Tag: Dinner

  • Los Tres Amigos (Waukee, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    Had planned to eat at Shanghai per a friend’s recommendation, but they were short staff and had a wait so we thought we would try Los Tres Amigos instead.

    We were seated quickly even though the restaurant was pretty full and thought their chips and salsa were good (see picture).  I was not impressed with their Paloma.  It was served in a tap beer glass, didn’t have Tajìn on the rim (only very light salt) and didn’t taste that good.  We later asked how it was made and apparently they use lime juice and Squirt…my preference includes grapefruit juice and soda water or Fresca.

    My wife enjoyed her Carnitas Dinner (see picture) and the flavor was good in my Los Tres Amigos (see picture), but I was disappointed with how thin and tough the steak and chicken were.

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  • 701 Eateries (Fargo, ND) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    We made reservations and met friends here while visiting in Fargo.  Reservations are right as it is a busy place and parking can bea but if a challenge (we had to park 3 blocks away).

    The decor is modern and chic and the servers were friendly.  My wife started with a Lingonberry Sour (see picture) and really liked it – tart and tasty.

    We started our meal with the Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates – delicious and highly recommended!  For our meals, my son ordered the Butcher Block Burger (see picture), my wife ordered the Prime Rib Sandwich (see picture) and I had the Nordic Salmon with Dill Sauce (see picture).  All tasted very good, but delivery took a long time and they were all barely warm when delivered.  I’m not sure if they were left on the counter accidentally or if they intentionally waited for something that took longer to prepare.

    Overall, the atmosphere was great, but the prices were a little high and the food and service were only a little above average.

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  • Say Cheese Mac & Melt (West Fargo, ND) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    After seeing a Facebook post of a morning TV live cooking event from my 1st cousin which featured her son cooking for the hosts, I had to try this place.  Anything that combines bbq meat and cheese has got to be good…

    The building and atmosphere were great…modern, clean, vibrant – with a little country music playing in the background.  You order at the counter, then take a number and they deliver it to your table.  I loved the presentation – a heavy cast iron skillet preloaded with a real metal fork…ready to be enjoyed.

    Per Parker’s recommendation, I ordered the BBQ Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese with Carolina Reaper cheese added – the ‘Parker Special’.  Boy was it delicious – moist, flavorful pulled pork, tangy bbq sauce, creamy cheese…and a little bite from the Carolina Reaper cheese!  I highly recommend this restaurant and this dish and can’t wait to return to try some other options.

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  • Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano (Maple Grove, MN) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 5*

    We met our son here for his Birthday dinner (his venue choice) and like every visit at several different Biaggi’s…we really enjoyed our stop.  The service is always excellent and the cloth napkins are appreciated.

    Being a Friday during Lent, I ordered the Dijon Salmon (see picture) and my wife ordered the Seared Scallop Risotto.  The salmon was a little overcooked, as it was not very juicy but the scallops and risotto were fantastic – they are highly recommended.

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  • Porter Creek Hardwood Grill (Fargo, ND) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    One of the best restaurants in Fargo.  This place is top-notch, with great food, service, place settings and cloth napkins.  Tonight I enjoyed Salmon along with Cream Caramel Cheesecake.

    Update following another visit…still great food and service.  There was a mixup on assigning a waitress to our table, initially causing a delay.  However, after they discovered the system error, they apologized and comped our appetizer.  I ordered the chicken and brie sandwich and my wife ordered the hanger steak.  I thought the chicken sandwich was very good…but the hanger steak was fantastic – extremely tender and full of flavor, as were the potatoes with horseradish sauce.  I highly recommend both meals.

    Update from March 2022:
    Once again, we left impressed after another great visit.  This time we enjoyed the great value of the late night 1/2 price drinks and apps Happy Hour.  We ordered Walleye Fingers and Seared Ahi and both were absolutely delicious and highly recommended.

