I have had several meals in here, all of which I found overpriced, skimpy portioned and singularly unimpressive. Not recommended even for late night desperation.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Dimitri's Country Kitchen - Belleville, Michigan
This is a typical diner. I have only eaten here late at night and it is on my banned list. Mostly because they never have anything in stock at that hour. My advice to Dimitri's is to either offer a seperate late night menu with just breakfast and various sandwiches as that is all you ever have to offer at any rate or to, I don't know, actually stock things and keep grills and fryers open and not frustrate customers.
I have had several meals in here, all of which I found overpriced, skimpy portioned and singularly unimpressive. Not recommended even for late night desperation.
I have had several meals in here, all of which I found overpriced, skimpy portioned and singularly unimpressive. Not recommended even for late night desperation.
The Blue Tractor Cook Shop - Ann Arbor, Michigan
I must thank my follower The Foodie Fairy for alerting me to the Blue Tractor Cook Shop with her blog. She had been to the one in Traverse City and seemed quite fond so of course I needed to try the new version here in Ann Arbor. It has similar food but not the exact same menu.
This is a definite Southern style place. From Carolina BBQ to fried green tomatoes, it screams down home deliciousness from south of the Mason-Dixon. I came here following a 16 hour fasting test that had my blood sugar plummeting, excuse enough to eat heartily I figured. I sure did come to the right place. Health food does not seem to be the agenda here, it is just not the southern way. There is plenty of meat, starches and fried food, all homemade and full of temptation.
We started with some Smoked Chicken and Corn Chowder. Filled with big chunks of chicken and tasting of pure sweet corn, it was not too thick but rather had a creamy broth. It was Michigan heaven in a bowl. I could have eaten another bowl it was that good.
I decided on the Carolina Beef Brisket, served over buttermilk mashed potatoes that were decidedly from scratch with lovely lumps but no skins. The beef was braised in a vinegar based Carolina sauce but they offered a basket with two other sauces, a rich tomato based and a zesty Texas variety. I found that by mixing the Texas with the tomato that it created a very satisfying sauce. This was accompanied by the veggie of the day, fresh shredded brussel sprouts, so good I cannot begin to describe. Truly a taste sensation, I ate both mine and my husband's I must confess.
My husband had the Meatloaf, wrapped in bacon and served on a cedar plank and covered with homemade spicy ketchup. It was also served over buttermilk mashers with brussel sprouts on the side. He scraped off the overwhelming ketchup and avoided the sprouts but really enjoyed the rest. Sampling a bite of the meatloaf, I have to say it was tasty indeed. For the money I think it should have been a bit bigger chunk or perhaps another thin style piece at the least. It was not quite enough for my husband, he was peckish so he ordered a side of the excellent mac and cheese but found it to be a bit spicy to his taste so he satisfied himself instead with pilfering pieces of my brisket and eating most of my mashed potatoes.
My mother had the Braised Short Rib, thoroughly coated in the red tomato BBQ sauce. It is served over utterly delicious cheesy grits with greens on the side. The greens were zipped up nicely with the pickapepper sauce from the table. The short rib was nice but I found the BBQ sauce to be a bit much on it. My mother quite enjoyed it though, her favorite part was the cheesy grits which were sinfully rich.
Accompanying these things we decided to get a basket of the beer battered onion rings, also served with the homemade ketchup which is quite salsa like in both consistency and zip factor. It went much better with the rings than with the meatloaf. The rings were to die for, just hearty and fresh. Perfect.
We saw a lot of sandwiches and they look quite healthy in portion, tasty looking too. I think I may give one a whirl next time, I have my eye on the Low Country BLT. Also on my agenda is trying the southern fried appetizer combo which features fried pickles, fried okra and yes indeed fried green tomatoes all with buttermilk lime dressing to dip. My dietician would keel over dead at the thought but hey you have to indulge a bit right?
The prices here are a bit high, the portions a bit on the skimpy side for it in my opinion but the food is amazingly fresh and homemade with variety not often seen in these parts. If I were to make one suggestion it would be to include a bread basket or biscuits with the dinner plates, it would go a long way to increasing the value and filling up men such as my husband.
If you are looking for a bit of southern home, complete with excellent sweet tea, this may well be the place for you.
This is a definite Southern style place. From Carolina BBQ to fried green tomatoes, it screams down home deliciousness from south of the Mason-Dixon. I came here following a 16 hour fasting test that had my blood sugar plummeting, excuse enough to eat heartily I figured. I sure did come to the right place. Health food does not seem to be the agenda here, it is just not the southern way. There is plenty of meat, starches and fried food, all homemade and full of temptation.
We started with some Smoked Chicken and Corn Chowder. Filled with big chunks of chicken and tasting of pure sweet corn, it was not too thick but rather had a creamy broth. It was Michigan heaven in a bowl. I could have eaten another bowl it was that good.
I decided on the Carolina Beef Brisket, served over buttermilk mashed potatoes that were decidedly from scratch with lovely lumps but no skins. The beef was braised in a vinegar based Carolina sauce but they offered a basket with two other sauces, a rich tomato based and a zesty Texas variety. I found that by mixing the Texas with the tomato that it created a very satisfying sauce. This was accompanied by the veggie of the day, fresh shredded brussel sprouts, so good I cannot begin to describe. Truly a taste sensation, I ate both mine and my husband's I must confess.
My husband had the Meatloaf, wrapped in bacon and served on a cedar plank and covered with homemade spicy ketchup. It was also served over buttermilk mashers with brussel sprouts on the side. He scraped off the overwhelming ketchup and avoided the sprouts but really enjoyed the rest. Sampling a bite of the meatloaf, I have to say it was tasty indeed. For the money I think it should have been a bit bigger chunk or perhaps another thin style piece at the least. It was not quite enough for my husband, he was peckish so he ordered a side of the excellent mac and cheese but found it to be a bit spicy to his taste so he satisfied himself instead with pilfering pieces of my brisket and eating most of my mashed potatoes.
My mother had the Braised Short Rib, thoroughly coated in the red tomato BBQ sauce. It is served over utterly delicious cheesy grits with greens on the side. The greens were zipped up nicely with the pickapepper sauce from the table. The short rib was nice but I found the BBQ sauce to be a bit much on it. My mother quite enjoyed it though, her favorite part was the cheesy grits which were sinfully rich.
Accompanying these things we decided to get a basket of the beer battered onion rings, also served with the homemade ketchup which is quite salsa like in both consistency and zip factor. It went much better with the rings than with the meatloaf. The rings were to die for, just hearty and fresh. Perfect.
We saw a lot of sandwiches and they look quite healthy in portion, tasty looking too. I think I may give one a whirl next time, I have my eye on the Low Country BLT. Also on my agenda is trying the southern fried appetizer combo which features fried pickles, fried okra and yes indeed fried green tomatoes all with buttermilk lime dressing to dip. My dietician would keel over dead at the thought but hey you have to indulge a bit right?
The prices here are a bit high, the portions a bit on the skimpy side for it in my opinion but the food is amazingly fresh and homemade with variety not often seen in these parts. If I were to make one suggestion it would be to include a bread basket or biscuits with the dinner plates, it would go a long way to increasing the value and filling up men such as my husband.
If you are looking for a bit of southern home, complete with excellent sweet tea, this may well be the place for you.
California Pizza Kitchen - Ann Arbor, Michigan
I have not been here in many years but I must say I have been missing out. In my mall mode due to the holidays my husband and I had occasion to stop at the Briarwood locale and were quite happy indeed.
The service here is excellent. Fast, friendly and even helpful. Our waitress ascertained we were in a bit of a hurry (we had an appointment at the Apple store for my husband's beloved iPod) and made sure we had everything in good fashion, including the check and a box for the leftovers.
The thing that took the longest was deciding what to order. What a menu, so many pizzas, salads and pastas to tempt the palette. It was quite hard to decide. I was torn between several pizzas and several salads. At last I settled upon a compromise and got the California Club pizza. Featuring applewood smoked bacon, grilled chicken and mozzarella cheese, hearth baked then topped with roma tomatoes, chilled chopped lettuce tossed in mayonnaise and fresh sliced avocado, it was absolutely delightful on the wheat crust. Health conscious, probably not but worth the calorie splurge.
My husband chose a usual combination for him, a Hawaiian with fresh pineapple, Canadian bacon, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. He quite liked it but it would never be something I would order.
On personal tasting I can quite recommend the Wild Mushroom pizza, the Roasted Garlic pizza, the Thai Chicken pizza and the Sante Fe Chicken pizza. I also quite love the BBQ Chicken Chopped salad, the Chinese Chicken salad and the Grilled Vegetable salad.
All in all I have to say I am quite anxious to go back.
The service here is excellent. Fast, friendly and even helpful. Our waitress ascertained we were in a bit of a hurry (we had an appointment at the Apple store for my husband's beloved iPod) and made sure we had everything in good fashion, including the check and a box for the leftovers.
The thing that took the longest was deciding what to order. What a menu, so many pizzas, salads and pastas to tempt the palette. It was quite hard to decide. I was torn between several pizzas and several salads. At last I settled upon a compromise and got the California Club pizza. Featuring applewood smoked bacon, grilled chicken and mozzarella cheese, hearth baked then topped with roma tomatoes, chilled chopped lettuce tossed in mayonnaise and fresh sliced avocado, it was absolutely delightful on the wheat crust. Health conscious, probably not but worth the calorie splurge.
My husband chose a usual combination for him, a Hawaiian with fresh pineapple, Canadian bacon, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. He quite liked it but it would never be something I would order.
On personal tasting I can quite recommend the Wild Mushroom pizza, the Roasted Garlic pizza, the Thai Chicken pizza and the Sante Fe Chicken pizza. I also quite love the BBQ Chicken Chopped salad, the Chinese Chicken salad and the Grilled Vegetable salad.
All in all I have to say I am quite anxious to go back.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Riffles - Northville, Michigan
Opened by the former chef of the prior Riffles (which is now Deadwood reviewed in this blog), this Riffles is in the former spot occupied by Helen's and before that the famous Crawford's restaurant.
Riffles is a great cozy place, specializing in comfort food style home cooking such as pot roast, meatloaf, turkey dinners and Northern Michigan chicken stew with homemade biscuits. They also have a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads.
My parents are huge fans already, my father quite addicted to both the turkey dinner as well as the open faced turkey sandwich at lunch, layered with stuffing, potatoes and cranberry sauce and covered in gravy. My mom loves the pot roast in particular.
I will say the turkey dinner is quite nice, the only real fault I find is with the skin on mashed potatoes, a no no for me with a gravy which calls for a creamy potato. I like skins on redskin buttery garlic mashers though. The gravy is good and the stuffing is spectacular. I would prefer a bit of dark meat too but that is just me. I love that it has the cranberry sauce which is an essential to me.
The onion soup was a stunning delight and is not to be missed.
The pumpkin cheesecake is unbelievable and if you are at all on a diet I will advise you to avoid it as it could well be addictive. The apple pie looks stellar and after the cheesecake I didn't dare take a bite.
The prices are reasonable, the staff beyond friendly. The owner is a charmer and the experience very homey and nice. Makes me very happy indeed. Please stop in, this place deserves a visit and you will not regret it. I know I will for sure be back. The Pretzel Chicken is calling to me.
Riffles is a great cozy place, specializing in comfort food style home cooking such as pot roast, meatloaf, turkey dinners and Northern Michigan chicken stew with homemade biscuits. They also have a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads.
My parents are huge fans already, my father quite addicted to both the turkey dinner as well as the open faced turkey sandwich at lunch, layered with stuffing, potatoes and cranberry sauce and covered in gravy. My mom loves the pot roast in particular.
I will say the turkey dinner is quite nice, the only real fault I find is with the skin on mashed potatoes, a no no for me with a gravy which calls for a creamy potato. I like skins on redskin buttery garlic mashers though. The gravy is good and the stuffing is spectacular. I would prefer a bit of dark meat too but that is just me. I love that it has the cranberry sauce which is an essential to me.
The onion soup was a stunning delight and is not to be missed.
The pumpkin cheesecake is unbelievable and if you are at all on a diet I will advise you to avoid it as it could well be addictive. The apple pie looks stellar and after the cheesecake I didn't dare take a bite.
The prices are reasonable, the staff beyond friendly. The owner is a charmer and the experience very homey and nice. Makes me very happy indeed. Please stop in, this place deserves a visit and you will not regret it. I know I will for sure be back. The Pretzel Chicken is calling to me.
Olga's Kitchen - Livonia, Michigan
I have long been a fan of Olga's. That warm soft and pillowy pita bread is just fabulous. If you have not tried an Olga you must. On this visit I went with my mom who is also an Olga's fan.
I am a fan of the original Olga, the Gyro-like lamb and beef mixture with onions and tomatoes, I always get Olga sauce on it (a sour cream based concoction) and jazz it up by adding pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper from the shakers at the table. I also on this occasion (as with most others) got the Olga side salad, a delightful combo of lettuce, tomato, feta cheese and olives with a subtle greek-like dressing. This combo is always a winner. Fresh and tasty, not too awfully bad for you but delicious.
My mom had Olga's White Bean Chicken Chili with a piece of Spinach Pie, a combination of spinach, feta and ricotta, hand-made with phyllo pastry and baked to a golden brown. It came with snackers, seasoned crisp olga bread pieces with a dab of swiss almond cheese. A lot of food and so happy.
It was a very good meal indeed. Service was nice, food was fresh and it was a double coupon day so it was cheap too.
If you want to get started with Olga's coupons you need a reward card, they are free and on some days your coupon can even be tripled. These are the only coupons I see regularly for Olga's and it pays to join up. Learn more here: http://www.olgaskitchen.com/coupon.htm .
I am a fan of the original Olga, the Gyro-like lamb and beef mixture with onions and tomatoes, I always get Olga sauce on it (a sour cream based concoction) and jazz it up by adding pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper from the shakers at the table. I also on this occasion (as with most others) got the Olga side salad, a delightful combo of lettuce, tomato, feta cheese and olives with a subtle greek-like dressing. This combo is always a winner. Fresh and tasty, not too awfully bad for you but delicious.
My mom had Olga's White Bean Chicken Chili with a piece of Spinach Pie, a combination of spinach, feta and ricotta, hand-made with phyllo pastry and baked to a golden brown. It came with snackers, seasoned crisp olga bread pieces with a dab of swiss almond cheese. A lot of food and so happy.
It was a very good meal indeed. Service was nice, food was fresh and it was a double coupon day so it was cheap too.
If you want to get started with Olga's coupons you need a reward card, they are free and on some days your coupon can even be tripled. These are the only coupons I see regularly for Olga's and it pays to join up. Learn more here: http://www.olgaskitchen.com/coupon.htm .
Honey Tree Grille - Belleville, Michigan
We stopped in here one night for a quick meal. It has only been open for a few weeks and already it is quite popular, we had no wait for a table but almost every one was filled on a weekday.
I have dined at other Honey Trees in the area and I have to say this ranks right up there. They are relatively inexpensive, have healthy options and big variety. A very nice place for families as well.
I had the Athenian 1/2 chicken. Marinated and roasted to perfection, served with rice and peas, choice of soup or salad and nice bread. They offer a tomato sauce for the rice but I am not a fan, my father adores it though. I chose greek salad and was very pleased, zesty but creamy dressing on the side and full of fresh veggies. Pretty healthy, very filling and reasonable to boot. I ended up taking a quarter chicken home.
My dad had the Gyro platter, with some tzatziki sauce. Served with grilled pita triangles, and the same sides as the athenian chicken. He had the navy bean soup and it was really delicious.
My mom had the Country Omelette. It has bacon, tomatoes, onions, green peppers and swiss. Served with decent hash browns and your choice of toast. She really enjoyed it. I love places where you can get breakfast for dinner too.
We saw lots of sandwiches pass our way that looked quite nice, a very large stir fry that had us talking and some saganaki that made me drool at the sight. Next time I am getting some, calories be damned.
All in all a decent place. Nothing fancy but plenty of variety and tasty. If you are looking for a solid family place, you cannot go wrong.
I have dined at other Honey Trees in the area and I have to say this ranks right up there. They are relatively inexpensive, have healthy options and big variety. A very nice place for families as well.
I had the Athenian 1/2 chicken. Marinated and roasted to perfection, served with rice and peas, choice of soup or salad and nice bread. They offer a tomato sauce for the rice but I am not a fan, my father adores it though. I chose greek salad and was very pleased, zesty but creamy dressing on the side and full of fresh veggies. Pretty healthy, very filling and reasonable to boot. I ended up taking a quarter chicken home.
My dad had the Gyro platter, with some tzatziki sauce. Served with grilled pita triangles, and the same sides as the athenian chicken. He had the navy bean soup and it was really delicious.
My mom had the Country Omelette. It has bacon, tomatoes, onions, green peppers and swiss. Served with decent hash browns and your choice of toast. She really enjoyed it. I love places where you can get breakfast for dinner too.
We saw lots of sandwiches pass our way that looked quite nice, a very large stir fry that had us talking and some saganaki that made me drool at the sight. Next time I am getting some, calories be damned.
All in all a decent place. Nothing fancy but plenty of variety and tasty. If you are looking for a solid family place, you cannot go wrong.
Bagger Dave's - Ann Arbor, Michigan
I saw this place on a run to Moe's (the Ann Arbor one is superior to the Allen Park one) and I had to try it.
We decided to meet my parents there and try a variety of food. Before we went I had my mother join their eClub as her birthday is coming up soon. She recieved a free bowl of chili for joining and I will update and share what they give for a birthday or an anniversary as they ask for both dates. You can also join the eClub here for various discounts and freebies: http://baggerdaveslegendaryburgersfries.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe .
Bagger Daves is a simple concept, burgers with a bazillion toppings and fries and things you can make using products you stock for those two things. It is an unassuming place apparently with a train theme, I didn't notice much of it but they do have a train that runs along the middle divider. It is strictly casual and very kid friendly. A big warning is they serve peanut butter as well as fry everything in peanut oil so if you have nut allergies I would not stop in. We waited for a table for about 10 minutes on a Saturday night, not too bad.
A regular burger here is two 3.5 oz patties and starts at $4.49 for beef. You can get a small with just one patty, turkey burgers and Gardenburger black bean burgers as options. There is a small sandwich selection; Sloppy BBQ, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Egg, California BLT and two peanut butter options. There are a few different salads (Garden, Cobb or Caesar) which are available with two hamburger or two turkey burger patties for 2.00 which is nice.
Sides include the Turkey Black Bean Chili, Belgian twice fried style Idaho Potato Fries and Dave's Sweet Potato Chips. The Sweet Potato Chips come with either a honey, cinnamon and sea salt mixture or a honey mustard sauce and are tasty with either. The fries are nice but not as spectacular as I hoped. The chili was excellent with some cheese, sour cream and onion added, really amazing for turkey chili, very hearty and beef like.
