Courtside Grille, Clearwater, FL

Date: November 18th
Time: Dinner/Drinks
Type: Restaurant/Bar
Where: Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, Fl
Party: Me

Immediate Impression:
Loud sports bar, yuppie-ish, but upscale sports bar feel

Service:
My server was fantastic, prompt and stayed on top of things. The manager however was unhelpful and lacked managerial skills. I sat in a booth which had its own TV, I asked to get the TV switch to the Bolts game; 4x my waitress said she had to find the manager. The manager never materialized after 15 minutes the game was over. I was not please at all.

Menu/Food:
I kept my order simple - French Onion Soup, Chicken & Steak K-Bob's (their spelling not mine) and a Guinness. The soup was digestible but had a bit too much vinegar; the Guinness was old and a terrible pour; however, it was the K-Bob's which ruined my evening. They looked delicious. I promptly took them off their stick and mixed them with the rice pilaf they came with. I started eating the vegetables and chicken first -no really problem, but every once and a while there was a funny taste. Then I had my first piece of beef - which was 100% rotten meat!! OMG, it was nasty spit it right out. Just to be sure, I cut a small piece of another piece and - yuck - exactly the same thing. I lost my appetite completely.

When I told the waitress - she showed some concern and asked if I wanted anything else. She said she would talk with the manager. Although the manager took the k-bob's off my bill, the manager never came to the table to talk with me; furthermore, s/he had the waitress tell me - "the steak is marinated overnight maybe you just didn't like it." Which was extremely insulting cause if you've ever had bad steak its not a taste you soon forget.

Allegren Info: The french onion soup comes with tons of scallions on top, and be sure to make sure they do not put almonds in your rice pilaf. And I recommend smelling your meat before you place it in your mouth. If you have severe allergies to mold, you may want to only drink bottled beer, the taps are dirty.

Price: Pricing is high. My Guinness was $5.25 before tax, and my entree would have been $16.95.

Final thought:
This is my local bar now; its a good happy hour spot. I would go back for sports, appetizer and happy hour drinks, but other than that, its expensive and a little to self-important for my taste.

Time for a change

It't time for a change...as a Crohn's Disease sufferer and one who has multiple food allergies, I realized my blog is just not good enough.

Its not enough for me to simply rant/rave about the service, food quality, decor, etc; I owed it to people like me to help them make informed decisions; especially if my experience could help others feel comfortable or save them from pain/angst.

It is not easy being the odd person out at the restaurant - the one who has to constantly ask about the ingredients, ask for substitutions and carry Benedryl - just in case! It can be humiliating, awkward, and in my case, even life threatening.

So, from now on, I am going to add another section which concentrates on possible allergens and things to be aware of. Hopefully this will better assist you - my followers - and those you know and love when ordering at the restaurants on my blog.

I may even come up with some sort of grading system for those restaurants who go out of their way to please their patrons.

Good eating everyone!

Ingrid

Bar Louie, Tampa, FL

Date: multiple nights April/May
Time: Dinner/Drinks
Type: Restaurant/Bar
Where: International Mall, Tampa, FL
Party: large group

Immediate Impression:
This place is huge, loud and just a little off; but they do have ALOT of beer

Service:
Never great but not terrible. You'll have to wait a bit for your drink, so order another before you finish your first.

Menu/Food:
Edible, good bar food. Nothing which stands out as fabulous or disgusting. I do, however, enjoy that they serve tater tots. Who doesn't like tater tots?!?


Price: Beer pricing is reasonable, food pricing is high, but its International Mall. They have specials all the time, so be on the look out

Final thought:
This is a good meet-up spot for happy hour or to watch a sporting event; would not use it as a date spot or out-of-town visitor place;

Ciccios/The Lodge

Date: Multiple nights in April
Time: Dinner
Type: Restaurant/bar
Where: 16023 Tampa Palms Boulevard West, Tampa, FL 33647
Party: 3 peeps

Immediate Impression:
Odd - trying a little too hard to mesh the Lodge/Fusion theme

Service:
Bar service is much better than table service! First time, we sat at a table, service was slow and we had to repeat ourselves a lot. She also must not have heard me say - no nuts, I'm allergic! But I digress...the bartender on the other hand, stayed on top of our dishes and even made recommendations.

