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!
Sunday, February 28, 2016
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!
Red's Public House - Cedar Rapids, IA
Date of dining experience: August 30, 2015
Place: Red's Public House
Location: 112 2nd St. SE in Cedar Rapids, IA
Food: My table split some mild wings and a Jerk Chicken pizza, which is grilled chicken with cheddar jack and their homemade Caribbean jerk sauce.
Beer: Bent River Sweet Potato Ale
This place is pretty good, but not amazing. When we stopped in downtown Cedar Rapids and asked some locals where the best place to eat was they pointed us in this direction. If this is the best place in all of Cedar Rapids, I'm glad I don't like there!
However, this is a great place to stop if you're passing through at lunch time. You can't go wrong with a menu full of burgers, wings, and pizza. If you get the chance to try it for yourself, let me know!
Place: Red's Public House
Location: 112 2nd St. SE in Cedar Rapids, IA
Food: My table split some mild wings and a Jerk Chicken pizza, which is grilled chicken with cheddar jack and their homemade Caribbean jerk sauce.
Beer: Bent River Sweet Potato Ale
This place is pretty good, but not amazing. When we stopped in downtown Cedar Rapids and asked some locals where the best place to eat was they pointed us in this direction. If this is the best place in all of Cedar Rapids, I'm glad I don't like there!
However, this is a great place to stop if you're passing through at lunch time. You can't go wrong with a menu full of burgers, wings, and pizza. If you get the chance to try it for yourself, let me know!
Schlafly Tap Room - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: August 9, 2015
Place: The Schlafly Tap Room
Location: 2100 Locust St. in St. Louis, MO
Food: Lamb & Beef Shepherd's Pie ($13.75) - Ground lamb and beef, peas and carrots, and broiled mashed potatoes. This is a great comfort food and goes very well with a beer tasting.
Dessert: STP - sticky toffee pudding ($7.50). Amazingly mouth-watering! This is a Scottish cake (kind of like a date cake) with warm caramel sauce and freshly whipped cream.
Beers:
Elderflower Maibock (6.8 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Kellerbier (5.5 ABV and 25 IBUs)
STL Brews Saison (collaboration - 5.0 ABV and 17 IBUs)
Hop Trial Azacca (limited draft-only release to try a new kind of hops - 6.5 ABV and 45 IBUs)
Yakima Wheat Ale (5.0 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Oktoberfest (5.5 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Hard Apple Cider (7.2 ABV)
I am a huge fan of breweries and tastings (beer or wine). I'm also an advocate of craft beer, so I believe everyone should experience how amazing and artistic beer can be. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: The Schlafly Tap Room
Location: 2100 Locust St. in St. Louis, MO
Food: Lamb & Beef Shepherd's Pie ($13.75) - Ground lamb and beef, peas and carrots, and broiled mashed potatoes. This is a great comfort food and goes very well with a beer tasting.
Dessert: STP - sticky toffee pudding ($7.50). Amazingly mouth-watering! This is a Scottish cake (kind of like a date cake) with warm caramel sauce and freshly whipped cream.
Beers:
Elderflower Maibock (6.8 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Kellerbier (5.5 ABV and 25 IBUs)
STL Brews Saison (collaboration - 5.0 ABV and 17 IBUs)
Hop Trial Azacca (limited draft-only release to try a new kind of hops - 6.5 ABV and 45 IBUs)
Yakima Wheat Ale (5.0 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Oktoberfest (5.5 ABV and 25 IBUs)
Hard Apple Cider (7.2 ABV)
I am a huge fan of breweries and tastings (beer or wine). I'm also an advocate of craft beer, so I believe everyone should experience how amazing and artistic beer can be. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Urban Chestnut (Grove) - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: August 8, 2015
Place: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company - Grove Brewery and Bierhall
Location: 4465 Manchester Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Food: Poutine - fries with cheese, gravy, and knockwurst. This is a fantastic dish. I love going to breweries that serve things other than typical American bar food.
