Between the indulgence past of Christmas dinner and the indulgence to come of New Years' Eve, I wanted something lighter for lunch so I stopped in for a sandwich at Subway on the way to shopping. Had the rotisserie
chicken with spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, and red onions, with sweet
onion dressing on wheat bread. A great combination, tasted quite fine, and I always enjoy Subway's soft fresh bread.
I also had the chicken noodle soup instead of my usual chips. The soup
was somewhat different--I kind of expected it to be like Campbell's but
it wasn't. Not as salty and had more of an umami taste than I was expecting. I wasn't sure at first but it grew on me.
Service was just fine as there was only one other person in there. The
bathroom was clean and serviceable. All told I was happy to be there.
My Yelp Review
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Alicia's Mexican Grille
We have started a tradition (twice is a tradition) of going out to dinner at Alicia's Mexican Grille on Christmas Eve. We
appreciate that they are open, even though that's more common now.
Service was OK, not great (we had a mixup with a drink order), but perfectly fine for a busy holiday
evening. We noticed an unusual offering on their menu--Hawaiian Sand
Fish. I did some research (Google) and I can't find anywhere else that calls it this, but I suspect it's
parrotfish. The name seems to come from the fact that parrotfish poop sand, and it's a major constituent of Hawaiian beaches. In any case it was reasonably priced so two of us ordered
it. Mine was tender and well cooked, and came with delicious vegetables
and a bed of spinach. It is slightly oily and "fishy", but I don't
mind fish flavor so I enjoyed it, as did the other diner. We also had
the mushroom enchiladas, which are not spicy at all but have a good
mushroom flavor and are somewhat sweet. I've had fajitas there before
and they are good also.
Alicia's aims for a more upscale vibe and is somewhat expensive for Mexican food, so we don't get there often. They now have competition from Uncle Julio's in this space. But it's a solid choice in our neighborhood.
My Yelp Review
Alicia's aims for a more upscale vibe and is somewhat expensive for Mexican food, so we don't get there often. They now have competition from Uncle Julio's in this space. But it's a solid choice in our neighborhood.
My Yelp Review
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Russo's New York Pizzeria
Russo's New York Pizza got rave reviews from Ken Hoffman of the Chronicle several years ago when he ate with the owner at one of their locations that (at least at the time) had a coal-fired oven. Our location in Tomball (Spring Marketplace) does not have the coal-fired oven but does advertise brick-oven pizza. I went in on a Saturday to give it a try.
I was the first customer, so I can't comment too much on service speed, but it was relaxed. I was alone in the place the whole time and they didn't seem to get any delivery orders. I ordered a drink, some garlic bread, and a Paesano Napoletana pizza.
The garlic bread was nicely presented and came with marinara dipping sauce (a $4.50 appetizer). I like mine a bit more crisp and with more butter, but this was fine. Service was attentive while I was waiting, maybe not too surprising since I was the only one there. The pizza was plenty for 3 people, though it should have been for $17 (that's for a medium). The menu says this has romano cheese on it, but it came without any cheese. I could have sent it back, but I prefer to review food as I get it. I have had cheeseless pizza before and liked it, so I went with it. The crust seemed to be underdone, it was a thin crust but was light colored and was not at all crisp. The flavor was just OK, they used crumbled sausage instead of the sliced sausage on the menu, and in my opinion not enough of it. Overall, not too close to what I ordered.
Russo's has a full Italian menu, and the prices for the entrees seem in line with Olive Garden or better restaurants, but I can't speak to their quality. The dining room is nice in a typical dark Italian restaurant way (NOT like Olive Garden). It has one TV over the bar but the rest of the place would be congenial for conversation. Unfortunately the rest room, while clean, had no towels in the dispenser, which is not acceptable, especially right after opening.
With expensive, poorly made pizza and inadequate attention to detail in the rest of the place, I won't be going back. Any of the Big Three delivery places, and plenty of others, would do a better job on the pizza itself, for less money, and Crust Pizza in the Woodlands is a much better choice for eating in.
My Yelp review
I was the first customer, so I can't comment too much on service speed, but it was relaxed. I was alone in the place the whole time and they didn't seem to get any delivery orders. I ordered a drink, some garlic bread, and a Paesano Napoletana pizza.
The garlic bread was nicely presented and came with marinara dipping sauce (a $4.50 appetizer). I like mine a bit more crisp and with more butter, but this was fine. Service was attentive while I was waiting, maybe not too surprising since I was the only one there. The pizza was plenty for 3 people, though it should have been for $17 (that's for a medium). The menu says this has romano cheese on it, but it came without any cheese. I could have sent it back, but I prefer to review food as I get it. I have had cheeseless pizza before and liked it, so I went with it. The crust seemed to be underdone, it was a thin crust but was light colored and was not at all crisp. The flavor was just OK, they used crumbled sausage instead of the sliced sausage on the menu, and in my opinion not enough of it. Overall, not too close to what I ordered.
Russo's has a full Italian menu, and the prices for the entrees seem in line with Olive Garden or better restaurants, but I can't speak to their quality. The dining room is nice in a typical dark Italian restaurant way (NOT like Olive Garden). It has one TV over the bar but the rest of the place would be congenial for conversation. Unfortunately the rest room, while clean, had no towels in the dispenser, which is not acceptable, especially right after opening.
With expensive, poorly made pizza and inadequate attention to detail in the rest of the place, I won't be going back. Any of the Big Three delivery places, and plenty of others, would do a better job on the pizza itself, for less money, and Crust Pizza in the Woodlands is a much better choice for eating in.
My Yelp review
Sunday, December 17, 2017
The Cajun Stop
There aren't many Cajun places to eat in this area, and I do like a good
gumbo and/or po'boy. I looked up the menu then stopped by on my way to
do grocery shopping.First off, don't visit thecajunstop.com. My ISP reports the site as suspicious.
I was greeted and served with reasonable politeness. The food took some time to get to me, for which they apologized, but I wasn't overly put out by the wait.
The place offers a wide variety of po'boys and other dishes, including hamburgers and steaks. I am not a big fan of fried seafood, so I was intrigued by their description of the "extra sloppy roast beef" po'boy. I ordered a regular, with onion rings, a cup of seafood gumbo, and a drink.
The sandwich was huge, it actually would have easily fed two and maybe four people. I should have ordered the small. Overall they have generous portions. But it was not an "extra sloppy". No gravy or juice that I could detect, though the meat was tender and reasonably tasty. Just roast beef with mayo and pickles. The bread was very good, crusty and chewy and fresh-tasting. Overall it was OK.
