LoLo's Chicken and Waffles

• LoLo's Chicken and Waffles
  2765 N. Scottsdale Road
  Scottsdale        
• While there isn't much in soul food in the Phoenix area, people have always flocked to Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe in the downtown area. Her grandson opened the original LoLo's also in the downtown area, and this summer, thankfully opened a LoLo's in Scottsdale for all the east siders to enjoy.
  
  LoLo's menu is a bit different in that they serve waffles with their chicken as well as a number of breakfast favorites. To begin, companion pronounced the waffles light, fluffy, and with good texture. Waffles are served with a cruette of maple syrup which should be enough for the average person, but if you like, they will gladly bring you enough to drown your waffle(s) in.
  
  Their chicken is the epitome of fried chicken. It is so different from the fried chicken chains that it is like night and day. Perfectly battered, seasoned and cooked, it can't be beat. It has just enough batter to give it a nice coating without being gobbed on like wallpaper paste. As for flavor - the only thing that comes to mind is wow! It's chicken! Not bunches of herbs and spices, but real, honest to goodness chicken flavor like it was meant to be.
  
  I ordered the Soulfood Platter ($13.00), which came with 3 pieces of chicken and 2 sides. My sides were collard greens and red beans and rice. The collard greens had no woodiness to them, and were cooked to perfection. The addition of a little Trappey's hot pepper & vinegar sauce forced me to devour the entire bowl! The red beans and rice were nicely done, and again, the addition of a little red hot sauce really made the day. For those who don't care for hot sauces, they were fine without it also. Their portion also includes a piece of homemade cornbread smothered in butter. Speaking of smothered, I also had a small bowl of gravy on the side to smother my chicken with. It had perfect flavor and just the right amount of spice.
  
  Companion ordered the LoLo's ($11.00) which consisted of 3 perfectly cooked pieces of fried chicken served on top of 2 perfect waffles. Companion also ordered a side of Cheese Grits ($3.50) which were just o.k., but were far from being bad.
  
  We also ordered a plate of Backwoods ($12.00) to share, which are chicken gizzards in gravy served over rice and onions. I'm sure I died and went to heaven on this dish. Gizzards are normally small chewy morsels that you can chew for five or 10 minutes before gulping them down. I don't know how they made these, but they were magnificently tender - one or two bites and it was gone! If I came back and was only able to order one dish, this might be the one - then again, it might be the chicken - then again.....
  
  Companion ordered sweet tea and immediately noticed that it was still a little warm. Unlike most places, they make everything, including the sweet tea, fresh on the premises.
  
  Companion has eaten at Pity Pat Porch in Atlanta and pronounced the food to be much better at LoLo's.
  
  This isn't the place to come for ambiance - basically, there is none. It's the place to come for really good food. The restaurant was clean, and the restrooms were clean.
  
  If this review doesn't make you want to eat here, perhaps the line out the door will. Fortunately, the line moves fairly quickly, but more and more people are discovering this jewel.  4 stars

Lolo's Chicken and Waffles - update

• 3133 N Scottsdale Rd
• Scottsdale, 85251

This is an update on my previous review of Lolo's. That review was written about their previous location on Scottsdale road before they moved to this site.

Food has greatly changed since the move. The backwoods that I ordered which was my favorite in the past now is made with jalapeno's in it and much less sauce and meat.

Chicken no longer seems to use the original recipe and has changed.

The atmosphere is loud and service almost non existent. Lunch required 3 hours due to waiting or a waitress or waiter when none showed up. Then the wrong orders were brought, drinks were never refilled and the meal was a total shambles.

My last review was a 5 star review, but they have gone so far downhill that I can only give them 2 stars at this time.

I'm going back to Mrs. Whites where even though she no longer cooks, the recipes aren't tampered with and service is still done with a smile and in a timely manner.

Perhaps if Lolo's didn't try to franchise so quickly and paid more attention to this restaurant it might have been better.

Reduced from 4 stars to 2 stars

Delete review

Red Robin

Red Robin

19 S. McClintock Drive

Tempe, 85281

Companion and I wanted burgers and decided to go to Red Robin. We had been to this location previously and had been satisfied, but this time we were quite unhappy.

Things started badly when they tried to seat us in the bar. Companion is handicapped and sitting on high chairs in the bar makes no sense. One would think the person seating us would notice the cane, but seemed oblivious to the situation. When we asked for a different place to sit, the look on the persons face said it all - we were considered troublemakers.

After finally getting a seat that we could use, we sat and waited and waited and waited. Eventually, the server Natalie showed up. We ordered drinks, and they had to be sent back because they were wrong.

After quite a while Natalie showed back up to take our order. We ordered an appetizer of Artichoke Spinach Dip, when when brought out was still ice cold in the center and had to be sent back.

Next we ordered our main course. Companion ordered the Fish and Chips with Mac and Cheese, and I ordered the Mushroom Burger with Garlic Aioli (75 cents extra!)

