Garlic & Shots
909 E. Elliot
Tempe, 85284
I arrived by myself around 6:45 p.m. While the restaurant was somewhat busy, I counted 5 empty tables. The hostess wanted me to wait for 10 minutes, though I can’t for the life of me figure out why, when 5, clean tables were empty. About 3 minutes later she came back with the excuse that the people who wanted the table weren’t interested any more. What people? There were 5 open tables. She then went back to her perch on a stool with a laissez-faire attitude.
Fortunately, my waitress was a lot better. She arrived promptly and didn’t keep trying to push liquor on me, instead graciously accepting my order for diet Coke.
After giving me some time to look over the menu, my waitress took my order. I asked for the 8th Street Mussels ($10), Caprese Salad (?), and the Pork Chop ($10 I think)(not overdone) along with Pomme Frites.
While the web menu lists Lobster Bisque ($6), it was nowhere to be found on the menu at the restaurant. Shame, because I love a good Lobster Bisque especially when served with a bit of sherry. In fact, many of the things listed on the web menu are not to be found on the regular menu. This is not good for the person who likes to look at menus in advance and plan their dinner.
In a reasonable amount of time, my waitress brought the Mussels. They were tender and succulent and swimming in a very nice broth. No taste of garlic was present, but the flavor, was none the less excellent. It was served with a side of crusty bread covered in melted cheese. The bread was very good, but the cheese suffered from lack of flavor, and did not pair well with the mussels. The same bread served with some garlic butter on it would have been dynamite.
Unfortunately, the waitress brought out the Caprese Salad at the same time as the mussels. She took it back, but just put it in the refrigerator instead of throwing it out and making a new one a la minute. The result was a terrible tasting and looking Caprese Salad that I sent back. The cheese had fully absorbed the balsamic and discolored, and the chiffonade of basil was wilted and dried out.
Bussing was not a strong point, and I had to wait quite some time before my plate was removed.
Next was the main course, the Pork Chop. I must admit it was excellent. Cooked to perfection, covered in nicely sautéed onions and well seasoned. I had ordered Pomme Frites, but it came out with Garlic Sweet Potatoes, which were very tasty. They were quickly replaced with the restaurants version of Pomme Frites, which while nothing like the French or Belgian versions, was very tasty and arguably one of the highlights of the dinner. Served with a sweet chile sauce, they were absolutely divine. On the weak side, was the yellow squash which was flaccid and without seasoning. Yet the broccoli which was served with it was terrific, not being overcooked and nicely bright green. Obviously, the kitchen needs some consistency.
A live band was playing in the lounge, and thankfully, they were not trying to overpower the conversations in the restaurant as so many others do. I consider this a plus.
The restroom could certainly use a bit of cleaning up, as the trash can was overflowing and the sink had dirty towels in it.
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, and most of the staff if very friendly.
Keeping in mind that this is a fairly new place, at this time I would give them 3 stars with the possibility of moving to 4 stars in the future as they become more settled in the menu and service.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Cornish Pasty Company
Cornish Pasty Company
1941 W. Guadalupe Road
Mesa, Arizona
We arrived on a Friday night at 6:00 as a party of 14. Probably not the most fair thing to do since I knew I was going to review the restaurant, yet it didn’t phase them in the least. While they take no reservations, they treated us courteously, and seated us after a short wait.
This is not the quietest place to eat at, as a lot of it has to do with the bar, which is very conducive to friendly chit chat, but overlooking that, it’s quite a charming place. There is seating outside, as well as in church pews inside, which makes for a cozy atmosphere as well as the possibility of having new conversations with people you have never met – something that Americans are not used to, but is very common in the rest of the world.
Everyone ordered soft drinks except for myself. I ordered a Strongbow to see if it was what I remembered from the U.K., and it was no different at all. A true hard cider with good flavor of apples.
For my main course, I ordered the Oggie, a mixture of steak, potato, onion and rutabaga, served in a pastry crust with a small cruet of red wine gravy. ($8.00) . I was instantly transported back to the U.K. with my first bite. It had great depth of flavor, and the red wine sauce was absolute dynamite. An excellent dish! I also ordered a side of Mushy Peas ($2.75) and a side of Baked Beans ($2.50). The peas had nice flavor and were exactly as served in England, but I didn’t care for the Baked Beans. There seemed to be an odd flavor associated with them that was off putting and which everyone agreed was not very tasty.
