Tequila Restaurant is located on Cherry Road in Rock Hill, SC. It serves a large menu of Mexican cuisine items and also has a bar serving a variety of cocktails, beers and other drinks. The restaurant is medium in size and also has a patio available in the summer months.
We visited on a Friday night and the restaurant was not too busy. We were seated quickly in a booth by the large windows that face the patio. The service was quick and efficient and our waitress remembered all of our drinks correctly. I opted to order one of the combination plates including a tamale, enchilada with rice and beans. The food came out very quickly which was great and was hot in temperature. The tamale was excellent, most likely homemade and not dry as can sometimes be the case in the middle. The chicken in the enchilada had a lot of flavor which was delicious.
The friends that I dined with ordered different dishes off the menu, all of which were full of flavor. The fajitas had a fantastic flavor and were hot and sizzling when they came out of the kitchen. Everyone was pleased with this with restaurant choice. We will return.
I give this restaurant 4.5 stars out of 5.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Amber Buffet & Hibachi - Rock Hill, SC
Amber Buffet & Hibachi is located on Dave Lyle Blvd in Rock Hill, SC. It is a fairly new establishment that offers both Hibachi grilled food and a buffet featuring fresh sushi, a variety of Chinese and Thai dishes, salads and desserts.
The look of the Amber Buffet & Hibachi restaurant is amazing. It has a large area with a waterfall in the entrance, under which is a fish pond that runs the length of the restaurant with a bridge for the customers to cross. There are large decorations of bamboo scattered throughout and the hibachi area is separate from the buffet diners which is nice as it means that the smell of the grills is not so obvious.
We opted for the buffet and were pleased to find quite a variety of different sushi rolls to try, all freshly made by the chefs standing next to display. The other items were presented on small plates rather than the big catering dishes used in other buffet restaurants which I preferred as it means they are replaced with fresh versions more often. All of the dishes were labelled except for the sushi which was inconvenient, however the sushi chef was available to answer our questions.
It has to be noted that the service at this restaurant was exceptional. Our waitress was attentive and cleared our table in a timely fashion. She even brought us a dessert that she thought we would like that we had missed. I was very impressed with her attitude.
I will give this restaurant 5 stars out of 5.
The look of the Amber Buffet & Hibachi restaurant is amazing. It has a large area with a waterfall in the entrance, under which is a fish pond that runs the length of the restaurant with a bridge for the customers to cross. There are large decorations of bamboo scattered throughout and the hibachi area is separate from the buffet diners which is nice as it means that the smell of the grills is not so obvious.
We opted for the buffet and were pleased to find quite a variety of different sushi rolls to try, all freshly made by the chefs standing next to display. The other items were presented on small plates rather than the big catering dishes used in other buffet restaurants which I preferred as it means they are replaced with fresh versions more often. All of the dishes were labelled except for the sushi which was inconvenient, however the sushi chef was available to answer our questions.
It has to be noted that the service at this restaurant was exceptional. Our waitress was attentive and cleared our table in a timely fashion. She even brought us a dessert that she thought we would like that we had missed. I was very impressed with her attitude.
I will give this restaurant 5 stars out of 5.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Creole's Restaurant - Charlotte, NC
Creole’s Kitchen is a new Cajun themed restaurant located in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte, NC. It is a medium sized space made up of tables and booths as well as having a bar area and an outdoor patio. I visited with a friend for lunch on a Tuesday and there were some patrons, but not many.
The menu offers a variety of Cajun dishes including po-boys and muffaletta sandwiches along with more substantial dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya and fried seafood. I opted for a lunch size shrimp po-boy with a side of fried okra and my friend chose the gumbo. The food was brought promptly by our attentive waitress and was nice and hot in temperature. The okra were a little salty, but had a good cornmeal batter with an excellent crunch. The po-boy was small in size, lots of bread and not many shrimp. It came dressed with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. The onions and pickles were a little unexpected for a Cajun sandwich and were a little overpowering.
My friend was kind enough to let me taste her gumbo which was warm but a little tasteless. I could see the soup contained tiny pieces bell peppers, onions and celery but they didn’t really have much flavor.
This restaurant gets 3.5 stars out of 5. The service was friendly and efficient but the food was plain and nothing to write home about.
The menu offers a variety of Cajun dishes including po-boys and muffaletta sandwiches along with more substantial dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya and fried seafood. I opted for a lunch size shrimp po-boy with a side of fried okra and my friend chose the gumbo. The food was brought promptly by our attentive waitress and was nice and hot in temperature. The okra were a little salty, but had a good cornmeal batter with an excellent crunch. The po-boy was small in size, lots of bread and not many shrimp. It came dressed with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. The onions and pickles were a little unexpected for a Cajun sandwich and were a little overpowering.
My friend was kind enough to let me taste her gumbo which was warm but a little tasteless. I could see the soup contained tiny pieces bell peppers, onions and celery but they didn’t really have much flavor.
This restaurant gets 3.5 stars out of 5. The service was friendly and efficient but the food was plain and nothing to write home about.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Cheddars - Charlotte, NC
Cheddars is located in the University City area of Charlotte, NC and is a chain restaurant serving typical American food and a full bar menu. I visited as part of a large group and we sat in the bar area.
We visited on a Wednesday evening and it was crowded with a number of people waiting for take-out food. We ordered a round of drinks, many of the group ordered Maui margaritas, a signature drink, that came with an extra shot on the side and a large glass of frozen, two color fruit drink. Because the restaurant had run out of shot glasses, the shots were served in plastic tubs designed for dressings! I ordered the standard Texas margarita without salt and it took 2 attempts and 25 minutes before this order was fulfilled. This poor service is a pattern that will become evident through this review.
The menu at Cheddars is typical American cuisine, such items include nachos, burgers, chicken, pasta and steaks. I ordered the fish tacos which came with one side for $6.99, a real value price. I choose the broccoli casserole as my side.
When the food came 40 minutes later, the food was cold and as the service had been so bad up to this point I didn't bother trying to get this corrected. The tacos, despite being cold were actually pretty tasty, particularly with the Cajun tartar sauce. The broccoli casserole was OK, basically broccoli with standard cheese sauce and tasteless bread crusts on the top. On recommendation from my friend, I asked for an order of freshly baked honey butter croissants, which arrived far too late. The butter wasn't melted on the top as my friend had described but looked like a danish pastry with strip of butter put across the top. The one I decided to try was fine, nothing special.
As previously mentioned, the service was horrible. The waiter was disorganized and rarely came to check with us. Our food and drinks took forever to arrive, over an hour for a friend's burger to come and 40 minutes for chips and salsa! When we asked for a manager, he came over, gave us some more croissants and then left. We arrived at 7:30pm and left close to 10:00pm. It took nearly an hour to get the checks. My friends, who had previously visited in smaller parties assure me that the restaurant is not normally that poor in its treatment of clients but I can't get over the bad service. I give this restaurant 2 out 5, food just about OK but service was worthless.
We visited on a Wednesday evening and it was crowded with a number of people waiting for take-out food. We ordered a round of drinks, many of the group ordered Maui margaritas, a signature drink, that came with an extra shot on the side and a large glass of frozen, two color fruit drink. Because the restaurant had run out of shot glasses, the shots were served in plastic tubs designed for dressings! I ordered the standard Texas margarita without salt and it took 2 attempts and 25 minutes before this order was fulfilled. This poor service is a pattern that will become evident through this review.
The menu at Cheddars is typical American cuisine, such items include nachos, burgers, chicken, pasta and steaks. I ordered the fish tacos which came with one side for $6.99, a real value price. I choose the broccoli casserole as my side.
When the food came 40 minutes later, the food was cold and as the service had been so bad up to this point I didn't bother trying to get this corrected. The tacos, despite being cold were actually pretty tasty, particularly with the Cajun tartar sauce. The broccoli casserole was OK, basically broccoli with standard cheese sauce and tasteless bread crusts on the top. On recommendation from my friend, I asked for an order of freshly baked honey butter croissants, which arrived far too late. The butter wasn't melted on the top as my friend had described but looked like a danish pastry with strip of butter put across the top. The one I decided to try was fine, nothing special.
As previously mentioned, the service was horrible. The waiter was disorganized and rarely came to check with us. Our food and drinks took forever to arrive, over an hour for a friend's burger to come and 40 minutes for chips and salsa! When we asked for a manager, he came over, gave us some more croissants and then left. We arrived at 7:30pm and left close to 10:00pm. It took nearly an hour to get the checks. My friends, who had previously visited in smaller parties assure me that the restaurant is not normally that poor in its treatment of clients but I can't get over the bad service. I give this restaurant 2 out 5, food just about OK but service was worthless.
Nothing But Noodles - Charlotte, NC
Nothing But Noodles is located in the Stonecrest shopping center in South Charlotte, NC and requires diners to order their food at a counter before taking a seat and having their food brought to them.
I visited with a friend on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. The menu is up on the wall, next to the order counter. The problem with this being that while the people at the front are looking at the menu, nobody behind can see it so this causes a delay placing the orders.
I choose to order the Spicy Cajun Pasta, fettuccini pasta in a tomato cream sauce with onions and red bell peppers. I choose to add shrimp to mine but there is a list of other items you can add including chicken, extra vegetables or shrimp. My friend ordered the Spicy Japannese Noodles which was thick noodles with a soy, asian sauce with broccoli, mushrooms and carrots. She ordered chicken with hers.
We sat in a booth near the window which was spacious and clean. Patrons are expected to get their own drinks, silverware and condiments which is fine except the space provided for all of this is too small which caused a crowd to form which was annoying.
