Date of dining experience: March 22, 2019
Place: Webster's Bookstore Cafe
Location: 133 E. Beaver Ave. in State College, PA
Meal: Pesto Eggs ($8) - Scrambled eggs with turmeric and garlic powder topped with basil pesto and provolone on a bed of locally grown greens, flanked by pickled red onions and avocado slices, and drizzled with spicy Thai-hini. This was an absolutely delicious and creative way to serve eggs!
Coffe: A great cup of simple, black coffee!
The atmosphere of Webster's is amazing. You walk in to see what appears to be an old bookstore. I never would have guessed their food and coffee were so good! The tables are off to side near a little stage area. I will definitely be returning here, especially if they have a performance of some kind. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Smokey Bones - Pittsburgh, PA
Date of dining experience: March 20, 2019
Place: Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
Location: 1030 Pittsburgh Mills Blvd. in Tarentum, PA
Entree: Morning Glory Burger - A 1/2-lb. medium rare burger with American cheese, bacon, chipotle ketchup, fried egg, and pickles. One of my favorite burgers anywhere that offers it! My only pseudo-complaint was that the egg was entirely cooked. I like for the yolk to be a little runny when I bite into it. It adds so much more flavor to the overall experience, especially with a burger that has a perfectly pink middle.
Sides: Natural Cut Fries and Big Cheese Macaroni - The fries were really good; piping hot and just the right amount of crunch. The macaroni was okay, but not worth the price as an ultra premium side item.
Beer: Bones Brew - A really nice amber ale that drinks more like a lager; very light, but with a pretty good flavor.
Overall, I would recommend trying this place out. I would eat here again and try some more of their BBQ-type items and house-made baked beans. They also have a ton of specialty cocktails that looked very intriguing, but I wasn't in the mood for that type of drink after driving three hours. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
Location: 1030 Pittsburgh Mills Blvd. in Tarentum, PA
Entree: Morning Glory Burger - A 1/2-lb. medium rare burger with American cheese, bacon, chipotle ketchup, fried egg, and pickles. One of my favorite burgers anywhere that offers it! My only pseudo-complaint was that the egg was entirely cooked. I like for the yolk to be a little runny when I bite into it. It adds so much more flavor to the overall experience, especially with a burger that has a perfectly pink middle.
Sides: Natural Cut Fries and Big Cheese Macaroni - The fries were really good; piping hot and just the right amount of crunch. The macaroni was okay, but not worth the price as an ultra premium side item.
Beer: Bones Brew - A really nice amber ale that drinks more like a lager; very light, but with a pretty good flavor.
Overall, I would recommend trying this place out. I would eat here again and try some more of their BBQ-type items and house-made baked beans. They also have a ton of specialty cocktails that looked very intriguing, but I wasn't in the mood for that type of drink after driving three hours. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Tattered Flag Brewery - Harrisburg, PA
Date of dining experience: March 5, 2019
Place: Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works
Location: 1 S. Union St. in Middletown, PA
Appetizer 1: Squeaky Cheese ($9) - Breaded Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds served with Tattered Flag vodka sauce. These were very good and the vodka sauce was even better!
Appetizer 2: Brewers Nacho Basket ($10) - Tri-color corn tortillas topped with beer cheese, beer-braised pork, tomato, green onion, and sour cream. This is always a delicious dish, but don't let it sit too long as the chips can get quite soggy.
Taco Tuesday: Chicken Taco ($2) - Honestly, one of the best tacos I have ever eaten! It was so simple, yet so good. The shredded chicken was fresh, tender, and very flavorful. Top it with just a little bit of lettuce and cheese, served with a few chips and some salsa and sour cream, and you have a great taco! Audry had the fish taco and said it was very good as well, even though it was a bit spicy.
Entree: Alligator Gumbo - This dish was on the featured menu, so you better hurry in if you want to try it! While not quite as spicy as I would have liked for a gumbo to be, it was still very tasty and really hit the spot for a New Orleans Fat Tuesday type of meal.
