Date of dining experience: May 29, 2019
Place: The Tattooed Dog
Location: 11 Wentzville Bluffs Dr. #109 in Wentzville, MO
Appetizer: Soft Pretzels and Beer Cheese ($7) - The perfect way to start any meal in a burger bar or dive pub.
Entree: Benedicto Burger ($12) - Fried egg, bacon, yellow American cheese, roasted garlic aioli, and spring greens, served on a pretzel bun. If a burger at a restaurant has a fried egg on it, sign me up! The only criticism I could say at all about this restaurant is that the roasted garlic aioli does not have very much flavor.
Beer: A bottle of Elysian Space Dust IPA. It really surprised me that they did not have an IPA on draft, but a bottle is just fine.
This places markets themselves as "upscale dive grub" and they do not disappoint. The food was amazing, especially the fries. They come out piping hot because they are made fresh when you order them. I will definitely be back. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Happy Valley Brewery - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: May 24, 2019
Place: Happy Valley Brewing Company
Location: 137 Elmwood St. in State College, PA
Entree: Chop Shop ($25) - 14 oz. center-cut, wood-grilled French Berkshire pork chop with balsamic BBQ sauce, served with macaroni and cheese and haricots verts. This was one of the best pork dishes I have ever had. It was so tender and juicy at the restaurant (but did not heat up well). The macaroni and cheese was amazing! However, the haricots verts were soggy and bland. I little bit of salt helped them a lot. There are many other dishes to try, but I would have this again because the pork was perfect and the BBQ sauce used was exceptional.
Extra Side: Bacon-Sauteed Brussels - An absolutely delicious side dish! Next time I will substitute this for the haricots verts, even if there is a charge for it.
Beers: Whatever Floats Your Goat (New England Pale Ale) and Flying Hooves (English IPA). Both were very good and very drinkable.
Overall, I will return to this restaurant. It's a little dark for my liking, but sitting at the bar might be better than at one of the tables on the far wall. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Happy Valley Brewing Company
Location: 137 Elmwood St. in State College, PA
Entree: Chop Shop ($25) - 14 oz. center-cut, wood-grilled French Berkshire pork chop with balsamic BBQ sauce, served with macaroni and cheese and haricots verts. This was one of the best pork dishes I have ever had. It was so tender and juicy at the restaurant (but did not heat up well). The macaroni and cheese was amazing! However, the haricots verts were soggy and bland. I little bit of salt helped them a lot. There are many other dishes to try, but I would have this again because the pork was perfect and the BBQ sauce used was exceptional.
Extra Side: Bacon-Sauteed Brussels - An absolutely delicious side dish! Next time I will substitute this for the haricots verts, even if there is a charge for it.
Beers: Whatever Floats Your Goat (New England Pale Ale) and Flying Hooves (English IPA). Both were very good and very drinkable.
Overall, I will return to this restaurant. It's a little dark for my liking, but sitting at the bar might be better than at one of the tables on the far wall. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 18, 2019
The Common Loon - Orono, ME
Date of dining experience: May 16, 2019
Place: The Common Loon Public House
Location: 36 Main St. in Orono, ME
Appetizer 1: Scotch Egg ($4) - A hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage, then lightly breaded and fried, served with Worcestershire sauce. This was not the worst I have had, but definitely not the best. The egg was a little overdone and the sausage used had no flavor. This was also the first time I have had one with Worcestershire sauce instead of a grainy mustard, which was different. I didn't mind it, it just wasn't what I was expecting.
Appetizer 2: Fried Brussels Sprouts ($8) - Exactly as the name says, served with a spicy maple aioli. I really liked the larger pieces of this dish, but there were not many of them. The Brussels sprouts used were very small, so it was more like eating a crunchy salad. I think if large Brussels sprouts had been used they would have stayed together better in the fryer. The sauce was great.
Entree: Pub Burger ($8) - A grass-fed beef patty with cheddar and pickles, served with fries. This was one of the best burgers I have eaten in a long time, and the bun was awesome. I usually don't get burgers at restaurants because so many people screw up burgers, plus there are usually many different better options. There were not a lot of options at all at this place.
