Saturday, October 29, 2011

Salvadoreno Restaurant

Salvadoreno Restaurant
303 E. Southern Ave
Mesa, AZ 85202

Having never eaten Salvadoran food before, I decided to try it, and am so glad that I did. This is totally different than Mexican food.

This is a relatively small restaurant, with a tiny kitchen, but don't let the size fool you - that tiny kitchen turns out some wonderful food. I noticed that I was the only gringa in the place - a good sign that the food it muy authenitico.

The waitress brought my drink along with a nice, crisp cole slaw type salad with some greens in it that I was not able to identify, but which gave it a nice flavor. Service is a little slow, but I attribute that to the fact that every dish is cooked to order - no steam tables here.

Next, was the main course. I ordered the Lengua Guisada ($9.95). Nice, big slices of tongue braised in a wonderful mild tomato type sauce, served with rice that had veggies in it, and small dish of liquified black beans along with two of the most succulent corn tortillas I have ever eaten. Instead of being crisp and crunchy, these were firm on the outside, and soft and tender on the inside. For the more adventurous, there is also hot sauce on the table. The flavors were all wonderful, and I used the corn tortillas to mop up all of the sauce on the plate. I would be lax if I didn't mention the fact the that food was served steaming hot.

I had to try the Pupupas, which are stuffed corn tortillas which are then grilled. I tried two different ones, and although I was entitled to get rice and bean with them, I opted not to have them because I was already getting full. The first Pupupas was stuffed with shrimp and cheese, and had a lovely texture and flavor. They have a tomato based sauce on the table that you can slather on your Pupupas if you so desire. I found that it really augmented the flavor and ended up using it on both Pupupas. The second Pupupas was shredded pork and cheese, and while tasty, wasn't up to the flavor profile of the camerones.

Unfortunately, by this time I was stuffed and had no more room to try anything else, but I will be back to try some more. Next time I want to try the Sopa de Pata/Mondongo, which is a hearty soup of heart and beef tripe, along with the Ensalada de Camarones Asados, which is a grilled shrimp salad.

It's hard to leave here hungry - you really would have to work at it!

Sanitation was good and the place is handicapped aware. They also will modify menu items to make them vegetarian.

I give them 4 stars for a really tasty meal that was muy authentico.

Koy Wan Hibachi Buffet

Koy Wan Hibachi Buffet
945 W SR 436 Suite 1179
Altamonte Springs, Florida
407-628-8866

Five adults and a child were in the mood for sushi and oriental food, and made the trek to Altamonte Springs to visit the buffet. As a professional reviewer I don't normally evaluate buffets because selection of food can make such a large difference in how the buffet is perceived, but in this case, I was compelled to write a review.

We were promptly seated at a large round table, and assorted soft drinks and tea were quickly brought. Then it was time for all to attack the buffet. Most of the time buffets are mediocre food, some of which is either too cold or not hot enough. This was completely different.

Most of us started off at the sushi bar. To be honest, I wasn't expecting anything like the sushi I've had in Japan, but I was hoping for some good flavor, and I wasn't disappointed. Lots of tasty varieties to choose from, including Unagi (fresh water eel) and Tako (octopus) In fairness, this won't be the sushi you will get in the typical sushi bar, in that these will not be, in general, prime cuts of fish, but tasty, none the less. The marinated squid was excellent and had good spice to it.

I opted to skip the "Hibachi Buffet", but noted a huge assortment of meats and veggies available to be cooked to order on the teppan

Next, I went to the cold part of the buffet. Beautiful tender New Zealand Mussels nicely seasoned, followed by Spicy Crayfish that were delicious to suck the juice out of. There were many other cold foods to choose from, but I had to save room to try the hot food.

One of the highlights of the hot food group was the Spicy Blue Crabs. Simply wonderful to eat, and totally unexpected on a buffet. I also had the opportunity to have Deep Fried Frogs Legs, Spicy Hot Cray Fish, and lovely Manila Clams that were wonderfully tender. Other items on the buffet included General Tso's Chicken, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, assorted Steamed Fishes, and tasty Pork Tenderloin. There was also a nice selection of assorted Chinese Steam Buns.

