3/12/2010
Pia's is a solid three. I think the pizza is probably the way to go and I have a feeling if we go back that is indeed what we will get.
This time, however, we both had pasta dinners. They came with garlic rolls and butter and your choice of soup or salad. The garlic rolls are good, next time we may opt for a cup of sauce to dip into though. The minestrone my husband had was canned flavored and utterly forgettable. The plain salad I had with the house made Italian dressing was a much better choice.
It was a bit of a wait for the entrees but they kept us in bread and pop so I was totally fine. The waitress was uber apologetic and generally on the ball so it was hard to be annoyed at all.
I opted for the chicken piccata. It had a lovely brothy lemon butter sauce, lots of my fave artichokes, plenty of capers and quarters of button mushrooms. The chicken was in huge chunks and had very nice flavor. The fettuccine it was served on top of was flavorless and past al dente and the sauce was not really working with it. If I got it again I would either ask for angel hair or a different side altogether.
My husband had the fettuccine alfredo with shrimp. Again he really enjoyed the sauce and the shrimp part but found the pasta itself a bit underwhelming. Of course he thought they should have doled out more shrimp too but he needs to wrap his head around the fact that five is pretty much a standard with pasta really. I wish he would just order chicken instead.
The atmosphere is nothing to rave about, a bit old and run down feeling. It is very family friendly even in the smoking section bar area so if you do not like kids you might want to avoid Pia's altogether.
We each finished all of our entrees except for the meh pasta. Usually we have leftovers when we go Italian but not here.
We also decided we had enough room for dessert. I highly recommend the cannoli, it was fresh and crisp, richly stuffed with a thick vanilla filling and garnished with lots of chocolate chips.
Like I said, we will be back I think, but we will be getting pizza and of course more cannoli.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thai Cafe - Plymouth, Michigan
After reading Brian D's review that this was the same menu and ownership as the uber drooled about Thai Taste, I was very excited. I really wanted to try Thai Taste but frankly I am rarely able to just go traipsing about the greater Detroit area. I knew it would be a minute before I finally made my way over there.
I finally get what Dea says about pad see ewe. Normally I find it a bit boring as it seems to be what most people who have just moved on from Pad Thai gravitate towards. I have eaten a lot of it through sharing and am generally bored with it. This pad see ewe however was absolutely beautiful with the thick and delicious noodles. Great flavor and so freaking satisfying.
I also ordered some of my standby fave green curry, it is a dish I often get to test the waters and see if a Thai place is really going to make me happy. Mmmmm spicy with peppers and onions but really full of good balanced flavor, it made me very happy indeed. It was a nice pick so I did not go into total carb overload.
The place is vaguely claustrophobic. The temperature can also vary, when we got there and it was empty it was a bit chilly but as people swarmed in it got a bit hot. Service was also a tad slow as it got busier. I don't really mind in a place like this, it is kind of par for the course.
All in all I am very impressed. To think I am in Plymouth all the time and I did not swing by. I really owe you one Brian :).
So westsiders, save some gas mileage and sniff around in your own backyards for a change. Contrary to popular belief, all the good food is not just found in the northern or eastern burbs. You do not have to hike around. Discover your own gems.
I finally get what Dea says about pad see ewe. Normally I find it a bit boring as it seems to be what most people who have just moved on from Pad Thai gravitate towards. I have eaten a lot of it through sharing and am generally bored with it. This pad see ewe however was absolutely beautiful with the thick and delicious noodles. Great flavor and so freaking satisfying.
I also ordered some of my standby fave green curry, it is a dish I often get to test the waters and see if a Thai place is really going to make me happy. Mmmmm spicy with peppers and onions but really full of good balanced flavor, it made me very happy indeed. It was a nice pick so I did not go into total carb overload.
The place is vaguely claustrophobic. The temperature can also vary, when we got there and it was empty it was a bit chilly but as people swarmed in it got a bit hot. Service was also a tad slow as it got busier. I don't really mind in a place like this, it is kind of par for the course.