Draft Beer Samples (not in any specific order) - My top three favorites in order are #5, #8, and #1:
Live Music: Bourbon Street Band - Being Fat Tuesday, the brewery had a live New Orleans style band and plenty of Mardi Gras decorations. The music was very good, but this is also my favorite style of music, so there may be a little bias there. To top it off, the singer did a really good Louis Armstrong impression at times. I would definitely listen to this band again!
Reason for Going: Audry and I decided to go here over our spring break to participate in the Paint Night, where you are lead through the process of painting a piece of art. We used the company Yaymaker and our painting was called "Tranquility and Balance On A Rainy Day." It was such a fun experience that we will definitely be doing it again, so I highly recommend trying out one for yourself! We decided to go early to have dinner at the same place beforehand and are very glad we did!
This was an amazing dining experience with everything you would hope for with a night out. It had live music, a fun atmosphere, excellent service, great food, plenty of draft beer options, a very enjoyable experience in the Paint Night, etc. I highly recommend both this location and participating in a Paint Night, especially if you have never done one and would like to try something new. Whether you try one or both, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Tattered Flag Brewery & Still Works
Location: 1 S. Union St. in Middletown, PA
Appetizer 1: Squeaky Cheese ($9) - Breaded Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds served with Tattered Flag vodka sauce. These were very good and the vodka sauce was even better!
Appetizer 2: Brewers Nacho Basket ($10) - Tri-color corn tortillas topped with beer cheese, beer-braised pork, tomato, green onion, and sour cream. This is always a delicious dish, but don't let it sit too long as the chips can get quite soggy.
Taco Tuesday: Chicken Taco ($2) - Honestly, one of the best tacos I have ever eaten! It was so simple, yet so good. The shredded chicken was fresh, tender, and very flavorful. Top it with just a little bit of lettuce and cheese, served with a few chips and some salsa and sour cream, and you have a great taco! Audry had the fish taco and said it was very good as well, even though it was a bit spicy.
Entree: Alligator Gumbo - This dish was on the featured menu, so you better hurry in if you want to try it! While not quite as spicy as I would have liked for a gumbo to be, it was still very tasty and really hit the spot for a New Orleans Fat Tuesday type of meal.
Draft Beer Samples (not in any specific order) - My top three favorites in order are #5, #8, and #1:
- Tattered Flag Because I Was Inverted (Mango) - IPA - Milkshake - 6.6% ABV
This beer was conditioned with 300 pounds of mangoes and loads of Tahitian vanilla beans. - Tattered Flag Teutonic Knight Hefeweizen - Hefeweizen - 5.4% ABV
Unfiltered and hazy with heavy notes of banana balance well with the Hallertau and Tettnang hops. - Tattered Flag Silent Professional - Charlie - IPA - New England - 8.2% ABV
A complex IPA hopped aggressively with simcoe and ekuanot. - Tattered Flag Fatum Blackberry Lactose Sour - Sour - Fruited - 6.1% ABV
This lactose sour ale has 300 pounds of blackberries added to it. - Tattered Flag Alive Day (2019) - IPA - American - 6.5% ABV
Hopped with Idaho 7 and Denali, this NEIPA has a hint of vanilla from the Tahitian vanilla beans it was conditioned upon. - Tattered Flag Blue Raider Kolsch - Kolsch - 5.2% ABV
This golden color German ale is designed to be easy drinking. This Kolsch has a touch of Huell Melon hops for a crisp, clean finish. - Tattered Flag TMI PA - IPA - American - 6.5% ABV
IPA, generously hopped with Falconers Flight hops. Juicy, dank, hoppy, awesome. - MIX: Half #5 and half #1 - Very delicious!
I'm really glad they allowed me to mix two beers. The vanilla bean IPA mixed very well with the fruity mango IPA milkshake.
Live Music: Bourbon Street Band - Being Fat Tuesday, the brewery had a live New Orleans style band and plenty of Mardi Gras decorations. The music was very good, but this is also my favorite style of music, so there may be a little bias there. To top it off, the singer did a really good Louis Armstrong impression at times. I would definitely listen to this band again!
