Date of dining experience: October 22, 2016
Place: Mad Mex
Location: 240 S. Pugh St. in State College, PA
Chips and Dip - The chips were fantastic, but the regular salsa was not very good. It was really just diced tomatoes in a bowl and didn't have much flavor at all. The next time I try this restaurant I will get the chips again, but I will be getting one of their many other dips instead of the regular salsa.
Entree: Chicken Mole Burrito - Grilled chicken breast, black beans, and Jack cheese, served with a rich, dark Mexican mole sauce ($10.50). This was pretty good, but the vast majority of the burrito was the black beans. I didn't really care for the flavor of the mole sauce here, but I will be trying something different next time.
Beer: Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest - A delicious hoppy version of the standard beer for October.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! I'm always open to suggestions of food to try at any restaurant! Enjoy!
Sunday, October 23, 2016
My My Chicken - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: October 8, 2016
Place: My My Chicken and Provisions
Location: 536 Westerly Pkwy. in State College, PA
First of all, I apologize for not posting many restaurant reviews recently. However, as most of you know, my wife and I quit teaching to go to graduate school full time. It is much more cost-effective to prepare casseroles and crock pot dinners. That being said, I have a couple new ones for you!
So, My My Chicken is currently a take-out only restaurant, but they are working on adding a new dining area. Unfortunately, this is the only place in all of State College that has fried chicken. There is not even a KFC! I don't eat fried chicken very often, but I really wish there were other options.
Meal: Fried Chicken - The outside was okay, but the meat didn't have much meat to it. The worst part is between the two there was a rather thick layer of uncooked breading that made the whole thing awful. Now, I try things at least twice to make sure if my first impression was either right or wrong, so I'll eventually try it again once more. I hope it is better the second time, especially since this is the only fried chicken place in State College!
Side 1: Cole Slaw - This recipe was not to our taste, so we will not be getting it again as a side.
Side 2: Baked Beans - I love baked beans, but not these. They had a weird taste to them and the beans were hard as if they were uncooked. We will not be getting this side again either.
Side 3: Mac and Cheese - This was actually very good for being from a restaurant. We will try this side again.
I hear this restaurant has very good Korean-style chicken. I may try that in the future. If you have any experience with this restuarant, please let me know. Otherwise, give it a try and let me know about your meal! Enjoy!
Place: My My Chicken and Provisions
Location: 536 Westerly Pkwy. in State College, PA
First of all, I apologize for not posting many restaurant reviews recently. However, as most of you know, my wife and I quit teaching to go to graduate school full time. It is much more cost-effective to prepare casseroles and crock pot dinners. That being said, I have a couple new ones for you!
So, My My Chicken is currently a take-out only restaurant, but they are working on adding a new dining area. Unfortunately, this is the only place in all of State College that has fried chicken. There is not even a KFC! I don't eat fried chicken very often, but I really wish there were other options.
Meal: Fried Chicken - The outside was okay, but the meat didn't have much meat to it. The worst part is between the two there was a rather thick layer of uncooked breading that made the whole thing awful. Now, I try things at least twice to make sure if my first impression was either right or wrong, so I'll eventually try it again once more. I hope it is better the second time, especially since this is the only fried chicken place in State College!
Side 1: Cole Slaw - This recipe was not to our taste, so we will not be getting it again as a side.
Side 2: Baked Beans - I love baked beans, but not these. They had a weird taste to them and the beans were hard as if they were uncooked. We will not be getting this side again either.
Side 3: Mac and Cheese - This was actually very good for being from a restaurant. We will try this side again.
I hear this restaurant has very good Korean-style chicken. I may try that in the future. If you have any experience with this restuarant, please let me know. Otherwise, give it a try and let me know about your meal! Enjoy!
Monday, September 12, 2016
The Greek - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: September 9, 2016
Place: The Greek
Location: 102 E. Clinton Ave. in State College, PA
Shared Appetizer 1: Dolmades ($5) - Grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, drizzled with a lemon-dill sauce. These were very delicious. There were five in the order, but they were smaller than I am used to. However, I'm also used to them having meat in them.
Shared Appetizer 2: Kalamari ($9) - Lightly breaded and fried to perfection, served with a savory tomato sauce. This was extremely good as well. I especially loved the sauce!
Side Salad: Village Salad (Horiatiki) - Freshly cut campari tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, feta cheese, and Kalamata olives, served on a bed of greens and drizzled with their own Greek dressing. This salad was fantastic, but there were a lot of tomatoes and not much of the greens.
Entree: Moussaka ($17 - included the side salad) - Deliciously layered roasted eggplant, seasoned ground beef, and potatoes, topped with their bechamel sauce. This was by far the best thing of the evening! I absolutely love this dish and they did it right!
Wine: You can bring you own wine here without having to pay a corking fee, so Audry and I brought a nice bottle of 2014 Dante Rivetti Mara Barbera d'Alba that was perfect with the dishes in this meal!
Dessert: Baklava ($3) - A delectable mix of crushed walnuts, cinnamon, and honey, layered in phyllo pastry. This was very good, but tasted a little old and dry.
Overall, this is a great Greek restaurant! Except for the Moussaka, most of the food tasted a little "Americanized," but it was all still very good. I highly recommend this restaurant if you have not eaten here.
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: The Greek
Location: 102 E. Clinton Ave. in State College, PA
Shared Appetizer 1: Dolmades ($5) - Grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, drizzled with a lemon-dill sauce. These were very delicious. There were five in the order, but they were smaller than I am used to. However, I'm also used to them having meat in them.
Shared Appetizer 2: Kalamari ($9) - Lightly breaded and fried to perfection, served with a savory tomato sauce. This was extremely good as well. I especially loved the sauce!
Side Salad: Village Salad (Horiatiki) - Freshly cut campari tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers, feta cheese, and Kalamata olives, served on a bed of greens and drizzled with their own Greek dressing. This salad was fantastic, but there were a lot of tomatoes and not much of the greens.
Entree: Moussaka ($17 - included the side salad) - Deliciously layered roasted eggplant, seasoned ground beef, and potatoes, topped with their bechamel sauce. This was by far the best thing of the evening! I absolutely love this dish and they did it right!
Wine: You can bring you own wine here without having to pay a corking fee, so Audry and I brought a nice bottle of 2014 Dante Rivetti Mara Barbera d'Alba that was perfect with the dishes in this meal!
Dessert: Baklava ($3) - A delectable mix of crushed walnuts, cinnamon, and honey, layered in phyllo pastry. This was very good, but tasted a little old and dry.
Overall, this is a great Greek restaurant! Except for the Moussaka, most of the food tasted a little "Americanized," but it was all still very good. I highly recommend this restaurant if you have not eaten here.
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Friday, September 2, 2016
Whiskers - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: September 2, 2016
Place: Whiskers (pub) at The Nittany Lion Inn
Location: 200 W. Park Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Free popcorn served fresh all day, whether you're having dinner or just meeting some friends for some drinks.
Entree: Half BBQ Chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes ($20) - A very delicious meal, even for people like me who do not like to eat messy foods.
Beer: Stella Artois ($7) - A very good beer for any circumstance.
Though everything was good, I recommend this place as somewhere to meet friends for drinks. It's not quite the quality of restaurant for one to go to because they actually like one of the limited number of entree offerings. Overall, it's a great place to visit.
Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Whiskers (pub) at The Nittany Lion Inn
Location: 200 W. Park Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Free popcorn served fresh all day, whether you're having dinner or just meeting some friends for some drinks.
Entree: Half BBQ Chicken with buttermilk mashed potatoes ($20) - A very delicious meal, even for people like me who do not like to eat messy foods.
Beer: Stella Artois ($7) - A very good beer for any circumstance.
Though everything was good, I recommend this place as somewhere to meet friends for drinks. It's not quite the quality of restaurant for one to go to because they actually like one of the limited number of entree offerings. Overall, it's a great place to visit.
Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
The Dining Room - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: August 26, 2016
Place: The Dining Room at The Nittany Lion Inn
Location: 200 W. Park Ave. in State College, PA
Event: PA on the Patio
Meal: Buffet-style tapas, including grilled steak, salmon, and chicken. With salad and dessert, $25 is a great price!
Drink: Yuengling Lager ($3) - Perfect with any meal.
I liked The Dining Room on this visit, so I plan to attend many more times. They have other dinner specials and other events I'd really like to try. I highly recommend this restaurant! They only have one more PA on the Patio event for this year, so if you want to try it be sure to be there this Friday, September 2nd!
When you get a chance to give this place a try, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: The Dining Room at The Nittany Lion Inn
Location: 200 W. Park Ave. in State College, PA
Event: PA on the Patio
Meal: Buffet-style tapas, including grilled steak, salmon, and chicken. With salad and dessert, $25 is a great price!
Drink: Yuengling Lager ($3) - Perfect with any meal.
I liked The Dining Room on this visit, so I plan to attend many more times. They have other dinner specials and other events I'd really like to try. I highly recommend this restaurant! They only have one more PA on the Patio event for this year, so if you want to try it be sure to be there this Friday, September 2nd!
When you get a chance to give this place a try, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Ni Hao - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: August 17, 2016
Place: Ni Hao Asian Cuisine
Location: 289 Northland Center in State College, PA
Appetizers: Vegetable Spring Roll (2 for $1.75) and Philadelphia Roll (8 pieces for $3.75) - The price is certainly right! The spring rolls were pretty good, but a little small. The Philadelphia roll was okay, but I thought it had entirely too much cream cheese in it.
Meal: General Tso's Chicken (from the Chinese Style Dishes section) - This was much better than at China Wok. However, I ordered it "extra spicy" and could hardly taste any spice at all! I don't know if they forgot, are wimps, or think other people are wimps, but I really like a little spice to my meal!
Overall, this is the best Asian restaurant I have tried in State College so far (I've only tried two). I do recommend this place. If you order take-out, it's pretty quick. If you want to eat in, they have a very large buffet selection that includes a Grill and Hibachi Noodle Bar, BBQ, Cantonese Dim Sum, Sushi, and Dessert. I love some good Dim Sum, but am hesitant to try it off a buffet. I'm just not sure it's going to be as authentic or nearly as good as the real deal.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Ni Hao Asian Cuisine
Location: 289 Northland Center in State College, PA
Appetizers: Vegetable Spring Roll (2 for $1.75) and Philadelphia Roll (8 pieces for $3.75) - The price is certainly right! The spring rolls were pretty good, but a little small. The Philadelphia roll was okay, but I thought it had entirely too much cream cheese in it.
Meal: General Tso's Chicken (from the Chinese Style Dishes section) - This was much better than at China Wok. However, I ordered it "extra spicy" and could hardly taste any spice at all! I don't know if they forgot, are wimps, or think other people are wimps, but I really like a little spice to my meal!
Overall, this is the best Asian restaurant I have tried in State College so far (I've only tried two). I do recommend this place. If you order take-out, it's pretty quick. If you want to eat in, they have a very large buffet selection that includes a Grill and Hibachi Noodle Bar, BBQ, Cantonese Dim Sum, Sushi, and Dessert. I love some good Dim Sum, but am hesitant to try it off a buffet. I'm just not sure it's going to be as authentic or nearly as good as the real deal.
Give this place a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Fraser Street Deli - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: August 5, 2016
Place: The Fraser Street Deli
Location: 109 S. Fraser St. in State College, PA
Meal: The Half & Half Sandwich Combo - Half of any sandwich with a cup of chili, cup of soup, or side salad choice. I ordered a half Russel Marker sandwich (corned beef), which was pretty good. The cup of soup I ordered was the chicken & dumpling, which was nowhere near good. This soup was basically a gritty broth with no chicken or dumpling content at all. Some people might like it that way, but not me.
Coffee: The coffee was decent, but not great. They served it in a plastic mug... but at least it was fresh!
If you're in the mood for a quick bite and like Boar's Head meats, try this place out. Overall, there are better places. If you do try this place, let me know what you think of it. Enjoy.
Place: The Fraser Street Deli
Location: 109 S. Fraser St. in State College, PA
Meal: The Half & Half Sandwich Combo - Half of any sandwich with a cup of chili, cup of soup, or side salad choice. I ordered a half Russel Marker sandwich (corned beef), which was pretty good. The cup of soup I ordered was the chicken & dumpling, which was nowhere near good. This soup was basically a gritty broth with no chicken or dumpling content at all. Some people might like it that way, but not me.
Coffee: The coffee was decent, but not great. They served it in a plastic mug... but at least it was fresh!
If you're in the mood for a quick bite and like Boar's Head meats, try this place out. Overall, there are better places. If you do try this place, let me know what you think of it. Enjoy.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Plaza Mexican - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: August 3, 2016
Place: Plaza Mexican Bar & Grill
Location: 1550 S. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Appetizers: Chips and salsa (of course), with cheese dip and tableside guacamole. This was all great: the chips were perfect, the salsa was full of cilantro, the cheese was plentiful, and the guacamole was one of the best I've ever eaten!
Entree: Enchiladas Supremas - Four enchiladas covered with lettuce, cheese, and salsa. This was a great dish and I highly recommend it if you can't make up your mind or are in the mood to try out something new.
Beer: Dos Equis Amber - Great any time, but especially with Mexican food!
I understand this restaurant is new to State College. If you haven't tried it out yet, you should! Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Plaza Mexican Bar & Grill
Location: 1550 S. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Appetizers: Chips and salsa (of course), with cheese dip and tableside guacamole. This was all great: the chips were perfect, the salsa was full of cilantro, the cheese was plentiful, and the guacamole was one of the best I've ever eaten!
Entree: Enchiladas Supremas - Four enchiladas covered with lettuce, cheese, and salsa. This was a great dish and I highly recommend it if you can't make up your mind or are in the mood to try out something new.
Beer: Dos Equis Amber - Great any time, but especially with Mexican food!
I understand this restaurant is new to State College. If you haven't tried it out yet, you should! Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
China Wok - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: August 2, 2016
Place: Authentic China Wok
Location: 279 Northland Center in State College, PA
Meal: General Tso's Chicken ($5.75) - This was decent, but a little subpar. My biggest problem is that the menu says this dish is supposed to be spicy, but it tasted as if they used sweet and sour sauce on it instead.
For the price and speed, it's hard to complain. However, I am a lover good Asian foods. I will not stop until I have either tried every one in town or found one that I absolutely love. (I'm still on the search for dim sum as well.)
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think of it.
Place: Authentic China Wok
Location: 279 Northland Center in State College, PA
Meal: General Tso's Chicken ($5.75) - This was decent, but a little subpar. My biggest problem is that the menu says this dish is supposed to be spicy, but it tasted as if they used sweet and sour sauce on it instead.
For the price and speed, it's hard to complain. However, I am a lover good Asian foods. I will not stop until I have either tried every one in town or found one that I absolutely love. (I'm still on the search for dim sum as well.)
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think of it.
Otto's - State College, PA
Date(s) of dining experience: July 23, 2016 and July 31, 2016
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
July 23rd Entree: Weiner Schnitzel vom Schwein ($12) - Breaded pork cutlets served golden brown with a side of redskin mashed potatoes, lemon wedge, and vegetable of the day. This was my first time ever eating this dish and it was fantastic! I will be getting it again, I'm sure.
July 31st Entree: Half Price Pizzas on Sundays - Margherita Pizza ($5 at half price) - An Italian classic featuring house made San Marzano pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, and dressed with basil and extra virgin olive oil. A great pizza!
Beer (both times): Maibock - It's just so good and a great price. It's hard to pick anything else!
Otto's is a great place. If you haven't eaten there, you need to. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
July 23rd Entree: Weiner Schnitzel vom Schwein ($12) - Breaded pork cutlets served golden brown with a side of redskin mashed potatoes, lemon wedge, and vegetable of the day. This was my first time ever eating this dish and it was fantastic! I will be getting it again, I'm sure.
July 31st Entree: Half Price Pizzas on Sundays - Margherita Pizza ($5 at half price) - An Italian classic featuring house made San Marzano pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, and dressed with basil and extra virgin olive oil. A great pizza!
Beer (both times): Maibock - It's just so good and a great price. It's hard to pick anything else!
Otto's is a great place. If you haven't eaten there, you need to. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Berkey Creamery - State College, PA
Date(s) of dining experience: Multiple
Place: Penn State Berkey Creamery
Location: 119 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building - University Park, PA
The only you can get here is ice cream, but it is the best ice cream I have ever eaten! Most people come here for the ice cream side, but they do also have a "store" side where you can buy items to take home: ice cream, butter, eggs, cheese, milk, coffee, etc.
If you haven't tried Berkey Creamery, I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Place: Penn State Berkey Creamery
Location: 119 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building - University Park, PA
The only you can get here is ice cream, but it is the best ice cream I have ever eaten! Most people come here for the ice cream side, but they do also have a "store" side where you can buy items to take home: ice cream, butter, eggs, cheese, milk, coffee, etc.
If you haven't tried Berkey Creamery, I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Mama's On The Half Shell - Baltimore, MD
Date of dining experience: July 26, 2016
Place: Mama's On The Half Shell
Location: 2901 O'Donnell St. in Baltimore, MD
Appetizer: Fresh Oysters - A very nice mix of Blue Point (Long Island, NY), Chincoteague (Chincoteague, VA), Beau Soleil (New Brunswick, Canada), Misty Point (Cheriton, VA), and Salt Pond (Judith Point, RI) oysters. Absolutely delicious!
Entree: Fresh Catch - Pan seared swordfish topped with beurre blanc. Amazing!
This is a great restaurant in a great area of Baltimore. If you're in the area and hungry, try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Mama's On The Half Shell
Location: 2901 O'Donnell St. in Baltimore, MD
Appetizer: Fresh Oysters - A very nice mix of Blue Point (Long Island, NY), Chincoteague (Chincoteague, VA), Beau Soleil (New Brunswick, Canada), Misty Point (Cheriton, VA), and Salt Pond (Judith Point, RI) oysters. Absolutely delicious!
Entree: Fresh Catch - Pan seared swordfish topped with beurre blanc. Amazing!
This is a great restaurant in a great area of Baltimore. If you're in the area and hungry, try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
The Corner Room - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 25, 2016
Place: The Corner Room
Location: 100 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Meal: Pasta Monday - $5.99 all you can eat pasta, includes soup or salad. What a deal, even if you only eat one serving of pasta!
Beer: Yuengling Traditional Lager - Delicious!
The Corner Room is great and I will definitely be back! Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: The Corner Room
Location: 100 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Meal: Pasta Monday - $5.99 all you can eat pasta, includes soup or salad. What a deal, even if you only eat one serving of pasta!
Beer: Yuengling Traditional Lager - Delicious!
The Corner Room is great and I will definitely be back! Try it out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Liberty Craft House - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 19, 2016
Place: Liberty Craft House
Location: 346 E. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Bavarian Soft Pretzel ($5) - Two smaller pretzels that were fantastic, but entirely too salty.
Entree: Piggy Mac & Cheese ($11) - Cavatappi pasta, cheese sauce, smoked pulled pork, honey ham, and hickory smoked bacon. This was a very good dish. It was a little smaller, but came with greens.
Beers:
New Belgium Trippel ($5.75 for 14 oz.)
New Belgium Abbey ($5.75 for 14 oz.)
New Belgium Hof ten Dormaal ($5 for 5 oz.)
All of these are very good, but the Hof ten Dormaal was very strong.
I really enjoy Liberty Craft House and foresee this place becoming a regular stop. This may be the restaurant I go to in place of Broadway Biergarten. Let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Place: Liberty Craft House
Location: 346 E. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Bavarian Soft Pretzel ($5) - Two smaller pretzels that were fantastic, but entirely too salty.