All in all I am very impressed. To think I am in Plymouth all the time and I did not swing by. I really owe you one Brian :).
So westsiders, save some gas mileage and sniff around in your own backyards for a change. Contrary to popular belief, all the good food is not just found in the northern or eastern burbs. You do not have to hike around. Discover your own gems.
Plaka Mediterraen Grill - Plymouth, Michigan
3/13/2010
I stopped back in for some carry out and I am glad I did. I took it to my parents this week as they are still both recovering from their illnesses and I am still doing some errands and house chores for them. I thought it would be nice to have a nosh I did not make while I was there.
Service was friendly and pretty fast to boot which was good as I never love waiting.
I decided to get my father and I a plaka trio platter to split as neither of us were hugely hungry. As he cannot eat salads and is limited on green veggies, I ordered the hummus and rice sides for us. My mom wanted a gyro with a side of roasted veggies. I asked for an extra side of tzaziki (one comes with the platter) and one of garlic sauce. I also requested an extra pita for my dad just in case.
I get it back to their place and was amazed by the size of everything. The gyro was stuffed full. Our box of meats was chock full of gyro meat as well as two sizeable skewers of souvlaki, one chicken and one tenderloin.
The tenderloin souvlaki is just not something I would have ordered unless it came in a combination. Surprisingly it is my fave thing here. I really liked dipping it and the other meats into the super tasty tzaziki a lot. The chicken was moister this time and the gyro meat was in thick slices that had been finished on the grill. My father really hogged that. My mom could not finish her gyro but happily had some for later.
The side containers were heaped to the brim. The rice and veggie containers were so full they nearly spilled out by opening them up. The hummus was a deep portion, way more than I was expecting. There was so much food we could not eat it all. It made for lovely sharing.
The rice was delicious with a bit of garlic sauce and the veggies were perfectly done and thoroughly enjoyed. The hummus got a bit of olive oil drizzle and was happily shared by all.
My only complaint about here is the pita chips always seem too oily to me. Just heavy. Not that my dad minded at all. I stuck to the regular pita myself though.
Go on and give this place a try. Fair warning, come hungry or be prepared to share.
I stopped back in for some carry out and I am glad I did. I took it to my parents this week as they are still both recovering from their illnesses and I am still doing some errands and house chores for them. I thought it would be nice to have a nosh I did not make while I was there.
Service was friendly and pretty fast to boot which was good as I never love waiting.
I decided to get my father and I a plaka trio platter to split as neither of us were hugely hungry. As he cannot eat salads and is limited on green veggies, I ordered the hummus and rice sides for us. My mom wanted a gyro with a side of roasted veggies. I asked for an extra side of tzaziki (one comes with the platter) and one of garlic sauce. I also requested an extra pita for my dad just in case.
I get it back to their place and was amazed by the size of everything. The gyro was stuffed full. Our box of meats was chock full of gyro meat as well as two sizeable skewers of souvlaki, one chicken and one tenderloin.
The tenderloin souvlaki is just not something I would have ordered unless it came in a combination. Surprisingly it is my fave thing here. I really liked dipping it and the other meats into the super tasty tzaziki a lot. The chicken was moister this time and the gyro meat was in thick slices that had been finished on the grill. My father really hogged that. My mom could not finish her gyro but happily had some for later.
The side containers were heaped to the brim. The rice and veggie containers were so full they nearly spilled out by opening them up. The hummus was a deep portion, way more than I was expecting. There was so much food we could not eat it all. It made for lovely sharing.
The rice was delicious with a bit of garlic sauce and the veggies were perfectly done and thoroughly enjoyed. The hummus got a bit of olive oil drizzle and was happily shared by all.
My only complaint about here is the pita chips always seem too oily to me. Just heavy. Not that my dad minded at all. I stuck to the regular pita myself though.
Go on and give this place a try. Fair warning, come hungry or be prepared to share.
Angelina Italian Bistro - Detroit, Michigan
3/16/2010
This place has such a lovely bar area happy hour.
