Review from Trygs... 11.23.08

Well we switched it up a little this week and did a brunch... we now realize why we don't usually do brunches on Sundays. A few of us were hungover, a few were talking a little crazy, and a few were too tired to even talk. As we were seated we definitely all were impressed with the atmosphere and were excited to sit at the round table but later got a bigger table because we had too many people and it would have been too snug. We then were put at very secluded table - maybe a little too secluded cause our waitress seem to get lost when checking up on our table. We started off with a couple different cocktails... Bloody Mary, Bellini, Wake Up - I highly suggest the Wake Up which is only $3 versus the tasty $8 Bloody. After looking at the menu - which is a tad small only 8 entrees and then about 6 salads, I don't know about you but the last thing I want to eat for breakfast is a salad. So we all decided on two items - Two Eggs Your Way and the Southwestern Omelet. The Omelet was good but I've had it before and feel it was kind of missing something this time (I actually think they've changed it?!?) Don't get me wrong it wasn't bad just nothing special. The others that had the Eggs their way weren't complaining either. I think both dishes definitely hit the spot for breakfast but neither dish was phenomenal. But when looking at the prices it definitely was far worth the price... everything is very well price and I'd even say cheap!! Couple people ate for under $10 which is unheard of when your in an establishment like Trygs. We then ordered dessert... we had Big Ball Little Ball, Burnt Cream, and Apple Walnut Crepes. All were extremely delicious!! I was very impressed. Chris enjoyed his balls a little more then the rest of us though :-) Steve and I were impressed with the tiny pepper shakers. Beth realized she likes runny creme brule. What can I say... it was definitely a fun brunch. Did we mention the funky bathrooms... they are definitely a must see. We all would recommend this restaurant as it's good and cheap. We were a tad disappointed with the waitress' disappearing act, but other then that she was decent. You should definitely try it out for brunch - they also have jazz playing but we were too far away to hear it.

***(3.25 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Be'Wiched Deli... (10.29.08)

As I showed up first being the only one in the restaurant, the people behind the counter made me feel right at home. They were eager to help and explained their Happy Hour deals, which were awesome - Tap Beers for $2 and Wine for $4. The selection was small but good. Our waitress that dropped off our beers and wine was very nice and she said she'd keep an eye on our beverages but 5 minutes after Happy Hour ended we realized she wasn't coming around. We all realized it was an order at the counter type place but we're hoping she would have kept more of an eye on us like she said. Anyways, as we were enjoying our drinks Chris ordered a small plate which was on the happy hour menu and they asked what we wanted and Chris said basically to surprise us. Surprisingly enough it was amazing and it was avery good spread. We had a little of everything - Mini Pastrami Sandwiches, Mini Tuna Confit Sandwiches, Cous Cous, Asparagus Rolled in Smoked Ham, Brie, Apricots, Salted Almonds, Salami, Panchetta, Roasted Sweet & Hot Peppers, and Pickeled Cucumbers. Need I say anything more it was awesome. Then we had to change our order since everything we wanted we had on our appetizer plate and we wanted to try something different. So we order the Smoked Turkey Sandwich, Steak Sandwich (Special of the Day), White Bean Salad, Spinach Salad, and finally the Squash Soup. Each sandwich came with two little scoops of either Potato Salad, Olive Salad, Pickled Cucumbers, or Cous Cous. Out of the sandwiches we decided the Steak Sandwich was by far our favorite it had a spicy pepper sauce that was unbelievable and the steak was very tender. The Turkey Sandwich had medjool dates and goat cheese on it which also gave it a nice unique flavor that wasn't overpowering. The salads were good and just all around had that healthy taste but the soup definitely was incredible with it's incredible texture and flavor. I'm definitely getting my own the next time I come!! All around we were very pleased and loved the quiet laid back atmosphere. They also kept running tabs for each us which I thought was nice. We'll all definitely return.

