Tonight’s stop only included drinks on our way home from dinner. Given my love of smokey drinks, I went with the Smokey B (see picture of pouring) – I’ve had it before and really enjoy it. I don’t think you will find another drink with more smokiness imparted into it – a nose full of smoke with every lift of the glass for a sip. My wife ordered the Aperol Paloma (see picture) and while it was advertised as very spicy (Ghost Tequila), neither of us found it spicy to the taste – yet it had great flavor.
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04/09/2022
We stopped here for dinner a second time and really enjoyed the food again. The prices are high, but the food is great.
We ordered the Korean Fried Cauliflower and Honey Garlic Chicken Lavosh. Both dishes tasted great and I’d recommend both.
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We stopped here shortly after moving into the area 2 years ago and had the opportunity to go back tonight while celebrating Birthdays of our son and daughter-in-law. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the smell when you walk in and thought the food was above average, the value and service only rate average to me.
We started with a round of drinks – and since the Tequila Sunrise (see picture) was the special for the night, we each ordered one. We decided to order Crab Rangoon (see picture) as an appetizer and thought they tasted quite good. For our main meal, we ordered the Family Platter (see picture) and added 1/2 pound of sausage. While the butter and seasoning flavors were great, I felt that the seafood and sweetcorn were over-cooked and a little tough / rubbery as a result.
While it can be tough to rate the quality of the food for a place like this, I landed on a 4 based on the taste being good but the cooking time being a bit too long. Given how messy it is to eat, this likely isn’t a place where you take a first date nor wear your Sunday best clothes. Relative to this type of food, this is a reasonable place to enjoy some good Cajun seafood and seasoning.
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Family Platter w/ 1/2 lb SausageCrab RangoonTequila SunriseBirthday Shot
We stopped here for dinner this weekend while staying at a house on Gull Lake and enjoyed our stop. From the outside, it had a large log-cabin type of appearance – but the strongest feature here was the atmosphere and the beautiful lighting and stone work that awaits you when you walk through the front door. It was truly an amazing visual experience to see!
We started with a round of drinks. I had the Old Fashioned (see picture) and was honestly quite disappointed with it as it seemed to be nothing but straight bourbon and possibly a slight dash of bitters. My wife ordered a Margarita and both of us thought it tasted quite good.
For dinner, my wife and I decided to split the 16 oz Ribeye (see picture) while she added the salad (see picture) and we shared the Popovers (see picture). I really liked the Popovers and the flavored butter that came with them. My wife enjoyed the flavor of the salad, but didn’t like that it had to be cut at the table to eat it. The Ribeye was above average in flavor and was prepared as ordered – and the Cheesy Potatoes (see picture) were fantastic, so rich, creamy and delicious.
Last but not least, we ordered a piece of Turtle Cheesecake (see picture) and that quite frankly was likely the highlight of my meal – I thought it was wonderful and would highly recommend that you end your meal with a piece of it yourself!
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Turtle Cheesecake16 oz RibeyeCheesy PotatoesPopoversOld Fashioned
It was a Friday during Lent so we were looking for seafood takeout options to take to our son’s place for a late lunch. This place was right along the way, so we ordered ahead to pick it up on the way by. While I love trying new places and like to support small businesses, I feel that this place is going to need some management assistance to stay alive. For starters, my wife wasn’t able to order online through their website and was tricked into signing up with a contract with another company when she thought she was placing her order for the food. Therefore, she gave up and called in instead…and while taking our order, the order-taker suddenly stopped taking our order and proceeded to yell at one of the other employees.
Since we ordered ahead over the phone, I dropped my wife off at the door and waited outside with the vehicle running as I thought it would be a quick stop to pick up our food. After 15 minutes of waiting, I parked the vehicle and went inside to see what was going on with our order. My wife then informed me that the menu in the store was different than what she ordered based on what showed online. Beware that the in-store menu does not include beverages as is shown in their online menu and the prices are higher.
Once the food was finally finished and we got it to our son’s house, we found the food to be relatively good. The best part in my opinion was the Hush Puppies (see picture) with the Shrimp & Fries basket (see picture) also being tasty. We weren’t as impressed with the Fish & Fries basket (see picture), as the breading was very dry and cornmeal like, with little to no flavor or seasoning.