I used to work down the street and met an old work mate as this is her new fave haunt. I have been wanting to try here so I was more than game to make the trek when our schedules both finally cleared enough.
Tuesday through Thursdays happy hour runs from 5-7 pm. Fridays and Saturdays it is 4-6 pm. The bar is pleasant and there seems to be a few people wanting to take advantage of the deals (steals) but we managed to snag seats.
Of course they feature cheaper drinks. Four dollar 20 oz beers including many faves from Detroit area breweries, mostly Motor City Brewing (5 of theirs) but also one each from Detroit Brewing and Atwater.Three dollar wells, four dollar wines and a five buck martini du jour. Sadly I had to stick to iced tea. The upside though, was it was very tasty tea.
We noshed on some of the lovely appetizers but not all of them. The list is quite long and happy. They are all priced between four and five dollars and are great for a light nosh as you chat
The pesto marinated chicken skewers were happily dipped into tasty cheese sauce and were served with field greens. The crispy calamari was perfectly cooked and I really liked the the horseradish marinara, it was my fave of the appetizers. The salumi plate was a treat with very good salami, genoa ham and house made mortadella. The pesce plate was a no brainer pick as I cannot go wrong with hot smoked trout or cold smoked salmon, the whitefish sausage was a new thing for me and I liked it.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. My tea was kept filled and I was surprised at how smoothly it all ran. A good happy hour is hard to come by really but here it is beyond merely good.
Street parking is plentiful and the area is safe, trust me, do not let the Detroit locale scare you off a bit. I can't wait to return for some pasta with my husband soon.
This place has such a lovely bar area happy hour.
I used to work down the street and met an old work mate as this is her new fave haunt. I have been wanting to try here so I was more than game to make the trek when our schedules both finally cleared enough.
Tuesday through Thursdays happy hour runs from 5-7 pm. Fridays and Saturdays it is 4-6 pm. The bar is pleasant and there seems to be a few people wanting to take advantage of the deals (steals) but we managed to snag seats.
Of course they feature cheaper drinks. Four dollar 20 oz beers including many faves from Detroit area breweries, mostly Motor City Brewing (5 of theirs) but also one each from Detroit Brewing and Atwater.Three dollar wells, four dollar wines and a five buck martini du jour. Sadly I had to stick to iced tea. The upside though, was it was very tasty tea.
We noshed on some of the lovely appetizers but not all of them. The list is quite long and happy. They are all priced between four and five dollars and are great for a light nosh as you chat
The pesto marinated chicken skewers were happily dipped into tasty cheese sauce and were served with field greens. The crispy calamari was perfectly cooked and I really liked the the horseradish marinara, it was my fave of the appetizers. The salumi plate was a treat with very good salami, genoa ham and house made mortadella. The pesce plate was a no brainer pick as I cannot go wrong with hot smoked trout or cold smoked salmon, the whitefish sausage was a new thing for me and I liked it.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. My tea was kept filled and I was surprised at how smoothly it all ran. A good happy hour is hard to come by really but here it is beyond merely good.
Street parking is plentiful and the area is safe, trust me, do not let the Detroit locale scare you off a bit. I can't wait to return for some pasta with my husband soon.
Pollo Chapin - Detroit, Michigan
So cheap and so damn tasty!
I did not go artery friendly here in the least. I needed carbs and fat and all things evilly delicious. We thought about burritos or tamales but we ultimately decided we would just indulge ourselves with fried chicken. We figured if it rocked we would come back and try other things.
The chicken noodle soup has a full bodied broth filled with plenty of curly egg noodles, chicken pieces and veggies. It is very impressive indeed. Filling too as a good chicken noodle is.
I also really loved the pickled zippy carrots from the container with the peppers. I haven't had pickled carrots like that since I was younger and these brought back especially fond memories. I am a sucker for carrots.
The fried chicken is crispy, juicy and perfectly spiced. Deliciously meaty. I agree with Allen that Three Brother's chicken is mighty good but I do have to respectfully say this is even better than that in my own humble opinion. This has better flavored flesh for my palate, the chicken itself tastes amazing, not just the skin.