Beers:
Apotheosis - Saison (5.3 ABV and 18 IBUs)
Bushelhead - Cider (7.0 ABV)
Oxnbrau - Doppelbock (8.0 ABV and 22 IBUs)
Stammtisch - German Pils (5.4 ABV and 35 IBUs)
Erlkonig - Weizenbock (8.5 ABV)
I am a huge fan of breweries and tastings (beer or wine). I'm also an advocate of craft beer, so I believe everyone should experience how amazing and artistic beer can be. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company - Grove Brewery and Bierhall
Location: 4465 Manchester Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Food: Poutine - fries with cheese, gravy, and knockwurst. This is a fantastic dish. I love going to breweries that serve things other than typical American bar food.
Beers:
Apotheosis - Saison (5.3 ABV and 18 IBUs)
Bushelhead - Cider (7.0 ABV)
Oxnbrau - Doppelbock (8.0 ABV and 22 IBUs)
Stammtisch - German Pils (5.4 ABV and 35 IBUs)
Erlkonig - Weizenbock (8.5 ABV)
I am a huge fan of breweries and tastings (beer or wine). I'm also an advocate of craft beer, so I believe everyone should experience how amazing and artistic beer can be. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Urban Chestnut (Midtown) - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: July 30, 2015
Place: Urban Chesnut Brewing Company - Midtown Brewery and Biergarten
Location: 3229 Washington Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Food: Warm Pretzel Plate ($6) - served warm with obaztda, Bavarian mustard, and butter. A good soft pretzel also goes well with a beer tasting!
Beers:
Winged Nut - Signature Chestnut Ale (5.4 ABV and 22 IBUs)
Hopfen - Bavarian IPA (6.1 ABV and 45 IBUs)
Zwickel - Bavarian Style Lager (5.2 ABV and 20 IBUs)
Schnickelfritz - Bavarian Weissbier (4.8 ABV and 12 IBUs)
Ku'Damm - Berliner Weiss (4.2 ABV and 13 IBUs)
Pierre's Wit - Belgian Wit (5.2 ABV and 13 IBUs)
O'Florian's - Irish Dry Stout (4.2 ABV and 30 IBUs)
I am a huge fan of breweries and tastings (beer or wine). I'm also an advocate of craft beer, so I believe everyone should experience how amazing and artistic beer can be. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Urban Chesnut Brewing Company - Midtown Brewery and Biergarten
Location: 3229 Washington Ave. in St. Louis, MO
Food: Warm Pretzel Plate ($6) - served warm with obaztda, Bavarian mustard, and butter. A good soft pretzel also goes well with a beer tasting!
Beers:
Winged Nut - Signature Chestnut Ale (5.4 ABV and 22 IBUs)
Hopfen - Bavarian IPA (6.1 ABV and 45 IBUs)
Zwickel - Bavarian Style Lager (5.2 ABV and 20 IBUs)
Schnickelfritz - Bavarian Weissbier (4.8 ABV and 12 IBUs)
Ku'Damm - Berliner Weiss (4.2 ABV and 13 IBUs)
Pierre's Wit - Belgian Wit (5.2 ABV and 13 IBUs)
O'Florian's - Irish Dry Stout (4.2 ABV and 30 IBUs)
I am a huge fan of breweries and tastings (beer or wine). I'm also an advocate of craft beer, so I believe everyone should experience how amazing and artistic beer can be. Try this place out and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
The Bar - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date(s) of dining experience: July 26, 2015 and December 27, 2015
Place: The Bar
Location: 117 Themis St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Yes, this is the bar from the movie Gone Girl, and it is fantastic! The first time I went here it was for dinner and the second was for brunch.
Dinner: They were out of Shepherd's Pie, so I got the Pecan Parmesan Crusted Wild Salmon ($15) - Served with cayenne cucumber sauce and French bread. This salmon was amazing! This "bar" is definitely not your typical bar. I would classify this place as a "classy bar" with great food!
Side: Braised Brussel Sprouts ($3) - The Brussels sprouts were wonderful. (Yes, I know I spelled it two different ways. The first one is how it looks in the menu and the second one is how I prefer to spell it because it is the correct way. Americans, in our typical lazy way, like to drop the "s" from the end of Brussels, probably because "sprouts" starts with an "s" as well.)