****(4.25 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Tea House... (10-14-08)

Besides getting a little lost finding this place (due to mapquest) I was shocked to see it in a strip mall. But right when walking in the door the decor caught my eye. With it's wood chairs and red hints the place was more then what I was expecting. We were seated at this huge circular table with a "spinner" in the middle. This made sharing dishes a must and also very easy. We started off with the Shanghai Mini Juicy Buns, Fried Cheese Wontons, Egg Rolls, Szechuan Vegetarian Dumplings, and Shanghai Pancake which the waiter had recommended. All were excellent - the Shanghai Pancake was definitely a hit and we would recommend. A few people were daring enough to try the Juicy Buns and besides the squirts of juice the people that tried them were shocked because they don't look very pleasing but were very tasty, just be sure to eat them while they are hot! Next,we decided to just get an entree from each section of the menu and then we would all split. So we got the Chicken with Fresh Asparagus, Mongolian Pork, Gui Chow Beef, and the Lo Mein along with some sticky rice. The entrees were all very delicious - I think the best entree was the Gui Chow Beef, again this was something that the waiter recommended. It had great flavor, a little bit of spice and just something a little different which made it stand out from the rest. The Chicken with Fresh Asparagus I thought would be very plain and simple but it also got great reviews from our table and I was impressed. I was even shocked that with 7 of us we still had food to take home. The service was excellent and it was nice to have a waiter that was very knowledgeable and friendly that didn't smother yet knew when he was needed. I like the idea of them changing all the utensils and napkins after the appetizer. We did wait for our check but I think he didn't want to feel as though he was rushing us, as he did take the time to hand each individual check to each individual person. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone - you can't beat the price and the atmosphere was quiet and homey. We definitely enjoyed it.

****(4.25 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Lachaya... (9-23-08)

As I pulled into the parking lot and realized I was the only guest - I was a tad worried. But after walking in the front doors to this quaint little restaurant with french doors open in the front and the interesting decor made you love it at first sight. Though we did have someone eye it out that it used to be a KFC... shocking really! Thank god they got rid of the drive-thru and put in a beautiful patio. After being seated and asking my waitress a question or two about the cocktails I realized she was very uninformed and not a quality waitress - she had no clue what she was serving and couldn't even try to pretend to pull it off. So, a few of us started off with a glass of wine and a couple of us even tried the Corona on ice with a weird spice and some type of alcohol in it - still not sure what it was???? But it was very good. The wine on the other hand wasn't anything too exciting. Then we ordered our appetizer "Special" which was a bread plate which was covered with feta cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and a heavy flavorful vinaigrette - it was FABULOUS!!! Sorry I don't have a name for it but it was excellent. We also had the Avocado Soup which came with a little scoop of crab in it and was served cold (we assumed hot) - Most of us really enjoyed it - though a few wanted chips to dip into it. I thought it had a very green fresh taste and would definitely order it again. But now for the entrees.... we had the Petite Beef Fillet with a Green Bean and Beet Salad, Cannelloni, Chicken Fettuccine, Four Seasons Pizza which included equal parts of: Mushroom, Artichokes, Prosciutto & Salami, Red Snapper with a Caper Relish and the Grilled Chicken with Caper Relish. The Red Snapper and the Chicken were outstanding and I'd definitely recommend them both hands down. They were both served with the caper relish but both had their own distinctive flavor, they were also served with mashed potatoes and a veggie which again was excellent. The pizza was pretty good, the chicken fettuccine is what I'd call "safe" and the Cannelloni was a tad blah. The steak and salad wasn't anything to rave about either but nothing was terrible. We ended up not getting a dessert due to the selection being very limited. I'd definitely recommend this place for a date night - and hopefully you'll get a waitress that can correctly select the perfect wine to sit out on there patio and relax. The ambiance was great and no one seemed to be in a hurry. I heard the bathrooms were quite nice as well. But when you go - stay away from the pastas as they seemed boring and steer more towards the meat/seafood entrees as they were excellent!! Also, after reading some other reviews we think this might be a good place for breakfast.