The mac and cheese was a hit with both of us. I loved the jalapeno bits a lot. It was creamy with that little kick that balanced it out. Plain mac and cheese is just not my thing, usually I have to put hot sauce on it to make it happy. This was perfect as is, which is a huge treat.
The remolacha salad with beets really works for me. I am a huge fan of beets and this was just like a surprise party in my mouth. I did not expect it to be this tasty at all. Zesty and happy. It was a perfect match with fried chicken and mac and cheese, it sort of cut the heaviness of everything with a bit of zip.
Everything in here is bargathon priced. The service is home-like and friendly, very welcoming. Overall, it's a very nice experience.
If this place were in the burbs, everyone would be packed in here and you would never get a seat. Come down to Detroit already 'burbanites, the food is worth it and it is not as scary as you would think.
I did not go artery friendly here in the least. I needed carbs and fat and all things evilly delicious. We thought about burritos or tamales but we ultimately decided we would just indulge ourselves with fried chicken. We figured if it rocked we would come back and try other things.
The chicken noodle soup has a full bodied broth filled with plenty of curly egg noodles, chicken pieces and veggies. It is very impressive indeed. Filling too as a good chicken noodle is.
I also really loved the pickled zippy carrots from the container with the peppers. I haven't had pickled carrots like that since I was younger and these brought back especially fond memories. I am a sucker for carrots.
The fried chicken is crispy, juicy and perfectly spiced. Deliciously meaty. I agree with Allen that Three Brother's chicken is mighty good but I do have to respectfully say this is even better than that in my own humble opinion. This has better flavored flesh for my palate, the chicken itself tastes amazing, not just the skin.
The mac and cheese was a hit with both of us. I loved the jalapeno bits a lot. It was creamy with that little kick that balanced it out. Plain mac and cheese is just not my thing, usually I have to put hot sauce on it to make it happy. This was perfect as is, which is a huge treat.
The remolacha salad with beets really works for me. I am a huge fan of beets and this was just like a surprise party in my mouth. I did not expect it to be this tasty at all. Zesty and happy. It was a perfect match with fried chicken and mac and cheese, it sort of cut the heaviness of everything with a bit of zip.
Everything in here is bargathon priced. The service is home-like and friendly, very welcoming. Overall, it's a very nice experience.
If this place were in the burbs, everyone would be packed in here and you would never get a seat. Come down to Detroit already 'burbanites, the food is worth it and it is not as scary as you would think.
Rebecca's Family Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor - Northville, Michigan
I was not expecting much, especially after I walked in. I had heard there was good food here from a friend and did not consult yelp (gasp).
Upon seeing toys, trains and toddlers overwhelming the smallish interior, my husband was breaking out into a cold sweat. He suddenly had visions of bad chicken nugget type cuisine and obnoxious unsupervised kids running through his head. I had to hold his hand firmly to prevent him from bolting.
Turns out the food is good and on this occasion the parents were keeping their kiddos in check. His before caffeine scowl probably did the trick at any rate, it belies the softy that lurks underneath his menacing exterior and tends to keep children effectively at bay.
This place features from scratch soups. That is happy for both of us. They have a great variety of sandwiches, salads and breakfast items.
On this occasion we stopped in for breakfast. It was a tough call for him between sweet potato pancakes and cinnamon raisin french toast but ultimately the rarer pancakes won out. He was definitely a fan. They were sweet yet not overwhelming and I think I was lucky to even get a bite.
I went for the omelet and it was stuffed full of happy veggies I got to pick myself. Utterly delicious. I was also quite happy with my perfectly toasted toast that was delicately buttered to boot. Nothing makes me sadder than soggy or burnt toast.
We will back to give lunch or dinner a whirl.
Upon seeing toys, trains and toddlers overwhelming the smallish interior, my husband was breaking out into a cold sweat. He suddenly had visions of bad chicken nugget type cuisine and obnoxious unsupervised kids running through his head. I had to hold his hand firmly to prevent him from bolting.