The onion rings were a mess--obviously the fry cook didn't know how to make onion rings. If you put too many in the basket and they crowd each other, they stick together in wads. The onion pile on my plate had some parts that were near burnt, some parts underdone, and nothing that resembled a ring. On the other hand--I like my fried food well done, and the batter was actually pretty tasty. I finished most of my onion mess.
The seafood gumbo was--not a gumbo. When I think of gumbo, I think of a thick soup--common thickeners are okra, file, or roux. This had none of those. It was shrimp and rice soup with some celery. It wasn't bad shrimp and rice soup, the shrimp was cooked well and the broth had a decent peppery flavor, but it definitely didn't resemble a gumbo at all.
As for ambiance, there's not much. The drink machine was broken when I ate there, so our drinks were from the cooler. This place used to be The Tamale Pot, and the decor has not changed except for a few framed articles on the walls and a kind of tired attempt at Christmas decorations. They have some kind of upscale dishes on the menu, but it's not the sort of place you would linger at. Better for take-out. Value for the dollar is pretty low--the meal cost $23 before tip, though it would have fed two so that's an option.
It looks like the owner is trying to franchise the place. She will have to pay a lot more attention to quality control. The food was edible and not terrible, but it was not authentic at all. I might eat a hamburger there, but not Cajun food. If you want great gumbo in this area, Big Cab's is your choice.
My Yelp Review
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Uncle Julio's at Grand Parkway Marketplace
Uncle Julio's has just opened a new location in our area, serving
Tex-Mex that I'd compare to Alicia's or Mi Rancho, though they are
aiming to be more upscale. We have been to Uncle Julio's in Arlington and were ready to try one close to home.
The place is hugely popular, it's arrival was highly anticipated in the neighborhood and it is constantly packed. Obviously they are going to be successful here. I went in on a Saturday for lunch. The wait for a table was 25-30 minutes. I was by myself so the bar was an option, but it was packed also. A seat at the bar opened up within a couple of minutes so I was able to avoid the long wait.
I was quickly greeted and started by a friendly bartender. Bar service doesn't always work that well, especially when places are busy. She started me with some thin, crispy tortilla chips and a pleasingly spicy salsa. The menu has mostly standard Tex-Mex offerings, with a few interesting upscale choices like fajitas and lobster. That says something right there--this place is not for the faint of wallet. I'd say prices are 25-30% higher than comparable Tex-Mex.
I went for the carnitas tacos. Carnitas is a good test--it's hard to do well, usually comes out dry. It was on corn tortillas with cheese and cilantro. There was cilantro-lime rice on the side, along with black beans and the usual pico and guacamole.
The tacos were decent, I'd say a little above average--only slightly dry. OK flavor but not spectacular. I did not care for the beans, they were very plain. The rice was OK, I like it better than, say, Chipotle's version, but I personally prefer saffron or traditional Mexican rice.
My food and service were OK, but there were other people around me sending food back. My wife went recently and found her food to be bland. I would say they might have some consistency issues.
The ambiance is very nice--comfortable seating and an attractive interior, and it didn't seem to get overly loud even though the place was full. It would be a pleasant place to share a meal with family and friends. The bathroom was spotless and fully functional even with such a large crowd.
Overall I think the place will do very well, but I can only give it 3 stars based on value--decent food and good service but way pricey.
My Yelp Review
The place is hugely popular, it's arrival was highly anticipated in the neighborhood and it is constantly packed. Obviously they are going to be successful here. I went in on a Saturday for lunch. The wait for a table was 25-30 minutes. I was by myself so the bar was an option, but it was packed also. A seat at the bar opened up within a couple of minutes so I was able to avoid the long wait.
I was quickly greeted and started by a friendly bartender. Bar service doesn't always work that well, especially when places are busy. She started me with some thin, crispy tortilla chips and a pleasingly spicy salsa. The menu has mostly standard Tex-Mex offerings, with a few interesting upscale choices like fajitas and lobster. That says something right there--this place is not for the faint of wallet. I'd say prices are 25-30% higher than comparable Tex-Mex.
I went for the carnitas tacos. Carnitas is a good test--it's hard to do well, usually comes out dry. It was on corn tortillas with cheese and cilantro. There was cilantro-lime rice on the side, along with black beans and the usual pico and guacamole.
The tacos were decent, I'd say a little above average--only slightly dry. OK flavor but not spectacular. I did not care for the beans, they were very plain. The rice was OK, I like it better than, say, Chipotle's version, but I personally prefer saffron or traditional Mexican rice.
My food and service were OK, but there were other people around me sending food back. My wife went recently and found her food to be bland. I would say they might have some consistency issues.
The ambiance is very nice--comfortable seating and an attractive interior, and it didn't seem to get overly loud even though the place was full. It would be a pleasant place to share a meal with family and friends. The bathroom was spotless and fully functional even with such a large crowd.
Overall I think the place will do very well, but I can only give it 3 stars based on value--decent food and good service but way pricey.
My Yelp Review
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Tacqueria Los Tamales
This tacqueria went in where Tamales Con Cafe used to be. I stopped in
for "brunch" tacos the other day. I had a barbacoa taco, a sausage and
egg taco, and a bistek (chopped beef) taco, and a cup of coffee. Took a
couple of salsa to try with them.
I was served by very sweet folks that appear to be a family working together. The coffee is just caffeine delivery, nothing special. The barbacoa taco was tasty and squishy as it should be. I have to say that I found the sausage and egg and bistec tacos a bit dry.
The homemade salsas were the most interesting. The hot one appears to be made from habaneros, and has a serious kick--if you get irritated by "hot" salsas that aren't really hot, this is your choice. The milder one was good but not exceptional.
The single bathroom was clean but lacked towels. The decor is not quite finished--appetizing colors but no pictures. No surprise for a very new family-run place.
Overall, it's fine but didn't make me want to drive out of my way to go back. There are now four casual Mexican options at Kuykendahl and Dowdell, including three tacquerias--Los Tamales, El Rey Regio (grilled chicken), Tacos Puro Guererro (food truck) and Flying Taco (just opened, will review next month). Similar businesses don't always hurt each other, but you have to have a reason to go to one over the other. I wish these folks well, but I haven't seen or had the menu item that makes them stand out. For me, Tony's Street Tacos and Laredo Taco Company are still the best.
My Yelp Review
I was served by very sweet folks that appear to be a family working together. The coffee is just caffeine delivery, nothing special. The barbacoa taco was tasty and squishy as it should be. I have to say that I found the sausage and egg and bistec tacos a bit dry.