****(4 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Red Stag Supper Club... (9-9-08)

By the time you find this place you may be very hungry but don't worry it's definitely worth it. Maybe we were idiots but we kept going down the wrong streets and missing the place. Once you get there the ambience is very relaxed - you could be in shorts or a suit and it wouldn't matter. We started off with a couple cocktails which we were very impressed with the Red Stag after reading that it contained quite a few different liquors including jager. But I definitely recommend it - the Sangria was also very tasty. Then we had the Beef Carpaccio for a starter which was served a little different but it was fabulous and had great flavor and the shoestring potatoes even added a little something. Then we choose the waiters top two favorites which were the Halibut Cheek Cippino and the Pork Chop. The portions were very good size and the flavor reminded me of mom's home cookin but with the ingredients she would never carry in her kitchen. Hopefully that makes sense... basically the flavor wasn't so much unique as just a good hearty flavor. We pretty much scraped our plates clean - and don't let the soggy bread in the Cioppino fool you, it's phenomenal. Then we had to have dessert so we had a Chocolate Cake with a Peanut Butter Moose - this was also a winner. The service was excellent - we never went with our water glass less than half full, our food came out extremely quick and our server was eager in giving suggestions.We'd definitely recommend this place and with such a chilled atmosphere you can't help but to relax and enjoy yourself.

****(4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Joe's Garage... (6-24-08)

Joe's Garage was a little pricey for what we got - but then again, we were there since Happy Hour. So, I guess you can say it was moderately priced. We ate outside - not on the rooftop patio, but on the sidewalk patio. (FYI - NO Happy Hour specials on the rooftop). The service was really slow - but seemed to be expected. Food was good - nice mix on the menu with a few surprises. Atmosphere - so/so. We ate outside, so we had a nice view of the park and people watching provided our entertainment: people tend to often drive the opposite direction on the one-way. Parking was a tad difficult if you got there late - I had to park several blocks away. The others lucked out and paid to park in the lot. Thanks Stef for the Review!

***(3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from W.A. FROST... (6-22-08)

How can you go wrong when it's a beautiful day and you are sitting on a patio? The ambiance was perfect, the weather was great, but the service wasn't anything to rave about. Actually I was a tad disappointed. Plus, did I mention there was a shaggy dog practically drooling on Stef. Anyways, as you are seated you are handed about 4 menus which is a little overwhelming - which I think they could have combined to have a little less confusion. But, as soon as we arrived we ordered a cheese tray along with our cocktails and wine. We didn't receive the cheese tray till after our appetizers and after we reminded our server that we ordered the cheese an hour ago. We started off with the Spicy Beef Carpaccio Roulades and the Chilled Asparagus Salad - both were excellent and very fresh. Then our cheese tray arrived that contained Upland Farm's Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Smokey "Oregon Blue", and Cypress Grove's Humboldt Fog - again, everyone liked all the cheeses as each one had a unique flavor to satisfy different palettes. For entrees we ordered a wide variety of dishes that included the Lamb Burger, Cheese Burger, Mixed Green Salad, and Pan Roasted Scallops. All of the entrees were excellent as the Lamb Burger had great flavor and my Scallops were amazing. The menu was very limited when it came to vegetarian options, though the salad that Lisa got was flavorful it wasn't anything to brag about. We realized the Bar menu, you definitely got your money's worth and the portions were good. The other menu, the portions were small but we weren't at all shocked as that is what we expected. Needless to say we always have room for dessert so we tried the Mini Trio Plate which included Classic Creme Brulee, Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler, and Dark Chocolate & Cherry Cake. Our favorite was the Creme Brulee of course!! All and all the dinner was exceptional and we would have given a higher rating but due to the poor service we had to give a lower one. But I know I can speak for us all, and say that we would definitely all return.