Other members of our party ordered the Italian, the Porky (pronounced as orgasmic), the Shepherds Pie, the Reuben (good corned beef), the Chicken Greek (said to be very tasty), and the Lamb Vindaloo (usually very spicy, but apparently toned down here for American palates). Two of our party ordered the Pilgrim, which is roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, grilled onions, stuffing and red wine gravy. One pronounced it terrific, while the other didn’t care for it.
The menu also includes a nice assortment of vegetarian dishes as well.
Most people didn’t have room for dessert, but a few did, with almost everyone sharing. One of the desserts was Banoffee Pie – a graham cracker crust, homemade caramel, whipped cream and fresh bananas. It was interesting to note that the whipped cream was unsweetened. When mixed with the other ingredients, it picked up it’s sweetness from them and tended to tone down the overall sweetness of the dish – a wonderful idea of what would otherwise have been an overly sweet dessert.
The other dessert that was ordered was the Apple Caramel Pasty – a kind of apple turnover pie crammed full of apples and cinnamon and covered with a homemade caramel sauce and served with a large scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. Nothing could have been better, especially since the caramel wasn’t too sweet.
Considering how crowded the place was, service was not too bad, and certainly could have been a lot worse.
Perhaps the only fault I could find was with the ladies room. The paper bin was full to the top, and the rolls of paper were scattered around instead of being in holders. I have been in nicer restrooms in other restaurants.
Overall, this was a wonderful eating experience, with several authentic dishes on the menu as well as some creative ones. I recommend it highly and give it 4 stars.
1941 W. Guadalupe Road
Mesa, Arizona
We arrived on a Friday night at 6:00 as a party of 14. Probably not the most fair thing to do since I knew I was going to review the restaurant, yet it didn’t phase them in the least. While they take no reservations, they treated us courteously, and seated us after a short wait.
This is not the quietest place to eat at, as a lot of it has to do with the bar, which is very conducive to friendly chit chat, but overlooking that, it’s quite a charming place. There is seating outside, as well as in church pews inside, which makes for a cozy atmosphere as well as the possibility of having new conversations with people you have never met – something that Americans are not used to, but is very common in the rest of the world.
Everyone ordered soft drinks except for myself. I ordered a Strongbow to see if it was what I remembered from the U.K., and it was no different at all. A true hard cider with good flavor of apples.
For my main course, I ordered the Oggie, a mixture of steak, potato, onion and rutabaga, served in a pastry crust with a small cruet of red wine gravy. ($8.00) . I was instantly transported back to the U.K. with my first bite. It had great depth of flavor, and the red wine sauce was absolute dynamite. An excellent dish! I also ordered a side of Mushy Peas ($2.75) and a side of Baked Beans ($2.50). The peas had nice flavor and were exactly as served in England, but I didn’t care for the Baked Beans. There seemed to be an odd flavor associated with them that was off putting and which everyone agreed was not very tasty.
Other members of our party ordered the Italian, the Porky (pronounced as orgasmic), the Shepherds Pie, the Reuben (good corned beef), the Chicken Greek (said to be very tasty), and the Lamb Vindaloo (usually very spicy, but apparently toned down here for American palates). Two of our party ordered the Pilgrim, which is roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, grilled onions, stuffing and red wine gravy. One pronounced it terrific, while the other didn’t care for it.
The menu also includes a nice assortment of vegetarian dishes as well.
Most people didn’t have room for dessert, but a few did, with almost everyone sharing. One of the desserts was Banoffee Pie – a graham cracker crust, homemade caramel, whipped cream and fresh bananas. It was interesting to note that the whipped cream was unsweetened. When mixed with the other ingredients, it picked up it’s sweetness from them and tended to tone down the overall sweetness of the dish – a wonderful idea of what would otherwise have been an overly sweet dessert.
The other dessert that was ordered was the Apple Caramel Pasty – a kind of apple turnover pie crammed full of apples and cinnamon and covered with a homemade caramel sauce and served with a large scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. Nothing could have been better, especially since the caramel wasn’t too sweet.
Considering how crowded the place was, service was not too bad, and certainly could have been a lot worse.
Perhaps the only fault I could find was with the ladies room. The paper bin was full to the top, and the rolls of paper were scattered around instead of being in holders. I have been in nicer restrooms in other restaurants.
Overall, this was a wonderful eating experience, with several authentic dishes on the menu as well as some creative ones. I recommend it highly and give it 4 stars.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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