I had a double burger with mozzarella, two different types of lettuce, basil, tomato, onion (fresh and sauteed), mushrooms and a bit of balsamic vinaigrette. It did not need the nice plain bun. Absolutely delicious. My husband had the Bacon BBQ Burger on Honey Wheat minus the grilled onions and was quite pleased. He said the BBQ matched nicely with the sharp cheddar. My father ate a basic bacon sharp cheddar burger on sesame with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mayo. He said it was much better than he expected as he had feared pre-pressed patties and dryness. These are hand formed and juicy. My mom went for the baby single burger with just about every veggie topping and raved about the Honey Wheat bun, my husband agreed with her on that score.
Overall we were very impressed. Decent service, good burgers, nice sides.
They have desserts here. Like the rest of the items, very straightforward. Shakes with ice cream or yogurt with plenty of mix in options, Ice Cream Sundaes, Root Beer Float, Brownie or Cookie (chocolate chip or sugar).
If you are looking for variety you will not find it here but if you are looking for tasty burgers and fried fun then give it a whirl.
We decided to meet my parents there and try a variety of food. Before we went I had my mother join their eClub as her birthday is coming up soon. She recieved a free bowl of chili for joining and I will update and share what they give for a birthday or an anniversary as they ask for both dates. You can also join the eClub here for various discounts and freebies: http://baggerdaveslegendaryburgersfries.fbmta.com/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe .
Bagger Daves is a simple concept, burgers with a bazillion toppings and fries and things you can make using products you stock for those two things. It is an unassuming place apparently with a train theme, I didn't notice much of it but they do have a train that runs along the middle divider. It is strictly casual and very kid friendly. A big warning is they serve peanut butter as well as fry everything in peanut oil so if you have nut allergies I would not stop in. We waited for a table for about 10 minutes on a Saturday night, not too bad.
A regular burger here is two 3.5 oz patties and starts at $4.49 for beef. You can get a small with just one patty, turkey burgers and Gardenburger black bean burgers as options. There is a small sandwich selection; Sloppy BBQ, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Egg, California BLT and two peanut butter options. There are a few different salads (Garden, Cobb or Caesar) which are available with two hamburger or two turkey burger patties for 2.00 which is nice.
Sides include the Turkey Black Bean Chili, Belgian twice fried style Idaho Potato Fries and Dave's Sweet Potato Chips. The Sweet Potato Chips come with either a honey, cinnamon and sea salt mixture or a honey mustard sauce and are tasty with either. The fries are nice but not as spectacular as I hoped. The chili was excellent with some cheese, sour cream and onion added, really amazing for turkey chili, very hearty and beef like.
I had a double burger with mozzarella, two different types of lettuce, basil, tomato, onion (fresh and sauteed), mushrooms and a bit of balsamic vinaigrette. It did not need the nice plain bun. Absolutely delicious. My husband had the Bacon BBQ Burger on Honey Wheat minus the grilled onions and was quite pleased. He said the BBQ matched nicely with the sharp cheddar. My father ate a basic bacon sharp cheddar burger on sesame with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mayo. He said it was much better than he expected as he had feared pre-pressed patties and dryness. These are hand formed and juicy. My mom went for the baby single burger with just about every veggie topping and raved about the Honey Wheat bun, my husband agreed with her on that score.
Overall we were very impressed. Decent service, good burgers, nice sides.
They have desserts here. Like the rest of the items, very straightforward. Shakes with ice cream or yogurt with plenty of mix in options, Ice Cream Sundaes, Root Beer Float, Brownie or Cookie (chocolate chip or sugar).
If you are looking for variety you will not find it here but if you are looking for tasty burgers and fried fun then give it a whirl.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Palette in the MGM Grand - Detroit, Michigan
On the occasion of my birthday my parents decided to treat me to an experience that I would never treat myself to. It was a morning of gambling followed by Sunday Brunch at the MGM Grand Casino's buffet. Yes indeed I come from foodie stock just not budget minded individuals. I am indeed a genetic anomoly but in my defense I also make a lot less money too.
The MGM Grand is a lovely casino. They are also home to the foodie legend Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. I did admire the place but the prices there were something that did indeed make my heart race a bit faster. The menu though was utter bliss. It was hard to walk away but I did not feel I would survive the bill if indeed I did dine.
We chose to dine at Palette, which is one of my parent's faves. It is a very nice buffet indeed. They have just about everything one could hope to find in a top notch all you can eat atmosphere. I did a tour of the restaurant before I even started and was impressed with the array. It also helped me plan what to eat and what not to bother with.
I started at the seafood table. I quickly decided very small portions of everything was the order of the day in order to try as much as possible. The shrimp ceviche was fresh and had nice bite. The fried shrimp and catfish were fine but nothing super special, although they were refilled and piping hot so that is impressive. The lobster mac and cheese was rich but tasty. The tilapia was lovely with the crab topping, the cod was happy with its rich lemon butter sauce. The salmon was ok with the pineapple teriyaki glaze. The peel and eat shrimp and oysters on the half shell were fresh and had all the lovely accessories needed to fully enjoy them. The asian crab salad was a bit too veggie and not enough crab for me though. I was also sad no sushi, they really could use some.
I followed this with a half a fresh bagel with cream cheese, lovely smoked salmon with capers, eggs, onion, tomato and cucumber. They have everything you may need to go with anything, I was happily surprised. I also had a bite of the different types of breads dipped into special dipping sauces. The sauces were ok, the various bread was very nice indeed.
I moved on to more carnivorous fare next. The brisket was falling apart and just happy. The lamb was a bit tough but had good flavor. The pork was shredded and nice. The rotisserie chicken was lovely and fresh off the spit. I sampled a slider on a homemade roll that was awesome after I mixed up some ketchup, onion and mustard to put on it. They had four different types of sausage, kielbasa was my fave but I am partial. I swiped some excellent chicken and veggie dumplings from the Asian table too, unimpressed with the pink dipping sauce I found a good aged soy at the end of the line, definitely a good call there.
I cannot wax more poetically on the perfection of the bacon here. Thick sliced and pressed flat. Perfectly done, neither too crisp nor too floppy. I could have eaten a pound of it. Heavenly. It gets it's own section here as I was that enraptured by it.
Believe it or not I managed to save room for dessert. I must tell you I am not a huge dessert girl, particularly after I eat a big meal. That is not a problem for me here. Heck next time I may start with dessert, it is really awesome. I had a small ramekin of gelato, the to die for tiramisu variety and the merely dreamy vanilla. I also took advantage of the chocolate dipped treats. The fruit was amazing, except I did not care for the canteloupe with the chocolate. The strawberries and pineapple were more than acceptable though. They had cheesecake on a stick dipped in the same chocolate and it was utter bliss. I was over the moon to find chcolate dipped pretzels and a chocolate covered peanut butter bar too. I was sad the creme brulee had a butterscotch flavor but the delightful caramel flan satisfied my need for creamy.
Yes I did indeed make quite a pig of myself. I don't regret a bite. It was fun and frivilous and so perfect. The bonus of a buffet is if you do not like something you can move on until you do. There were way more hits than misses to be had. Nothing was glaringly bad and several things were simply fabulous. I will be back.
Besides I guess I am lucky. I hit for forty bucks on a penny machine (did you have any doubts I would be a cheap gambler too?) before I left ;).
The MGM Grand is a lovely casino. They are also home to the foodie legend Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. I did admire the place but the prices there were something that did indeed make my heart race a bit faster. The menu though was utter bliss. It was hard to walk away but I did not feel I would survive the bill if indeed I did dine.
We chose to dine at Palette, which is one of my parent's faves. It is a very nice buffet indeed. They have just about everything one could hope to find in a top notch all you can eat atmosphere. I did a tour of the restaurant before I even started and was impressed with the array. It also helped me plan what to eat and what not to bother with.
I started at the seafood table. I quickly decided very small portions of everything was the order of the day in order to try as much as possible. The shrimp ceviche was fresh and had nice bite. The fried shrimp and catfish were fine but nothing super special, although they were refilled and piping hot so that is impressive. The lobster mac and cheese was rich but tasty. The tilapia was lovely with the crab topping, the cod was happy with its rich lemon butter sauce. The salmon was ok with the pineapple teriyaki glaze. The peel and eat shrimp and oysters on the half shell were fresh and had all the lovely accessories needed to fully enjoy them. The asian crab salad was a bit too veggie and not enough crab for me though. I was also sad no sushi, they really could use some.
I followed this with a half a fresh bagel with cream cheese, lovely smoked salmon with capers, eggs, onion, tomato and cucumber. They have everything you may need to go with anything, I was happily surprised. I also had a bite of the different types of breads dipped into special dipping sauces. The sauces were ok, the various bread was very nice indeed.
I moved on to more carnivorous fare next. The brisket was falling apart and just happy. The lamb was a bit tough but had good flavor. The pork was shredded and nice. The rotisserie chicken was lovely and fresh off the spit. I sampled a slider on a homemade roll that was awesome after I mixed up some ketchup, onion and mustard to put on it. They had four different types of sausage, kielbasa was my fave but I am partial. I swiped some excellent chicken and veggie dumplings from the Asian table too, unimpressed with the pink dipping sauce I found a good aged soy at the end of the line, definitely a good call there.
I cannot wax more poetically on the perfection of the bacon here. Thick sliced and pressed flat. Perfectly done, neither too crisp nor too floppy. I could have eaten a pound of it. Heavenly. It gets it's own section here as I was that enraptured by it.
Believe it or not I managed to save room for dessert. I must tell you I am not a huge dessert girl, particularly after I eat a big meal. That is not a problem for me here. Heck next time I may start with dessert, it is really awesome. I had a small ramekin of gelato, the to die for tiramisu variety and the merely dreamy vanilla. I also took advantage of the chocolate dipped treats. The fruit was amazing, except I did not care for the canteloupe with the chocolate. The strawberries and pineapple were more than acceptable though. They had cheesecake on a stick dipped in the same chocolate and it was utter bliss. I was over the moon to find chcolate dipped pretzels and a chocolate covered peanut butter bar too. I was sad the creme brulee had a butterscotch flavor but the delightful caramel flan satisfied my need for creamy.
Yes I did indeed make quite a pig of myself. I don't regret a bite. It was fun and frivilous and so perfect. The bonus of a buffet is if you do not like something you can move on until you do. There were way more hits than misses to be had. Nothing was glaringly bad and several things were simply fabulous. I will be back.
Besides I guess I am lucky. I hit for forty bucks on a penny machine (did you have any doubts I would be a cheap gambler too?) before I left ;).
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Bomber - Ypsilanti, Michigan
The Bomber is easily the best breakfast place in the area. Huge portions of fresh food, creative combinations and such a bargain for what you get! I ate breakfast here with my parents, needing an indulgent splurge of calories. Boy did I come to the right place.
I ordered a full order Cowboy Skillet, a huge bowl of hash browns with onions with bacon, eggs to order and cheddar cheese. There was an upcharge to cover it with country gravy but man was it worth it! The half order would have been enough for me, you could easily split it with a friend. The scrambled eggs were perfect. The bowl was just incredible, buttery potatoes, sweet onion, creamy lucious gravy and crisp but not overcooked bacon. Mmmmm. The rye toast that came with was hearty and thick, perfectly toasted with just a dab of butter. I took just over half home with me and it reheated well.
My father let me sample his Homemade Corned Beef Hash. Chunky with fresh corned beef, buttery potatoes, onions and green peppers. Mighty good stuff but not as much my thing. My mother's sunny side up eggs were picture perfect, in fact all the eggs were amazingly well cooked. They each had leftovers too, I think it's hard to avoid it here.
We split an order of Nature Lover's pancakes, full of pecans, blueberries and raspberries. Three giantic fluffy cakes. I could only eat half of one. They were so delicious they didnt even need butter and syrup. My father was in heaven, I was close behind. Words cannot do this big stack justice.
I pretty quickly decided that my husband needs to go here. Breakfast is his thing and the portions in here will make him smile. If it sounds huge, it is. They have a special breakfast here that would feed anyone's appetite called The Bomber. A pound of breakfast potatoes, a pound of breakfast meat, four eggs to order and choice of toast.
We saw lots of people getting the pancakes, a lot were getting the special of the day too, real turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. The sandwiches are man sized and everything looked incredible.
The decor is all aeronautical, with planes and even bombs overhead and aviation themed memorabilia on the walls. Countryish decor fills in. Not unpleasant at all. The neighborhood is a bit run down but inside it is quite homey.
I highly recommend The Bomber. I can't wait to go back. Bring a big appetite or share.
I ordered a full order Cowboy Skillet, a huge bowl of hash browns with onions with bacon, eggs to order and cheddar cheese. There was an upcharge to cover it with country gravy but man was it worth it! The half order would have been enough for me, you could easily split it with a friend. The scrambled eggs were perfect. The bowl was just incredible, buttery potatoes, sweet onion, creamy lucious gravy and crisp but not overcooked bacon. Mmmmm. The rye toast that came with was hearty and thick, perfectly toasted with just a dab of butter. I took just over half home with me and it reheated well.
My father let me sample his Homemade Corned Beef Hash. Chunky with fresh corned beef, buttery potatoes, onions and green peppers. Mighty good stuff but not as much my thing. My mother's sunny side up eggs were picture perfect, in fact all the eggs were amazingly well cooked. They each had leftovers too, I think it's hard to avoid it here.
We split an order of Nature Lover's pancakes, full of pecans, blueberries and raspberries. Three giantic fluffy cakes. I could only eat half of one. They were so delicious they didnt even need butter and syrup. My father was in heaven, I was close behind. Words cannot do this big stack justice.
I pretty quickly decided that my husband needs to go here. Breakfast is his thing and the portions in here will make him smile. If it sounds huge, it is. They have a special breakfast here that would feed anyone's appetite called The Bomber. A pound of breakfast potatoes, a pound of breakfast meat, four eggs to order and choice of toast.
We saw lots of people getting the pancakes, a lot were getting the special of the day too, real turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. The sandwiches are man sized and everything looked incredible.
The decor is all aeronautical, with planes and even bombs overhead and aviation themed memorabilia on the walls. Countryish decor fills in. Not unpleasant at all. The neighborhood is a bit run down but inside it is quite homey.
I highly recommend The Bomber. I can't wait to go back. Bring a big appetite or share.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Mexican Fiesta - Dearborn Heights, Michigan
I have pretty much a rave review on the Canton Mexican Fiesta but after a negative experience trying to get a table there tonight we headed off to the one in Dearborn Heights.
What a beautiful thing! The portions here are much bigger, the hot chips are totally free and the roomy Cantina area is perfect for watching sports. I cannot believe how quiet it was even on a busy night. The waitstaff is so friendly and speedy too. I think we found a new Mexican Fiesta!
All the food is the same although the chicken enchiladas seemed more stuffed full and as I said just bigger portions of rice, beans and coleslaw. The salsas were better too, the mild is chunkier and a bit perkier and the hot is actually quite spicy.
So if you feel like a bit more for the buck try Mexican Fiesta in Dearborn Heights, I know we have definitely made the switch!
What a beautiful thing! The portions here are much bigger, the hot chips are totally free and the roomy Cantina area is perfect for watching sports. I cannot believe how quiet it was even on a busy night. The waitstaff is so friendly and speedy too. I think we found a new Mexican Fiesta!
All the food is the same although the chicken enchiladas seemed more stuffed full and as I said just bigger portions of rice, beans and coleslaw. The salsas were better too, the mild is chunkier and a bit perkier and the hot is actually quite spicy.
So if you feel like a bit more for the buck try Mexican Fiesta in Dearborn Heights, I know we have definitely made the switch!
Zingerman's Deli - Ann Arbor, Michigan
This place is no bargain. Trust me on this. There is plenty tasty to be had but I would skip the corned beef as I feel it is not their strong point. Better, more plentiful and cheaper is at The Bread Basket. If you get a sandwich here ask for fresser (large) rather than nosher unless you have a small appetite, for a couple dollars more just take some home if you must, noshers run 9-12 dollars, fressers run 12-15 dollars or so depending on what you get.
That being said they have amazing and fresh food here. They make everything they can and buy the best of what they cannot. This place is a foodie mecca, people from all over the country come here to worship.
My favorite things in here are many. I love the Chicken Soup with matzo ball. Perfect. My mom is a fan of the creamy tomato. The blintzes are sinful and rich with chestnut honey and mexican vanilla. The noodle kugle is just awesome too with the fresh farm cheese (happy sigh).
As far as sandwiches I like Chicken : the #44 Architect's Four Club has Amish chicken breast, Wisconsin muenster cheese & applewood-smoked bacon with lettuce, tomato & mayo on Margaret's sweet wheat bread from the Bakehouse, it is dreamy. The #85 J.V.W.'s Detroit St. BBQ has Zingerman's BBQ Amish chicken, Nueske's applewood-smoked bacon & coleslaw on grilled sourdough bread. Served with a side of applewood-smoked baked beans. Just amazing.
As far as fish I like: the #33 Benny & Zach's Bagel Over Tokyo has Stonington, Maine smoked salmon, wasabi cream cheese spread, tomato & mixed greens on a toasted sesame bagel from Zingerman's Bakehouse. Zippy and awesome. The Extra Special is great too Stonington smoked salmon & Zingerman's smoked whitefish salad, scallion cream cheese, tomato & red onion on a toasted sesame bagel. The whitefish and trout salads are both extremely good.
As for meat I like: #97 Lisa C.'s Boisterous Brisket has Hand-pulled beef brisket simmered in Zingerman's own BBQ sauce on a soft bun, served with a side of applewood-smoked baked beans, Oprah loved it and it's good but I prefer #34 Diana's Different Drummer that has Beef brisket served warm, Russian dressing, coleslaw & fresh horseradish on Jewish rye bread, deliciously different.
If I go veg I feel a bit guilty here as it is so spendy for veggies but I like: The#55 Gemini Rocks the House which has Zingerman's own handmade fresh mozzarella (which does rock), tomatoes & Italian pesto on grilled farm bread. Also, Sheila's Viva Las Vegan which is hummus, artichokes, roasted red peppers and baby spinach on grilled farm bread.
Get a new dill pickle with your sammie, crunchy and cucumbery but with a nice dill bite to it. It's free. You can also get an old dill but it is not as fun.
At any rate be prepared to spend a lot for what you get but to eat top notch fare. Tasty stuff but avoid corned beef and get adventurous in your deli selections. Oh and get some bread, bagels or sweets to take home. Yum.
That being said they have amazing and fresh food here. They make everything they can and buy the best of what they cannot. This place is a foodie mecca, people from all over the country come here to worship.
My favorite things in here are many. I love the Chicken Soup with matzo ball. Perfect. My mom is a fan of the creamy tomato. The blintzes are sinful and rich with chestnut honey and mexican vanilla. The noodle kugle is just awesome too with the fresh farm cheese (happy sigh).
As far as sandwiches I like Chicken : the #44 Architect's Four Club has Amish chicken breast, Wisconsin muenster cheese & applewood-smoked bacon with lettuce, tomato & mayo on Margaret's sweet wheat bread from the Bakehouse, it is dreamy. The #85 J.V.W.'s Detroit St. BBQ has Zingerman's BBQ Amish chicken, Nueske's applewood-smoked bacon & coleslaw on grilled sourdough bread. Served with a side of applewood-smoked baked beans. Just amazing.