The homemade salsas were the most interesting. The hot one appears to be made from habaneros, and has a serious kick--if you get irritated by "hot" salsas that aren't really hot, this is your choice. The milder one was good but not exceptional.
The single bathroom was clean but lacked towels. The decor is not quite finished--appetizing colors but no pictures. No surprise for a very new family-run place.
Overall, it's fine but didn't make me want to drive out of my way to go back. There are now four casual Mexican options at Kuykendahl and Dowdell, including three tacquerias--Los Tamales, El Rey Regio (grilled chicken), Tacos Puro Guererro (food truck) and Flying Taco (just opened, will review next month). Similar businesses don't always hurt each other, but you have to have a reason to go to one over the other. I wish these folks well, but I haven't seen or had the menu item that makes them stand out. For me, Tony's Street Tacos and Laredo Taco Company are still the best.
My Yelp Review
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Jimmy John's at Kuykendahl and 2920
I have eaten Jimmy John's sandwiches before, but have not been to a
store. I stopped in for a sandwich the other day. Ordered a Big John's
(roast beef, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise), Thinny Chips (Jimmy John's
has their own chip brands) and a drink. They take Apple Pay, and I
spent about a minute fiddling with it before the payment was accepted.
The sandwich was done long before my payment. It is as fast as they
say.
Otherwise, it is competent but not particularly tasty. I find the bread rather dense and chewy. Give me Subway or Potbelly any time.
The restrooms were being cleaned when I was in the restaurant, and were spotless. The decor is spare, with lots of motivational lists and sayings on the wall. No pictures.
Overall it's worth going there if the minute difference between other sandwich shops and JJ is important, otherwise I would pick Subway or Potbelly.
The owner of Jimmy John's, John Liautaud, has drawn some negative attention for his personal life and politics. He is famous (infamous) for pictures with big game animals, some endangered, that he has killed on hunts in Africa. Snopes.com rates that statement as true, and he doesn't deny it. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune he stated that all the hunts were legal (Snopes supports this) and that he no longer engages in the practice.
As for politics--OpenSecrets.org indicates that he and his wife were very active in conservative politics in 2011-2012, but not so much now. They continue to donate to Republicans but not at a high level for a wealthy family.
My conclusion is that the hunting story is old news, and that he's a player but not a major one in current politics. You'd have to make your eating choices strictly along political lines to make it a current issue.
My Yelp Review
Otherwise, it is competent but not particularly tasty. I find the bread rather dense and chewy. Give me Subway or Potbelly any time.
The restrooms were being cleaned when I was in the restaurant, and were spotless. The decor is spare, with lots of motivational lists and sayings on the wall. No pictures.
Overall it's worth going there if the minute difference between other sandwich shops and JJ is important, otherwise I would pick Subway or Potbelly.
The owner of Jimmy John's, John Liautaud, has drawn some negative attention for his personal life and politics. He is famous (infamous) for pictures with big game animals, some endangered, that he has killed on hunts in Africa. Snopes.com rates that statement as true, and he doesn't deny it. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune he stated that all the hunts were legal (Snopes supports this) and that he no longer engages in the practice.
As for politics--OpenSecrets.org indicates that he and his wife were very active in conservative politics in 2011-2012, but not so much now. They continue to donate to Republicans but not at a high level for a wealthy family.
My conclusion is that the hunting story is old news, and that he's a player but not a major one in current politics. You'd have to make your eating choices strictly along political lines to make it a current issue.
My Yelp Review
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Blue Moon Donuts
I first reviewed this shop on Nextdoor when it was called Sticky Fingers Sweets. Now it is Blue Moon Donuts, though I think the owners are the same.
My experience with Blue Moon Donuts began at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday. Oops. The hours are accurately listed here, but not on Google. My bad. Blue Moon is not for early risers, as others noted here. I came back later for brunch. Unfortunately on this particular day the owner had sent the rest of his staff home, anticipating a slower day--by the time I got there the selection was pretty picked over.
I had a chocolate frosted glazed donut, a pork and venison kolache, and a cup of coffee. The glazed donut was fine--I am not really a donut connoisseur, and glazed are not my favorite. But that's the only kind they have. Various toppings and fillings, but they are all glazed. I personally prefer a cake donut, but so it goes...
The pork and venison kolache was good. Quite big and filling. It was a bit chewier than your usual pork sausage, which you'd expect with a venison mix. But the flavor of venison wasn't strong at all, I'm not sure I would have guessed it was there without reading the label. I haven't seen that anywhere else so it's an interesting option.
The coffee was standard drip, pretty much just caffeine delivery, but the price was right. The whole bill was $5.37 and $3.75 of that was for the kolache, so everything else was very reasonable.
I had good service from the friendly and personable owner. Some regulars came in while I was there--they definitely cultivate a following through down-home relatability. I ate in the shop, which is very basic. Didn't see a public restroom at all, it looks like you'd go next door to the convenience store.
We have gone to Blue Moon a few times before. They will dip donuts to order, which is messy but tasty--again, so long as you like glazed. A mild down side--if you order a dozen you get them in a small box, packed in sideways. With a mix this means there's a lot of someone else's flavor on your donut, particularly if the donuts are fresh-dipped. Our preferred shops (Snowflake and Top Donuts) put their dozen in a larger, flatter box sitting flat. Blue Moon won't displace them yet.
My Yelp Review
My experience with Blue Moon Donuts began at 6:00 a.m. on a Saturday. Oops. The hours are accurately listed here, but not on Google. My bad. Blue Moon is not for early risers, as others noted here. I came back later for brunch. Unfortunately on this particular day the owner had sent the rest of his staff home, anticipating a slower day--by the time I got there the selection was pretty picked over.
I had a chocolate frosted glazed donut, a pork and venison kolache, and a cup of coffee. The glazed donut was fine--I am not really a donut connoisseur, and glazed are not my favorite. But that's the only kind they have. Various toppings and fillings, but they are all glazed. I personally prefer a cake donut, but so it goes...
The pork and venison kolache was good. Quite big and filling. It was a bit chewier than your usual pork sausage, which you'd expect with a venison mix. But the flavor of venison wasn't strong at all, I'm not sure I would have guessed it was there without reading the label. I haven't seen that anywhere else so it's an interesting option.
The coffee was standard drip, pretty much just caffeine delivery, but the price was right. The whole bill was $5.37 and $3.75 of that was for the kolache, so everything else was very reasonable.
I had good service from the friendly and personable owner. Some regulars came in while I was there--they definitely cultivate a following through down-home relatability. I ate in the shop, which is very basic. Didn't see a public restroom at all, it looks like you'd go next door to the convenience store.