Our order came seperately by two different waitresses which was bizarre. My cajun pasta was creamy with a hint of heat and the shrimp were cooked just right. The onions were crunchy as were the peppers and the breadstick that accompanied it was delicious and light. However, my friends Japanese noodles were very salty. We asked to send it back and get another one to which the waitress replied that they would make another but it would have to be with less sauce as that is where the salt is. She accepted this and the next order was much more palatable.
Apart from the saltiness of the Japanese dish, the food was fine and the service was great. For the price, this is a perfectly fine dinner or lunch. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
I visited with a friend on a Saturday evening and the place was packed. The menu is up on the wall, next to the order counter. The problem with this being that while the people at the front are looking at the menu, nobody behind can see it so this causes a delay placing the orders.
I choose to order the Spicy Cajun Pasta, fettuccini pasta in a tomato cream sauce with onions and red bell peppers. I choose to add shrimp to mine but there is a list of other items you can add including chicken, extra vegetables or shrimp. My friend ordered the Spicy Japannese Noodles which was thick noodles with a soy, asian sauce with broccoli, mushrooms and carrots. She ordered chicken with hers.
We sat in a booth near the window which was spacious and clean. Patrons are expected to get their own drinks, silverware and condiments which is fine except the space provided for all of this is too small which caused a crowd to form which was annoying.
Our order came seperately by two different waitresses which was bizarre. My cajun pasta was creamy with a hint of heat and the shrimp were cooked just right. The onions were crunchy as were the peppers and the breadstick that accompanied it was delicious and light. However, my friends Japanese noodles were very salty. We asked to send it back and get another one to which the waitress replied that they would make another but it would have to be with less sauce as that is where the salt is. She accepted this and the next order was much more palatable.
Apart from the saltiness of the Japanese dish, the food was fine and the service was great. For the price, this is a perfectly fine dinner or lunch. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
Erin's Restaurant - Rock Hill, SC
Erin’s is a small, locally owned restaurant located in downtown Rock Hill, SC. It has recently moved to a new location and shares the space with another eatery that uses it during lunch and Erin’s is using at night.
Erin’s has two dining experiences to choose from. The first is to dine Al a Carte which includes selections from a menu that changes daily depending on the local produce that is available at that time. Diners can also choose to dine Family Style involving everyone sat around one table and helping themselves to a number of courses as the bowls are passed around. We opted to dine family style.
I am going to split this review into two halves, the first will be discussing the food, the second the service.
There ended up being eleven of us around the table, which even though it is a large number was still comfortable. The tableware was made up of an assortment of porcelain plates with different colors and designs on them. I loved this idea as it sparked conversation at table comparing the different plates everyone had.
First to arrive were two salads, a bleu cheese coleslaw and an apple salad followed by a Asian-inspired cucumber salad and some other dishes (too many to remember). Unfortunately there was not enough of the apple salad to try but the other dishes I tried were superb, particularly the cucumber salad.
The starter courses were cleared and we were treated to roughly ten different dishes to try. These included chicken and dumplings, collard greens, pork tenderloin, squash in a cheese sauce, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, eggplant parmesan and boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce. All of these dishes were amazing. Particularly the chicken and dumplings, and the mashed potatoes. Everything was eaten and all at the table agreed that the food was fantastic. We were then treated to two desserts; apple pie and key lime pie. Both were divine and a wonderful choice to finish on.
As for the service, it couldn’t have been more opposite of the quality of the food. When we arrived, we were waiting for at 5 minutes before we approached and acknowledged. Once we had joined the table, it took at least ten minutes for the waitress to take our drinks order and give us plates and silverware. The drinks were hardly ever refilled and the empty food dishes ended up piling up at the end of the table. At the end of the meal we were waiting for the waitress to clear the table but she was texting in the corner.
I have to give this restaurant 3 out of 5 which is such a shame because the food was most certainly worth a 5 but the appalling service let it down considerably
Erin’s has two dining experiences to choose from. The first is to dine Al a Carte which includes selections from a menu that changes daily depending on the local produce that is available at that time. Diners can also choose to dine Family Style involving everyone sat around one table and helping themselves to a number of courses as the bowls are passed around. We opted to dine family style.
I am going to split this review into two halves, the first will be discussing the food, the second the service.
There ended up being eleven of us around the table, which even though it is a large number was still comfortable. The tableware was made up of an assortment of porcelain plates with different colors and designs on them. I loved this idea as it sparked conversation at table comparing the different plates everyone had.
First to arrive were two salads, a bleu cheese coleslaw and an apple salad followed by a Asian-inspired cucumber salad and some other dishes (too many to remember). Unfortunately there was not enough of the apple salad to try but the other dishes I tried were superb, particularly the cucumber salad.
The starter courses were cleared and we were treated to roughly ten different dishes to try. These included chicken and dumplings, collard greens, pork tenderloin, squash in a cheese sauce, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, eggplant parmesan and boiled shrimp with cocktail sauce. All of these dishes were amazing. Particularly the chicken and dumplings, and the mashed potatoes. Everything was eaten and all at the table agreed that the food was fantastic. We were then treated to two desserts; apple pie and key lime pie. Both were divine and a wonderful choice to finish on.
As for the service, it couldn’t have been more opposite of the quality of the food. When we arrived, we were waiting for at 5 minutes before we approached and acknowledged. Once we had joined the table, it took at least ten minutes for the waitress to take our drinks order and give us plates and silverware. The drinks were hardly ever refilled and the empty food dishes ended up piling up at the end of the table. At the end of the meal we were waiting for the waitress to clear the table but she was texting in the corner.
I have to give this restaurant 3 out of 5 which is such a shame because the food was most certainly worth a 5 but the appalling service let it down considerably
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Champions - Charlotte, NC
My friend and I visited this restaurant on our way to see the Carolina Panthers play on Sunday. Our plan was to grab a quick bite to eat at this diner themed restaurant before walking the short distance to the stadium. Unfortunately we missed to first 10 minutes of the game due to very slow service of this establishment.
When we arrived there was a sign that said to seat ourselves which we did in a booth right by the window. There was not a server in sight and it took ten minutes for one to come over and take our drinks order. Another ten minutes before they arrived and we could order our food.
The menu consists of standard American dishes, burgers, sandwiches, nachos etc. I ordered the turkey club sandwich and my friend ordered the chicken wrap. The food was slow to come out (I think you see a pattern here) and when it did come out they were huge portions. My turkey club consisted of 6-stacked sandwiches with fries. The fries were seasoned really well and were delicious. The sandwich was OK, not great and was so big I couldn’t even finish two of the portions.
The meals were not cheap as one would expect from a diner but for the location it was probably standard. The poor service meant we were running to the game, not good when you are full and as said before the missing of the first part of the game.
I would give it 3 out of 5 due to poor service and ok food.
When we arrived there was a sign that said to seat ourselves which we did in a booth right by the window. There was not a server in sight and it took ten minutes for one to come over and take our drinks order. Another ten minutes before they arrived and we could order our food.
The menu consists of standard American dishes, burgers, sandwiches, nachos etc. I ordered the turkey club sandwich and my friend ordered the chicken wrap. The food was slow to come out (I think you see a pattern here) and when it did come out they were huge portions. My turkey club consisted of 6-stacked sandwiches with fries. The fries were seasoned really well and were delicious. The sandwich was OK, not great and was so big I couldn’t even finish two of the portions.
The meals were not cheap as one would expect from a diner but for the location it was probably standard. The poor service meant we were running to the game, not good when you are full and as said before the missing of the first part of the game.
I would give it 3 out of 5 due to poor service and ok food.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Blue Taj -Charlotte, NC
The Blue Taj is an Indian restaurant located in the Ballantyne restaurant in South Charlotte. It is the sister restaurant to Copper, another Indian restaurant located on East Blvd near Uptown. The restaurant is located on the ground floor, near the stairs up to the movie theatre and is almost hidden away by its location. It has a small patio area and a large restaurant inside. There is a small bar with 3 stools and a small table area.
The décor of this restaurant is best described as bizarre. The small table area located at the bar is all white, almost like a children’s area with bubbles painted in different colors on the wall. A blue light shines down making everything a very clinical color and it is most unappealing. The rest of the restaurant is a similar décor style with what I am guessing is supposed to be modern fixtures and paint on the wall. It looked very odd to me, particularly for the theme of the restaurant and the harsh green lighting did no justice to the food.
As for the food, on the advice of the owner who came to see us, we ordered the mix vegetarian and the mixed meat platters. Each was quite small, we a only a taster of each. This would not have been so bad had they not served them on a huge plate which made them look even smaller. There was no introduction by the wait staff as to what each one was so we just had the guess. All were quite delicious though.
For our entrees, again at the advice of the owner, we each ordered a different entrée dish to share. As there were four of us, we had a chicken tikka, a seafood curry, a chicken jhalfrazie and a lamb saagwala. We got one portion of rice to share and mixture of naan bread. The entrees were not quite as large as we had hoped bearing in mind we have been advised to share, the naans were delicious but the rice was a little cool. Not many of the dishes, except the fish curry had my sauce and this was disappointing.
I would give this restaurant 3 stars out of 5. The food was just OK, and the service was terrible, no introduction of the food, dirty silverware and slow.
The décor of this restaurant is best described as bizarre. The small table area located at the bar is all white, almost like a children’s area with bubbles painted in different colors on the wall. A blue light shines down making everything a very clinical color and it is most unappealing. The rest of the restaurant is a similar décor style with what I am guessing is supposed to be modern fixtures and paint on the wall. It looked very odd to me, particularly for the theme of the restaurant and the harsh green lighting did no justice to the food.
As for the food, on the advice of the owner who came to see us, we ordered the mix vegetarian and the mixed meat platters. Each was quite small, we a only a taster of each. This would not have been so bad had they not served them on a huge plate which made them look even smaller. There was no introduction by the wait staff as to what each one was so we just had the guess. All were quite delicious though.