Bottom line is that the food was reasonable for a fast food restaurant, but the service is definitely not fast. Don’t expect that they will be organized enough to have your food ready if you call ahead – I’d order at the restaurant and make sure you have about 15 minutes available to wait for the food.
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Update: We stopped back again last night with our son and again enjoyed the experience. I’m also happy to report that they made improvements following my initial review regarding poor lighting (and clutter) in the restaurant. The lighting was much better, enabling me to take some better-quality pictures (see below). From this, I increased the Atmosphere rating to a 4*.
We ordered Lamb Curry (see picture), Chef Special Grill Platter (see picture) and Coconut Chicken Curry (see picture) along with Garlic & Butter Naan (see picture). We really enjoyed all of them – with the Chef Special Grill Platter providing the most food (including full chicken drumsticks) and the Coconut Chicken Curry having the best flavor (even though it my son ordered mild and I prefer spicy). I ordered the Lamb Curry as Hot on the spicy level and my wife ordered the Chef Special Grill Platter as Medium…but I’m suspicious that they mixed those two up, as hers was the spiciest at the table and I ordered extra spice for the Lamb Curry.
Service was good for drink orders and food orders as well as a follow up shortly after we were served to check on spice level (and bring more spice…). Following that though, we ran out of rice and wanted another bowl but after unsuccessfully waiting for our server, I walked over to the kitchen area and asked for another bowl.
Overall was still a very good experience and we really liked all of the food, so I wouldn’t hesitate to return and would recommend it as one of the better Indian / Himalayan restaurants where I’ve eaten.
11/09/2022
My wife and I stopped here for dinner to give it a try and are sure glad that we did. While the service and atmosphere were average, the food was all delicious!
We ordered plenty of food, expecting to take the extra home with us for later meals at home…so enjoyed several meals. For the main course, we ordered Coconut Chicken Curry, Lamb Biryani & Shrimp Fried Rice (see pictures of each…poorer quality due to lighting). For sides, we ordered Tandoori Roti (found it to be dry), Cheese Naan & Raita along with Rasmalai for dessert (pictures of each attached).
We ordered each of the main dishes medium to medium-hot spiciness and really enjoyed all of them! Don’t leave without trying the Rasmalai for dessert – described as cheesecake soaked in a sweet milk, it was delicious and not overly sweet! We will definitely be back!
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We have enjoyed the Bahama Breeze in Lutz, Florida so thought we would stop by this one on our way to the airport to fly home from vacation. The experience was very similar and we enjoyed this location just as much as Lutz.
We started with a Cuban Mojito and Aruba Red beer (both hit the spot), then moved on to our main courses. I ordered the Tropical Fruit Chicken Salad (see picture) and can’t express strongly enough how much I enjoyed it – light, refreshing and so tasty! My wife ordered the Fish Tacos (Blackened) with a side bowl of Seafood Chowder (see picture) – both were delicious and are highly recommended.
This was my 3rd visit to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill – all with my son while visiting him in Tampa. This time, we have a VRBO and stayed on Clearwater Beach within a mile of the restaurant.
We started with an order of General Antonio bacon wrapped Scallops (see picture) – have enjoyed them before and once again, they did not disappoint. My wife ordered a bowl of the She Crab Soup (see picture) that we shared and both found to be delicious (very thick and rich).
For the main meal, my wife and I shared The Three Kings pan sauteed grouper (see picture) and found it every bit as good as the description. My Mom ordered the Seafood Pot Pie (see picture) and loved it, while my Dad had to be talked into the Old School grouper sandwich instead of the hamburger he wanted…but really liked it.
For dessert, we shared a piece of Keylime Pie – and I’d highly recommend you have a piece before you leave on your next visit. As you can tell from our multiple visits, we really enjoy this place and would highly recommend it for anyone looking for dinner on the beach.
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General Antonio ScallopsShe Crab SoupSeafood Pot PieThe Old School Fried Grouper SandwichThe Three Kings
We ate at the downtown Tampa location on an earlier visit and liked it so much that we sought it out for lunch during our stay in Clearwater Beach. Similar to our earlier visit, we thoroughly enjoyed the stop and would highly recommend it to anyone in the area looking for some great Spanish / Cuban food in a luxury atmosphere with a great view.