Menu/Food:
I really like the menu, even if it is all over the place with options. The "TV Dinner" option is a novelty and kinda cute. The menu its self is huge - from sushi to specialty macaroni & cheese, rice bowls to taquitos. Everyone - with every type of dietary constraint - should be able to find something to eat.

One recommendation - skip the Potato soup, not very good, way too much butter. The pizza's are really good and make a great appetizer for 2-3 people. I am a huge fan of the Mac & Cheese bowls. Can't really comment on anything else but everything coming out of the kitchen looked presentable and delicious.

Price: about right for New Tampa, reasonable but towards the high side. The best deal is the TV Dinner style

Final thought:
I'll definitely count this amongst my close to home bars. Crowd is mixed, services is agreeable (not great/not awful), food is good and beer selection okay. Too bad they got rid of their MLB package!

The Living Room - Dunedin, FL

Date: 04/15/2010
Time: Dinner
Type: Restaurant
Where: 680 Main Street, Dunedin, FL, 34698
Party: large group

Immediate Impression:
This place is tiny but intimate...Cozy and I LOVE the live music on the patio. Oh, happy hour til 7, excuse me as I order...

Service:
TJ the bartender was fantastic!!! Pours the best Slutty Tanqueray Martini I've had in Florida!! The rest of the staff seemed a bit dazed and confused. They also don't know their menu very well - pretty lucky I didn't dive into the cheese plate after confirming nothing I ordered had nuts cause those pecans would have killed me!

Menu/Food:
The food is awesome! All dishes are served Tapas style - I still don't really get the large/small plate, so American - but I digress...everything we ordered was delicious. The Olimpia salad phenomenal - everything tasted market fresh and who doesn't LOVE artichokes. Obviously, I had to forgo the cheese platter, but it was presented really well.

The au gratin potatoes were LUSCIOUS! Seriously! I could eat those all day - sorry hips! Lastly, the ribs were cooked to perfection, with an amazing sweet sauce which made me want to lick the plate (actually if less people were around I probably would have!)


Price: on the high side...but, worth every penny!

Final thought:
Fantastic place for a party or great night out. It isn't a pretentious place - everyone seemed comfortable and the music was a perfect fit. Next time I go I will probably stay at the bar or sit on the patio...I could have spent the entire night there, but probably would have been broke after. Highly recommend, and I will definitely go back.

Dunderbaks - Tampa, FL

Date: 03/14/2010
Time: Lunch
Type: Restaurant/Beer Establishment
Where: 14929 Bruce B Downs Boulevard, Tampa
Party: 1 female, 1 male

Immediate Impression:
What a cute place...so glad it's not in the mall anymore! Smells fantastic as soon as you walk through the door


Service:
Sat at the bar in the front room, although the bartender was nice and polite, he had ZERO personality - its was like pulling teeth to talk to him and all his smiles seemed contrite.

Menu/Food:
Traditional German food (with a little polish mixed in). Nothing says comfort food then Chedder Cheese Beer Soup, Jaegerschnitzel n Spaetzle w/a side of yummy yummy Sauerkraut. Now, I have had better German fare, but you can't beat the ability to eat well and drink like a champ simultaneously.

As a beer drinker, I LOVE Dunderbaks! There selection is ever changing and always top-notch! I started with their fresh brewed Root Beer (kinda flat) but graduated to a nice Optimator with my meal.

Price:
Awesome! You will have enough food for two meals and will drink yourself into a stupor without hurting your pocket - just make sure you have a designated driver or take a cab, a DUI will wipe away any savings!

Final thought:
Will definitely be back, and will be bringing a large group with me! You have to experience Oktoberfest there...well worth the trip!

Jasmine Thai - Tampa, FL

Date: 03/15/2010
Time: Dinner
Type: Restaurant
Where: 13248 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Party: 1 female, 1 male

**Note - there are two Tampa locations, not sure if they have the same ownership or menu ***

Immediate Impression:
Smelled a little funky when you first walked in, but the decor seemed to fit the feel, although it seemed slightly warn-out.