As far as fish I like: the #33 Benny & Zach's Bagel Over Tokyo has Stonington, Maine smoked salmon, wasabi cream cheese spread, tomato & mixed greens on a toasted sesame bagel from Zingerman's Bakehouse. Zippy and awesome. The Extra Special is great too Stonington smoked salmon & Zingerman's smoked whitefish salad, scallion cream cheese, tomato & red onion on a toasted sesame bagel. The whitefish and trout salads are both extremely good.
As for meat I like: #97 Lisa C.'s Boisterous Brisket has Hand-pulled beef brisket simmered in Zingerman's own BBQ sauce on a soft bun, served with a side of applewood-smoked baked beans, Oprah loved it and it's good but I prefer #34 Diana's Different Drummer that has Beef brisket served warm, Russian dressing, coleslaw & fresh horseradish on Jewish rye bread, deliciously different.
If I go veg I feel a bit guilty here as it is so spendy for veggies but I like: The#55 Gemini Rocks the House which has Zingerman's own handmade fresh mozzarella (which does rock), tomatoes & Italian pesto on grilled farm bread. Also, Sheila's Viva Las Vegan which is hummus, artichokes, roasted red peppers and baby spinach on grilled farm bread.
Get a new dill pickle with your sammie, crunchy and cucumbery but with a nice dill bite to it. It's free. You can also get an old dill but it is not as fun.
At any rate be prepared to spend a lot for what you get but to eat top notch fare. Tasty stuff but avoid corned beef and get adventurous in your deli selections. Oh and get some bread, bagels or sweets to take home. Yum.
Gabriel's Cheese Steak Hoagies - Ypsilanti, Michigan
This place is a hole in the wall. No atmosphere to speak of, it is slightly reminiscent of a bowling alley snackbar. The sandwiches are absolute heaven so I could care less. This is the best cheese steak outside of Philly.
There is no real variety at Gabriels. You can have a cheese steak hoagie, a plain steak hoagie, a lunchmeat special (popular) or a ham and cheese. They also have a garden salad or a ham and cheese salad. You can also buy assorted bags of chips and Pepsi products. That is it.
Really the only thing to order for my taste is a Cheese steak, I recommend extra cheese for sure, extra onions are great, mushrooms I can take or leave. The cherry pepper topping is a must. get it on the side and just sample it if you must. That stuff haunts me in my dreams I tell ya. They sell jars of it and I am tempted, GERD and all.
My husband is just anti-onion and hates it here. Spoilsport. I don't think they do cheese steak without the onions, I mean c'mon. This place is legendary at any rate and frankly my husband is just being picky as usual. The rest of my family adores it here.
No coupons but everything in this joint is under 5 bucks.
You have to try Gabriels, it's amazing.
There is no real variety at Gabriels. You can have a cheese steak hoagie, a plain steak hoagie, a lunchmeat special (popular) or a ham and cheese. They also have a garden salad or a ham and cheese salad. You can also buy assorted bags of chips and Pepsi products. That is it.
Really the only thing to order for my taste is a Cheese steak, I recommend extra cheese for sure, extra onions are great, mushrooms I can take or leave. The cherry pepper topping is a must. get it on the side and just sample it if you must. That stuff haunts me in my dreams I tell ya. They sell jars of it and I am tempted, GERD and all.
My husband is just anti-onion and hates it here. Spoilsport. I don't think they do cheese steak without the onions, I mean c'mon. This place is legendary at any rate and frankly my husband is just being picky as usual. The rest of my family adores it here.
No coupons but everything in this joint is under 5 bucks.
You have to try Gabriels, it's amazing.
Los Amigos - Ypsilanti, Michigan
This is the ugly stepsister of Casa Fiesta. Same food, less upscale atmosphere. Lunch here was actually a bit creepy honestly. They are owned within the same family but there is a totally different feel about them. Service is not as good and if you understand spanish you may get insulted as the staff makes rude comments about patrons in that language.
I am not recommending this one. I thought I would share at any rate.
I am not recommending this one. I thought I would share at any rate.
Casa Fiesta - Westland, Michigan
Casa Fiesta is one of those middle of the road places I have ended up at. The food is ok, the drinks are cheap (happy hour and lunch margaritas, yum), the service is attentive and there are always coupons to be had, they can be found in a variety of places if you look. Get your own coupons online without the effort here: http://www.jmasavings.com/biz_default.php?auto_id=25. The one in the Entertainment book is better though, buy one dinner get one free.
I recommend the chicken chimis here. Covered in a white cheese sauce, they are very tasty. The fajitas are odd, more stirfry that what one expects as fajitas. The shrimp is the best variety in my opinion. Dinners are odd in that they do not automatically come with beans or rice, so watch for that when you order. I like beans and rice myself so this concerns me.
The medium salsa is zesty but if it is too much for you they have mild on request, I personally like it with the very nice chips that are of course bottomless. Guacamole is good, they also have it as a side with several of the entrees on a useless salad I cannot figure out.
The atmosphere is pleasant here. Clean and roomy. Light mariachi sounds in the background. Good for families too, you usually see a cute kid or two.
The dinner is mighty cheap and the staff is quiet and extremely efficient, but I never dine here without a coupon personally.
I recommend the chicken chimis here. Covered in a white cheese sauce, they are very tasty. The fajitas are odd, more stirfry that what one expects as fajitas. The shrimp is the best variety in my opinion. Dinners are odd in that they do not automatically come with beans or rice, so watch for that when you order. I like beans and rice myself so this concerns me.
The medium salsa is zesty but if it is too much for you they have mild on request, I personally like it with the very nice chips that are of course bottomless. Guacamole is good, they also have it as a side with several of the entrees on a useless salad I cannot figure out.
The atmosphere is pleasant here. Clean and roomy. Light mariachi sounds in the background. Good for families too, you usually see a cute kid or two.
The dinner is mighty cheap and the staff is quiet and extremely efficient, but I never dine here without a coupon personally.
Aubrees Pizza - Ypsilanti, Michigan
I have to clarify I went to the Whittaker Road location and not the one in Depot Town.
I went to their website first at http://www.aubreespizza.com/ and they sent me a coupon for a free appetizer when I joined their e club. I would suggest doing the same. They also ask for important dates for all of the family, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I imagine you get freebies then too. We will see shortly as my birthday is on the 20th.
I like the look of Aubrees. We mostly went as they have NTN trivia which I am addicted to. If you are an NTN Fan, they have tables with mini tv screens just for you. My husband and I loved that as we could play and not have to look around to find a screen.
We decided on boneless wings for our appetizer as we planned on pizza and did not want to overload on starch. We got the chipotle barbecue variety and were quite pleased. It was a generous portion with carrot sticks, celery and ranch for dipping. As my husband loves celery and I love carrot it worked out nicely. The slightly smoky sauce was very tasty and the wings were small and crunchy yet still meaty and juicy inside.
For our dinner we wanted completely opposite pizzas so we ordered two. Our waitress kind of acted like we were being piggish which pissed me off. We were taking home major leftovers but at any rate it was just none of her business.
I had the Chicken, Goat Cheese and Mushroom bistro specialty pizza on a whole wheat crust. It has roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes and red onion on it also. I asked for pesto rather than tomato sauce and they were nice enough to make the switch for me. It was lovely but the sundried tomatoes got a tad burnt on top, they should have stuck em under the cheese. The pizza other than that was perfect. I could only eat three pieces and took the rest home.
My husband had the Mighty Mighty Meat pizza, featuring chunks of italian sausage, bacon, spicy pepperoni, ham and ground beef. He was not a fan of the big chunks of sausage but I like that sort of thing personally. Other than that he thought the pizza was good. Not nearly as good as Toledo pizza, but that is what he says about everything up here. He ate about half his pizza and took the rest home.
We will be back as I liked the place quite a bit food and trivia set up wise. My husband is thinking of choices other than pizza after I pointed out he never likes Michigan pizza at any rate. I want to go on the weekend as they have tailgate buffet for just 7.99 with a variety of 'za, brats, dogs, chili, potato and macaroni salad and the like. What a bargain.
So give Aubree's a whirl. It is tasty.
Added 10/17/08 : We went back tonight as my birthday gift was a free large specialty pizza. We had the Big Kahuna minus onions (James is a baby) and man was it awesome! The Frog Island BBQ Sauce is just yummy. The chicken is in good chunks, slices of nice ham and nice accent of bacon. His half also featured pineapple chunks. Pizza bliss, free trivia, even live free trivia woohoo and all we had to pay for was drinks. I really do love Aubree's now!
I went to their website first at http://www.aubreespizza.com/ and they sent me a coupon for a free appetizer when I joined their e club. I would suggest doing the same. They also ask for important dates for all of the family, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I imagine you get freebies then too. We will see shortly as my birthday is on the 20th.
I like the look of Aubrees. We mostly went as they have NTN trivia which I am addicted to. If you are an NTN Fan, they have tables with mini tv screens just for you. My husband and I loved that as we could play and not have to look around to find a screen.
We decided on boneless wings for our appetizer as we planned on pizza and did not want to overload on starch. We got the chipotle barbecue variety and were quite pleased. It was a generous portion with carrot sticks, celery and ranch for dipping. As my husband loves celery and I love carrot it worked out nicely. The slightly smoky sauce was very tasty and the wings were small and crunchy yet still meaty and juicy inside.
For our dinner we wanted completely opposite pizzas so we ordered two. Our waitress kind of acted like we were being piggish which pissed me off. We were taking home major leftovers but at any rate it was just none of her business.
I had the Chicken, Goat Cheese and Mushroom bistro specialty pizza on a whole wheat crust. It has roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes and red onion on it also. I asked for pesto rather than tomato sauce and they were nice enough to make the switch for me. It was lovely but the sundried tomatoes got a tad burnt on top, they should have stuck em under the cheese. The pizza other than that was perfect. I could only eat three pieces and took the rest home.
My husband had the Mighty Mighty Meat pizza, featuring chunks of italian sausage, bacon, spicy pepperoni, ham and ground beef. He was not a fan of the big chunks of sausage but I like that sort of thing personally. Other than that he thought the pizza was good. Not nearly as good as Toledo pizza, but that is what he says about everything up here. He ate about half his pizza and took the rest home.
We will be back as I liked the place quite a bit food and trivia set up wise. My husband is thinking of choices other than pizza after I pointed out he never likes Michigan pizza at any rate. I want to go on the weekend as they have tailgate buffet for just 7.99 with a variety of 'za, brats, dogs, chili, potato and macaroni salad and the like. What a bargain.
So give Aubree's a whirl. It is tasty.
Added 10/17/08 : We went back tonight as my birthday gift was a free large specialty pizza. We had the Big Kahuna minus onions (James is a baby) and man was it awesome! The Frog Island BBQ Sauce is just yummy. The chicken is in good chunks, slices of nice ham and nice accent of bacon. His half also featured pineapple chunks. Pizza bliss, free trivia, even live free trivia woohoo and all we had to pay for was drinks. I really do love Aubree's now!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Dos Pesos - Belleville, Michigan
Dos Pesos is not huge food, neither is it all that spectacular a bargain. It is worth a trip though as it is amazingly fresh and tasty.
Dos Pesos has single handedly the best guacamole I have ever tasted. It is served as an appetizer on a big plate with a load of equally excellent pico de gallo and is worth the trip to this place alone. The chips are fresh and neither too oily or too salty. Mmmmm. It is definitely big enough for three or four people.
Another item I am quite hooked on here is the Quesadillas. The cheese variety are nice with their guac accent but the shrimp variety are even better. Not greasy at all. Just perfect. The Wet Burrito is a hugely popular choice, saucy and big. The Chicken Chimi was good but honestly I just can't think past the Quesadillas. All entrees come with nice beans and rice.
The service is efficient yet not friendly and there is just not an air of fun here but it doesn't stop my enjoyment of the food. A word of warning though, you will be nickled and dimed on anything extra here, even lettuce. That makes me a bit sad.
You do need to visit here at least once. Try the guac appetizer and some quesadillas and you will be very happy.
Dos Pesos has single handedly the best guacamole I have ever tasted. It is served as an appetizer on a big plate with a load of equally excellent pico de gallo and is worth the trip to this place alone. The chips are fresh and neither too oily or too salty. Mmmmm. It is definitely big enough for three or four people.
Another item I am quite hooked on here is the Quesadillas. The cheese variety are nice with their guac accent but the shrimp variety are even better. Not greasy at all. Just perfect. The Wet Burrito is a hugely popular choice, saucy and big. The Chicken Chimi was good but honestly I just can't think past the Quesadillas. All entrees come with nice beans and rice.
The service is efficient yet not friendly and there is just not an air of fun here but it doesn't stop my enjoyment of the food. A word of warning though, you will be nickled and dimed on anything extra here, even lettuce. That makes me a bit sad.
You do need to visit here at least once. Try the guac appetizer and some quesadillas and you will be very happy.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Oslo - Detroit, Michigan
Oslo is a nice place around the corner from where I work. They have a big menu of numerous Asian dishes from various countries of origin as well as a sushi bar. I stopped in with a co-worker to have a peek as she got takeout sushi and returned the very next day to try it myself.
As you know if you read this blog on any type of regular basis, I am a sushi fan. I'm not hugely picky which works for my wallet but I can indeed tell good from the merely mediocre. Oslo is very good indeed but not stellar. The prices are about what you would expect, a bit higher than my bargains in the burbs but not anything too out there by any means.
The sushi chef is very nice and was more than happy to demonstrate for me as he made up my to go box. He works efficiently and tidily, as all good sushi chefs do. I was sad not to see knife work but I enjoyed myself at any rate. His fish was already beautifully sliced and he made quite nice tight rolls.
I had the Oslo sushi combination B which features your choice of roll (spicy tuna, spicy white tuna, california or avocado and cucumber) plus 6 pieces of chef's choice nigiri sushi for 16.00. I added a salmon roll because I was starving. It made quite a lovely array.
The spicy tuna was quite zesty, I liked the heat a lot. The salmon was fresh, rich and buttery and a perfect foil for the spice of the tuna. The nigiri was a solid combination including salmon, tuna and shrimp. I felt quite piggish but happy at any rate.
They gave me plenty of wasabi, soy sauce and ginger with the requisite chopsticks, sending along a little cup for dipping, packing me off on my merry way. Very nice to go I must say.
Now if they had better deals or a coupon I would be here all the time.
As you know if you read this blog on any type of regular basis, I am a sushi fan. I'm not hugely picky which works for my wallet but I can indeed tell good from the merely mediocre. Oslo is very good indeed but not stellar. The prices are about what you would expect, a bit higher than my bargains in the burbs but not anything too out there by any means.
The sushi chef is very nice and was more than happy to demonstrate for me as he made up my to go box. He works efficiently and tidily, as all good sushi chefs do. I was sad not to see knife work but I enjoyed myself at any rate. His fish was already beautifully sliced and he made quite nice tight rolls.
I had the Oslo sushi combination B which features your choice of roll (spicy tuna, spicy white tuna, california or avocado and cucumber) plus 6 pieces of chef's choice nigiri sushi for 16.00. I added a salmon roll because I was starving. It made quite a lovely array.
The spicy tuna was quite zesty, I liked the heat a lot. The salmon was fresh, rich and buttery and a perfect foil for the spice of the tuna. The nigiri was a solid combination including salmon, tuna and shrimp. I felt quite piggish but happy at any rate.
They gave me plenty of wasabi, soy sauce and ginger with the requisite chopsticks, sending along a little cup for dipping, packing me off on my merry way. Very nice to go I must say.
Now if they had better deals or a coupon I would be here all the time.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
BD's Mongolian BBQ - Canton, Michigan
BD's is one of many Mongolian type BBQs in the area. I like places like this in that it can be healthier for you, you can eat as much or as little as you would like and it is a fun and creative way to eat. My husband is not the creative type and hates it here as he feels it is just too much work and not really his style of food at any rate..
Join their club Mongo here: http://www.gomongo.com/experience/joinClubMongo.php . You get periodic coupons for a few dollars off meals and a free entree on your birthday :) .
Basically to make a meal at BDs, you choose your ingredients and make the exact stir fry you would like to eat. They have protein type items of many varieties; beef, chicken, pork and shrimp yes but also lamb, sausage, surimi crab, scallops, calamari, tofu, whole raw eggs and seasonal items like brats or crawfish. They have just about every veggie you can think of as well as pineapple and herbs. You fill a bowl (or two) with a combination of any of these items you would like, as much or as little as you want.
Next it is on to the sauce and spice area. You have a seperate cup you fill up with any combo of sauces, personally I like a lot of sauce so sometimes I take two less filled cups. There are recipes for standard flavor combinations or you can wing it and make something unexpected. I really like the Chili Garlic Sauce, Mongolian Ginger, Peanut Sauce and the Kung Pao personally. You can add any number of dry spices too.
You watch them stir fry your creation. That is part of the experience, I enjoy watching the show personally. Once your collection is finished you bring it back to your table and they bring you brown rice, white rice or tortillas. You can actually ask for all of the above. The brown rice is quite nice with a hint of nutty flavors but I like the tortillas too.
You can go once for one price or do unlimited for a few dollars more. I usually do unlimited and make two smaller creations for variety. It's also insurance in case I muck it all up.
So if you are the creative type or just willing to try it out then BD's may be the place for you.
Join their club Mongo here: http://www.gomongo.com/experience/joinClubMongo.php . You get periodic coupons for a few dollars off meals and a free entree on your birthday :) .
Basically to make a meal at BDs, you choose your ingredients and make the exact stir fry you would like to eat. They have protein type items of many varieties; beef, chicken, pork and shrimp yes but also lamb, sausage, surimi crab, scallops, calamari, tofu, whole raw eggs and seasonal items like brats or crawfish. They have just about every veggie you can think of as well as pineapple and herbs. You fill a bowl (or two) with a combination of any of these items you would like, as much or as little as you want.
Next it is on to the sauce and spice area. You have a seperate cup you fill up with any combo of sauces, personally I like a lot of sauce so sometimes I take two less filled cups. There are recipes for standard flavor combinations or you can wing it and make something unexpected. I really like the Chili Garlic Sauce, Mongolian Ginger, Peanut Sauce and the Kung Pao personally. You can add any number of dry spices too.
You watch them stir fry your creation. That is part of the experience, I enjoy watching the show personally. Once your collection is finished you bring it back to your table and they bring you brown rice, white rice or tortillas. You can actually ask for all of the above. The brown rice is quite nice with a hint of nutty flavors but I like the tortillas too.
You can go once for one price or do unlimited for a few dollars more. I usually do unlimited and make two smaller creations for variety. It's also insurance in case I muck it all up.
So if you are the creative type or just willing to try it out then BD's may be the place for you.