Brunch: Great coffee! There are so many egg dishes to choose from and they are all wonderful. I had the Croque Monsieur Provencal ($11). I suggest trying the Eggs Benedict. Not a lot of places make Eggs Benedict, but it is fantastic. I doubt you will disappointed with either of the dishes mentioned.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. I know you will love it! Enjoy!
Place: The Bar
Location: 117 Themis St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Yes, this is the bar from the movie Gone Girl, and it is fantastic! The first time I went here it was for dinner and the second was for brunch.
Dinner: They were out of Shepherd's Pie, so I got the Pecan Parmesan Crusted Wild Salmon ($15) - Served with cayenne cucumber sauce and French bread. This salmon was amazing! This "bar" is definitely not your typical bar. I would classify this place as a "classy bar" with great food!
Side: Braised Brussel Sprouts ($3) - The Brussels sprouts were wonderful. (Yes, I know I spelled it two different ways. The first one is how it looks in the menu and the second one is how I prefer to spell it because it is the correct way. Americans, in our typical lazy way, like to drop the "s" from the end of Brussels, probably because "sprouts" starts with an "s" as well.)
Brunch: Great coffee! There are so many egg dishes to choose from and they are all wonderful. I had the Croque Monsieur Provencal ($11). I suggest trying the Eggs Benedict. Not a lot of places make Eggs Benedict, but it is fantastic. I doubt you will disappointed with either of the dishes mentioned.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. I know you will love it! Enjoy!
Dooley's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: July 22, 2015
Place: Dooley's Beef 'N' Brew House
Location: 601 N. Grand Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
This little pub was pretty good for a quick bite. It is located right around the corner from The Fox Theater and a couple blocks down from a gig I was playing at the Kranzberg Arts Center.
Appetizer: Irish Fries - Crispy fires covered in shredded corn beef, scallions, cheddar, and provel. This was very food when it was fresh, but once it cooled a little you could taste that the fries were a little overcooked. They became hard and greasy. $7
Meal: Hooligan Burger - A Dooley burger with bacon and creamed cheddar topped with an over-easy egg on a sesame bun. This burger was delicious! My only complaint is that the egg was overcooked. $9.95
Beers: Urban Chestnut Fantasyland and Sierra Nevada Summerfest. Both of these beers were fantastic and paired very well with the burger.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Dooley's Beef 'N' Brew House
Location: 601 N. Grand Blvd. in St. Louis, MO
This little pub was pretty good for a quick bite. It is located right around the corner from The Fox Theater and a couple blocks down from a gig I was playing at the Kranzberg Arts Center.
Appetizer: Irish Fries - Crispy fires covered in shredded corn beef, scallions, cheddar, and provel. This was very food when it was fresh, but once it cooled a little you could taste that the fries were a little overcooked. They became hard and greasy. $7
Meal: Hooligan Burger - A Dooley burger with bacon and creamed cheddar topped with an over-easy egg on a sesame bun. This burger was delicious! My only complaint is that the egg was overcooked. $9.95
Beers: Urban Chestnut Fantasyland and Sierra Nevada Summerfest. Both of these beers were fantastic and paired very well with the burger.
Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Minglewood - Cape Girardeau, MO
Date(s) of dining experience: July 13, 2015 and December 27, 2015
Place: Minglewood Brewery
Location: 121 Broadway St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Food: Both times I have eaten at this restaurant I had the Sausage Goat Cheese pizza. It is Italian sausage crumbles, portabella mushrooms, spinach, and carmelized onions, with their signature pizza sauce and topped with their five cheese blend and goat cheese for $11.99. It is absolutely wonderful. All of the flavors mix together perfectly for an amazing pizza experience.
Beers: Both times I have eaten here I had the beer sampler platter.