Service:
Our hostess was also our server; she stayed on top of our table until the end - someone else boxed our food and took our check. It wasn't fantastic but it wasn't terrible.

Menu/Food:
Standard Thai fare - lots of peanut and shellfish stuff, so it was difficult to order. I started with their Vegetable Curd Soup - which honestly was off the hook fabulous (wish I could have had a bigger bowl). Only down side, set my expectations too high for the main course!

I love hot and spicy food - seriously, I tend to put Tabasco sauce in everything. My main course - Garlic Chicken and Rice - even with the addition of extra hot sauce was still horrifically bland, even the Jasmine Rice side was easily forgettable.

Price:
Menu prices were fair for the area and the volume of food - SOUP well worth it, entree not so much.


Final thought:
I will definitely go back for more soup, but will probably take it to go.

The Grape - International Mall, Tampa, FL

Date: 03/12/2010 and 03/23/10
Time: Drinks/Appetizers Meeting
Type: Wine Bar
Where: International Mall, Tampa, FL
Party: Group between 7-10 Females

Immediate Impression:
I love anyplace which has wine all over the place! Although the purple decor is slightly overwhelming.

Service:
Fantastic! Our server/s, during both visits, were knowledgeable with the selections offered and made suggestions to fit our needs. The manager/owner also came by to welcome us.


Menu/Food:

Our group chose a plethora of small appetizer plates: various meats/cheese, warm feta spread, hummus platter and some other shellfish/nut dishes which I did not have. I LOVE the feta spread - absolutely fantastic; wasn't impressed with the hummus. The cheese platters vary by what people chose, but you can never go wrong with cheese (sorry lactose intolerant peeps)

Price:

On the high end, both for the wine by the glass and the appetizers. Three glasses of Reisling and the feta spread with tip cost $40. Worth it, but I'd be broke it I went to often.


Final thought:
This is a great after-work, small meeting location. Our group was planning a 50th anniversary, and if we the space was not limited in seating capacity, we would have rented it out. I highly recommend visiting and bring some friends!

Stonewood Tavern, New Tampa, FL

**Update: The manager of Stonewood contacted me personally to apologize for the staff oversight. He stated he would be using my email as a training tool and asked I return to the location at a later date to see what if any changes had been made. I hope to visit during April. I am always impressed with any establishment who takes criticism constructively and look forward to my next visit

Date: 03/09/2010
Time: Dinner
Type: Restaurant
Where: 17050 Palm Pointe Dr, Tampa, FL 33647
Party: 1 female

Immediate Impression:
Absolutely no where to park but once inside was not very crowded. The bar and dining room are very dark.

Service:
I sat at the tail end of the bar, next to the service station. At first, my impression was favorable - one of the bartenders assisted me with their drink specials and let me know happy was ending soon. I was please with the bar staff, but the waitstaff really needs to be more aware of their surroundings and what they say to one another with patrons around. Not only where their conversations rude, obnoxious and condescending, but their continual bumping into my chair and putting their arm over my food without excusing themselves was irritating.

Menu/Food:
The menu was very inclusive - something for everyone. I began with their smoked salmon appetizer, which although sweeter then the menu lets on (who would have thought dill mustard seed sauce would be sweet) was delectable and well portion. This could have easily fed 3 people.

My salad - Mediterranean Salad w/o pine nuts - was really great - although again, the dressing was a little too sweet. All of the vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the presentation made you feel you were getting a good value (although for the price, I would say it wasn't ample).

For my entree I ordered a 7oz Medium Rare Sirloin Steak with Rice Pilaf and vegetables. The vegetables were great - again, crisp, fresh and cook correctly; the rice "pilaf" was nothing more than yellow rice and pepper; but the steak was excellent. Cooked to the perfect temperature w/o any overwhelming spices or additional salt.

All the food presented around me looked fantastic.

Price:
Pricey - happy hour wine, appetizer, salad and entree, after tip was $50 even.

Final thought:
Although I wasn't disappointed, there are better steak/fish joints in my area, which I would be more likely to frequent than Stonewood. But if I were to go again, I would definitely sit at the bar, the waitstaff may be nice to your face but they say nasty things behind it!