For our entrees, again at the advice of the owner, we each ordered a different entrée dish to share. As there were four of us, we had a chicken tikka, a seafood curry, a chicken jhalfrazie and a lamb saagwala. We got one portion of rice to share and mixture of naan bread. The entrees were not quite as large as we had hoped bearing in mind we have been advised to share, the naans were delicious but the rice was a little cool. Not many of the dishes, except the fish curry had my sauce and this was disappointing.
I would give this restaurant 3 stars out of 5. The food was just OK, and the service was terrible, no introduction of the food, dirty silverware and slow.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Eddie's Place, Charlotte, NC
Eddie's Place is a Cajun themed restaurant located in South Charlotte, next to Earthfare on Johnston Road. This is restaurant is middle sized with a large bar area with large TV screens that show sporting events.
We visited on a Sunday afternoon for lunch during the Carolina Panthers game. The place was fairly busy, particularly the bar area with fans watching the football. We had a booth and chose the following from the menu:-
I had a Po-boy, a Louisiana style sandwich with fried shrimp with a side of onion rings. My companion had the sausage and chicken gumbo soup with a house salad. The food was quick to come out and was very appealing to look at. The Po-boy was large with a a good number of shrimp as well as lettuce and tomato. The onion rings were numerous and had a good batter on them.
The soup was thick and filling but lacked a little spice, the salad though was crisp and the fresh. Both meals, although tasty were a little pricey for what they were.
I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars because the food was good, the service was great but the cost was a little high.
We visited on a Sunday afternoon for lunch during the Carolina Panthers game. The place was fairly busy, particularly the bar area with fans watching the football. We had a booth and chose the following from the menu:-
I had a Po-boy, a Louisiana style sandwich with fried shrimp with a side of onion rings. My companion had the sausage and chicken gumbo soup with a house salad. The food was quick to come out and was very appealing to look at. The Po-boy was large with a a good number of shrimp as well as lettuce and tomato. The onion rings were numerous and had a good batter on them.
The soup was thick and filling but lacked a little spice, the salad though was crisp and the fresh. Both meals, although tasty were a little pricey for what they were.
I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars because the food was good, the service was great but the cost was a little high.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thai Taste, Charlotte, NC
For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis, you will know that Thai food is definite favorite of mine. I recently tried Thai Taste, located closed to uptown on East Blvd for lunch on a Tuesday.
When we arrived the place was packed with a whole range of different people. There were police officers, office workers, construction workers and others all crammed in eating delicious looking food.
The restaurant is fairly small, maybe with 15 tables but there were plenty of staff. The menu for lunch is limited to 7 options which at first I was slightly put off by, but thinking about it, with as busy as it was, limiting the menu makes sense. I chose Pud Prig Pow (number 2 on the menu) which was listed as “Your choice of meat stir-fried with chili sauce, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, cabbages, bell peppers and fresh basil leaves”.
Each meal came with a bowl of soup ( a chicken, vegetable combination when we went), a spring roll, Jasmine rice and iced tea included. You also have the choice of meat or seafood to add to your main course.
The soup was very light and flavorful. I very much enjoyed that as an appetizer. My main course though was stunning. The vegetables were fresh and a little crunchy, the chicken was seasoned just right and the chilli sauce was not overpowering. Looking around, a lot of other customer were eating a noodle based dish that looked amazing…I will try that next time!
I give Thai Taste 4 ½ stars out of 5 for excellent service and good quality food.
When we arrived the place was packed with a whole range of different people. There were police officers, office workers, construction workers and others all crammed in eating delicious looking food.
The restaurant is fairly small, maybe with 15 tables but there were plenty of staff. The menu for lunch is limited to 7 options which at first I was slightly put off by, but thinking about it, with as busy as it was, limiting the menu makes sense. I chose Pud Prig Pow (number 2 on the menu) which was listed as “Your choice of meat stir-fried with chili sauce, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, cabbages, bell peppers and fresh basil leaves”.
Each meal came with a bowl of soup ( a chicken, vegetable combination when we went), a spring roll, Jasmine rice and iced tea included. You also have the choice of meat or seafood to add to your main course.
The soup was very light and flavorful. I very much enjoyed that as an appetizer. My main course though was stunning. The vegetables were fresh and a little crunchy, the chicken was seasoned just right and the chilli sauce was not overpowering. Looking around, a lot of other customer were eating a noodle based dish that looked amazing…I will try that next time!
I give Thai Taste 4 ½ stars out of 5 for excellent service and good quality food.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Big View Diner - South Charlotte, NC
The Big View Diner is located on the corner of US521 and Ardrey Kell Road in Charlotte and cannot be missed - the building stands out a mile. Open for breakfast, lunch and diner this place is always busy and I was determined to find out why. We went out for breakfast during the week and this is my review.
Inside, The Big View Diner is very comfortably furnished with plenty booths, a party room and a bar area. We enjoyed our breakfast in one of the booths. The menu consisted of a large selection of omelet, items from the grill, sandwiches and an option to pick various breakfast items individually.
I opted for the egg sandwich which came with a whole range of options. I chose the scrambled egg over fried, on a biscuit over a bagel or toast with bacon instead of sausages. I also opted for a side of grits for an extra 99c.
The sandwich was delicious. The biscuit was really moist and crumbly, tasted home made. The bacon was cooked nicely and there was good portion of egg. The grits came on the side in a bowl and although they were creamy, they lacked a flavor for my liking.
My husband had biscuits with sausage gravy which was delicious and my friend had an omelet which was huge!
The service here was excellent, very attentive and the servers were polite.
I give The Big View Diner 4 out of 5. I will certainly be back for lunch and diner!
Inside, The Big View Diner is very comfortably furnished with plenty booths, a party room and a bar area. We enjoyed our breakfast in one of the booths. The menu consisted of a large selection of omelet, items from the grill, sandwiches and an option to pick various breakfast items individually.
I opted for the egg sandwich which came with a whole range of options. I chose the scrambled egg over fried, on a biscuit over a bagel or toast with bacon instead of sausages. I also opted for a side of grits for an extra 99c.
The sandwich was delicious. The biscuit was really moist and crumbly, tasted home made. The bacon was cooked nicely and there was good portion of egg. The grits came on the side in a bowl and although they were creamy, they lacked a flavor for my liking.
My husband had biscuits with sausage gravy which was delicious and my friend had an omelet which was huge!
The service here was excellent, very attentive and the servers were polite.
I give The Big View Diner 4 out of 5. I will certainly be back for lunch and diner!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Andrew Blair's - Charlotte, NC
Andrew Blair’s is a medium sized restaurant located at the intersection of Park Road and Woodlawn in Charlotte, NC. With a large patio and a bar area, Andrew Blair’s has a variety of places to sit and eat.
I visited Andrew Blair’s as part of Charlotte Restaurant Week during which a whole host of eating establishments around the Queen City present a limited choice menu for only $30 per person. Bearing this mind, the selections I made were chosen from this menu and may not be available at other times of the year.
When we arrived at Andrew Blair’s, the parking lot was very full and it was apparent that a lot of patrons were also taking advantage of the offer. We were seated in one of the many spacious booths and were served a plate of pita chips with hummus and white bean dip to share. Both dips were delicious and the pita chips were a nice accompaniment.
As a choice of starters, of which there were four, I chose the Pulled Pork BBQ Stack. This consisted on a small square of corn pudding (almost the consistency of bread) with a heap of pulled pork in a sweet BBQ sauce topped with 2 rashers of bacon. The BBQ and corn pudding were delicious, the BBQ sauce had a hint of mustard that was divine, and although the portion size was small, along with the hummus dip earlier it was not insufficient.
For my choice of entrée I chose the North Carolina flounder served with a tasso grit cake, local corn and lima bean succotash with a white lemon sauce. The portion size for the entrée was bigger but not huge which was welcome. The fish had been pan-seared but lacked any real flavor. It was not overly cooked however and had a nice texture. The vegetables were disappointing as they didn’t taste very fresh and lacked any exciting flavor. As for the grit cake, it was quite oily, and although fairly tasty by itself, was unable to carry the rest of the quite boring entrée.
For dessert I ordered cookies and milk which were very good. Obviously homemade and still warm enough that the chocolate chips melted when the cookie was pulled apart. My fellow diners however were not as lucky with their desserts. The warm chocolate brownie was so hard it took all us with 3 spoons to break a piece off to eat it! The strawberry shortcake had beautiful strawberries but the cake was stale and lacked any flavor at all.
I think it is a shame that a restaurant, which is choosing to show itself to a new collection of diners during Charlotte Restaurant Week really failed to take the opportunity to shine by producing some adequate food. The service was also pretty poor as our waitress had a rude attitude and was in such a rush she wouldn’t even slow down for a drinks order.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars, which is a shame because it could have earned more.
I visited Andrew Blair’s as part of Charlotte Restaurant Week during which a whole host of eating establishments around the Queen City present a limited choice menu for only $30 per person. Bearing this mind, the selections I made were chosen from this menu and may not be available at other times of the year.
When we arrived at Andrew Blair’s, the parking lot was very full and it was apparent that a lot of patrons were also taking advantage of the offer. We were seated in one of the many spacious booths and were served a plate of pita chips with hummus and white bean dip to share. Both dips were delicious and the pita chips were a nice accompaniment.
As a choice of starters, of which there were four, I chose the Pulled Pork BBQ Stack. This consisted on a small square of corn pudding (almost the consistency of bread) with a heap of pulled pork in a sweet BBQ sauce topped with 2 rashers of bacon. The BBQ and corn pudding were delicious, the BBQ sauce had a hint of mustard that was divine, and although the portion size was small, along with the hummus dip earlier it was not insufficient.