Minglewood American Stout (5.7 ABV and 43 IBUs)
Minglewood Abbey Ale (4.9 ABV and 21 IBUs)
Minglewood IPA 1.0 (6.0 ABV and 55 IBUs)
Minglewood Session Ale (3.2 ABV and 17 IBUs)
Minglewood Kentucky Common (4.5 ABV and 31 IBUs)
Minglewood Tropical Pale Ale (4.5 ABV and 37 IBUs)
Minglewood Saison (6.0 ABV and 26 IBUs)
Minglewood American Blonde Ale (5.3 ABV and 21 IBUs)
Minglewood Cape Rock Pale Ale (4.2 ABV and 37 IBUs)
Guest Tap: Big Muddy Belgian Dubbel (6.5 ABV and 20 IBUs)
Minglewood is a great place and has a great atmosphere. The Big Muddy was my favorite beer from the list, but most people that know me know that Belgian-style beers are my favorite.
If you have not yet tried Minglewood, you need to. This place is going to be around for a long time and continue to grow and get better. Don't take my word for it, try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Minglewood Brewery
Location: 121 Broadway St. in Cape Girardeau, MO
Food: Both times I have eaten at this restaurant I had the Sausage Goat Cheese pizza. It is Italian sausage crumbles, portabella mushrooms, spinach, and carmelized onions, with their signature pizza sauce and topped with their five cheese blend and goat cheese for $11.99. It is absolutely wonderful. All of the flavors mix together perfectly for an amazing pizza experience.
Beers: Both times I have eaten here I had the beer sampler platter.
Minglewood American Stout (5.7 ABV and 43 IBUs)
Minglewood Abbey Ale (4.9 ABV and 21 IBUs)
Minglewood IPA 1.0 (6.0 ABV and 55 IBUs)
Minglewood Session Ale (3.2 ABV and 17 IBUs)
Minglewood Kentucky Common (4.5 ABV and 31 IBUs)
Minglewood Tropical Pale Ale (4.5 ABV and 37 IBUs)
Minglewood Saison (6.0 ABV and 26 IBUs)
Minglewood American Blonde Ale (5.3 ABV and 21 IBUs)
Minglewood Cape Rock Pale Ale (4.2 ABV and 37 IBUs)
Guest Tap: Big Muddy Belgian Dubbel (6.5 ABV and 20 IBUs)
Minglewood is a great place and has a great atmosphere. The Big Muddy was my favorite beer from the list, but most people that know me know that Belgian-style beers are my favorite.
If you have not yet tried Minglewood, you need to. This place is going to be around for a long time and continue to grow and get better. Don't take my word for it, try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Show-Me's - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: July 11, 2015
Place: Show-Me's Sports Bar & Grill
Location: 1792 N. New Florissant Rd. in Florissant, MO
Food: Boneless wings. Show-Me's is technically a chain, but they have pretty good wings. And the prices are very reasonable when compared to places like Buffalo Wild Wings.
Beers:
1. Shock Top Pretzel Wheat - I like a good Shock Top, but I'll be sticking to the Belgian White. I thought the Pretzel Wheat was terrible.
2. Faust Pilsner (by Budweiser) - As far as non-craft beers go, most people know I hate them. However, this is a nice new pilsner on the market. It is light and crisp and goes great with wings. But you can tell this is a Budweiser product because it is non as flavorful (more watery) than craft pilsners.
3. Broadway Honey Wheat APA - This beer was amazing! Broadway is a brewery in Columbia, MO that is definitely up-and-coming. If you get a chance to try this one, do it and let me know what you think!
Place: Show-Me's Sports Bar & Grill
Location: 1792 N. New Florissant Rd. in Florissant, MO
Food: Boneless wings. Show-Me's is technically a chain, but they have pretty good wings. And the prices are very reasonable when compared to places like Buffalo Wild Wings.
Beers:
1. Shock Top Pretzel Wheat - I like a good Shock Top, but I'll be sticking to the Belgian White. I thought the Pretzel Wheat was terrible.
2. Faust Pilsner (by Budweiser) - As far as non-craft beers go, most people know I hate them. However, this is a nice new pilsner on the market. It is light and crisp and goes great with wings. But you can tell this is a Budweiser product because it is non as flavorful (more watery) than craft pilsners.