When I was asked how I wanted my burger I asked for it to be as rare as they could make it. Instead, I receive a well done burger with a tiny cup of Aioli sauce on the side. For those not familiar, Aioli is basically nothing more than mayonaise with some garlic added to it - hardly something that should cost extra.

I had asked for my fries to be well done. Instead I received flacid, greasy fries. After I had eaten more than half of my burger a different waiter noticed that I had not touched my fries and brought me fresh, hot, crispy ones that were just what I had wanted.

For a $42 bill, this was totally not worth it. I felt I wasted my money.

For purposes of authenticating this review, service was on 4/9/2015 @2:36 in the afternoon at table 13/1 on ticket 30014 with an incorrect number of guests listed on the ticket.

Red Robin prints on the check to tell them how they did. I'm telling them they did poorly.

3 stars

Fired Pie

Fired Pie

4905 E. Ray Road

Ahwatukee, 85044

The Fired Pie is the most unusual pizza shop I have ever been to. The make individual 11 inch custom pizza’s for the crazy price of $7.95.

You have your choice of any or all of 30 different ingredients ranging from 13 different meats ( including anchovies ), 6 different cheeses including fresh mozzarella, 6 sauces, 14 veggies including sun dried tomatoes, and even custom made salads for those not eating pizza.

Our group of 10 were there for dinner, and were totally surprised by the menu items. Usually, when you order pizza, you get a few ingredients and then pay extra for any more. One member of our party decided to really put them to the test and ordered a pizza with every ingredient except anchovies. Pizzas are ready in about 10 minutes and are baked right in front of you. His pizza was almost 2 inches thick with toppings, so they really mean what they say about putting on the ingredients you want.

I had looked on their web site previously and had a paper with me on which I previously wrote down the ingredients that I wanted. I was not disappointed in the least. I should point out that all pizzas are thin crust, but considering the amount of toppings, I was glad not to have all the bread to eat.

Everyone agreed that this was perhaps one of the best values for money available anywhere. They have ten locations including one in Tucson. Drinks are self-serve and they do have wine available.

They only serve one dessert. A fresh baked cookie in the pan topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream slowly melting over it.

The place has both indoor and outdoor seating so you can sit wherever you are most comfortable. Of note is that while we were there, a steady stream of customers were lined up ordering pizza with the line and one point going out the door.

While this is not gourmet pizza, it is tasty and easy on the pocket. Cleanliness was apparent with tables being cleaned as soon as people finished.

5 stars for good food and outstanding value

Heng's Kitchen

Heng’s Kitchen

66 S. Dobson Road

Mesa 85202

Heng’s Kitchen is one of a number of small shops located in the food court of the Mekong Plaza Mall. Seating is at a series of tables and would be generously called open seating at four tops. However, the star of the show is not the ambiance, since there is none, but rather the wonderful food.

Many of the foods that they serve I have not eaten since being in China, especially the soup dumplings which are a specialty of Shanghai.

For those not familiar, soup dumplings are essentially a small meatball, surrounded by soup, and wrapped in a wonton type wrapper. The secret to them is that they must be made when ordered – no pre made food here. They are listed on the menu as Home Made Juicy Steamed Pork Mini Dumplings.

I immediately ordered 2 orders of them for myself and companion, and was almost in tears remembering my days in Shanghai as I devoured them. Unfortunately, I did not account for how filling they were and needed a doggy bag to bring the rest of the meal home.

Notables on the menu are drunken chicken, spicy wontons, pork slices and pickled cabbage w/noodles.

For the more adventurous, try the streaky pork with the homemade sauce, or the Chinese barbecue pork (spicy). The hot and spicy boiled beef or fish is a real treat for those who like it hot, and their Mapo Tofu is excellent.

For those who prefer not to eat meat, there are a number of vegetarian dishes on the menu as well.

With the exception of a very few specialty items that are priced near the $13 mark, most items on the menu are between six and eight dollars.

They take all credit cards and are open till 9 at night.

I give them 3 stars for great food.

Mika's Greek

Mika’s Greek Restaurant

780 W. Elliot Road

Tempe 85284

A group of us descended on Mika’s for dinner. The restaurant is small, sparsely decorated, but immaculately clean. Orders are taken at a main counter, then is brought to your table for you.

Our group ordered an assortment of items so that we could all try them.

First was falafel. Nicely cooked and properly seasoned, one could tell they were fresh because they were green instead of brown inside.

The Mika’s fries were a real treat and reminded me of nacho’s in that they were topped with gyro meat, feta cheese, a house dressing and tzatiziki sauce. This was a mouth full of flavor. Chicken souvlaki was tender and moist and the dolma’s were perfection.

The grilled Greek chicken served on a platter was marinated in olive oil and garlic and was cooked just right. I got mine with rice and salad as well as fresh warm pitas.

A member of our party was a vegetarian, and was not disappointed in all the selection on the menu.

The restaurant only serves soft drinks, but that was not a drawback. Desserts were on the menu, but no one had any room left to try them.

Prices range from $7.95 to $12.95 and portions were of a good size for most anyone. Service was nice and friendly, and the cleanliness was a true standout.

I give the restaurant 4 stars