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  • Clear Sky on Cleveland (Clearwater, FL) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Our son picked this place for a late lunch on the way to the aquarium and boy, did we enjoy our meal!

    The exterior was beautiful (see front and back entrance pictures) and the Corazón Buffalo Trace Barrel Aged Reposado tequila drinks sign immediately captured my attention.  The bar was will stocked, the atmosphere was festive and the decor was modern and well lit.

    We first shared Pork Dumplings, then my wife ordered the Fort Harrison Steak and I opted for the Half Buffalo Chicken Salad.  All of the food was every bit as good as it looks in the pictures and then some…I highly recommend all of them.

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  • Yeoman’s Cask & Lion (Tampa, FL) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    5.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 5*

    Service: 5*

    Our son picked this place to meet for dinner when we were visiting and boy was ita great choice!  It was very lively, modern, open and chic as we walked up (see pictures) and it only got better from there.

    We initially ordered the Scotch Eggs and all thought they were great.  We had a hard time deciding on the main course (so many great looking dishes to choose from), but I eventually settled on the UK Meatloaf.  I’m not a huge meatloaf fan, but this was fabulous – so light, crumbly and delicious that I was sad when it was gone.

    If you do only one thing while here, do NOT leave without having The Yeoman Dessert.  That sticky toffee pudding just might be the best dessert I’ve had ever and the rest were also delicious.

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  • Bahama Breeze (Lutz, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped here on the way to visit friends and enjoyed the casual and open atmosphere as well as the Ultimate Margarita and food.  I ordered the 1/2 Jerk Chicken Sandwich and my wife ordered the Blackened Fish Tacos with Seafood Chowder.

    I enjoyed the Jerk sandwich, but found it a little dry – as it apparently used a dry rub for seasoning and I expected the more traditional red sauce.  My wife’s Ultimate Margarita was fantastic (I tried a few sips), as were the Blackened Fish Tacos and Seafood Chowder.  The chowder was light and flavorful without coming across as salty.  The waiter recommended both (for good reason) and so would I.

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  • Yucatan Beach Stand Bar (Fort Myers Beach, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped here for brunch before the beach and loved the atmosphere and food.  On the way in, we saw a friendly artist touching up the store sign (see picture) – who was more than happy to be a part of my review.

    We started with drinks and chips, guacamole and salsa (see picture).  The guacamole was great, but the chips seemed a little over cooked.  For lunch, I had the Shrimp Ceviche and my wife had the Blackened Shrimp Quesadillas (see pictures).  We really enjoyed both dishes – the ceviche was served with what seemed like a balsamic vinaigrette that tasted great as an add on, even though I hadn’t ever had it before.

    With the good selection of tap beers, tasty food and reasonable prices, I recommend it for a stop to eat.

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  • Agave Grill (Clive, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 2*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 3*

    We stopped here based on the recommendation of a friend and while the food was very good, I really like a tequila drink with my meal and this place doesn’t serve any alcohol.

    Secondly, this will sound odd, but both my wife and I agreed that it was probably the most uncomfortable table that we’ve ever sat at in a restaurant.  The bench seats were way too wide and there was barely any room between the table and the bench or between the two benches – our feet were constantly on top of each other’s.  We both commented about how much our butts hurt from sitting there, although it didn’t help that we waited over 30 minutes for our food.

    We started with the complimentary chips and salsa (see picture) – the salsa was average and the chips were below average…powdery-looking and lacking flavor.  I had individual Mexican style tacos that reminded me of Street tacos…small, moist and delicious corn tortillas that were the highlight of my visit.  My wife had the Shrimp Quesadillas and they were also very tasty.

    My bottom line…the cooked food was good, so if you plan to take it home and make your own paloma / margarita, you will enjoy – I just can’t recommend it for dining in given the items cited above.