For those who wish, there was an assortment of soups also available including Hot and Sour Soup, and Chicken Egg Drop Soup as well as the ubiquitous Won Ton Soup.

If you are hearty enough to tackle it after grazing your way through the buffet, there is a whole other selection of desserts to pick from!

I've eaten at buffet's before just to fill up, but this one not only was filling, but very tasty as well, to say nothing about some of the wonderful surprises on the serving line.

Sanitation was very good, and the bathroom was spotlessly clean.

4 stars for cleanliness, creativity. assortment of foods, and excellent flavor.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
3107 Daniels Road
Suite 112
Winter Garden, Florida
407-905-9811

In the course of my travels, I was in Winter Garden Village and decided to try Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Having traveled most of the U.S. I've eaten burgers from coast to coast, and took this opportunity to try Five Guys.

Companion and I visited the restaurant at 1:30, before they got busy with the lunchtime crowd. There was no line at the counter. Having never eaten here before, we took a few minutes to study the menu. In the hamburger department, there are 4 possibilities - Hamburger - Cheeseburger - Bacon Burger - and Bacon Cheeseburger with prices between $4.99 and $6.99. There are also "Little" burgers which are identical, but which are 1 patty of beef and more then a dollar less money.

For those not in a burger mood one can also get Hot Dogs with the same toppings from $3.39 - $4.69 as well as veggie and/or cheese sandwiches.

I ordered the Hamburger - 2 patties on one bun with everything on it except mustard and the addition of jalapenos, and companion ordered the Little Hamburger with onions, mushrooms and ketchup. We also ordered an order of fries to split and soft drinks.

The condiment bar was clean, and had a nice assortment of condiments including malt vinegar for those that like to put it on their fries. In due course, our meal was ready.

The first surprise was the paper bag that was given to us. As eat in customers, we expected our food on a tray, and instead were given a greasy paper bag with the burgers on the bottom and the fries dumped in all over everything.

My burger bun was soggy, and the burger was falling apart on the remains of it. The grilled onions were a disappointment in that they were barely touched by the heat, and the mushrooms tasted and smelled sour. Picking it up to eat it was a true challenge because the whole thing kept falling apart - I needed a fork to finish eating. Another surprise was the raw jalapeno on the burger. Instead of the usual vinegared Jalapeno's that are almost universal, these had a lot of bite, little flavor, and were a total disappointment.

Companion declared that the mushrooms on her burger also smelled and tasted sour, and her bun was also very soggy.

Unfortunately, we had also ordered fries to go with the meal. The potatoes came out greasy and only half cooked and with virtually no seasoning on them. About the only things that were really good was the Coke, lots of napkins, and the Malt Vinegar!

Of all the places I have ever eaten burgers in, I can only say that this is perhaps the only one that I would never eat in again.

One star for cleanliness and that's all.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Chodang Tofu & BBQ

Chodang
501 N. Arizona Avenue
Chandler, AZ
480-855-7712

Companion and I have enjoyed Korean food in several venues, and this is the latest one. We arrive at 5:30 on a Saturday evening. The place was mildly busy. By the time we left however, every table was taken.
We were two of the only 3 Caucasians in the restaurant, which is usually a good sign. We were seated quickly, and sat for a while. We finally received menus, but no one took our drink orders.

Companion ordered Dol Sot Bibim Bap ($10.50). This is a dish that is served in a very hot stone bowl. It has assorted veggies over rice along with pieces of beef. A squeeze bottle of red pepper paste is served on the side for you to mix in as you like it. One of the highlights of Bibim Bap is the rice that gets caramelized by it's contact with the hot bowl. Companion pronounced the dish up to her standards and meeting all her expectations. Unfortunately, no on ever asked companion if she wanted anything to drink with her meal. She finally stopped a waitress and asked for a glass of water.

