. Louis, MO
Brunch: Eggs Madison Benedict - with salmon and capers, served with roasted potatoes. This dish was absolutely delicious! I love some salmon with my eggs in the morning, especially with capers in the mix! However, there could have been more capers for my taste. Still, worth trying if you're ever in the area for brunch. ($12)
Coffee: regular coffee with brunch. Yeah, the coffee was terrible. I still drank it because it was the only coffee around, but it was not good. It tasted very old, which is highly possible since most of the people there were drinking either a mimosa or bloody mary.
Herbie's is definitely a place you should try. The atmosphere is amazing and they have a small stage area inside. There is a lot more to Herbie's than just brunch, and I can't wait to try it out for dinner.
The service was okay, but it seemed as if they were short-staffed on this particular visit. Someone must have called in that day. They do have live entertainment in the evenings (most of the time), but not for brunch on Saturdays.
Try this place out and let me know if the coffee is good when you visit! Enjoy!
Place: Herbie's Vintage '72
Location: 405 North Euclid Avenue in St. Louis, MO
Brunch: Eggs Madison Benedict - with salmon and capers, served with roasted potatoes. This dish was absolutely delicious! I love some salmon with my eggs in the morning, especially with capers in the mix! However, there could have been more capers for my taste. Still, worth trying if you're ever in the area for brunch. ($12)
Coffee: regular coffee with brunch. Yeah, the coffee was terrible. I still drank it because it was the only coffee around, but it was not good. It tasted very old, which is highly possible since most of the people there were drinking either a mimosa or bloody mary.
Herbie's is definitely a place you should try. The atmosphere is amazing and they have a small stage area inside. There is a lot more to Herbie's than just brunch, and I can't wait to try it out for dinner.
The service was okay, but it seemed as if they were short-staffed on this particular visit. Someone must have called in that day. They do have live entertainment in the evenings (most of the time), but not for brunch on Saturdays.
Try this place out and let me know if the coffee is good when you visit! Enjoy!
Baileys' Chocolate Bar - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 5, 2015
Place: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Location: 1915 Park in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Mixed Olives - Kalamata, Spanish, Black. The olives went very well with the cheese board. ($4)
Cheese Board: Served with Fresh House-Made Breads, Fruits, and Nuts. ($15 total)
Cheese 1: Gjetost (goat) from Norway - Taste of Nuts, Caramel, and a Hint of Sweet.
Cheese 2: Brie (cow) from France - The Classic.
Cheese 3: Port Salut (cow) from France - Mild, Very Soft, and Creamy.
You should know by now that I love cheese, especially good cheese (which are usually imported). There is nothing better than a good cheese with some bread, nuts, fruit, and olives. It really is the perfect appetizer OR dessert, even if you don't have alcohol with it!
Coffee Martini: Warm Espresso ($9). This was absolutely delicious, but it is a martini so if you try it be prepared for a strong flavor mix of coffee and alcohol. Their coffee martini description: "Our martinis are made only from the highest quality vodkas, liqueurs, homemade ice creams, and sorbets. We use no fillers and add nothing to water them down. True to tradition, many are strong. If this is not to your taste, please let your server know in advance and we will do our best to adjust."
Coffee (regular): Fair Trade Organic French Roast ($3 - bottomless). This was some of the best French Roast coffee I've ever had. Maybe it was because it was late, or maybe due to the martini before it, but this was delicious. I'm usually more of a medium-body, Columbia-style coffee drinker, but I would order this again if I ever find myself back at Baileys' Chocolate Bar.
This place is great, and not all of their items are chocolate-related (though they do have a fair amount of chocolate-based items). My server was absolutely amazing and extremely personable (which seems to be a rare quality in a server)! The atmosphere is very intimate and dimly-lit, but they do also have patio seating outside. This would be a great place to go on a date or night out, especially if you just went there for appetizers to start the night or drinks to end the night!
I doubt you'll be disappointed in Baileys' Chocolate Bar. Try it out and let me know! Enjoy!
Place: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Location: 1915 Park in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Mixed Olives - Kalamata, Spanish, Black. The olives went very well with the cheese board. ($4)
Cheese Board: Served with Fresh House-Made Breads, Fruits, and Nuts. ($15 total)
Cheese 1: Gjetost (goat) from Norway - Taste of Nuts, Caramel, and a Hint of Sweet.
Cheese 2: Brie (cow) from France - The Classic.
Cheese 3: Port Salut (cow) from France - Mild, Very Soft, and Creamy.
You should know by now that I love cheese, especially good cheese (which are usually imported). There is nothing better than a good cheese with some bread, nuts, fruit, and olives. It really is the perfect appetizer OR dessert, even if you don't have alcohol with it!
Coffee Martini: Warm Espresso ($9). This was absolutely delicious, but it is a martini so if you try it be prepared for a strong flavor mix of coffee and alcohol. Their coffee martini description: "Our martinis are made only from the highest quality vodkas, liqueurs, homemade ice creams, and sorbets. We use no fillers and add nothing to water them down. True to tradition, many are strong. If this is not to your taste, please let your server know in advance and we will do our best to adjust."
Coffee (regular): Fair Trade Organic French Roast ($3 - bottomless). This was some of the best French Roast coffee I've ever had. Maybe it was because it was late, or maybe due to the martini before it, but this was delicious. I'm usually more of a medium-body, Columbia-style coffee drinker, but I would order this again if I ever find myself back at Baileys' Chocolate Bar.
This place is great, and not all of their items are chocolate-related (though they do have a fair amount of chocolate-based items). My server was absolutely amazing and extremely personable (which seems to be a rare quality in a server)! The atmosphere is very intimate and dimly-lit, but they do also have patio seating outside. This would be a great place to go on a date or night out, especially if you just went there for appetizers to start the night or drinks to end the night!
I doubt you'll be disappointed in Baileys' Chocolate Bar. Try it out and let me know! Enjoy!
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