Beers: I had many different local brews, as well as an old standard not regularly available. I started with a delicious Gearhead Ale from Black Bear Brewery, which was sort of a light Scotch ale or darker red ale. Then I went through a series of tastings with more hops: Phoenix IPA (New England-style) from Marsh Island Brewing, Tubular IPA (New England-style) from Orono Brewing Company, and Post Ride Snack (a session IPA) from Maine Beer Company. All of them were very good, and the Phoenix IPA was especially drinkable. I ended the night with an Old Speckled Hen (ESB-style) from Greene King in England.
Had I been alone, I probably would not have chosen this place, mostly because I was in Maine and they did not serve any dishes with lobster. However, I was with a group of people. We had great conversations, watched some hockey, and tasted many different fantastic beers. If I ever make it back here I will be sure to try one of their brick oven pizzas, which is probably what they are most known for. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: The Common Loon Public House
Location: 36 Main St. in Orono, ME
Appetizer 1: Scotch Egg ($4) - A hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage, then lightly breaded and fried, served with Worcestershire sauce. This was not the worst I have had, but definitely not the best. The egg was a little overdone and the sausage used had no flavor. This was also the first time I have had one with Worcestershire sauce instead of a grainy mustard, which was different. I didn't mind it, it just wasn't what I was expecting.
Appetizer 2: Fried Brussels Sprouts ($8) - Exactly as the name says, served with a spicy maple aioli. I really liked the larger pieces of this dish, but there were not many of them. The Brussels sprouts used were very small, so it was more like eating a crunchy salad. I think if large Brussels sprouts had been used they would have stayed together better in the fryer. The sauce was great.
Entree: Pub Burger ($8) - A grass-fed beef patty with cheddar and pickles, served with fries. This was one of the best burgers I have eaten in a long time, and the bun was awesome. I usually don't get burgers at restaurants because so many people screw up burgers, plus there are usually many different better options. There were not a lot of options at all at this place.
Beers: I had many different local brews, as well as an old standard not regularly available. I started with a delicious Gearhead Ale from Black Bear Brewery, which was sort of a light Scotch ale or darker red ale. Then I went through a series of tastings with more hops: Phoenix IPA (New England-style) from Marsh Island Brewing, Tubular IPA (New England-style) from Orono Brewing Company, and Post Ride Snack (a session IPA) from Maine Beer Company. All of them were very good, and the Phoenix IPA was especially drinkable. I ended the night with an Old Speckled Hen (ESB-style) from Greene King in England.
Had I been alone, I probably would not have chosen this place, mostly because I was in Maine and they did not serve any dishes with lobster. However, I was with a group of people. We had great conversations, watched some hockey, and tasted many different fantastic beers. If I ever make it back here I will be sure to try one of their brick oven pizzas, which is probably what they are most known for. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Monday, May 13, 2019
Atlas - Corning, NY
Date of dining experience: May 11, 2019
Place: Atlas Brick Oven Pizzeria
Location: 35 E. Market St. in Corning, NY
Appetizer: Garlic Bread Sticks ($4.95) - Baked fresh with garlic butter and served with a side of marinara. A standard item for a pizza place, but theirs were really good and appeared to be made of pizza dough.
Entree: Audry and I split a couple of small premium pizzas ($9.95 each). The Prosciutto Basil - tomato sauce, prosciutto, sauteed green peppers, garlic, fresh basil, Asiago, and their own cheese blend - was my favorite of the two. You can't go wrong with some ham and peppers, but add on basil and garlic and you have a wonderful mix of flavors. The other pizza, the Roasted Garlic - extra virgin olive oil, fresh roasted garlic, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese - was also good. However, though I keep trying sun-dried tomatoes in dishes, I really think they make dishes too sweet and detract from the flavors of the other items. If I was to order the Roasted Garlic pizza again, I would order it with tomato sauce in place of the sun-dried tomatoes. I think it would make the flavors of the feta cheese and fresh roasted garlic pop a little more.
Beer: A old standard, Magic Hat #9. Delicious and smooth, as always.
