Plymouth Bar and Grill

Great Location and Rooftop

It was a beautiful day in Chicago, which made going to a rooftop for lunch a perfect option.  The whole crew from work went out to lunch and I have to say, the Plymouth really accommodated us, right down to 20 separate checks.  The service was really very good! 

Everyone enjoyed their lunches, I personally got their wings, 10 for $8.99.  They were meaty and perfectly cooked, though their sauce lacked zing.  But I didn't mind because the chicken was quite good.  

I will definitely go back for lunch, maybe an after dinner drink or two as well!  

R Public House

Good Neighborhood Place

R Public House is a great neighborhood spot, that I haven't been to in a while.  I thought that I would pop in for a quick bite and a beer or two rather than sitting home. The beer prices were really good, with $3 Stellas.

I started with the Cheddar Bacon Soup, which was great.  Usually I get this kind of soup and it is killer salty, but this was done just right, with a hint of bacon and a soft cheddar taste.  Unfortunately the wings were not so good.  I ordered the Jerk wings, which were small, not meaty at all, They were very dry, salty and over cooked.  I would not recommend the wings, 

Overall, I recommend R Public House, great drinks and overall a really good menu.  

Cajun King - Oklahoma City

Dat Dere be Goooood! 

I was skeptical, mainly because this place really did not look all that special from the outside, but it came highly recommended by my friends in OKC. 

Walking in, you pay at the door, and I will say....the food bill was awesome!  $14 for dinner and a beer.  

This is a buffet, a dream buffet of some SERIOUS home cooked cajun food.  I am highly disappointed that I did not have enough room in my stomach to try every single thing in the buffet.  

You are started off by getting a basket of catfish strips put on the table with honey mustard.  This was the first key indicator that the buffet was going to ROCK!  The strips were DAMM good!  

Everything I tried was great, the gumbo kicked butt, I wont go into details, but overall, it is worth the trip!  Everything was loaded with goodness and you leave there, not wanting more.  VERY authentic and not your typical strip mall joint.  

I can not recommend this place enough.  Just go there and experience it for yourself!  

Chicago Style!

River Valley Farmer's Table - Lincoln Square Chicago

Brunch in Lincoln Square

First Impressions are important and this place didn't start well.  I took a seat, after asking if it was okay, and it took a little more than 15 minutes for anyone to bring us a menu.  Once we did order, service was a tad slow, and the place was not all that busy.

To start, I ordered a Bloody Mary.  They make their Mary's with fresh tomato and you can tell that they do.  It was quite good, but at $10, it severely lacked vodka.  If there was some, I could not taste it.  Which is sad, because the base was really good.

I followed this up with their wild mushroom and egg taco.  You get two really big tacos, which are too big to eat like a taco, but that is okay.  They are stuffed with black beans, a healthy helping of a mushroom remoulade of sorts and a bit of egg on top.  I did enjoy them quite a bit, so there was no disappointment with the food.  The items were all fresh, so it tool a little longer than usual to get the food from the kitchen, but that was no problem for me.

Overall, service was good, very friendly albeit a tad slow.  The food was really good, the endless mimosas that my friends got seemed to hit the spot.  The Bloodies, if you don't like them strong, you are in for a treat!  The coffee is also pretty darn good!

Would I go back?  Yes, I would.  Ill pass on the drinks, but the food is well worth the trip.  A word to the wise, if you sit outside, you are under the Brown Line Tracks, so it can get pretty noisy. If you don't mind that, you are good to go!

How 15 Scotch Whiskies Got Their Names

Like Whiskey?  Some fun facts!

http://m.mentalfloss.com/article.php?id=64225

Firehouse Subs - LOOP

Firehouse Subs - LOOP

Ok, new place, I'll give it a try.

My #FoodBill was $9.75 for the New York (Pastrami and Corned Beef.) 6 inch plus chips and a drink.

I was a bit disappointed.  As you can see, it is lacking in meat!!!  I can get a better sandwich at some of the local non-chain places for a better price.  Maybe not in the Loop, but still.  

On another note, it was good, so it made up for what it lacked in substance.  Would I go back?  Yeah, maybe, but I will order something else.  I always believe in second chances!

Casey Moore's Oyster House - Tempe Az

Oysters in Phoenix?

Who would have thunk it?  But there are and they are dang good!

I was in Phoenix for a night, after a weekend of travel in southern Az, I was tired and in need of some good food.  I googled up places around my hotel room and found what looked to be a curious find, Casey Moore's.  What the heck, I'll try it!  

To start, the french onion soup was quite good, the perfect mix of sweet and salty, nice after taste of the cheese to mix.  The oysters were the headline, so I tried them, being weary at first, knowing how hard it is to move these things around the world.   I was floored, big, juicy and FRESH! The price for a dozen was pretty good to boot!  Round that off with some seriously good wings, with just the right kick and a HUGE salad for my friend.  I was pretty happy.  Overall, with a couple drinks, the FoodBill was quite reasonable.  