We had not ordered a pitcher of drinks before, but since we had 4 people in our party, we ordered the Mojito Pitcher and enjoyed the preparation performance as well as the drinks (see pictures). Given our previous experience with the 1905 Salad made at your table, we ordered it again and enjoyed the waiter’s performance (see pictures).
We initially enjoyed the complimentary table bread (see picture) – but be forewarned, it is very crumbly so it is hard not to make a mess eating it. My wife enjoyed a side salad (see picture). For our meal, I wasn’t very hungry so ordered the Empanadas de Picadillo (see picture) and would rate them highly. My wife ordered the Filet Steak (see picture), my Mom ordered the Shrimp & Yellow Rice (see picture) and my Dad ordered the Salmon Aurora (see picture). We exchanged tastes and all thought each of the dishes was delicious.
Lastly, no meal is complete without dessert. We ordered Cafe con Leches (see picture) and an Espresso (see picture) to enjoy with the main course – the Bread Pudding (see picture). All of them were delicious…but keep in mind that the Bread Pudding is very heavy and dense – so you’ll want a few people to help eat it or a box to take the extra home!
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We stopped back later in the week for the end of Happy Hour and dinner with our son and daughter-in-law. This was a whole different perspective! While the first stop on a Monday night was quiet, with only about 5 other patrons, Friday night was packed and quite loud. After not getting served for about 10 minutes, I went up to the bar and ordered our drinks as well as a Tito’s Flatbread.
The Drinks and Tito’s Flatbread were delivered in a timely manner and then the owner (who we spoke with at the bar earlier in the week) served us the rest of the night. The flatbread was very good (sorry, forgot to take a picture), but the crust was much thicker than a typical flatbread – closer to a pizza crust. The large group that was there for happy hour started to clear out, but the place was still fairly loud (just FYI – very modern decor, but also loud and hard to carry on a conversation).
For our dinner, I ordered Cevapi (see picture) on the owner’s recommendation when I asked for a Bosnian dish. My wife ordered the Beef Skewers (see picture), also on a recommendation. Both dishes tasted great – the steak and sausages were moist and flavorful, the pita bread was fresh and the served sauces paired well.
The Tiramisu we ordered for dessert (see picture) was the weakest of the food we had. It tasted good, it just wasn’t anything like any other Tiramisu that we’ve had – it was wrapped in a paper band and the base was more of a white angel food cake than the lady fingers we have come to know and love. All in all, a solid place for a meal, assuming you are ok with a loud environment…or choose a time that has fewer people.
01/02/2023
We stopped here after enjoying another stop we found on www.happyhourdesmoines.com and were quite impressed with what we saw. The owner served us and when asked, said that they had only recently opened. The decor was top notch and in line with what you would expect in downtown Des Moines and the service was good (the owner was the only server, but there weren’t many people there).
While we had already eaten at the previous stop, the Happy Hour specials looked quite attractive (see pictures) as did the Bosnian dinner plate options on the menu (see pictures) – so we will definitely be back to try the food!
The owner suggested the Ella Bosnian pear brandy (he described it as a cross between vodka and tequila, which seemed a good description – see picture) and the sample he provided was tasty enough that he talked me into the Balkanita (see picture). We also sampled the Mango Mule (see picture) and found both of them to be delicious.
Both my wife and I were quite impressed with the decor, menu options (we saw some of the food that was served), value and service. This seems to be a hidden gem that provides the ambiance of a downtown trip without the drive – we will definitely be back and highly recommend it.
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We stopped here because my wife read that they had the best margaritas in the area…and I’d have to agree after having one. The flavor was great…the sweetness was not overpowering and it didn’t leave that ‘fuzzy / SweetTart’ taste in your mouth.
My wife ordered a Michelada and it was also very good – spicy yet ‘light’ (see picture). The last strong point was the queso and salsa – both tasted great, although I prefer a less-watery mix of salsa.
As to the food, I was less impressed. The chips (although complimentary…) tasted powdery / floury to me (see picture). Not sure if this had to do with being undercooked or something else.