Small Plates - Detroit, Michigan
You need to be very careful in here indeed. It is tasty food but can quickly snowball into a huge tab for you. The reason is it is all appetizer sort of items and it will lull you into getting more than perhaps you realized. Plates can range from four dollars all the way up to seventeen, it adds up.
Small Plates is a cute little cafe on Broadway right around the corner from just about everything, including my work. It has quite a following and with good reason, the food for the most part is really great. The premise is fun as well, little plates of happy food to share. It's romantic. You can even dine al fresco and really feel the spirit.
A must get here is the Hand Cut Fries, served with homemade ketchup. I recommend you request the garlic aioli as well as it is absolutely delicious. I alternate dips myself. Not good for you but mmmmm. At four dollars a bargain for here.
The seafood here just all seems to be primo. The Garlic Shrimp comes with bread for dipping and is just so tasty. The Pan Seared Scallops have a heavenly brown butter sauce and are served over linguine. The Panko Shrimp are delicate with two delicious sauces. The Crispy Calamari are tender and are served with a perfect spicy aioli. You can even get a Garlic Shrimp Pizza or Fish Tacos, happiness indeed.
The other stuff seems a little more hit and miss. The Petite Tenderloin is spendy but quality with a rich sauce and crispy onions. I quite liked the Veggie Spring Rolls with three sauces, you have to love people who remember hot mustard. The Lettuce Wraps are not quite as good as PF Changs though, they need that great dipping mixed sauce to jazz them up. The Almond Chicken was also not impressive, good but not for that price.
The Broadway Baguette was crisp and sinful as were the Sherry Mushrooms in their cream sauce with baguette to dip. Way too much starch and fat but worth it. A bit spendy at eight dollars apiece.
The salads are quite nice and come in two sizes, great if you want to share. I like the Chop Chop but the Maurice is confusing as it has chicken instead of ham and adds tomato and olives. Any native Detroiter knows that a Maurice salad made the famous Hudson's way is shredded iceberg, ham, turkey, swiss, chopped gherkins and the creamy dressing, period. Just odd in a Detroit place where they should get it right. It's good but it is no Maurice.
Bottom line, Small Plates is tasty but spendy for what you get. Watch when ordering and if you are going to splurge do it on the seafood which is all good.
Small Plates is a cute little cafe on Broadway right around the corner from just about everything, including my work. It has quite a following and with good reason, the food for the most part is really great. The premise is fun as well, little plates of happy food to share. It's romantic. You can even dine al fresco and really feel the spirit.
A must get here is the Hand Cut Fries, served with homemade ketchup. I recommend you request the garlic aioli as well as it is absolutely delicious. I alternate dips myself. Not good for you but mmmmm. At four dollars a bargain for here.
The seafood here just all seems to be primo. The Garlic Shrimp comes with bread for dipping and is just so tasty. The Pan Seared Scallops have a heavenly brown butter sauce and are served over linguine. The Panko Shrimp are delicate with two delicious sauces. The Crispy Calamari are tender and are served with a perfect spicy aioli. You can even get a Garlic Shrimp Pizza or Fish Tacos, happiness indeed.
The other stuff seems a little more hit and miss. The Petite Tenderloin is spendy but quality with a rich sauce and crispy onions. I quite liked the Veggie Spring Rolls with three sauces, you have to love people who remember hot mustard. The Lettuce Wraps are not quite as good as PF Changs though, they need that great dipping mixed sauce to jazz them up. The Almond Chicken was also not impressive, good but not for that price.
The Broadway Baguette was crisp and sinful as were the Sherry Mushrooms in their cream sauce with baguette to dip. Way too much starch and fat but worth it. A bit spendy at eight dollars apiece.
The salads are quite nice and come in two sizes, great if you want to share. I like the Chop Chop but the Maurice is confusing as it has chicken instead of ham and adds tomato and olives. Any native Detroiter knows that a Maurice salad made the famous Hudson's way is shredded iceberg, ham, turkey, swiss, chopped gherkins and the creamy dressing, period. Just odd in a Detroit place where they should get it right. It's good but it is no Maurice.
Bottom line, Small Plates is tasty but spendy for what you get. Watch when ordering and if you are going to splurge do it on the seafood which is all good.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Zoup - Ann Arbor, Michigan
I have long been a fan of Zoup. As I used to work across the street, I have eaten here quite a bit. There are numerous locations throughout Michigan, I have also tried the Northville locale and found it quite similar in taste. It is fresh, tasty and reasonably healthy depending on what you get.
Go to http://www.zoup.com/ and give them your email and they will send you a buy one get one free offer for a bowl of soup. You can also find the same coupon here for use anytime: http://myclipper.com/page2.cfm?jsessionid=80302646841167660024437&cid=A561C6F1-E3DB-3D7C-378AB62D778BFB22 .
The soup is definitely the star of the show here. My faves are the Chicken Pot Pie, the Bisques and the Gazpacho. The Chicken Pot Pie is creamy and full of fresh veggies with a bit of crumb topping. The Bisques are creamy and rich, coming in either Lobster, Seafood or Mushroom varieties, very filling. The Gazpacho is seasonal, zippy with lots of fresh veggies, perfect on hot days when a cold soup is just what the doctor ordered. They have a quite nice Lemon Basil Chicken and Double Stuffed Baked Potato variety too.
The panini sandwiches are not huge but are filled with tasty ingredients. My faves are the Tuscan Chicken with pesto, red peppers, onions and provolone and the Turkey Club with swiss.
The grilled Three Cheese is nice as is the Chicken Greek.
The salads are all very nice. The Asian chicken has romaine, chow mein noodles, Asian noodles, sliced almonds, grilled chicken strips, scalions and sesame seeds served with sesame dressing. The Sonoma is romaine, spring mix, gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries and sliced almonds. It's served with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Another good choice is the Baja Chicken with romaine, grilled chicken strips, mozzarella cheese, grape tomatoes, black beans, scallions, cilantro and crushed tortilla chips with salsa ranch dressing.
I recommend this place for a casual fresh lunch, or a light dinner to go. I think the soup and salads are probably the best bets but everything is good.
Go to http://www.zoup.com/ and give them your email and they will send you a buy one get one free offer for a bowl of soup. You can also find the same coupon here for use anytime: http://myclipper.com/page2.cfm?jsessionid=80302646841167660024437&cid=A561C6F1-E3DB-3D7C-378AB62D778BFB22 .
The soup is definitely the star of the show here. My faves are the Chicken Pot Pie, the Bisques and the Gazpacho. The Chicken Pot Pie is creamy and full of fresh veggies with a bit of crumb topping. The Bisques are creamy and rich, coming in either Lobster, Seafood or Mushroom varieties, very filling. The Gazpacho is seasonal, zippy with lots of fresh veggies, perfect on hot days when a cold soup is just what the doctor ordered. They have a quite nice Lemon Basil Chicken and Double Stuffed Baked Potato variety too.
The panini sandwiches are not huge but are filled with tasty ingredients. My faves are the Tuscan Chicken with pesto, red peppers, onions and provolone and the Turkey Club with swiss.
The grilled Three Cheese is nice as is the Chicken Greek.
The salads are all very nice. The Asian chicken has romaine, chow mein noodles, Asian noodles, sliced almonds, grilled chicken strips, scalions and sesame seeds served with sesame dressing. The Sonoma is romaine, spring mix, gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries and sliced almonds. It's served with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Another good choice is the Baja Chicken with romaine, grilled chicken strips, mozzarella cheese, grape tomatoes, black beans, scallions, cilantro and crushed tortilla chips with salsa ranch dressing.
I recommend this place for a casual fresh lunch, or a light dinner to go. I think the soup and salads are probably the best bets but everything is good.
Bailey's - Canton, Michigan
I must confess we started coming here solely because they show WWE pay per views and I am too cheap to pay to watch them at home. My husband is a wrestling fan and so I decided to find a place we both could enjoy watching them, him for the action and me for the food. It is also nice to come here and shoot pool.
You can find several coupons for Bailey's in the entertainment book and also sign up for their e club here http://www.tentcorp.com/ for special deals and a free meal on your birthday. Bailey's features many drink specials and fun special events that mostly revolve around sports.
This place has great appetizers and you can make a meal of many of them. My fave is the Bavarian Pretzels, which are fresh baked to order and served with excellent queso (which rocks with the tortilla chips too). The BBQ Chicken Potato Skins are James' favorite. They have these things called Chicken Billiard Sticks which have a good kick to them and remind me of Chili's southwest eggrolls. Another treat are the great Chinese Chicken Potstickers with the Red Amber Ale soy dip sauce.
I really like the zesty Tortilla Soup here as well as the Newcastle Brown Ale Cheese Soup. Rich and filling. The Napa Valley Spinach Salad is hands down the salad to get here if you are so inclined. Chicken, Bacon, Strawberries, Raisins and Feta, need I say more?
I like the fish a lot at Bailey's. They have great beer battered Newcastle Fish and Chips but also have a healthier option of a Blackened Mahi Mahi over rice that is very tasty as well. The Chicken Fingers are good and quite a big portion. The Grilled Chicken Platter comes with a large variety of basting sauces and rice and is quite happy. If you want to splurge the Campfire Pot Roast is tender and served over delicious mashed potatoes.
One of my fave sandwiches is The Black Forest with smoked turkey and applewood bacon on a pretzel roll. The Philly Chessesteak is really flavorful with the peppers and onions. I also like the Campfire Pot Roast Sliders with the tender beef short rib meat. All sandwiches come with thick square cut fries which are delicious.
The burgers in here are just ok, a bit preformed for my taste. Stick with the much better options above.
There is something for everyone at Bailey's, go ahead and give a coupon a go.
You can find several coupons for Bailey's in the entertainment book and also sign up for their e club here http://www.tentcorp.com/ for special deals and a free meal on your birthday. Bailey's features many drink specials and fun special events that mostly revolve around sports.
This place has great appetizers and you can make a meal of many of them. My fave is the Bavarian Pretzels, which are fresh baked to order and served with excellent queso (which rocks with the tortilla chips too). The BBQ Chicken Potato Skins are James' favorite. They have these things called Chicken Billiard Sticks which have a good kick to them and remind me of Chili's southwest eggrolls. Another treat are the great Chinese Chicken Potstickers with the Red Amber Ale soy dip sauce.
I really like the zesty Tortilla Soup here as well as the Newcastle Brown Ale Cheese Soup. Rich and filling. The Napa Valley Spinach Salad is hands down the salad to get here if you are so inclined. Chicken, Bacon, Strawberries, Raisins and Feta, need I say more?
I like the fish a lot at Bailey's. They have great beer battered Newcastle Fish and Chips but also have a healthier option of a Blackened Mahi Mahi over rice that is very tasty as well. The Chicken Fingers are good and quite a big portion. The Grilled Chicken Platter comes with a large variety of basting sauces and rice and is quite happy. If you want to splurge the Campfire Pot Roast is tender and served over delicious mashed potatoes.
One of my fave sandwiches is The Black Forest with smoked turkey and applewood bacon on a pretzel roll. The Philly Chessesteak is really flavorful with the peppers and onions. I also like the Campfire Pot Roast Sliders with the tender beef short rib meat. All sandwiches come with thick square cut fries which are delicious.
The burgers in here are just ok, a bit preformed for my taste. Stick with the much better options above.
There is something for everyone at Bailey's, go ahead and give a coupon a go.
Chipotle - Ann Arbor, Michigan
We are on a burrito kick lately. Chipotle is another one of the mexican fast food but nicer restaurants that are fairly common everywhere. You order, watch as they make it and take it right to your table, thus avoiding the need to tip. It always makes dining more affordable.
I love Chipotle. The ingredients are top notch and every item is natural and organic. The meat is raised on a vegetarian diet as well as being hormone and cruelty free. It is the kind of place I feel better for eating in as well as enjoying the flavor.
All meats are marinated in an adobo. It makes them tender and juicy. I am a fan of the chicken but my husband loves the barbacoa, which is spicy shredded braised beef. The vegetarian options is black beans and includes guac, with the fajita burrito it also includes sauteed onions and peppers.
You can choose your way to eat Chipotle deliciousness, burrito with beans, fajita burrito with sauteed onions and peppers, plain in a bowl, in hard corn or soft flour tacos or on top of a salad of romaine lettuce. Any way you get it is tasty but I am a fan of the fajita burrito myself. The burrito has a little kick to it even with the mildest salsa, fresh tomato, which is very pleasant.
I highly recommend the guacamole and chips side. The guac is very fresh and chunky. The chips are not greasy and crisp. My husband is annoyed they do not have queso, which is his favorite thing with chips, he settles for the mild fresh tomato salsa (pico de gallo).
I prefer it here while my husband prefers the cheaper with coupons Moe's. He says the sour cream is too soupy here (it is quite thin but I enjoy that) and he likes Moe's cheese (more generic and orange at Moe's- I like Chipotle's) and more different options of toppings better. We both prefer the meat here and we both agree that Moe's burritos are somehow more filling. I think if Chipotle had queso my husband wouldn't be as picky.
So you decide for yourselves. We go to both as we are fans of fast and fresh mex and they are both good cheap options for us.
I love Chipotle. The ingredients are top notch and every item is natural and organic. The meat is raised on a vegetarian diet as well as being hormone and cruelty free. It is the kind of place I feel better for eating in as well as enjoying the flavor.
All meats are marinated in an adobo. It makes them tender and juicy. I am a fan of the chicken but my husband loves the barbacoa, which is spicy shredded braised beef. The vegetarian options is black beans and includes guac, with the fajita burrito it also includes sauteed onions and peppers.
You can choose your way to eat Chipotle deliciousness, burrito with beans, fajita burrito with sauteed onions and peppers, plain in a bowl, in hard corn or soft flour tacos or on top of a salad of romaine lettuce. Any way you get it is tasty but I am a fan of the fajita burrito myself. The burrito has a little kick to it even with the mildest salsa, fresh tomato, which is very pleasant.
I highly recommend the guacamole and chips side. The guac is very fresh and chunky. The chips are not greasy and crisp. My husband is annoyed they do not have queso, which is his favorite thing with chips, he settles for the mild fresh tomato salsa (pico de gallo).
I prefer it here while my husband prefers the cheaper with coupons Moe's. He says the sour cream is too soupy here (it is quite thin but I enjoy that) and he likes Moe's cheese (more generic and orange at Moe's- I like Chipotle's) and more different options of toppings better. We both prefer the meat here and we both agree that Moe's burritos are somehow more filling. I think if Chipotle had queso my husband wouldn't be as picky.
So you decide for yourselves. We go to both as we are fans of fast and fresh mex and they are both good cheap options for us.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Ichiban Japanese Hibachi and Sushi Bar - Ypsilanti, Michigan
*****Limited time special alert*****
All sushi rolls and sushi entrees are 50% off as a fall special until mid November. That is a steal! I saw this deal on Ichiban's windows in passing when reviewing Dynasty Buffet and told my mother we had to check this place out. I figured even if it was less than stellar now was the time to find out.
Hallelujah! The sushi here is fabulous. Fresh and well prepared. I had my fave Chirashi as did my mother my mother for a mere 8 bucks apiece! It was a deep square bowl full of a variety of perfect fish, shrimp, surimi crab piece, that fabulous egg omelet and utterly perfect sushi rice. No lettuce but I kind of liked the switch.
The bowls came with smaller bowls of nice enough miso soup and really excellent salad. The salad had a very good dressing and was an utter delight.
We also decided to take a whirl at the rolls. My mom picked a Philly roll and I needed to try the Spicy Tuna. Both were top notch. Too much food for us with the generous portions of chirashi but hard to pass up the bargain rate of under three bucks per roll.
We sipped nice hot cups of green tea that were ok. I have had much better tea and I prefer having a pot to share. It's a minor complaint though. I am a tea person.
As we dined the table behind us received the special Love Boat for two meal. It is ginormous with 10 pcs of sushi, 16 sashimi and three rolls. I am so getting that next time, I may have to skip a meal to be hungry enough though.
I highly recommend a bargathon stop in at Ichiban. An excellent sushi place at rock bottom prices. I will be returning myself soon.
I returned October 12th for the Love Boat. Mmmm all I had hoped for. We had six different types of sashimi (three pieces of each type), 10 different hand rolls, two regular combo rolls (a deluxe type eel and a california roll) and one specialty roll which was the special of the day I think. The specialty roll was a tempura shrimp roll covered in spicy tuna and two sauces, it was honestly to die for. We also got the miso soup, which was better this time, and the excellent salad.
So much food and so worth it. I am definitely going back before the special prices are done. We are debating all different types of rolls and I think we are just going to try all we can for the bargathon price. A head's up, it was a Saturday night and they were hopping, we lucked into a cool private booth but I would suggest making a reservation if you are going on the weekend.
I am honestly glad to see them doing a great business. Such nice people and honestly right now it is the best sushi around, even at full price I will be back.
October 31st
We returned yet again. This time it was for chirashi and some special rolls. We are just in love with the chirashi. This time the rice was served seperately. I was happy to see a new array of fish, I think they serve which is freshest.
For special rolls we had some debate. We went with the Happy Dragon Roll and the Ichiban Roll, mostly as my mother is adoring crunchy and both these rolls feature a center of tempura shrimp. I was thrilled with the Happy Dragon as I was dying for eel but was surprisingly just as happy with the Ichiban Roll with its three varieties of tuna and addition of salmon. I would order either again.
We also added a Philadelphia roll as my mom needs her cream cheese fest and a Spicy Crispy Tuna roll just to satisfy my curiosity. Honestly every item we had was stellar, we just realized we need to order less next time as we really struggled to finish even after having walked in starving (I deliberately had missed lunch).
Hurry in, the special ends November 16th!
All sushi rolls and sushi entrees are 50% off as a fall special until mid November. That is a steal! I saw this deal on Ichiban's windows in passing when reviewing Dynasty Buffet and told my mother we had to check this place out. I figured even if it was less than stellar now was the time to find out.
Hallelujah! The sushi here is fabulous. Fresh and well prepared. I had my fave Chirashi as did my mother my mother for a mere 8 bucks apiece! It was a deep square bowl full of a variety of perfect fish, shrimp, surimi crab piece, that fabulous egg omelet and utterly perfect sushi rice. No lettuce but I kind of liked the switch.
The bowls came with smaller bowls of nice enough miso soup and really excellent salad. The salad had a very good dressing and was an utter delight.
We also decided to take a whirl at the rolls. My mom picked a Philly roll and I needed to try the Spicy Tuna. Both were top notch. Too much food for us with the generous portions of chirashi but hard to pass up the bargain rate of under three bucks per roll.
We sipped nice hot cups of green tea that were ok. I have had much better tea and I prefer having a pot to share. It's a minor complaint though. I am a tea person.
As we dined the table behind us received the special Love Boat for two meal. It is ginormous with 10 pcs of sushi, 16 sashimi and three rolls. I am so getting that next time, I may have to skip a meal to be hungry enough though.
I highly recommend a bargathon stop in at Ichiban. An excellent sushi place at rock bottom prices. I will be returning myself soon.