Turns out the food is good and on this occasion the parents were keeping their kiddos in check. His before caffeine scowl probably did the trick at any rate, it belies the softy that lurks underneath his menacing exterior and tends to keep children effectively at bay.
This place features from scratch soups. That is happy for both of us. They have a great variety of sandwiches, salads and breakfast items.
On this occasion we stopped in for breakfast. It was a tough call for him between sweet potato pancakes and cinnamon raisin french toast but ultimately the rarer pancakes won out. He was definitely a fan. They were sweet yet not overwhelming and I think I was lucky to even get a bite.
I went for the omelet and it was stuffed full of happy veggies I got to pick myself. Utterly delicious. I was also quite happy with my perfectly toasted toast that was delicately buttered to boot. Nothing makes me sadder than soggy or burnt toast.
We will back to give lunch or dinner a whirl.
Atlantis Restaurant - Plymouth, Michigan
It was like Jekyll and Hyde.
I think the main issue with this visit was with the waitress, first she tried to seat our party of four at a table for eight. Odd. Then it is like pulling teeth to get anything off the authentic Mexican menu, which is what we came in for. At one point she tells us they don't have the authentic stuff, then it that they have it but it is limited. Finally one of the chefs come out and verbally go over the authentic menu with us, resulting in a miscommunication that has us overrun with food.
Don't get me wrong, the Mexican food was great, yay for tacos, and I appreciated the effort but I cannot recommend it to anyone not totally familiar with the menu already. I also gathered from the waitress they are not going to be featuring the authentic Mexican after they transition. I could be wrong, it was a very confusing experience. My dad seemed puzzled by the bill so I think they charged more this time too.
I will give our waitress that she was very friendly and brought out the good salsas and tried to make up for the confusion. It worked to perk us up but wouldn't have if we had been stuck with the Ameri-Mex.
My husband had an Italian trio as he could not wrap his head around ordering from memory. His lasagna was good, the spaghetti just ok and he was quite disappointed in the alfredo. Quite a carb fest so he had plenty for two plus meals though.
James and I split a cannoli for dessert. They gave us two smaller ones. Excellent. We also had a replacement server in the middle of our meal that had his act together. I think we would have done better if we had started with him.
I think I will just head over to Taqueria Alameda or La Casita next time I want a taco nearby. I will go back to Atlantis to sample the chicken piccata sometime though. I am just disappointed in this place. I don't know if the food was worth the hassle and I don't know if they will even have what I like next time I visit.
I think the main issue with this visit was with the waitress, first she tried to seat our party of four at a table for eight. Odd. Then it is like pulling teeth to get anything off the authentic Mexican menu, which is what we came in for. At one point she tells us they don't have the authentic stuff, then it that they have it but it is limited. Finally one of the chefs come out and verbally go over the authentic menu with us, resulting in a miscommunication that has us overrun with food.
Don't get me wrong, the Mexican food was great, yay for tacos, and I appreciated the effort but I cannot recommend it to anyone not totally familiar with the menu already. I also gathered from the waitress they are not going to be featuring the authentic Mexican after they transition. I could be wrong, it was a very confusing experience. My dad seemed puzzled by the bill so I think they charged more this time too.
I will give our waitress that she was very friendly and brought out the good salsas and tried to make up for the confusion. It worked to perk us up but wouldn't have if we had been stuck with the Ameri-Mex.
My husband had an Italian trio as he could not wrap his head around ordering from memory. His lasagna was good, the spaghetti just ok and he was quite disappointed in the alfredo. Quite a carb fest so he had plenty for two plus meals though.
James and I split a cannoli for dessert. They gave us two smaller ones. Excellent. We also had a replacement server in the middle of our meal that had his act together. I think we would have done better if we had started with him.
I think I will just head over to Taqueria Alameda or La Casita next time I want a taco nearby. I will go back to Atlantis to sample the chicken piccata sometime though. I am just disappointed in this place. I don't know if the food was worth the hassle and I don't know if they will even have what I like next time I visit.
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