Entree: Piggy Mac & Cheese ($11) - Cavatappi pasta, cheese sauce, smoked pulled pork, honey ham, and hickory smoked bacon. This was a very good dish. It was a little smaller, but came with greens.
Beers:
New Belgium Trippel ($5.75 for 14 oz.)
New Belgium Abbey ($5.75 for 14 oz.)
New Belgium Hof ten Dormaal ($5 for 5 oz.)
All of these are very good, but the Hof ten Dormaal was very strong.
I really enjoy Liberty Craft House and foresee this place becoming a regular stop. This may be the restaurant I go to in place of Broadway Biergarten. Let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Fiddlehead - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 12, 2016
Place: Fiddlehead - a soup and salad cafe
Location: 134 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Salad: Bob Cobb ($10.25) - Romaine iceberg mix, roasted chicken, bacon, hard-boiled egg, red onion, avocado, grape tomatoes, and bleu cheese dressing. Absolutely delicious!
Drink: Cold-brew coffee, very good!
This restaurant is great! The perfect place for a light meal and some cold-brew coffee. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Fiddlehead - a soup and salad cafe
Location: 134 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Salad: Bob Cobb ($10.25) - Romaine iceberg mix, roasted chicken, bacon, hard-boiled egg, red onion, avocado, grape tomatoes, and bleu cheese dressing. Absolutely delicious!
Drink: Cold-brew coffee, very good!
This restaurant is great! The perfect place for a light meal and some cold-brew coffee. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Cafe 210 West - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 11, 2016
Place: Cafe 210 West
Location: 210 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Monday Deal: We went here for the $2.50 burger basket (which became $3.00 when you add cheese). This was totally worth the price! The burgers are super thin, but the fries are amazing and completely make up for it!
We happened to arrive at 9:00 PM, which is the start of their Happy Hour appetizer, draft beer, and mixed drink specials, so we ordered some of those as well.
Appetizer: Buffalo Chicken Dip ($4.25 at half price for Happy Hour) - Warm and cheesy, blended with buffalo chicken and served with freshly fried tortilla chips. The chips were the best part of this! The actual dip itself was mostly just cream cheese, lacking in both chicken and buffalo flavor.
Beers:
1. Yards Brawler ($2.75 for 16 oz. at half price for Happy Hour)
2. Yuengling Lager ($2.50 for 16 oz. at regular price) - The only draft beer not offered as a Happy Hour special because it is already so cheap!
Cafe 210 West has some great deals, specials, and Happy Hour prices every night of the week. Check this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Cafe 210 West
Location: 210 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Monday Deal: We went here for the $2.50 burger basket (which became $3.00 when you add cheese). This was totally worth the price! The burgers are super thin, but the fries are amazing and completely make up for it!
We happened to arrive at 9:00 PM, which is the start of their Happy Hour appetizer, draft beer, and mixed drink specials, so we ordered some of those as well.
Appetizer: Buffalo Chicken Dip ($4.25 at half price for Happy Hour) - Warm and cheesy, blended with buffalo chicken and served with freshly fried tortilla chips. The chips were the best part of this! The actual dip itself was mostly just cream cheese, lacking in both chicken and buffalo flavor.
Beers:
1. Yards Brawler ($2.75 for 16 oz. at half price for Happy Hour)
2. Yuengling Lager ($2.50 for 16 oz. at regular price) - The only draft beer not offered as a Happy Hour special because it is already so cheap!
Cafe 210 West has some great deals, specials, and Happy Hour prices every night of the week. Check this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Home D Pizzeria / Robin Hood Brewing Co. - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 10, 2016
Place: Home D Pizzeria / Robin Hood Brewing Co.
Location: 1820 S. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Pizza: I ordered a specialty pizza, Bacon Cheeseburger (12" medium - $14) - Pizza sauce, mozzarella, seasoned ground beef, bacon, and cheddar jack. It was pretty good, but the flavor became boring after a while.
Audry ordered a 12" wood-fired pizza, Margherita ($11) - San Marzano tomato, pulled mozzarella, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil. This pizza was pretty good as well, but they were pretty skimpy on the basil and it had a very strong salt and garlic flavor that became overwhelming the more of it we ate.
Beer Samples - all decent, but nothing special:
1. King Richard Red Ale - A malty, flavorful brew with an alluring garnet hue. Wisps of tropical fruit aroma draw you in for your first sip. Moderate hoppiness is offset by its suptuous body. (ABV 5.7%)
2. Broomhilde Hefeweizen - A favorite style in German beer gardens. This Hefeweizen is a traditional, unfiltered wheat beer with a pale straw color. Mild sweetness is tempered by a refreshing tart note. Banana and clove aromas are contributed by special Bavarian yeast. (ABV 5.0%)
3. Blueboary Wheat - A refreshing, session wheat ale. Light body and delicate sweetness are complimented by the familiar blueberry flavor and wafting aroma of this modern classic. Pale straw in color. (ABV 4.5%)
4. Saint-Hood Cafe - By far my favorite of these beers and also their most popular coffee stout. Brewed with flaked oats and four types of kiln-roasted malt, fermented with Yeast Blend #1, then cold-infused with crushed espresso beans from Saint's Cafe in State College. (ABV 8.0%)
5. Nuttingham Peanut Butter Porter - Honestly, a disappointing peanut butter flavor in this very light porter. Brewed with special de-bittered chocolate malt, this smooth, moderately-sweet porter is, as they say, "packed with peanut butter flavor."
6. Summer Ale - A light, unfiltered wheat ale made with their proprietary yeast and spiced with sweet orange peel, coriander, and lemon zest. When they say "light," they really mean it!
7. Saucony Creek Peach & Ginger Saison - The only beer that was not by Robin Hood Brewing Co. It was okay, but had a very strong ginger flavor that was almost too much. (ABV 5.2%)
This place was pretty good and our waitress was fantastic, but the beers and pizza were mediocre. Still, I'll try anything twice, so I'll probably be back here in the future.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Home D Pizzeria / Robin Hood Brewing Co.
Location: 1820 S. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Pizza: I ordered a specialty pizza, Bacon Cheeseburger (12" medium - $14) - Pizza sauce, mozzarella, seasoned ground beef, bacon, and cheddar jack. It was pretty good, but the flavor became boring after a while.
Audry ordered a 12" wood-fired pizza, Margherita ($11) - San Marzano tomato, pulled mozzarella, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil. This pizza was pretty good as well, but they were pretty skimpy on the basil and it had a very strong salt and garlic flavor that became overwhelming the more of it we ate.
Beer Samples - all decent, but nothing special:
1. King Richard Red Ale - A malty, flavorful brew with an alluring garnet hue. Wisps of tropical fruit aroma draw you in for your first sip. Moderate hoppiness is offset by its suptuous body. (ABV 5.7%)
2. Broomhilde Hefeweizen - A favorite style in German beer gardens. This Hefeweizen is a traditional, unfiltered wheat beer with a pale straw color. Mild sweetness is tempered by a refreshing tart note. Banana and clove aromas are contributed by special Bavarian yeast. (ABV 5.0%)
3. Blueboary Wheat - A refreshing, session wheat ale. Light body and delicate sweetness are complimented by the familiar blueberry flavor and wafting aroma of this modern classic. Pale straw in color. (ABV 4.5%)
4. Saint-Hood Cafe - By far my favorite of these beers and also their most popular coffee stout. Brewed with flaked oats and four types of kiln-roasted malt, fermented with Yeast Blend #1, then cold-infused with crushed espresso beans from Saint's Cafe in State College. (ABV 8.0%)
5. Nuttingham Peanut Butter Porter - Honestly, a disappointing peanut butter flavor in this very light porter. Brewed with special de-bittered chocolate malt, this smooth, moderately-sweet porter is, as they say, "packed with peanut butter flavor."
6. Summer Ale - A light, unfiltered wheat ale made with their proprietary yeast and spiced with sweet orange peel, coriander, and lemon zest. When they say "light," they really mean it!
7. Saucony Creek Peach & Ginger Saison - The only beer that was not by Robin Hood Brewing Co. It was okay, but had a very strong ginger flavor that was almost too much. (ABV 5.2%)
This place was pretty good and our waitress was fantastic, but the beers and pizza were mediocre. Still, I'll try anything twice, so I'll probably be back here in the future.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Big Spring Spirits - Bellefonte, PA
Date of dining experience: July 7, 2016
Place: Big Spring Spirits
Location: 198 Match Factory Place in Bellefonte, PA
Big Spring Spirits is great. They make all of their own spirits and serve only their own stuff. No wine or beer here!
Sandwich: Steak Tartare - very good, but a little heavy on the onions.
We went on a Thursday, so we also got the Cheese Fondue for Two ($18) - Fondue served with fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread. They have different flavor options, so we ordered the Swiss and Gouda with Caraway option. It was delicious! After all, it was just a bunch of melted cheese (which is always great)!
Beverage 1: Cuba Libre! - spiced rum, cola, and lime. Very good, but very strong.
Beverage 2: Mango Highball - rum, lime, and mango juice. Delicious and dangerous!
Beverage 3: Kinda Dark & Stormy - rum, lime, ginger beer, and molasses. Good, but very heavy on the strong flavor of ginger.
Beverage 4: Peanut Butter & Jelly - vodka, peanut butter syrup, berry liqueur, and cream. Extremely tasty.
Try this palce out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Big Spring Spirits
Location: 198 Match Factory Place in Bellefonte, PA
Big Spring Spirits is great. They make all of their own spirits and serve only their own stuff. No wine or beer here!
Sandwich: Steak Tartare - very good, but a little heavy on the onions.
We went on a Thursday, so we also got the Cheese Fondue for Two ($18) - Fondue served with fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread. They have different flavor options, so we ordered the Swiss and Gouda with Caraway option. It was delicious! After all, it was just a bunch of melted cheese (which is always great)!
Beverage 1: Cuba Libre! - spiced rum, cola, and lime. Very good, but very strong.
Beverage 2: Mango Highball - rum, lime, and mango juice. Delicious and dangerous!
Beverage 3: Kinda Dark & Stormy - rum, lime, ginger beer, and molasses. Good, but very heavy on the strong flavor of ginger.
Beverage 4: Peanut Butter & Jelly - vodka, peanut butter syrup, berry liqueur, and cream. Extremely tasty.
Try this palce out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Green Bowl - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 5, 2016
Place: Green Bowl
Location: 131 W. Beaver Ave. in State College, PA
This restaurant is simply fantastic! You pay $13 for an all-you-can-eat stir-fry experience. Now, I hate buffet restaurants, but this is not your typical buffet restaurant.
Grab a green bowl, fill it with all kinds of fresh veggies, pick a sauce (or combine some sauces), and choose a meat (or don't). Sit you bowl on the counter with your number in it and have a seat. When your order is ready, which you can watch being made, it will be delivered to your table along with your choice of white or brown rice. It's great!
If you can't decide what you want or what to get, they do have some recipe suggestions written up on a chalk board for you.
I love Green Bowl and will definitely return! Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Green Bowl
Location: 131 W. Beaver Ave. in State College, PA
This restaurant is simply fantastic! You pay $13 for an all-you-can-eat stir-fry experience. Now, I hate buffet restaurants, but this is not your typical buffet restaurant.
Grab a green bowl, fill it with all kinds of fresh veggies, pick a sauce (or combine some sauces), and choose a meat (or don't). Sit you bowl on the counter with your number in it and have a seat. When your order is ready, which you can watch being made, it will be delivered to your table along with your choice of white or brown rice. It's great!
If you can't decide what you want or what to get, they do have some recipe suggestions written up on a chalk board for you.
I love Green Bowl and will definitely return! Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Jersey Mike's - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 5, 2016
Place: Jersey Mike's Subs
Location: 2009 N. Atherton St., Suite 100 in State College, PA
Meal: #9 Club Supreme - Roast beef, turkey, Swiss, applewood smoked bacon, and mayo. You can have it made entirely or partially "Mike's Way" with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, spices, and "The Juice" (red wine vinegar and olive oil blend). Delicious!
I absolutely love this place. I would venture to say that this place is better than Jimmy John's! The bread is fantastic and "The Juice" that they use is wonderful! The best thing about Jersey Mike's is that they slice the meat for your sandwich, with the slicer on the counter in front of you, when you order it!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Jersey Mike's Subs
Location: 2009 N. Atherton St., Suite 100 in State College, PA
Meal: #9 Club Supreme - Roast beef, turkey, Swiss, applewood smoked bacon, and mayo. You can have it made entirely or partially "Mike's Way" with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, spices, and "The Juice" (red wine vinegar and olive oil blend). Delicious!
I absolutely love this place. I would venture to say that this place is better than Jimmy John's! The bread is fantastic and "The Juice" that they use is wonderful! The best thing about Jersey Mike's is that they slice the meat for your sandwich, with the slicer on the counter in front of you, when you order it!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Original Waffle Shop - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: July 4, 2016
Place: Original Waffle Shop
Location: 1229 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Meal: Greek Omelette - Feta cheese, fresh spinach, and chopped tomatoes. Simply delicious! All omelettes are prepared with three extra large farm-fresh eggs. Served with choice of two sides - I chose home fries and two buttermilk pancakes. The pancakes here are fantastic!
Coffee: Great coffee here as well!
This place is great, but it closes at 3 PM. If you're in the area, you better get there early! There is generally a line out the door. (Don't worry, it's only about a 20 minute wait at most.)
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Original Waffle Shop
Location: 1229 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Meal: Greek Omelette - Feta cheese, fresh spinach, and chopped tomatoes. Simply delicious! All omelettes are prepared with three extra large farm-fresh eggs. Served with choice of two sides - I chose home fries and two buttermilk pancakes. The pancakes here are fantastic!
Coffee: Great coffee here as well!
This place is great, but it closes at 3 PM. If you're in the area, you better get there early! There is generally a line out the door. (Don't worry, it's only about a 20 minute wait at most.)
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Otto's - State College, PA
Date of dining experience(s): July 1, 2016 and July 2, 2016
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Appetizer (July 1): Asian Sesame Boneless Chicken Wings ($7) - 6 oz. of boneless wings tossed in your choice of sauce, served with bleu cheese and celery. The Asian Sesame sauce was on the weekly specials menu. Naturally, I had to try it. The wings themselves were very good, but I didn't care for the sauce. I will be trying other sauces on different visits.
Appetizer (July 2): Scotch Egg ($4) - A hard-boiled egg wrapped in Hogs Galore sage pork sausage, then breaded and fried golden brown; served with a side of Roger's almost-famous sweet-hot mustard. This was a very good Scotch Egg, easily shareable, with the most sausage of any that I've had. Yes, I have had Scotch Egg dishes, two or three other times. Some restaurants call them Scottish Eggs.
Entree (July 1): Weekly Feature - Grilled Arctic Char with Farro Pilaf ($20) - Sustainable Icelandic Arctic char, grilled and served over a farro wheat pilaf with charred tomato vinaigrette and a side of the vegetable of the day (which was a mix of sauteed broccoli, squash, zucchini, and onions). I do love fish dishes and this one was no exception. I have had Arctic Char once before, at one of the Osage Beach restaurants, and I think I paid around $36 for a slightly smaller portion. I guess it pays off to be closer to the coast! Arctic Char is a very good fish. It is light like Tilapia, but much more flavorful.
Entree (July 2): Chicken Breast Mac'n'Cheese ($16) - Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. This pasta is great! I absolutely believe this is the best restaurant mac'n'cheese I have ever had. I'm not sure if it's the Amish cheeses or the heavy cream, but it works! Delicious!
Beer Samples (July 1):
1. Pennsylvania Triple Ale - Belgian-style ale brewed with Pennsylvania apples, malt, and honey. (ABV 7.0%)
2. Maibock - An amber-colored Spring bock. Nicely malty character with a good hop flavor. (ABV 6.1%)
3. Arthur's Best Bitter - A British-style ale. This traditional style is served on the hand pump, emphasizing its floral aroma and citrus flavor. Hopped in the kettle and then dry-hopped with Cascade. (ABV 5.1%)
4. Spruce Creek Lager - This refreshing American lager has a malty, smooth character and low hop bitterness. (ABV 4.7%)
5. Apricot Wheat - An American Wheat Ale. Golden amber with the delicate aroma and flavor of Apricot. (ABV 4.7%)
6. Red Mo - An American red ale brewed with Nugget hops for the bittering and then late-hopped with Liberty hops. Very malty and crisp. (ABV 5.0%)
7. Black Mo Stout - A dry Irish stout served via Nitrogen. Black Mo is very smooth and creamy with pleasant roasted malt character. (ABV 5.1%)
8. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - An American pale ale brewed with Cascade hops and hop-backed with Citra. A real refresher with a spicy, cirtrus aroma and a slightly nutty malt flavor. (ABV 5.0%)
9. Slab Cabin IPA - A classic American IPA with lots of floral punch and assertive hop presence. Brewed with Nugget and Amarillo hops, and colored to a reddish hue thanks to Munich and Aromatic malts. (ABV 6.3%)
Beers (July 2):
1. Pennsylvania Triple Ale (12 oz.) - see above.
2. Maibock (16 oz.) - see above.
If you are ever in State College, whether staying the night or just passing through on your way to somewhere else, I highly recommend you stop and eat at Otto's. You will not be disappointed.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Appetizer (July 1): Asian Sesame Boneless Chicken Wings ($7) - 6 oz. of boneless wings tossed in your choice of sauce, served with bleu cheese and celery. The Asian Sesame sauce was on the weekly specials menu. Naturally, I had to try it. The wings themselves were very good, but I didn't care for the sauce. I will be trying other sauces on different visits.
Appetizer (July 2): Scotch Egg ($4) - A hard-boiled egg wrapped in Hogs Galore sage pork sausage, then breaded and fried golden brown; served with a side of Roger's almost-famous sweet-hot mustard. This was a very good Scotch Egg, easily shareable, with the most sausage of any that I've had. Yes, I have had Scotch Egg dishes, two or three other times. Some restaurants call them Scottish Eggs.
Entree (July 1): Weekly Feature - Grilled Arctic Char with Farro Pilaf ($20) - Sustainable Icelandic Arctic char, grilled and served over a farro wheat pilaf with charred tomato vinaigrette and a side of the vegetable of the day (which was a mix of sauteed broccoli, squash, zucchini, and onions). I do love fish dishes and this one was no exception. I have had Arctic Char once before, at one of the Osage Beach restaurants, and I think I paid around $36 for a slightly smaller portion. I guess it pays off to be closer to the coast! Arctic Char is a very good fish. It is light like Tilapia, but much more flavorful.
Entree (July 2): Chicken Breast Mac'n'Cheese ($16) - Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. This pasta is great! I absolutely believe this is the best restaurant mac'n'cheese I have ever had. I'm not sure if it's the Amish cheeses or the heavy cream, but it works! Delicious!