I ordered the Dak Bulgogi ($13.95) which is marinated pieces of (usually) dark meat chicken, sauteed in a sauce and served over slivered onions. The portion size was big enough for any eater, but I felt the sauce we a bit on the sweet side. Haven eaten this dish many times in various places, I was pretty sure that it should not have been as sweet as it was. I too, had to stop a waitress to ask for a soft drink. Another problem which I had with my dish is that part of a chore girl scrubbing pad was mixed in with my food! When I brought it to the attention of one of the waitresses, she immediately took it to the kitchen and offered to replace my dish.

On the positive side, the Banchan (side dishes) were excellent, especially the nori seasoned with salt, and the bean sprouts marinated in sesame. Perhaps the most unusual was the ultra thin sliced apple with cucumber and onion mixed with what seemed to be mayonnaise. Not something I've eaten before, but not bad either. Their Kimchi was very good, and thankfully had been cut into smaller sized pieces which many placed fail to do.

Other dishes available include Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Beef - $14.95), Assorted Tofu Soups ($9.75) and Jap-Chae (Rice noodles with Beef and Rice ($14.95). Strangely, Galbi (Marinated Short Ribs) which are a staple of Korean eating, are only available at lunch time.

Sanitation seemed good with the exception of the pieces of scrubbing pad in my main course.

Had the service been better, I might have opted to give them 4 stars, but a lot of the meal ambiance involves service, and it was sorely lacking this night.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Buckhorn Exchange - Denver

Buckhorn Exchange 
1000 Osage Street 
Denver, Colorado 

The Buckhorn Exchange has been written about by countless people, and has been on T.V. so much that it might as well have it’s own show. The place dates to 1893, and is decorated inside with all kinds of “wild west” items including Colorado’s liquor license number 1. 
Our party was seated quickly about half way back in the restaurant. We started with an appetizer of Fried Alligator Tail ($10.75). Having never eaten alligator before, I had nothing to compare it to except that it seemed a bit chewy and had a fishy smell to it. 
Most of our party opted for hamburgers due to the prices of other items. All burgers are $9.50 and are one half pound of your choice of beef or buffalo or a double chicken breast. All agreed that the burgers were adequate but nothing to write home about. Other items on the menu include Beef T-Bone steak ($49.00 – 24 ounce), Buffalo Tenderloin steak ($46.00 – 12 ounce), Elk ($37.00), 2 Quail ($22.00), 2 Lamb Chops ($31.00) and Baby Back Ribs ($22.00 half rack). They also serve a New York Strip Steak for 2, 3, 4, or 5 people ($87.00 to $178.00). Dinners include soup or salad and a side dish of potatoes, beans, or a rice blend. Add a side of Shrooms or Onions for $5.00. 
Dessert’s include Hot Apple Pie ($6.25), Cheesecake ($6.25), and a Rocky Road Brownie ($6.25). 
I did not get the impression that the place was particularly spotless, and in fact, had to ask for different silverware because 2 of us had been given dirty utensils. 
Overall, this was a disappointing experience. I was truly looking forward to some great food, but we seem to have gotten a tour of a museum and eaten in the museum’s snack shop posing as a special restaurant. 
I give this 2 stars for uniqueness.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Don & Charlies

Don & Charlies - CLOSED
7501 E Camelback Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

This is an old restaurant to Phoenix people that has survived simply because it’s good. You don’t stay in business for more than 20 years unless your doing something right.

The restaurant is decorated with tons of sport memorabilia; signed baseball bats and balls all over the place. I’m not sure that one would say that the restaurant has a lot of ambiance, and it’s not the place to go for a romantic dinner, but it is interesting. Reservations are a must here.

Our wait for our table with reservations was about 10 minutes, which was spent in the
comfortable bar. In fairness, the place was packed with people.

We were seated at our table, and were promptly served complimentary chopped liver, onions, chopped egg, and a basket of wonderful bread. I could have made a meal just out of this.