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  • The Hall (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

    3.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 3*

    We have been wanting to stop here for months following several recommendations and finally got our chance last night.  First off, you have to be ok with the open table seating common in many German bier halls and restaurants (long tables with benches that multiple parties share).  Secondly you order food from the QR code that is stamped on your table and then go up to the counter to pick it up once it’s ready.  Lastly and even though the bartender didn’t suggest this, rather than wait for all the beers to scroll through on the monitors above the bar you can log into Untappd and locate The Hall under venues to see the full list.

    We started with several beers (great selection, but pricey given that many come in 10oz glasses) and an order of Fried Brussel Sprouts.  The Brussel Sprouts and the aeoli we’re delicious and I highly recommend them when you go.

    For my meal, I ordered the Red Lager Brat with pretzel bun and a separate side order of sauer kraut.  As my last name would indicate I have a lot of German heritage and I loved both the sausage and the sauerkraut.  My wife ordered the Chicken Schnitzel with Curry Fries and we both really enjoyed them also.  The chicken was very moist and the curry ketchup on the fries wasn’t overpowering.

    The only real negative that we experienced was when we ordered a mixed drink before leaving.  My wife wanted a Paloma and while they couldn’t make that they said they could make a margarita.  The margarita came in a standard 16 oz beer glass, had a mushy brown and yellow lime wedge on the edge and my wife really disliked the flavor…thinking that something was missing.  Needless to say I would not recommend ordering a margarita here – go for the beer selection and German food.

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  • Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East (Madison, WI) Review

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    4.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    My wife found this place while we were in Madison for a wedding and boy are we glad that we went!  In addition to the good beer selection, the food was fantastic and the service was good, albeit slow due to how busy it was.

    My wife ordered the Pulled Pork Burrito (see picture) and I ordered the Rip Rip Cheesy Mac (see pictures).  Both were delicious – juicy, rich and flavorful.  I really liked the Rip Rip Chicken on top of the macaroni and cheese, so if I went back I would probably try that by itself.

    This place is definitely worth a stop when you are downtown in Madison.

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  • F&Os – Felix & Oscars (Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 3*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    We stopped here based on a recommendation from new friends who tried it over 20 years ago and loved it.

    We started with the Oscar Fries, as we were hungry and ready to start eating.  They were delicious!  We weren’t sure about the red onion toppings, but ended up really liking the combination.

    Our friends recommended the deep dish pizza, so based on our server’s suggestion, we went with the Combo and really enjoyed it.  I would describe the crust as more along the lines of Bisquick pizza crusts I’ve made in the past (as opposed to more like bread), but it was really good.

    As a bonus they had a pretty good selection of tap beers – and we sampled several.

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  • Wahlburgers @ HyVee (Waukee) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped for a beer before picking up my groceries.  Service was good and the beer was delicious.

    Update: Stopped for Happy Hour beer and appetizers tonight and were impressed with the quality of the food and the value.

    We ordered traditional Buffalo Wings and Our Burger Nachos and thought they were both very good.  The chips were thin and light with just enough toppings and the wings were meaty, moist and delicious.  Given the half price values it is definitely worth a stop during Happy Hour!

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  • Ford’s Garage (Orlando, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Stopped here with our adult children while on vacation and staying nearby.  Although we admittedly aren’t big Ford fans, the restaurant was very unique and the food was delicious.

    From the unique urinals, sink and door handles in the men’s roomto the hose clamps around your napkins / silverware to the oil funnel holding the onion rings (see pictures), everything about this place was very unique and fitting for a garage setting.

    The food took plenty long to be delivered and we had a quality issue with one of the burgers, but they were good about replacing it and the replacement was great.

    You will definitely enjoy the atmosphere here (and Tyler provided great service)!

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  • The Boathouse (Lake Buena Vista, FL) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 3*

    Service: 4*

    Stopped for drinks and snacks during our visit and enjoyed the experience.  Of special note was the Lucky Dux drink with a floating duck (see picture) and the Oysters on the half shell.  Both were very good and the view was fantastic.

