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  • Cinnaholic (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    We were tempted into stopping here on our walk back to our car last night.  The building was well lit and clean (other than the overflowing trash container by the front door) and the smells were amazing!

    We were stuffed from our dinner, but I had to try something, so had a single scoop of cookie dough.  It tasted great but was definitely a heavy sugar burst just before bedtime.

    If you like sweets as much as I do, you will definitely enjoy a stop here.

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  • Campeche Restaurant (Galena, IL) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped for dinner while staying in Galena this weekend and really enjoyed the stop.  The chips and fresh salsa were very good.  My wife and I shared a Family Margarita Flight, which was a great value compared to the much smaller version for 2/3rds the cost.  All flavors were delicious (Jalapeno, Pineapple, Watermelon & Mango) – and the Taijin on the rim made them even better!

    For our meal, we shared an order of Fajitas and not only was it very good, but it was plenty of food for both of us.  It was a bit pricey, but if you are selective in your choices it is manageable – and it all tastes great!  If you like Mexican food, you’ll want to stop here during your stay.

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  • Jamie’s Wine Studio (Galena, IL) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.33* (out of 5)

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    We stopped here during our visit based on our neighbor’s recommendation and really enjoyed the stop.  The drinks were the best we had during our stay (see pictures) – I had the Salted Caramel Martini and my wife had the Bloody Mary.

    The drinks, presentation and delivery were all top notch.  The atmosphere was also great, but was a bit cluttered, with boxes of wine and other items littering the floor.  The prices were some of the highest that we experienced during our stay…but again the quality and taste was great!  You won’t regret stopping here for a wine or cocktail.

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  • Galena Brewing Company (Galena, IL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 4*

    Really enjoyed our stop here during our stay.  The beer selection was good (see Flight picture), the buffalo chicken wings tasted very good and the value was good.

    You’ll enjoy your stop here… great food, service and value.

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  • Fried Green Tomatoes (Galena, IL) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    We really enjoyed our stop here for dinner last night.  We started with the namesake Fried Green Tomatoes and boy were they good!  Melted cheese on each and the tasty marina sauce made them melt in your mouth.

    For our meal, I ordered the Steak Martini and was impressed with the presentation and taste.  Mashed potatoes in the bottom of the martini glass, topped with gravy and chunks of steak – tasted great and left room to order dessert.  My wife ordered the Seafood Aglio and loved the spicy kick.

    For dessert, we shared a piece of Tiramisu and all of us thought it was delicious – we even converted a friend who hasn’t had it before and loved it!  Make sure you save space to finish your meal with a piece of this tiramisu!

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  • Metropolitan Grill (Springfield, MO) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Stopped here for dinner with a business group and left totally impressed.  The bar area is impressive (see picture) and the service was great!

    I ordered the Thompson Tenderloin and was impressed with how tender, juicy and tasty it was.  If you are in the area and hungry for a steak – you won’t find a place much better than this.

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  • Cafe Cusco (Springfield, MO) Review

    Cafe Cusco (Springfield, MO) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    09/12/2022 Cafe Cusco

    Came here while on a business trip as it was a favorite of one of our hosts – and boy was I impressed. On two subsequent trips, we returned to the same location for at least one of our meals. I’ve been to Peru on a mission trip with my Mom and son and have grown to really love their food.

    I’ve started each of my meals here with a Pisco Sour (see picture) – they are always tasty and Cafe Cusco does a great job making them. While I’ve had their Ceviche Miami & Tamal with spicy pork on previous visits, I don’t have a pictures – but do highly recommend both. Lastly, for my meal on two of the trips, I’ve enjoyed their Spicy Pork Tacos (see pictures). I just absolutely love them – so much food, so juicy and oh so flavorful! This time they were infused with beets to make the shells red and on a previous visit, they were blue resulting from the use of blue corn.

    We came here first on the recommendation of a local host who recommends this place as his favorite…and it quickly became my favorite also! You absolutely have to try this place – all of the dishes I’ve tasted are full of flavor and delicious!

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  • Zocalo (Kansas City, MO) Review

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 2*

    Stopped for dinner while staying in Galena this weekend and really enjoyed the stop.  The chips and fresh salsa were very good.  My wife and I shared a Family Margarita Flight, which was a great value compared to the much smaller version for 2/3rds the cost.  All flavors were delicious (Jalapeno, Pineapple, Watermelon & Mango) – and the Taijin on the rim made them even better!