Companion and I both had the house salad ($2.50) to start and shared the Baked Spinach and Artichoke dip ($7.95). The salad was crisp and not watery, and the dip had good flavor and was nicely done. I ordered the House Anchovy dressing and companion had the Creamy Garlic. Both dressings were better than ordinary.

Next came the main course. The menu covers a lot of territory, ranging from chicken to fish to shrimp, and of course, meats. They like to trumpet their ribs, and they are very good, but I come here for the beef. They have the cooking of steaks down to a science, and they always are served exactly as you order it. Their Rib Steak ($30.95) and Bone-In Rib Steak ($44.95 – 22 oz) are always winners as is their Prime Rib ($25.95 - $31.95).

This evening I ordered the Skirt Steak. This particular cut of meat is extremely flavorful and when cooked right beautifully tender. The steak comes with burnt onions, but I ordered mine with sautéed onions instead. I prefer the taste of the sweet caramelized onions as opposed to the burnt ones. I ordered a baked potato with mine and companion and I shared a dish of Creamed Spinach. My steak came exactly as I ordered it, and was hanging over the sides of the plate it was so big. It was tender and juicy.

Companion ordered the Prime Rib large cut. Though companion could not possibly finish the large cut, the extra that was taken home made fine sandwiches the next day! The Prime Rib arrived medium rare with both horseradish sauce and au jus to go with it. Companion also ordered Sautéed Mushrooms ($4.95) which were pronounced excellent.

Neither of us had room for desert after this meal.

Interestingly, they have a gluten free menu which is a bit unusual to find these days.

Sanitation was as it should be for a restaurant of this caliber, and it is nicely handicapped available.

I give Don & Charlies 4 stars for quality of food and cleanliness.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Mekong Palace

Mekong Palace
66 S. Dobson Road
Mesa, 85202

Just when I thought I had found one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Phoenix area, I find another one. This is located all the way in the back on the north side of the Mekong Shopping Center, and is worth looking for.

Whether you want an inexpensive meal of Dim Sum, or a full banquet, they can accommodate your needs. Most of the Dim Sum are only $2.99, and the variety and quality is wonderful, but the real shining star is the main menu.

They have quite a variety of seafood, and fresh is the key word. A lot of it is still swimming in tanks in the main dining room including live sturgeon and spotted prawns.

Their menu covers the usual Hong Kong style of cooking but it’s the unusual dishes where they really shine. Items like Spicey and Salty Dungeness Crab (market price ) – so good that you cannot stop eating it until every little morsel has been devoured.

Mussels in a pepper and garlic butter sauce brought bubbling in the shell to your table. Bet you can’t eat just one.

Companion had the seafood noodle soup ($7.95), and pronounced it fabulous. It was loaded with everything from big, succulent shrimp to pieces of fish and tender squid, all served over tender noodles in a beautiful broth with tender greens.

Even the tea is special, with a wonderful flavor that was not typical of black tea’s.

Other wonderful items on the menu include Crab and Sharks Fin Soup ($16.00 and a bargain at that), Cold Jelly Fish ($8.95), Black Mushrooms & Duck Feet ($8.95) and Szechuan Scallops ($11.95).

For the vegetarians, try the Spinach with Garlic ($7.50 and wonderful), Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce ($8.50), or the Braised Tofu ($8.95).

I have yet to have a bad dish or even a slightly bad dish at this restaurant. Restrooms are a short walk away, but are beautifully appointed and sparkling clean.

I give them 4 stars for quality of food and cleanliness.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Tilted Kilt

The Tilted Kilt
2 E. Jefferson
Phoenix, AZ
Assorted Locations in the Phoenix area and other states

The Tilted Kilt is one of those gregarious sports bars that tries to emulate a pub in some ways and yet be a sports bar in other ways. Somehow, they are successful. The décor is that of a typical sports bar with televisions hung all over the place, and, at least at the beginning of the lunch shift had music blasting so loud that one could not hear one’s self much less even hear a cell phone ring.

This location is upstairs, and the elevator (important for those who are handicapped) hasn’t worked since opening day.