For my choice of entrée I chose the North Carolina flounder served with a tasso grit cake, local corn and lima bean succotash with a white lemon sauce. The portion size for the entrée was bigger but not huge which was welcome. The fish had been pan-seared but lacked any real flavor. It was not overly cooked however and had a nice texture. The vegetables were disappointing as they didn’t taste very fresh and lacked any exciting flavor. As for the grit cake, it was quite oily, and although fairly tasty by itself, was unable to carry the rest of the quite boring entrée.
For dessert I ordered cookies and milk which were very good. Obviously homemade and still warm enough that the chocolate chips melted when the cookie was pulled apart. My fellow diners however were not as lucky with their desserts. The warm chocolate brownie was so hard it took all us with 3 spoons to break a piece off to eat it! The strawberry shortcake had beautiful strawberries but the cake was stale and lacked any flavor at all.
I think it is a shame that a restaurant, which is choosing to show itself to a new collection of diners during Charlotte Restaurant Week really failed to take the opportunity to shine by producing some adequate food. The service was also pretty poor as our waitress had a rude attitude and was in such a rush she wouldn’t even slow down for a drinks order.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars, which is a shame because it could have earned more.
Cafe Nirvana - Charlotte, NC
Café Nirvana is located in a small shopping area on Old 521 just inside the North Carolina border. It is a medium sized restaurant serving Indian cuisine, including a lunch buffet served on Saturdays and Sundays.
We arrived for the buffet on a Sunday, the place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. I don’t mind waiting for tables in restaurants as long as I am given a reasonable time frame of the wait and am reassured they haven’t forgotten about me.
When we sat down in one of the booths located around the edge of restaurant, we were brought glasses of ice water and a basket of freshly baked naan bread. This bread is like a pita in texture but a little thicker and is delicious. We helped ourselves to the buffet, starting with a selection of fried delights such as samosas (fried pastries with filling), crispy pastry discs and a variety of dips and sauces to go with the naan.
Once we had worked our way through those, we returned to take our pick of entries which included a couple of different types of rice (one plain, one mixed with vegetables and spices) as well as a range of different curries, both vegetarian and including meats. My personal favorites were the chicken tikka masala, a slow cooked chicken a mild sauce along with the vegetable mix and the lamb curry. None of the sauces were particularly spicy; a common misconception with Indian cuisine and all had a lot of flavor.
We couldn’t leave without sampling the small range of desserts on offer. We tried a small selection including a fruit salad in a very light cream sauce, a small fried doughnut type dessert in light syrup and some kind of cake with was delicious.
This restaurant provides a great mix of authentic Indian dishes and for those who have not eaten a great deal of this genre I would highly recommend the buffet so you can try a little of everything. The desserts are worth saving room for.
I would also praise the staff who despite being very busy, were attentive and pleasant.
I give Café Nirvana 5 out of 5 stars.
We arrived for the buffet on a Sunday, the place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes for a table. I don’t mind waiting for tables in restaurants as long as I am given a reasonable time frame of the wait and am reassured they haven’t forgotten about me.
When we sat down in one of the booths located around the edge of restaurant, we were brought glasses of ice water and a basket of freshly baked naan bread. This bread is like a pita in texture but a little thicker and is delicious. We helped ourselves to the buffet, starting with a selection of fried delights such as samosas (fried pastries with filling), crispy pastry discs and a variety of dips and sauces to go with the naan.
Once we had worked our way through those, we returned to take our pick of entries which included a couple of different types of rice (one plain, one mixed with vegetables and spices) as well as a range of different curries, both vegetarian and including meats. My personal favorites were the chicken tikka masala, a slow cooked chicken a mild sauce along with the vegetable mix and the lamb curry. None of the sauces were particularly spicy; a common misconception with Indian cuisine and all had a lot of flavor.
We couldn’t leave without sampling the small range of desserts on offer. We tried a small selection including a fruit salad in a very light cream sauce, a small fried doughnut type dessert in light syrup and some kind of cake with was delicious.
This restaurant provides a great mix of authentic Indian dishes and for those who have not eaten a great deal of this genre I would highly recommend the buffet so you can try a little of everything. The desserts are worth saving room for.
I would also praise the staff who despite being very busy, were attentive and pleasant.
I give Café Nirvana 5 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Toyo Sushi - Rock Hill, SC
Toyo Sushi is located in Love's Plaza on Cherry Road in Rock Hill, SC and we visited on a Saturday night. It is a medium sized restaurant with a bar area as well as a patio in front of the main entrance. It also has a space near the back with a big screen and what looked like a karaoke set up...not quite sure what this space is used for but when we visited it was showing a recording of an AC/DC concert.
As the name suggests, sushi is the specialty of this restaurant. Their menu choice is quite extensive with standard options such as Philadelphia rolls, spider rolls and seaweed salads. We ordered a whole variety of items from the menu.
The food was quick to arrive and was very fresh. The rice was tender and sticky without being overcooked. I particularly enjoyed the spicy tuna rolls as well as the eel rolls which had a delightful sweet sauce with them.
We sat at the bar and for the majority of the night, we were the only people there. There was a very apparent lack of atmosphere in the restaurant, even when others arrived they just sat at the bar and drank. Although we did arrive later on a Saturday night (around 9pm) I was surprised that there were so few people there.
The bill was a surprise too. While I am aware that sushi isn't the cheapest food to buy, and it was good, it was a little pricey for my liking. Having eaten at other sushi restaurants in the area (see previous posts) the cost here was significantly higher.
I give Toyo Sushi 3 out of 5 not due to the food, but for the lack of atmosphere and for the overall cost of the meal.
As the name suggests, sushi is the specialty of this restaurant. Their menu choice is quite extensive with standard options such as Philadelphia rolls, spider rolls and seaweed salads. We ordered a whole variety of items from the menu.
The food was quick to arrive and was very fresh. The rice was tender and sticky without being overcooked. I particularly enjoyed the spicy tuna rolls as well as the eel rolls which had a delightful sweet sauce with them.
We sat at the bar and for the majority of the night, we were the only people there. There was a very apparent lack of atmosphere in the restaurant, even when others arrived they just sat at the bar and drank. Although we did arrive later on a Saturday night (around 9pm) I was surprised that there were so few people there.
The bill was a surprise too. While I am aware that sushi isn't the cheapest food to buy, and it was good, it was a little pricey for my liking. Having eaten at other sushi restaurants in the area (see previous posts) the cost here was significantly higher.
I give Toyo Sushi 3 out of 5 not due to the food, but for the lack of atmosphere and for the overall cost of the meal.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Bonefish Grill, Charlotte, NC
Bonefish Grill is a chain restaurant owned by the same group as Outback Steakhouses. Located in South Charlotte, this restaurant specializes in fresh fish starters and entrees. They also have an extensive bar menu with a wide variety of martinis and cocktails.
We visited on a Wednesday night and were surprised to find it so busy. It appears that in June and July on Wednesdays, their famous Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer is just $5 as opposed to the standard $8. We took advantage of that and ordered one to share. The portion size was plenty big enough for two plus we were given a complimentary basket of warm bread which was delicious.
The shrimp were perfectly cooked with the right of heat (both in temperature and spice) and were served on a bed of fresh lettuce. The shrimp's batter was light, and not overpowering. A great start to our meal.
I ordered the special, one of 4 on offer that night. My order of Rockfeller Wahoo came topped with what was described as sharp creamy spinach and lump crab with jasmine rice. It also came with seasonal vegetables on the side, a mixture of zuccini, onion and carrot. The fish was perfectly cooked, though still had the skin on it which I found a little tough. The spinach was delicious, though not as sharp as I had expected, more a creamy cheese sauce with it. The lump meat however was scarce which was a shame as the little I had perfectly complimented the fish.
The vegetables were delicious in a light tomato sauce. The rice was also perfectly cooked, not too dry at all and was a delicious side to have with the fish.
I give Bonefish Grill 4 out of 5 stars. The starter was amazing and is highly recommended but I think that the lack of crab meat on the entree was not as good an accompaniment as it could have been.
We visited on a Wednesday night and were surprised to find it so busy. It appears that in June and July on Wednesdays, their famous Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer is just $5 as opposed to the standard $8. We took advantage of that and ordered one to share. The portion size was plenty big enough for two plus we were given a complimentary basket of warm bread which was delicious.
The shrimp were perfectly cooked with the right of heat (both in temperature and spice) and were served on a bed of fresh lettuce. The shrimp's batter was light, and not overpowering. A great start to our meal.
I ordered the special, one of 4 on offer that night. My order of Rockfeller Wahoo came topped with what was described as sharp creamy spinach and lump crab with jasmine rice. It also came with seasonal vegetables on the side, a mixture of zuccini, onion and carrot. The fish was perfectly cooked, though still had the skin on it which I found a little tough. The spinach was delicious, though not as sharp as I had expected, more a creamy cheese sauce with it. The lump meat however was scarce which was a shame as the little I had perfectly complimented the fish.
The vegetables were delicious in a light tomato sauce. The rice was also perfectly cooked, not too dry at all and was a delicious side to have with the fish.
I give Bonefish Grill 4 out of 5 stars. The starter was amazing and is highly recommended but I think that the lack of crab meat on the entree was not as good an accompaniment as it could have been.
Monday, June 28, 2010
La Unica - Indian Trail, NC
On my first trip to Indian Trail, NC I was taken by a friend to a Latin restaurant that she had been raving about for ages! We visited on a Saturday afternoon and already the place was getting busy. Owned by a family, this restaurant is a local legend for authentic Mexican and Latin cuisine.
As soon as we sat down we were given the customary chips and salsa, but not just one kind of salsa but four! There was a mild one that had a wonderful flavor of cilantro as well as an avocado with jalapenos and two other hotter types.