Beer Samples (July 1):
1. Pennsylvania Triple Ale - Belgian-style ale brewed with Pennsylvania apples, malt, and honey. (ABV 7.0%)
2. Maibock - An amber-colored Spring bock. Nicely malty character with a good hop flavor. (ABV 6.1%)
3. Arthur's Best Bitter - A British-style ale. This traditional style is served on the hand pump, emphasizing its floral aroma and citrus flavor. Hopped in the kettle and then dry-hopped with Cascade. (ABV 5.1%)
4. Spruce Creek Lager - This refreshing American lager has a malty, smooth character and low hop bitterness. (ABV 4.7%)
5. Apricot Wheat - An American Wheat Ale. Golden amber with the delicate aroma and flavor of Apricot. (ABV 4.7%)
6. Red Mo - An American red ale brewed with Nugget hops for the bittering and then late-hopped with Liberty hops. Very malty and crisp. (ABV 5.0%)
7. Black Mo Stout - A dry Irish stout served via Nitrogen. Black Mo is very smooth and creamy with pleasant roasted malt character. (ABV 5.1%)
8. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - An American pale ale brewed with Cascade hops and hop-backed with Citra. A real refresher with a spicy, cirtrus aroma and a slightly nutty malt flavor. (ABV 5.0%)
9. Slab Cabin IPA - A classic American IPA with lots of floral punch and assertive hop presence. Brewed with Nugget and Amarillo hops, and colored to a reddish hue thanks to Munich and Aromatic malts. (ABV 6.3%)
Beers (July 2):
1. Pennsylvania Triple Ale (12 oz.) - see above.
2. Maibock (16 oz.) - see above.
If you are ever in State College, whether staying the night or just passing through on your way to somewhere else, I highly recommend you stop and eat at Otto's. You will not be disappointed.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Robust - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 25, 2016
Place: Robust Wine Bar
Location: 227 West Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO
Meal: Bresaola "Carpaccio" Style ($8) - Dry-aged, salt-cured Beef, very lean, seasoned with traditional herbs and spices; topped with Parmesan Cheese, Arugula, and a touch of Truffle Oil. This dish was very delicate, aromatic, and flavorful. I was not terribly hungry on this visit, so I went with something a little lighter and less filling. This dish is listed on the dinner menu as a starter.
Dessert: Chef's Selection of 2 Robust Dessert-Style Cheeses ($12) - Apples, Dates, and Spanish Marcona Almonds. If you know me, you know I love cheese, especially good cheese! These two cheeses were exquisite. The flavors seemed to morph slightly with each different accompaniment. Along those same lines, a different wine pairing will bring out varying flavors.
Those of you who know my preferences, know that my favorite red wine is the Cabernet Franc. Well, Robust had two the night of my visit, so I had to have them both. They were both very good. So good, in fact, that I bought two bottles of each once I learned they were no longer going to carry either of them when their stock ran out! Well...
Wine 1: 2012 Ricci Curbastro "Curtafranca" Cabernet Franc Blend from Lumbardy, Italy (6 oz. pour - $10; bottle - around $20) - Amazingly balanced, this Italian Bordeaux blend adds a touch of Barbera and Nebbiolo, giving the wine a pleasant, round mouthfeel with cherry, rose petal, and a touch of cedar and spice. Though dry, this is a very light-bodied and smooth red.
Wine 2: 2012 Vin Ver'ray Reserve Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley, CA (6 oz. pour - $12; bottle - around $20) - Black cherry, vanilla, and baking spices emerge from the glass, along with undertones of smoke and earth. Bright expressions of cherry and blackberry on the palate. The tannins are balanced, making this wine approachable, yet sturdy. This wine is not a blend as the first one was, so it is much more full-bodied. This is probably the best Cabernet Franc I've ever tried.
Wine 3: If you didn't notice the other ingredients in the Curtafranca, they were Barbera and Nebbiolo. I have had a Barbera wine before, but I had never heard of Nebbiolo. So, naturally, when I saw they had a Nebbiolo on the wine list, I had to try it as well. It was good, so I bought a bottle of it as well.
2014 Giacomo Fenocchio Nebbiolo from Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (bottle - around $20) - The color is a deep, ruby red with garnet reflections and an intense and fruity bouquet of plum and cherry. The flavor is dry with good body, well-balanced tannins and harmonious with hints of liquorice, rose, and gudron. Though this wine was very good, I don't think it quite compares to the Cabernet Franc.
Our sommelier, Augustus Nanos (Gus), was extremely knowledgeable. I would never have thought to try a 10-year-aged Port with the cheeses, but it was great. The one thing he told me that I will never forget: A Port aged 10 years goes with dessert; a Port aged 20 years is dessert.
This is my second post about Robust. I absolutely love this place and highly recommend it for anyone who is going on a date, has a special event like a birthday or anniversary coming up, or just simply loves wine!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Place: Robust Wine Bar
Location: 227 West Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO
Meal: Bresaola "Carpaccio" Style ($8) - Dry-aged, salt-cured Beef, very lean, seasoned with traditional herbs and spices; topped with Parmesan Cheese, Arugula, and a touch of Truffle Oil. This dish was very delicate, aromatic, and flavorful. I was not terribly hungry on this visit, so I went with something a little lighter and less filling. This dish is listed on the dinner menu as a starter.
Dessert: Chef's Selection of 2 Robust Dessert-Style Cheeses ($12) - Apples, Dates, and Spanish Marcona Almonds. If you know me, you know I love cheese, especially good cheese! These two cheeses were exquisite. The flavors seemed to morph slightly with each different accompaniment. Along those same lines, a different wine pairing will bring out varying flavors.
Those of you who know my preferences, know that my favorite red wine is the Cabernet Franc. Well, Robust had two the night of my visit, so I had to have them both. They were both very good. So good, in fact, that I bought two bottles of each once I learned they were no longer going to carry either of them when their stock ran out! Well...
Wine 1: 2012 Ricci Curbastro "Curtafranca" Cabernet Franc Blend from Lumbardy, Italy (6 oz. pour - $10; bottle - around $20) - Amazingly balanced, this Italian Bordeaux blend adds a touch of Barbera and Nebbiolo, giving the wine a pleasant, round mouthfeel with cherry, rose petal, and a touch of cedar and spice. Though dry, this is a very light-bodied and smooth red.
Wine 2: 2012 Vin Ver'ray Reserve Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley, CA (6 oz. pour - $12; bottle - around $20) - Black cherry, vanilla, and baking spices emerge from the glass, along with undertones of smoke and earth. Bright expressions of cherry and blackberry on the palate. The tannins are balanced, making this wine approachable, yet sturdy. This wine is not a blend as the first one was, so it is much more full-bodied. This is probably the best Cabernet Franc I've ever tried.
Wine 3: If you didn't notice the other ingredients in the Curtafranca, they were Barbera and Nebbiolo. I have had a Barbera wine before, but I had never heard of Nebbiolo. So, naturally, when I saw they had a Nebbiolo on the wine list, I had to try it as well. It was good, so I bought a bottle of it as well.
2014 Giacomo Fenocchio Nebbiolo from Langhe, Piedmont, Italy (bottle - around $20) - The color is a deep, ruby red with garnet reflections and an intense and fruity bouquet of plum and cherry. The flavor is dry with good body, well-balanced tannins and harmonious with hints of liquorice, rose, and gudron. Though this wine was very good, I don't think it quite compares to the Cabernet Franc.
Our sommelier, Augustus Nanos (Gus), was extremely knowledgeable. I would never have thought to try a 10-year-aged Port with the cheeses, but it was great. The one thing he told me that I will never forget: A Port aged 10 years goes with dessert; a Port aged 20 years is dessert.
This is my second post about Robust. I absolutely love this place and highly recommend it for anyone who is going on a date, has a special event like a birthday or anniversary coming up, or just simply loves wine!
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! You won't be disappointed. Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Bar - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: June 18, 2016
Place: The Bar
Location: 117 Themis St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Meal: Prime Rib Panini with fries ($11) - Slow-roasted prime rib, tomatoes, carmelized onions, and perfectly melted Swiss cheese. For my taste, there were too many onions. I'm not very picky, but the first few bites the only flavor I tasted was onion. Once I scraped some of them off I started to get the meat, cheese, and tomato flavors. From them on it was a great sandwich.
Dessert: The Bar is currently promoting some new desserts, so the waitress brought us out a free sampler platter with four desserts on it.
Coffee: The Bar serves an amazing Italian roast that is perfect just to drink black. This is some of the best coffee available anywhere, not just in this area!
This place is always great. I highly recommend this restaurant for your next even, of any kind (just be sure to order light onions if you get the prime rib panini)! Seriously, it would be great for a date, business meeting, hanging out with friends, or even a nice lunch by yourself! Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: The Bar
Location: 117 Themis St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Meal: Prime Rib Panini with fries ($11) - Slow-roasted prime rib, tomatoes, carmelized onions, and perfectly melted Swiss cheese. For my taste, there were too many onions. I'm not very picky, but the first few bites the only flavor I tasted was onion. Once I scraped some of them off I started to get the meat, cheese, and tomato flavors. From them on it was a great sandwich.
Dessert: The Bar is currently promoting some new desserts, so the waitress brought us out a free sampler platter with four desserts on it.
- Tiramisu - Delicious! Honestly, the third best tiramisu I've ever had. The first two being at Brave New Restaurant in Little Rock, AR and Ciao in Cape Girardeau, MO.
- Triple Chocolate Cheesecake - This was okay, but is not my favorite. I tend to stay away from chocolate things and cheesecakes. This particular dessert was very rich.
- Turtle Cheesecake - This is a cheesecake, but I do like caramel. It was definitely better than dessert #2, but still just a cheesecake (unlike #4).
- Lemon Berry Cheesecake - This is not your typical cheesecake. This dessert had a rather small layer of actual cheesecake, paired with another small layer of actual cake. The lemon berry flavor was also very good. If I had to eat cheesecake, I would want it to be similar to this one.
Coffee: The Bar serves an amazing Italian roast that is perfect just to drink black. This is some of the best coffee available anywhere, not just in this area!
This place is always great. I highly recommend this restaurant for your next even, of any kind (just be sure to order light onions if you get the prime rib panini)! Seriously, it would be great for a date, business meeting, hanging out with friends, or even a nice lunch by yourself! Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Red Robin - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 17, 2016
Place: Red Robin (yummm)
Location: 130 Gravois Bluffs Cir. Dr. in Fenton, MO
When you go to Red Robin, you go for a burger! I got the Royal Red Robin Burger (with fries) and it was nothing short of awesome (and a little messy). This burger has bacon, lettuce, mayo, melted American cheese, thinly-sliced tomatoes, and a sunnyside up egg! A royal-style burger with an egg on it is one of my top three favorite types of burgers. If you have never eaten one, you should try it!
Chances are you have seen a Red Robin commercial, but if you have never actually been to the restaurant you need to go! Try it out and let me know what you think. If you don't like it, at least you can say that you tried it. Enjoy!
Place: Red Robin (yummm)
Location: 130 Gravois Bluffs Cir. Dr. in Fenton, MO
When you go to Red Robin, you go for a burger! I got the Royal Red Robin Burger (with fries) and it was nothing short of awesome (and a little messy). This burger has bacon, lettuce, mayo, melted American cheese, thinly-sliced tomatoes, and a sunnyside up egg! A royal-style burger with an egg on it is one of my top three favorite types of burgers. If you have never eaten one, you should try it!
Chances are you have seen a Red Robin commercial, but if you have never actually been to the restaurant you need to go! Try it out and let me know what you think. If you don't like it, at least you can say that you tried it. Enjoy!
Ferguson Brewing Company - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: June 17, 2016
Place: Ferguson Brewing Company
Location: 418 S. Florissant Rd. in Ferguson, MO
Appetizer: Spinach-Artichoke Dip ($7.50) - Creamy mixture of cheeses, spinach, and artichokes, served warm with crispy crostinis. Very good!
Meal: The Cuban sandwich with fries ($9) - Smoked ham, pulled pork, and sliced pickles, smothered with melted Swiss cheese on a soft ciabatta and topped with a spicy Cuban sauce. Not many restuarants serve a Cuban sandwich, but when they do it usually really good. This one is no exception! I'm sure you will find this just as delicious as I did!
Beer Samples:
Seasonal Beer Samples:
I love going to Ferguson Brewing Company. I was going to go there last summer and write about it then, but it burned down just two days before I was planning on eating there! I'm sure if you try this place you will not be disappointed.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Place: Ferguson Brewing Company
Location: 418 S. Florissant Rd. in Ferguson, MO
Appetizer: Spinach-Artichoke Dip ($7.50) - Creamy mixture of cheeses, spinach, and artichokes, served warm with crispy crostinis. Very good!
Meal: The Cuban sandwich with fries ($9) - Smoked ham, pulled pork, and sliced pickles, smothered with melted Swiss cheese on a soft ciabatta and topped with a spicy Cuban sauce. Not many restuarants serve a Cuban sandwich, but when they do it usually really good. This one is no exception! I'm sure you will find this just as delicious as I did!
Beer Samples:
- Golden Blonde - This is their lightest beer on tap, but it's still better than Budweiser! Refreshing and easy to drink with low hop and malt flavoring. A great all-around beer. (ABV 4.5 and IBU 12)
- Pecan Brown Ale - American-Style Brown Ale brewed with pecans added directly to the mash. That, and six different malts, is what gives this ale a very distinctive, nutty, malty flavor. (ABV 5.5 and IBU 30)
- Irish Red - Six different malts are used to create this Irish red ale. The caramel and biscuit flavors really come out in the aroma and taste. The hop presence is there, but definitely takes a back seat to the other soft flavors. (ABV 5.5 and IBU 21)
- Unfiltered German Pilsner - This is by far the best pilsner I have ever had! It is brewed as a German-style pilsner with crisp malt flavors and Sterling hops. This beer is cold lagered and unfiltered, which gives it a unique, clean flavor profile. (ABV 5.0 and IBU 37)
Seasonal Beer Samples:
- Dubbel Norton - A very delicious Belgian ale.
- Peach Wheat - A decent wheat beer with a very light peach flavor.
- Lemongrass Sour Saison - An excellent sour beer. Sour beers have become all the rage lately. They use to have this same Lemongrass Saison without being sour and it was good as well.
- Mandarina Wheat - Another decent wheat beer with a very good flavor and aftertaste.
- El Dorado IPA - A nice IPA that went very well with the food.
I love going to Ferguson Brewing Company. I was going to go there last summer and write about it then, but it burned down just two days before I was planning on eating there! I'm sure if you try this place you will not be disappointed.
Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Bella Italia - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: June 8, 2016
Place: Bella Italia
Location: 20 N. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Audry and I went to Bella Italia to partake in their Happy Hour specials before a Cape Muny Band concert.
Food: During Happy Hour, all the appetizers except the Pan Seared Tuna and Steamed Mussels are half price, so we made a meal out of appetizers!
Wine: During Happy Hour, all wines that are offered by the glass are only $5 per glass! So, naturally, I tried a few of them!
Bella Italia is always a delight and we love to sit out on the patio. The people are always so nice and we always have a great time. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
P.S. If you sit on the patio, it is okay to toss a little bread out onto the sidewalk and watch the birds. :-)
Place: Bella Italia
Location: 20 N. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Audry and I went to Bella Italia to partake in their Happy Hour specials before a Cape Muny Band concert.
Food: During Happy Hour, all the appetizers except the Pan Seared Tuna and Steamed Mussels are half price, so we made a meal out of appetizers!
- Stuffed Portobello Mushroom: Stuffed with rich cream cheese, artichoke, pancetta, & black olive tapenade. Topped with mozzarella & baked until bubbly. This was okay, but not my favorite. ($4.48 half price)
- Antipasta Caprese Salad: Fresh tomato, mozzarella, & basil. This is always a good choice at any restaurant! ($3.63 half price)
- Crab Cakes: Two homemade crab cakes served with dijonaise sauce. These crab cakes are some of the best in Missouri. They are filled with much more crab than you normally get this far from an ocean. ($4.63 half price)
- Fried Ravioli: Eight traditional beef pockets fried & served with marinara. Always good, no matter where you are. Definitely one of the safer options. ($3.48 half price)
Wine: During Happy Hour, all wines that are offered by the glass are only $5 per glass! So, naturally, I tried a few of them!
- Sauvignon Blanc, Wither Hills 2014, New Zealand - This was very good while sitting outside on a hot day and was probably my favorite of the three wines.
- Sauvignon Blanc, Quivira 2014, Dry Creek Valley (California) - This was also very good, but a little more dry than the Wither Hills.
- Pinot Grigio, "Riff" A. Lageder 2014, Alto Adige - A very nice, light Pinot Grigio to end the meal.
Bella Italia is always a delight and we love to sit out on the patio. The people are always so nice and we always have a great time. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
P.S. If you sit on the patio, it is okay to toss a little bread out onto the sidewalk and watch the birds. :-)
Watami - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: May 28, 2016
Place: Watami Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse
Location: 45 South Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, MO
I don't write very many negative reviews, but this place gets one. Not for the food, but for the service.
Entree: Audry and I split the Sushi and Sashimi for Two ($50) - Served with Miso Soup and Salad. The meal was very good, but the overall experience was not as we felt hurried along by our waitress.
Beers: Audry and I also split a 22 oz. bottle of Sapporo and a 22 oz. bottle of Kirin Ichiban. The Kirin Ichiban was by far the better of the two.
Audry and I both love sushi and sashimi. We also both love good beer with a meal. However, we do not like being hurried along because the waitress who took our table wanted to leave. She gave us our check before we were even close to finished eating and came back multiple times to check on it without asking if we wanted dessert. I didn't, but Audry did, so she ordered her green tea ice cream. Our waitress immediately added it to the check and brought it back to us before even bringing us the dessert! To top it off, our waitress was training another person. I feel so sorry for that kid. When we did finally give her our card and she brought it back, she waited there until we filled it out. And as soon as she turned it in she and her trainee bolted out the door.
Overall, the food was great, but this was a very disappointing experience. And this is not my first disappointing experience at Watami. If you are ever thinking of going to Watami, don't. You'll probably be disappointed in some way. The soup and salad dressing are both way better at Shogun anyway, so you might as well just go there in the first place.
If you do try this place, I hope you have a better experience that we did. Enjoy, hopefully...
Place: Watami Sushi & Hibachi Steakhouse
Location: 45 South Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, MO
I don't write very many negative reviews, but this place gets one. Not for the food, but for the service.
Entree: Audry and I split the Sushi and Sashimi for Two ($50) - Served with Miso Soup and Salad. The meal was very good, but the overall experience was not as we felt hurried along by our waitress.
Beers: Audry and I also split a 22 oz. bottle of Sapporo and a 22 oz. bottle of Kirin Ichiban. The Kirin Ichiban was by far the better of the two.
Audry and I both love sushi and sashimi. We also both love good beer with a meal. However, we do not like being hurried along because the waitress who took our table wanted to leave. She gave us our check before we were even close to finished eating and came back multiple times to check on it without asking if we wanted dessert. I didn't, but Audry did, so she ordered her green tea ice cream. Our waitress immediately added it to the check and brought it back to us before even bringing us the dessert! To top it off, our waitress was training another person. I feel so sorry for that kid. When we did finally give her our card and she brought it back, she waited there until we filled it out. And as soon as she turned it in she and her trainee bolted out the door.
Overall, the food was great, but this was a very disappointing experience. And this is not my first disappointing experience at Watami. If you are ever thinking of going to Watami, don't. You'll probably be disappointed in some way. The soup and salad dressing are both way better at Shogun anyway, so you might as well just go there in the first place.
If you do try this place, I hope you have a better experience that we did. Enjoy, hopefully...
The Block - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: May 27, 2016
Place: The Block - restaurant, butcher, bar
Location: 146 West Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO
Entree: White Wine Braised Pork ($17) - served with whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus, roasted pineapple chutney, and country gravy. This dish was very good, and so was the extra side of roasted broccoli I ordered ($5). You could really taste the roasted flavor in the broccoli; it was almost as if it had been smoked.
Wine: A very nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with the entree.
Beer: Afterward, while talking with friends, I had a delicious pint of Goose Island Green Line Pale Ale. Delicious!
