Didn’t even know this was a restaurant until a co-worker scheduled a going away party here that happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo. Seeing it from the North side, it struck me as more of an industrial building or health store than a restaurant. As the attached pictures show though, it is indeed a Mexican restaurant – and I found the experience to be worth the stop.
Because it was Cinco de Mayo, the place was packed and we had a tough time getting a couple of tables for the group to sit together. Ultimately we were able to get most of the party (other than some late arrivals) seated together at a couple of tables that they pulled together for us.
Service was average at best…again likely due to the packed restaurant with multiple parties waiting at the front door to be seated. The 16oz Lime Margarita that was the special for the day was quite tasty once it was delivered and came with a pitcher to refill it a couple of times. For our meal, we ordered the Fajitas Viva La Bamba (see pictures) – which tasted great and proved to be plenty of food for my wife and I to share (especially after eating plenty of chips and salsa).
I look forward to stopping back some time when they aren’t so packed and rushed, but regardless found even this stop to be worthwhile – so would recommend stopping, especially if you see one of the daily drink specials that are of interest (see pictures).
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We were looking for a sports bar to watch the Minnesota Wild playoff game, so thought we would try 85 Bar West…even though they were a Chicago-focused venue. Fortunately, they came through and put the game on several screens for us to watch during our visit.
We started with an order of Onion Rings (see picture) – and they were the best onion rings I’ve had in many years. They were uniformly battered, uniformly fried to nice, crispy light brown color, and most importantly – a slightly crunchy onion inside that bit off cleanly so that you could dip it again! The picture itself does pretty good justice on their quality – and the dipping sauce was quite tasty also!
For dinner, my wife ordered the Low Carb Beef Bowl w/ Pepperjack cheese & Rice (see picture) and I went with the Classic Wings split between Lemon Pepper Dry Rub and Mango Habanero sauce (see picture). We both really enjoyed the Low Carb Beef Bowl, finding it just as tasty as the name implies (all of the peppery zing of an Italian Beef with a melted cheese top – with rice replacing the bun).
I was admittedly a bit disappointed with the wings, especially given the award-winning claims in the menu. My first impression and comment to my wife was that they were quite small in size. Secondly, while they tasted reasonably moist and tender, as the picture shows – they appeared to be dried out / overcooked…with meat pulling away from the bone. The Mango Habanero wings had very little spice given their name and very little sauce, with some barely wet and essentially none in the serving tray to use to add.
While the wings would give me pause before ordering again, we REALLY liked the onion rings and everything else that we’ve ordered has been above average. The other thing I enjoy is their reasonable selection of craft beers (really liked the Chicago local Cold Time) as well as the unique cocktails. This is a solid stop.
10/25/2025
While we admittedly aren’t Chicago Bears fans (yes, we cheer for the Super Bowl winless Vikings…), we have taken a bit of a liking to this place and have stopped several times since they opened. Tonight we stopped to see the NDSU / SDSU football game on one of their many TVs over the bar. While it took them a bit to find the game, we enjoyed most of the game
I started this visit with a Windy City Caramel (see picture) and my wife opted for the Spicy Pineapple Margarita (see picture). As we always do, we shared tastes of each drinks and would highly recommend both of them. We followed those up with Cadillac Margaritas (see picture) and again, would recommend them as a good balance between tart and sweet.
For our meals, my wife ordered the Italian Beef with extra Au Jus on the side (see picture). Ordering the Au Jus on the side seemed like a good idea, as you had plenty to soak your sandwich in as you ate it – but it wasn’t soaked and falling apart as you tried to eat it. I went with the Buffalo Chicken Wrap (see picture) and we both enjoyed our meals.
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It was honestly a bit of an accident that we even found this place and boy are we glad that we did – it was quite the hidden gem! We were out stopping at local spots to update my HappyHourDesMoines.com website and decided it was time to have some dinner. My wife did a restaurant search on her car’s system, this place popped up and since we both enjoy Indian food…we decided to give it a try. We left very impressed – especially with the food and the very attentive and helpful service from Kavya, who was awesome!