My friend insisted that I try the freshly squeezed lime juice that is mixed with lemonade and served over ice. This is one of the most refreshing drinks I have ever tasted and need to do some research online in order to make my own. My friend had a milkshake looking drink that she insisted was made from a type of oatmeal, though tasted more of vanilla to me and was delicious.
To eat, my friend ordered her favorite, a skirt steak with rice and beans. The waitress recommended to me a burrito with chopped pork, cilantro, tomato, sour cream, cheese and other flavors. The burrito was huge, enough for us to share and had the best pork I have tasted in a Latin style restaurant. It was obvious this meat had been cooked really slowly as it was so tender and just fell apart.
My friend's steak was amazing!! She was nice enough to let me taste it and I am telling you the marinade on this was divine. The meat was so tender and flavorful. The beans were freshly made, certainly not from a can!
If you ever find yourself in Indian Trail, NC stop by La Unica. I hear that if you go at night, particularly on the weekend, you are going to have to wait so be prepared, but it is worth it!!
This restaurant receives 5 out of 5 stars.
As soon as we sat down we were given the customary chips and salsa, but not just one kind of salsa but four! There was a mild one that had a wonderful flavor of cilantro as well as an avocado with jalapenos and two other hotter types.
My friend insisted that I try the freshly squeezed lime juice that is mixed with lemonade and served over ice. This is one of the most refreshing drinks I have ever tasted and need to do some research online in order to make my own. My friend had a milkshake looking drink that she insisted was made from a type of oatmeal, though tasted more of vanilla to me and was delicious.
To eat, my friend ordered her favorite, a skirt steak with rice and beans. The waitress recommended to me a burrito with chopped pork, cilantro, tomato, sour cream, cheese and other flavors. The burrito was huge, enough for us to share and had the best pork I have tasted in a Latin style restaurant. It was obvious this meat had been cooked really slowly as it was so tender and just fell apart.
My friend's steak was amazing!! She was nice enough to let me taste it and I am telling you the marinade on this was divine. The meat was so tender and flavorful. The beans were freshly made, certainly not from a can!
If you ever find yourself in Indian Trail, NC stop by La Unica. I hear that if you go at night, particularly on the weekend, you are going to have to wait so be prepared, but it is worth it!!
This restaurant receives 5 out of 5 stars.
Longitude 81 - Fort Mill, SC
Longitude 81 is a Caribbean style restaurant just off I-77. Walking inside, it is like being in a resort with an open air design and bright colors on the wall. The restaurant has a large patio and live entertainment on a Thursday but due to the heat we chose to sit inside.
Upon arrival we were told that because of some large parties, we would not be able to order any food for 30 minutes. I found that a bit strange that we were not even be able to place an order, I don't mind waiting that long for an order (as long as I have advanced warning) but to stop taking orders I found a bit strange. We actually ended up waiting longer than that, and inquired with our waitress if we could at least order some appetizers. She had to go and ask Greg, the chef if that was OK. Very bizarre I thought but Greg did allow an appetizer order!
The food itself was absolutely divine. We were a party of 6 so ordered 2 appetizers to share of Calypso Seafood Dip and Tomato Basil Flat bread Pizza. The dip had a very distinctive fish taste, which I found to be fine but my husband found it a little off putting. The pizza was a fair size - ideal for sharing. It was great and crispy with excellent flavor.
For my entree I ordered the Shrimp and Grits. The grits were perfectly seasoned, with a cheesy texture without the overwhelming flavor. The shrimp were cooked just right, not overdone and the sauce really made a great accompaniment.
As stated earlier, the food here is amazing, and I would highly recommend it. However, the service issues were not impressive and brought down my score.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars.
Upon arrival we were told that because of some large parties, we would not be able to order any food for 30 minutes. I found that a bit strange that we were not even be able to place an order, I don't mind waiting that long for an order (as long as I have advanced warning) but to stop taking orders I found a bit strange. We actually ended up waiting longer than that, and inquired with our waitress if we could at least order some appetizers. She had to go and ask Greg, the chef if that was OK. Very bizarre I thought but Greg did allow an appetizer order!
The food itself was absolutely divine. We were a party of 6 so ordered 2 appetizers to share of Calypso Seafood Dip and Tomato Basil Flat bread Pizza. The dip had a very distinctive fish taste, which I found to be fine but my husband found it a little off putting. The pizza was a fair size - ideal for sharing. It was great and crispy with excellent flavor.
For my entree I ordered the Shrimp and Grits. The grits were perfectly seasoned, with a cheesy texture without the overwhelming flavor. The shrimp were cooked just right, not overdone and the sauce really made a great accompaniment.
As stated earlier, the food here is amazing, and I would highly recommend it. However, the service issues were not impressive and brought down my score.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Liu Liu's, Baxter Village, Fort Mill, SC
Liu Liu's is what I would describe as an upmarket Chinese restaurant located in Baxter Village just off I-77 in Fort Mill. It is worth visiting just for the interior which is beautifully decorated and the restaurant also features a large patio area overlooking the tree lined streets.
I visited Liu Liu's for lunch on a Sunday and was surprised to find that it was not as busy I would have expected. There were a total of 3 tables occupied while I was there, much less then I would have expected from the Sunday lunch rush.
My guest and I split the summer rolls as an appetizer which arrived promptly and were served with two sauces, one a peanut style, the other a slightly spicy vinaigrette. The summer rolls were delicious and were different from other ones I had tried as they featured both shrimp and crab. In fact, the shrimp were layered between the rice paper and the lettuce.
I ordered the peppered steak and tomatoes as my entree which came with 7 variety rice and a spring roll. The meal consisted of very tender beef with just cooked tomatoes with onions, mushrooms and peppers in a dark sauce. The beef was excellent and the tomatoes were not too cooked, with a great consistency.
The spring roll was a little disappointing, not very crunchy and quite small.
I give 4 out of 5 stars.
I visited Liu Liu's for lunch on a Sunday and was surprised to find that it was not as busy I would have expected. There were a total of 3 tables occupied while I was there, much less then I would have expected from the Sunday lunch rush.
My guest and I split the summer rolls as an appetizer which arrived promptly and were served with two sauces, one a peanut style, the other a slightly spicy vinaigrette. The summer rolls were delicious and were different from other ones I had tried as they featured both shrimp and crab. In fact, the shrimp were layered between the rice paper and the lettuce.
I ordered the peppered steak and tomatoes as my entree which came with 7 variety rice and a spring roll. The meal consisted of very tender beef with just cooked tomatoes with onions, mushrooms and peppers in a dark sauce. The beef was excellent and the tomatoes were not too cooked, with a great consistency.
The spring roll was a little disappointing, not very crunchy and quite small.
I give 4 out of 5 stars.
The White Horse, Rock Hill, SC
Th White Horse is located opposite Winthrop University on Cherry Road and has been a Rock Hill staple for many years. A large restaurant, with a large outside patio area, The White Horse has always been busy whenever I have visited which is a great sign of a local eatery popular with the locals.
What I liked about The White Horse was the menu selection which offered a variety of burgers, sandwiches and casserole items as well as a variety of ingredients from the grill.
I had the mushroom and Swiss burger with onion rings. The burger was huge, I couldn't possibly have finished it all! The onion rings were perfect, hot and fresh and they didn't fall apart when I bit into them.
One of my fellow diners ordered the lasagna, which was beautifully presented. However, the lasagna seemed to have been sprinkled with raw onion and cheese before being baked. This left a large number of raw onions on the top of the dish which unfortunately affected the taste.
Another person I was dining with chose the potato salad as a side. This was excellent, not at all like the supermarket kind, but a homemade, flavorful variety. I would definitely recommend this as a side.
The White Horse gets 4 out of a 5 stars.
What I liked about The White Horse was the menu selection which offered a variety of burgers, sandwiches and casserole items as well as a variety of ingredients from the grill.
I had the mushroom and Swiss burger with onion rings. The burger was huge, I couldn't possibly have finished it all! The onion rings were perfect, hot and fresh and they didn't fall apart when I bit into them.
One of my fellow diners ordered the lasagna, which was beautifully presented. However, the lasagna seemed to have been sprinkled with raw onion and cheese before being baked. This left a large number of raw onions on the top of the dish which unfortunately affected the taste.
Another person I was dining with chose the potato salad as a side. This was excellent, not at all like the supermarket kind, but a homemade, flavorful variety. I would definitely recommend this as a side.
The White Horse gets 4 out of a 5 stars.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Red Bowl, Rock Hill, SC
Red Bowl is an asian restaurant serving a mixture of Chinese and Japanese dishes including sushi. It has a sister restaurant in Tega Cay, SC which is very successful, this one in Rock Hill is recently opened.
We stopped by on a Tuesday for lunch around 2pm. It was pretty quiet with only a handful of tables occupied. Our waitress was friendly and polite and we sat in one of the booths against the wall. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated with attention to detail, particularly the wooden ceiling.
We ordered edamame which arrived quickly and was very fresh. I ordered from the create your own stir fry section opting for shrimp with a peanut sauce and all of the available vegetables. I had the choice of either rice, Chinese noodles or brown rice, I chose the noodles.
The entrees took for ages to arrive, close on 20 minutes which I normally wouldn't mind but by this time we were the only people left in the restaurant. When the food arrived it was delicious. The portion sizes were huge, way to much to eat in one sitting but enough to take home for lunch the next day.
The noodles were a little salty for my taste and the peanut sauce a bit too nutty but the shrimp were perfectly cooked and fresh.
Red Bowl gets 3.5 stars out of 5 because although the food was pretty good, the service could have been better.
We stopped by on a Tuesday for lunch around 2pm. It was pretty quiet with only a handful of tables occupied. Our waitress was friendly and polite and we sat in one of the booths against the wall. The restaurant is very tastefully decorated with attention to detail, particularly the wooden ceiling.