We have gone to Blue Moon a few times before. They will dip donuts to order, which is messy but tasty--again, so long as you like glazed. A mild down side--if you order a dozen you get them in a small box, packed in sideways. With a mix this means there's a lot of someone else's flavor on your donut, particularly if the donuts are fresh-dipped. Our preferred shops (Snowflake and Top Donuts) put their dozen in a larger, flatter box sitting flat. Blue Moon won't displace them yet.
My Yelp Review
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Tony's Street Tacos
I rarely give five star reviews, but I have to for this new place.
Tony's Street Tacos replaced Northampton Pizza in the EZ4U. I stopped
in today to give it a try. I ordered a shrimp taco and a brisket taco
on corn tortillas. Tony had me sample the brisket--it was wonderful,
nice and tender even in the lean parts, and well seasoned. He could
spin off a barbecue place if he wanted. I had some cilantro rice and
grilled onions on the brisket taco. The shrimp taco came with three
nice plump shrimp and some very good slaw, with jicama, cabbage, and
other items to give it a good crunch. I ordered the special Diablo
sauce, and Tony gave me green and red salsas as well. He made the Diablo
sauce on the spot, and it's 99 cents extra. He warned me that the
Diablo sauce was very hot, and the red sauce was hot. The green sauce
is a milder one.
I tried all three. I think I am slightly more sensitive than average to hot food. The Diablo sauce had a nice heat but was not at all overwhelming. A great combination of garlic, asiago sauce and pico de gallo. I thought the red sauce was actually a bit hotter. The green sauce is milder, and has a very fresh flavor. I liked them all, but I think the Diablo sauce is worth the upcharge.
If you pay in credit you pay next door at the EZ4U. I threw in a Dr. Pepper made with sugar, which was quite fine.
The interior is very casual but sufficiently attractive and comfortable if you want to stay in. I was served by the owner with all possible courtesy. All in all, I can't say enough good things about it. Come on in and support this place, we really want it to stick around.
Tony's Street Tacos on Yelp
I tried all three. I think I am slightly more sensitive than average to hot food. The Diablo sauce had a nice heat but was not at all overwhelming. A great combination of garlic, asiago sauce and pico de gallo. I thought the red sauce was actually a bit hotter. The green sauce is milder, and has a very fresh flavor. I liked them all, but I think the Diablo sauce is worth the upcharge.
If you pay in credit you pay next door at the EZ4U. I threw in a Dr. Pepper made with sugar, which was quite fine.
The interior is very casual but sufficiently attractive and comfortable if you want to stay in. I was served by the owner with all possible courtesy. All in all, I can't say enough good things about it. Come on in and support this place, we really want it to stick around.
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| Fantastic Street Tacos |
Tony's Street Tacos on Yelp
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Artesano Coffee Shop at Harvest Market
The Artesano Coffee Shop inside Harvest Market has a short but eventful history. First it was Creative Grounds, then briefly Coffee by Gloria, and the present owners took over a few months ago.
I stopped in for a light lunch. I ordered the Bocadillo panini, which, according to their very active facebook page, has "Jamon Serrano" (Serrano ham, I believe), Manchego cheese, and Spanish tapenade (a spread made from olive oil, garlic, pimientos, red bell peppers, and olives). I had a banana nut muffin and an Espresso Cubano to go with it.
The ambiance of the shop is very nice. Fabric chairs and wood tables, free wifi and board games, all encouraging you to stay awhile. Service was friendly and not rushed. I started with the muffin while I waited for the sandwich. I would say it was a little on the gummy side, but tasty. The sandwich was an interesting and complex experience. The bread was nice and crusty as a panini should be. The sandwich itself is very strong stuff. It is a delicious blend in small doses. But between the ham and the tapenade there was quite a bit of salt, on top of the garlic and peppers. It didn't seem like a large sandwich so I ate the whole thing, but that much powerful seasoning actually put my stomach off a bit. I would recommend splitting it or taking half home.
Of course the delicious Espresso Cubano may have contributed to the acid level. I have had it there both with and without cream and sugar, and it is great either way. A beautiful rich complex coffee flavor, it absolutely fills your mouth.
The shop appears to be run by just a few people, and has a very ambitious menu. There are over 20 coffee drinks, and they offer donuts and kolaches as well as paninis. It's a place you want to like, so it's worthwhile to experiment with the menu to find something you enjoy. Definitely a nice addition to the neighborhood.
My Yelp Review
I stopped in for a light lunch. I ordered the Bocadillo panini, which, according to their very active facebook page, has "Jamon Serrano" (Serrano ham, I believe), Manchego cheese, and Spanish tapenade (a spread made from olive oil, garlic, pimientos, red bell peppers, and olives). I had a banana nut muffin and an Espresso Cubano to go with it.
The ambiance of the shop is very nice. Fabric chairs and wood tables, free wifi and board games, all encouraging you to stay awhile. Service was friendly and not rushed. I started with the muffin while I waited for the sandwich. I would say it was a little on the gummy side, but tasty. The sandwich was an interesting and complex experience. The bread was nice and crusty as a panini should be. The sandwich itself is very strong stuff. It is a delicious blend in small doses. But between the ham and the tapenade there was quite a bit of salt, on top of the garlic and peppers. It didn't seem like a large sandwich so I ate the whole thing, but that much powerful seasoning actually put my stomach off a bit. I would recommend splitting it or taking half home.
Of course the delicious Espresso Cubano may have contributed to the acid level. I have had it there both with and without cream and sugar, and it is great either way. A beautiful rich complex coffee flavor, it absolutely fills your mouth.
The shop appears to be run by just a few people, and has a very ambitious menu. There are over 20 coffee drinks, and they offer donuts and kolaches as well as paninis. It's a place you want to like, so it's worthwhile to experiment with the menu to find something you enjoy. Definitely a nice addition to the neighborhood.
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| Banana Nut Muffin |
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| Bocadillo Panini with Espresso Cubano |
My Yelp Review
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Dunkin Donuts at Kuykendahl and 2920
I am not a big donut fan, but the kids love them so we get them regularly. We have our favorite places (currently Snowflake on Gosling is our go-to) but I wanted to see what our Dunkin' Donuts had to offer.
I came at about 8:30 on a Sunday morning. Cars are in the drive-thru, but the door is locked--that was the first sign of trouble. I go ahead and get in the drive-thru line. When I start to give my order, I'm told that they had problems at the store and have a very limited selection--glazed donuts, crullers and cinnamon. They did have kolaches, so I ordered four of those, a cruller, and a couple of glazed, with some coffee. The entire process took about 30 minutes and I ended up paying $16.