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  • Wasabi Waukee (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.25* (out of 5)

    Food: 5*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    Stopped for dinner tonight and was impressed with the food quality and taste.  We started with an order of edamame and a beer, then ordered several rolls to share.

    We ordered the Salmon & Avocado, Shrimp Tempura and King Crab Crunch rolls (see picture) and enjoyed all of them.  My favorite was the King Crab Crunch – creamy, spicy and delicious.

    Visit 2 Update:. Had a similar great experience in our most recent stop.  I ordered the Thai Mango Chicken and thought it was delicious – a great combination of mango / sweet and spicy.  I highly recommend this dish.

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  • Flavory Bistro (Ankeny, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.5* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 5*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 5*

    We stopped here for dinner last night and while it was on the pricy side, the quality of the experience was top notch.  Our waiter Matthew was fantastic, with multiple stories to share about the food, the owner and himself.  While we didn’t get to meet Lisa the owner, the story we heard of her Mom traveling the world with her and pushing her to identify what was in the global foods based on taste was fantastic!

    As to the food and drinks, we’ll start with the Fresh Margarita.  While pricy @$12 and small, it was one of the best margaritas we’ve had.  I ordered a Beef Gyro (which had lamb mixed in with the beef).  Both the Gyro and the tzatziki sauce were delicious.

    My wife ordered the Seafood Paella and we both really enjoyed it.  My wife makes our favorite Paella, so we both have become critical of most restaurant Paella.  While we are used to lemon in the recipe, Lisa’s alternate use of lime and green olives were unique and added to the character of the dish.

    The only thing holding me back from a 5 on the Food rating was the Baklava (see picture).  Again, my wife had made some really good Baklava and we have enjoyed it on numerous occasions at restaurants and food festivals.  As the picture demonstrates, this serving was average at best…thin, square, dry and relatively bland in taste.  A disappointing end to the meal given how fantastic the main courses were.

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  • Big Al’s BBQ (West Des Moines, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    3.75* (out of 5)

    Food: 3*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    We stopped here for dinner as we really enjoyed the Adel location (one of my 5* ratings) and wanted to try out the new location.  In comparison, we were disappointed with the food at this location, but did enjoy the live entertainment as well as the friendly, attentive staff.

    I ordered the wings, as we really enjoyed them at Adel, while my wife ordered the medium Pork Tenderloin.  The wings weren’t as smoky as what we remembered from Adel and I believe they were fried too long (crispy, dry and the meat shrinking / pulling away from the bone).  Given the Top 5 rating for his Tenderloins, our expectations were high and we were left disappointed.  The portion was small and there didn’t seem to be a distinct smoky flavor.  If you order the Tenderloin, I would recommend trying the large size in hopes that it is a bit more juicy and smoky.

    The highlight of this visit was the Blueberry Cobbler for dessert (see picture – delicious) and Jesse and the Medicine Men’s live entertainment in the bar area.  Jesse mingled in the crowd during break and was a good enough singer / entertainer that we moved to the bar for another drink and listened through their last song.  He did some great classic country music and really seemed to enjoy entertaining us.

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  • Saints Pub & Patio (Waukee, IA) Review

    Saints Pub & Patio (Waukee, IA) Review

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    4.0* (out of 5)

    Food: 4*

    Atmosphere: 4*

    Value: 4*

    Service: 4*

    09/04/2021

    We stopped here for an early dinner after golfing and both enjoyed our meals (see pictures).  The Saturday college football games were on the multiple TVs and we enjoyed sitting at an outside table.

    I ordered the Blackened Salmon and my wife ordered the Shrimp Tacos – the salmon was moist and tasty and the shrimp tacos were spicy and delicious.  Although the salmon was cooked to near perfection, I especially enjoyed the rice…not sure if it was a special variety or just cooked to the shorter end of the range, but it was plump and also firm.

    This place is definitely worth a stop to give it a try.

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