This restaurant was very enjoyable. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: The Block - restaurant, butcher, bar
Location: 146 West Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO
Entree: White Wine Braised Pork ($17) - served with whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus, roasted pineapple chutney, and country gravy. This dish was very good, and so was the extra side of roasted broccoli I ordered ($5). You could really taste the roasted flavor in the broccoli; it was almost as if it had been smoked.
Wine: A very nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with the entree.
Beer: Afterward, while talking with friends, I had a delicious pint of Goose Island Green Line Pale Ale. Delicious!
This restaurant was very enjoyable. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
REPEATS: 4 Restaurants
Since we are moving to Pennsylvania soon, Audry and I have been eating at some of our favorite local restaurants one last time. Each of these restaurants have their own blog posts, and some of them have more than one, so I thought I'd save myself a little time and group them together in one post.
1. Dhafer's Mediterranean Steak House in Dexter, MO on May 26, 2016 --- Chicken Caprese: perfectly grilled chicken breast with just the right amount of tomato, basil, and garlic; served with green beans and roasted red potatoes. This was a new dish for me as I normally do not order chicken at restaurants (basically because chicken is so easy to cook I can make most restaurant chicken dishes at home). I really enjoyed this dish and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about ordering chicken the next time they go to Dhafer's. We also had the Spinach Dip appetizer this trip, which is really good. And, of course, we had some drinks. I started with the White Merlot to accompany the appetizer and was feeling fruity when the main course came, so I ordered a Johnny Appleseed cider.
2. Winslow's Home in St. Louis, MO on May 28, 2016 --- Smoked Salmon Hash: hot smoked salmon, pickled red onion, sweet potatoes, spinach, and sunny up eggs; served with a bird seed cracker. Winslow's is our favorite brunch restaurant, and you really can't go wrong with this dish. It is my absolutely favorite thing at Winslow's. Winslow's also offers very good bakery items and has really great coffee. If you get the chance to pay this place a visit, definitely try a Mimosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice. Delicious!
3. El Cabrito in Dexter, MO on June 9, 2016 --- Cabrito Special: grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp, cooked with bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions; served on top of a bed of rice and covered in cheese sauce. I mixed it up a little bit this trip as this is not my typical dish (though I have had it before). This dish is very good and wraps up nicely in some tortillas. El Cabrito also has some great cheese dip and the best salsa I've ever had in my life (always made fresh with extra cilantro) for the chips. My drink of choice here is the Cantarito with Jose Cuervo. This drink is made with a little fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, but what really makes the flavor is the fresh-squeezed orange juice. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it!
4. Cheeburger Cheeburger in St. Louis, MO on June 12, 2016 --- Special of the Day: Classic burger (1/4 lb.) with Havarti cheese, lettuce, and pickles; served with their fantastic fries (cooked in peanut oil) and a side salad with Greek dressing. I love this place. The burgers are made to order, so you know they're fresh, and the fries are absolutely the best! This is one of the few restaurants where I will order a soda, but it's because they mix cherry syrup into their Coke for a delicious Cherry Cola.
All four of these restaurants are fantastic. Try them out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
1. Dhafer's Mediterranean Steak House in Dexter, MO on May 26, 2016 --- Chicken Caprese: perfectly grilled chicken breast with just the right amount of tomato, basil, and garlic; served with green beans and roasted red potatoes. This was a new dish for me as I normally do not order chicken at restaurants (basically because chicken is so easy to cook I can make most restaurant chicken dishes at home). I really enjoyed this dish and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about ordering chicken the next time they go to Dhafer's. We also had the Spinach Dip appetizer this trip, which is really good. And, of course, we had some drinks. I started with the White Merlot to accompany the appetizer and was feeling fruity when the main course came, so I ordered a Johnny Appleseed cider.
2. Winslow's Home in St. Louis, MO on May 28, 2016 --- Smoked Salmon Hash: hot smoked salmon, pickled red onion, sweet potatoes, spinach, and sunny up eggs; served with a bird seed cracker. Winslow's is our favorite brunch restaurant, and you really can't go wrong with this dish. It is my absolutely favorite thing at Winslow's. Winslow's also offers very good bakery items and has really great coffee. If you get the chance to pay this place a visit, definitely try a Mimosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice. Delicious!
3. El Cabrito in Dexter, MO on June 9, 2016 --- Cabrito Special: grilled chicken, steak, and shrimp, cooked with bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions; served on top of a bed of rice and covered in cheese sauce. I mixed it up a little bit this trip as this is not my typical dish (though I have had it before). This dish is very good and wraps up nicely in some tortillas. El Cabrito also has some great cheese dip and the best salsa I've ever had in my life (always made fresh with extra cilantro) for the chips. My drink of choice here is the Cantarito with Jose Cuervo. This drink is made with a little fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, but what really makes the flavor is the fresh-squeezed orange juice. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it!
4. Cheeburger Cheeburger in St. Louis, MO on June 12, 2016 --- Special of the Day: Classic burger (1/4 lb.) with Havarti cheese, lettuce, and pickles; served with their fantastic fries (cooked in peanut oil) and a side salad with Greek dressing. I love this place. The burgers are made to order, so you know they're fresh, and the fries are absolutely the best! This is one of the few restaurants where I will order a soda, but it's because they mix cherry syrup into their Coke for a delicious Cherry Cola.
All four of these restaurants are fantastic. Try them out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
First Watch - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: May 22, 2016
Place: First Watch - The Daytime Cafe
Location: 742 N. New Ballas Rd. in Creve Coeur, MO
Those of you who know me know that I love to try new things, especially when a restaurant offers a seasonal menu. This place is no exception! Technically, this restaurant is a chain, but your not going to find them everywhere.
Entree: Italian Benedict - Scrambled cage-free eggs, thinly-sliced prosciutto, and house-roasted tomatoes on a toasted artisan Ciabatta, drizzled with parmesan cream and fresh herbs. Served with lemon-dressed greens. This is a wonderful take on the old Benedict classic. It has everything you want out of a nice breakfast (or brunch): eggs, meat, bread, and cheese! Mix it all together, throw in some tomatoes and a salad, and you have a very nice dish that will make your mouth water!
Coffee: The coffee here was exceptional. I must have had four or five cups of it. In fact, it was so good that I bought a bag of it! Unfortunately, they only sell it ground (no whole bean). However, when I went to grab a bag by the counter there was only one left, so you know other people love it as well! The coffee is called Sunrise Select Premium Blend and is made exclusively for First Watch restaurants. This coffee is a proprietary blend of high-grown Panamanian, Mexican, and Columbian coffee beans that is slow-roasted to create a unique, rich, and delicate flavor. It was developed in partnership with highly-regarded coffee expert Coffee Analysts and is roasted and distributed by First Watch's vendor-partner Royal Cup Coffee. The only way to have this coffee at home is to buy it from the restaurant, at only $6 a bag! Be sure to take one home with you after your meal!
Can you tell I really enjoyed this coffee? :-)
If you are going to make a trip to this restaurant, which I highly suggest, don't wait around! This restaurant is only open from 7:00am until 2:30pm every day. I'd hate for you to be in the St. Louis area and miss out on this place because you wanted to eat there for dinner! (However, if you are going to eat in the St. Louis area for dinner and want some suggestions of good places, text me.)
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think about it! I know you'll like it. Enjoy!
Place: First Watch - The Daytime Cafe
Location: 742 N. New Ballas Rd. in Creve Coeur, MO
Those of you who know me know that I love to try new things, especially when a restaurant offers a seasonal menu. This place is no exception! Technically, this restaurant is a chain, but your not going to find them everywhere.
Entree: Italian Benedict - Scrambled cage-free eggs, thinly-sliced prosciutto, and house-roasted tomatoes on a toasted artisan Ciabatta, drizzled with parmesan cream and fresh herbs. Served with lemon-dressed greens. This is a wonderful take on the old Benedict classic. It has everything you want out of a nice breakfast (or brunch): eggs, meat, bread, and cheese! Mix it all together, throw in some tomatoes and a salad, and you have a very nice dish that will make your mouth water!
Coffee: The coffee here was exceptional. I must have had four or five cups of it. In fact, it was so good that I bought a bag of it! Unfortunately, they only sell it ground (no whole bean). However, when I went to grab a bag by the counter there was only one left, so you know other people love it as well! The coffee is called Sunrise Select Premium Blend and is made exclusively for First Watch restaurants. This coffee is a proprietary blend of high-grown Panamanian, Mexican, and Columbian coffee beans that is slow-roasted to create a unique, rich, and delicate flavor. It was developed in partnership with highly-regarded coffee expert Coffee Analysts and is roasted and distributed by First Watch's vendor-partner Royal Cup Coffee. The only way to have this coffee at home is to buy it from the restaurant, at only $6 a bag! Be sure to take one home with you after your meal!
Can you tell I really enjoyed this coffee? :-)
If you are going to make a trip to this restaurant, which I highly suggest, don't wait around! This restaurant is only open from 7:00am until 2:30pm every day. I'd hate for you to be in the St. Louis area and miss out on this place because you wanted to eat there for dinner! (However, if you are going to eat in the St. Louis area for dinner and want some suggestions of good places, text me.)
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think about it! I know you'll like it. Enjoy!
P.F. Chang's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: May 21, 2016
Place: P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Location: 25 The Boulevard Saint Louis in Richmond Heights, MO
Entree: Chicken Pad Thai ($14) - Bold Thai spices wok-tossed with rice noodles, egg, tofu, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, crispy shallots, and cilantro. This was absolutely delicious! Pad Thai is one of my favorite dishes at places that offer it. I just can't seem to remember to order it a little spicy. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful as it is. I just prefer my Asian foods to have a slight spice to them.
Wine: A nice Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough that was a little dryer than most I've tried. The dryness gave the wine a bit more crispness than usual and went well with the Pad Thai. I'm not sure a normal (slightly less dry) Sauvignon Blanc would have gone as well with the dish, so I'm glad I ordered the one I did. P.F. Chang's offers three pour sizes for their wines: glass, glass and a half, and bottle. I ordered a glass and a half of this wine and it was just the right amount (and only $11 for a glass and a half pour).
Yes, this is a chain restaurant, but it was so good I wanted to write about it. If you have only ever experienced P.F. Chang's frozen foods from the grocery store, you are doing yourself a disservice and should add this restaurant to your list of places to eat this summer!
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Location: 25 The Boulevard Saint Louis in Richmond Heights, MO
Entree: Chicken Pad Thai ($14) - Bold Thai spices wok-tossed with rice noodles, egg, tofu, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, crispy shallots, and cilantro. This was absolutely delicious! Pad Thai is one of my favorite dishes at places that offer it. I just can't seem to remember to order it a little spicy. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful as it is. I just prefer my Asian foods to have a slight spice to them.
Wine: A nice Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough that was a little dryer than most I've tried. The dryness gave the wine a bit more crispness than usual and went well with the Pad Thai. I'm not sure a normal (slightly less dry) Sauvignon Blanc would have gone as well with the dish, so I'm glad I ordered the one I did. P.F. Chang's offers three pour sizes for their wines: glass, glass and a half, and bottle. I ordered a glass and a half of this wine and it was just the right amount (and only $11 for a glass and a half pour).
Yes, this is a chain restaurant, but it was so good I wanted to write about it. If you have only ever experienced P.F. Chang's frozen foods from the grocery store, you are doing yourself a disservice and should add this restaurant to your list of places to eat this summer!
Give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Dhafer's - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: April 14, 2015 (I apologize to those of you who care that this post and the previous one about River Ridge Winery are out of order.)
Place: Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse
Location: 117 S. Locust St. in Dexter, MO
I have already written two posts about Dhafer's that included four different visits, so I was going to skip writing this post (which is why it is out of order with River Ridge). I even ate here back in February and on April 7, 2016, but didn't write about them because both times I had the always-great tuna, which I have already written about twice.
I realized I have mentioned multiple times that Dhafer's has the absolute best seabass, but I haven't eaten it and written about it since I started this blog! So...
Bread: hot and fresh, as usual.
Salad: I have really taken a liking to the strawberry orange salad with a mixture of two of the dressings, raspberry vinaigrette and poppy seed.
Entree: SEABASS! I don't know exactly what he does that makes this taste so amazing, but Dhafer really knows how to prepare seabass! Maybe it's the garlic, I don't know. Add in some of the ever-tasty green beans and roasted red potatoes - wow. Every time I leave the restaurant I start looking forward to my next visit.
Wine: White Merlot with the salad and Chardonnay with the entree. Both very good, and both appropriate pairings for their respective dishes.
Coffee: always fresh and perfectly drinkable black or "fixed up" (if you do that kind of thing).
Dessert: The strawberry cheesecake is pretty good, but if creme brulee happens to be an option - GET IT!
I still believe Dhafer's is the best restaurant in the area. If you haven't tried it yet, you are really doing yourself a disservice. Hopefully they have seabass when you visit so you can taste exactly what I'm talking about. It's not on the regular menu, so be sure to check the specials when you visit.
Try this place (and the seabass) and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse
Location: 117 S. Locust St. in Dexter, MO
I have already written two posts about Dhafer's that included four different visits, so I was going to skip writing this post (which is why it is out of order with River Ridge). I even ate here back in February and on April 7, 2016, but didn't write about them because both times I had the always-great tuna, which I have already written about twice.
I realized I have mentioned multiple times that Dhafer's has the absolute best seabass, but I haven't eaten it and written about it since I started this blog! So...
Bread: hot and fresh, as usual.
Salad: I have really taken a liking to the strawberry orange salad with a mixture of two of the dressings, raspberry vinaigrette and poppy seed.
Entree: SEABASS! I don't know exactly what he does that makes this taste so amazing, but Dhafer really knows how to prepare seabass! Maybe it's the garlic, I don't know. Add in some of the ever-tasty green beans and roasted red potatoes - wow. Every time I leave the restaurant I start looking forward to my next visit.
Wine: White Merlot with the salad and Chardonnay with the entree. Both very good, and both appropriate pairings for their respective dishes.
Coffee: always fresh and perfectly drinkable black or "fixed up" (if you do that kind of thing).
Dessert: The strawberry cheesecake is pretty good, but if creme brulee happens to be an option - GET IT!
I still believe Dhafer's is the best restaurant in the area. If you haven't tried it yet, you are really doing yourself a disservice. Hopefully they have seabass when you visit so you can taste exactly what I'm talking about. It's not on the regular menu, so be sure to check the specials when you visit.
Try this place (and the seabass) and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Friday, April 15, 2016
River Ridge - Commerce, MO
Date of dining experience: April 15, 2016
Place: River Ridge Winery
Location: 850 Co. Rd. 321 in Commerce, MO
Appetizer: My favorite appetizer here is the fried okra, but on this visit Audry and I split the olive plate over a bottle of Rose. The Rose this year is very good! It is a little darker than in the past and slightly less sweet.
Food: Southwest Chicken Panini. I wanted to try something new and different. This was definitely it! The jalapeno-cilantro-cumin sauce made it very delicious! Beware: this is a little on the spicy side.
Wine: All of the wines at River Ridge are so good. My wife and I tend to start with a bottle of Rose (semi-dry) and move to a Cabernet Sauvignon (Fall/Winter) or Chardonnay (Spring/Summer) once our food arrives. On this particular visit, we just stuck with the Rose and ordered a second bottle. My favorite River Ridge wine is probably the Villard Blanc (semi-dry). We did buy some bottles to take home (mostly whites because we don't have many in the wine fridge and it is starting to warm up outside): 2 Villard Blancs, a Lucky Dog, a 10 Spot, a Nooner, and a Cabernet Franc (dry red). The Cabernet Franc is a 2009 vintage that I cannot wait to open!!
Audry and I really enjoy dry wines and drink mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay because they are the most consistent throughout all the brands. If I had to choose my favorite wines from all the possible options in the world (that I have tried so far), I would probably choose Sauvignon Blanc for white and Cabernet Franc for red. A Sauvignon Blanc is pretty common, but the consistency of taste can vary greatly depending on year, region, and brand. A Cabernet Franc, for some reason, is a lot harder to find. But if you get a chance to try it, I think you'll agree it is delicious. I would place it on the scale somewhere between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Malbec.
River Ridge is my favorite Missouri winery. The people are fantastic, the wine is extremely good for Missouri, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the entertainment (when provided) is always great. I highly recommend this winery.
If you have never been to River Ridge you need to go, now! They are open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Make sure you go inside to the tasting room as well. Let me know what you think once you try it. Enjoy!
Place: River Ridge Winery
Location: 850 Co. Rd. 321 in Commerce, MO
Appetizer: My favorite appetizer here is the fried okra, but on this visit Audry and I split the olive plate over a bottle of Rose. The Rose this year is very good! It is a little darker than in the past and slightly less sweet.
Food: Southwest Chicken Panini. I wanted to try something new and different. This was definitely it! The jalapeno-cilantro-cumin sauce made it very delicious! Beware: this is a little on the spicy side.
Wine: All of the wines at River Ridge are so good. My wife and I tend to start with a bottle of Rose (semi-dry) and move to a Cabernet Sauvignon (Fall/Winter) or Chardonnay (Spring/Summer) once our food arrives. On this particular visit, we just stuck with the Rose and ordered a second bottle. My favorite River Ridge wine is probably the Villard Blanc (semi-dry). We did buy some bottles to take home (mostly whites because we don't have many in the wine fridge and it is starting to warm up outside): 2 Villard Blancs, a Lucky Dog, a 10 Spot, a Nooner, and a Cabernet Franc (dry red). The Cabernet Franc is a 2009 vintage that I cannot wait to open!!
Audry and I really enjoy dry wines and drink mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay because they are the most consistent throughout all the brands. If I had to choose my favorite wines from all the possible options in the world (that I have tried so far), I would probably choose Sauvignon Blanc for white and Cabernet Franc for red. A Sauvignon Blanc is pretty common, but the consistency of taste can vary greatly depending on year, region, and brand. A Cabernet Franc, for some reason, is a lot harder to find. But if you get a chance to try it, I think you'll agree it is delicious. I would place it on the scale somewhere between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Malbec.
River Ridge is my favorite Missouri winery. The people are fantastic, the wine is extremely good for Missouri, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the entertainment (when provided) is always great. I highly recommend this winery.
If you have never been to River Ridge you need to go, now! They are open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Make sure you go inside to the tasting room as well. Let me know what you think once you try it. Enjoy!
Monday, April 11, 2016
Michael's Pizzeria - Bloomfield, MO
Date of dining experience: March 30, 2016
Place: Michael's Pizzeria
Location: 18699 Crowley Ridge Dr. in Bloomfield, MO
Entree: Tortellini with Alla Panna sauce. I must say that I really enjoyed this dish. The Alla Panna sauce at Michael's is better than the one at Morina's, but that's about all this place has over Morina's.
Other: I also ordered a chicken alfredo pizza to take home and eat for lunch the next day. It was very good as well and kept nicely in the refrigerator.
Wine: For this place to truly be successful, they will need to increase their wine list. They need to add more varities of wine, especially Chianti, and keep multiple bottles of each type of wine in stock. You can really taste it when a Cabernet has gone bad or has been open for a week (if it's one of those cheap, big bottles from the dollar store). After all, in any restaurant business like this, alcohol is a huge money-maker. They need to push for people to have wine with their meals, but in order to do that they need to have more options, and better options.
This restaurant used to be a small shack in the middle of town. It is now an actual restaurant where you can sit down and enjoy a meal. Michael's is located in the Bloomfield Country Club and is open to the public. You do not have to be a Country Club member to attend. This is definitely not the worst restaurant in southeast Missouri and over time, as things are tweaked, it will get better and better.