Pita Republic, Wesley Chapel, FL

Date: 03/03/2010
Time: Dinner
Type: "Fast" Food
Where: The Cypress at BBD & County Line Road, Wesley Chapel, FL
Party: 1 female

Immediate Impression:
Brand Spanking new - has an odd sense of emptiness, and really quiet!

Service:
Found out it actually was the establishments first day and I was only their 15th customer, so I will cut them some slack. Honestly, the two gentleman were attentive and lively, and their complimenting me on my beauty definitely helped!

Menu/Food:
Pita sandwiches, regular cold-cut sandwiches and wraps. I went with their Mediterranean wrap on a sun-dried tomato wrap. YUMMY and HUGE!!! I was only able to eat half my sandwich. The warm bread melted my feta cheese which made the sandwich even better.

I didn't eat in so I didn't order anything else, but I will go back to try their other items.

Price:
Moderate - but there are always coupons in the mail, I recommend using them.

Final thought:
I love finding good eats close to home; I will definitely go back soon. Hopefully they will stay busy, its a tough neighborhood for food joints

Byblos Pitas, North Tampa, FL

Date: 02/28/2010
Time: Lunch
Type: "Fast" Food
Where: 2734 University Square Drive, Tampa
Party: 1 male, 1 female

Immediate Impression:
This place makes me happy! The colors are so vibrant, the space is very open with good light.

Service:
Since this is a "fast" food establishment - by that I mean strictly counter service, I really didn't anticipate much. However, the young man, and the owner, were very helpful and checked in on us to ensure we were enjoying our meal and all was well.

Menu/Food:
Middle Eastern style "fast" food - pita sandwiches, salads and traditional side dishes. I quickly learned the establishment served Lebanese style middle easter food - which does have its variant from other regions.

My guest orderd a Gyro Pita fully loaded, and I ordered the Chicken Shwarma with a side of Hummus. The chicken took a while to prepare - but boy, was it worth it.

I have to say it - I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! My food was not only large portioned, but tasted spectacular. For my pita, the server recommend adding, lettuce, tomato, garlic paste and pickled turnips - yes, I said pickled turnips! I had him dump on some cucumbers and roll it up. Instead of it being a messy fall in your lap standard pita sandwich, at Byblos they wrap them up like burritos, which are much easier for transport. This sandwich was fantastic - I didn't want to stop eating it.

I didn't try the Gyro but my guest was ranting and raving about how good the yogurt dressing was and the gyro meat tasted.

My "side" of hummus was a full half cup and came with pita chips - this came home with me.

Price:
Cheap - and they are running a special where after 5pm all pitas are $5! And for you anglos - they do have French Fries.

They also have FREE wifi and Beer - $2.95 for your first and $1.00 for each subsequent.

Also, they let us finish our meal and THEN pay - it always feels good to be trusted.

Final thought:
I am going to come here as often as possible; the food is fast and healthy. The services is prompt and amicable, and the atmosphere is conducive to a relaxing meal. I could see myself setting up my laptop and enjoying a calm late afternoon there. I am sure this place gets pack at lunch - so be warned.

Hope they open more of these locally - I will definitely have to try their full sit-down restaurant in South Tampa - Byblos Cafe.

Green Parrot Pub, Tampa, FL

Date: 02/19/10
Time: Late Evening
Type: Bar
Where: 11759 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33618-3503
Party: large group

Immediate Impression:
Why is their unfinished 1x6's everywhere...it smells like a great big hamster cage/VFW dance hall! I kind felt their should be balloons and streamers somewhere.

Service:
Our server was good, but less then cordial and/or helpful, in her defense, it was pretty busy and as the night wore on became more so.

Menu/Food:
I saw a kitchen, but I am not sure I would eat there. The bar carries the standard domestics and bottles - Guinness in a bottle. Make sure you ask for drink specials.

Price:
Fair. This seems to be a local college bar so they keep their prices

Final thought:
I only went to this bar because my friend's band was playing, not sure I would ever return without some determining factor like that. The sound system is TERRIBLE, which could be because they have a insulated wall separating the stage for the bar. Not the best venue for music, but seems like a good place for Beer Pong.