Absolutely, not a place to go to on a Friday or Saturday night, from what I hear and since ASU was out for the summer, it was a bit more quiet on the sunday evening I was there.  But, this place looks to get BUSY when school is in session.  Good music and friendly staff to boot!

  

Mo's BBQ - Humble Texas

Decent Lunch Time BBQ

I always enjoy hitting up Mo's for lunch when I am visiting Houston.  It serves up some good BBQ at a decent price.  

I personally am a fan of their brisket and the dirty rice really makes it a good meal.  They pickle and pepper bar is pretty decent as well.  

This is short and sweet, but the point is, at a decent FoodBill, you cant go wrong with Mo's for lunch if you are working out at IAH!  

My 2 cents!

Hema's Kitchen - Rogers Park

A New Favorite Indian Place!

The picture which I took, does not do the food here much justice.

The place had been recommended to me for a long time and I recently stumbled across it by chance while strolling down Devon.  I had to slide in and give it a try.

 The spicy tomato soup before the dinner had me sold from the beginning.  We also had the vegetable Pakaros, which were perfect.  There were also gluten free options, which for my friend, made the trip even better.  The entrees, were perfectly spiced, my murg malai tikka was great and the vindaloo was just right.  You got plenty of rice and the Chapati and the papadam made it a well rounded meal.

In the end, the price was less than $40 for a seriously big lunch, with coffees.  I am sold on Hema's, I am spoiled after my venture here.  I will definitely hit is up again.

Hard 8 BBQ - Coppell Texas

Seriously Good BBQ

I have been here twice and both times, Have been impressive.  This past time, I got the $27.50 Rib Eye Steak, with two sides, it was outstanding!  

The meat was perfectly cooked and lightly seasoned, the sides were very complimentary to the meat and the bean pot, rocked!  I have tried both the buttered and the roasted corn, you cant go wrong with either.  The only drawback is that the steak takes a little longer that if you are just getting your meat from the grill on the tray. If no one else is getting a steak, you will be a bit behind the curve.  But it is worth it!

On top of it all, they put together a pretty good Margarita as well!

I know that they have several locations, I went to the one in Coppell Tx,  I fed 4 people for less than $100, you can not beat that anywhere!  This is a must go, no questions asked!

VIDEO: Chicago-Style Hot Dog Pitted Against New York’s, L.A.’s « CBS Chicago

NY and LA have hot dogs?

The Chicago Dog, my absolute favorite food of the gods.

My constant hunt for the ultimate dog is on going.  I have my favorites that I will drive an hour for and a few quick fix joints.

The video is fun ... Condolences to NY and LA, hard to nail it down since there is no typical LA dog.  Throw whatever on a bun and voila, it is trendy and they will eat it.

Chicago however, is hard corps and Chicagoans can be militant about the dog.  There are no exceptions ... Ketchup?  GET OUT!  (children under 12 excepted).    Personally, my favs, Byrons, Portillo's and Gene & Jude's.

Enjoy!


VIDEO: Chicago-Style Hot Dog Pitted Against New York’s, L.A.’s « CBS Chicago

Union Sushi and Barbeque Bar

Decent, but no wow factor

I recently went to Union sushi for a quick bite and have to say, as the sushi snob that I am, it was ok, but no wow factor.  

I for their california roll, spicy shrimp Roll, Shiitake Mushroom Roll and the Pickle roll.  They were all decent, but I loved the pickle roll.  The others were pretty average, but good.  All, as expected for that area, a bit on the expensive side.  

I also got the sauteed maitake mushrooms, which were really good.  I did enjoy those very much and the mushroom soup, which was bland and not that good.  

The tables are small, to pack in the crowd, the music was loud as was the general atmosphere.  It was hard to hold a conversation.  I would not recommend this place for a date, but to just hang with friends, it is okay, which is why it was fine for my trip there.  

Overall, I don't think I would go back.  I can get better sushi for a better price in the less trendy areas of the city.  I'll leave this place to the beautiful twentysomethings which seemed to love it.  

Decent sushi, no wow and a significant foob bill - 3 stars.  

Byron's - Lakeview

HOT DOG IN PARADISE

My favorite place to go for a dog.  It reminds me of the old days when Tasty Pup was on the NW side, or what was called a "garden" dog at some of the local dog joints.  

The jumbo comes with all the usual fixings plus green pepper, cucumber and lettuce.  Basically a salad on a dog.  Really huge, you need two hands to navigate this one.  

Top it off with some really great fries and out door seating on a nice day.  I'm in!  