We started by ordering a Mango Lassi (yogurt based ‘malt’) that was absolutely delicious – cool, creamy and full of mango flavor. We followed with Chicken Lollipops (see picture) as our appetizer and again, found them very good – especially with the side sauce.
For our dinners, my wife ordered Korma (see picture) and substituted the chicken with lamb while I ordered the Gongura Chicken (see picture) at Kavya’s suggestion. We also ordered Basil Naan (see picture) and found it to also be very good – thin, tasty and fresh…and the basil flavoring was something we hadn’t experienced with naan before.
They offer 3 spice levels and my wife ordered medium while I went with hot. We both like spicey food. Personally, I would have liked something in between the two on both dishes as my wife’s didn’t seem to have much spiciness and mine had a definite burn that overwhelmed some of the flavor. The good news is that we didn’t have to ask for extra rice to finish our meals as we do at most other Indian restaurants – both dishes were served with a generous portion.
My only disappointment was the men’s restroom, as both the cleanliness and maintenance could use some improvement. The aesthetics to get there were also a little awkward, with it located in a hallway next to the kitchen that also had some carts and dirty dishes.
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Another chance to experience one of our favorites this morning to use up a gift card and meet a friend visiting from Brazil. As has been the case on each of our visits, the food and atmosphere were off the charts. The service wasn’t quite as prompt this morning as what I’ve become accustomed to, but the experience was still great. Best of all…I saw that they now have a daily Happy (“Flocktail”) Hour everyday before they close – and it is a 50% Off special – so now I can add them to HappyHourDesMoines.com also!!
Today, my wife ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and a Bloody Mary (see pictures) – and with all of the new items on the menu, our friend ordered the Smoked Corn Beef Hash (see picture) and I went with the Healthy Hatch Tacos (see picture). I swapped one of my tacos with our friend for 1/2 of his hash, sampled my wife’s Chicken Fried Steak – and can assure you that you will NOT go wrong ordering any of them, as all were absolutely delicious!
06/15/2025
Still one of my favorite places to go for breakfast or lunch, so took the opportunity today when I got to pick our venue for Father’s Day brunch with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.
Today started simply with a coffee and cream for me…although I did talk my wife into getting a large version of the Strawberry Booziest (see picture)so that I could share some of it. For our meals, my wife ordered the Quesbirria Omelette (see picture) and I opted for the Chilaquiles (see picture). As we have become accustomed…we loved both of them and would highly recommend them. Lastly, our son ordered the Churro Waffle and wasn’t able to finish it, so we each got to enjoy a few bites of it – so sweet, so cinnamony and SO delicious!
01/14/2024
It had been a while since our last visit, but we got the chance when our son and daughter-in-law asked if we’d like to join them for Brunch Sunday morning. We ended up waiting about 30 minutes past our projected seating time, so beware if you have a tight time crunch. Once we were seated though, the experience was great and in line with our previous visits.
We started today with an order of Cinny Bobs (see picture) to share and if you like cinnamon rolls…you will love these! They are served with both white icing (traditional cinnamon rolls) as well as caramel sauce (traditional caramel rolls) – so you can choose your favorite…or go with both if you can’t decide. I am a sucker for caramel and liked the caramel sauce so well that I enjoyed what was left over after the rolls as my dessert at the end of the meal!
For our meals, my son ordered the Monkey Business (see picture) as he has the last few times he’s been here and once again, enjoyed both the sight of it as well as the taste. My wife ordered the Breakfast Nachos (see picture) and since she wasn’t able to finish it in the restaurant, was able to enjoy a 2nd meal of it for breakfast the next day. Lastly, I went with the Chicken & Waffle (see picture) and while it was more than I really wanted to eat, I cleaned off the plate and loved every bite!
12/01/2022
We have stopped at the Early Bird Brunch several times and always enjoy the experience – casual atmosphere, great food and unique alcoholic drinks combine to make a memorable experience.
This stop found us at the front door at opening time on Sunday morning (6:30am) due to our son needing to catch a mid-morning flight at the airport. For future reference, this is a great time to go…as we had the place to ourselves initially and only a couple of other tables were occupied when we left. If you’ve tried to get a table mid to late morning on a weekend, you know how crowded it can be and how long the waits are…
We started with an order of Hash Holes – always a favorite of ours and a strong recommendation to try. They are delicious potato croquettes with cheddar, smoked gouda & bacon (see picture). We ordered Huevos Ranchero, Pancakes & Eggs, Meat Head Benny and The Bird Cage for the main course (see pictures) and all were delicious – I would recommend them all.