BJ Brewhouse, Pinellas Park, FL

Date: 02/19/10
Time: Lunch
Type: Restaurant
Where: 3800 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL
Party: 2 females and a 3 month old

Immediate Impression:
Definitely not a good idea to get their exactly at noon! Parking extremely limited, but we were seated very quickly.

Service:
Our server was funny! First thing I notices were her really cool wrist tattoos (reason I am not giving her name); she kept our drinks full and helped when we needed hot water for the baby bottle. For the most part, she checked in on us but let us enjoy our meal w/o too much interruption.

Menu/Food:
Standard Sandwiches, Burgers, Salads, Pasta and Pizza dishes; they are also their own brewery - but it was lunch and I had just walked 2.5 miles - so I ordered their homemade Root Beer, which is YUMMY! For lunch, I had a Medley Salad and a bowl of Minestrone Soup, my guest had their Cobb Salad and a bowl of chili. We split a Spinach/Artichoke dip appetizer.

The salad, after I took off the onions and the red peppers, was, well, just plain salad - but sometimes this is all you need. The minestrone soup was great - although I am always surprised at why people put pasta in it and don't mention it on the menu.

As for my guest, her salad looked HEAPING - and it was allegedly their lunch size portion. I can only imagine how big the regular salad is. The chili bowl was also very big and according to her - filling! She had food to take home for later.

Price:
Honestly, for lunch its a bit pricey, but for dinner reasonable. The Soup Salad combo is reasonable especially if you are able to take some home/back to the office for later.

Final thought:
Next time I go I think I am going to try one of their HUGE potatoes and some of the house beers.

Bonefish Grill, Bellair Bluffs, FL

Date: 02/18/10
Time: Dinner
Type: Restaurant
Where: 2939 West Bay Drive, Belleair Bluffs, FL 33770
Party: 1 Female and 1 male

Immediate Impression:
Surprisingly busy for a random Thursday night

Service:
Our server, Sylvie, was wonderful! She went the extra mile on everything, from double checking all the menu items to ensure no allergy complications, to ensuring the food was correct and the dishes removed promptly. Sylvie is very knowledgeable of the menu items and extremely helpful.

Menu/Food:
I ordered the Grilled Trout w/Asparagus and a side salad, my guest ordered the sirloin with a succotash side and au-gratin mashed potatoes. My dish was cooked perfectly, I simply added a little lemon and pepper to add some zest. The sirloin was originally under-cooked and came with garlic mashed potatoes, it was brought back to cook a little longer and came with an additional side of au-gratin mashed potatoes. There was enough food for dinner and lunch the following day

Price:
Reasonable even with a bottle of wine; Our tab was $60 for two entrees and a bottle of wine, but both of us did not order super expensive stuff.

Final thought:
Now that it is the Lenten season, expect it to be packed on Friday nights. This is a very good date place, the environment is set up to be romantic yet bustling. I LOVE the trout...only downside is the menu is limited if you are allergic to shellfish.

The Brass Tap, Wiregrass Mall, Tampa, FL

Date: 02/16/10
Time: Evening Drinks
Type: Wine/Beer Bar
Where: Wiregrass Mall, Wesley Chapel, FL
Party: 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
Relatively empty but everyone was enjoying themselves; Olympics on the TV, Karaoke being set up, and NTN Trivia going

Service:
Fantastic! My bartendar - whom I forgot to ask her name - was very attentive and kept herself busy w/cleaning glasses and engaging in conversation with the patrons.

Menu/Food:
There is no food at Brass Tap but you can order from Cantina Laredo or GrillSmiths which are both adjacent restaurants. Since my ability to eat is still limitet, I chose to stick with a liquid dinner of - Sam Adams Seasonal Noble Pils - which is yummy!


Price:
Really depends on the night you go - Tuesday was 2 for 1 select drafts (Noble counted) and since it was Fat Tuesday they had a special on ALL Abita beers. The cost is entirely up to what your tastes are. I have never walked away wishing I spent less.

Final thought:
This is my local place, which just happens to have lots of different beers and NTN trivia - my favorite bar past-time. Its a place you can go alone or in a group and receive the same attentive service. The crowd got younger as the night wore on but again, that really depends on the night.