Reason for Going: Audry and I decided to go here over our spring break to participate in the Paint Night, where you are lead through the process of painting a piece of art. We used the company Yaymaker and our painting was called "Tranquility and Balance On A Rainy Day." It was such a fun experience that we will definitely be doing it again, so I highly recommend trying out one for yourself! We decided to go early to have dinner at the same place beforehand and are very glad we did!
This was an amazing dining experience with everything you would hope for with a night out. It had live music, a fun atmosphere, excellent service, great food, plenty of draft beer options, a very enjoyable experience in the Paint Night, etc. I highly recommend both this location and participating in a Paint Night, especially if you have never done one and would like to try something new. Whether you try one or both, let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Monday, January 28, 2019
Jean Louis - Pittsburgh, PA
Date of dining experience: January 23, 2019
Place: Jean Louis
Location: 3271 W. Liberty Ave. in Pittsburgh, PA
Appetizer: Salade Nicoise (the original from the Riviera) - Olives, tuna, potatoes, jidori egg, green beans, and anchovies tossed in a delicious dressing!
Entree: Sea Bass (special) - Perfectly charred cut of fish served on a bed of spinach with kalamata olives. A very delicious meal for any fish lover!
Sides: Epinards a la Creme (creamed baby spinach) and Chou-Fleur de Bruxelles (Brussels sprouts) - both perfectly prepared and just the right flavors to accompany a nice piece of sea bass.
Wine: A delicious bottle of Italian Sauvignon Blanc.
Dessert: Cheese tray - Four select cheeses with dried fruits, nuts, and honeycomb as accompaniments. The perfect way to end an excellent meal!
I simply cannot say enough good things about Jean Louis! It is also the perfect place to go if you are looking for a place with expertly-crafted cocktails. I will definitely be making more visits to this restaurant. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: Jean Louis
Location: 3271 W. Liberty Ave. in Pittsburgh, PA
Appetizer: Salade Nicoise (the original from the Riviera) - Olives, tuna, potatoes, jidori egg, green beans, and anchovies tossed in a delicious dressing!
Entree: Sea Bass (special) - Perfectly charred cut of fish served on a bed of spinach with kalamata olives. A very delicious meal for any fish lover!
Sides: Epinards a la Creme (creamed baby spinach) and Chou-Fleur de Bruxelles (Brussels sprouts) - both perfectly prepared and just the right flavors to accompany a nice piece of sea bass.
Wine: A delicious bottle of Italian Sauvignon Blanc.
Dessert: Cheese tray - Four select cheeses with dried fruits, nuts, and honeycomb as accompaniments. The perfect way to end an excellent meal!
I simply cannot say enough good things about Jean Louis! It is also the perfect place to go if you are looking for a place with expertly-crafted cocktails. I will definitely be making more visits to this restaurant. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
HQ Southern BBQ - Evansville, WY
Date of dining experience: January 20, 2019
Place: HQ Southern BBQ
Location: 70 Curtis St. in Evansville, WY
Appetizer: Some very tasty cornbread was brought out while waiting for the entree.
Entree: The Sunday Special ($17) - Pulled pork and brisket with a choice of sauce (I chose wet) and two sides. While the zucchini fries were wonderful, the mac and cheese was amazing. It was so good that I ordered a second side of it!
This restaurant happened to be within walking distance of my hotel, but I had already checked it out when looking for local food options earlier in the day. A nice couple who gave me a ride from the airport to my hotel also recommended I eat here and that I had to try the mac and cheese. They were not wrong as it was probably the best mac and cheese I have ever eaten. Should I ever find myself in this area again, I will be returning! Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Place: HQ Southern BBQ
Location: 70 Curtis St. in Evansville, WY
Appetizer: Some very tasty cornbread was brought out while waiting for the entree.
Entree: The Sunday Special ($17) - Pulled pork and brisket with a choice of sauce (I chose wet) and two sides. While the zucchini fries were wonderful, the mac and cheese was amazing. It was so good that I ordered a second side of it!