If you haven’t tried this place for brunch yet…you don’t have any idea what you are missing!
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This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while after seeing a recommendation in a publication. The first time we stopped by a number of years ago, we decided against going in due to there not being many cars in the parking lot. That was definitely not the case last night – the parking lot was nearly full and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, as they were quite busy. Needless to say, we left quite happy to have stopped – as we really enjoyed the experience.
Our initial indicators of a good Mexican restaurant starts with their margaritas and then their chips and salsa. They passed it both areas – as both were above average. We started with a Spicy Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) from the bar while we waited for our table. It was good, but wasn’t very spicy. The chips and salsa (see picture) were very good – tasty, fresh salsa that was thick enough to stay on your chips and crispy tortilla chips with enough oil to indicate they were fried fresh.
For our meals, my wife ordered the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture), while I opted for the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture) – both based on our waiter Omar’s recommendation. Omar was great – loved his recommendations, had a great sense of humor and was quite attentive to our needs! As stated, both my wife and I loved our plates – and yes, we shared with each other as always to both confirm. The only change I made to my plate was requesting corn tortillas – as I much prefer them to flour. I just can’t say enough about both plates – not only did we REALLY like them, but there was plenty to bring home for another meal.
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It is becoming a bit of a broken record…as this place is in the top-tier favorites in the area. Tonight, we met with friends before a concert and enjoyed the food and drinks.
I started with a Blind Tiger tequila drink (see picture) along with Fried Babybel (see picture) – both very good. For our dinner, my wife ordered Steak Fajita Tacos (see picture) and I went with the PB&J Wings (see picture). Not only were all of the food and drinks fantastic, but we also caught the end of Happy Hour, so we also saved some cash on several of our plates!
12/14/2024
Yet another great stop at Gastro Grub & Pub. Tonight, we started with a Mrs. Claus’ Medicine (see picture) and Casamigos Mezcal Paloma (see picture), then opted for multiple appetizers for our meals with a couple of craft beers.
We started with Bacon Dates (see picture) and Brussels Sprouts (see picture), then topped it off with and order of Chicken Wings (Peanut Butter & Jelly of course – see picture). We have had them all before and really like them – and tonight was no different.
04/06/2024
This place is becoming a habit…and each time the food is just as good as the last time! Joslyn did a wonderful job serving us tonight and the owner (Sean) stopped by our table at the end of the meal. Gastro Grub & Pub is a class act and the only thing I could criticize (which I also shared with the owner) is that a couple of the windows above the front door were extremely dirty (see picture)…and unfortunately that was right in my line of sight during the meal. Apparently, that is the responsibility of the building owner, so he was going to bring it up with them.
Tonight, we started with a Picante Peach (see picture) and a Paloma (see picture) – both delicious and expertly prepared by Mary behind the bar – but be aware, the Picante Peach has a good jalapeno burn. We started our dinner with Brussels Sprouts (see picture), then ordered a Wagyu Burger (see picture) and Peanut Butter & Jelly Wings (see picture) – followed by a Small Cookie (see picture) for dessert.
07/14/2023
During our latest stop, my wife ordered the N’awlins Shrimp Po Boy (see picture) and I again ordered the Peanut Butter & Jelly Chicken Wings (see picture).
03/25/2023
This is my wife’s go-to restaurant in the area and I like it also. We have stopped here on multiple occasions and have always enjoyed our visit, given the fantastic food and atmosphere (love the smells and lively vibe). Be aware of the fact that they are not open on Monday or Tuesday and only serve dinner (after 4pm). We have wanted to go several times on a Monday or Tuesday before realizing that they weren’t open.
For our latest visit, we started with drinks – they have a good selection of unique and tasty tap beers and some unique cocktails. My wife ordered a Gezellig Dopptoberfest and I went with the special for dinner – the Mulberry Street Cocktail (see picture – a little sweet, but very tasty).