3. Broadway Honey Wheat APA - This beer was amazing! Broadway is a brewery in Columbia, MO that is definitely up-and-coming. If you get a chance to try this one, do it and let me know what you think!
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Pi Pizzeria - St. Louis, MO
Date of dining experience: July 10, 2015
Place: Pi Pizzera
Location: 6144 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis
Food: The table I was at split a few different pizzas. There were a couple regular pizzas and one called East Loop, which is mozz, roasted chicken, mushrooms, red onion, and basil pesto. All of the pizzas were good, but not great. This place is definitely not my favorite pizza.
Beer: Widmer Omission Lager (4.6 ABV and 20 IBUs) and Widmer Omission Pale Ale (5.8 ABV and 33 IBUs). Widmer Brothers beer from Portland, OR is pretty good. I really like their Hefeweizen. The two that I tried at this restaurant both happened to be gluten-free.
I would try this place again just to see if not really liking it the first time was an accident. I mean, they did get one of our pizzas wrong twice, but they gave us the pizza for free each time they messed it up. We left with quite a bit of extra food.
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.
Place: Pi Pizzera
Location: 6144 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis
Food: The table I was at split a few different pizzas. There were a couple regular pizzas and one called East Loop, which is mozz, roasted chicken, mushrooms, red onion, and basil pesto. All of the pizzas were good, but not great. This place is definitely not my favorite pizza.
Beer: Widmer Omission Lager (4.6 ABV and 20 IBUs) and Widmer Omission Pale Ale (5.8 ABV and 33 IBUs). Widmer Brothers beer from Portland, OR is pretty good. I really like their Hefeweizen. The two that I tried at this restaurant both happened to be gluten-free.
I would try this place again just to see if not really liking it the first time was an accident. I mean, they did get one of our pizzas wrong twice, but they gave us the pizza for free each time they messed it up. We left with quite a bit of extra food.
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think.
Mary Jane's - Perryville, MO
Date of dining experience: July 10, 2015
Place: Mary Jane Burgers & Brew
Location: 102 N. Jackson St. in Perryville, MO
Burger: The Monk - beef, bacon, smothered in house-made brown ale beer cheese dip, and green onions on a locally-baked pretzel bun. Served with delicious hand-cut fries for only $11. This burger was fantastic and I cannot wait to go back and try a different one!
Beers (sampler paddle):
1. Public House Cream Ale (5.0 ABV)
2. Dale's Pale Ale (6.5 ABV and 65 IBUs)
3. Mother's Li'l Helper (7.0 ABV and 70 IBUs)
4. Illusive Traveler Grapefruit Ale (4.4 ABV and 7 IBUs)
5. 4 Hands Oatmeal Brown Ale (5.5 ABV)
6. Southern Pecan (4.5 ABV and 19 IBUs)
This place is great for lunch or dinner. You should definitely give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Mary Jane Burgers & Brew
Location: 102 N. Jackson St. in Perryville, MO
Burger: The Monk - beef, bacon, smothered in house-made brown ale beer cheese dip, and green onions on a locally-baked pretzel bun. Served with delicious hand-cut fries for only $11. This burger was fantastic and I cannot wait to go back and try a different one!
Beers (sampler paddle):
1. Public House Cream Ale (5.0 ABV)
2. Dale's Pale Ale (6.5 ABV and 65 IBUs)
3. Mother's Li'l Helper (7.0 ABV and 70 IBUs)
4. Illusive Traveler Grapefruit Ale (4.4 ABV and 7 IBUs)
5. 4 Hands Oatmeal Brown Ale (5.5 ABV)
6. Southern Pecan (4.5 ABV and 19 IBUs)
This place is great for lunch or dinner. You should definitely give it a try and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Dexter Bar-B-Que and 4 chains - 5 Different Locations
Dexter Bar-B-Que in Dexter, MO (12-14-15 and 1-4-16) - This is the second post for this restaurant. Whether going here for dinner to get a pork steak with baked beans and potato salad, or for lunch to have a brisket sandwich and fries, I've never been disappointed. This is a great restaurant for this area.