****(4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Namaste... (6-10-08)

Unique, interesting... just to name a few things that come to mind when I think of Namaste. This restaurant is located in a house where you might be a tad confused when walking in the door... don't worry it is a restaurant. We started off with Mamacha and Paapri Chaat - both were excellent and different. The sauce that came with the Mamacha was a little spicy - which I think made the dish. Then when it came to ordering dinner there were a ton of choices and it really came down to what you like and what you were looking for. The dishes were all surprisingly diverse - one of my friends wasn't too sure about curry but I know for a fact she will be returning to have curry again. So don't cross this restaurant of your list if you don't like curry cause these are unique enough to please everyone. At first I was a tad worried when ordering wine and beer and they kept saying they were out. But when it came to the main menu they could help you order and find what you wanted and the menu descriptions were very helpful. You were given the option of spiciness so it was perfect for everyone. I think all and all we were very surprised and definitely would all go back. The atmosphere made you feel at home since I think we were actually sitting in the living room of this house. Oh and I almost forgot to mention we had some Chai - which was excellent. I loved the atmosphere, the different people (you could definitely tell you were in Uptown), the food and our servers (I think we had about 3 waitresses).

****(4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from ERTE Restaurant... (5-27-08)

Where do I start... well the atmosphere and the industrial type building is fabulous... the bar looks lovely and then the host is dressed in street clothes - if I remember correctly she was in a hoodie???? Just a tad weird. Anyway, we got a couple martinis and a glass of wine all of them were good though the martinis could have been shaken a little more because they weren't that cold. We received our salads and Marlo's came with the lettuce being drowned by the dressing and though she had some difficulties with juice splattering she could only eat 3/4 of her salad due to the lettuce being soggy because of all the dressing. As our waitress removed our salad plates she must have realized our food was up because when it got to our table it was luke warm - not that big of deal so we still ate our meal. We ordered the pasta special, the Forest Mushroom Risotto, and the Filet Mignon - pasta was okay thankfully the goat cheese gave it some flavor, and the risotto had good flavor but it was just too much of the same rich flavor (would have been a good side dish), and the filet was awesome. We didn't order any desert which was a good thing since our waitress forgot about us and another waitress almost gave me a paper cut across my face with a paper tablecloth. Our experience wasn't the greatest though the food was not terrible the service absolutely was. We think this would be a great place to sit at the bar and order appetizers and definitely great steak... but good luck.

**(2.75 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Broders' Pasta Bar... (5-13-08)

This little restaurant that when walking in you don't believe how small it is... but after getting settled the busyness around you makes you feel like you are in a larger upscale restaurant. We started out with the Giardiniera which is an assortment of marinated vegetables and the Roasted Garlic which was served with flat bread and tomatoes - both were extremely delicious. We ordered a couple bottles of wine, do not hesitate to ask your server for help with the wine list, he was very helpful when it came to choosing exactly what we wanted. We all ordered a variety of pastas - some which included salad greens within the pasta others with sweet peas. All of the pastas were good and a few little more unique then the others. The consensus was that the food was good but nothing extraordinary. Service was good though I think we caught the server saying "I'm gonna slip it in right here" - which made a few of us giggle. All in all most of us would return.

***(3.75 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Buster's on 28th... (4.29.08)

This is nice neighborhood pub with a massive list of beers - over 125 different types of bottle beer!! We tried a few beers on tap and were very pleased, we loved the Delirium pink elephant glass and recommend trying the Kwak beer which comes in a funky glass & holder for your beer. We then started off with the Fresh Cut Potato Chips and the Calamari for appetizers. We chowed them down in no time as they were very good. Then we had Burgers, Pork Sandwich, Pizza, Brie Sandwich, and the Crab Stuffed Halibut. We decided this is place for great "bar food" with the option of a few out of the ordinary dishes that were just as good. The relaxed feel of this neighborhood pub, along with the excellent service makes this a place to check out - especially if you are interested in trying beer from all around the world.

****(4.25 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Heidi's... (4.8.08)

With our delightful server and the low lighting - this place was a hit. We definitely suggest it for a first date or a girls night out. With some fine wine and an exquisite menu the girls will love it - though the boys might still be hungry after leaving. The menu was very small and quite unique but the entrees that we tasted were fabulous. We started off with the Crab Spring Rolls with Jelly Bean Jalapenoes - the rolls were very fresh though the jelly beans were cute but lacked any flavor. For entrees I had the Ravioli that was incredible with the unique taste of beets and goat cheese - I definitely would recommend! We also had the Lobster, Chicken Lollipops, Buttered Pappardelle, Fingerling Potatoes and the Chard - all were excellent and the Lobster was very well priced. We would definitely not order the rare oil for $4.50 for your bread - you only get a tablespoon of it (kind of a ripoff!) The bathrooms were very dark - but it fit the whole decor of the restaurant. It's a small unique place with exceptional food but a very limited menu. Be ready to sit and relax cause there in no hurry to get you out of there. Be sure to check out the scrawny manager in his suit and tennis shoes - definitely a place to check out!