As an appetizer, we ordered the Brussels Sprouts (see picture) and thoroughly enjoyed them – what a great combination Bacon Vinaigrette, Bacon Lardons & Parmesan Cheese. We have ordered this before, absolutely love it and would highly recommend it (although their other choices are also delicious, so it is a hard choice…).
For dinner, I ordered the 5 Wings (see picture) with peanut butter & jelly coating (sounds weird, but you can’t believe how good they are – great combination of sweet and spicy). My wife ordered the Steak Pita with sweet potato fries (see picture) and while it was delicious, be aware that it is quite messy to eat as there are LOTS of juices.
If you live in the Waukee, Urbandale, Clive or West Des Moines areas, you don’t have to make the drive downtown to enjoy some fantastic food and drink close to home. You won’t go wrong with a stop here to eat or drink.
March 2022 Stopped here tonight when the Irish Pub we sought out on St. Patrick’s Day was closed. There was no wait to be seated and we really liked the smokey smell (were told it was from the woodfire grill). We started with Bacon Wrapped Dates which tasted great but we’re a little small compared to those I’ve eaten previously. The Beet Salad was delicious as was the OJ Gets Dreamy beer.
June 2021 Started with a Tropical Blender IPA milk stout beer followed by a Raspberry Milk stout with my meal. For dinner I went with the waitress’s recommendation and ordered the Original Bacon Jam Burger and would highly recommend all of them.
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We stopped with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson for dinner last night and enjoyed another solid experience. My wife ordered The Philly (see picture) and I went for the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (see picture). As is our custom, we shared samples of each others orders and we both agreed that we would order either of them again.
While we haven’t had a chance to try either of the other 2 locations in the Des Moines metro area, this has been a solid stop for lunch or dinner on each of our stops. If you order wings (which are very good), be sure to order them ‘crispy’ – a 2nd frying that adds to their already great taste.
2023 I was here a few years ago for a business lunch and brought my wife back tonight since it is one of the closest restaurants to our new home.
Overall, we were pleasantly surprised, as the menu selection was greater than we expected and offered some higher-end steak, shrimp and salmon options. The tap beer selection was much better than many places and we really enjoyed the Peanut Butter Porter.
We started with an order of Jalapeno Poppers. They seemed to be the frozen variety, but tasted ok and were delivered very quickly. I ordered chicken wings and true to my growing preference for the flats vs the drummies, I found the flats fall-off-the-bone tender while the drummies tended to be a little dry and tough. As to flavors, I split between Jamaican Jerk (liked it and would recommend it) and Tropical Heat (wasn’t impressed – syrupy and sweet but not much flavor or spice, I wouldn’t recommend it).
11 Mar 2021 Stopped back again tonight and had a much improved experience with the chicken wings. The waiter tonight suggested the Buck Nasty sauce and offered a ‘crispy’ option where they throw them in the fryer for a few minutes. Both were excellent suggestions that I highly recommend. I like spice and the Buck Nasty was about perfect for my tastes, while the crispy outer crust was a perfect complement to the very moist, fall-off-the-bone tender inside that tasted like they were smoked. Excellent wings tonight! The only negative – the menu from 6 days ago (see picture) showed the wings at $10.99 for 10 and tonight’s new menu increased the price by almost 20% to $12.99…
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We saw that Arcadia was a Top 10 Finalist for Iowa Burger of the Year, so knew that we needed to give it a try – and last night was our opportunity. Arcadia is a short drive north of Grimes in a newly developed area of Polk City just after you cross over the long bridge over Saylorville Lake.
We were impressed with the new building as we drove up (told that it opened about 1.5 years ago) along with the lively, open atmosphere & modern decor as we entered the building. We started our meal with a couple of local craft tap beers – a nice selection was available.
Since we came for the Burger of the Year contender, the Smashburger was one of our orders (see picture) and we opted for the Fish Tacos as our second meal (see picture). Both were delicious and highly recommended. While I offer my Kudos for offering Marshmallow Creme for a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries (we haven’t found many places that do this…and we LOVE it), my only knock is that it was way too watered down and runny – with most of it running off the dipped fries rather than sticking to them.