I'd also like to note - probably because a majority of the servers/bartenders are women, the ladies room was really clean.

NOTE: ** if you are a Guinness drinker (as I am) in my experience there are only two bartenders there who pour correctly. Watch**

I of course will be going back - but I will probably eat before I go this time

Grillsmiths, Wesley Chapel, FL

Date: 02/02/10
Time: Late Dinner
Type: Restaurant
Where: Wiregrass Mall, Wesley Chapel, FL
Party: 1 Male, 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
Very sultry; I love the dark woods, dark leather and low light; exudes leisure

Service:
Tad, our waiter, was wonderful! Very attentive, helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and dish contents.

Menu/Food:
My palette is very limited lately, so I ordered the Ahi Tuna Steak with asparagus and mashed cauliflower. Everything was fantastic - especially the asparagus. Although the tuna steak came rolled in sesame seeds, I had to cut this layer off - which was really easy because the searing was done properly. The inside tuna was slightly warm and fresh. As for the mashed cauliflower, this was okay, I would probably stick with Mashed Potatoes - my guest had the Augratin Mashed Potatoes which is worth the extra side!

My guest ordered Stoli Ravioli w/ the fantastic side of Augratin Mashed and Beef Tip Eggroll. OMG - everything tasted yummy and the portions were plentiful - lunch for tomorrow!

Price:
Not cheap - our total bill was under $60 but there were no drinks, and we ate two of the cheaper items on the menu. Expect to spend ~30 per person.

Final thought:
I will definitely go back here - this time to order a steak and a nice bottle of wine. While waiting around I also noticed they have a sunday brunch, which I will have to check out soon!

TAPS - Tampa, FL

***03/31/10 Yet again Taps has failed to understand their market. The Tampa Bay Beer MUG group, Let's Go Out Tampa Bay, and Tampa Socials, recently hosted a Going Away/Birthday party at this establishment. Management had promised draft beer discounts for the party however when the group arrived they stated they could not honor their prior commitment and treated the group with disdain the rest of the evening. These groups have BANNED TAPS from being used for any future events. Based on these two events, and the overall poor quality of service/consideration, I would strongly advise anyone to avoid TAPS. (see email below from the TBBMUG organizer)

***Update: The female guest did receive a $5.00 credit on our charge, there are currently conversations with the owner regarding this situation. ***

Date: 01/29/2010
Time: Special Event After Party
Type: Bar
Where: 777 N Ashley, Tampa, Florida
Party: Group ~ 15

Immediate Impression:
It was busy, and felt they were understaffed on the floor, my guest and I went straight to bar!

Service:
Our bartender - Johnny - was fantastic! On point, kept our glasses full (with what we ordered) and checked up on us frequently - too bad the rest of the working staff was no where near as good...I digress.

Our first interaction with the floor server revolved around our food order, the floor server started yelling our name while bringing the food. I understood the need to do this, if we were standing on the main floor, however, the bartender had made a note we would be at the bar; - I chalked it up to simply being busy and she was probably slammed. However, I did observe that she was already intoxicated, something, if I were the bar owner, I would not have allowed so early in the day (it was only 7pm).

At some point during the evening, prior to the atrocity below, I also watched the server take a man (the same one) outside the side door and promptly start a groping/making out session. Again, something I don't believe patrons should ever see.

The real tragedy of service came when part of our group decided to leave; one of our female members asked for her tab, when the server brought out the whole tab, our member asked her to split the tab and only charge her for what she had. The server told our member she was not sure what she had, when our member advised her what on the tab was hers, the fiasco began.

After everyone who was on the tab chimed in with what they were responsible for the tab was still off by ONE AMSTEL LIGHT ($4.50). The Manager came to our table to tell US that every drink which was ordered was brought to the table; we told the Manager NOBODY ordered the last Amstel, furthermore, there were still three cups with alcohol in them on the table (they were pouring all the drinks in plastic containers - which again we had no problem with.) The manager notified us she would be taking off the extra Amstel, we felt the issue had been put to rest. Until...