I highly recommend Byron's for a great hot dog, burgers, grilled chicken - all of it is good.  

Tokyo Lunch Boxes & Catering

DO NOT EAT HERE

I ordered spicy shrimp roll at the 300 S Riverside location in Chicago and I paid $6.50 for it.  I ate a couple pieces and noticed it was hard on the inside.  When I looked into the rolls i saw that there was NO SHRIMP!!!  It was all panko breading with a bit of hot sauce.

I lived in Japan and eat sushi regularly, usually spicy shrimp is Shrimp and hot sauce.  Shrimp tempura roll has some breading but at least it has shrimp!  

I will never eat there again and hope to spread the word on this place. What a total scam!  Now I am out $7.

Tokyo Lunch Boxes & Catering:

'via Blog this'

Uncle Julio's - Skokie

Decent Mexican at a good price

The warm salsa is really good....a good tell that a Mexican place will be good.  the chips were light and crispy, salted just right and mixed well with the salsa,

The Fresh Margarita (no mix, just limes and alcohol) rocked.  I would have ordered another one if I didn't have to drive.

The tacos were basic.  Nothing to rave about, but they were good and I enjoyed them.  The rice, was okay and the beans were really good!

The service was attentive and very good.  I was impressed with the location, it was done very well.  I didn't know Uncle Julio's was in Skokie, I was used to the city location.  I enjoyed it and the price was about $20 per person +/+.  Good place for a date, the only drawback, it is in old orchard mall, so at certain times, parking (in a huge lot) can still be difficult.

Tortoise Club

One Heck of a time!

An outstanding group outing, a private room, 22 friends and a $3500.00 Tab (mostly booze).  

A good friend set up a wonderful evening in one of the private rooms of the Club on a Sunday evening.  Sadly, we were pretty much the only ones in the whole place.  

To start with, the Service was absolutely outstanding.  This was what made the entire experience worth the $150.00 per person tab. Our waiter was a total showman and on his A game for the entire evening.  

The drinks were good and average priced for Downtown.  we put down Quite a few of those.  The appetizers were amazing, personally I had a mix of east and west coast oysters.  Perfectly chilled, sweet and salty, very fresh and with a light vinegar dip.   

The second course was a cream of asparagus soup, which was perfect.  Not too salty, creamy and light, at the perfect temperature.  The courses were timed perfectly, never during the meal did we feel rushed.  

Main Course was the Berkshire Pork Chop with grits and asparagus.  Wow.... I was in heaven.  Sorry for the sloppy picture, I had to dive in to it when it came, so I messed up the presentation.  

Overall, Mainly because of all the drinking, the tab was high, but if you will moderate your libations, the dinner tab was not that bad.  Probably about $60.00 per person +/+.  

Great place for a date, the ambiance is nice, the bar is great, service is outstanding.  I highly recommend the Tortoise Club for a nice night out.  

Four Stars in my book

Miss Ricky's

Comfort Food in Style 

Miss Ricky's is the new eatery in the Virgin Hotel Chicago.  It is great because it is simple and has the basics in comfort food.  The menu is simple with all the staples in diner food and 24 hour breakfasts.  On the fun side, the screens were showing old Godzilla flicks which brought a few smiles.

I started off with the Shrimp and Crab dip.  It was really good.  The dip was full of big chunks of crab and shrimp.  Strong cheese and just enough salt.  They brought out more crusty bread if needed as well, so that made it perfect!

Next step was the Tres Leches French Toast with roasted pineapple and maple syrup.  I liked this because it came out with just the right amount of sweetness for my tastes.  I am diabetic, so I shy away from these things but I could not resist.  It hit the spot and the mix of pineapple and maple syrup was perfect.


The service was prompt, friendly and very attentive.  It was a team effort of three people and I totally enjoyed the experience

The only disappointment were the bloody marys.  Touted as outstanding, I found them to be rather bland.  There was plenty of vodka, but no kick.  It was essentially vodka, tomato juice, a celery stalk and a salted rim.  Nothing to write home about.

For $12, I expected to be wow'd, but it didn't happen.

The riesling was good (for $9) and the coffee was great.

I recommend this place for a date, it was quiet and you could have a conversation.  An app, an entree, three drinks and coffee was $63 with tax.  For the Loop, I have to say, it was a pretty good deal.

Im going to give it three stars, mainly because the drinks disappointed and nothing really WOW'd me.  However, this place would rock a brunch.  I plan to try that some time and I may change my rating.  But if I am going to go to the Virgin after work, I prefer the Commons.  Better food, great drinks and the same excellent service.

Fish City Grill - Dallas Tx

I had the opportunity to dine here a little while ago and had a great time!  First of all, they had some seriously good music on the patio, which is what drew me in.