Upon entering, I was greeted and seated promptly at the table of my choosing. Companion had not arrived yet, and I ordered Irish Nacho’s ($6.99) to help pass the time. This was unique! Instead of typical tortilla chips, this was served on thick, slices of potato, fried to a golden brown and beautiful crunch. The spice and mild heat, instead of typically being in the cheese, was instead in the meat making for a nice surprise, and the dish was garnished with fresh tomato concassé. Perhaps the only problem with this dish is that like the famous potato chip in a bag, you can’t eat just one! You will eat until there is nothing but an empty basket left! Other appetizers available include classic nachos ($8.99), spinach and artichoke dip ($6.99) and Mozzarella Sticks ($7.99)

The last time I was at the Tilted Kilt I ordered the Shepherds’ pie ($9.99) and found it to very good. Companion had the Gaelic Chicken ($11.99) and sent back a plate so clean that it could have been put back into stock accidentally. This time, I ordered the Irish Stew (a bargain @ $6.99). It arrived nice and hot as a moat around a pile of colcannon potatoes with cheese sprinkled on top. The meat was almost falling apart, and the taste was wonderfully savory. Many places like this will put lots of salt into the dish, but thankfully, the chef did not do that here, allowing the customer to salt and pepper the food to taste – a nice touch. The dish arrived with some nicely toasted garlic bread as an accompaniment.

Companion had the Pulled Pork sandwich, and was a bit disappointed. The meat was nicely done, and the brioche roll was an excellent choice to serve it on as it kept the contents in the sandwich instead of running down your hand, but the sauce was woefully short of promise. The sauce, which could have really made the sandwich special was nothing but an ordinary barbeque sauce that tasted like something off the grocery shelf. It lent no character to the dish, and in some ways took away from what would otherwise have been a nice sandwich. The pulled pork was crying for some smoky sauce perhaps with a touch of spice in it to bring the meal up to it’s full potential. The sandwich was served with fries which were nicely done and not overly seasoned.

Other items available are Bleu cheese steak salad ($12.99), Huge burgers (10 oz. cooked to order (starting at $8.99), Fish and Chips ($10.99) and Fat Bastards Meatloaf Sandwich with Guiness sauce ($9.99).

For dessert, we shared a slice of cheesecake ($5.99). As with many places, the cheesecake tasted like it was brought in from an outside bakery, though in flavor it was quite nice. The disappointment was the whipped cream, or what some might think would pass for whipped cream. I was sure it was nothing more than the metal can with the squirt top that one buys in the local supermarket – light cream foamed up to make you think It’s whipped cream. It had none of the denseness nor mouth feel of real whipped cream. Dessert would have been much better had they left it off the plate so as to not detract from the Cheesecake.

Over all, the service was attentive without being intrusive. Our waitress checked on our satisfaction several times, refilled drinks without being asked, and in general was quite helpful and nice. Our table was bussed promptly.

Sanitation was excellent with bathrooms almost having a homey feel to them and being well stocked and immaculately clean.

I rate this restaurant 4 stars based on quality of food, portion size to cost, and excellent sanitation.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

TGI Friday's - Chase Field

TGI Fridays
Front Row Sports Grill
Chase Field
401 E. Jefferson Street
Phoenix, 85004

Is there a difference between TGI Fridays restaurants? You bet!!
Some are Franchises and some are corporate owned. Front Row Sports Grill is the only corporate owned TGI Fridays in the Phoenix area.

I arrived at the Front Row at 3:30 in the afternoon - half an hour earlier than I was supposed to. Having never been to Chase Field before I wasn't sure how easily I would be able to park or even it's exact location. That turned out to be a non sequitur.

As I walked into the building a small paper sign stuck to one of the doors directed me to use the elevator to go to Front Row. The sign said to go upstairs, but since there was no downstairs, it seemed a bit redundant.