Pet Peeve: I'm not the world's greatest typist and I may have an error or two here and there as I am writing these blogs, but these are not making me any money and I'm not entirely sure if anyone even reads them. That being said, Michael should really hire someone to proofread his menu. I have not read the entire menu, but there are multiple errors in the list of wine offerings alone!
Overall, it's worth a visit. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Michael's Pizzeria
Location: 18699 Crowley Ridge Dr. in Bloomfield, MO
Entree: Tortellini with Alla Panna sauce. I must say that I really enjoyed this dish. The Alla Panna sauce at Michael's is better than the one at Morina's, but that's about all this place has over Morina's.
Other: I also ordered a chicken alfredo pizza to take home and eat for lunch the next day. It was very good as well and kept nicely in the refrigerator.
Wine: For this place to truly be successful, they will need to increase their wine list. They need to add more varities of wine, especially Chianti, and keep multiple bottles of each type of wine in stock. You can really taste it when a Cabernet has gone bad or has been open for a week (if it's one of those cheap, big bottles from the dollar store). After all, in any restaurant business like this, alcohol is a huge money-maker. They need to push for people to have wine with their meals, but in order to do that they need to have more options, and better options.
This restaurant used to be a small shack in the middle of town. It is now an actual restaurant where you can sit down and enjoy a meal. Michael's is located in the Bloomfield Country Club and is open to the public. You do not have to be a Country Club member to attend. This is definitely not the worst restaurant in southeast Missouri and over time, as things are tweaked, it will get better and better.
Pet Peeve: I'm not the world's greatest typist and I may have an error or two here and there as I am writing these blogs, but these are not making me any money and I'm not entirely sure if anyone even reads them. That being said, Michael should really hire someone to proofread his menu. I have not read the entire menu, but there are multiple errors in the list of wine offerings alone!
Overall, it's worth a visit. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Scrambler Marie's - Detroit, MI
Date of dining experience: March 26, 2016
Place: Scrambler Marie's
Location: 27909 Orchard Lake Rd. in Farmington Hills, MI
Meal: Uncle Moose's Manhandler ($9) - bacon, ham, sausage, onions, and melted cheese, topped with two basted eggs; served with choice of bread. I chose a pancake for my bread. This dish was delicious. Almost everything you could ask to have for breakfast, all rolled into one simple skillet!
Coffee: Really good! The great thing about this place is as you sit down they put an entire carafe of coffee on the table, so you never have to wait to freshen up your cup!
Much like The Bluebird Restaurant in Fort Wayne, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit. If you in the area, and perhaps ate at Craft Breww City the night before, check this place out. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Place: Scrambler Marie's
Location: 27909 Orchard Lake Rd. in Farmington Hills, MI
Meal: Uncle Moose's Manhandler ($9) - bacon, ham, sausage, onions, and melted cheese, topped with two basted eggs; served with choice of bread. I chose a pancake for my bread. This dish was delicious. Almost everything you could ask to have for breakfast, all rolled into one simple skillet!
Coffee: Really good! The great thing about this place is as you sit down they put an entire carafe of coffee on the table, so you never have to wait to freshen up your cup!
Much like The Bluebird Restaurant in Fort Wayne, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit. If you in the area, and perhaps ate at Craft Breww City the night before, check this place out. You won't be disappointed! Enjoy!
Craft Breww City - Detroit, MI
Date of dining experience: March 25, 2016
Place: Craft Breww City
Location: 27843 Orchard Lake Rd. in Farmington Hills, MI
Appetizer: Pretzel + Three-Cheese Queso ($9) - warm braided pretzel loaf. This was a great starter. The pretzel was truly great, but I stand firm that it would have been better with beer cheese instead of queso.
Entree: Grilled Herb-Marinated Chicken ($14) - grilled herb-marinated chicken breasts, broccolini, and smashed potatoes. Well, they were out of smashed potatoes, so I ordered the Brussels Sprouts with bacon and walnuts as my second side. I don't normally order chicken at a restaurant, but it was really good and exactly what I was in the mood for.
Beer Samplers:
Atwater Whango - Witbier - 5.0% ABV
Dogfish Head Namaste - Witbier - 4.8% ABV and 20 IBU
Brouwerij Kappittel Blond - Blonde Ale (Belgian Blonde/Golden) - 6.5% ABV
Founders Mango Magnifico - Fruit Beer - 10.0% ABV
OddSide Ales Colossal Oversight - American Barleywine - 12.0% ABV
Short's Soft Parade - Fruit Beer - 7.5% ABV and 15 IBU
Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down - American Strong Ale - 9.5% ABV and 66 IBU
Flying Dog Tropical B*tch - IPA/Belgian - 8.0% ABV and 55 IBU
Flying Monkeys Chocolate Manifesto - Triple Chocolate Stout - 10.0% ABV
I do love a good sampling of beers, and this one was great! If you are ever in the area, look up this restaurant. You won't be disappointed. When you try it, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Craft Breww City
Location: 27843 Orchard Lake Rd. in Farmington Hills, MI
Appetizer: Pretzel + Three-Cheese Queso ($9) - warm braided pretzel loaf. This was a great starter. The pretzel was truly great, but I stand firm that it would have been better with beer cheese instead of queso.
Entree: Grilled Herb-Marinated Chicken ($14) - grilled herb-marinated chicken breasts, broccolini, and smashed potatoes. Well, they were out of smashed potatoes, so I ordered the Brussels Sprouts with bacon and walnuts as my second side. I don't normally order chicken at a restaurant, but it was really good and exactly what I was in the mood for.
Beer Samplers:
Atwater Whango - Witbier - 5.0% ABV
Dogfish Head Namaste - Witbier - 4.8% ABV and 20 IBU
Brouwerij Kappittel Blond - Blonde Ale (Belgian Blonde/Golden) - 6.5% ABV
Founders Mango Magnifico - Fruit Beer - 10.0% ABV
OddSide Ales Colossal Oversight - American Barleywine - 12.0% ABV
Short's Soft Parade - Fruit Beer - 7.5% ABV and 15 IBU
Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down - American Strong Ale - 9.5% ABV and 66 IBU
Flying Dog Tropical B*tch - IPA/Belgian - 8.0% ABV and 55 IBU
Flying Monkeys Chocolate Manifesto - Triple Chocolate Stout - 10.0% ABV
I do love a good sampling of beers, and this one was great! If you are ever in the area, look up this restaurant. You won't be disappointed. When you try it, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
The Bluebird Restaurant - Fort Wayne, IN
Date of dining experience: March 25, 2016
Place: The Bluebird Restaurant
Location: 4410 Bluffton Rd. in Fort Wayne, IN
This is an awesome, cozy, little breakfast/brunch restaurant!
Meal: Irish Skillet ($8) - layered with hash browns and topped with two fresh eggs, loaded up with corned beef hash and cheddar cheese; served choice of bread. I ordered my eggs over medium and for the bread I had two pancakes. This was a fantastic dish. I've recently taken a liking to corned beef hash, which is a good thing because they serve it more and more frequently for breakfast the farther east you go and I am moving to Pennsylvania soon.
Coffee: Very good restaurant coffee. Nothing special, nothing to write home about, but definitely good enough to drink multiple cups of it while waiting for and eating your meal!
If traveling through the area, I highly recommend this restaurant. On Google maps, it didn't seem there were many good restaurant options in Fort Wayne, which makes this place even more of a gem. We took a chance on this place being good and it paid off!
If you ever get a chance to try this restaurant, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: The Bluebird Restaurant
Location: 4410 Bluffton Rd. in Fort Wayne, IN
This is an awesome, cozy, little breakfast/brunch restaurant!
Meal: Irish Skillet ($8) - layered with hash browns and topped with two fresh eggs, loaded up with corned beef hash and cheddar cheese; served choice of bread. I ordered my eggs over medium and for the bread I had two pancakes. This was a fantastic dish. I've recently taken a liking to corned beef hash, which is a good thing because they serve it more and more frequently for breakfast the farther east you go and I am moving to Pennsylvania soon.
Coffee: Very good restaurant coffee. Nothing special, nothing to write home about, but definitely good enough to drink multiple cups of it while waiting for and eating your meal!
If traveling through the area, I highly recommend this restaurant. On Google maps, it didn't seem there were many good restaurant options in Fort Wayne, which makes this place even more of a gem. We took a chance on this place being good and it paid off!
If you ever get a chance to try this restaurant, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Monday, March 21, 2016
Shogun - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: March 19, 2016
Place: Shogun Japanese Restaurant
Location: 289 S. Broadview St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Soup: Onion Soup - comes free with a Teppanyaki Dinner and is very good!
Salad: House Salad - comes free with a Teppanyaki Dinner. I don't what the house-made dressing is that they use, but it is one of my all-time favorite salad dressings! Even with the gritty texture, it works!
Sushi: Audry and I split a Dragon Roll and a Rainbow Roll. The Dragon Roll is one of my favorites. You can never go wrong with shrimp tempura, avocado, and cucumber! The Rainbow Roll is also delicious. A little bit of tuna, salmon, and sea bass mixed with cucumber always makes for a great time!
Meal: Hibachi Shrimp & Chicken - served with fried rice and grilled vegetables, all made right before your eyes! Those of you who know me, know I love some good Asian cuisine. Though this is not quite authentic Japanese, it sure makes for a good time and fantastic meal!
Dessert: I did not have any dessert, but Audry had the Green Tea Ice Cream ($2.50) and tells me it is the most wonderful ice cream.
Beers: Sapporo and Tsing Tao ($4 each) - Tsing Tao is tastes very similar to a Heineken and Sapporo is kind of between a Budweiser and a Budweiser Black Crown, so both are pretty standard beers.
Eating at a Japanese grill is a great experience, especially if you have children! It's especially fun if you get a chef that is a really good showman. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Shogun Japanese Restaurant
Location: 289 S. Broadview St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Soup: Onion Soup - comes free with a Teppanyaki Dinner and is very good!
Salad: House Salad - comes free with a Teppanyaki Dinner. I don't what the house-made dressing is that they use, but it is one of my all-time favorite salad dressings! Even with the gritty texture, it works!
Sushi: Audry and I split a Dragon Roll and a Rainbow Roll. The Dragon Roll is one of my favorites. You can never go wrong with shrimp tempura, avocado, and cucumber! The Rainbow Roll is also delicious. A little bit of tuna, salmon, and sea bass mixed with cucumber always makes for a great time!
Meal: Hibachi Shrimp & Chicken - served with fried rice and grilled vegetables, all made right before your eyes! Those of you who know me, know I love some good Asian cuisine. Though this is not quite authentic Japanese, it sure makes for a good time and fantastic meal!
Dessert: I did not have any dessert, but Audry had the Green Tea Ice Cream ($2.50) and tells me it is the most wonderful ice cream.
Beers: Sapporo and Tsing Tao ($4 each) - Tsing Tao is tastes very similar to a Heineken and Sapporo is kind of between a Budweiser and a Budweiser Black Crown, so both are pretty standard beers.
Eating at a Japanese grill is a great experience, especially if you have children! It's especially fun if you get a chef that is a really good showman. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Zola - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: March 15, 2016
Place: Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar
Location: 324 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Oysters! It was dollar oyster night, so Audry and I decided to partake. It was the first time either of us had eaten oysters, and we both loved them!
Wine with appetizer: A nice glass of 2014, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc from Washington that went very well with the oysters. Slightly overpriced at $13, but still nice.
Entree: Arctic Char - served with nasturtium vinaigrette, pickled black radish, and parsnip puree. This was my first time having Arctic char and it is now my second favorite fish (next to sea bass). Arctic char is a cold-water fish related to salmon, but is white, flaky, and smooth like a sea bass. Audry and I split this as our entree because we both wanted to have room for dessert.
Wine with entree: A great bottle of 2013, Alsace, Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc from France, which neither of us have ever had before. It was priced reasonably at $36 and was very good. On the wine spectrum, I would place it between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. So, obviously, it went very well with a white fish dish.
Audry's Dessert: White Chocolate Mousse - with vanilla meringue crumbles, shaved bittersweet chocolate, and fresh berries. It was great. Just typing the description makes me want to try it again!
My Dessert: Creme Brulee - honey lavendar. Yes, honey lavendar. Close your eyes and imagine smelling fresh lavendar. Now, add that tantalizing smell to a creme brulee and brush a touch of honey into the mix. Yeah, you can almost taste it. It was wonderful!
If you're ever in the State College area, or staying the night on your way to somewhere else, you have to try this place! Be sure to call ahead and make some reservations, just in case they are busy. If you ever get a chance to try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar
Location: 324 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Oysters! It was dollar oyster night, so Audry and I decided to partake. It was the first time either of us had eaten oysters, and we both loved them!
Wine with appetizer: A nice glass of 2014, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Crest Sauvignon Blanc from Washington that went very well with the oysters. Slightly overpriced at $13, but still nice.
Entree: Arctic Char - served with nasturtium vinaigrette, pickled black radish, and parsnip puree. This was my first time having Arctic char and it is now my second favorite fish (next to sea bass). Arctic char is a cold-water fish related to salmon, but is white, flaky, and smooth like a sea bass. Audry and I split this as our entree because we both wanted to have room for dessert.
Wine with entree: A great bottle of 2013, Alsace, Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc from France, which neither of us have ever had before. It was priced reasonably at $36 and was very good. On the wine spectrum, I would place it between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. So, obviously, it went very well with a white fish dish.
Audry's Dessert: White Chocolate Mousse - with vanilla meringue crumbles, shaved bittersweet chocolate, and fresh berries. It was great. Just typing the description makes me want to try it again!
My Dessert: Creme Brulee - honey lavendar. Yes, honey lavendar. Close your eyes and imagine smelling fresh lavendar. Now, add that tantalizing smell to a creme brulee and brush a touch of honey into the mix. Yeah, you can almost taste it. It was wonderful!
If you're ever in the State College area, or staying the night on your way to somewhere else, you have to try this place! Be sure to call ahead and make some reservations, just in case they are busy. If you ever get a chance to try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Otto's - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: March 15, 2016
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Meal: Margherita Pizza - My favorite pizza! An Italian classic featuring house-made San Marzano pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella, dressed with basil and extra virgin olive oil. It could have used a little extra basil, but it was still delicious!
Audry's Meal: Mac'n'Cheese - This is not your typical macaroni! Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. She added broccoli, which I thought was a very nice touch. Again, another dish dubbed delicious!
Desserts: I had the peanut butter pie and Audry had the key lime pie. Both were completely house-made and both were the absolute best I have ever eaten! It's hard to find someone to make a good key lime pie, and this one was perfect - I just wish I could have shared it with you. The peanut butter pie had bits of Nutter Butter cookies on top, but it didn't need them to make it the best. I was blown away when I tried it. I never thought I would taste anything that beat out both Dhafer's and Airways Cafe's takes on the ever-amazing peanut butter pie, but I did!
Beers: Audry and I split some sampler platters. Below are the beers we tasted. Most of them are about average for a young brewing company, similar to Schlafly.
1. Spruce Creek Lager - ABV 4.7%
2. Apricot Wheat - ABV 4.7% --- This one was Audry's favorite of them all.
3. Red Mo - ABV 5.0%
4. Black Mo Stout - ABV 5.1%
5. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - 5.0%
6. Jolly Roger Imperial Stout - ABV 10.4%
7. Keewaydin Hard Cider - ABV 5.5%
8. Night Owl Coffee Stout - ABV 6.8%
9. Pennsylvania Appel Tripel Ale - ABV 7.0% - You'd think this one would be my favorite because it is a tripel, but it wasn't!
10. Winter Warmer - ABV 7.2% - This one was my favorite of them all. Unfortunately, I may never get to have it again because the Winter Warmer seasonal changes every year. This year's is a strong ale brewed with Belgian candi syrup and cherries, fermented with a yeast from a famous Belgian brewery.
11. Schwarzbier - ABV 4.6%
If you're ever in the State College area, or are driving through Pennsylvania on your way to somewhere else, try this place out! If you ever do, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery
Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA
Meal: Margherita Pizza - My favorite pizza! An Italian classic featuring house-made San Marzano pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella, dressed with basil and extra virgin olive oil. It could have used a little extra basil, but it was still delicious!
Audry's Meal: Mac'n'Cheese - This is not your typical macaroni! Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. She added broccoli, which I thought was a very nice touch. Again, another dish dubbed delicious!
Desserts: I had the peanut butter pie and Audry had the key lime pie. Both were completely house-made and both were the absolute best I have ever eaten! It's hard to find someone to make a good key lime pie, and this one was perfect - I just wish I could have shared it with you. The peanut butter pie had bits of Nutter Butter cookies on top, but it didn't need them to make it the best. I was blown away when I tried it. I never thought I would taste anything that beat out both Dhafer's and Airways Cafe's takes on the ever-amazing peanut butter pie, but I did!
Beers: Audry and I split some sampler platters. Below are the beers we tasted. Most of them are about average for a young brewing company, similar to Schlafly.
1. Spruce Creek Lager - ABV 4.7%
2. Apricot Wheat - ABV 4.7% --- This one was Audry's favorite of them all.
3. Red Mo - ABV 5.0%
4. Black Mo Stout - ABV 5.1%
5. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - 5.0%
6. Jolly Roger Imperial Stout - ABV 10.4%
7. Keewaydin Hard Cider - ABV 5.5%
8. Night Owl Coffee Stout - ABV 6.8%
9. Pennsylvania Appel Tripel Ale - ABV 7.0% - You'd think this one would be my favorite because it is a tripel, but it wasn't!
10. Winter Warmer - ABV 7.2% - This one was my favorite of them all. Unfortunately, I may never get to have it again because the Winter Warmer seasonal changes every year. This year's is a strong ale brewed with Belgian candi syrup and cherries, fermented with a yeast from a famous Belgian brewery.
11. Schwarzbier - ABV 4.6%
If you're ever in the State College area, or are driving through Pennsylvania on your way to somewhere else, try this place out! If you ever do, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
saffron - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: March 4, 2016
Place: Bistro Saffron
Location: 1610 N. Kingshighway #101 in Cape Girardeau, MO
Salad: House salad with house-made miso dressing. This dressing but very good, but a little different from other miso dressings.
Soup: Miso soup. A very good soup, but a little different from other traditional miso soups I have had at Japanese restaurants.
Spider Roll: Tempura fried soft-shell crab, asparagus, mayo, masago, and sesame. Very good and it comes with 11 or so pieces, but be sure to order another roll with it (unless you are sharing it) so that your taste buds don't get tired of the same flavors over and over.
St. Louis Roll: Tuna, avocado, oshinko, masago, and scallions. This is probably one of my very favorite sushi rolls. This comes with 6 pieces and will not wear out your taste buds as quickly because it doesn't contain mayo.
Dessert: Fried bananas with brown sugar. I love bananas, but even after this dessert I'm not sure how I feel about them being fried. I usually prefer my bananas firmer and a little green because they are a little more tart. I really don't care for softer, ripe bananas that are more yellow with brown spots on the peel. This dessert was okay with coffee, but I don't think I'll be ordering it again.
Jasmine Tea: Very good hot tea that pairs well with any Asian dining experience. This is my absolute favorite tea.
Coffee: The French press coffee is very good. It was pretty chilly in the restaurant, so I started and ended my meal with a cup of coffee.
I love sushi and Saffron is pretty good place to get it, at least in the immediate area. And you can never go wrong some hot jasmine tea. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think about it. Enjoy!
Place: Bistro Saffron
Location: 1610 N. Kingshighway #101 in Cape Girardeau, MO
Salad: House salad with house-made miso dressing. This dressing but very good, but a little different from other miso dressings.