I returned October 12th for the Love Boat. Mmmm all I had hoped for. We had six different types of sashimi (three pieces of each type), 10 different hand rolls, two regular combo rolls (a deluxe type eel and a california roll) and one specialty roll which was the special of the day I think. The specialty roll was a tempura shrimp roll covered in spicy tuna and two sauces, it was honestly to die for. We also got the miso soup, which was better this time, and the excellent salad.
So much food and so worth it. I am definitely going back before the special prices are done. We are debating all different types of rolls and I think we are just going to try all we can for the bargathon price. A head's up, it was a Saturday night and they were hopping, we lucked into a cool private booth but I would suggest making a reservation if you are going on the weekend.
I am honestly glad to see them doing a great business. Such nice people and honestly right now it is the best sushi around, even at full price I will be back.
October 31st
We returned yet again. This time it was for chirashi and some special rolls. We are just in love with the chirashi. This time the rice was served seperately. I was happy to see a new array of fish, I think they serve which is freshest.
For special rolls we had some debate. We went with the Happy Dragon Roll and the Ichiban Roll, mostly as my mother is adoring crunchy and both these rolls feature a center of tempura shrimp. I was thrilled with the Happy Dragon as I was dying for eel but was surprisingly just as happy with the Ichiban Roll with its three varieties of tuna and addition of salmon. I would order either again.
We also added a Philadelphia roll as my mom needs her cream cheese fest and a Spicy Crispy Tuna roll just to satisfy my curiosity. Honestly every item we had was stellar, we just realized we need to order less next time as we really struggled to finish even after having walked in starving (I deliberately had missed lunch).
Hurry in, the special ends November 16th!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Ruby Tuesday - Canton, Michigan
We had a great dinner last night here and felt we got a good deal for what we paid so I wanted to pass it along.
They have a new deal here where you can do a three course meal for one price. For 15.99 apiece you can split an appetizer, each get a garden salad bar or signature house salad and each pick any menu item from the specialties section.
We started with the Thai Phoon Shrimp (8.99 normally) , they were delicious. Lightly golden-brown fried shrimp tossed in a slightly fiery yet creamy and sweet chile sauce. They were crispy outside and tender in the middle.
The garden bar there rocks. They have four different type of lettuce blends as well as fresh spinach. So many fresh veggies to top a salad with too. All the expected meats, egg and cheese too. I love their dark rye croutons and low fat balsamic dressing. They also have fruits, cottage cheese, waldorf salad, potato salad and two pasta salads, a creamy and a vinaigrette. I really loved the vinaigrette pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, it had a pesto zip to it. James likes anyplace where he can make his own salad and load it up with cheese, egg and bacon.
Basically by the time you eat the appetizer and an unlimited salad bar you are quite full (I was plenty full after one trip). If you keep that in mind and order something you can take home and reheat that really makes this meal a bargain.
For the entree, I had New Orleans Seafood (13.99), spicy broiled tilapia topped with sautéed shrimp. It comes topped with a bit of parmesan cream sauce. Sides are fresh, steamed broccoli and brown-rice pilaf topped with cheese and tomatoes. I traded the broccoli for the sauteed green beans which are absolutely delicious. It actually is fairly healthy for you, especially if you ditch the cream sauce.
Actually that is one of the things I like best here, there are many healthy items including sides and they offer up nutritional info right on their website so that you can make good choices and still enjoy a really tasty meal. I really wish more places would do this. One of my favorite light but filling lunches is here, their White Bean Chicken Chili and a garden bar combo, but they have a huge range of things to pick from.
James went less health conscious (shocking I know) with his choice of Bistro Barbecue Chicken (10.99). It's a lightly fried chicken breast brushed with barbecue sauce and topped with premium bacon, tomatoes, crisp onion straws, and melted cheddar. It comes with fresh, steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes but surprisingly James opted for the cheesy brown rice, keeping the mashed potatoes. After trying my green beans I think he may actually do the brown rice and green beans next time and he really liked my tilapia so who knows. He quite liked his pick, particularly the bacon and all the cheese.
Other healthy entrees in the deal I have had here and quite enjoy are Creole Catch, Petite Sirloin and the Chicken Bella. I also love the tasty and healthy sides of creamy mashed cauliflower, fresh tomato and mozzarella salad and sauteed baby portabellas.
All in all the meal is a real bargain as adding a salad bar is three or four dollars more per entree as well.
The service here is usually excellent, we had a great waiter last night too. The salad bar is kept stocked and they refill your drinks often. The new design of the restaurant is very nice with comfy padded chairs and interesting visual fun.
So if you are in the mood for a nice night out with plenty of good option give Ruby Tuesday a thought.
They have a new deal here where you can do a three course meal for one price. For 15.99 apiece you can split an appetizer, each get a garden salad bar or signature house salad and each pick any menu item from the specialties section.
We started with the Thai Phoon Shrimp (8.99 normally) , they were delicious. Lightly golden-brown fried shrimp tossed in a slightly fiery yet creamy and sweet chile sauce. They were crispy outside and tender in the middle.
The garden bar there rocks. They have four different type of lettuce blends as well as fresh spinach. So many fresh veggies to top a salad with too. All the expected meats, egg and cheese too. I love their dark rye croutons and low fat balsamic dressing. They also have fruits, cottage cheese, waldorf salad, potato salad and two pasta salads, a creamy and a vinaigrette. I really loved the vinaigrette pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, it had a pesto zip to it. James likes anyplace where he can make his own salad and load it up with cheese, egg and bacon.
Basically by the time you eat the appetizer and an unlimited salad bar you are quite full (I was plenty full after one trip). If you keep that in mind and order something you can take home and reheat that really makes this meal a bargain.
For the entree, I had New Orleans Seafood (13.99), spicy broiled tilapia topped with sautéed shrimp. It comes topped with a bit of parmesan cream sauce. Sides are fresh, steamed broccoli and brown-rice pilaf topped with cheese and tomatoes. I traded the broccoli for the sauteed green beans which are absolutely delicious. It actually is fairly healthy for you, especially if you ditch the cream sauce.
Actually that is one of the things I like best here, there are many healthy items including sides and they offer up nutritional info right on their website so that you can make good choices and still enjoy a really tasty meal. I really wish more places would do this. One of my favorite light but filling lunches is here, their White Bean Chicken Chili and a garden bar combo, but they have a huge range of things to pick from.
James went less health conscious (shocking I know) with his choice of Bistro Barbecue Chicken (10.99). It's a lightly fried chicken breast brushed with barbecue sauce and topped with premium bacon, tomatoes, crisp onion straws, and melted cheddar. It comes with fresh, steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes but surprisingly James opted for the cheesy brown rice, keeping the mashed potatoes. After trying my green beans I think he may actually do the brown rice and green beans next time and he really liked my tilapia so who knows. He quite liked his pick, particularly the bacon and all the cheese.
Other healthy entrees in the deal I have had here and quite enjoy are Creole Catch, Petite Sirloin and the Chicken Bella. I also love the tasty and healthy sides of creamy mashed cauliflower, fresh tomato and mozzarella salad and sauteed baby portabellas.
All in all the meal is a real bargain as adding a salad bar is three or four dollars more per entree as well.
The service here is usually excellent, we had a great waiter last night too. The salad bar is kept stocked and they refill your drinks often. The new design of the restaurant is very nice with comfy padded chairs and interesting visual fun.
So if you are in the mood for a nice night out with plenty of good option give Ruby Tuesday a thought.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Mason's Lounge INC - Livonia, Michigan
My sincerest apologies to the vegetarians, vegans and health fanatics of the world (my dietician in particular) , but I am a hamburger fan. I must confess that now. I like double burgers in particular especially hand formed patties cooked so that they are still juicy. Fries I can live without but man do I live for a burger. Heck I can even do without the bun if need be.
Mason's is legendary. A dark and smoky bar with all junk local as decor (license plates, old street signs and the like). It really is not what I would call a homey atmosphere unless you grew up at a truck stop. This is definitely not a place to bring anyone who needs impressing, unless like me all they need to impress them is great burgers.
The only things I have ever eaten in Mason's are burgers and sides of fries or O rings. I see other food in there and even hear tales of it being good, but I will always get a burger. Period. Once you taste one you will be hooked too.
The best burger here is the Double Shift, two third of a pound patties with your melted choice of cheese- Swiss, Cheddar, American or Mozzarella for 5.65. It is served on an onion roll or plain bun with lettuce, tomato and mayo. You also get a dill pickle with it. You can add bacon or olives for extra but you really don't need them. Any other condiments you might need are in a little metal container they bring to you to doctor up your burger just as you like it. The burger itself is just perfect, too big of course but isn't that the beauty of it?
The fries are extra and are your typical ridged affairs, hot and fresh but not the main attraction at any rate, single order is 1.95 or get the red basket for 3.95 and share with a friend or three for cheap. The O Rings are 2.75 and nice enough.
This is not a heath food place, other items include fried fish on a plate or a bun, kielbasa, hot dogs, coneys, BLTs, sloppy joes, beefy chili, fried chicken bites and strips. You name unhealthy food and here it is. Their low cal option is chicken or tuna salad in a pita, somehow I am guessing they don't use non fat mayo though. This is no issue for me as I expect to eat unhealthy in a bar but I am giving you fair warning, there is no healthy option here and really did you expect there to be?
If you are a petite eater they do have single burger option which my mother says is quite delicious but I just can't resist the double and I am not embarrassed about that a bit. I just eat better the rest of the week.
Go on and try Mason's, splurge on the calories. In the Entertainment book there is a coupon for buy one get one free, so it will not be a splurge on the wallet at any rate.
Mason's is legendary. A dark and smoky bar with all junk local as decor (license plates, old street signs and the like). It really is not what I would call a homey atmosphere unless you grew up at a truck stop. This is definitely not a place to bring anyone who needs impressing, unless like me all they need to impress them is great burgers.
The only things I have ever eaten in Mason's are burgers and sides of fries or O rings. I see other food in there and even hear tales of it being good, but I will always get a burger. Period. Once you taste one you will be hooked too.
The best burger here is the Double Shift, two third of a pound patties with your melted choice of cheese- Swiss, Cheddar, American or Mozzarella for 5.65. It is served on an onion roll or plain bun with lettuce, tomato and mayo. You also get a dill pickle with it. You can add bacon or olives for extra but you really don't need them. Any other condiments you might need are in a little metal container they bring to you to doctor up your burger just as you like it. The burger itself is just perfect, too big of course but isn't that the beauty of it?
The fries are extra and are your typical ridged affairs, hot and fresh but not the main attraction at any rate, single order is 1.95 or get the red basket for 3.95 and share with a friend or three for cheap. The O Rings are 2.75 and nice enough.
This is not a heath food place, other items include fried fish on a plate or a bun, kielbasa, hot dogs, coneys, BLTs, sloppy joes, beefy chili, fried chicken bites and strips. You name unhealthy food and here it is. Their low cal option is chicken or tuna salad in a pita, somehow I am guessing they don't use non fat mayo though. This is no issue for me as I expect to eat unhealthy in a bar but I am giving you fair warning, there is no healthy option here and really did you expect there to be?
If you are a petite eater they do have single burger option which my mother says is quite delicious but I just can't resist the double and I am not embarrassed about that a bit. I just eat better the rest of the week.
Go on and try Mason's, splurge on the calories. In the Entertainment book there is a coupon for buy one get one free, so it will not be a splurge on the wallet at any rate.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Good Girls Go To Paris Crepes - Detroit, Michigan
This is hands down the new favorite spot of all the ladies I work with. With good reason I will attest. The service is swift and items are made to order. The food is delicious to boot.
Good Girls is an adorable walk up spot just off Woodward on John R, within walking distance to many attractions downtown. There is no seating, so just walk up to place your order with a girl in a french maid outfit (not as tacky as that sounds BTW) and soon you will be treated to a little taste of Paris.
Crêpes are a very thin pancakes which can be stuffed with both sweet and savory fillings. The sweet ones are filled with an assorted variety of fruits, nuts, chocolate, caramel, nutella (happy sigh), butter, brown sugar and whipped topping. Decadent for breakfast, perfect for a late night snack. The Fay is very popular, with bananas, pecans, butter and brown sugar. The Melinda also comes highly recommended by more than one customer with lime, cream cheese and brown sugar. I am more of a Good Girl with nutella and bananas.
The savory options are filled with assorted items such as rich cheeses, black forest ham, bacon, vegetables, and fresh herbs, and are more than filling enough for lunch. The Vera is delicious with its bacon, boursin cheese and spinach. The Ksenia is a favorite of a colleague of mine with it's ham and swiss and another colleague likes the less guilty Allison with hummous, hot sauce, spinach and herbs de provence.
There are 20 types of crêpes on the menu now, all fun and delicious depending on your taste buds. All are named after Torya -the owner's- family and friends, which is sweet. She is a former french teacher and knows her crepes. Many people indulge in a sweet and a savory but one crepe should be plenty.
The prices range from $3-5 for a hot, generously filled crepe about 12 inches in diameter, making this one of the cheapest places in town for lunch. They also offer orange Italian soda, bottled water and fair trade coffee (for only a dollar and the proceeds are donated to a homeless shelter). If this helps you indulge any the savory varieties are low in carbs, I would avoid the banana one with the nutella though or it will haunt you in your dreams.
Good Girls is an adorable walk up spot just off Woodward on John R, within walking distance to many attractions downtown. There is no seating, so just walk up to place your order with a girl in a french maid outfit (not as tacky as that sounds BTW) and soon you will be treated to a little taste of Paris.
Crêpes are a very thin pancakes which can be stuffed with both sweet and savory fillings. The sweet ones are filled with an assorted variety of fruits, nuts, chocolate, caramel, nutella (happy sigh), butter, brown sugar and whipped topping. Decadent for breakfast, perfect for a late night snack. The Fay is very popular, with bananas, pecans, butter and brown sugar. The Melinda also comes highly recommended by more than one customer with lime, cream cheese and brown sugar. I am more of a Good Girl with nutella and bananas.
The savory options are filled with assorted items such as rich cheeses, black forest ham, bacon, vegetables, and fresh herbs, and are more than filling enough for lunch. The Vera is delicious with its bacon, boursin cheese and spinach. The Ksenia is a favorite of a colleague of mine with it's ham and swiss and another colleague likes the less guilty Allison with hummous, hot sauce, spinach and herbs de provence.
There are 20 types of crêpes on the menu now, all fun and delicious depending on your taste buds. All are named after Torya -the owner's- family and friends, which is sweet. She is a former french teacher and knows her crepes. Many people indulge in a sweet and a savory but one crepe should be plenty.
The prices range from $3-5 for a hot, generously filled crepe about 12 inches in diameter, making this one of the cheapest places in town for lunch. They also offer orange Italian soda, bottled water and fair trade coffee (for only a dollar and the proceeds are donated to a homeless shelter). If this helps you indulge any the savory varieties are low in carbs, I would avoid the banana one with the nutella though or it will haunt you in your dreams.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Dynasty Buffet - Ypsilanti, Michigan
My mother brought me here one night, she and my father like coming here after she goes to work out. She lured me with the idea it was very similar to Fortune Buffet in Livonia. In looks yes, in general food yes, in sushi ummm no.
I am really only into Asian buffets for sushi. This sushi was very grocery store type and bland. They are not quick on refills of the more popular types and what they do make is the simple varieties only. When there is a crowd you will wait quite awhile for more and some simply do not get refilled as the guy in charge manages the cook station as well.
The dumplings here are stellar. Refilled often and perfect. The fish was nice, you could slice it right off the bone. The mussels were a bit big for my taste, the smaller ones are more tender. The crab was of course snow crab and really taken the second they came out by people who just stood there waiting so unless you wanted to wait and be willing to be rude then you were out of luck. I am not a snow crab leg fan at any rate.
The fresh fruit was nice and the soups were quite delicious, the rest of the selections a bit too fried for my taste, I prefer less coated and am avoiding too much grease myself.
The staff was very attentive and friendly, the place is clean and nice enough but it is no Fortune Buffet. I am just not a buffet fan as a general rule and that one is tough to live up to in my opinion.
Try it if sushi is not your main concern and you are into more typical chinese food. I would suggest lunch as it is cheaper and less crowded.
I am really only into Asian buffets for sushi. This sushi was very grocery store type and bland. They are not quick on refills of the more popular types and what they do make is the simple varieties only. When there is a crowd you will wait quite awhile for more and some simply do not get refilled as the guy in charge manages the cook station as well.
The dumplings here are stellar. Refilled often and perfect. The fish was nice, you could slice it right off the bone. The mussels were a bit big for my taste, the smaller ones are more tender. The crab was of course snow crab and really taken the second they came out by people who just stood there waiting so unless you wanted to wait and be willing to be rude then you were out of luck. I am not a snow crab leg fan at any rate.
The fresh fruit was nice and the soups were quite delicious, the rest of the selections a bit too fried for my taste, I prefer less coated and am avoiding too much grease myself.
The staff was very attentive and friendly, the place is clean and nice enough but it is no Fortune Buffet. I am just not a buffet fan as a general rule and that one is tough to live up to in my opinion.
Try it if sushi is not your main concern and you are into more typical chinese food. I would suggest lunch as it is cheaper and less crowded.
Moe's Southwest Grill - Allen Park, Michigan
If you love big food for cheap prices, a Moe's burrito is a must have in your life. This is another type of Panera, Noodles and Company or Qdoba places where you order and then sit with your meal. I love these type places as you save on tip and get speedy food that is generally healthier than a fast food place.
My husband is a burrito guy, frankly if you put meat into a tortilla he is there. I read about Moe's online and heard they had big burritos and that you could choose everything that went into it as they made it. After finding a coupon on Sudden Values for buy one get one free burritos, I knew we had to try it. Find your coupon here and be sure to check out all the Sudden Values offers, there are often several for each business so you can often find exactly what you are looking for: http://annarbor.suddenvalues.com/sudden/values/Display.cfm?recordid=18247 . You can also sign up at Moe's website for a freebie burrito on your birthday! http://www.moes.com/index.aspx
We had the Homewrecker burritos, I had chicken and James had steak. Both were tasty but I preferred the chicken. They also have a pulled pork option as well as ground beef or tofu. You can add your choice of black beans or pintos, rice, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, onions, cilantro and various type peppers and extras. I of course had almost everything and extra cilantro and James went basic with lots of cheese and sour cream. Moes will make it however you want it. Both burritos were delicious and exactly as we requested
The results are huge. I could not finish my burrito and James barely made it. We got them in a combo which includes tasty white queso or guacamole side with tortilla chips and a drink. We also tried cups of the rice as a side for a mere 79¢. They have a salsa bar here with five different types, including one very hot variety and a tomatillo salsa, I tried all and they were just ok. Our whole bill with two burritos, chips and queso (him), chips and guac (me), two rice cups and two endless drinks totalled just over thirteen dollars! Bargain!
I saw some of the other food and it looked decent. The quesadilla is better for a smaller appetite. The nachos and tacos looked just ok but the salads looked terrific in their nice sized tortilla bowls. They have fajitas but I did not see them for myself.