CHAINS:
ZAXBY'S in Marion, AR (12-28-15) - Zaxby's is amazing. This is definitely the best fast food chicken restaurant available. I'm not sure if it's the quality of the meat used or just their seasoning, but if you have never eaten at a Zaxby's you need to. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Lion's Choice in Arnold, MO (12-13-15) - The roast beef here has an amazing flavor. In my opinion, this is the best fast food place you could possibly go to, especially if you are getting a sandwich.
Panera in Cape Girardeau, MO (12-13-15) - Panera, or St. Louis Bread Co., is always a treat. They have wonderful sandwiches, soups, smoothies, bakery items, breads, and great coffee!
Applebee's in Sikeston, MO (12-10-15) - Applebee's keeps getting better and better. It's a great place to take a family and the food is generally pretty good.
CHAINS:
ZAXBY'S in Marion, AR (12-28-15) - Zaxby's is amazing. This is definitely the best fast food chicken restaurant available. I'm not sure if it's the quality of the meat used or just their seasoning, but if you have never eaten at a Zaxby's you need to. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Lion's Choice in Arnold, MO (12-13-15) - The roast beef here has an amazing flavor. In my opinion, this is the best fast food place you could possibly go to, especially if you are getting a sandwich.
Panera in Cape Girardeau, MO (12-13-15) - Panera, or St. Louis Bread Co., is always a treat. They have wonderful sandwiches, soups, smoothies, bakery items, breads, and great coffee!
Applebee's in Sikeston, MO (12-10-15) - Applebee's keeps getting better and better. It's a great place to take a family and the food is generally pretty good.
Morina's - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: multiple
Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant
Location: 903 US-60 in Dexter, MO
Entree on 10-28-15: Chicken Genovese - Topped with asparagus and mozzarella cheese, sauteed in a creamy alfredo sauce with a touch of marinara sauce, and served over spaghettini pasta. With this dish I had a glass of House Pinot Grigio, but only because they were out of Chianti and don't have a very good wine selection (but no one in southeast Missouri really has a good wine selection).
Entree on 11-12-15: Chef's Favorite - Chicken and shrimp sauteed with hot cherry peppers and capers in a white wine and creamy alfredo sauce, served over tortellini pasta. With this dish I had a glass of House Cabernet Sauvignon because they were still out of Chianti.
Dessert: The best thing about Morina's are the homemade cannolis! They are absolutely perfect, especially if you eat it at the restaurant. But they are still very good the next day if you take one to go because you filled up on pasta. If you have it at the restaurant, the coffee isn't horrible either!
Place: Morina's Italian Restaurant
Location: 903 US-60 in Dexter, MO
Entree on 10-28-15: Chicken Genovese - Topped with asparagus and mozzarella cheese, sauteed in a creamy alfredo sauce with a touch of marinara sauce, and served over spaghettini pasta. With this dish I had a glass of House Pinot Grigio, but only because they were out of Chianti and don't have a very good wine selection (but no one in southeast Missouri really has a good wine selection).
Entree on 11-12-15: Chef's Favorite - Chicken and shrimp sauteed with hot cherry peppers and capers in a white wine and creamy alfredo sauce, served over tortellini pasta. With this dish I had a glass of House Cabernet Sauvignon because they were still out of Chianti.
Dessert: The best thing about Morina's are the homemade cannolis! They are absolutely perfect, especially if you eat it at the restaurant. But they are still very good the next day if you take one to go because you filled up on pasta. If you have it at the restaurant, the coffee isn't horrible either!
Dhafer's - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: multiple
Place: Dhafer's Mediterranean Steak House
Location: 117 S. Locust St. in Dexter, MO
Dhafer's is truly amazing. I firmly believe it is the best restaurant in the state that is not located in an urban area. If you live in the area and still haven't tried it, you need to. Now!
For the record, my favorite dish at Dhafer's is the mouth-watering sea bass. Mmm. His is the best sea bass I've ever had anywhere. My favorite appetizer would have to be the spinach dip and favorite dessert is probably his new creme brulee.