    For our meal, we shared an order of Fajitas and not only was it very good, but it was plenty of food for both of us.  It was a bit pricey, but if you are selective in your choices it is manageable – and it all tastes great!  If you like Mexican food, you’ll want to stop here during your stay.

    If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. To receive Tweets of the latest Reviews, follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

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  • Jack Stack Barbecue – Plaza (Kansas City, MO) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Highly recommended, so stopped here for dinner on a recent trip to KC.  Three of us decided to share the Pitmaster Family Share Dinner and not was it a treat!  We really enjoyed sampling all of the great smoked meat – and although pork and beans aren’t usually high on my list, they were very good also, as was the cheesy corn!

    If you are ever on the Plaza area in Kansas City – I highly recommend that you try this place.  You won’t be disappointed.

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  • El Huapango Mexican Restaurant (Grimes, IA) Review

    El Huapango Mexican Restaurant (Grimes, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    08/20/2022 El Huapango Mexican Restaurant

    Although it wasn’t high on my wife’s list based on the exterior appearance, I talked her into trying it since it was relatively close to where we live. We started with a 28oz Margarita and Paloma. Although they didn’t have Mezcal for the Paloma – both drinks were still very good, but a bit on the pricy side.

    For our meal, I ordered the Ceviche Shrimp (see picture) and my wife ordered the Carnitas (see picture). Both were very good and we would order either again. Although it seemed a bit on the pricey side for the area, we wouldn’t hesitate to return and would recommend that you give it a try.

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  • Eggs & Jam (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Eggs & Jam (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    08/06/2022 Eggs & Jam

    This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while and got the chance to go after kayaking nearby with our son and daughter-in-law. There was nothing fancy about the exterior (see picture), but once we stepped inside (see picture) I was impressed with the modern, clean and ‘edgy’ atmosphere.

    We started with drinks (Supa Dupa Fly, Car on Cruise & Natural Aphrodisiac) – and they were all fantastic! They come up with some interesting names for their drinks and they all seem to be great combinations – hats off to the cocktail mixologist!

    For our meal, I ordered the Fight! For your Right to Pudding (see picture), my wife ordered the Sean Combs (see picture) and my son ordered the Mimosa Chicken and Waffles (see picture). We enjoyed all of them and I especially enjoyed the Fight! For your Right to Pudding (just be prepared though…it is a LOT of heavy food, so you will likely be taking some home with you).

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  • Duesterbeck’s Brewing Company (Elkhorn, WI) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.67* (out of 5)

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Loved this stop while visiting the Lake Geneva area this weekend.  We like to sample new beers and track them on Untappd, so stopped to try it out.

    The buildings are very modern and clean, the prices are acceptable and the service is great.  Oh yeah, did I say that the beer selection is good…and the beer tastes great!

    The Gift Shop is built into a grain bin and looks great!  Definitely worth a stop of you are in the area.

    If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. To receive Tweets of the latest Reviews, follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

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  • Pier 290 (Williams Bay, WI) Review

    Pier 290 (Williams Bay, WI) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 5*

    07/31/2022 Pier 290

    Our friends set us up for dinner here one day during our visit and what a great place!

    For starters, we ordered the Ceviche with chips (see picture) – and it was oh, so delicious! For our meal, I ordered Atlantic Salmon (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass (see picture). As per the usual, we both shared with each other and both of us absolutely loved both dishes. The fish was cooked to perfection, the couscous quinoa was light and clean and the flavors were fantastic!

    If you follow my posts, you also know that I love ending the meal with dessert, so we couldn’t pass up sharing the Cobler of the Week (see picture) with the group at our table. Warm, crumbly cobbler and cold creamy ice cream – what a way to finish a fantastic meal!

    While it is admittedly pricey, the view of the lake, atmosphere and service are fantastic! Not something most of us can afford on a regular basis, but highly recommended to try on your next special occasion.

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  • Mahalo’s Coffee (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Mahalo’s Coffee (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    07/23/2022 Mahalo’s Coffee

    Finally had the opportunity to stop here while in the area for another appointment. Even though it was getting late in the morning, the place was still busy and the smells were fantastic!