Overall, I would try this place again. As far as pizza goes, it's pretty good, especially for a smaller operation. As I mentioned above, there is one thing I would change about one of the pizzas, but that is just my personal preference. You are free to think whatever you want about sun-dried tomatoes. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Atlas Brick Oven Pizzeria
Location: 35 E. Market St. in Corning, NY
Appetizer: Garlic Bread Sticks ($4.95) - Baked fresh with garlic butter and served with a side of marinara. A standard item for a pizza place, but theirs were really good and appeared to be made of pizza dough.
Entree: Audry and I split a couple of small premium pizzas ($9.95 each). The Prosciutto Basil - tomato sauce, prosciutto, sauteed green peppers, garlic, fresh basil, Asiago, and their own cheese blend - was my favorite of the two. You can't go wrong with some ham and peppers, but add on basil and garlic and you have a wonderful mix of flavors. The other pizza, the Roasted Garlic - extra virgin olive oil, fresh roasted garlic, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese - was also good. However, though I keep trying sun-dried tomatoes in dishes, I really think they make dishes too sweet and detract from the flavors of the other items. If I was to order the Roasted Garlic pizza again, I would order it with tomato sauce in place of the sun-dried tomatoes. I think it would make the flavors of the feta cheese and fresh roasted garlic pop a little more.
Beer: A old standard, Magic Hat #9. Delicious and smooth, as always.
Overall, I would try this place again. As far as pizza goes, it's pretty good, especially for a smaller operation. As I mentioned above, there is one thing I would change about one of the pizzas, but that is just my personal preference. You are free to think whatever you want about sun-dried tomatoes. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Lento - Rochester, NY
Date of dining experience: May 10, 2019
Place: Lento
Location: 274 Goodman St. N. in Rochester, NY
Appetizer: Cheese plate of Dulcinea, Chevre, and smoked Gouda, all from New York state, with bread. We also ordered a couple fried cheese-stuffed olives that came with a delicious hazelnut anchoiade. By now you know I don't discriminate when it comes to cheese, but the hazelnut spread went exceptionally well with the Chevre. Of course, liking the Chevre the most is probably due to my preference of soft cheeses over hard ones.
Entree: Hand Made Potato Gnocchi ($24) - Grilled and sliced chicken, broccoli, crimini mushrooms, San Marzano tomato sauce, basil, and Italian cheeses. I could not have asked for a better dish to pair with my wine. I have noticed that I do like to order items made in-house, whether that be entrees, salad dressings, or any other item. This dish is definitely a must-try.
Wine: I started with a quartino of a delicious Malbec from Argentina, then moved to a quartino of a lighter Super Tuscan with the appetizers before ending on a wonderful glass of Grenache from Spain. A beautiful sampling of some great dry reds.
I highly recommend this restaurant if you are ever in Rochester, but be sure to plan ahead as getting a table can be hard and they might also reserve spaces at the bar. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Lento
Location: 274 Goodman St. N. in Rochester, NY
Appetizer: Cheese plate of Dulcinea, Chevre, and smoked Gouda, all from New York state, with bread. We also ordered a couple fried cheese-stuffed olives that came with a delicious hazelnut anchoiade. By now you know I don't discriminate when it comes to cheese, but the hazelnut spread went exceptionally well with the Chevre. Of course, liking the Chevre the most is probably due to my preference of soft cheeses over hard ones.
Entree: Hand Made Potato Gnocchi ($24) - Grilled and sliced chicken, broccoli, crimini mushrooms, San Marzano tomato sauce, basil, and Italian cheeses. I could not have asked for a better dish to pair with my wine. I have noticed that I do like to order items made in-house, whether that be entrees, salad dressings, or any other item. This dish is definitely a must-try.
Wine: I started with a quartino of a delicious Malbec from Argentina, then moved to a quartino of a lighter Super Tuscan with the appetizers before ending on a wonderful glass of Grenache from Spain. A beautiful sampling of some great dry reds.
I highly recommend this restaurant if you are ever in Rochester, but be sure to plan ahead as getting a table can be hard and they might also reserve spaces at the bar. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
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