So if you are bored with your bargain places and have a good appetite, give Moe's a whirl. They will make it just how you like it and give you plenty. Even without a coupon it's a deal!
My husband is a burrito guy, frankly if you put meat into a tortilla he is there. I read about Moe's online and heard they had big burritos and that you could choose everything that went into it as they made it. After finding a coupon on Sudden Values for buy one get one free burritos, I knew we had to try it. Find your coupon here and be sure to check out all the Sudden Values offers, there are often several for each business so you can often find exactly what you are looking for: http://annarbor.suddenvalues.com/sudden/values/Display.cfm?recordid=18247 . You can also sign up at Moe's website for a freebie burrito on your birthday! http://www.moes.com/index.aspx
We had the Homewrecker burritos, I had chicken and James had steak. Both were tasty but I preferred the chicken. They also have a pulled pork option as well as ground beef or tofu. You can add your choice of black beans or pintos, rice, cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, onions, cilantro and various type peppers and extras. I of course had almost everything and extra cilantro and James went basic with lots of cheese and sour cream. Moes will make it however you want it. Both burritos were delicious and exactly as we requested
The results are huge. I could not finish my burrito and James barely made it. We got them in a combo which includes tasty white queso or guacamole side with tortilla chips and a drink. We also tried cups of the rice as a side for a mere 79¢. They have a salsa bar here with five different types, including one very hot variety and a tomatillo salsa, I tried all and they were just ok. Our whole bill with two burritos, chips and queso (him), chips and guac (me), two rice cups and two endless drinks totalled just over thirteen dollars! Bargain!
I saw some of the other food and it looked decent. The quesadilla is better for a smaller appetite. The nachos and tacos looked just ok but the salads looked terrific in their nice sized tortilla bowls. They have fajitas but I did not see them for myself.
So if you are bored with your bargain places and have a good appetite, give Moe's a whirl. They will make it just how you like it and give you plenty. Even without a coupon it's a deal!
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Plymouth Fall Festival - Plymouth, Michigan
Once a year we have a fest that revolves around food in my hometown, it is happening this weekend. All proceeds go to local charitable organizations so you are indulging for a good cause at least. It all started with a simple chicken barbecue to raise funds for the Rotary Club, now it is a four day extravaganza with many different organizations offering up good food to raise money for their interests.
Hands down the Chicken Dinner on Sunday is the best thing going. The chicken is marinated and perfectly grilled, a taste like no other I swear. I crave the stuff all year long. You get a nicely seasoned half chicken served with corn on the cob, a dinner roll, a bag of potato chips, soft drink or bottled water and a dessert item that varies. If you are looking for a bargain buy your tickets before Sunday for a two dollar discount. You do not even have to come to the fest for this item, they have pickup spots throughout the city for your convenience. Try it and you too will be back year after year to have it again, it's worth the money.
The other thing that is a MUST try at the fest is found at the Polish National Alliance Dancers booth. These sweet girls have their grandmothers and mothers cooking some of the best pierogies I have ever eaten. The cheese is the superior choice to me but my mom swears by the kraut. Never have I eaten better anywhere but at a grandma's house. The other items here are good but the pierogies are just heaven in your mouth.
In the morning on Saturday is the annual Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast, a bargain at five bucks in advance, it will cost six at the door. I have numerous friends who never miss it. On Saturday night there is an all you can eat Spaghetti dinner but I never go to be honest. For eight dollars presale it is a deal, it will cost you nine at the door.
Other booths have items like Corn Dogs, Hot Dogs, Homemade Lemonade, Yaki Tori and Cider and Doughnuts. They vary every year but are manned with various worthy groups selling tasty treats. Last year there was a dessert booth that had extremely good pastries that was brand new. You never know what you might find this year.
So swing by the fall fest and fill your belly while supporting worthy causes that benefit the area. Whatever you do at least get a Chicken Dinner or some Pierogies. It is near and dear to my heart but also so very tasty for my belly.
Hands down the Chicken Dinner on Sunday is the best thing going. The chicken is marinated and perfectly grilled, a taste like no other I swear. I crave the stuff all year long. You get a nicely seasoned half chicken served with corn on the cob, a dinner roll, a bag of potato chips, soft drink or bottled water and a dessert item that varies. If you are looking for a bargain buy your tickets before Sunday for a two dollar discount. You do not even have to come to the fest for this item, they have pickup spots throughout the city for your convenience. Try it and you too will be back year after year to have it again, it's worth the money.
The other thing that is a MUST try at the fest is found at the Polish National Alliance Dancers booth. These sweet girls have their grandmothers and mothers cooking some of the best pierogies I have ever eaten. The cheese is the superior choice to me but my mom swears by the kraut. Never have I eaten better anywhere but at a grandma's house. The other items here are good but the pierogies are just heaven in your mouth.
In the morning on Saturday is the annual Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast, a bargain at five bucks in advance, it will cost six at the door. I have numerous friends who never miss it. On Saturday night there is an all you can eat Spaghetti dinner but I never go to be honest. For eight dollars presale it is a deal, it will cost you nine at the door.
Other booths have items like Corn Dogs, Hot Dogs, Homemade Lemonade, Yaki Tori and Cider and Doughnuts. They vary every year but are manned with various worthy groups selling tasty treats. Last year there was a dessert booth that had extremely good pastries that was brand new. You never know what you might find this year.
So swing by the fall fest and fill your belly while supporting worthy causes that benefit the area. Whatever you do at least get a Chicken Dinner or some Pierogies. It is near and dear to my heart but also so very tasty for my belly.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sean O'Callaghan's - Plymouth, MI
I started coming here when they first opened. In the beginning they had really amazing, hearty food. They had a chicken sandwich on a crusty bread that was to die for with zesty slaw and the sourest pickles that I have never quite forgiven them for axing off the menu to be honest.
The last meal I had in there was with my entire family. We all had issues with our food and it was a disaster, not that the staff minded any but still. The staff is unfriendly, inefficient and borderline incompetent. Grossly overpriced food badly done is the ultimate restaurant sin in my book, compound it with the fact no one cared enough to address problems properly after complaints and well guess who will never go back?
The burgers in here are ten bucks. Seriously. Not a great burger but a simple bacon burger is ten bucks. For ten bucks I want something special.
I had a Shaved Prime Rib sandwich that was so fatty I could barely eat it, skimpy portioned too. All that for 13.50. Wait, they also charged me 3.00 extra for a small cup of curry dip to eat overdone chips aka fries with. Chewy and tasteless.
My dad had the Corned Beef and Cabbage. 12.50 for a rather sad plate of underdone veggies with a meager helping of beef. Rather bland to boot. I easily make better in a freaking crock pot.
For 9.50 my husband had Irish Breakfast. They were out of bacon aka rashers so they merely didn't put it on the plate. My husband had to complain and then they told him they were out. He had to actually make the suggestion they substitute something for the missing meat. He was highly annoyed because he wanted the bacon and would not have ordered it at all if he knew they had none. His toast was overdone and his potatoes as all veggies at O'Callaghans were underdone.
My mother had the only decent dish of the day but of course had to wait for it while the rest of us ate our food. By the time hers came we were done except James, who was finally getting his substitute bangers for his missing rashers. The Shepherd's pie was tasty and we all drooled as she ate it in jealousy.
Everything is extra here. They nickle and dime you into a very expensive final tab and frankly the food is so not worth it. I would avoid it, even if you have a great coupon. I have no respect for poor service and less for management that fails to address basic complaints. I will never be back.
The last meal I had in there was with my entire family. We all had issues with our food and it was a disaster, not that the staff minded any but still. The staff is unfriendly, inefficient and borderline incompetent. Grossly overpriced food badly done is the ultimate restaurant sin in my book, compound it with the fact no one cared enough to address problems properly after complaints and well guess who will never go back?
The burgers in here are ten bucks. Seriously. Not a great burger but a simple bacon burger is ten bucks. For ten bucks I want something special.
I had a Shaved Prime Rib sandwich that was so fatty I could barely eat it, skimpy portioned too. All that for 13.50. Wait, they also charged me 3.00 extra for a small cup of curry dip to eat overdone chips aka fries with. Chewy and tasteless.
My dad had the Corned Beef and Cabbage. 12.50 for a rather sad plate of underdone veggies with a meager helping of beef. Rather bland to boot. I easily make better in a freaking crock pot.
For 9.50 my husband had Irish Breakfast. They were out of bacon aka rashers so they merely didn't put it on the plate. My husband had to complain and then they told him they were out. He had to actually make the suggestion they substitute something for the missing meat. He was highly annoyed because he wanted the bacon and would not have ordered it at all if he knew they had none. His toast was overdone and his potatoes as all veggies at O'Callaghans were underdone.
My mother had the only decent dish of the day but of course had to wait for it while the rest of us ate our food. By the time hers came we were done except James, who was finally getting his substitute bangers for his missing rashers. The Shepherd's pie was tasty and we all drooled as she ate it in jealousy.
Everything is extra here. They nickle and dime you into a very expensive final tab and frankly the food is so not worth it. I would avoid it, even if you have a great coupon. I have no respect for poor service and less for management that fails to address basic complaints. I will never be back.
Malarkey's - Westland, Michigan
Malarkey's is a classic sports bar type place. The Southgate location is quite a bit more glam and roomy than the Westland one but both have equally good food and staffing.
Coupons for Marlarkey's two locations can be found here: http://www.saveoneverything.com/moreinfo.php?advertiser_code=7342812616#. You can also purchase some here: http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=335204&mcn=&eb=False.
The fare is typical but tasty. I love the French Dip, really good roast beef and swiss, au jus for dipping. The Reuben is tasty, ask for extra dressing on the side though. The Super St. Paddy Melt is seriously yummy and big. Fries are good but substitute onion rings for a real treat.
The Steak Bits appetizer is excellent, I recommend them cajun style. You can also get them on a salad and it is tasty. The Super Burrito is huge and a fave of my mother. The Fish and Chips are good and they have numerous steaks that look quite delicious.
This is a strictly casual place. They feature specials on burgers and beer pretty regularly and that is really the kind of place it is, burger and beer. They have some great specials at lunch and can be a real bargain. Solid fare, good drink specials, clean and happy. Use the coupons and give it a whirl.
Coupons for Marlarkey's two locations can be found here: http://www.saveoneverything.com/moreinfo.php?advertiser_code=7342812616#. You can also purchase some here: http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=335204&mcn=&eb=False.
The fare is typical but tasty. I love the French Dip, really good roast beef and swiss, au jus for dipping. The Reuben is tasty, ask for extra dressing on the side though. The Super St. Paddy Melt is seriously yummy and big. Fries are good but substitute onion rings for a real treat.
The Steak Bits appetizer is excellent, I recommend them cajun style. You can also get them on a salad and it is tasty. The Super Burrito is huge and a fave of my mother. The Fish and Chips are good and they have numerous steaks that look quite delicious.
This is a strictly casual place. They feature specials on burgers and beer pretty regularly and that is really the kind of place it is, burger and beer. They have some great specials at lunch and can be a real bargain. Solid fare, good drink specials, clean and happy. Use the coupons and give it a whirl.
Cafe Marie - Ann Arbor
I love breakfast but I can be very picky about it. The Cafe Marie does breakfast so well that I am always willing to go there. It is very happy breakfast indeed. You can get a coupon in the entertainment book for a real bargain here.
I love that they offer pots of tea here. A rarity outside of a tea room but one very much appreciated by me. I am not a fan of tea bags and when anyone offers a properly brewed loose leaf I am all over it. They have a great variety to boot, including good chai. My father says the coffee is excellent as well but I will never know that as I do not indulge. Basically this is a beverage paradise, they offer juices, smoothies, all the coffee house essentials, including syrups.
The food here is just excellent. They have four different Benedicts, my fave is the Salmon Bene. Perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise with excellent smoked salmon on english muffins. Heaven. My mom is a fan of the skillets, which are quite good and come in so many varieties. The South of the Border Omelet is great with chorizo, salsa and sour cream. The Whole Wheat Blueberry Flapjacks are just amazing here. You feel healthier ordering them but they sure do not taste at all like health food. The Eggers are fun, served in flour tortillas and of course I will recommend the salmon one.
They are very flexible in here. You can get tomatoes instead of home fries and make special health requests in other areas too. Very nice waitstaff and just lovely atmosphere.
If you come on a weekend be prepared to wait. They will take reservations though.
I love that they offer pots of tea here. A rarity outside of a tea room but one very much appreciated by me. I am not a fan of tea bags and when anyone offers a properly brewed loose leaf I am all over it. They have a great variety to boot, including good chai. My father says the coffee is excellent as well but I will never know that as I do not indulge. Basically this is a beverage paradise, they offer juices, smoothies, all the coffee house essentials, including syrups.
The food here is just excellent. They have four different Benedicts, my fave is the Salmon Bene. Perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise with excellent smoked salmon on english muffins. Heaven. My mom is a fan of the skillets, which are quite good and come in so many varieties. The South of the Border Omelet is great with chorizo, salsa and sour cream. The Whole Wheat Blueberry Flapjacks are just amazing here. You feel healthier ordering them but they sure do not taste at all like health food. The Eggers are fun, served in flour tortillas and of course I will recommend the salmon one.
They are very flexible in here. You can get tomatoes instead of home fries and make special health requests in other areas too. Very nice waitstaff and just lovely atmosphere.
If you come on a weekend be prepared to wait. They will take reservations though.
Carrabbas - Canton, Michigan
I try not to review too many big chain places but I do want to review here as it is my favorite of the chain places. It does not have coupons but I don't really care because it is consistently great food. We have also visited the one on Novi and it is every bit as good.
The appetizers in here are great. The Cozze In Bianco are fresh Canadian Cove mussels from Prince Edward Island steamed in white wine, basil, lemon butter and Pernod. You can easily share them with four people, such a deal. The sauce is so good to dip bread into too. The Shrimp Scampi is my husband's fave, sautéed with garlic, white wine, herbs and lemon butter, served with garlic toast for dipping. A small portion for what you pay though so be warned. The flavor, however is top notch.
I love the soups in here. My favorites are the Mama Mandola's Sicilian Chicken Soup, a zesty soup with delicate noodles and the spicier Lentil and Sausage, an absolute delight. I basically could just get a bowl of soup and bread in here and be totally happy. My family also likes the Minestrone but I must confess I never get it. The salads are nice too but I would never pick them over soup to be honest.
I almost always get one of two dishes in here. If I am looking for something light I get the excellent Tagliarini Picchi Picchiu, a fine pasta in a sauce of crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and basil. I add grilled chicken as all the grilled items here are so incredibly good. If I am looking to splurge I get the Chicken Bryan which is grilled chicken breast topped with a sharp goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce. I always ask for Fettucini Alfredo as my side pasta and they always allow it. Calorie heaven I know but honestly this is the only fettucini alfredo I eat outside of my own homemade and frankly it is way better than mine.
My husband always gets something with Fettucini Alfredo. Usually Filet Fiorentino with a double side of it. The filet is incredibly good, just melt in your mouth tender perfection. As Carrabbas is owned by the same company that owns Outback its really no wonder.
My parents are fans of the Spiedino di Mare, shrimp and sea scallops coated with Italian breadcrumbs, grilled and topped with lemon butter sauce. Good but not a whole lot of it in my opinion. I love when they have the Chicken Trio on special as I am a huge fan of the Bryan but also quite like the Marsala with the proscuitto and mushroom sauce and the Rosa Maria with the fontina, proscuitto, mushroom and basil lemon butter sauce.
One of the things I love about here is we always have leftovers, my husband and I both make it a two meal deal when we dine, that makes me feel better about spending too much. This place is also special to us as we have had numerous romantic events together in the dimly lit interior, so it always feels happy here for us.
So if you want a top of the line chain with reliable food, good service and a nice atmosphere you cannot go wrong with Carrabbas.
The appetizers in here are great. The Cozze In Bianco are fresh Canadian Cove mussels from Prince Edward Island steamed in white wine, basil, lemon butter and Pernod. You can easily share them with four people, such a deal. The sauce is so good to dip bread into too. The Shrimp Scampi is my husband's fave, sautéed with garlic, white wine, herbs and lemon butter, served with garlic toast for dipping. A small portion for what you pay though so be warned. The flavor, however is top notch.
I love the soups in here. My favorites are the Mama Mandola's Sicilian Chicken Soup, a zesty soup with delicate noodles and the spicier Lentil and Sausage, an absolute delight. I basically could just get a bowl of soup and bread in here and be totally happy. My family also likes the Minestrone but I must confess I never get it. The salads are nice too but I would never pick them over soup to be honest.
I almost always get one of two dishes in here. If I am looking for something light I get the excellent Tagliarini Picchi Picchiu, a fine pasta in a sauce of crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and basil. I add grilled chicken as all the grilled items here are so incredibly good. If I am looking to splurge I get the Chicken Bryan which is grilled chicken breast topped with a sharp goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce. I always ask for Fettucini Alfredo as my side pasta and they always allow it. Calorie heaven I know but honestly this is the only fettucini alfredo I eat outside of my own homemade and frankly it is way better than mine.
My husband always gets something with Fettucini Alfredo. Usually Filet Fiorentino with a double side of it. The filet is incredibly good, just melt in your mouth tender perfection. As Carrabbas is owned by the same company that owns Outback its really no wonder.
My parents are fans of the Spiedino di Mare, shrimp and sea scallops coated with Italian breadcrumbs, grilled and topped with lemon butter sauce. Good but not a whole lot of it in my opinion. I love when they have the Chicken Trio on special as I am a huge fan of the Bryan but also quite like the Marsala with the proscuitto and mushroom sauce and the Rosa Maria with the fontina, proscuitto, mushroom and basil lemon butter sauce.
One of the things I love about here is we always have leftovers, my husband and I both make it a two meal deal when we dine, that makes me feel better about spending too much. This place is also special to us as we have had numerous romantic events together in the dimly lit interior, so it always feels happy here for us.
So if you want a top of the line chain with reliable food, good service and a nice atmosphere you cannot go wrong with Carrabbas.
Szechuan - Canton, Michigan
This has long been my absolute favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. It is not cheap at dinner and there are no great coupons but I recommend it anyway. That should tell you something right there. This restaurant is so good we actually drag the food down to St. Louis whenever we see my sister, she misses it that much. They mention something about a deal for a dollar off for every ten you spend here: http://szechuancanton.com/SzechuanCanton.html
I always get a pan fried dumpling appetizer here. The pork filled dumplings are always perfectly cooked and the filling is just so good. I ask for some hot chili oil to spice up the dark brown sauce with scallions that goes with them. It could easily be your whole meal but I share them. The Wrapped Spicy Chicken is like a chicken dumpling minus the skin, unwrap the foil and eat it like a dumpling, delicious. The Cold Noodles in Spicy Sesame Sauce are a cheap lunch at 3 dollars. I adore their peanut tasting sauce and the crunch of the veggie accents.