This restaurant happened to be within walking distance of my hotel, but I had already checked it out when looking for local food options earlier in the day. A nice couple who gave me a ride from the airport to my hotel also recommended I eat here and that I had to try the mac and cheese. They were not wrong as it was probably the best mac and cheese I have ever eaten. Should I ever find myself in this area again, I will be returning! Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Little Szechuan - State College, PA
Date of dining experience: December 28, 2018
Place: Little Szechuan
Location: 228 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Vegetable Spring Rolls ($1.29 each) - A perfect starter for any meal, each served with a duo of sauces.
Entrees: Audry split a few excellent items, served with rice:
Place: Little Szechuan
Location: 228 W. College Ave. in State College, PA
Appetizer: Vegetable Spring Rolls ($1.29 each) - A perfect starter for any meal, each served with a duo of sauces.
Entrees: Audry split a few excellent items, served with rice:
- House Spicy Chicken ($13.50) - A delicious dish, served with just the right amount of flavor from the spices and oils.
- Roast Duck Chinatown Style ($15.99) - Half a duck, bone in, perfectly prepared with a wonderful crispy skin.
- Plate of spinach sauteed with garlic and shallots
Drink: Hot Green Tea - A great beverage for any meal!
This was my first time eating at the actual restaurant, though I have eaten Little Szechuan as takeout before. I must say that the food is much better at the restaurant, but that is probably true of all takeout establishments. The atmosphere is also wonderful, which you completely miss out on otherwise. I will be returning here for future meals. Try this place out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Duffy's Tavern - Boalsburg, PA
Date of dining experience: December 27, 2018
Place: Duffy's Boalsburg Tavern
Location: 113 E. Main St. in Boalsburg, PA
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon Bruschetta ($13) - goat cheese, capers, olive oil, and balsamic reduction. This was a delicious take on the classic bagel and lox breakfast item I love so much.
Entree: Swordfish ($25) - served in a wonderful mustard cream sauce with rice pilaf and green beans. This dish is probably one of my favorite ways to prepare swordfish. The fish itself is really easy to overcook, and once you do it's over, but they prepared it perfectly. I was a little worried that the mustard sauce, prepared using a grainy dijon, would be overbearing, but it was not! It was just the right amount of mustard flavor to keep the fish interesting with each bite, and just the right texture to pair perfectly with swordfish.
Wine: A very nice, light Syrah that paired pretty well with the appetizer and swordfish, as well as Audry's entree of duck breast.
Dessert: Cranberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding - Wow! The flavor was perfect and not too sweet. It also paired really well with Audry's dessert, which was the trio of creme brulee (vanilla bean, lavendar, and chocolate).
I was very impressed by the atmosphere and quality of food at Duffy's, especially after having recently eaten at an unimpressive wine bar. Duffy's will be at the top of my list the next time I have visitors in town. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
Place: Duffy's Boalsburg Tavern
Location: 113 E. Main St. in Boalsburg, PA
Appetizer: Smoked Salmon Bruschetta ($13) - goat cheese, capers, olive oil, and balsamic reduction. This was a delicious take on the classic bagel and lox breakfast item I love so much.
Entree: Swordfish ($25) - served in a wonderful mustard cream sauce with rice pilaf and green beans. This dish is probably one of my favorite ways to prepare swordfish. The fish itself is really easy to overcook, and once you do it's over, but they prepared it perfectly. I was a little worried that the mustard sauce, prepared using a grainy dijon, would be overbearing, but it was not! It was just the right amount of mustard flavor to keep the fish interesting with each bite, and just the right texture to pair perfectly with swordfish.
Wine: A very nice, light Syrah that paired pretty well with the appetizer and swordfish, as well as Audry's entree of duck breast.
Dessert: Cranberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding - Wow! The flavor was perfect and not too sweet. It also paired really well with Audry's dessert, which was the trio of creme brulee (vanilla bean, lavendar, and chocolate).
I was very impressed by the atmosphere and quality of food at Duffy's, especially after having recently eaten at an unimpressive wine bar. Duffy's will be at the top of my list the next time I have visitors in town. Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!
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