We finished with a Salted Carmel Old Fashion…and yes, it too was delicious and highly recommended! More information on the drinks and Happy Hour specials can be found at: HappyHourDesMoines .
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This place came up in one of my wife’s searches and was close to our hotel while staying downtown, so was on our short-list of places we wanted to visit. We did stop for dinner on the way back from Broadway our last night…and are so glad that we did, as the food was delicious!
We had already had a few adult beverages in the music venues on Broadway, so limited our consumption to food alone at Puckett’s. My wife ordered the BBQ Taco Salad (see picture) and I went for the Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich with slaw (see picture). As we usually do, we shared our meals and both of us really enjoyed both of them. The pulled pork was well done and soft, the sweet potato fries were crispy and delicious – and both of the primary sauces were also very good!
Assuming you are a smoked meat fan (and why else would you stop…), you will enjoy your meal at Puckett’s!
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Ordinarily I wouldn’t do a review at a place like this where I didn’t eat their food…but I enjoyed their Bushwacker drink so much, that I recommended it to customers who came in and sat down beside me – and am making this post. While they don’t offer live music, the tap draft beer selection is awesome…which is what drew me in and drew my attention to the Bushwacker dispensing machine.
After checking with a Google search, it turns out that the Bushwacker is not unique to this bar, but is a known drink with a number of different recipes. Long story short and as you will see in the attached picture, it looks and tastes like a delicious milk shake with hints of chocolate, coconut and coffee. This place takes it to another level though by having it available in a soft-serve ice cream type of dispensing machine.
If you like milkshakes or ice cream anywhere near as much as myself, you won’t want to leave downtown Nashville without trying the Broadway Brewhouse’s Bushwacker! You can’t even tell that you are drinking alcohol it tastes so good…
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It was a beautiful, warm day in Nashville, we just got out of Mass and we were looking for someplace to stop for brunch when this caught my wife’s eye during a search. Since it was so nice outside, we requested an outside table to enjoy the sunshine.
What caught my eye was the $3 Mimosas, so we definitely sampled a few of them (see picture) – but Cranberry was without a doubt my favorite. What I loved the most though was the Croissant Du Jour (see picture). It was recommended by our wonderful server, so we started our dining experience with it. The chocolate / salted caramel cream inside was oh so decadent…and how can you go wrong with a delicious croissant as the carrier!
That’s not to take anything away from the main courses though. The Fried Chicken Sandwich with Spiced Honey Glaze (see picture) and Steak & Eggs (see picture) were delicious in their own rites. The chicken sandwich was a great balance of sweetness with a little kick, the potatoes had great seasoning and were baked to perfection – and the steak was a perfect medium rare (as ordered).
While admittedly it was a bit on the pricey side, all of the food was oh, so good and I would highly recommend this place for brunch!
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This place caught my wife’s eye during her reviews of places to eat while staying in downtown Nashville and was an easy walk from our hotel, so it was our first dinner destination after arriving. The small signage made it a little difficult to find inside the Courtyard Marriott (see pictures), but from the moment we walked in, heard the live piano player and saw the dining area – we knew this would be a great experience.
We started off by sharing orders of Lobster Bisque (see picture) and Burrata with Toast (see pictures). We really enjoyed both of them – the Lobster Bisque was so creamy and smooth and the Burrata was cool, fresh and clean. They were a great combination to start our dinner experience and I would recommend both of them.
Since it was a Friday during lent, my wife opted for the BBQ Shrimp Pasta (see picture) and I went with the Daily Fish Special on Blue Corn Grits (see picture). As we always do when we go out, we shared our plates and really enjoyed both of them. The BBQ Shrimp Pasta was rich, buttery and smooth and the Fish Special was a tasty white, flaky and blackened fish served on a bed of rich, creamy blue corn grits. Here again, both are highly recommended.
While it is one of your more expensive area stops for dinner, you will appreciate the food quality and presentation at Gannons Nashville for your next special occasion.
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While certainly not our first visit here, it is the first time that I’m finally getting it documented. Tonight we stopped with friends who are neighbors with the owner after Mass.