Lunch is a pretty good deal in here and are plenty to fill you up. Their soups are excellent, I recommend any but have a special fondness for the Wonton. My mother is a sucker for the Hot and Sour though, while my sister swears by the Egg Drop. The lunches come with your choice of fried or steamed rice, My sister and I stick with steamed but the fried is loved by the rest of my family. You also can have Crab Rangoons or a Spring Roll, both are good but I always take a Spring Roll.
The Baby Shrimp in Spicy Szechuan Sauce is amazing. So tender and flavorful, I love how spicy they can make it too. The Hunan Chicken is perfect, I love all the veggies in it. The General Tsou Chicken is the very best I have ever had and worth going off a diet for. The coating so very light and the sauce a sticky spicy delight. It is served on bean sprouts which are happy. The Sesame Chicken is a fave of my dad, it is very good indeed, again not too much breading, just a lightly coated fry job. The Beef in Garlic and Ginger Sauce is fabulous, tender and just the right flavor, if you want spicy you need to ask for it extra spicy, as beef doesn't take spice as easily as shrimp or chicken. Medium is the minimum spice I order but I prefer Hot or Extra Hot on almost all these items. At dinner a must is the Crispy Shrimp in Champagne Sauce. So lightly fried in an amazing tempura type batter and the sauce is to die for. Get it spiced Hot for a treat.
As far as veg, I have had the Home Style Tofu with a friend and found it quite tasty. I am waiting to go back with her to try the Sesame or Kung Pao Tofu which both sound yummy. The Ginger Garlic Eggplant was delicious so I am sure the broccoli would be just as tasty. The Moo Shu Vegetables were fun and different. There are some fun veg choices here which I like, especially as a lot of the entrees are not full of veggies.
They redid the restaurant about a year ago and the interior is quite nice and soothing. Servers are great, efficient and accommodating. The owner is a peach who of course remembers a girl who gets six dinners to go on an airplane on a fairly regular basis. The tea is always piping hot and the water glasses are refilled regularly.
If you like good and spicy Chinese food you will like it here. I love it and pay full price happily, although I do usually come for lunch unless I am wanting to splurge.
I always get a pan fried dumpling appetizer here. The pork filled dumplings are always perfectly cooked and the filling is just so good. I ask for some hot chili oil to spice up the dark brown sauce with scallions that goes with them. It could easily be your whole meal but I share them. The Wrapped Spicy Chicken is like a chicken dumpling minus the skin, unwrap the foil and eat it like a dumpling, delicious. The Cold Noodles in Spicy Sesame Sauce are a cheap lunch at 3 dollars. I adore their peanut tasting sauce and the crunch of the veggie accents.
Lunch is a pretty good deal in here and are plenty to fill you up. Their soups are excellent, I recommend any but have a special fondness for the Wonton. My mother is a sucker for the Hot and Sour though, while my sister swears by the Egg Drop. The lunches come with your choice of fried or steamed rice, My sister and I stick with steamed but the fried is loved by the rest of my family. You also can have Crab Rangoons or a Spring Roll, both are good but I always take a Spring Roll.
The Baby Shrimp in Spicy Szechuan Sauce is amazing. So tender and flavorful, I love how spicy they can make it too. The Hunan Chicken is perfect, I love all the veggies in it. The General Tsou Chicken is the very best I have ever had and worth going off a diet for. The coating so very light and the sauce a sticky spicy delight. It is served on bean sprouts which are happy. The Sesame Chicken is a fave of my dad, it is very good indeed, again not too much breading, just a lightly coated fry job. The Beef in Garlic and Ginger Sauce is fabulous, tender and just the right flavor, if you want spicy you need to ask for it extra spicy, as beef doesn't take spice as easily as shrimp or chicken. Medium is the minimum spice I order but I prefer Hot or Extra Hot on almost all these items. At dinner a must is the Crispy Shrimp in Champagne Sauce. So lightly fried in an amazing tempura type batter and the sauce is to die for. Get it spiced Hot for a treat.
As far as veg, I have had the Home Style Tofu with a friend and found it quite tasty. I am waiting to go back with her to try the Sesame or Kung Pao Tofu which both sound yummy. The Ginger Garlic Eggplant was delicious so I am sure the broccoli would be just as tasty. The Moo Shu Vegetables were fun and different. There are some fun veg choices here which I like, especially as a lot of the entrees are not full of veggies.
They redid the restaurant about a year ago and the interior is quite nice and soothing. Servers are great, efficient and accommodating. The owner is a peach who of course remembers a girl who gets six dinners to go on an airplane on a fairly regular basis. The tea is always piping hot and the water glasses are refilled regularly.
If you like good and spicy Chinese food you will like it here. I love it and pay full price happily, although I do usually come for lunch unless I am wanting to splurge.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Grand Traverse Pie Company - Plymouth, Michigan
If you want pie, this is the place to come. A bit spendy but you know you want to indulge in more ways than one. Besides the only other pie specialty place (Baker's Square) is virtually disappearing from our area, you won't much care though once you taste these pies.
The Grand Traverse Pie Company has food but for now all I am reviewing is dessert. This is possibly the best non-homemade pie I have ever had. The cream pies are smooth and creamy with flaky crusts. The crumb topped fruit pies are sweet and have the best crusts around. The traditional topped fruit pies are good but trust me, get crumb instead.
Ironically the very best item in this place is a Lemon Square. A mere 1.99 and found in the refrigerated section. A taste of heaven in a bar. A shortcake like bottom with a creamy gel lemony middle topped with a bit of cakey layer covered in powdered sugar. Bliss, absolute freaking bliss. I could eat one every day of my life. The other bars are just ok. I can make better.
Cookies are meh. Big and a decent value but as somewhat of a cookie expert I say don't waste the time or the calories.
There is a peanut butter muffin looking creation with a swirled chocolate middle reminiscent of a kiss that is also 1.99 and to die for. My husband quite enjoys. It is a cross btween a cookie and a tart.
Chocolate Peanut Butter is a great cream pie and just so delicious and smooth. The Key Lime is amazing, creamy and just the right tart level. The Chocolate Cream is fine but I am not dying to have it again.
The Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb is perfect. The Apple Crumb is a touch too sweet but that doesn't bother my sweet toothed husband. Blueberry Crumb is my father's absolute favorite pie there and I must admit it is quite good. The Cherry Crumb is great as well. All are great with the store ice cream with it, a delicious vanilla.
As I am avoiding sweets I am doing my best to pretend this place does not exist. A word of warning though, do not buy the last Lemon Square just in case I have an emergency....
The Grand Traverse Pie Company has food but for now all I am reviewing is dessert. This is possibly the best non-homemade pie I have ever had. The cream pies are smooth and creamy with flaky crusts. The crumb topped fruit pies are sweet and have the best crusts around. The traditional topped fruit pies are good but trust me, get crumb instead.
Ironically the very best item in this place is a Lemon Square. A mere 1.99 and found in the refrigerated section. A taste of heaven in a bar. A shortcake like bottom with a creamy gel lemony middle topped with a bit of cakey layer covered in powdered sugar. Bliss, absolute freaking bliss. I could eat one every day of my life. The other bars are just ok. I can make better.
Cookies are meh. Big and a decent value but as somewhat of a cookie expert I say don't waste the time or the calories.
There is a peanut butter muffin looking creation with a swirled chocolate middle reminiscent of a kiss that is also 1.99 and to die for. My husband quite enjoys. It is a cross btween a cookie and a tart.
Chocolate Peanut Butter is a great cream pie and just so delicious and smooth. The Key Lime is amazing, creamy and just the right tart level. The Chocolate Cream is fine but I am not dying to have it again.
The Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb is perfect. The Apple Crumb is a touch too sweet but that doesn't bother my sweet toothed husband. Blueberry Crumb is my father's absolute favorite pie there and I must admit it is quite good. The Cherry Crumb is great as well. All are great with the store ice cream with it, a delicious vanilla.
As I am avoiding sweets I am doing my best to pretend this place does not exist. A word of warning though, do not buy the last Lemon Square just in case I have an emergency....
Rocky's of Northville - Northville, Michigan
I love this place! I have been coming for years and it only continues to improve. No coupons but join their club and get in on it here: http://www.rockysnorthville.com/rockiesgues.html .
Rocky's is seriously tasty food. Chefs Rocky Rachwitz and Dan Meier know their food. It is cheaper at lunch, early bird dinner or to come in and order off the special raw bar menu.
The one thing that is a must to get while in season is the Gazpacho. I must confess I have stolen the recipe. They also have excellent Cole Slaw you can get with optional crumbled Maytag Bleu cheese. The house salad is a treat with cranberries, gorgonzola and raspberry viniagrette too.
They also have great appetizers. The calamari is tender and zippy. The Smoked Seafood Pate is really delicious. The house Smoked Salmon is just perfect as is the spice rubbed Ahi Tuna served rare as it should be. Mussels are great any way you get them. The Oysters are just fresh and amazing raw or cooked.
Fish specials are always a good choice. I had a Blue Marlin once that blew me away. My father was a fan of a Swordfish that was covered in a creamy shrimp sauce. Basically if it sounds good it will be. Fish is never overcooked here, it is always fresh and comes with innovative ingredients that match tastes perfectly.
Right now they are having a whitefish festival. I can highly recommend the Hazelnut Encrusted Whitefish that comes with wilted greens, basmati rice and brown butter reduction. They have four other choices as well, all under twelve dollars at lunch. Bargain.
My old standbys are the pan roasts. Seafood like Shrimp, Scallops and Oysters in a spicy cream sauce with veggies like artichokes or sun dried tomatoes. The New England is good but the Pesto is better in my opinion. Creamy sauce, perfect seafood and rice under twelve bucks at lunch, how could you go wrong? The Oyster Stew is also very nice indeed from the raw bar menu.
If you see The Roasted Half Duck on the menu I strongly suggest you indulge. Rocky's is hands down the best I have ever had, with spaetzle and red cabbage it is a delight. The Short Ribs Of Beef fall off the bone tender and delicious. So freaking good.
If you are looking for great fresh seafood, love duck or beef short ribs you have to try Rocky's of Northville. You will not be sorry.
Rocky's is seriously tasty food. Chefs Rocky Rachwitz and Dan Meier know their food. It is cheaper at lunch, early bird dinner or to come in and order off the special raw bar menu.
The one thing that is a must to get while in season is the Gazpacho. I must confess I have stolen the recipe. They also have excellent Cole Slaw you can get with optional crumbled Maytag Bleu cheese. The house salad is a treat with cranberries, gorgonzola and raspberry viniagrette too.
They also have great appetizers. The calamari is tender and zippy. The Smoked Seafood Pate is really delicious. The house Smoked Salmon is just perfect as is the spice rubbed Ahi Tuna served rare as it should be. Mussels are great any way you get them. The Oysters are just fresh and amazing raw or cooked.
Fish specials are always a good choice. I had a Blue Marlin once that blew me away. My father was a fan of a Swordfish that was covered in a creamy shrimp sauce. Basically if it sounds good it will be. Fish is never overcooked here, it is always fresh and comes with innovative ingredients that match tastes perfectly.
Right now they are having a whitefish festival. I can highly recommend the Hazelnut Encrusted Whitefish that comes with wilted greens, basmati rice and brown butter reduction. They have four other choices as well, all under twelve dollars at lunch. Bargain.
My old standbys are the pan roasts. Seafood like Shrimp, Scallops and Oysters in a spicy cream sauce with veggies like artichokes or sun dried tomatoes. The New England is good but the Pesto is better in my opinion. Creamy sauce, perfect seafood and rice under twelve bucks at lunch, how could you go wrong? The Oyster Stew is also very nice indeed from the raw bar menu.
If you see The Roasted Half Duck on the menu I strongly suggest you indulge. Rocky's is hands down the best I have ever had, with spaetzle and red cabbage it is a delight. The Short Ribs Of Beef fall off the bone tender and delicious. So freaking good.
If you are looking for great fresh seafood, love duck or beef short ribs you have to try Rocky's of Northville. You will not be sorry.
Ashley's - Westland, Michigan
They have been running coupons for here in the Thursday Detroit Free Press Play section. You can also get one online of you are have an Entertainment book. If you join their e-club they will send you a coupon for a free appetizer here: http://www.ashleys.com/.
If you are at all into beer, Ashley's is the place for you. They have varieties from around the globe and something like 60 on tap. This is not a big deal for me but I know there are some serious beer fans out there so I will highlight it at any rate.
Ashley's is a very nice looking place. A former Uno Chicago Grill, they have replaced all things Chicago with Detroit/Ann Arbor/Beer theme. The restaurant is big yet cozy. The staff is hit or miss, we had a great waitress on one visit but the waiter we had on the other was horrible.
The food is good, some better than others. The French Onion soup is incredible and you can get it with no upcharge with an entree. The Bay Chowder is quite good too. The Chicken Noodle just eh. The side salads are boring but are all you can eat, if that is your thing. The entrees also come with all you can eat breadsticks, which are light and puffy with a bit of buttery crunch. If you cannot decide between soup and salad then get both for a mere dollar more yay!
The burgers in here are good, not great. The Monster Burger comes with two kinds of cheese, bacon, sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms. I liked the bun but the burger itself was missing something in my opinion, I think perhaps it was the fact the patty was a preformed half pounder. All burgers and sandwiches come with all you can eat fries which are coated in a light batter and quite delicious.
The pizzas are awesome. The Motor City Classic is an all meat affair with chunks of meat and tomatoes wrapped in a ton of cheese. The deep dish variety is definitely the way to go. The BBQ Chicken had a tangy sauce and really tasty chicken, I really liked it a lot. You can create your own combo from a variety of toppings and be quite happy as the crust is just freaking good.
The Fish and Chips are coated in a Sam Adams batter and are meaty with a light crispness to them. Absolutely delicious! I had a Bronzed Tilapia that was nice, as is the Grilled BBQ Salmon. The Rattlesnake Pasta was misleading as it was none too spicy but still tasty. All were more than generous helpings.
This is a good middle of the road place. I would stick with the Fish and Chips, soups and Pizzas though. They were the definite stars of the show.
If you are at all into beer, Ashley's is the place for you. They have varieties from around the globe and something like 60 on tap. This is not a big deal for me but I know there are some serious beer fans out there so I will highlight it at any rate.
Ashley's is a very nice looking place. A former Uno Chicago Grill, they have replaced all things Chicago with Detroit/Ann Arbor/Beer theme. The restaurant is big yet cozy. The staff is hit or miss, we had a great waitress on one visit but the waiter we had on the other was horrible.
The food is good, some better than others. The French Onion soup is incredible and you can get it with no upcharge with an entree. The Bay Chowder is quite good too. The Chicken Noodle just eh. The side salads are boring but are all you can eat, if that is your thing. The entrees also come with all you can eat breadsticks, which are light and puffy with a bit of buttery crunch. If you cannot decide between soup and salad then get both for a mere dollar more yay!
The burgers in here are good, not great. The Monster Burger comes with two kinds of cheese, bacon, sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms. I liked the bun but the burger itself was missing something in my opinion, I think perhaps it was the fact the patty was a preformed half pounder. All burgers and sandwiches come with all you can eat fries which are coated in a light batter and quite delicious.
The pizzas are awesome. The Motor City Classic is an all meat affair with chunks of meat and tomatoes wrapped in a ton of cheese. The deep dish variety is definitely the way to go. The BBQ Chicken had a tangy sauce and really tasty chicken, I really liked it a lot. You can create your own combo from a variety of toppings and be quite happy as the crust is just freaking good.
The Fish and Chips are coated in a Sam Adams batter and are meaty with a light crispness to them. Absolutely delicious! I had a Bronzed Tilapia that was nice, as is the Grilled BBQ Salmon. The Rattlesnake Pasta was misleading as it was none too spicy but still tasty. All were more than generous helpings.
This is a good middle of the road place. I would stick with the Fish and Chips, soups and Pizzas though. They were the definite stars of the show.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Steve's Family Dining II - Livonia, Michigan
I have been going to Steve's since it's first location off of Five Mile road. This place is a huge step up in size as well as atmosphere but the food is still the same deliciousness and the waitresses still do a great job. I do not have a coupon link for you, nor do I believe they have ever had coupons but the prices are so reasonable you will not need them.
I will concede that the best of the best Polish cuisine is found in the Hamtramack area, I will not get into which of those restaurants is best as that is up for some debate. Those can be an out of the way hike for some, particularly with gas prices what they are. This spot in the burbs is a great bargain with quite good food though.
My favorite dish at Steve's is the Polish Combo, a flexible affair that can please anyone's taste buds. It comes with three pierogi, your choice of cheese, potato, kraut or a combo of three. I love the cheese but my mom swears by the kraut. Another choice for the plate is between the City Chicken or the Stuffed Cabbage. You also get a big link of kielbasa which is juicy and delicious. City Chicken, for those who do not know, is not chicken at all but is cubed pork, veal or beef loin on a skewer that is breaded then cooked, forming a light gravy with it. It is tasty and I prefer it to the Cabbage but my dad would argue with me on that. There is so much on the plate we almost always have big leftovers to pack up. They also give you a big basket of rye bread with refills too, you will not leave hungry I guarantee you.
The pierogi are good but I am a snob, I only love homemade. If you want the best in your life go to the Plymouth Fall Festival and visit the Polish Dancer's booth. I will write my best advice for food at that event at a later time though.
A must try at Steve's is the Dill Pickle Soup. You can get a cup at a meal for 50¢ which is bowl sized. I must confess I am so addicted I get the massive plate sized bowl of it for 1.50 instead. The bonus is I always take more than half my dinner home with me. The other soups are good but this is special to me so I nearly always get it.
This food is simple, filling and more than reasonably priced. I think anyone would find something to enjoy. If you are a fan of good polish food or just like nice hearty cuisine, try Steve's. A real bargain.
I will concede that the best of the best Polish cuisine is found in the Hamtramack area, I will not get into which of those restaurants is best as that is up for some debate. Those can be an out of the way hike for some, particularly with gas prices what they are. This spot in the burbs is a great bargain with quite good food though.
My favorite dish at Steve's is the Polish Combo, a flexible affair that can please anyone's taste buds. It comes with three pierogi, your choice of cheese, potato, kraut or a combo of three. I love the cheese but my mom swears by the kraut. Another choice for the plate is between the City Chicken or the Stuffed Cabbage. You also get a big link of kielbasa which is juicy and delicious. City Chicken, for those who do not know, is not chicken at all but is cubed pork, veal or beef loin on a skewer that is breaded then cooked, forming a light gravy with it. It is tasty and I prefer it to the Cabbage but my dad would argue with me on that. There is so much on the plate we almost always have big leftovers to pack up. They also give you a big basket of rye bread with refills too, you will not leave hungry I guarantee you.
The pierogi are good but I am a snob, I only love homemade. If you want the best in your life go to the Plymouth Fall Festival and visit the Polish Dancer's booth. I will write my best advice for food at that event at a later time though.
A must try at Steve's is the Dill Pickle Soup. You can get a cup at a meal for 50¢ which is bowl sized. I must confess I am so addicted I get the massive plate sized bowl of it for 1.50 instead. The bonus is I always take more than half my dinner home with me. The other soups are good but this is special to me so I nearly always get it.