Entree on 9-22-15: Cajun shrimp and grits - If you're looking for something different than your usual and are okay with a tiny bit of spice, look no further. This is the dish you should try!
Entree on 11-20-15 and 2-3-16: Tuna with a Greek salad - My second favorite dish at Dhafer's is his tuna. Cook this baby rare with a balsamic glaze and wasabi seeds and you have the best tuna I've ever eaten. I know a lot of you don't care for "rare" meats, but tuna is totally different than beef. If you are scared, just please don't go over medium rare because you will risk ruining it. Anything over medium rare will give it a flavor similar to that of canned tuna, and that's just not what you want from a dining experience.
Entree on 1-13-16: Lamb chops with a Greek salad and a cup of chicken gnocchi soup - The soup was fantastic and the lamb chops were very good. If you've never had lamb, it is a very tender meat. Dhafer prepares his lamb very well, but I am more of a fish person. I always tell everyone "I'll try anything twice" (because your first time trying might have been wrong). This is the second time I've had his lamb chops. Though they were good both times, I'll probably stick to my fish in the future.
Wines: I have recently taken a liking to White Merlot, but Dhafer's is no longer going to carry it once they run out of what they currently have. If you get a chance, it's worth trying.
In addition to the White Merlot as a starter with each of the three meals above, I also had the following:
House Chardonnay with the Cajun shrimp and grits.
Pinot Noir with the Tuna, which was fantastic.
Apothic Red with the Lamb chops, which is probably my favorite wine that they currently carry. You can't go wrong with a glass of Apothic Red.
Place: Dhafer's Mediterranean Steak House
Location: 117 S. Locust St. in Dexter, MO
Dhafer's is truly amazing. I firmly believe it is the best restaurant in the state that is not located in an urban area. If you live in the area and still haven't tried it, you need to. Now!
For the record, my favorite dish at Dhafer's is the mouth-watering sea bass. Mmm. His is the best sea bass I've ever had anywhere. My favorite appetizer would have to be the spinach dip and favorite dessert is probably his new creme brulee.
Entree on 9-22-15: Cajun shrimp and grits - If you're looking for something different than your usual and are okay with a tiny bit of spice, look no further. This is the dish you should try!
Entree on 11-20-15 and 2-3-16: Tuna with a Greek salad - My second favorite dish at Dhafer's is his tuna. Cook this baby rare with a balsamic glaze and wasabi seeds and you have the best tuna I've ever eaten. I know a lot of you don't care for "rare" meats, but tuna is totally different than beef. If you are scared, just please don't go over medium rare because you will risk ruining it. Anything over medium rare will give it a flavor similar to that of canned tuna, and that's just not what you want from a dining experience.
Entree on 1-13-16: Lamb chops with a Greek salad and a cup of chicken gnocchi soup - The soup was fantastic and the lamb chops were very good. If you've never had lamb, it is a very tender meat. Dhafer prepares his lamb very well, but I am more of a fish person. I always tell everyone "I'll try anything twice" (because your first time trying might have been wrong). This is the second time I've had his lamb chops. Though they were good both times, I'll probably stick to my fish in the future.
Wines: I have recently taken a liking to White Merlot, but Dhafer's is no longer going to carry it once they run out of what they currently have. If you get a chance, it's worth trying.
In addition to the White Merlot as a starter with each of the three meals above, I also had the following:
House Chardonnay with the Cajun shrimp and grits.
Pinot Noir with the Tuna, which was fantastic.
Apothic Red with the Lamb chops, which is probably my favorite wine that they currently carry. You can't go wrong with a glass of Apothic Red.
El Cabrito - Dexter, MO
Date of dining experience: multiple
Place: El Cabrito
Location: 208 W. Business Highway 60 in Dexter, MO
You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The quality of the service and the food here are both outstanding. The salsa on the table is always fresh and full of a fantastic cilantro flavor. Be sure to order cheese dip and the made-at-your-table guacamole as dips for your chips! Request Chuy to make the guacamole! Then tell him James told you to request him.