We ordered edamame which arrived quickly and was very fresh. I ordered from the create your own stir fry section opting for shrimp with a peanut sauce and all of the available vegetables. I had the choice of either rice, Chinese noodles or brown rice, I chose the noodles.
The entrees took for ages to arrive, close on 20 minutes which I normally wouldn't mind but by this time we were the only people left in the restaurant. When the food arrived it was delicious. The portion sizes were huge, way to much to eat in one sitting but enough to take home for lunch the next day.
The noodles were a little salty for my taste and the peanut sauce a bit too nutty but the shrimp were perfectly cooked and fresh.
Red Bowl gets 3.5 stars out of 5 because although the food was pretty good, the service could have been better.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Blue Basil Thai Restaurant - Charlotte, NC
The newest restaurant in the Blakeney shopping area in South Charlotte is Blue Basil Thai restaurant. Open every day, it serves a lunch menu Monday thru Saturday and only the dinner menu on a Sunday. I find this very annoying as I typically eat out on Sundays for lunch and end up paying more than if I went on a Saturday. This was the case at this restaurant.
We went inside the small restaurant which is tastefully decorated with both booths and tables and sat at the far end. We ordered the summer rolls, along with a bowl of the chicken and noodle soup (which the menu rightly pointed out was enough for two) and the veggie delight dish with chicken.
Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, knowing the menu well. The summer rolls came in no time accompanied by a sauce which seemed to be made of light vinaigrette base with chill sauce and hoisin mixed it. It was a great combination although the summer rolls themselves were somewhat chewy and not as flavorful as some others I have sampled.
The main courses were delicious, with the sauce on my veggie delight being light and fragrant. The soup was unusual as the beansprouts and other vegetables were already in it, where as in other Thai restaurants I have seen it served on the side so that you can add it yourself.
The food was great however it was a little unusual that none of the tables had any condiments or spare napkins on them. Luckily our waiter was around so we could ask him when we needed something.
Overall the Blue Basil Thai Restaurant gets 4 out of 5 stars.
We went inside the small restaurant which is tastefully decorated with both booths and tables and sat at the far end. We ordered the summer rolls, along with a bowl of the chicken and noodle soup (which the menu rightly pointed out was enough for two) and the veggie delight dish with chicken.
Our waiter was very friendly and attentive, knowing the menu well. The summer rolls came in no time accompanied by a sauce which seemed to be made of light vinaigrette base with chill sauce and hoisin mixed it. It was a great combination although the summer rolls themselves were somewhat chewy and not as flavorful as some others I have sampled.
The main courses were delicious, with the sauce on my veggie delight being light and fragrant. The soup was unusual as the beansprouts and other vegetables were already in it, where as in other Thai restaurants I have seen it served on the side so that you can add it yourself.
The food was great however it was a little unusual that none of the tables had any condiments or spare napkins on them. Luckily our waiter was around so we could ask him when we needed something.
Overall the Blue Basil Thai Restaurant gets 4 out of 5 stars.
China East - Fort Mill, SC
China East is located in a strip mall off of Highway 160. It is a smaller restaurant that the local patrons typically use for take out orders although seating is provided with booths along the walls.
We did in fact get our order to go. My husband ordered their Sa Cha Chicken and I asked for the Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables but requested a black bean sauce. The chef was more than happy to accommodate my request. Both dishes came with white rice and spring rolls.
My shrimp were very well cooked, not overdone, even considering they had been driven home before eating. The black beans were mostly cooked well, a few with a chalky texture but not enough to ruin the sauce.
My husband commented that the chicken in his was a little bland but that the sauce was fine. The spring rolls were not as crisp as they could have been but the drive may have affected that somewhat.
Overall this restaurant is great for takeout, and a quick bite. The staff are friendly but the menu is that of a standard strip mall Chinese.
This restaurant gets 3 1/2 stars out of five.
We did in fact get our order to go. My husband ordered their Sa Cha Chicken and I asked for the Shrimp with Mixed Vegetables but requested a black bean sauce. The chef was more than happy to accommodate my request. Both dishes came with white rice and spring rolls.
My shrimp were very well cooked, not overdone, even considering they had been driven home before eating. The black beans were mostly cooked well, a few with a chalky texture but not enough to ruin the sauce.
My husband commented that the chicken in his was a little bland but that the sauce was fine. The spring rolls were not as crisp as they could have been but the drive may have affected that somewhat.
Overall this restaurant is great for takeout, and a quick bite. The staff are friendly but the menu is that of a standard strip mall Chinese.
This restaurant gets 3 1/2 stars out of five.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Grinders Restaurant, Lancaster, SC
Grinders is an established restaurant on the outskirts of Lancaster, SC behind the new Aldi grocery store. We visited for lunch and were surprised by how busy the small restaurant was. We seated ourselves in a booth by the wall that was decorated with every kind of beer neon sign there is.
We order fried pickles to start which were on special. They came with a choice of dressing, we selected homemade ranch. The pickles were a little disappointing as some of them were soggy and the breading had come off. The ones that were well made were crunchy and delicious.
I ordered the chicken philly sandwich that was served with chips and a pickle spear. The sandwich was comprised of grilled chicken, sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone cheese with lettuce and tomato.
The chips served with this sandwich were a little stale and I didn't eat them. The sandwich itself was filling but not great, the chicken having very little flavor.
My husband ordered a twisted chicken sandwich which was grilled chicken served on a pretzel roll with honey mustard, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato. While the sandwich was a unique idea, the lack of flavor for the chicken was very noticeable. This sandwich was served with potato wedges and coleslaw. My husband tried to switch out the wedges for onion rings but we were told they don't do substitutions which was disappointing.
This restaurant receives 2 out of 5 because the food really wasn't that great but the service was ok.
We order fried pickles to start which were on special. They came with a choice of dressing, we selected homemade ranch. The pickles were a little disappointing as some of them were soggy and the breading had come off. The ones that were well made were crunchy and delicious.
I ordered the chicken philly sandwich that was served with chips and a pickle spear. The sandwich was comprised of grilled chicken, sauteed onions, peppers, mushrooms and provolone cheese with lettuce and tomato.
The chips served with this sandwich were a little stale and I didn't eat them. The sandwich itself was filling but not great, the chicken having very little flavor.
My husband ordered a twisted chicken sandwich which was grilled chicken served on a pretzel roll with honey mustard, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato. While the sandwich was a unique idea, the lack of flavor for the chicken was very noticeable. This sandwich was served with potato wedges and coleslaw. My husband tried to switch out the wedges for onion rings but we were told they don't do substitutions which was disappointing.
This restaurant receives 2 out of 5 because the food really wasn't that great but the service was ok.
Los Aztecas, Fort Mill, SC
This local restaurant is located close to downtown Fort Mill, SC at the end of a strip mall. The restaurant is a fair size with a patio outside for further seating options. We went on a Friday night when they have a margarita pitchers on special. I ordered the combination plate with a burrito, enchilada with rice and beans.
While we waited for our food we were served the customary chips and salsa. I requested some mild salsa (although the kind served was not especially hot) and was brought a bowl of warm burrito sauce, which was a nice alternative.
The food was all hot and freshly made which was appealing. The enchilada sauce was delicious with just the right amount of heat to it and the chicken was nicely flavored.
This restaurant receives 4 out of 5 stars as the service could have been a little quicker.
A word of warning, the patio hosts karaoke on a Friday night...if you're not into that, ask for a table inside.
While we waited for our food we were served the customary chips and salsa. I requested some mild salsa (although the kind served was not especially hot) and was brought a bowl of warm burrito sauce, which was a nice alternative.
The food was all hot and freshly made which was appealing. The enchilada sauce was delicious with just the right amount of heat to it and the chicken was nicely flavored.
This restaurant receives 4 out of 5 stars as the service could have been a little quicker.
A word of warning, the patio hosts karaoke on a Friday night...if you're not into that, ask for a table inside.
Pik n' Pig - Carthage, NC
Although this restaurant is not in the area I usually review, I felt it was worth reviewing in case anyone is looking for somewhere else to go. This restaurant is located on the airfield in Carthage, NC and we were lucky enough to be able to fly in and eat. Most people there had driven in from the local area and a long line was forming before the restaurant actually opened for Sunday lunch.
This restaurant serves Southern BBQ dishes, all meats smoked on site. I ordered the chicken and dumplings plate that came with a choice of two sides - I chose hush puppies and cabbage which was the vegetable of the day. The chicken and dumplings were delicious in a light broth and perfectly tender. The cabbage was just right and the hush puppies were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle.
My husband ordered the pork chop plate, with the pork chop having also been smoked that morning. The chop was at least an inch thick (no exaggeration!) and was flavored very well with no overpowering smoke taste which can sometimes occur.
I shared a strawberry shortcake afterward for dessert. This is just one of a number of fresh desserts available on the menu. The fresh strawberries were delicious and the cake was certainly decadent.
This restaurant receives 5 stars out of 5 because of it's amazing food and personal service. Be warned though, they only accept cash or checks - no cards.
This restaurant serves Southern BBQ dishes, all meats smoked on site. I ordered the chicken and dumplings plate that came with a choice of two sides - I chose hush puppies and cabbage which was the vegetable of the day. The chicken and dumplings were delicious in a light broth and perfectly tender. The cabbage was just right and the hush puppies were crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle.
My husband ordered the pork chop plate, with the pork chop having also been smoked that morning. The chop was at least an inch thick (no exaggeration!) and was flavored very well with no overpowering smoke taste which can sometimes occur.
I shared a strawberry shortcake afterward for dessert. This is just one of a number of fresh desserts available on the menu. The fresh strawberries were delicious and the cake was certainly decadent.