I ordered the ceviche appetizer with shrimp and fish. Although the quality and quantity were good, I thought it tasted bland (I like a distinct taste of lime and cilantro, but struggled to taste anything for seasoning). My wife ordered a taco with shredded beef (see picture) and while the flavor was ok, the beef was dry and tough…took a lot to chew it up.
UPDATE: We have stopped here before after hearing they had the best margaritas in the area and have never been disappointed. Last night was no different – we stopped after dinner to have 1 margarita (which turned into 2 and both were delicious).
Ozzie was our bartender and was fantastic, first recommending the Shaker Margarita with salt rim, then making the Laurie Special (my wife’s favorite) – a Mango Margarita with Jalapenos and a salt rim. You won’t find it on the menu (because my wife named it), but if you like a good spicy / sweet combination, you will love this!
Update 2 (new location): This is one of our favorites for Jalapeno Margaritas and Mezcal Palomas (ask Jorge at the bar, it isn’t on the menu)…which we had again on this visit. This time we had dinner – the chips tasted better and I would recommend the Enchiladas Bander. The only negative…the boxy industrial atmosphere made it very loud inside and hard to carry on a conversation with someone beside you.
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We enjoyed dinner here with a business group on a recent visit. It was near our hotel, had a good selection of tap beer and everyone at the table enjoyed the food.
For dinner, I kept it light and ordered the Beet and Goat Cheese salad (see picture) and would highly recommend it! For dessert, several of us shared a creme brulee…and it is also highly recommended!
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We have been wanting to go here for some time and finally had the chance to go for my wife’s Birthday this week. The atmosphere and service were above average and the complimentary Birthday cake was clearly the highlight – fantastic presentation and great taste!
My wife ordered the Hanger Steak and while my taste of it left me feeling that it was a little tough / chewy, the flavor was very good. I ordered the Lava Roll and thought it was very good.
My wife also ordered a Lavender Butterfly and Paloma and liked both of them. Clearly an above average restaurant that we would return to on another date.
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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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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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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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We have heard so many good things about this place and finally got a chance to go there for dinner.
Arrival was a little awkward, as there isn’t a hostess and no indications of who to see to get on the wait list. We worked out way to the bar in the back corner and finally interrupted one of the workers to ask what to do. They referred us to the owner (working behind the bar) who told us it would be about an hour wait and asked if we’re wanted a drink. He never wrote anything down or asked for a credit card, just told us we could wait in his new suite a couple of doors down. It was neatly decorated, had lots of seating, games and had a rest room…and the owner would occasionally show up to get the next party (all by memory, nothing written down).
Following the waitress’recommendation, we started with an order of Mushroom Crostini (see picture) and boy was that good…so rich, creamy and flavorful! For our dinner, my wife ordered the Lamb Chop (see picture) and I ordered the Pork Deburgo (see picture). We exchanged samples (as we always do) and really liked both dishes – presentation, juiciness and flavor were all to our liking.
Finally, it was topped off with the famous complimentary Red Velvet Cake. Admittedly, it wasn’t quite everything I had hoped for (I like it a bit more moist with a bit more frosting) but it was still very good and just the right size for the two of us.
You won’t go wrong stopping here for dinner!
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We stopped here for dinner when we were in the area based on a friend’s recommendation. First impression from the outside and confirmed once inside was of a 70s-era steakhouse (dark, no windows & dark decor). That is not a knock / negative comment, just an observation.
Once inside, it was quite crowded but we were quickly welcomed by Joe the bartender who asked our names and then repeated them several times before we left. I started off by ordering a Brandy Alexander ice cream drink and loved it.
We enjoyed the table bread, which included plenty of available butter. My wife overheard some other patrons talking about how good the onion rings were. Since the large is only $1 more than the small we ordered a large and both thought they were good. The best part of the meal was the salad with the house creamy garlic dressing – both the dressing and the croutons were delicious.
For our main course we went with the London Broil – which unfortunately was the weakest part of the meal. The slice laying on top was medium rare as ordered, but the other slices bordered on medium-well to well done. As you might expect, those other pieces were dry, tough and lacking flavor. When the owner stopped by our table (before we got our main course), he did mention that there was a substitute chef that night – so this dish might be better on another night.
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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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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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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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