    The good news is that your donuts are made to order and very fresh (or you can get some that were previously made), the bad news is that you need to wait about 20 minutes to get your freshly-made order.

    Very unique donuts with a wide variety of toppings to satisfy almost any taste buds. This place will definitely put a smile on your face when these tasty bite-sized donuts are combined with a delicious cup of coffee. You can’t go wrong with a stop here.

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  • Motley School Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Motley School Tavern (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    07/22/2022 Motley School Tavern

    We were intrigued by the name when we saw it in a restaurant search, so had to give it a try. We went last Summer and while we found it a little pricey, we really enjoyed each of the plates we ordered.

    As a starter, we ordered the Chorizo & Potato Empanadas (see picture) and would highly recommend them. Next, my wife ordered the Grilled Hanger Steak (see picture) and I ordered the Fried Bologna Sandwich (see picture). As an ‘After School Snack’, the Fried Bologna Sandwich was relatively small – but was very tasty. My wife really enjoyed the Grilled Hanger Steak – it was juicy, cooked as ordered and the sauce and toppings tasted great.

    If you are in the area, this is definitely a place that you’ll want to give a try. There are so many unique menu items that you are bound to find one that you will enjoy.

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  • Pepperjax Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    Have wanted to stop to eat here for some time and finally took the opportunity.  I went with the server’s recommendation and ordered the Signature Steak Philly (see pictures) and oh, was it delicious!  Although it is essentially a fast food setup…go through the line, order and wait for your food at a table – the food was delicious.  If you like Philly sandwiches, you will definitely want to stop here.

    The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the cleanliness of the floor in the dining area.  The grease film on the floor near the beverage area left it feeling slippery and a cause for caution.  I did ask a lady who appeared to be a shift leader about it and she said that they were busy and hadn’t had a chance to clean the floor yet.

    If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. To receive Tweets of the latest Reviews, follow on Twitter: @TheFaDGuy

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  • The Walnut (Des Moines, IA) Review

    The Walnut (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    07/15/2022 The Walnut

    Had read about this place and drove by it several times before getting the opportunity to eat there this past Summer.

    My wife and I decided to order several appetizers so that we could experience more on the menu. We ordered the Loco Moco (see picture) on the waiter’s recommendation and really enjoyed it! The hamburger, gravy and egg combination were great together. We also ordered the Chipotle Chicken Tacos (see picture) – which we thoroughly enjoyed and would also recommend.

    If you are in the area, I highly recommend this place for their unique menu items. You won’t regret stopping by to give it a try.

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  • Monarca Gourmet Paletas (Clive, IA) Review

    Monarca Gourmet Paletas (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    07/07/2022 Monarca Gourmet Paletas

    I had seen this place several times…always wondering what a paleta is and curious to give it a try. Given my taste for sweets and after seeing it show up in my searches for gelato several times, I decided I had to try it while in the area.

    I had just eaten, so decided to keep it light and simple and went with the Greek Yogurt with Berries (see picture)…splurging a little to have it dipped in chocolate (see picture).

    I’ve decided that paletas are definitely a delicious dessert and want to return to try some other flavors and add-ons. I recommend this place for any of you with a sweet tooth like my own.

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  • Giordano’s (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Giordano’s (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    06/26/2022 Giordano’s

    We drove by this place numerous times and always wanted to stop, finally getting our chance one evening when we were hungry for pizza. There were several different beers on tap at a separate bar area and ours were served cold.

    For our meal, we ordered The Special as a thin crust (see picture). The toppings seemed fresh, veggies had a little crunch left to them and the crust was very good.

    This was one of the better pizzas we’ve had in the area, so would recommend a stop to try it out for yourself. On our next trip, we will likely try some of the other Italian dishes – which looked very good.

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  • Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery (Ankeny, IA) Review

    Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery (Ankeny, IA) Review

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    4.33* (out of 5)

    Food: n/a

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    06/25/2022 Magee’s Irish Pub & Eatery

    Had some time while in the area and this place looked interesting, so my wife and I stopped by to have a Harp and a Guiness. We sat at a table outside to enjoy the summer warmth. We had just eaten, so will have to stop by for a meal on another day.

    The exterior was very inviting (see pictures), the beer selection was good and the bar looked great (see picture). I recommend a stop to whet your whistle…and the food looks great also!

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