One of the reasons the process took 30 minutes is that the guy two cars in front me spent five minutes doing what looked like complaining (obviously I couldn't hear them) to one of the employees at the drive-thru window. So here's an important point--unless the employee you are talking to is obviously part of the problem, they have stepped up to try to hold things together in a difficult situation. If someone caused the problem, that person has bailed. You do not need to take your frustration out on the poor soul left holding down the fort. Going somewhere else would be a much better option. Which I did--after I left I went by Top Donuts and got a dozen in about 5 minutes, for $7.50.
The food is something of an afterthought at this point, but here goes: Their coffee is good, much better than most donut shops. The kolaches were subpar, I think they were from the previous day. Cruller was ok but underdone and I didn't have the stomach for anything more.
I would say this was an unusual situation, but surveying the Yelp reviews, I see that this location has a lot of problems. Certainly there are many better choices for donuts close to hand.
My Yelp Review
I came at about 8:30 on a Sunday morning. Cars are in the drive-thru, but the door is locked--that was the first sign of trouble. I go ahead and get in the drive-thru line. When I start to give my order, I'm told that they had problems at the store and have a very limited selection--glazed donuts, crullers and cinnamon. They did have kolaches, so I ordered four of those, a cruller, and a couple of glazed, with some coffee. The entire process took about 30 minutes and I ended up paying $16.
One of the reasons the process took 30 minutes is that the guy two cars in front me spent five minutes doing what looked like complaining (obviously I couldn't hear them) to one of the employees at the drive-thru window. So here's an important point--unless the employee you are talking to is obviously part of the problem, they have stepped up to try to hold things together in a difficult situation. If someone caused the problem, that person has bailed. You do not need to take your frustration out on the poor soul left holding down the fort. Going somewhere else would be a much better option. Which I did--after I left I went by Top Donuts and got a dozen in about 5 minutes, for $7.50.
The food is something of an afterthought at this point, but here goes: Their coffee is good, much better than most donut shops. The kolaches were subpar, I think they were from the previous day. Cruller was ok but underdone and I didn't have the stomach for anything more.
I would say this was an unusual situation, but surveying the Yelp reviews, I see that this location has a lot of problems. Certainly there are many better choices for donuts close to hand.
My Yelp Review
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Jack in the Box at Rayford and Kuykendahl
I have not been in a Jack in the Box in quite some time, mostly due to
not liking my experiences there on road trips when we've been forced to eat at one. But I decided to
stop in to this one late in the lunch hour on a Saturday. The
restaurant was not crowded at all, in fact when I came I was the only
one there.
What stands out for me with Jack in the Box, besides the funny commercials, is the breadth of the menu. They have burgers and chicken sandwiches, but also salads, tacos, egg rolls, breakfast, "brunchfast", dessert...it goes on forever. Nobody's good at everything, so in my mind such a broad menu in a fast food place means it's that much harder to find what they are actually good at.
But I tried. Right now they are advertising Ribeye burgers, so I had the Havarti and grilled onions one, along with some fries, a drink, and a dessert.
The burger was pretty forgettable. Havarti is a mild cheese, which should allow the flavor of the meat to come through, but it had no chance because the patty was dry and overdone, like your average McDonalds burger. Not awful, but I would order something else next time.
The fries were also like McDonalds fries, and in this case it's a compliment. They were hot, crisp, and perfectly seasoned, just like Mickey D's. They have one of those Coke Freestyle machines--this one was stocked and working, but the interface was a bit laggy so I kept getting the wrong drink selection. The more I use those things the less I like them.
I have not seen chocolate cake and cheesecake on too many fast food menus--again, Jack in the Box spreads itself thin. I had the Chocolate Overload, and it was fine, kind of like a packaged snack cake from the grocery store is fine.
The bathrooms were just barely acceptable, serviceable but on the grungy side. Don't know that I'd be happy changing a baby there.
As neighborhood options go, it's not terrible and not overpriced, my combo without dessert was only $8. But not anything I'd go out of my way for.
My Yelp Review
What stands out for me with Jack in the Box, besides the funny commercials, is the breadth of the menu. They have burgers and chicken sandwiches, but also salads, tacos, egg rolls, breakfast, "brunchfast", dessert...it goes on forever. Nobody's good at everything, so in my mind such a broad menu in a fast food place means it's that much harder to find what they are actually good at.
But I tried. Right now they are advertising Ribeye burgers, so I had the Havarti and grilled onions one, along with some fries, a drink, and a dessert.
The burger was pretty forgettable. Havarti is a mild cheese, which should allow the flavor of the meat to come through, but it had no chance because the patty was dry and overdone, like your average McDonalds burger. Not awful, but I would order something else next time.
The fries were also like McDonalds fries, and in this case it's a compliment. They were hot, crisp, and perfectly seasoned, just like Mickey D's. They have one of those Coke Freestyle machines--this one was stocked and working, but the interface was a bit laggy so I kept getting the wrong drink selection. The more I use those things the less I like them.
I have not seen chocolate cake and cheesecake on too many fast food menus--again, Jack in the Box spreads itself thin. I had the Chocolate Overload, and it was fine, kind of like a packaged snack cake from the grocery store is fine.
The bathrooms were just barely acceptable, serviceable but on the grungy side. Don't know that I'd be happy changing a baby there.
As neighborhood options go, it's not terrible and not overpriced, my combo without dessert was only $8. But not anything I'd go out of my way for.
My Yelp Review
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Marble Slab Creamery/Great American Cookie Company at Grand Parkway Marketplace
My daughter and I were out looking for a place to eat on Saturday, and ended up somewhere I've reviewed already. So we stopped in at the new Marble Slab for
dessert. Marble Slab is all about the mixins, and I've had them at other locations, but this time we went
simpler. My daughter ordered a raspberry cone, and I ordered a
chocolate sundae. Service was reasonably polite and responsive. My
daughter liked the raspberry ice cream--she commented that it was pretty
soft, but they do that on purpose for the mixins. She did not like the
waffle cone--it had very little flavor and was somewhat stale. I was
pretty sure my server heard my order, but I didn't actually get a
sundae--I got a vanilla shake with fudge sauce instead. Same price and
it was tasty, but the fudge didn't really mix into the ice cream, most of it stuck to the side of the cup. I
don't think I would deliberately ask for a shake there.
This Marble Slab has two gender-neutral single seat restrooms--a plus for faster access, since it's a pretty regular occurrence that two people of the same gender need to use a restroom at the same time. They were quite clean though they looked a bit aged for the length of time the location has been open.