We started off by sharing a Wisconsin “Charcuterie” appetizer (see picture) – which was great to share with 4 people. Each of the items served in the pretzel were great – and we really enjoyed each of the dipping sauces.
For our meals, my wife ordered the Chicago Beef (see picture) and I opted for the Mediterranean Bowl (see picture). As we always do, we shared our plates. While both were very good, I was especially impressed with the Mediterranean Bowl – it was so cool, light and tasty!
Merll’s is a relatively recent addition to the Waukee pub scene and worth a stop to sample some of their great food!
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Slept in after a late night so found ourselves going to a noon Mass downtown and looking for a brunch stop on the way home. We’ve driven by this place and talked about stopping for food before and my wife had been there with co-workers after work one day, but this was our first stop for food.
A clean, modern storefront greets you (see picture) and with plenty of televisions and a nice patio, it looks to be a hopping place once the temperatures warm up a little. While our server was a little hard to find at times, we both found our food to be quite good.
My wife ordered the Nacho Burrito Meal (see picture) and I opted for the Honey Citrus salad (see picture). As is our custom, we shared samples of each of our meals and both of us found both choices to be worthy of ordering again. I really liked the clean, crisp and fresh salad with a delicious tangy dressing and the Burrito was tasty inside and out (loved the creamy, cheesy sauce).
If you are looking for a great stop for Sunday morning brunch (possibly after some shopping at Sam’s Club just across the interstate to the North), you won’t go wrong here!
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The place was packed tonight, so we were only able to secure a table with our friends for about an hour before we had to clear out for another reservation. We took advantage of a couple of martinis as well as the Bruschetta (see picture) – which was absolutely delicious!
11/17/2023
We have been wanting to get here to try their martinis for quite some time and although we missed Happy Hour to do it, we found out that their food is quite good also! We stopped here for dinner last night and while the portions were a little on the small side for some of the dishes (see pictures), the quality of both the food and martinis were excellent (see pictures). Turns out, not only do they make great martinis, the food is definitely worth a try also!
We started with a Funky Martini (see picture) and Redwave Martini (see picture). While my wife really enjoyed the Funky Martini, I will probably not order the Redwave Martini again. While it was quite spicy (which I like), the unique combination of spices used for the rim was not one of my favorites.
We followed the drinks up with a Zucchini Fritters appetizer (see picture) and both of us really enjoyed it – the fritters tasted great and the sauce that came with them was a great complement. For our dinners, I ordered the Seared Ahi Tuna – Kamikaze / blackened style (see picture) and my wife ordered the Chicken and Spinach Risotto (see picture).
While my wife was a bit disappointed with the portion size on hers, we both really enjoyed the Ahi Tuna – the blackened pepper crust was very good and the Brussels Sprouts and other vegetables were flavorful and cooked to perfection. The white horseradish-tasting dipping sauce was also very good on the tuna…even though the flavor of the tuna was so good that it really didn’t need anything else.
We topped off the meal with what else but a couple of sweeter martinis – I opted for the Espresso Martini (see picture) while my wife went with the Dirty Banana Martini (see picture). Both were excellent in their own categories, with the espresso being a strong coffee liqueur flavor and the Dirty Banana full of sweet chocolate and banana deliciousness.
Maybe most important is the service that you receive while dining. My wife and I were both very impressed with our server, Alexis! Not only was she friendly and personable, she gave us space (time) when we needed it and had excellent opinions to offer when asked. It was clear that she knew the menu items (food and drink) quite well, was willing to share her knowledge and really enjoyed her work. When you go, please be sure to say ‘Hi’ to Alexis from The Food and Drink Guy. We will definitely be back…
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Another great stop at Ninja Sushi Ramen…and again on our way home from Mass on Saturday night. This time we started with a Mango Margarita and Super Dirty Geisha – both highly recommended!
For our dinner, we started with a Beef Negimaki (see picture) appetizer and really enjoyed it! The sauce was so good that I found myself literally trying to spoon up all of the extra before they took the plate back!
For our dinner, my wife ordered the Cha Shu Ramen (see picture) and I ordered the Yellowtail Jalapeno Roll (see picture), as I wasn’t that hungry. As is our standard practice, we shared our orders and both enjoyed both of the selections – so would definitely recommend them for anyone visiting. Lastly, the Taro Milk Tea looked awfully good, so I tried it – and believe me, it tasted as good as it looks!