**** (4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Pho Tau Bay... (3.25.08)

If you love Phao (pronounced fuh) or would like to try it - this is the perfect place!! It's cheap (I mean REALLY cheap) and delicious! The atmosphere is a little small town cafeish... and the bathrooms were freezing but other then that the service was excellent and the food came out extremely fast. We waited for our check but later found out you paid at the door - Opps! We had plenty of food - 3 out of 5 of us took food to go. Even Marlo who can be a tad particular about what she likes was impressed when having Phao for the first time. The Phao comes in a Beef or Pork broth so if you are vegetarian this might not be the place for you - though there are vegetarian entrees available which a couple of us tried and were pleased but felt it was nothing extraordinary. We'd definitely recommend ordering the Phao which there are plenty to choose from! We were also impressed with the appetizers - we had Cheese Puffs, Spring Rolls, and Egg Rolls - all were around $4 a piece. How could you go wrong?? And to quote the legendary Chris - "It’s not fancy but the food's good and cheap as hell."

**** (4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from French Meadow... (2.26.08)

French Meadow was nothing spectacular. A few had the appetizer pizzas which were good but nothing that exciting. I had the salmon - again it was good but nothing to rave about. The service wasn't that great - none of us were asked if we would like another drink... which was a tad odd. Don't get me wrong it wasn't terrible at all, it's just that nothing was exceptional or would make us visit often. A few of us had been there before and recommend breakfast and lunch. The idea that everything is organic is great, it just didn't blow us away. By the way the carrot cake is great but do NOT eat the "carrot" on the top - it's not frosting and it tastes like.... well you get the picture!!

*** (3.25 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from MASA... (2.12.08)

Our last dinner was a girls night out with our hot pink dinner menus and just the ladies attending. We started off with a couple glasses of wine and I decided to try the Cucumber Margarita (it's like a spa in a glass... definitely recommend!) We then munched on chips with guacamole and a couple different salsas. Also very good. We had a wide variety of entrees - Chicken and Pork Tamales, Chicken Enchiladas, Crab Enchiladas, and Sea Bass. Our favorite was the Sea Bass that had excellent flavor and the fish was done perfectly. We found the Crab Enchiladas were a tad blah, while we were impressed with the pulled chicken in the enchiladas. We were definitely impressed with the different flavors and the presentation. We were stuffed and a few of us even had 2Go boxes. The service was excellent but our waiter didn't do anything above and beyond what we needed except for splitting the tab. The ambiance was very relaxed in a very open, airy, contemporary atmosphere. This place was definitely a winner and we would definitely return!!!

**** (4.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)

Review from Spill the Wine... (1.8.08)

"Water Divides the World and Wine Unites Us..." When I walked in the smell of the wood fire was perfect in setting the mood - what followed was a relaxing and very enjoyable dinner. We started off with a couple bottles of wine which was a great deal ($15/bottle the 4th bottle free). Our appetizers were calamari, brushetta, and the margarita pizza - all were excellent with great flavor. Our dinners were excellent though our favorite was the grilled chicken and we would recommend ordering something other then the salads which were small and a tad bland. We even made room for dessert which we agreed that the French Silk was phenomenal though the Cheesecake was close second. The service was excellent the food was fantastic and would definitely return!!

Monte, Joel, and Stef's Ratings of the Unisex Bathroom -
Monte said he would eat in the bathroom, while Joel was impressed with the vanilla-bean candles, Stef critiqued the "residential" feel of the decor... who knows what the ratings exactly were but we'll leave that for another review..

**** (4.25 OUT OF 5 STARS)