Overall, my daughter said this was no Baskin-Robbins, which I found pretty funny. I've had better.
This Marble Slab has two gender-neutral single seat restrooms--a plus for faster access, since it's a pretty regular occurrence that two people of the same gender need to use a restroom at the same time. They were quite clean though they looked a bit aged for the length of time the location has been open.
Overall, my daughter said this was no Baskin-Robbins, which I found pretty funny. I've had better.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Salata at Grand Parkway Shopping Center
Salad is not normally my thing--barbecue and burgers are a more comfortable beat. But I am determined to broaden my food horizons, so I stopped in on a fairly busy Sunday to see what this place is
about--I have not been to a Salata before. It's like Subway or Pie Five
for salads, as opposed to a salad bar. You tell your salad builder the
ingredients and they build it for you. I like to be complete in the
description of what I order, so here goes--a small salad with
Spinach
Spring greens
Cucumbers
Celery greens
Jicama
Corn
Hard boiled egg
Smoked turkey
Pumpkin seeds
Spicy chipotle ranch dressing
Pita chips
...and a cup of broccoli soup.
The shop is not that big, but the salad selections are more diverse than a normal salad bar since they do not have to make ingredients reachable from under a sneeze guard. You can go nuts on ingredients--I tried to be moderate, but it's hard in the face of all the choices. My intention to eat "healthy" went by the boards and I ended up with a meal well over 1000 calories. Calories are posted on every item, so it was easy to add up just how much I had loaded on. Service was polite but not noticeable, which in a place like this is just fine.
The portion size is huge. You get a pretty generous bowl for the "small", three broadminded people could easily share one, or you could get it to go and make multiple meals from it.
Overall I enjoyed the salad, though since salads are not something I normally order I am not an expert at constructing one. The one strong preference I have is that spinach is the best salad base--most greens have no flavor or are bitter. I just picked whatever looked good and resolved to like it. It was filling, and the spicy chipotle ranch dressing actually has a kick to it. The pita chips were delicious, nice and crisp and salty.
The soup was something of a surprise. On the menu it is "broccoli" soup, and one usually expects that to be cheesy or creamy. This one was a little creamy, but they should have called it "broccoli-artichoke" soup, since there was a lot of artichoke in it. I'm not a fan of artichoke, to me it is overly sharp and sour, but if you like artichoke you would like the soup.
Yelp regularly asks if the restrooms are gender neutral. In Salata they are not, but they might as well be--it's two single-person bathrooms. The men's room was in use so I didn't get to see how clean they were.
The tea bar is cute. I went with standard black tea, which was very strong and held up well to being diluted with ice. Decor is otherwise extremely neutral, an eggplant wall with a saying on it and that's about it.
The pricing can be a bit confusing. You start with a $7 bowl for a small, but proteins are extra, and there are other add-ons. By the time I added a drink and a tip I was up to $16.
Overall a good place if you like salad. A bit expensive, but you get plenty for the money.
Spinach
Spring greens
Cucumbers
Celery greens
Jicama
Corn
Hard boiled egg
Smoked turkey
Pumpkin seeds
Spicy chipotle ranch dressing
Pita chips
...and a cup of broccoli soup.
 |
| My soup and salad |
The shop is not that big, but the salad selections are more diverse than a normal salad bar since they do not have to make ingredients reachable from under a sneeze guard. You can go nuts on ingredients--I tried to be moderate, but it's hard in the face of all the choices. My intention to eat "healthy" went by the boards and I ended up with a meal well over 1000 calories. Calories are posted on every item, so it was easy to add up just how much I had loaded on. Service was polite but not noticeable, which in a place like this is just fine.
The portion size is huge. You get a pretty generous bowl for the "small", three broadminded people could easily share one, or you could get it to go and make multiple meals from it.
Overall I enjoyed the salad, though since salads are not something I normally order I am not an expert at constructing one. The one strong preference I have is that spinach is the best salad base--most greens have no flavor or are bitter. I just picked whatever looked good and resolved to like it. It was filling, and the spicy chipotle ranch dressing actually has a kick to it. The pita chips were delicious, nice and crisp and salty.
The soup was something of a surprise. On the menu it is "broccoli" soup, and one usually expects that to be cheesy or creamy. This one was a little creamy, but they should have called it "broccoli-artichoke" soup, since there was a lot of artichoke in it. I'm not a fan of artichoke, to me it is overly sharp and sour, but if you like artichoke you would like the soup.
Yelp regularly asks if the restrooms are gender neutral. In Salata they are not, but they might as well be--it's two single-person bathrooms. The men's room was in use so I didn't get to see how clean they were.
The tea bar is cute. I went with standard black tea, which was very strong and held up well to being diluted with ice. Decor is otherwise extremely neutral, an eggplant wall with a saying on it and that's about it.
The pricing can be a bit confusing. You start with a $7 bowl for a small, but proteins are extra, and there are other add-ons. By the time I added a drink and a tip I was up to $16.
Overall a good place if you like salad. A bit expensive, but you get plenty for the money.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Slim Chickens
Slim Chickens is a relatively new chain--it's been around for a decade, so one could say it has been pretty successful. Our location across from Spring Crossing shopping center has been open for about a year but I had not been in yet,
so I stopped to give it a try. In my opinion it's pretty hard to cook
white meat chicken tenders so that they are really enjoyable, but I
wanted to see if they were up to the challenge. I stopped in for lunch
on a moderately busy Saturday.
The restaurant itself is pretty basic on the inside. Plenty of seating indoors and out. They have four TVs that were showing sports when I was there, but all have the sound off so it isn't obtrusive.
Slim Chickens' menu is very basic, all chicken. You can get it in wing, tender, sandwich, or grilled in salad form. They have a chicken and waffles plate on offer, and I am looking for good chicken and waffles, so I went for that with a side of Ranch Chips - homemade potato chips.
Slim Chickens brings the food to your table, so I sat and watched the games while my order was prepared. This took some time, close to 20 minutes, which is no so "quick", as their website states is a goal - quick, good chicken.
The chips were my favorite part of the meal. Most were crispy, some were not, but the variation in texture made them more interesting. They had a tasty ranch dressing seasoning. I would take them over french fries any day. The waffle was fluffy and tasted very freshly prepared, which might have accounted for the wait and made it somewhat worthwhile. They put the syrup on for you--I think I'd like it better if I had a pitcher or packets and could do that for myself.
The disappointing part was the chicken. Definitely dry and overcooked, which is how I find most chicken fingers to be. Every once in awhile I get good ones, which is how I know it's possible. For chicken to work well with chicken and waffles, the batter has to be pretty crisp, and fairly salty to hold up to the sweetness of the syrup. This batter was neither--it was close to crisp enough, but not much seasoning so all I tasted was breaded chicken with syrup.