11/01/2023
Another great stop for dinner after Mass with friends. Stayed light tonight with the Spicy Tuna Roll, but splurged for a dessert and tried the Mango Japanese Mochi (see picture).
08/05/2023
Another great stop for dinner this evening – and this time we were fortunate enough to have the owner (Mandy) as our server. She was such a delightful person, a great server and full of great suggestions! With each delivery of food to a table, we marveled at the exquisite presentation of the food – a testament to Mandy’s experience in the industry.
This time we started with a Sapporo (see picture) and a Hana White Peach Sake (see picture). Mandy suggested the White Peach flavor and boy was it delicious…none of the harsh alcohol flavor that I’ve associated with sake and more of a semi-sweet fruit juice feel that was similar to a white wine.
For our dinner, my wife ordered the Chicken Katsu Cold Noodle (see picture) because she enjoys ramen and thought it looked interesting. At Mandy’s suggestion, I ordered the Spicy 2 in 1 Roll (see picture) and found it absolutely delicious. Even though it was shown as spicy and included jalapeno slices on each piece, I did not find it to be that spicy – but it was very flavorful!
We topped off the meal with a delicious dessert (again at Mandy’s suggestion) of fried bread with powdered sugar and a decadent condensed milk-like dipping sauce (see picture). If you like fried bread, you will love these!
12/11/2022
Based on a recommendation from a friend, we stopped here for dinner after church on Saturday night and enjoyed the experience. The building is a modern decor – albeit with a strip mall feel (see pictures), the presentation of the food is great (see pictures) and they have a friendly and helpful wait staff. In addition to an extensive menu, they had a decent selection of cocktails, wines and beers (see pictures).
We started with a glass of pinot grigio and a can of Sapporo. For an appetizer, we went with the Philadelphia Roll (smoked salmon, cream cheese & avocado – see picture) and thought it was very good. You can’t go wrong when it includes cream cheese!
For our main meal, my wife ordered the Chicken Ramen (see picture) and I wasn’t very hungry, so ordered the Spicy Yellowtail Roll (see picture). We both tried both dishes and liked them very much – would definitely recommend both of them. The only negative to our visit was that our table was near the front door and we got a nasty cold breeze every time the door was opened. I’d suggest asking for a table away from the front door.
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Cha Shu RamenYellowtail Jalapeno RollBeef NegimakiSpicy 2 in 1 RollChicken Katsu Cold NoodleEdamameFried Bread (Thai Donuts?)Chicken Katsu Cold NoodleMango Japanese MochiSapporoHana White Peach Sake
We were running out of time for Happy Hour availability on Friday night, so picked something closer to home and decided to give The Club Car a try since we enjoyed previous visits.
For drinks, we started with a Pineapple Jalapeno Mule and a Coconut Mule while waiting for our food. For our Happy Hour food options, we chose the Boursin Mushrooms (see picture), Nachos with Beef (see picture) and BBQ Shrimp Kabob (see picture). While the Mushrooms and BBQ Shrimp Kabob were worthy of 5* ratings (both were fantastic and highly recommended), the Nachos were average at best – as the chips tasted like a cheap no-label variety and the beef had little taste.
We finished our meal with a couple of sweeter martinis (see picture) at the bar. We have been impressed with the drinks and bartenders during each of our visits and tonight was no different – both martinis were delicious!
Back again just a few months later and again enjoyed great food…with the service off just a bit – as we had to ask for a couple of things but then had a prompt response. This time my son ordered the Southwest Chicken Club (see picture), my wife ordered the Cajun Seafood (see picture) and I opted for the Salmon Sandwich (see picture). All of them were very good and I would highly recommend them – and this time we had the pleasure of topping it off with a piece of Lemon Leches Cake (see picture). Wow, was that cake delicious – rich, moist and light at the same time!
1/5/2024
We hadn’t been to The Club Car in almost 3 years, so decided to give it a try again last night. My wife and I both remembered it as a bit of a dark, ’70s style supper club – but either our memories are failing us or they have made some big improvements over the last few years (or both…). We found the place to be busy, well-lit, lively and welcoming – with great food and service.