Soup: Miso soup. A very good soup, but a little different from other traditional miso soups I have had at Japanese restaurants.
Spider Roll: Tempura fried soft-shell crab, asparagus, mayo, masago, and sesame. Very good and it comes with 11 or so pieces, but be sure to order another roll with it (unless you are sharing it) so that your taste buds don't get tired of the same flavors over and over.
St. Louis Roll: Tuna, avocado, oshinko, masago, and scallions. This is probably one of my very favorite sushi rolls. This comes with 6 pieces and will not wear out your taste buds as quickly because it doesn't contain mayo.
Dessert: Fried bananas with brown sugar. I love bananas, but even after this dessert I'm not sure how I feel about them being fried. I usually prefer my bananas firmer and a little green because they are a little more tart. I really don't care for softer, ripe bananas that are more yellow with brown spots on the peel. This dessert was okay with coffee, but I don't think I'll be ordering it again.
Jasmine Tea: Very good hot tea that pairs well with any Asian dining experience. This is my absolute favorite tea.
Coffee: The French press coffee is very good. It was pretty chilly in the restaurant, so I started and ended my meal with a cup of coffee.
I love sushi and Saffron is pretty good place to get it, at least in the immediate area. And you can never go wrong some hot jasmine tea. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think about it. Enjoy!
Sunday, February 28, 2016
City Creperie - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: February 27, 2016
Place: City Coffeehouse and Creperie
Location: 36 N. Brentwood Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Coffee: The coffee is good, even when it is old. Avid coffee drinkers can distinctly taste the difference between fresh and old coffee. The coffee I had was not fresh, but it was still better than some places I have eaten where I have had fresh coffee!
Meal: The Freedom Crepe - As the name "Freedom" suggests, this crepe is red, white, and blue! This crepe is filled with strawberries, blueberries, and creme fraiche. Delicious!
If you are in the area and desire a great breakfast without having to wait for a table, try this place out! There is also a fantastic craft beer store that also sells Ski soda within walking distance! Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: City Coffeehouse and Creperie
Location: 36 N. Brentwood Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
Coffee: The coffee is good, even when it is old. Avid coffee drinkers can distinctly taste the difference between fresh and old coffee. The coffee I had was not fresh, but it was still better than some places I have eaten where I have had fresh coffee!
Meal: The Freedom Crepe - As the name "Freedom" suggests, this crepe is red, white, and blue! This crepe is filled with strawberries, blueberries, and creme fraiche. Delicious!
If you are in the area and desire a great breakfast without having to wait for a table, try this place out! There is also a fantastic craft beer store that also sells Ski soda within walking distance! Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Strawberry's - Holcomb, MO
Date of dining experience: February 20, 2016
Place: Strawberry's Bar-B-Que
Location: 107 Main St. in Holcomb, MO
Entree: Pork Steak, what else! This is still one of the best pork steaks you could possibly ever eat. Plus the meal, at only $13, comes with three sides and a piece of Texas toast. However, I feel that Strawberry's is declining. It seems that their meats are becoming more greasy and less flavorful. That great smoked flavor is what I really love.
Sides: Texas toast, scalloped potatoes, fried okra, and scalloped potatoes. Yes, I ordered scalloped potatoes as two of my three sides. Reason? I never finish a pork steak and always take about half of it home as leftovers. One of the sides of the delicious scalloped potatoes usually accompanies me home as well.
Drinks: Captain & Coke. Unfortunately, the bad thing about this restaurant is that they don't serve wine and don't have any good beers. They don't have draft beer at all and the only bottle you will see on any table is probably Bud Light. I'm sure you can imagine how upset that makes me. Some people just have no taste at all when it comes to alcohol. They definitely don't know what it's like to drink something that is going to compliment or increase the flavor of food.
It is worth noting that I really enjoy the broccoli buds appetizer, but I rarely get it because there is always so much food in an entree alone!
The atmosphere is, well, exactly what you would expect from a restaurant in a town like Holcomb, but the food is well worth the trip! If you have never eaten here, you owe it to yourself to make a visit. Even if you don't like pork steaks or whatever, have the half smoked chicken (only on Friday and Saturday after 4:00 PM). It is delicious as well, with a little spice to it, and also comes with three sides and a piece of Texas toast.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Strawberry's Bar-B-Que
Location: 107 Main St. in Holcomb, MO
Entree: Pork Steak, what else! This is still one of the best pork steaks you could possibly ever eat. Plus the meal, at only $13, comes with three sides and a piece of Texas toast. However, I feel that Strawberry's is declining. It seems that their meats are becoming more greasy and less flavorful. That great smoked flavor is what I really love.
Sides: Texas toast, scalloped potatoes, fried okra, and scalloped potatoes. Yes, I ordered scalloped potatoes as two of my three sides. Reason? I never finish a pork steak and always take about half of it home as leftovers. One of the sides of the delicious scalloped potatoes usually accompanies me home as well.
Drinks: Captain & Coke. Unfortunately, the bad thing about this restaurant is that they don't serve wine and don't have any good beers. They don't have draft beer at all and the only bottle you will see on any table is probably Bud Light. I'm sure you can imagine how upset that makes me. Some people just have no taste at all when it comes to alcohol. They definitely don't know what it's like to drink something that is going to compliment or increase the flavor of food.
It is worth noting that I really enjoy the broccoli buds appetizer, but I rarely get it because there is always so much food in an entree alone!
The atmosphere is, well, exactly what you would expect from a restaurant in a town like Holcomb, but the food is well worth the trip! If you have never eaten here, you owe it to yourself to make a visit. Even if you don't like pork steaks or whatever, have the half smoked chicken (only on Friday and Saturday after 4:00 PM). It is delicious as well, with a little spice to it, and also comes with three sides and a piece of Texas toast.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Morina's - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: February 17, 2016 and February 19, 2016
Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant
Location: 903 US-60 in Dexter, MO
This is my third post about this restaurant and contains my fourth and fifth visits.
Bread (both times): House rolls. These are pretty good, but only when they are fresh and hot. They are definitely better if you ask for some dipping oil or wait to eat them until you can soak up your pasta sauce.
Salad (both times): Caesar Salad ($7) - Romaine lettuce and croutons tossed in their homemade Caesar dressing, which is very good. I'd venture to say better than most restaurant Caesar dressings. It is definitely better than anything you can buy in a bottle.
Entree on Feb. 17: Morina Special ($13) - Chicken and sausage sauteed with red peppers, ham, and black olives in white wine and light marinara sauce, served over spaghettini pasta. This dish was really good, but it is probably my least favorite of the five entrees from Morina's that have made it to my blog.
Wine with meal: A bottle of Bell'agio Chianti in a traditional fiasco. Audry and I both love this wine and, of course, a good Chianti always compliments a pasta very well.
Entree on Feb. 19: Chicken Aristocrat ($11) - Topped with an eggplant slice and mozzarella cheese, sauteed in a creamy alfredo sauce with a touch of marinara sauce, serviced over spaghettini pasta. This dish was very good. It is basically the same as the Chicken Genovese I have written about, but with eggplant instead of asparagus. This is a very good option if you are looking to mix it up a little bit and deviate from your regular choices.
Wine with meal: Two glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon. When they run out of Chianti, this is really the only other viable option.
Dessert (both times): Cannoli! You can't find a better cannoli in a rural area anywhere. At only $5, it's well worth the price.
Coffee: The coffee at Morina's goes well with their desserts and is not the worst coffee ever. However, it is also definitely not the best coffee ever.
Morina's has a great atmosphere, great service, and typically pretty good background music. Ask for Abby to be your waitress if you go on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. She is absolutely great!
The prices at Morina's are extremely low for the quality of food you receive. This is a great place to go on a date or with the entire family. The only thing that has changed since the restaurant opened, much to my distaste, is the portion size. The entrees have become much bigger, American-sized portions. But when you are being criticized by overindulgent Americans on the verge of gluttony, I suppose you have to do what is necessary for you to stay in business.
Overall, even if I have to take home leftovers, I love this place. If you have never tried it or haven't eaten there in a while, you should make the trip. Let me know what you think once you try it! Enjoy!
Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant
Location: 903 US-60 in Dexter, MO
This is my third post about this restaurant and contains my fourth and fifth visits.
Bread (both times): House rolls. These are pretty good, but only when they are fresh and hot. They are definitely better if you ask for some dipping oil or wait to eat them until you can soak up your pasta sauce.
Salad (both times): Caesar Salad ($7) - Romaine lettuce and croutons tossed in their homemade Caesar dressing, which is very good. I'd venture to say better than most restaurant Caesar dressings. It is definitely better than anything you can buy in a bottle.
Entree on Feb. 17: Morina Special ($13) - Chicken and sausage sauteed with red peppers, ham, and black olives in white wine and light marinara sauce, served over spaghettini pasta. This dish was really good, but it is probably my least favorite of the five entrees from Morina's that have made it to my blog.
Wine with meal: A bottle of Bell'agio Chianti in a traditional fiasco. Audry and I both love this wine and, of course, a good Chianti always compliments a pasta very well.
Entree on Feb. 19: Chicken Aristocrat ($11) - Topped with an eggplant slice and mozzarella cheese, sauteed in a creamy alfredo sauce with a touch of marinara sauce, serviced over spaghettini pasta. This dish was very good. It is basically the same as the Chicken Genovese I have written about, but with eggplant instead of asparagus. This is a very good option if you are looking to mix it up a little bit and deviate from your regular choices.
Wine with meal: Two glasses of Cabernet Sauvignon. When they run out of Chianti, this is really the only other viable option.
Dessert (both times): Cannoli! You can't find a better cannoli in a rural area anywhere. At only $5, it's well worth the price.
Coffee: The coffee at Morina's goes well with their desserts and is not the worst coffee ever. However, it is also definitely not the best coffee ever.
Morina's has a great atmosphere, great service, and typically pretty good background music. Ask for Abby to be your waitress if you go on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. She is absolutely great!
The prices at Morina's are extremely low for the quality of food you receive. This is a great place to go on a date or with the entire family. The only thing that has changed since the restaurant opened, much to my distaste, is the portion size. The entrees have become much bigger, American-sized portions. But when you are being criticized by overindulgent Americans on the verge of gluttony, I suppose you have to do what is necessary for you to stay in business.
Overall, even if I have to take home leftovers, I love this place. If you have never tried it or haven't eaten there in a while, you should make the trip. Let me know what you think once you try it! Enjoy!
Monday, February 8, 2016
Celebrations - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: February 5, 2016 (my wife's birthday)
Place: Celebrations Restaurant & Bar
Location: 615 Bellevue St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
I took my wife here for her birthday dinner as a surprise (though she did guess where we were going) and we both had an amazing time. I love you, Audry!
Celebrations does have a regular menu and a Prix Fixe menu (four course tasting menu), but we went all out. We ordered the degustation, which is the ultimate dining event they offer. It is a seven course feast and we opted to have it paired with wine. The degustation is the most decadent mean they offer and it is only by request. If this is what you desire, be sure to call ahead to assure the finest experience possible as each menu is a surprise to the guests and are tailor made per table. And let me tell you, the portions of each course were about twice the size as I was expecting!
I do not remember all of the wines paired with our degustation or the specifics of each course, but I will list out the main parts.
After the amuse-bouche (beets and arugula), we had:
Course 1: Sea Scallops - paired with a dry white wine.
Course 2: Rockfish - paired with a dry white wine.
Course 3: Mussels - paired with a dry white wine.
Course 4: Braised Lamb - paired with a dry red wine.
Course 5: Duck Breast - paired with a dry red wine.
Course 6: Cheese - both were fantastic, but I don't recall their names - paired with a nice sherry.
Course 7: Chocolate Torte - flourless chocolate cake - paired with a sweet red wine (not a port).
Celebrations is definitely a hidden gem in Cape Girardeau. This is the second time I've eaten here and my mind was blown both times. When I go back to Celebrations I will be more likely to order the Prix Fixe menu instead of the degustation. Seven courses was a little too much food, but I feel like four would be just right. However, I'm not opposed to trying another degustation somewhere else because the portions in places other than southeast Missouri will probably be more normal (smaller).
As always, kudos to Celebrations for a job well done. The food was exquisite, the service impeccable, and the wine pairings perfect.
If you live in southeast Missouri, trying Celebrations is a must. Make it for a special occasion or for a weekend date night. Either way, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Once you try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Celebrations Restaurant & Bar
Location: 615 Bellevue St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
I took my wife here for her birthday dinner as a surprise (though she did guess where we were going) and we both had an amazing time. I love you, Audry!
Celebrations does have a regular menu and a Prix Fixe menu (four course tasting menu), but we went all out. We ordered the degustation, which is the ultimate dining event they offer. It is a seven course feast and we opted to have it paired with wine. The degustation is the most decadent mean they offer and it is only by request. If this is what you desire, be sure to call ahead to assure the finest experience possible as each menu is a surprise to the guests and are tailor made per table. And let me tell you, the portions of each course were about twice the size as I was expecting!
I do not remember all of the wines paired with our degustation or the specifics of each course, but I will list out the main parts.
After the amuse-bouche (beets and arugula), we had:
Course 1: Sea Scallops - paired with a dry white wine.
Course 2: Rockfish - paired with a dry white wine.
Course 3: Mussels - paired with a dry white wine.
Course 4: Braised Lamb - paired with a dry red wine.
Course 5: Duck Breast - paired with a dry red wine.
Course 6: Cheese - both were fantastic, but I don't recall their names - paired with a nice sherry.
Course 7: Chocolate Torte - flourless chocolate cake - paired with a sweet red wine (not a port).
Celebrations is definitely a hidden gem in Cape Girardeau. This is the second time I've eaten here and my mind was blown both times. When I go back to Celebrations I will be more likely to order the Prix Fixe menu instead of the degustation. Seven courses was a little too much food, but I feel like four would be just right. However, I'm not opposed to trying another degustation somewhere else because the portions in places other than southeast Missouri will probably be more normal (smaller).
As always, kudos to Celebrations for a job well done. The food was exquisite, the service impeccable, and the wine pairings perfect.
If you live in southeast Missouri, trying Celebrations is a must. Make it for a special occasion or for a weekend date night. Either way, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Once you try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Baxter's - Lake of the Ozarks (MO)
Date of dining experience: January 30, 2016
Place: Baxter's Lakeside Grille
Location: 2124 Bagnell Dam Blvd. in Lake Ozark, MO
Meal: Swordfish Caprese Sandwich ($12.99) - Grilled swordfish, tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil on ciabatta bread. This was a very delicious sandwich, and the fries that came with it were very good as well.
Baxter's used to be my second favorite restaurant in the area, but the past two times I've been there I think it has declined a bit. I associated it as being more of an upscale Chili's or Applebee's now. My new second favorite restaurant in the area is called On the Rise, but it is never open during the music conference. I have had it during the summer and it is great!
Overall, Baxter's is still worth visiting. However, I'd would suggest going there for lunch and not dinner. The food is great, but there are better places to eat if you're spend that kind of money.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Baxter's Lakeside Grille
Location: 2124 Bagnell Dam Blvd. in Lake Ozark, MO
Meal: Swordfish Caprese Sandwich ($12.99) - Grilled swordfish, tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil on ciabatta bread. This was a very delicious sandwich, and the fries that came with it were very good as well.
Baxter's used to be my second favorite restaurant in the area, but the past two times I've been there I think it has declined a bit. I associated it as being more of an upscale Chili's or Applebee's now. My new second favorite restaurant in the area is called On the Rise, but it is never open during the music conference. I have had it during the summer and it is great!
Overall, Baxter's is still worth visiting. However, I'd would suggest going there for lunch and not dinner. The food is great, but there are better places to eat if you're spend that kind of money.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
JB Hook's - Lake of the Ozarks (MO)
Date of dining experience: January 29, 2016
Place: JB Hook's
Location: 2260 Bagnell Dam Blvd. in Lake Ozark, MO
This is my favorite restaurant in the Lake of the Ozarks area!
Appetizer: Smoked Trout ($13.99) - Sea salt brine marinated, mesquite smoked in house and served with dill caper sauce. This is a fantastic starter and I get it every time I come here. The dill caper sauce is truly the best you will probably ever eat in your life.
Salad: Classic BLT Wedge Salad with a creamed bleu cheese dressing. This was by far the best wedge salad I've ever eaten (I haven't had very many), and the creamed bleu cheese really took out most of the "bite" associated with bleu cheese. Overall, delicious!
Entree: Salmon Oscar with steamed baby Brussels sprouts - Sauteed in white wine, lemon, and butter, topped with lump crab, asparagus, and bearnaise. I love a good fish and some good steamed vegetables, but add some crab and asparagus on top and I'm as giddy as little kid at Christmas.
JB Hook's receives my ultimate recommendation as the "must try" place at Lake of the Ozarks. On top of the food, I believe they have the best service and probably the best wine list in the area as well.
Try this place and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. When you do, please let me know how much you loved it! Enjoy!
Place: JB Hook's
Location: 2260 Bagnell Dam Blvd. in Lake Ozark, MO
This is my favorite restaurant in the Lake of the Ozarks area!
Appetizer: Smoked Trout ($13.99) - Sea salt brine marinated, mesquite smoked in house and served with dill caper sauce. This is a fantastic starter and I get it every time I come here. The dill caper sauce is truly the best you will probably ever eat in your life.
Salad: Classic BLT Wedge Salad with a creamed bleu cheese dressing. This was by far the best wedge salad I've ever eaten (I haven't had very many), and the creamed bleu cheese really took out most of the "bite" associated with bleu cheese. Overall, delicious!
Entree: Salmon Oscar with steamed baby Brussels sprouts - Sauteed in white wine, lemon, and butter, topped with lump crab, asparagus, and bearnaise. I love a good fish and some good steamed vegetables, but add some crab and asparagus on top and I'm as giddy as little kid at Christmas.
JB Hook's receives my ultimate recommendation as the "must try" place at Lake of the Ozarks. On top of the food, I believe they have the best service and probably the best wine list in the area as well.
Try this place and I guarantee you will not be disappointed. When you do, please let me know how much you loved it! Enjoy!
The Pancake House - Lake of the Ozarks (MO)
Date of dining experience: January 29, 2016
Place: The Pancake House
Location: 5980 Osage Beach Pkwy. in Osage Beach, MO
This restaurant amazes me. The owner took an old sonic building and turned it into something really nice. The layout of this restaurant is great and the food is even better! The coffee is pretty excellent as well, and is always fresh.
Meal: Monte Cristo ($7.25) - Deli-sliced ham and turkey layered with Swiss and cheddar cheese between three hearty pieces of bread, dipped in egg wash, and grilled, with a side of berry sauce for dipping. Everything about this sandwich was absolutely breathtaking, except the powdered sugar they sprinkled on top (which wasn't in the description). I could have done without the extra sweet flavor. The berry dipping sauce was sweet enough for me, but I am more of a savory kind of person. Other people may prefer it with the powdered sugar.
Coffee: Hot, fresh, and delicious!
I really wish southeast Missouri had a place like this. I would probably go there every weekend for breakfast or brunch. But the only downfall of this restaurant is that they close around 2:00 P.M. every day.
The next time you're in the area and are wanting some breakfast food, give this place a try! You won't be disappointed. Let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Place: The Pancake House
Location: 5980 Osage Beach Pkwy. in Osage Beach, MO
This restaurant amazes me. The owner took an old sonic building and turned it into something really nice. The layout of this restaurant is great and the food is even better! The coffee is pretty excellent as well, and is always fresh.