The restrooms were so-so. OK clean but no soap in the dispenser. Don't make us tell you the restroom is not OK--check on it!
Overall it didn't change my mind about chicken fingers, I still won't order them from Slim Chickens or most places.
The restaurant itself is pretty basic on the inside. Plenty of seating indoors and out. They have four TVs that were showing sports when I was there, but all have the sound off so it isn't obtrusive.
Slim Chickens' menu is very basic, all chicken. You can get it in wing, tender, sandwich, or grilled in salad form. They have a chicken and waffles plate on offer, and I am looking for good chicken and waffles, so I went for that with a side of Ranch Chips - homemade potato chips.
Slim Chickens brings the food to your table, so I sat and watched the games while my order was prepared. This took some time, close to 20 minutes, which is no so "quick", as their website states is a goal - quick, good chicken.
The chips were my favorite part of the meal. Most were crispy, some were not, but the variation in texture made them more interesting. They had a tasty ranch dressing seasoning. I would take them over french fries any day. The waffle was fluffy and tasted very freshly prepared, which might have accounted for the wait and made it somewhat worthwhile. They put the syrup on for you--I think I'd like it better if I had a pitcher or packets and could do that for myself.
The disappointing part was the chicken. Definitely dry and overcooked, which is how I find most chicken fingers to be. Every once in awhile I get good ones, which is how I know it's possible. For chicken to work well with chicken and waffles, the batter has to be pretty crisp, and fairly salty to hold up to the sweetness of the syrup. This batter was neither--it was close to crisp enough, but not much seasoning so all I tasted was breaded chicken with syrup.
The restrooms were so-so. OK clean but no soap in the dispenser. Don't make us tell you the restroom is not OK--check on it!
Overall it didn't change my mind about chicken fingers, I still won't order them from Slim Chickens or most places.
 |
| My gold plate special - all food in the same color range! |
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Corner Store Exxon at Rayford and Gosling
This is the gas station I usually use on the way to work. I've been inside a couple of times but have never eaten there. They do have what looks to be a good food selection so I got some hot food on the way to the Woodlands the other day.
As a gas station, it's a good one. The pumps are new and work well, though right now they are impacted by Harvey and are still having trouble getting all grades of gasoline. The bathrooms are above-average clean for a gas station and are very modern. It looks like a great place to buy beer--they have a selection equivalent to a grocery store and a dedicated walk-in cooler.
The food is another story. I've seen the food well-stocked, but when I went in at noon on a Saturday I was disappointed. They didn't have the chopped beef sandwich or sriracha burger that they advertised as a special. I think they were understaffed and didn't manage to stock. I ended up with a sausage on a stick and a choice off the roller grill. They did have a good variety there, including a breakfast sausage that was tempting, but in the end I went with a pepperoni pizza grilled sausage, with some "chili" and cheese from the dispensers. Gourmet food it was not, but actually not half bad. I'm trying to do more pictures now, but this food was not picture-worthy.
The sanitary conditions for the food were good. The buns were individually wrapped, and the drink cup lids were in dispensers that cut down on fingering the stack. They had two Freestyle machines, and both appeared to be working properly, which you can't take for granted.
As gas station cuisine goes, it's probably lowest on my list. The others in the area all make food to order, and Laredo Taco Company in the Stripes at 99 and Hildebrandt on Kuykendall is actually my favorite in the area.
The gas is a bit above average in price, but it's convenient and I'm happy to patronize it.
Check out my Yelp review.
As a gas station, it's a good one. The pumps are new and work well, though right now they are impacted by Harvey and are still having trouble getting all grades of gasoline. The bathrooms are above-average clean for a gas station and are very modern. It looks like a great place to buy beer--they have a selection equivalent to a grocery store and a dedicated walk-in cooler.
The food is another story. I've seen the food well-stocked, but when I went in at noon on a Saturday I was disappointed. They didn't have the chopped beef sandwich or sriracha burger that they advertised as a special. I think they were understaffed and didn't manage to stock. I ended up with a sausage on a stick and a choice off the roller grill. They did have a good variety there, including a breakfast sausage that was tempting, but in the end I went with a pepperoni pizza grilled sausage, with some "chili" and cheese from the dispensers. Gourmet food it was not, but actually not half bad. I'm trying to do more pictures now, but this food was not picture-worthy.
The sanitary conditions for the food were good. The buns were individually wrapped, and the drink cup lids were in dispensers that cut down on fingering the stack. They had two Freestyle machines, and both appeared to be working properly, which you can't take for granted.
As gas station cuisine goes, it's probably lowest on my list. The others in the area all make food to order, and Laredo Taco Company in the Stripes at 99 and Hildebrandt on Kuykendall is actually my favorite in the area.
The gas is a bit above average in price, but it's convenient and I'm happy to patronize it.
Check out my Yelp review.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Swing Zone - Caveat Emptor
I used to be an avid golfer. Played for 10 years and never broke 100, which pretty much cured me, but I still play mini golf and Top Golf occasionally, and keep an eye on simulators because I think that's the future of the game. So I was really looking forward to trying Swing Zone. Hang on, because this is a rather long review. My experience had a lot of highs and lows, and if you go you should know what you are getting into.
Swing Zone is mainly a bar and golf place, but they do advertise that
they have food. This is a food blog, so we'll start there. They have some standard bar snacks, but their kitchen
equipment seems to be limited to a microwave, a panini press, and
something to heat up cheese for nachos and such. I ordered a chicken
salad panini and some chips and queso, with a Coke. After hitting balls
for a bit I sat back to wait for the food. The furniture is quite
comfortable and encourages group interaction. They have nice big
screens with golf playing. All pretty pleasant.
After a bit my panini comes out. It's decent chicken salad, nothing to write home about but competent. I would not expect super quick service if the place was crowded.
Then the manager comes out and said he was not happy with how the cheese sauce came out so he started over. I'm not in a hurry so no problem, and I appreciate that they were forthright and wanted to serve a good product.
About 10 minutes later I get the chips and queso. The queso is fine, but the chips are a disappointment. I got the tail end of a bag--somewhat stale chips, mostly in fragments. When I'm alone I'll put fragments directly in the cheese and eat it like porridge, but that's not acceptable for a group.
I eat what I want from the chip fragments, then turn back to the simulator. I played nine holes on their beginner course and had a grand time with all the bells and whistles.