We had to wait a few minutes for a table, so started out at the bar, with my wife enjoying a Pineapple Jalapeno Mule and myself a Raspberry Jalapeno Margaria (see picture). Both of them were delicious, each with a nice burn from the included freshly-sliced jalapeno.
Before we finished out drinks, our table was available in the bar area and we were blessed to be served by Melissa. She was a fantastic server – with recommendations in each area of the menu (two of which we chose and were delighted with) and a friendly, outgoing personality. Say ‘Hi’ to Melissa from The Food and Drink Guy if you are lucky enough to have her as your server when you go!
For our dinner, my wife ordered the Ribeye (see picture) and I ordered the Georgia Pork Sandwich (see picture). Melissa recommended both of them and we loved them. The Ribeye was grilled to perfection, with what some might consider an excess of blackening…but was just the way my wife loves it! I would have probably not ordered the Pork Sandwich, but did so based on Melissa’s recommendation and was very glad that I did. For some reason, I expected pulled-pork, but it turned out to be a moist breaded piece of pork with some delicious mustard sauce and cole slaw. We highly recommend both dishes.
Finally, for those who follow my posts, you know I struggle to leave a restaurant without trying their desserts. We were struggling to make a decision on which to order, so again asked Melissa for some insight, saying that we wanted something that wasn’t too heavy. Melissa recommended the Salted Caramel Martini (see picture) and while it wasn’t technically on the dessert menu it was perfect…sweet, salty and so delicious!
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Our son who lives in the area was interested in trying this place with us and we were definitely intrigued – as not only do we like trying new things, but what we read about this place sounded great! The smaller plate concept is perfect for me, as I really enjoy trying a few bites of multiple different things and this format enabled all of us to sample a variety of dishes on the menu.
I’m almost 4 months behind in getting these pictures posted and getting the review written…but the positive memories of everything that we tasted are still pretty strong. Since the list of the dishes we ordered and tried is quite lengthy and there wasn’t a single one of them that we didn’t like, I’ll just list everything that we ordered here and you can find pictures of each below as well as in the embedded video.
For our dinner we had the following (see the order form we filled out at the restaurant below as well as a QR code to see pictures of all of their menu items in the pictures below):
Spicy Cucumber Salad
Soup Dumpling w/ Pork (6)
Pan Fired Bao Bites (8)
Dan Dan Noodle
Braised Beef Noodle Soup
Fried Rice (Chicken)
Beef Pancake Roll
Zen Chili Wontons (6)
Signature Xlb Sampler (6)
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While quality food might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of a Diner, I found The Wooden Spoon to be a solid stop for brunch. We were looking for a reasonable yet good place for a hearty brunch between Mass and the Lightning Stadium Series game – and that is this place fit the bill perfectly!
The three of us ordered the Triple Decker Reuben (see picture), Two Eggs Your Way (see picture) and Buffalo Chicken Wrap (see picture). As we usually do in the family, we shared tastes of each of our dishes and found each of them to be very good – definitely above average. I especially liked the sweet potato fries and the sauce that was served with the Reuben.
If you are looking for a hearty meal and a good value, you won’t go wrong at The Wooden Spoon in Riverview.
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We stopped in here for a quick drink at the bar with friends while waiting for our table at Columbia on a previous trip and immediately wanted to come back to try it for dinner. We were able to do it tonight and share the experience with our son who lives in the area. Wow – this definitely rises to the top tier of restaurants in the area that we would love to go back to on a future trip!
Absolutely everything that we ordered was top-notch quality and delicious! We started by sharing the Arancini al Burro (see picture) along with the Toasted Gnocchi (see picture). Both looked great on the plate and were even better once dipped heavily in the sauce and tasted!
For our main courses, my wife ordered the Casarecce “Rinaldi” (see picture) and my son and I shared the Veal Scaloppine Milanesa (see picture) with 3 added Large Meatballs (see picture). Richard, our server, recommended the additional meatballs and it was a great call. As we always do, we shared tastes of all of the dishes and all of us raved about all of them
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