This food is simple, filling and more than reasonably priced. I think anyone would find something to enjoy. If you are a fan of good polish food or just like nice hearty cuisine, try Steve's. A real bargain.
The Breadbasket Deli - Livonia, Michigan
I am going to review this as it is the best corned beef in the area. It's a limited review as I only ever order one thing in this place and I am not willing to ever change up even to help you out. I am a #3 Corned Beef, period. It comes on triple decker white toast with swiss, coleslaw and russian dressing. I know, I know, white toast but try it and you will never go back to rye. Trust me. You taste corned beef in all its glory with nothing else vying for your attention.
I see a few people ordering the lean or extra lean variety in here but don't wuss out. Corned beef is not health food, it is utter deliciousness studded with juicy bits of fat. I am not saying indulge every day but c'mon people if you are going to go for it, go for the gusto. Eat only half the sandwich like I do instead of somehow trying to make it healthier. Really you will be hard pressed to finish the whole thing unless you are a huge eater anyhow.
My mother and late grandmother are fans of the pastrami version of the #3 but except for James no one in my family deviates from #3. James is just stubborn. He is very pissy about the fact they do not carry cheddar here and therefore will not order anything in silent protest, which is fine as I get my sammie to go. He says the roast beef was nice on the one sammie he did try in here but without cheddar he will never try it again, even though we take the thing home and he could ummmm add some cheddar of his own. Silly man does not like corned beef or pastrami at any rate so I think maybe the Breadbasket should have put the kibosh on him at any rate rather than the other way around but I digress.
The sides in here are ok. Nothing special. I do highly recommend the New Pickles, a less aged pickle that has the snap of a cucumber but a good fresh dill flavor. I always get a whole one cut up to go with my feast.
They have a coupon for a dollar off a sandwich here: http://www.breadbasketdelis.com/coupons.htm
Go on, be bad. It won't kill you. If you like corned beef, try this Detroit classic. There are five in the metro area but I am a Livonia girl personally.
I see a few people ordering the lean or extra lean variety in here but don't wuss out. Corned beef is not health food, it is utter deliciousness studded with juicy bits of fat. I am not saying indulge every day but c'mon people if you are going to go for it, go for the gusto. Eat only half the sandwich like I do instead of somehow trying to make it healthier. Really you will be hard pressed to finish the whole thing unless you are a huge eater anyhow.
My mother and late grandmother are fans of the pastrami version of the #3 but except for James no one in my family deviates from #3. James is just stubborn. He is very pissy about the fact they do not carry cheddar here and therefore will not order anything in silent protest, which is fine as I get my sammie to go. He says the roast beef was nice on the one sammie he did try in here but without cheddar he will never try it again, even though we take the thing home and he could ummmm add some cheddar of his own. Silly man does not like corned beef or pastrami at any rate so I think maybe the Breadbasket should have put the kibosh on him at any rate rather than the other way around but I digress.
The sides in here are ok. Nothing special. I do highly recommend the New Pickles, a less aged pickle that has the snap of a cucumber but a good fresh dill flavor. I always get a whole one cut up to go with my feast.
They have a coupon for a dollar off a sandwich here: http://www.breadbasketdelis.com/coupons.htm
Go on, be bad. It won't kill you. If you like corned beef, try this Detroit classic. There are five in the metro area but I am a Livonia girl personally.
Herc's Prime Beef and Seafood - Livonia, Michigan
I knew I had to review this place after my post about Liver and Onions at Karl's. I have been coming to Herc's for years with my parents, so I happen to know the owner here personally. David is a great chef and a real sweetheart personally too but I will try to stick to reviewing just his food. You can find purchasable coupons for Herc's here: http://www.restaurant.com/ as well as free ones here: http://www.saveoneverything.com/moreinfo.php?advertiser_code=7344251830# or on the restaurants website here: http://www.hercsprimebeef.com/ .
I have been coming to Herc's so long I do not even need to read a menu. I usually order a special at any rate. David is very creative and the specials are always just really fabulous and fresh. They run the gamut from scallops, fresh fish or garlic roasted prime rib to kielbasa and kraut, deep fried smelt or liver and onions. From the elegant to home cooking classics, all are done well and in heaping portions.
My husband is hooked on the Fried Shrimp here, a big enough portion to satisfy his ginormous appetite. They are giant, perfectly coated in a light batter and never greasy. He also loves getting a Cheddar Burger without the sauteed onions, stubborn man.
My father usually gets the Rib Snack which is quite a big portion of ribs in a very tasty BBQ sauce. He is also very fond of the Lake Perch Sandwich which has three perfectly fried pieces of fish on a bun with lettuce tomato and tartar sauce. Occasionally he will get a Roast Beef Dinner but he likes it best covered in gravy rather than with the au jus that I prefer. He says the Smelt here are the best he has had and they are hard to find elsewhere at any rate.
My mother also loves the smelt but she is addicted to the Liver and Onions, tender and delicious with lots of grilled onions and crispy bacon. She often gets the Burrito Supreme which is huge. The Roasted Garlic Prime Rib is an occasional order for her, she really loves it but it is a lot of meat. She also has a real fondness for the Garlic Chicken Parmesan, the Frog Legs and the Clam Strips.
I love the Shrimp and Scallops either sauteed or fried. I adore all the various fresh fish dishes, especially the Salmon. On the menu you can always get Salmon Rockefeller, Dijon Honey Pecan Encrusted Salmon or Basil Pesto Salmon and all three are winners. I am fond of the Breasts of Chicken done cajun style, simple but delicious. I too will indulge in a Herc Burger with either swiss or provolone and added bacon. For the added 75¢ you get so much bacon your eyes will pop. If I ever see the Kielbasa and Kraut on special I am all over it, it can easily feed you for two meals, possibly three.
Soups here are always fabulous and piping hot. I love the Creamy Mushroom, Ham and Bean, Cabbage, the French Onion, I could go on and on. My husband likes the Chicken Noodle here quite a bit. You cannot go wrong. The salad bar here is tiny but delicious with great toppings. I am addicted to the homemade creamy garlic dressing, possibly one of the only creamy dressing I can stomach. The rolls are also always fresh and crusty good.
The atmosphere here is not a match to the food, dark and a bit less than elegant. Attire is fairly casual. Kids eat free on Mondays and they are open late and get a decent bar crowd. I do adore it. It is a place where they remember you, the waitresses know their stuff and you get great food for a good price. Give it a whirl, you will be surprised.
I have been coming to Herc's so long I do not even need to read a menu. I usually order a special at any rate. David is very creative and the specials are always just really fabulous and fresh. They run the gamut from scallops, fresh fish or garlic roasted prime rib to kielbasa and kraut, deep fried smelt or liver and onions. From the elegant to home cooking classics, all are done well and in heaping portions.
My husband is hooked on the Fried Shrimp here, a big enough portion to satisfy his ginormous appetite. They are giant, perfectly coated in a light batter and never greasy. He also loves getting a Cheddar Burger without the sauteed onions, stubborn man.
My father usually gets the Rib Snack which is quite a big portion of ribs in a very tasty BBQ sauce. He is also very fond of the Lake Perch Sandwich which has three perfectly fried pieces of fish on a bun with lettuce tomato and tartar sauce. Occasionally he will get a Roast Beef Dinner but he likes it best covered in gravy rather than with the au jus that I prefer. He says the Smelt here are the best he has had and they are hard to find elsewhere at any rate.
My mother also loves the smelt but she is addicted to the Liver and Onions, tender and delicious with lots of grilled onions and crispy bacon. She often gets the Burrito Supreme which is huge. The Roasted Garlic Prime Rib is an occasional order for her, she really loves it but it is a lot of meat. She also has a real fondness for the Garlic Chicken Parmesan, the Frog Legs and the Clam Strips.
I love the Shrimp and Scallops either sauteed or fried. I adore all the various fresh fish dishes, especially the Salmon. On the menu you can always get Salmon Rockefeller, Dijon Honey Pecan Encrusted Salmon or Basil Pesto Salmon and all three are winners. I am fond of the Breasts of Chicken done cajun style, simple but delicious. I too will indulge in a Herc Burger with either swiss or provolone and added bacon. For the added 75¢ you get so much bacon your eyes will pop. If I ever see the Kielbasa and Kraut on special I am all over it, it can easily feed you for two meals, possibly three.
Soups here are always fabulous and piping hot. I love the Creamy Mushroom, Ham and Bean, Cabbage, the French Onion, I could go on and on. My husband likes the Chicken Noodle here quite a bit. You cannot go wrong. The salad bar here is tiny but delicious with great toppings. I am addicted to the homemade creamy garlic dressing, possibly one of the only creamy dressing I can stomach. The rolls are also always fresh and crusty good.
The atmosphere here is not a match to the food, dark and a bit less than elegant. Attire is fairly casual. Kids eat free on Mondays and they are open late and get a decent bar crowd. I do adore it. It is a place where they remember you, the waitresses know their stuff and you get great food for a good price. Give it a whirl, you will be surprised.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Karl's Cabin - Plymouth, Michigan
This is a place with some history to it. Johnny Cash once played here for goodness sakes, you gotta love that. They also have seriously good food in good quantities and I do love that with a great deal of respect. You can often find coupons for here in the Clipper magazine and I advise you join their e-club too found here: http://www.karlscabin.com/ . My first mailing was a coupon for fifteen bucks off so that made me happy indeed.
I have eaten here on numerous occasions and it is always top notch. I recommend starting with the Smoked Whitefish & Salmon Pate platter, with its fun crackers and toasted pita it is just yum. The Calamari comes with a tasty tomato, caper and scallion beurre blanc. The Mussels are sauteed in a white wine and garlic clam sauce and served on a bed of spinach, so freaking good. The owners here are Greek so of course there is Saganaki, a gooey and delicious flaming kasseri cheese block. I just love when they flame it tableside.
The soups here are tasty but I am not a fan of the bland chili. The starter salads are delicious and I love that at dinner you can substitute a Greek, Caesar or incredible Forest Walnut as one of the choices.
You can make salad your whole meal here and not regret it. The Forest Walnut has candied walnuts, dried cherries, grilled chicken breast and delicious gorgonzola to make you very happy. The Steak and Spinach is one of my faves with tenderloin tips, roasted red peppers, egg and parm covered spinach drizzled with warm bacon vinaigrette. So filling. The bread basket that comes with has delicious rye bread and hard crunchy breadsticks that are tasty too.
Sandwiches are huge here and use quality meats. I adore the Cajun Chicken Cordon Bleu on its pretzel roll. The French Dip with provolone is delicious as is the Roast Beef Hoagie with mozzarella, grilled onions, mushrooms and zippy horseradish, often they have a sandwich on special that is like a combo pf the two and that is primo. The baked Turkey Bruschetta has sliced turkey, mozzarella, grated parmesan, fresh basil, minced garlic, olive oil and diced tomato and smells just as amazing as it tastes.
The burgers come with a buffalo option and are either in 1/3 or half pound varities. The Patty Melt is yummy, the Blackened Bleu comes with grilled onions and bleu cheese and the Rocky Mountain burger is a surprise with tasty ham, swiss, cole slaw and thousand island dressing. You really can't go wrong with any of them. If you add bacon you always get a ton of it.
Entrees are hearty. I love the Roasted Half Chicken with herb olive oil but my mom prefers the BBQ option. My dad is a big fan of the huge Grecian Pork Chops, boneless and perfectly marinated so they are tender after the grilling. The St Louis Style BBQ Ribs have the best BBQ sauce. The Rosemary Bourbon Flank Steak is marinated overnight and just smells so good and cuts so easily. My moms loves the Liver and Onions here, saying they are seond best only to Herc's which have long been her favorites. I do not eat liver so I am no judge on that matter. The Beef Tips are excellent and come with a cheesy mashed potato to boot.
Pasta here is homemade by Mama Mucci and if I weren't trying to cut down on carbs I would be all over it. The Tomato, Basil and Chicken Pignola has a zippy touch of balsamic vinegar. The Seafood Palamino has crab, shrimp, scallops and mussels with roasted red peppers in a tomato cream sauce. The Shrimp and Scallop Angelina has garlic, spinach and wine with parsley butter over airy angel hair. Any will make you very happy.
The atmosphere here is cozy with a dash of elegance. The attire is golf casual. Staff is friendly and attentive. If you like good quality food in good quantity you have to give Karl's Cabin a try. I highly recommend it.
I have eaten here on numerous occasions and it is always top notch. I recommend starting with the Smoked Whitefish & Salmon Pate platter, with its fun crackers and toasted pita it is just yum. The Calamari comes with a tasty tomato, caper and scallion beurre blanc. The Mussels are sauteed in a white wine and garlic clam sauce and served on a bed of spinach, so freaking good. The owners here are Greek so of course there is Saganaki, a gooey and delicious flaming kasseri cheese block. I just love when they flame it tableside.
The soups here are tasty but I am not a fan of the bland chili. The starter salads are delicious and I love that at dinner you can substitute a Greek, Caesar or incredible Forest Walnut as one of the choices.
You can make salad your whole meal here and not regret it. The Forest Walnut has candied walnuts, dried cherries, grilled chicken breast and delicious gorgonzola to make you very happy. The Steak and Spinach is one of my faves with tenderloin tips, roasted red peppers, egg and parm covered spinach drizzled with warm bacon vinaigrette. So filling. The bread basket that comes with has delicious rye bread and hard crunchy breadsticks that are tasty too.
Sandwiches are huge here and use quality meats. I adore the Cajun Chicken Cordon Bleu on its pretzel roll. The French Dip with provolone is delicious as is the Roast Beef Hoagie with mozzarella, grilled onions, mushrooms and zippy horseradish, often they have a sandwich on special that is like a combo pf the two and that is primo. The baked Turkey Bruschetta has sliced turkey, mozzarella, grated parmesan, fresh basil, minced garlic, olive oil and diced tomato and smells just as amazing as it tastes.
The burgers come with a buffalo option and are either in 1/3 or half pound varities. The Patty Melt is yummy, the Blackened Bleu comes with grilled onions and bleu cheese and the Rocky Mountain burger is a surprise with tasty ham, swiss, cole slaw and thousand island dressing. You really can't go wrong with any of them. If you add bacon you always get a ton of it.
Entrees are hearty. I love the Roasted Half Chicken with herb olive oil but my mom prefers the BBQ option. My dad is a big fan of the huge Grecian Pork Chops, boneless and perfectly marinated so they are tender after the grilling. The St Louis Style BBQ Ribs have the best BBQ sauce. The Rosemary Bourbon Flank Steak is marinated overnight and just smells so good and cuts so easily. My moms loves the Liver and Onions here, saying they are seond best only to Herc's which have long been her favorites. I do not eat liver so I am no judge on that matter. The Beef Tips are excellent and come with a cheesy mashed potato to boot.
Pasta here is homemade by Mama Mucci and if I weren't trying to cut down on carbs I would be all over it. The Tomato, Basil and Chicken Pignola has a zippy touch of balsamic vinegar. The Seafood Palamino has crab, shrimp, scallops and mussels with roasted red peppers in a tomato cream sauce. The Shrimp and Scallop Angelina has garlic, spinach and wine with parsley butter over airy angel hair. Any will make you very happy.
The atmosphere here is cozy with a dash of elegance. The attire is golf casual. Staff is friendly and attentive. If you like good quality food in good quantity you have to give Karl's Cabin a try. I highly recommend it.
Buffalo Wild Wings - Ypsilanti, Michigan
I much prefer this location to the ones in Canton or Westland. We come here a lot because they offer Buzztime trivia and my husband loves him some wings and trivia. The wings soothe him over the fact I am currently the top trivia score at this location ;). At http://www.restaurant.com/ they have great coupons for the Dearborn location but we have never been there personally, we really like it here.
Ok, I know what you are thinking, fried, fried and more fried. Yes but they also have something called Naked Tenders, grilled chicken breast strips, which are just as excellent with the many wing sauces. The salads here are good too. The Honey BBQ Ranch Salad has good cilantro and pico, I love the garlicky Blackened Chicken Salad and the Grilled Chicken Salad can be happy with the right sauce. They have a Naked Tenders Wrap that is satisfying and happy with your choice of sauce or be a bit bad and get the grilled Southwest Chicken Queso Wrap or Chicken Caesar Wrap, yummy. The grilled Jerk Chicken sandwich is tasty as well.
There are surprises elsewhere too. The pulled pork is excellent any way you get it as are the ribs. They have a burger topped with pulled pork and onion rings that is out of this world. The roasted garlic fried mushrooms are a delight and the onion rings are a real treat. Not healthy but hey at least lower in carbs than the fry options.
The stars of the show here though are clearly the wings. My husband is partial to the boneless variety while my dad sticks to the originals. Sauces here are great. My faves (in somewhat of an order) are the Asian Zing, the Hot, Caribbean Jerk, Honey BBQ, Spicy Garlic and Medium. As hot as I want to go with a whole order of tenders is the Mango Habanero which is nice but the Blazin may well take the average diner's head off, I like it but not for a whole meal.
The prices here aren't dirt cheap normally but we like the entertainment value of playing trivia for free. After ten there are really great drink specials, every day for lunch they have great special meals and on Tuesdays wings are 40¢ apiece and on Thursdays they have boneless wings for 50¢ apiece.
Just don't beat my score in trivia and there will be no hassles.
Ok, I know what you are thinking, fried, fried and more fried. Yes but they also have something called Naked Tenders, grilled chicken breast strips, which are just as excellent with the many wing sauces. The salads here are good too. The Honey BBQ Ranch Salad has good cilantro and pico, I love the garlicky Blackened Chicken Salad and the Grilled Chicken Salad can be happy with the right sauce. They have a Naked Tenders Wrap that is satisfying and happy with your choice of sauce or be a bit bad and get the grilled Southwest Chicken Queso Wrap or Chicken Caesar Wrap, yummy. The grilled Jerk Chicken sandwich is tasty as well.
There are surprises elsewhere too. The pulled pork is excellent any way you get it as are the ribs. They have a burger topped with pulled pork and onion rings that is out of this world. The roasted garlic fried mushrooms are a delight and the onion rings are a real treat. Not healthy but hey at least lower in carbs than the fry options.
The stars of the show here though are clearly the wings. My husband is partial to the boneless variety while my dad sticks to the originals. Sauces here are great. My faves (in somewhat of an order) are the Asian Zing, the Hot, Caribbean Jerk, Honey BBQ, Spicy Garlic and Medium. As hot as I want to go with a whole order of tenders is the Mango Habanero which is nice but the Blazin may well take the average diner's head off, I like it but not for a whole meal.
The prices here aren't dirt cheap normally but we like the entertainment value of playing trivia for free. After ten there are really great drink specials, every day for lunch they have great special meals and on Tuesdays wings are 40¢ apiece and on Thursdays they have boneless wings for 50¢ apiece.
Just don't beat my score in trivia and there will be no hassles.
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