The restaurant overlooks the entire stadium with a magnificent view. Had I been a true sports fan, I'm sure I would have probably drooled, but I was here to sample the fare and to meet companion. I was promptly seated at one of the tables. This was probably the only thing that I did find fault with. The tables not at the windows are very high as are the seats that accompany them. I was so high up that my feet couldn't touch the floor, which made me feel a bit uncomfortable. When I asked for a shorter table, the hostess told me that the waiter's/waitress's for those tables hadn't come in yet.

My drink arrived quickly, and unlike many other diet drinks I've had before, had enough syrup in it to actually taste good. The waiter didn't even trip up when I asked him for some lemons to squeeze into my drink. He promptly brought a dish of lemon slices, nicely arranged to the table.

While waiting for companion to arrive, I had time to study the menu. My first thoughts were that this was a place taking advantage of their location and charging for it. Fortunately, I was proven wrong again and again.

Companion arrived at 4:00, and we set about ordering appetizers. We shared an order of Buffalo wings which we asked for undressed but with assorted sauces to try with them. They were done to perfection, with stalks of celery and lots of dipping sauces. Companion had asked for the boneless wings, and the traditional were brought out by mistake. No problem for our server, who left the traditional wings at no charge and brought out the boneless ones. Again, while the boneless wings were of a different nature than the traditional ones, they were, non the less tasty and hot.

Since companion was a member of their stripes club (kind of like a frequent flier club), they brought us a complimentary order of house made potato chips. Thick cut, crunchy, non-oily, loaded with Parmesan cheese, they were terrific! I'd eat another order of those any day even though they aren't on my diet.

Next was main courses. The menu covers the gamut from simple fare to ribs and steaks. I ordered their Dragonfire chicken. A nicely cooked chicken breast with a kung pao glaze covered with pineapple pico de gallo and mandarin oranges on a bed of rice with fresh broccoli. The rice was the only weak part of this dish. It seemed over cooked and mushy, and I left some of it on my plate.

On the plus side, and a really big plus was the broccoli. Having eaten more than my share of the brassica family, most places tend to greatly over cook it, and usually serve it limp and dark green. My usual response is to leave it untouched on my plate. Yet here, in a relatively modest place, I found broccoli nirvana! Bright green, still crispy, and full of flavor.

Companion originally thought of ordering the ribs, but was so full from the appetizers that they ordered the Cheeseburger instead. Companion pronounced it to be perfectly cooked and nicely oozing with melted cheese. The burger was served on a brioche bun with all the proper accouterments. On the side were seasoned fries that were truly delicious.

Service was never rushed and our waiter came back to check on our needs often, but without being intrusive. Sanitation was good in the restaurant and the restroom, when I used it was nice and clean and fully supplied.

As followers of my writing are aware, I never let a restaurant know that I am reviewing them unlike some other reviewers. I made my first exception at the conclusion of this meal and complimented the kitchen manager. One has to wonder why, if a place like this can serve outstanding food, can't the rest of food service places follow suit? This was one of the most flavorful and excellent non-fancy meals that I have had the pleasure of enjoying in Phoenix.

I rate this 4 stars for excellent food, great service, and general cleanliness.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Famous Daves

Dinner was at the Famous Dave’s located at 1011 N. Dobson Road, Mesa, Arizona. Start time was 7:00. We were a group of 13, mostly foodies.

Our group was seated outside. While we did have to wait until they had a table big enough for us all, they created one reasonably fast. Our waiter was cheerful and didn’t mind all the separate bills. In fact he managed to joke about them without even crying. He also managed to get the drink orders right and even brought extras for some of the party. After giving us time to explore the large menu (perhaps just a bit too much time) a second waiter showed up to take the orders. He told us that the original waiter was having computer problems. We later found out that the computer problem was that he had about 16 other checks going at the same time. One has to wonder if the management might do with hiring a few more people.

I ordered the only appetizer at the table – Loaded BBQ chips. These were supposed
to be homemade chips topped with bleu cheese dressing and crumbles and loaded with jalapeno bacon and tomato concassee. Unfortunately, the waiter brought out just plain chips first, and didn’t return with the proper ones until the main course arrived. We passed the loaded chips around and everyone who ate them pronounced them excellent and something they would order again.