This restaurant receives 5 stars out of 5 because of it's amazing food and personal service. Be warned though, they only accept cash or checks - no cards.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Viet-Thai, Pineville, NC
Viet-Thai is a large Thai restaurant located off of Pineville-Matthews road in Pineville, NC. When you first walk in, the smells of delicious food overwhelm you and your mouth can't help but water. We visited on a Sunday lunch time which was a fairly busy time and took a booth on the far wall.
We started by sharing the summer roll appetizer which comprised of two fresh rice paper rolls stuffed with small shrimp, lettuce, cilantro and rice noodles. The peanut sauce that accompanied the rolls was so delicious, a mix of sweet and salty that I could literally just eat it straight off the spoon!
We decided to get two entrees and split them which our waiter was happy to do. We order a medium size chicken Pho soup with came in a huge bowl (you wouldn't need a size bigger than medium). Pho soup is a clear broth with, in this case, chicken, rice noodles and onion in it. It comes with a side plate with cilatro, a jalipino pepper, lime wedges and bean sprouts that you can add to your taste.
We also added a Thai salad with chicken and shrimp. The salad came with rice noodles, lettice, crunchy vegetables and a vinegar sauce to pour over the top. The chicken flavoring was beautiful and strong. The shrimp had a nice grilled texture. I think it would have benefited from more of both as there was a lot of vegetables which became a little monotimous after a while.
The service at Viet-Thai was impectable and they were very friendly. I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
We started by sharing the summer roll appetizer which comprised of two fresh rice paper rolls stuffed with small shrimp, lettuce, cilantro and rice noodles. The peanut sauce that accompanied the rolls was so delicious, a mix of sweet and salty that I could literally just eat it straight off the spoon!
We decided to get two entrees and split them which our waiter was happy to do. We order a medium size chicken Pho soup with came in a huge bowl (you wouldn't need a size bigger than medium). Pho soup is a clear broth with, in this case, chicken, rice noodles and onion in it. It comes with a side plate with cilatro, a jalipino pepper, lime wedges and bean sprouts that you can add to your taste.
We also added a Thai salad with chicken and shrimp. The salad came with rice noodles, lettice, crunchy vegetables and a vinegar sauce to pour over the top. The chicken flavoring was beautiful and strong. The shrimp had a nice grilled texture. I think it would have benefited from more of both as there was a lot of vegetables which became a little monotimous after a while.
The service at Viet-Thai was impectable and they were very friendly. I would give this restaurant 4 out of 5 stars.
Ming Fu, Waxhaw, NC
If you have read my previous posts, you will know that I am a beginner sushi fan. As long as my trusty friends are with me who are much more familiar with this cuisine, I am happy to try anything. Recently they took me to Ming Fu, located in the new shopping center in Waxhaw, NC, a modern Asian restaurant serving both Chinese and Japanese food.
We sat in the back of the large sized restaurant and ordered a variety of sushi rolls including a Dragon roll, Tiger roll, Volcano roll, Spider roll and many others. Because we sat in the back of the restaurant, alone for the most part, our servers seemed to forget about us. Our drinks order took a while to come and the food the same.
The food itself was beautiful presented with attention to detail and creatively. The fish was very fresh and the flavors of some of the sauces were out of this world. The rice was a little underdone for my liking but not so much as to ruin the food.
While I cannot fault the food, the service was not as prompt as it could have been and therefore Ming Fu receives 4 out of 5 stars.
We sat in the back of the large sized restaurant and ordered a variety of sushi rolls including a Dragon roll, Tiger roll, Volcano roll, Spider roll and many others. Because we sat in the back of the restaurant, alone for the most part, our servers seemed to forget about us. Our drinks order took a while to come and the food the same.
The food itself was beautiful presented with attention to detail and creatively. The fish was very fresh and the flavors of some of the sauces were out of this world. The rice was a little underdone for my liking but not so much as to ruin the food.
While I cannot fault the food, the service was not as prompt as it could have been and therefore Ming Fu receives 4 out of 5 stars.
Bo-Thai, Lancaster, SC
If you are ever in Lancaster, SC, you can't help but notice that it's culinary landscape is dominated by fast food chains and franchise restaurants but hidden in a small strip mall on Highway 9 is Bo-Thai. This restaurant is family owned and has been established for about 2 years serving authentic Thai food.
The lunch menu is great value with each plate coming with a drink, spring roll and a bowl of soup included in the price. Each dish gives you the option of which meat or fish you want to add to it, making it flexible.
I had the red curry which was served following a bowl of delicious egg drop soup. The curry was served in a bowl with the rice on the side, an interesting presentation that allowed for the rice to remain sticky and fluffy. The curry itself was creamy with the flavors of coconut milk and heat from the chillis coming through but not overpowering. This curry came with a variety of vegetables which was refreshing and allowed for some extra textures.
My husband ordered a dish of vegetables, chicken in a black pepper flavored sauce. All of the vegetable were fresh and remained slightly crunchy which enhanced the flavor.
The decoration of Bo-Thai is beautiful with elegant colors on the wall and flowers scattered around. I particularly appreciated that they give real napkins, not paper, which always goes down well with me.
I cannot find anything significant to fault Bo-Thai on so it gets 5 stars out of 5.
The lunch menu is great value with each plate coming with a drink, spring roll and a bowl of soup included in the price. Each dish gives you the option of which meat or fish you want to add to it, making it flexible.
I had the red curry which was served following a bowl of delicious egg drop soup. The curry was served in a bowl with the rice on the side, an interesting presentation that allowed for the rice to remain sticky and fluffy. The curry itself was creamy with the flavors of coconut milk and heat from the chillis coming through but not overpowering. This curry came with a variety of vegetables which was refreshing and allowed for some extra textures.
My husband ordered a dish of vegetables, chicken in a black pepper flavored sauce. All of the vegetable were fresh and remained slightly crunchy which enhanced the flavor.
The decoration of Bo-Thai is beautiful with elegant colors on the wall and flowers scattered around. I particularly appreciated that they give real napkins, not paper, which always goes down well with me.
I cannot find anything significant to fault Bo-Thai on so it gets 5 stars out of 5.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Akropolis Cafe - Ballantyne, Charlotte, NC
This small greek restaurant is located in Ballantyne, tucked away in a business park. Though quaint, it has an extensive menu of greek favorites including kid friendly options.
I ordered the souvlaki chicken pita with french fries. This pita comes with lettice, tomato, tzadziki sauce and onion as standard ( I had mine without onions). My husband ordered the souvlaki chicken platter that came with french fries, a greek salad and a small order of tzadziki with pita chips on the side.
The service was standard with the food arriving within about 10 minutes. Our water was served in take out cups which annoyed me some as we were eating in but the waitress made sure to refill them frequently so it was ok.
My pita was certainly full with a great flavor on the chicken, if a little salty. The lettice was a little sparse but on the whole not bad. The french fries were hot, straight from the fryer which I liked but lacked the crunchiness of perfectly cooked ones. I think they could have done with a few more seconds in the fryer.
My husband's platter was pleasing to the eye, though his fries were in the same condition as mine. The dressing came already poured on the salad which was a bit of a shame as there was way too much and he mentioned it was quite salty.
Overall, the Akropolis Cafe is not a bad restaurant but if it is this kind of food you are craving, there are better alternatives.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars.
I ordered the souvlaki chicken pita with french fries. This pita comes with lettice, tomato, tzadziki sauce and onion as standard ( I had mine without onions). My husband ordered the souvlaki chicken platter that came with french fries, a greek salad and a small order of tzadziki with pita chips on the side.
The service was standard with the food arriving within about 10 minutes. Our water was served in take out cups which annoyed me some as we were eating in but the waitress made sure to refill them frequently so it was ok.
My pita was certainly full with a great flavor on the chicken, if a little salty. The lettice was a little sparse but on the whole not bad. The french fries were hot, straight from the fryer which I liked but lacked the crunchiness of perfectly cooked ones. I think they could have done with a few more seconds in the fryer.
My husband's platter was pleasing to the eye, though his fries were in the same condition as mine. The dressing came already poured on the salad which was a bit of a shame as there was way too much and he mentioned it was quite salty.
Overall, the Akropolis Cafe is not a bad restaurant but if it is this kind of food you are craving, there are better alternatives.
I give this restaurant 3 out of 5 stars.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Mariachis Mexican Restaurant - Lancaster, SC
Mariachis in one of a handful of Mexican restaurants in Lancaster, SC but is by far the biggest located right on the bypass. Entering Mariachis we were greeted by a hostess who escorted us to our table on the large patio that sits at the front of the restaurant while she spoke into a hand held radio to the other staff. As soon as we had taken our seats we had chips, salsa and some fresh cut slaw dish to nibble on. We asked for a pitcher of margaritas which was a good size and not overly sweet.
I ordered the combination plate of an enchilada and a burrito from their extensive menu. The food was a little late in arriving but it was getting near to closing time so perhaps the kitchen had to make it from scratch. It certainly tasted so. All of my food was piping hot with tortillas that we not overcooked which often happens when they are left under a hot lamp for an extended period.
One thing that let this place down was that we ordered some waters which never arrived. Normally I can excuse this but because all of the waiters have these radios and ear pieces I assumed that they would be more efficient delivering our order.
I give Mariachis 4 out of 5 stars.
I ordered the combination plate of an enchilada and a burrito from their extensive menu. The food was a little late in arriving but it was getting near to closing time so perhaps the kitchen had to make it from scratch. It certainly tasted so. All of my food was piping hot with tortillas that we not overcooked which often happens when they are left under a hot lamp for an extended period.
One thing that let this place down was that we ordered some waters which never arrived. Normally I can excuse this but because all of the waiters have these radios and ear pieces I assumed that they would be more efficient delivering our order.