Managers/Servers should be trained to not TALK about customers while within earshot of other patrons - you NEVER know who knows who. The manager was over-heard telling the server "I don't care what she wants, I already have her credit card, just tell her we took it off"! Because of this, when the server came back to tell us the charge had been dropped, we asked for a revised receipt as proof. She told us she was "UNABLE TO REPRINT THE RECEIPT BECAUSE THE TRANSACTION HAD BEEN CLOSED" - which anyone who has ever worked in the restaurant industry knows is a COMPLETE AND UTTER LIE!!

Not only did the female server say she couldn't do it, but so did the MANAGER. Our female member then went to the bar as said if she did not receive her proof of payment, she would notify her credit card company of the fraudulent charge - she was then told they would be calling the POLICE on HER for THEFT! Our female member just left, exasperate, frustrated, belittled and unhappy! The rest of our group left angry. We spent the remainder of the evening, and our money, at the HUB!

TAPS use to be one of the Preferred Vendors for the Tampa Bay Beer Meet Up Group - however, because of there actions this evening, we have advised all our organizers and members to no longer patronize TAPS. This is an unfortunate circumstance of poor service, poor management and offensive behavior.


Menu/Food:
I enjoyed my food, the group split, Tuna Crudo, Baked Mac & Cheese, Guacamole w/chips, and Roast Beef Sliders - considering it was a special event night, we were all pleased with the food.


Price:
This place is not really cheap, but it is standard for the area. However, after the horrific service, buying anything carries way too high a price!

Final thought:
I am going to reiterate what I said above: TAPS use to be one of the Preferred Vendors for the Tampa Bay Beer Meet Up Group - however, because of there actions this evening, we have advised all our organizers and members to no longer patronize TAPS. This is an unfortunate circumstance of poor service, poor management and offensive behavior. I will update the blog when my friend checks her credit card statement to confirm what she was charged

PF Changs, Tampa, FL

Date: 01/29/2010
Time: Late Lunch
Type: Restaurant
Where: Westshore Mall, Tampa, Florida
Party: 1 male, 1 female

Immediate Impression:
Whoo hoo, lunch crowd is done, took less than 5 sec to get a seat at the bar. The music was a little odd, and I did question the Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap, but I wasn't drinking it.

Service:
Our bartender was fantastic, very attentive and helpful;

Menu/Food:
This is the main reason I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I am a Crohn's Disease sufferer - if you would like to learn more go to www.ccfa.org. When I am in an active state, it is extremely difficult to eat, add in my food allergies and it becomes nearly impossible - However, PF Chang's always comes through.

I ordered Organic Hot Tea, Wonton Soup w/no shrimp, a side of asparagus, and a side of garlic spinach (all shellfish free). My guest ordered the Northern Style Rib appetizer and a the garlic noodles but sauteed in only garlic butter.

When my food arrived, I dumped my two sides in my soup and let them get mushy. Yummy, took half of it home, lunch and dinner all for under $13.

Price:
We just missed happy hour, which makes your fav appetizer's cheaper, but since what I can eat is really limited, my tabs are always small here. It can get very pricey if you do appetizer and entree and beverage.

Final thought:
I love this place, I will of course be back, especially if I am in active state of Crohn's. They are extremely helpful w/all food allergies. Also BE CAREFUL - there is ALOT of sodium is all PF Chang dishes

Hyde Park Cafe -Tuesday, Tampa, FL

Date: 01/26/2010
Time: Late Happy Hour/Late Evening
Type: Bar/Club
Where: 806 West Platt Street, Tampa, Florida 33606
Party: 2 Females

Immediate Impression:
We got there early, so it was empty, and its a semi-inside/outside bar; I had my coat on at the bar.

Service:
Our first bartender at the center was fantastic and very helpful. She really wanted all her patrons to enjoy their experience. She also reminded us when happy hour was almost over so we could get our full benefit.

The late night bartenders at the center and far right bars (if standing in front of the establishment) were RUDE! Although I understand you have to be weary of underage drinking - especially in an establishment which permits 18yo's (not my fault) - but please, you took it way too far.