Meal: Monte Cristo ($7.25) - Deli-sliced ham and turkey layered with Swiss and cheddar cheese between three hearty pieces of bread, dipped in egg wash, and grilled, with a side of berry sauce for dipping. Everything about this sandwich was absolutely breathtaking, except the powdered sugar they sprinkled on top (which wasn't in the description). I could have done without the extra sweet flavor. The berry dipping sauce was sweet enough for me, but I am more of a savory kind of person. Other people may prefer it with the powdered sugar.
Coffee: Hot, fresh, and delicious!
I really wish southeast Missouri had a place like this. I would probably go there every weekend for breakfast or brunch. But the only downfall of this restaurant is that they close around 2:00 P.M. every day.
The next time you're in the area and are wanting some breakfast food, give this place a try! You won't be disappointed. Let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
J. Bruner's - Lake of the Ozarks (MO)
Date of dining experience: January 27, 2016
Place: J. Bruner's Restaurant & Red Room Lounge
Location: 5166 Osage Beach Pkwy. in Osage Beach, MO
Appetizer: Onion Rings - The house-made batter on the onion rings is phenomenal. They come in a sharable size and the charge is $3 per person sharing.
Entree: Sea Bass ($29) - Roasted in parchment paper with sliced potatoes and sugar snap peas. This was the second best sea bass I've ever eaten. They came close to reaching the level of Dhafer's sea bass, but didn't quite make it. However, it was outstanding and paired very well with my wine.
Side: Grilled Asparagus ($7) - This was not the best I've eaten. It seemed a little undercooked to me and had virtually no seasoning on it at all, not even a little salt. Weird.
Wine: Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc ($12 glass) - With a restaurant of this quality, you're always going to pay inflated prices for alcoholic beverages. Still, it was worth to have a nice dry white with my sea bass.
I really enjoy Bruner's and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. However, it is not my favorite place to eat. Read more blogs to come to find out which restaurant is my favorite.
Try Bruner's the next time you are in the area. You won't be disappointed. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: J. Bruner's Restaurant & Red Room Lounge
Location: 5166 Osage Beach Pkwy. in Osage Beach, MO
Appetizer: Onion Rings - The house-made batter on the onion rings is phenomenal. They come in a sharable size and the charge is $3 per person sharing.
Entree: Sea Bass ($29) - Roasted in parchment paper with sliced potatoes and sugar snap peas. This was the second best sea bass I've ever eaten. They came close to reaching the level of Dhafer's sea bass, but didn't quite make it. However, it was outstanding and paired very well with my wine.
Side: Grilled Asparagus ($7) - This was not the best I've eaten. It seemed a little undercooked to me and had virtually no seasoning on it at all, not even a little salt. Weird.
Wine: Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc ($12 glass) - With a restaurant of this quality, you're always going to pay inflated prices for alcoholic beverages. Still, it was worth to have a nice dry white with my sea bass.
I really enjoy Bruner's and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. However, it is not my favorite place to eat. Read more blogs to come to find out which restaurant is my favorite.
Try Bruner's the next time you are in the area. You won't be disappointed. Let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Bernie Express - Bernie, MO
Date of dining experience: January 16, 2016
Place: Bernie Express
Location: 610 S. Walnut St. in Bernie, MO
My wife and I are tired of the Dexter weekend breakfast scene because all you can really have is Penny's Diner or Airways Cafe. At Penny's you can get some pretty okay food, but they have the absolute worst coffee in the world, ever. At Airways the coffee is a little better and the food is still decent, but if you want it to be fresh you better get there extremely early. It seems that the later you go the "older" the food tastes. Plus they stop serving breakfast at a certain time.
Food: Country fried steak with gravy and homemade hash browns. The hash browns here are the best I think I've ever eaten. They are perfectly crispy and you can tell they came from real potatoes and not a frozen bag. You can also tell they were cooked as soon as you ordered them and not three hours prior.
Coffee: The absolute best coffee you can get at any type of breakfast restaurant in southeast Missouri that I have found so far.
The next time you want to go out for breakfast or brunch, give this place a try! I bet you'll like it. They are open all day and serve breakfast all day as well. And everything is always cooked to order, so you know it's going to be fresh. Plus the portions are very gerous for the price!
The only downside of Bernie Express is that they allow smoking inside, but the food is so worth it. Still, give it a try and let me know what you think. I'll definitely be going back! Enjoy!
Place: Bernie Express
Location: 610 S. Walnut St. in Bernie, MO
My wife and I are tired of the Dexter weekend breakfast scene because all you can really have is Penny's Diner or Airways Cafe. At Penny's you can get some pretty okay food, but they have the absolute worst coffee in the world, ever. At Airways the coffee is a little better and the food is still decent, but if you want it to be fresh you better get there extremely early. It seems that the later you go the "older" the food tastes. Plus they stop serving breakfast at a certain time.
Food: Country fried steak with gravy and homemade hash browns. The hash browns here are the best I think I've ever eaten. They are perfectly crispy and you can tell they came from real potatoes and not a frozen bag. You can also tell they were cooked as soon as you ordered them and not three hours prior.
Coffee: The absolute best coffee you can get at any type of breakfast restaurant in southeast Missouri that I have found so far.
The next time you want to go out for breakfast or brunch, give this place a try! I bet you'll like it. They are open all day and serve breakfast all day as well. And everything is always cooked to order, so you know it's going to be fresh. Plus the portions are very gerous for the price!
The only downside of Bernie Express is that they allow smoking inside, but the food is so worth it. Still, give it a try and let me know what you think. I'll definitely be going back! Enjoy!
Prison Brews - Jefferson City, MO
Date of dining experience: December 31, 2015
Place: Prison Brews
Location: 305 Ash St. in Jefferson City, MO
Entree: Teriyaki Sesame Salmon ($15.99) - Grilled salmon glazed in a teriyaki sesame sauce, served with steamed vegetables. This was a great dish. The teriyaki wasn't overpowering and there wasn't too much of it. I'm a little hesitant to order teriyaki dishes because a lot of places seem to just pour a bowl of it onto whatever you are eating.
Beer: Sampler Platter
1. Go to Jail Ale - light pale ale (4.6 ABV)
2. I Ain't Your Honey Wheat - similar to a hefeweizen (4.8 ABV)
3. Warden's Winter Ale - seasonal red ale (7.2 ABV)
4. Prison Town Brown - typical brown "session beer" (4.8 ABV)
5. Maximum Sentence IPA - brewed with two kinds of hops (6.8 ABV)
6. Hard Time IPA - brewed with two other kinds of hops, then dry hopped (7.0 ABV)
7. Parole Porter - black ale (5.6 ABV)
I happened to be in Jeff City playing a New Year's Eve gig and needed a place to eat dinner. This nice little brewery is just about the only place to go in Jeff City. I would absolutely hate to live there. The entire city is based around politics and corporate offices, so almost the entire city shuts down in the early evening.
This is the only brewery in Jeff City as well. If you find yourself passing through, give it a try! I think the microsampler to try all seven of their beers was only $11. And the pours were about half a beer, not just tiny little tastes!
I definitely recommend this place for what it is and where it is. Give it a try sometime and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Prison Brews
Location: 305 Ash St. in Jefferson City, MO
Entree: Teriyaki Sesame Salmon ($15.99) - Grilled salmon glazed in a teriyaki sesame sauce, served with steamed vegetables. This was a great dish. The teriyaki wasn't overpowering and there wasn't too much of it. I'm a little hesitant to order teriyaki dishes because a lot of places seem to just pour a bowl of it onto whatever you are eating.
Beer: Sampler Platter
1. Go to Jail Ale - light pale ale (4.6 ABV)
2. I Ain't Your Honey Wheat - similar to a hefeweizen (4.8 ABV)
3. Warden's Winter Ale - seasonal red ale (7.2 ABV)
4. Prison Town Brown - typical brown "session beer" (4.8 ABV)
5. Maximum Sentence IPA - brewed with two kinds of hops (6.8 ABV)
6. Hard Time IPA - brewed with two other kinds of hops, then dry hopped (7.0 ABV)
7. Parole Porter - black ale (5.6 ABV)
I happened to be in Jeff City playing a New Year's Eve gig and needed a place to eat dinner. This nice little brewery is just about the only place to go in Jeff City. I would absolutely hate to live there. The entire city is based around politics and corporate offices, so almost the entire city shuts down in the early evening.
This is the only brewery in Jeff City as well. If you find yourself passing through, give it a try! I think the microsampler to try all seven of their beers was only $11. And the pours were about half a beer, not just tiny little tastes!
I definitely recommend this place for what it is and where it is. Give it a try sometime and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Namaskar - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: December 31, 2015
Place: Namaskar
Location: 1001 Broadway St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
This restaurant is a buffet, which I am generally against. However, this particular buffet is unlike anything else in southeast Missouri. Namaskar is an Indian buffet (India the country, not Native Americans).
A lot of the dishes incorporate curry, but they are not all spicy. Some of the food items are:
Pakora Curry - Fried dumplings prepared with chickpea flour and spices.
Bhendi Fry - Fresh stir fried okra prepared with traditional spices. This was one of my favorites.
Channa Masala - Prepared with chickpeas, onion, tomato, coriander seed, garlic, chiles, and ginger.
Daal - Split lentils traditionally seasoned.
Butter Chicken - Marinated chicken in a mildly spiced buttered curry sauce.
BEWARE: Vindaloo Curry - Anything with this type of curry will be extremely spicy!
I thought this place was great and can't wait to go back with Audry so she can try it! Give it a try for yourself and let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Place: Namaskar
Location: 1001 Broadway St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
This restaurant is a buffet, which I am generally against. However, this particular buffet is unlike anything else in southeast Missouri. Namaskar is an Indian buffet (India the country, not Native Americans).
A lot of the dishes incorporate curry, but they are not all spicy. Some of the food items are:
Pakora Curry - Fried dumplings prepared with chickpea flour and spices.
Bhendi Fry - Fresh stir fried okra prepared with traditional spices. This was one of my favorites.
Channa Masala - Prepared with chickpeas, onion, tomato, coriander seed, garlic, chiles, and ginger.
Daal - Split lentils traditionally seasoned.
Butter Chicken - Marinated chicken in a mildly spiced buttered curry sauce.
BEWARE: Vindaloo Curry - Anything with this type of curry will be extremely spicy!
I thought this place was great and can't wait to go back with Audry so she can try it! Give it a try for yourself and let me know what you think about it! Enjoy!
Three Kings Public House - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: December 21, 2015
Place: Three Kings Public House
Location: 6307 Delmar Blvd. in University City, MO
Salad: House Salad (Regular $3.99) - Mixed greens, grape tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, and seasoned croutons. I chose the Feta Greek Vinaigrette dressing and it was very tasty!
Entree: Chicken Stir-Fry ($12.99) - Tender morsels of chicken stir-fried with mushrooms, broccoli, sweet peppers, and carrots in a sweet ginger and soy sauce over white rice. Delicious!
Beers (samples): Firestone Walker DBA, Deschutes Chasin' Freshies, Ballast Point Victory at Sea Vanilla Porter, and Odell Isolation Ale.
Beers (pints): Delirium Tremens, Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA, and Ommegang Game of Thrones Vol. 4 - Valar Morghulis.
This place is great! Not only do they have an amazing craft draft beer selection, they also offer nightly drink specials up to half off the drafts during certain times.
I recommend this place to everyone visiting Delmar. When you try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Three Kings Public House
Location: 6307 Delmar Blvd. in University City, MO
Salad: House Salad (Regular $3.99) - Mixed greens, grape tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, and seasoned croutons. I chose the Feta Greek Vinaigrette dressing and it was very tasty!
Entree: Chicken Stir-Fry ($12.99) - Tender morsels of chicken stir-fried with mushrooms, broccoli, sweet peppers, and carrots in a sweet ginger and soy sauce over white rice. Delicious!
Beers (samples): Firestone Walker DBA, Deschutes Chasin' Freshies, Ballast Point Victory at Sea Vanilla Porter, and Odell Isolation Ale.
Beers (pints): Delirium Tremens, Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA, and Ommegang Game of Thrones Vol. 4 - Valar Morghulis.
This place is great! Not only do they have an amazing craft draft beer selection, they also offer nightly drink specials up to half off the drafts during certain times.
I recommend this place to everyone visiting Delmar. When you try it, let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Rooster - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: December 21, 2015
Place: Rooster
Location: 1104 Locust St. in St. Louis, MO
This is one of the best breakfast/brunch places I have ever been to. And the coffee is fantastic!
Meal: Smoked Salmon ($12) - Wild caught Alaskan smoked salmon, capers, red onion, and dill creme fraiche, served chilled. This dish was absolutely wonderful!
Again, this place is great. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Place: Rooster
Location: 1104 Locust St. in St. Louis, MO
This is one of the best breakfast/brunch places I have ever been to. And the coffee is fantastic!
Meal: Smoked Salmon ($12) - Wild caught Alaskan smoked salmon, capers, red onion, and dill creme fraiche, served chilled. This dish was absolutely wonderful!
Again, this place is great. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Vin de Set - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: December 19, 2015
Place: Vin de Set
Location: 2017 Chouteau Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Hors D'Oeuvres: Escargot - Artichoke, bacon, pearl onion, preserved lemon, and white cream sauce. This was my first time having escargot and it was delicious!
Fromage: Roquefort, Prairie Breeze, and Marieke.
Roquefort - France sheep's milk, pungent - Just the way I like my cheese, soft and stinky!
Prairie Breeze - Idaho cow's milk, nutty, sodium crystals - The sodium crystals gave this cheese a great flavor!
Marieke - Wisconsin cow's milk, buttery - This was also a very good cheese, though it is more "standard" than the other two.
Les Plats: Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass - Vegetable ribbons, pea shoots, and vanilla-citrus vinaigrette. This sea bass was fantastic, though not as good as Dhafer's in Dexter. I don't know what he does to it or where he gets it, but I have yet to find a sea bass as good as his!
Dessert: Nutella Crepe - This was a very good dessert, but was very rich. I'm really glad I had some coffee to go with it.
Wine: Gerard Bertrand Reserve Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (made with organic grapes) - This bottle of wine with our entrees was fantastic! This is definitely worth checking out!
Beers: Chimay and Goose Island Matilda (both are Belgian-style beers - my favorite!) - I absolutely loved both of these beers and will definitely have them again.
In case you couldn't tell, this restaurant is French-themed. This place is truly amazing and I highly recommend you try it and all the other St. Louis Originals restaurants! Once you try this place, let me know what you think of it. I'm sure you'll agree with me. Enjoy!
Place: Vin de Set
Location: 2017 Chouteau Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Hors D'Oeuvres: Escargot - Artichoke, bacon, pearl onion, preserved lemon, and white cream sauce. This was my first time having escargot and it was delicious!
Fromage: Roquefort, Prairie Breeze, and Marieke.
Roquefort - France sheep's milk, pungent - Just the way I like my cheese, soft and stinky!
Prairie Breeze - Idaho cow's milk, nutty, sodium crystals - The sodium crystals gave this cheese a great flavor!
Marieke - Wisconsin cow's milk, buttery - This was also a very good cheese, though it is more "standard" than the other two.
Les Plats: Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass - Vegetable ribbons, pea shoots, and vanilla-citrus vinaigrette. This sea bass was fantastic, though not as good as Dhafer's in Dexter. I don't know what he does to it or where he gets it, but I have yet to find a sea bass as good as his!
Dessert: Nutella Crepe - This was a very good dessert, but was very rich. I'm really glad I had some coffee to go with it.
Wine: Gerard Bertrand Reserve Speciale Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (made with organic grapes) - This bottle of wine with our entrees was fantastic! This is definitely worth checking out!
Beers: Chimay and Goose Island Matilda (both are Belgian-style beers - my favorite!) - I absolutely loved both of these beers and will definitely have them again.
In case you couldn't tell, this restaurant is French-themed. This place is truly amazing and I highly recommend you try it and all the other St. Louis Originals restaurants! Once you try this place, let me know what you think of it. I'm sure you'll agree with me. Enjoy!
Yaqui's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: December 18, 2015
Place: Yaqui's
Location: 2728 Cherokee St. in St. Louis, MO
The St. Louis jazz group I play in had a gathering here before one of our gigs at the Casa Loma Ballroom. We had a number of different pizzas for our large group. The pizza was pretty good, but nothing extremely special. The bar is fantastic, with a lot of different beer and wine options!
Favorite: Crispin The Saint (cider)
This place has a great story behind it and is definitely worth at least a visit. Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Yaqui's
Location: 2728 Cherokee St. in St. Louis, MO
The St. Louis jazz group I play in had a gathering here before one of our gigs at the Casa Loma Ballroom. We had a number of different pizzas for our large group. The pizza was pretty good, but nothing extremely special. The bar is fantastic, with a lot of different beer and wine options!
Favorite: Crispin The Saint (cider)
This place has a great story behind it and is definitely worth at least a visit. Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Standard Brewing Co. - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: December 12, 2015
Place: Standard Brewing Company
Location: 12322 Dorsett Rd. in Maryland Heights, MO
Appetizer: Chips and Dip ($6) - a pile of billy goat chips served with a side of adobo dipping sauce.
Pizza: My table split a pizza Sampler Flight (three 8" pizzas for $20) - We had the Buffalo Rider, Cojiro, and South Side. All of them were fantastic, but the South Side was my favorite!
Buffalo Rider - The best seller! Roasted chicken tossed in their sweet and spicy buffalo sauce on a bed of fresh baby spinach, then topped off with a drizzle of ranch dressing and chopping green onion.
Cojiro - House-made pesto sauce topped with chicken, thinly sliced prosciutto, mushrooms, and a healthy sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
South Side - Roasted garlic and Italian sausage, cooked and then garnished with fresh basil leaves. Simple as that! Their sausage is absolutely delectable!
Beer: I had the sampler flight with all of their beers. Pretty good stuff!
Standard Klassisch - Hefeweizen (4.8 ABV and 13 IBUs)
Standard Once Upon A-(Blonde) - Blonde Ale (5.0 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Standard Enigma - American IPA (7.2 ABV and 80 IBUs)
Standard 10w-40 - Irish Stout (4.5 ABV and 36 IBUs)
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Standard Brewing Co. and I think you would as well. Try this place out the next time your looking for a meal in the Maryland Heights area and let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Place: Standard Brewing Company
Location: 12322 Dorsett Rd. in Maryland Heights, MO
Appetizer: Chips and Dip ($6) - a pile of billy goat chips served with a side of adobo dipping sauce.
Pizza: My table split a pizza Sampler Flight (three 8" pizzas for $20) - We had the Buffalo Rider, Cojiro, and South Side. All of them were fantastic, but the South Side was my favorite!
Buffalo Rider - The best seller! Roasted chicken tossed in their sweet and spicy buffalo sauce on a bed of fresh baby spinach, then topped off with a drizzle of ranch dressing and chopping green onion.
Cojiro - House-made pesto sauce topped with chicken, thinly sliced prosciutto, mushrooms, and a healthy sprinkle of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
South Side - Roasted garlic and Italian sausage, cooked and then garnished with fresh basil leaves. Simple as that! Their sausage is absolutely delectable!
Beer: I had the sampler flight with all of their beers. Pretty good stuff!
Standard Klassisch - Hefeweizen (4.8 ABV and 13 IBUs)
Standard Once Upon A-(Blonde) - Blonde Ale (5.0 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Standard Enigma - American IPA (7.2 ABV and 80 IBUs)
Standard 10w-40 - Irish Stout (4.5 ABV and 36 IBUs)
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Standard Brewing Co. and I think you would as well. Try this place out the next time your looking for a meal in the Maryland Heights area and let me know what you think of it! Enjoy!