I give Mariachis 4 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Glass Onion - Charleston, SC
This post is for a restaurant further afield than the usual but I thought would still be worthy of a review. The Glass Onion is located in the West Ashley area of Charleston and although is not one of the more glamorous looking buildings, is certainly worth a try. The set is up is casual with the menu written on the wall and a staff member waiting to take your order at the counter. The menu is varied and exciting with starters such as local beet salad with pecans and blue cheese or turnip soup. I opted for the lamb, stewed in a light tomato sauce served over pasta. It was absolutely delicious, the lamb just falling apart and the pasta dense enough to absorb the rich sauce. Other people I went with had the shrimp and grits, which I sampled and concluded that they were divine as well as a deep fried quail which was great.
This restaurant has a fun feel with a casual atmosphere but with great quality food. Almost forgot, the bread and butter pudding is to die for!
5 Stars out of 5
This restaurant has a fun feel with a casual atmosphere but with great quality food. Almost forgot, the bread and butter pudding is to die for!
5 Stars out of 5
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Bravo Greek Style Pitas - Fort Mill, SC
Bravo Greek Style Pitas is located within the Plaza Fiesta Mall, just off I-77 at Carowinds. Although located in the food court, Bravo has it's own seating area that is nicely decorated and a nice alternative to the other seating area which is dominated by the huge indoor childrens playground.
Bravo's menu is one of the largest I have seen for this sort of restaurant with all sorts of pitas available as well sandwiches and platters.
I ordered the chicken souvlaki which is a pita filled with grilled chicken, tomatoes, homemade tzatziki and onions (I swapped those for lettuce). I also had french fries on the side, one of the many options to choose from.
The chicken in my pita was delicious with amazing flavor and still hot from the grill. The tzatziki was not overpowering, which can sometimes be the case and the was just enough to add a zing to the tomatoes and lettuce. My french fries were freshly made, obviously not kept warm like some other places.
I would highly recommend this eatery for something quick and delicious.
I give it 4 out 5 stars.
Bravo's menu is one of the largest I have seen for this sort of restaurant with all sorts of pitas available as well sandwiches and platters.
I ordered the chicken souvlaki which is a pita filled with grilled chicken, tomatoes, homemade tzatziki and onions (I swapped those for lettuce). I also had french fries on the side, one of the many options to choose from.
The chicken in my pita was delicious with amazing flavor and still hot from the grill. The tzatziki was not overpowering, which can sometimes be the case and the was just enough to add a zing to the tomatoes and lettuce. My french fries were freshly made, obviously not kept warm like some other places.
I would highly recommend this eatery for something quick and delicious.
I give it 4 out 5 stars.
Musashi Japanese Restaurant - Pineville, NC
I had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant with some friends who are experts in sushi and Japanese foods. This was a definite plus as I am relatively new to this kind of food but am certainly a fan. We went on a Saturday night and the place was packed. It is a small restaurant with a private room, main dining room and a sushi bar at the back. We sat at the sushi which was a treat as we could see the expert chef prepare the sushi to order.
We started with some appetizers; Agedashi Nasu (fried eggplant in broth), Shrimp Shumai (mini shrimp dumplings) and Ika Rings (fried squid rings). All were delicious although the squid didn't make it to us until we were well into the sushi.
My friends ordered a variety of sushi dishes, which ones I am not sure but I know there was fried soft shell crabs in there, eel, tuna and other delights. All were delicious and tasted fresh.
The service was OK, they were very busy and we ended up having to ask for an extra set of chopsticks, some more water and other little things like that but overall, it wasn't bad enough to ruin the meal.
The staff were very friendly, particularly the sushi chef who spoke to us for a little while once we had finished.
I would recommend this place for people familiar with Japanese cuisine. The explanations on the menu were not sufficient for someone like me who has very little idea about sushi and what is in it.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
We started with some appetizers; Agedashi Nasu (fried eggplant in broth), Shrimp Shumai (mini shrimp dumplings) and Ika Rings (fried squid rings). All were delicious although the squid didn't make it to us until we were well into the sushi.
My friends ordered a variety of sushi dishes, which ones I am not sure but I know there was fried soft shell crabs in there, eel, tuna and other delights. All were delicious and tasted fresh.
The service was OK, they were very busy and we ended up having to ask for an extra set of chopsticks, some more water and other little things like that but overall, it wasn't bad enough to ruin the meal.
The staff were very friendly, particularly the sushi chef who spoke to us for a little while once we had finished.
I would recommend this place for people familiar with Japanese cuisine. The explanations on the menu were not sufficient for someone like me who has very little idea about sushi and what is in it.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Genaro's Rotisserie & Grill - Pineville, NC 2 stars
I had heard a lot of great things about Genaro's from both friends and reviews in local media and decided to try it out on a Friday night. The place was packed, the small restaurant in the end of a strip mall had not a spare seat except for some at a bar area.
We took our seats, not sure if it was waiter service or whether we ordered at the counter that a guy in charge of the register. After about 10 minutes of watching waiters pass by and not acknowledge us (a pet peeve of mine...just say that you will be there in a minute!) we finally caught someone's eye who apologized, said they were busy and someone would be with us shortly.
We ordered from the extensive menu written both on the wall and paper versions. I ordered the grilled chicken with fried plantains and black beans and my husband ordered the grilled steak with rice and spicy beans. The food took about 15 minutes to arrive in which time we didn't see our waiter.
The food was OK, the chicken slightly dry, the beans were cold. The fried plantains were excellent and my husband's rice was nice and moist. I think if we had chosen to visit at a time when it was not quite so busy we would have received better quality food and service. However, personally I feel that a restaurant is put to the test when it is busy and if it can't cope...it's the fault of the management and nobody else.
This restaurant earns 2 stars for OK food but poor service.
We took our seats, not sure if it was waiter service or whether we ordered at the counter that a guy in charge of the register. After about 10 minutes of watching waiters pass by and not acknowledge us (a pet peeve of mine...just say that you will be there in a minute!) we finally caught someone's eye who apologized, said they were busy and someone would be with us shortly.
We ordered from the extensive menu written both on the wall and paper versions. I ordered the grilled chicken with fried plantains and black beans and my husband ordered the grilled steak with rice and spicy beans. The food took about 15 minutes to arrive in which time we didn't see our waiter.
The food was OK, the chicken slightly dry, the beans were cold. The fried plantains were excellent and my husband's rice was nice and moist. I think if we had chosen to visit at a time when it was not quite so busy we would have received better quality food and service. However, personally I feel that a restaurant is put to the test when it is busy and if it can't cope...it's the fault of the management and nobody else.
This restaurant earns 2 stars for OK food but poor service.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
El Maguey - Tega Cay, SC (2 stars)
I will start off by saying that I love Mexican food (and before you start, I know, it is the American version!). There is nothing better for me then great burritos, tacos, enchiladas and other Mexican delights on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, this I did not find on my recent visit to El Maguey in Tega Cay, SC just south of Charlotte, NC.
We arrived fairly late, just after 9pm and walked into find the night's "entertainment" in full swing. We requested a booth near the back of the restaurant so as to give us a better chance of hearing ourselves, having said that the restaurant itself isn't all that big so didn't make so much of a difference. The entertainment was a guy on a make-shift stage singing Beach music to the drunken patrons still hanging around after their meals. The music was so loud our first waitress had to get a second person to help her understand our drinks order.
We ordered a pitcher of margaritas on the rocks which was a great value as not only was the pitcher full but also our two glasses. The drinks were not overly sweet as can be the case and had the deception factor of being strong without being able to taste the alcohol. It took three attempts to get some mild salsa to accompany our chips that had already been brought to the table.
I ordered the combination plate (#17) which came with a burrito, an enchilada, rice and beans. My husband ordered a taco, enchilada combo plate, also with rice and beans. The food was quick to arrive and looked pleasant on the plate. The enchilada sauce was excellent, obviously home made with chunks of tomato and fresh cilantro. The burrito sauce was much darker than I had had in the past, almost a chocolate color but had a wonderful smokey flavor. Unfortunately, my husband did not have the same quality on his plate finding not one but two chicken bones in his taco and a whole bay leaf. Needless to say that put quite a cloud over the rest of our dinner.
El Maguey is not a place that I would visit again. In this area we are surrounded by fantastic Mexican restaurants and I don't think that I would crave either the food or the thought of the Saturday night entertainment again. However, the margaritas were excellent and good value.
El Maguey earns 2 out of a possible 5 stars.
We arrived fairly late, just after 9pm and walked into find the night's "entertainment" in full swing. We requested a booth near the back of the restaurant so as to give us a better chance of hearing ourselves, having said that the restaurant itself isn't all that big so didn't make so much of a difference. The entertainment was a guy on a make-shift stage singing Beach music to the drunken patrons still hanging around after their meals. The music was so loud our first waitress had to get a second person to help her understand our drinks order.
We ordered a pitcher of margaritas on the rocks which was a great value as not only was the pitcher full but also our two glasses. The drinks were not overly sweet as can be the case and had the deception factor of being strong without being able to taste the alcohol. It took three attempts to get some mild salsa to accompany our chips that had already been brought to the table.
I ordered the combination plate (#17) which came with a burrito, an enchilada, rice and beans. My husband ordered a taco, enchilada combo plate, also with rice and beans. The food was quick to arrive and looked pleasant on the plate. The enchilada sauce was excellent, obviously home made with chunks of tomato and fresh cilantro. The burrito sauce was much darker than I had had in the past, almost a chocolate color but had a wonderful smokey flavor. Unfortunately, my husband did not have the same quality on his plate finding not one but two chicken bones in his taco and a whole bay leaf. Needless to say that put quite a cloud over the rest of our dinner.
El Maguey is not a place that I would visit again. In this area we are surrounded by fantastic Mexican restaurants and I don't think that I would crave either the food or the thought of the Saturday night entertainment again. However, the margaritas were excellent and good value.
El Maguey earns 2 out of a possible 5 stars.
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