Pair that up with some decent drinks and you have the fixings for a great time.  Of course, I tried the Bill's Bloody Mary, which wasn't the best, but it was strong and tasty, garnished with a shrimp!

The oysters were decent, but my entree was quite good as well.  I had to go with the Shrimp and Grits.  BAM!  Good Stuff.  I had no complaints about the dinner at all.
It was a bit loud, but the service was good and attentive.  Not the best for conversation or a quiet date, but definitely a place to go for a fun evening out.

Overall the price wasn't bad.  Oysters,  dinner and a few drinks for 2, about $100.

For something different, for us road warriors, I would recommend it for a try!

Neighborhood Thai - Rogers Park's Siam Pasta

A usual default of mine for Taai delivery, I rarely go there to sit and seat.  I did this weekend and was reminded of what a decent place Siam Pasta is.  Their food is consistently good and the sit down area is very nice and quiet.  Since I have been to Thailand several times, I can be very particular with my choices of Thai places.

I enjoyed the shrimp egg rolls, tom yum soup and the red curry with shrimp.  All of it was really good, a bit lacking on the spice, but I can understand that.  I like things HOT.  The service is friendly and attentive, the food comes out quick and you dont feel rushed.

A good spot for going for a Thai fix with friends.  Maybe not a date place, unless you are comfortable with each other and are into seeking out off the beaten path joints.  I highly recommend Siam Pasta!

  It gets 4 stars for consistent good food, fast and friendly service.

Phillip's Foote - Sydney Australia

Steak on the Barbie

A night out on the town in the Rocks area just off the Circular Quay station.  

Phillip's Foote was a fun stop for dinner.  Again, what I find is common in Sydney, a do it your self style place, it was affordable and quite good.  

You buy your drinks at the bar, the prices for drinks were comparable, but you get less.  The normal size for a beer is not a pint here, it is a Schooner, slightly smaller than a pint, but for the same price.  

The Steak, which you cook yourself on a grill was $32.  You get a good cut of beef, potatoes and salad bar.  Overall, I have to say that I was impressed with the location and the food.  I had a great time there, but the friends I was with, made it that much better.  Cheers to Qantas for organizing this wonderful outing!  

I highly recommend Phillip's Foote for a nice dinner in the Rocks area of Sydney  

Shriners Fund Raiser for the Shriners Hospital

Shriners know how to do it!

Now this is a $65 cut of prime rib!  All for raising money for the kids and it was a fun night!  

Cargo Bar - Sydney

Not Bad for a Weds Night

My first night out in Sydney after the conference was a quiet dinner out in the city.  

We went to this place on the wharf off of Pyrmont Bridge.  They offered a $10 Rump Steak which was cooked perfectly and pretty tasty.  I was pretty happy, although the small (less than a pint it seemed) glass of beer was $8.  

The steak fries were really good, I do have to say that!  The Little Creatures Beer was also pretty tasty!

Overall, there is no tipping in Australia.  But so fat the three places I have been to, shows me that it is a "get up and get it yourself" kind of culture here.  At Cargo Bar, you never really interact with anyone except the bartender.  You order everything there and they bring it to your table.  So far, no where I went do you get water at your table, not does a waitstaff tend to your needs really, you have to flag someone down or go to the bar to get it.  Even at the hotel restaurants, this the case,  The Breakfast buffet, the only thing the waitstaff did was clear my plate, not a single word spoken, no water, even coffee was get it yourself.  

The quality of food is good, the price (it was a Weds Special) was good.  Normal price was $22 and I would not say it was worth $22.  Would I go again?  Maybe, but there are also so many places to see!  I would say, on a week night, Cargo Bar is worth a stop!

Club Lucky

This is how you do it!

One of my favorite Italian places in Chicago, for certain! When you walk in the door, you are taken in by the old school feel, sounds and smells.  Friendly greetings and a great bar up front, really make this a top spot in my book.  

The drink menu is fun, the wines are great and they even have a lovely list of single malts, all for a very reasonable price.  

The night started with bacon wrapped figs and roasted garlic, which were in a light mascarpone sauce.  Brilliant combination of flavors overall and the sauce was great for dipping the light crusty bread you get at the table.  

Rounded the meal off with the Veal Franceses and some gluten free rotini in marinara sauce.  WOW!  Both were excellent!  The sauce is to die for .... on both dishes!  The wines we chose were outstanding and really complimented the meals.  Finished off the set with a nice Lemon Italian Ice.

The service was outstanding, very attentive and knowledgeable.  The ambiance, really makes this a great place for a night out with friends, a date or just hanging out at the bar on your own!  

Apps, 4 drinks, entrees and dessert, under $100 before tip.  I can not recommend this place more!  A must experience and if I had 5 stars, it would rate it!