Cheeburger Cheeburger - St. Louis, MO
Date(s) of dining experience: November 28, 2015 and December 6, 2015
Place: Cheeburger Cheeburger
Location: 13311 Manchester Rd. in St. Louis, MO
This restaurant is fantastic! This was definitely one of the best burgers I've ever eaten, both times!
Side Salad: Mixed greens with shredded jack and cheddar, tomatoes, and garlic croutons ($3.89) - I had the Greek dressing with mine and it was great!
Meal: The Classic Burger - 1/4 lb. - I got mine cooked medium because it's the lowest they will go.
Pick any cheese: I had Havarti and Feta ($0.50) - They have 12 options.
Toppings: The possibilities are endless! Many of the the toppings are free, and you can have as many as you want on your burger! They do have a few specialty toppings that cost a little extra, like guacamole, a fried egg, or chili.
Side: The fries were awesome! They have some really good sauces you can purchase extra. I tried the Creamy Cheese, Zesty Horseradish, and Garden Vegetable. They were all very good. My favorite was probably the Zesty Horseradish.
This is a 50s style diner that is NOT fast food. Everything is made-to-order and delicious! The fries are extra good because they are cooked in peanut oil, so if you are allergic you'll want to stay away.
I highly recommend this burger joint! The owner is awesome and very personable. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Cheeburger Cheeburger
Location: 13311 Manchester Rd. in St. Louis, MO
This restaurant is fantastic! This was definitely one of the best burgers I've ever eaten, both times!
Side Salad: Mixed greens with shredded jack and cheddar, tomatoes, and garlic croutons ($3.89) - I had the Greek dressing with mine and it was great!
Meal: The Classic Burger - 1/4 lb. - I got mine cooked medium because it's the lowest they will go.
Pick any cheese: I had Havarti and Feta ($0.50) - They have 12 options.
Toppings: The possibilities are endless! Many of the the toppings are free, and you can have as many as you want on your burger! They do have a few specialty toppings that cost a little extra, like guacamole, a fried egg, or chili.
Side: The fries were awesome! They have some really good sauces you can purchase extra. I tried the Creamy Cheese, Zesty Horseradish, and Garden Vegetable. They were all very good. My favorite was probably the Zesty Horseradish.
This is a 50s style diner that is NOT fast food. Everything is made-to-order and delicious! The fries are extra good because they are cooked in peanut oil, so if you are allergic you'll want to stay away.
I highly recommend this burger joint! The owner is awesome and very personable. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
C.J. Mugg's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: November 15, 2015
Place: C.J. Mugg's
Location: 101 W. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO
Salad: Muggs' House (small $5) - romaine, iceberg, field greens, tomatoes, eggs, cucumbers, onions, cheddar, provel, and housemade croutons. (I'm not sure why the name of the place has the apostrophe before the "s" and some of the house dishes have it afterward.) This was a very good salad. I had it with the strawberry vinaigrette.
Meal: Pad Thai (small $9.25) - a traditional spicy Thai stir fry: broccoli, lemon grass, baby corn, carrots, green onions, bell peppers, rice stick noodles, and spicy ginger peanut sauce, topped with bean sprouts, fresh lime, and cilantro. This was fantastic! I will probably get this again the next time I visit C.J. Mugg's.
I ate here because I was playing a jazz gig in the downstairs area. For those of you who would like to try this place, you could come up on Valentine's Day to try it. I'm playing another jazz gig here that night from 6:00-8:30 P.M. and as far as I know the tickets are not sold out yet.
I highly recommend this restaurant. The downstairs atmosphere is a little more laid back, while the upstairs is a little more classy. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: C.J. Mugg's
Location: 101 W. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO
Salad: Muggs' House (small $5) - romaine, iceberg, field greens, tomatoes, eggs, cucumbers, onions, cheddar, provel, and housemade croutons. (I'm not sure why the name of the place has the apostrophe before the "s" and some of the house dishes have it afterward.) This was a very good salad. I had it with the strawberry vinaigrette.
Meal: Pad Thai (small $9.25) - a traditional spicy Thai stir fry: broccoli, lemon grass, baby corn, carrots, green onions, bell peppers, rice stick noodles, and spicy ginger peanut sauce, topped with bean sprouts, fresh lime, and cilantro. This was fantastic! I will probably get this again the next time I visit C.J. Mugg's.
I ate here because I was playing a jazz gig in the downstairs area. For those of you who would like to try this place, you could come up on Valentine's Day to try it. I'm playing another jazz gig here that night from 6:00-8:30 P.M. and as far as I know the tickets are not sold out yet.
I highly recommend this restaurant. The downstairs atmosphere is a little more laid back, while the upstairs is a little more classy. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Paddlewheel Pizza - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: November 14, 2015
Place: Paddlewheel Pizza & Subs
Location: 127 N. Water St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Pizza: Margherita Pizza - standard toppings of basil and tomato. This pizza was pretty good, but not great. I would say that the goat cheese pizza from Minglewood is better.
Beer: There is a back door that connects to a bar with a great selection of craft beers on draft and in bottles.
Overall, this place is worth a try and may get better as it gets more business. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.
Place: Paddlewheel Pizza & Subs
Location: 127 N. Water St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Pizza: Margherita Pizza - standard toppings of basil and tomato. This pizza was pretty good, but not great. I would say that the goat cheese pizza from Minglewood is better.
Beer: There is a back door that connects to a bar with a great selection of craft beers on draft and in bottles.
Overall, this place is worth a try and may get better as it gets more business. Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.
Ciao - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date of dining experience: October 23, 2015
Place: Ciao Ristorante and Enoteca
Location: 1650 N. Kingshighway #102 in Cape Girardeau, MO
This is the second post for Ciao and I believe my meal this time was better than the first!
Appetizers: Carpaccio of Beef ($10) and Tuscan Pate ($10). Both of these were fantastic. The Carpaccio is one of our favorites and definitely a go-to. The Carpaccio is thinly sliced rare beef topped with arugula and lemon aioli. The Pate is chicken liver pate with capers, lemon zest, fresh herbs, and parmigiano reggiano.
Salad: Caesar Salad ($8) - This is a great salad. They actually have real anchovies in their dressing and place some whole ones on the salad for you as well. Delicious!
Meal: Pasta Special ($18) - This was wonderful. I forget what it was called, but it is kind of like a combination of cannelloni and gnocchi with a red sauce.
Wine: Barbera D'alba - This was an absolutely delicious dry red. $40
Dessert: Coffee ($3) and Pannatone ($8) - AMAZING coffee and a fantastic dessert. You can't end a meal much better than that!
Cheese: The manager put together a bag of gourmet cheeses imported from Italy for us ($50). He threw in a container of white anchovies for free because we were talking about how my wife makes her own Caesar salad dressing (and it is amazing).
If you still haven't been, I highly recommend you go and try this place! It is absolutely wonderful and you will not regret it. Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Ciao Ristorante and Enoteca
Location: 1650 N. Kingshighway #102 in Cape Girardeau, MO
This is the second post for Ciao and I believe my meal this time was better than the first!
Appetizers: Carpaccio of Beef ($10) and Tuscan Pate ($10). Both of these were fantastic. The Carpaccio is one of our favorites and definitely a go-to. The Carpaccio is thinly sliced rare beef topped with arugula and lemon aioli. The Pate is chicken liver pate with capers, lemon zest, fresh herbs, and parmigiano reggiano.
Salad: Caesar Salad ($8) - This is a great salad. They actually have real anchovies in their dressing and place some whole ones on the salad for you as well. Delicious!
Meal: Pasta Special ($18) - This was wonderful. I forget what it was called, but it is kind of like a combination of cannelloni and gnocchi with a red sauce.
Wine: Barbera D'alba - This was an absolutely delicious dry red. $40
Dessert: Coffee ($3) and Pannatone ($8) - AMAZING coffee and a fantastic dessert. You can't end a meal much better than that!
Cheese: The manager put together a bag of gourmet cheeses imported from Italy for us ($50). He threw in a container of white anchovies for free because we were talking about how my wife makes her own Caesar salad dressing (and it is amazing).
If you still haven't been, I highly recommend you go and try this place! It is absolutely wonderful and you will not regret it. Try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
River Ridge - Commerce, MO
Date of dining experience: October 18, 2015
Place: River Ridge Winery
Location: 850 Co. Rd. 321 in Commerce, MO
Appetizer: My favorite appetizer here is the fried okra. It is always light and flavorful without being soaked with grease. Dip it in the awesome WOW sauce and you're good to go!
Food: Most of the time I tend to get the Big Mess Burger, even though I'm generally against messy foods. This burger is amazing. You're just going to have to try it to gain the experience.
Wine: All of the wines are so good. My wife and I tend to start with a bottle of Rose (semi-dry) and move to a Cabernet (Fall/Winter) or Chardonnay (Spring/Summer) once our food arrives. My favorite River Ridge wine is probably the Villard Blanc (semi-dry). Their website right now says they have a Joie de Riviere (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec), which I hope to try soon!
Entertainment: On this particular visit Pat Schwent's Saxy Jazz Quintet was playing and it was great. Pat really knows how to put on a show and conveys true enthusiasm and love of the music when she is playing her saxophone. Her rhythm section is made up of top-notch players. Pete Parysek is one of the best piano players I've ever seen. Drummer Mark Ellison and bassist Sam Godwin are fantastic. The guitar play, Matt Gates, is a personal friend of mine and is a Dexter native.
River Ridge is one of my favorite Missouri wineries. The people are fantastic, the wine is extremely good for Missouri, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the entertainment provided is always great. I highly recommend this winery.
If you have never been to River Ridge you need to go now! They are open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Make sure you go inside to the tasting room as well. Let me know what you think once you try it. Enjoy!
Place: River Ridge Winery
Location: 850 Co. Rd. 321 in Commerce, MO
Appetizer: My favorite appetizer here is the fried okra. It is always light and flavorful without being soaked with grease. Dip it in the awesome WOW sauce and you're good to go!
Food: Most of the time I tend to get the Big Mess Burger, even though I'm generally against messy foods. This burger is amazing. You're just going to have to try it to gain the experience.
Wine: All of the wines are so good. My wife and I tend to start with a bottle of Rose (semi-dry) and move to a Cabernet (Fall/Winter) or Chardonnay (Spring/Summer) once our food arrives. My favorite River Ridge wine is probably the Villard Blanc (semi-dry). Their website right now says they have a Joie de Riviere (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec), which I hope to try soon!
Entertainment: On this particular visit Pat Schwent's Saxy Jazz Quintet was playing and it was great. Pat really knows how to put on a show and conveys true enthusiasm and love of the music when she is playing her saxophone. Her rhythm section is made up of top-notch players. Pete Parysek is one of the best piano players I've ever seen. Drummer Mark Ellison and bassist Sam Godwin are fantastic. The guitar play, Matt Gates, is a personal friend of mine and is a Dexter native.
River Ridge is one of my favorite Missouri wineries. The people are fantastic, the wine is extremely good for Missouri, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the entertainment provided is always great. I highly recommend this winery.
If you have never been to River Ridge you need to go now! They are open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Make sure you go inside to the tasting room as well. Let me know what you think once you try it. Enjoy!
Tucanos - St. Charles, MO
Date of dining experience: September 25, 2015
Place: Tucanos Brazilian Grill
Location: 1520 S. 5th St. #100 in St. Charles, MO
Meal: Tucanos Famous Churrasco. This place is set up like a buffet, sort of. They do have a triangle-shaped buffet with salads, soups, breads, etc., but the reason to come here is for the meats! You have a stoplight at your table and when it is green the servers will bring by all their specialty grilled meats on skewers and carve you off a piece. When you are full or want to take a break, just flip your stoplight over to red and no one will bother you!
Meats:
Beef - Picanha (Top Sirloin), Fraldinha (Beef Tender), Picalho (Garlic Parmesan Beef), Assado (Marinated Beef Brisket), Carne Marinada, and File Mignon com Bacon (Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon).
Poultry - Peru (Turkey wrapped in Bacon), Contra Coxa, and Coracao de Frango.
Pork - Linguica (Brazilian Sausage), Presunto (Brown Sugar-glazed Ham), and Lombo (Pork Loin).
Other - Frutos do Mar (Seafood Selection), Legumes (Grilled Vegetables), and Abacaxi (Grilled Pineapple).
Beer: Goose Island Autumn Ale - This was perfectly dark and hoppy. It paired well with all the grilled meats.
Dessert: Brazilian Flan - A perfect ending of custard and caramel.
This is a wonderful experience for everyone, whether out with the family or on a date. I highly recommend Tucanos! Let me know what you think once you try it. Enjoy!
Place: Tucanos Brazilian Grill
Location: 1520 S. 5th St. #100 in St. Charles, MO
Meal: Tucanos Famous Churrasco. This place is set up like a buffet, sort of. They do have a triangle-shaped buffet with salads, soups, breads, etc., but the reason to come here is for the meats! You have a stoplight at your table and when it is green the servers will bring by all their specialty grilled meats on skewers and carve you off a piece. When you are full or want to take a break, just flip your stoplight over to red and no one will bother you!
Meats:
Beef - Picanha (Top Sirloin), Fraldinha (Beef Tender), Picalho (Garlic Parmesan Beef), Assado (Marinated Beef Brisket), Carne Marinada, and File Mignon com Bacon (Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon).
Poultry - Peru (Turkey wrapped in Bacon), Contra Coxa, and Coracao de Frango.
Pork - Linguica (Brazilian Sausage), Presunto (Brown Sugar-glazed Ham), and Lombo (Pork Loin).
Other - Frutos do Mar (Seafood Selection), Legumes (Grilled Vegetables), and Abacaxi (Grilled Pineapple).
Beer: Goose Island Autumn Ale - This was perfectly dark and hoppy. It paired well with all the grilled meats.
Dessert: Brazilian Flan - A perfect ending of custard and caramel.
This is a wonderful experience for everyone, whether out with the family or on a date. I highly recommend Tucanos! Let me know what you think once you try it. Enjoy!
Robust - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: September 4, 2015
Place: Robust Wine Bar
Location: 227 W. Lockwood Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Peach and Chorizo Flatbread - Sliced Peaches, Volpi Chorizo, Peach and Tomato Puree, and Smoked Mozzarella ($14). This was extremely delicious and not at all what I was expecting when we ordered it. The flavors mix together perfectly.
Cheese Plate:
1. Morbier, Franche-Comte, France ($8.50) - Cow's milk cheese. Strong aroma, rich and creamy texture. Semi-soft French cheese classically made with vegetable ash. Pasteurized. Delicious!
2. Delice de Bourgogne, France ($9) - Triple cream cow's milk cheese with a bloomy rind; creme fraiche like tang, creamy smooth texture. Pasteurized. Absolutely wonderful!
3. Iberico, Spain ($8.50) - Cousin of Manchego. Cow, sheep, and goat's milk cheese. Semi-firm. Rich and buttery texture. Pasteurized. For a harder cheese, this was very tasty!
Table Side: Glazed Brussels Sprouts - Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Honey and Garlic, Butter, and Fresh Thyme on Polenta with Goat Cheese ($12). This was amazing and I had to fight to keep it to myself! Everyone at the table loved it once they tried it.
Prix Fixe Menu:
Course 1 - Caesar Salad = Crisp Romaine Lettuce, Garlic Croutons, Shaved Parmesan, and Classic Caesar Dressing. The croutons that are on this salad are the ABSOLUTE BEST croutons I have ever had in my life.
Course 2 - Sea Scallops = Cast-Iron Seared Sea Scallops Over Cauliflower-Farro Risotto, with Roasted Cauliflower Florets and Glazed Snap Peas. Wonderful dish with perfect sea scallops.
Course 3 - Goat Cheese Cheesecake = Rich Goat Cheese & Vanilla Custard on Graham Cracker Crust with Black Berry Gastrique. This was fantastic! All the flavor of a cheesecake, but better because there was a hint of goat cheese!
Wines:
1. We started the night with a fantastic Saget la Perriere "La Petite Perriere" Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley, France. This was very light and crisp, and very aromatic with fruity hints of mango.
2. We then moved to a nice Shoofly Pinot Noir from Vitoria, Australia. This was very aromatic and fruity, and had a little more bite to it, which I like, than a typical West Coast Pinot Noir.
3. Those of you that know me, know one of my favorite wines is a Cabernet Franc. I tried a number of wines here and their Chaman Cabernet Franc from Mendoza, Argentina is absolutely wonderful ($4 for 3oz or $8 for 6oz). If you don't know what a Cabernet Franc is, imagine that a Malbec and a Cabernet Sauvignon had a baby. Yeah. Delicious.
I will be back to Robust. I highly recommend it for everyone, especially lovers of good wine. Their wine menu is it's own multi-page book. Try this place and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Robust Wine Bar
Location: 227 W. Lockwood Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Appetizer: Peach and Chorizo Flatbread - Sliced Peaches, Volpi Chorizo, Peach and Tomato Puree, and Smoked Mozzarella ($14). This was extremely delicious and not at all what I was expecting when we ordered it. The flavors mix together perfectly.
Cheese Plate:
1. Morbier, Franche-Comte, France ($8.50) - Cow's milk cheese. Strong aroma, rich and creamy texture. Semi-soft French cheese classically made with vegetable ash. Pasteurized. Delicious!
2. Delice de Bourgogne, France ($9) - Triple cream cow's milk cheese with a bloomy rind; creme fraiche like tang, creamy smooth texture. Pasteurized. Absolutely wonderful!
3. Iberico, Spain ($8.50) - Cousin of Manchego. Cow, sheep, and goat's milk cheese. Semi-firm. Rich and buttery texture. Pasteurized. For a harder cheese, this was very tasty!
Table Side: Glazed Brussels Sprouts - Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Honey and Garlic, Butter, and Fresh Thyme on Polenta with Goat Cheese ($12). This was amazing and I had to fight to keep it to myself! Everyone at the table loved it once they tried it.
Prix Fixe Menu:
Course 1 - Caesar Salad = Crisp Romaine Lettuce, Garlic Croutons, Shaved Parmesan, and Classic Caesar Dressing. The croutons that are on this salad are the ABSOLUTE BEST croutons I have ever had in my life.
Course 2 - Sea Scallops = Cast-Iron Seared Sea Scallops Over Cauliflower-Farro Risotto, with Roasted Cauliflower Florets and Glazed Snap Peas. Wonderful dish with perfect sea scallops.
Course 3 - Goat Cheese Cheesecake = Rich Goat Cheese & Vanilla Custard on Graham Cracker Crust with Black Berry Gastrique. This was fantastic! All the flavor of a cheesecake, but better because there was a hint of goat cheese!
Wines:
1. We started the night with a fantastic Saget la Perriere "La Petite Perriere" Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley, France. This was very light and crisp, and very aromatic with fruity hints of mango.
2. We then moved to a nice Shoofly Pinot Noir from Vitoria, Australia. This was very aromatic and fruity, and had a little more bite to it, which I like, than a typical West Coast Pinot Noir.
3. Those of you that know me, know one of my favorite wines is a Cabernet Franc. I tried a number of wines here and their Chaman Cabernet Franc from Mendoza, Argentina is absolutely wonderful ($4 for 3oz or $8 for 6oz). If you don't know what a Cabernet Franc is, imagine that a Malbec and a Cabernet Sauvignon had a baby. Yeah. Delicious.
I will be back to Robust. I highly recommend it for everyone, especially lovers of good wine. Their wine menu is it's own multi-page book. Try this place and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)