The simulator technology was completely amazing. I have been thinking about how I would do something like this for many years, and they hit all the buttons. There's simulated rough and sand that is somewhat realistic. Chipping and putting are effectively simulated, though the putting is touchy. You get swing analysis, including video and statistics. The course simulation reminds me of the WGT online golf game, which is very good. The floor even moves to simulate hanging lies. I was floored.
The atmosphere in the place is very much upscale sports place. The furniture is dark, luxurious and comfortable, encouraging groups. Bathrooms are spotless and comfortable. All very fine. One small atmosphere point--if you bring your own clubs you should bring a stand bag or something else to hold them, there are no racks provided.
The place was empty when I came. Some other people came through but I was the only player. Staff was attentive and polite, and set me up in a bay. I did not know it at the time but this is where some of the trouble began.
I signed the waivers and such, but we did not discuss how pricing worked before the attendant got me started hitting some practice shots. Then I sat down to enjoy the relaxed, unhurried lunch described above, followed by those very enjoyable nine holes of simulated golf.
Now comes the bill. $72!!! Pricing is $35 per hour, adding $5 per hour for each player up to three, and up to six can share for $45 per hour. That's very reasonable--but they started my clock when they assigned the bay to me. Waiting for, and eating, lunch cost me another $35. No mention of this at any point.
I think if I would have thrown a fit they would have made some kind of adjustment, but that shouldn't be necessary. I got my pricing info by looking it up for myself on the phone--that should have been part of the introduction at the door.
I've played at Top Golf, and pricing is very similar. Swing Zone wins on technology and it's not even close, but if you want to eat, Top Golf food is better by a similar margin. I'll come back, but...caveat emptor! Come knowing what you want. And probably eat somewhere else, and just get a beer at Swing Zone.
Check out my Yelp Review of Swing Zone.
 |
| The chicken salad panini--it was OK |
 |
| The chips and queso--not acceptable |
After a bit my panini comes out. It's decent chicken salad, nothing to write home about but competent. I would not expect super quick service if the place was crowded.
Then the manager comes out and said he was not happy with how the cheese sauce came out so he started over. I'm not in a hurry so no problem, and I appreciate that they were forthright and wanted to serve a good product.
About 10 minutes later I get the chips and queso. The queso is fine, but the chips are a disappointment. I got the tail end of a bag--somewhat stale chips, mostly in fragments. When I'm alone I'll put fragments directly in the cheese and eat it like porridge, but that's not acceptable for a group.
I eat what I want from the chip fragments, then turn back to the simulator. I played nine holes on their beginner course and had a grand time with all the bells and whistles.
The simulator technology was completely amazing. I have been thinking about how I would do something like this for many years, and they hit all the buttons. There's simulated rough and sand that is somewhat realistic. Chipping and putting are effectively simulated, though the putting is touchy. You get swing analysis, including video and statistics. The course simulation reminds me of the WGT online golf game, which is very good. The floor even moves to simulate hanging lies. I was floored.
The atmosphere in the place is very much upscale sports place. The furniture is dark, luxurious and comfortable, encouraging groups. Bathrooms are spotless and comfortable. All very fine. One small atmosphere point--if you bring your own clubs you should bring a stand bag or something else to hold them, there are no racks provided.
The place was empty when I came. Some other people came through but I was the only player. Staff was attentive and polite, and set me up in a bay. I did not know it at the time but this is where some of the trouble began.
I signed the waivers and such, but we did not discuss how pricing worked before the attendant got me started hitting some practice shots. Then I sat down to enjoy the relaxed, unhurried lunch described above, followed by those very enjoyable nine holes of simulated golf.
Now comes the bill. $72!!! Pricing is $35 per hour, adding $5 per hour for each player up to three, and up to six can share for $45 per hour. That's very reasonable--but they started my clock when they assigned the bay to me. Waiting for, and eating, lunch cost me another $35. No mention of this at any point.
I think if I would have thrown a fit they would have made some kind of adjustment, but that shouldn't be necessary. I got my pricing info by looking it up for myself on the phone--that should have been part of the introduction at the door.
I've played at Top Golf, and pricing is very similar. Swing Zone wins on technology and it's not even close, but if you want to eat, Top Golf food is better by a similar margin. I'll come back, but...caveat emptor! Come knowing what you want. And probably eat somewhere else, and just get a beer at Swing Zone.
Check out my Yelp Review of Swing Zone.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Introductions
Hello neighbors! This blog is focused on the restaurant/food truck/gas station cuisine in the immediate neighborhood of Northampton here in Spring, TX. My family enjoys eating out, but we tend to go to the same small set of places we know we will all like. About a year ago I decided I wanted to branch out. I started eating at local places of all kinds, trying to apply some real judgment to how I liked to food and atmosphere (if any). I've been posting reviews on Yelp and on Nextdoor Northampton and enjoying the conversations.
What kinds of places to eat interest me? The short answer is anything--anything at all--in this area. I've reviewed over 50 local places to eat and have yet to travel more than 3 miles from our home. It may seem a bit odd to review the Walmart deli or a gas station lunch counter, but you eat there, so I do too. By the way, my favorite surprising place I have eaten so far is the Laredo Taco Company inside the Stripes at 99 and Hildebrandt. Gas station cuisine is trending.
My purpose here is to give you, my friends and neighbors, useful information on just about anywhere you might eat in this area. My intent is to point out what I like about a place, and give constructive criticism of the food, service or atmosphere if it is warranted. I like local places and want them to succeed, so it's pretty rare that I'll recommend not patronizing an establishment. I particularly value comments that correct me if I get something wrong about a place or a cuisine--after all, that's how we learn.
I'm looking forward to sharing my very short-range excursions with you. Feel free to jump in and share your food stories. Happy local eating!
What kinds of places to eat interest me? The short answer is anything--anything at all--in this area. I've reviewed over 50 local places to eat and have yet to travel more than 3 miles from our home. It may seem a bit odd to review the Walmart deli or a gas station lunch counter, but you eat there, so I do too. By the way, my favorite surprising place I have eaten so far is the Laredo Taco Company inside the Stripes at 99 and Hildebrandt. Gas station cuisine is trending.
My purpose here is to give you, my friends and neighbors, useful information on just about anywhere you might eat in this area. My intent is to point out what I like about a place, and give constructive criticism of the food, service or atmosphere if it is warranted. I like local places and want them to succeed, so it's pretty rare that I'll recommend not patronizing an establishment. I particularly value comments that correct me if I get something wrong about a place or a cuisine--after all, that's how we learn.
I'm looking forward to sharing my very short-range excursions with you. Feel free to jump in and share your food stories. Happy local eating!
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