For my main course I ordered their rib tip and brisket combo platter. The combo platters figure out to be the best price/value on the menu as you not only get two main courses, but you also get two sides, cornbread, and ½ corn on the cob as well. The rib tips were excellent – meaty, nicely cooked, with a nice smoke flavor that didn’t really need any other sauce (though I did try a little of each sauce on the table for comparison). Unfortunately, I can’t give the same rave review to the brisket. In all my life I have never eaten a piece of brisket like what I was served tonight. I and every one else who had the brisket agreed that it was more like processed and formed meat then real brisket. It was very dense, had little flavor, and zero fat on it. True brisket BBQ tastes nothing like what they served. No amount of any of their sauces was able to improve the meat.

I enjoyed the coleslaw though one of my companions felt it was too heavy with mayo and another felt it was a bit peppery. (It is made with jalapeno in it which may have accounted for the peppery taste). I had the firecracker green beans which were flaccid, overcooked and totally lacking in flavor and/or color. The corn on the cob was water logged and tasted like it had been cooked for hours in a kettle of sugar water.

Companions all felt the corn was beyond any help in this world. One companion had the chicken and pronounced it to be excellent, but again, did not care for the brisket. Another companion pronounced the broccoli to be very good, not over cooked and still green. Companion sitting next to me had the hot wings. She felt that the wings were cooked well, but the sauce was a disappointment – she would have preferred a much spicier sauce. This same companion also ordered cheese fries (not on the regular menu) and pronounced them delicious when asked about them.

Several other companions had ribs – both spare ribs and short ribs and all agreed they were cooked to perfection. One of the companions had the mashed potatoes, and felt they were very good and would be ordered again. Yet another companion had the Ultimate Burger, and I must admit it was one of the biggest burgers I’ve ever seen. The burger was topped with pulled port, cheddar cheese, and jalapeno bacon. Even though it was cooked medium well, it was juicy and tasty. The burger was topped with a Beam and Cola sauce which seemed to make it even better. This was a true winner.

All of the wait staff were friendly and fun do deal with. When mistakes were made, which is almost a guarantee with a group of this size they were promptly corrected and often removed from the bill.

Desserts are a weak point of this restaurant. Then again, most people don’t go to a BBQ house with the intention of eating dessert. We were the exception!

First off was the brownie. It was supposed to be a walnut covered chocolate brownie soaked in Kahlua liqueur topped with vanilla bean ice cream hot fudge and whipped cream. Unfortunately, after passing it around the table we all agreed that what was served was nothng like the description. A brownie should be dense, exuding chocolate that is almost overpowering. This brownie reminded all of us as a piece of devils food cake. There was none of the Kahlua taste to it, and the hot fudge had been burnt beyond taste. It was surrounded by four balls of regular vanilla ice cream and covered in what tasted like Redii Whip topping instead of a real whipped cream. Several of those that tasted this promptly washed their mouths out with soda or water to remove the taste. Not an auspicious beginning to the dessert round.

Next up was the bread pudding. Again, this was like no bread pudding I or anyone else at the table had ever had. We weren’t sure if it was uncooked or if it was supposed to be some type of a custard, but no matter how you looked at it the verdict was unanimous – terrible and it was sent back.

I had asked for a simple ball of vanilla ice cream. The waiter came with the checks for the table and I asked him about it. He had forgotten it but quickly returned with a huge plate of 4 balls of vanilla ice cream covered in what tasted like Hershey’s syrup and tons of Reddi Whip.

Over all, some items on the menu were outstanding, but a number of them really need some help, especially in the vegetable area and the dessert area.

In the area of cleanliness, the place seemed reasonable clean and bug free. The restroom was reasonable clean and supplied. Of note though was a puddle of water on the floor of the main dining room that no one seem to want to clean up. All it would take is for a patron to slip and the management would not have a good night.

My overall rating – 3 stars our of 5 possible.

Would I eat there again – yes but I’d avoid the brisket, veggies and desserts