Drink of choice: Cantarito! Choose your favorite tequila and await your concoction! My favorite tequila in this cocktail is Jose Cuervo. And Rosa makes the best cantaritos! She might also make the best guacomole, but I haven't had hers yet. I will have to remedy that.
Entree on 8-16-15: Molcajete - A combination of juicy steak and chicken marinated with a special sauce. Served with sauteed onions, queso fresco, radish, cactus, and fajita salad made in an authentic molcajete. This is fantastic and I highly recommend it to everyone, especially if you are looking to try something new (the cactus is very tasty)!
Entree on 10-10-15: La Casa - Steak, chicken, fish, bacon, onions, and jalapeno peppers served on a bed of rice and covered with cheese sauce. This dish is delicious and I'm pretty sure it's what I'm going to get when I go back to this restaurant!
UPDATE: I did have this dish on my next visit, which was tonight (2-9-16).
Entree on 10-14-15: Flautas Mexicanas - Four corn tortillas, deep-fried and stuffed with beef or chicken. Served with rice, beans, and a fajita salad. This is pretty much a standard and a good option with you can't make up your mind otherwise!
Entree on 10-27-15 and 1-4-16: 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. This one is a great first choice any day of the week!
Entree on 12-2-15: Pollo Cabrito - Chicken breast with mushrooms, spinach, guacamole salad and shredded cheese, servied with rice and beans. The flavors of this dish mix together very well and every bite is decadent. I highly recommend this dish!
Entree on 1-1-16: Tacos al Pastor - Three corn tacos with Al Pastor meat (pork cooked with pineapple and marinated in a special sauce) with a side of onion, cilantro, and tomatillo sauce, served with rice and beans. This dish is amazing and the cilantro is the real kicker. Be careful with the tomatillo sauce as it can sometimes be very spicy.
Place: El Cabrito
Location: 208 W. Business Highway 60 in Dexter, MO
You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The quality of the service and the food here are both outstanding. The salsa on the table is always fresh and full of a fantastic cilantro flavor. Be sure to order cheese dip and the made-at-your-table guacamole as dips for your chips! Request Chuy to make the guacamole! Then tell him James told you to request him.
Drink of choice: Cantarito! Choose your favorite tequila and await your concoction! My favorite tequila in this cocktail is Jose Cuervo. And Rosa makes the best cantaritos! She might also make the best guacomole, but I haven't had hers yet. I will have to remedy that.
Entree on 8-16-15: Molcajete - A combination of juicy steak and chicken marinated with a special sauce. Served with sauteed onions, queso fresco, radish, cactus, and fajita salad made in an authentic molcajete. This is fantastic and I highly recommend it to everyone, especially if you are looking to try something new (the cactus is very tasty)!
Entree on 10-10-15: La Casa - Steak, chicken, fish, bacon, onions, and jalapeno peppers served on a bed of rice and covered with cheese sauce. This dish is delicious and I'm pretty sure it's what I'm going to get when I go back to this restaurant!
UPDATE: I did have this dish on my next visit, which was tonight (2-9-16).
Entree on 10-14-15: Flautas Mexicanas - Four corn tortillas, deep-fried and stuffed with beef or chicken. Served with rice, beans, and a fajita salad. This is pretty much a standard and a good option with you can't make up your mind otherwise!
Entree on 10-27-15 and 1-4-16: 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. This one is a great first choice any day of the week!
Entree on 12-2-15: Pollo Cabrito - Chicken breast with mushrooms, spinach, guacamole salad and shredded cheese, servied with rice and beans. The flavors of this dish mix together very well and every bite is decadent. I highly recommend this dish!
Entree on 1-1-16: Tacos al Pastor - Three corn tacos with Al Pastor meat (pork cooked with pineapple and marinated in a special sauce) with a side of onion, cilantro, and tomatillo sauce, served with rice and beans. This dish is amazing and the cilantro is the real kicker. Be careful with the tomatillo sauce as it can sometimes be very spicy.
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