At the center bar, a male bartender asked me what I would like, after telling him, he turned around a left. The female bartender asked what I wanted, I stated the male had already gotten my order, but when she turned around he wasn't pouring it - turns out, he didn't want to serve me because my OVER 21 wristband was on the WRONG wrist! What makes this ridiculous, was it was HPC's own staff member who put the wristband on the WRONG wrist - and come on, seriously, I don't look UNDER 21!

At the far right bar, nobody even bothered to ask us if we needed help, hence the reasoning for going to the center bar.

It wasn't that busy; its wasn't even 1 deep at the bar!

Menu/Food:
The beer selection at the Center bar is relatively substantial, however, it is lacking at the other bars. This is full liquor at all bars.

Price:
Happy hour was great...we got 2 Shiner Bock and 2 Magners for only $10.53; not sure what the liquor pricing is, but I would say pricing is standard for the location and type of venue.

Final thought:
I will try this place again - I am hoping it was all the Derek Jeter hoopla which was causing the idiocy at the center bar; the crowd is a good mix of young/old, and the music in the various rooms offers a little bit for everyone.

One more thing....the valet guys are really nice and funny!

Smokey Bones, Clearwater, FL

Date: 01/25/2010
Time: Dinner
Type: Restaurant
Where: 2893 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL
Party: 1 Male, 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
I've been here before, but its been awhile...I am slightly concerned about the new menus and the new uniforms...hmmm

Service:
AWFUL!!! When we first sat, one of the 3 bartenders was quick to get our drink order, but it went downhill from there. It took forever to order our food, when the food came out the busser wasn't sure who it belonged to, we had to interrupt a conversation to get butter, and they walked by our empty dishes for a good 20 minutes - even after I stacked them in a nice neat pile!! However, our bill and our change came really quick!

Also, I don't mind if employees sit at the bar, especially if they are NOT in uniform, but then don't embarrass yourself. It seems the guest to our right was one of the managers of the restaurant, he and a good cross section of the staff, including the Kitchen Manager, were making fools of themselves.

Menu/Food:
I went here for the ribs and their donuts, but the donuts aren't even on the menu anymore, and the ribs are on the last page. They seem to be focusing more on their appetizers and drinks - which I will start with.

We were offered 2-4-1 Top Shelf Margaritas - DON'T DO IT!!! The were disgusting, way to much sour mix and the tequila is nasty. Not sure what they used but it should be well liquor. Plus their 2-4-1 is a rip-off, one 10oz drink costs $8.75.

My guest and I decided to split our meal since we weren't starving - we ordered the Pretzel Rod appetizer, their corn bread appetizer, and the double trouble (1/3 Rack of Baby Back Ribs w/original glaze and 1/3 Rack of St. Louis Ribs w/Smoked Mesquite Rub), side of broccoli, and a side of mash potatoes.

The only item which was somewhat good was the corn bread appetizer, and even that was mushy.

Honestly, everything was undercooked and tough. It seemed like they cooked it 2/3 of the way so that you could go home and finish the cooking. The broccoli was hard, the mashed potatoes were tasteless, the St. Louis Ribs were tough and the rub was ridiculously salty and I think they used hot sauce, the baby backs were tough yet rubbery!

I was completely and utterly disappointed!

Price:
Reasonable, but after eating I wish I could get my money back.

Final thought:
Completely unhappy with my experience there, will not return, and I suggest, if the thought crosses your mind, change it quickly. You only get to eat so many meals, don't waste one here!

Dubliner North, Tampa, FL

Date: 01/24/2010
Time: Lunch
Type: Restaurant/Bar
Where: 12836 Henderson Road, Tampa, FL
Party: 1 Male, 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
What a cute place, in an absolutely terrible location! Beautiful day, let's sit on the patio and watch some football!

Service:
It wouldn't be fair for me to discuss service, since the server is one of my friends. But all in all, all the servers and bar staff were really congenial and helpful - not just my friend.

Menu/Food:
It's primarily an Irish Pub, with your standard Irish foods - shepard's pie, fish and chips, corn beef and cabbage - but they also have PIZZA and fried appetizers. It seemed odd to me to order the pizza, so I ordered the French Onion soup and the Club Sandwich, my guest ordered the potato soup.

My french onion soup was pretty good, not bland and just the right amount; but when they brought out my club sandwich, I was wondering who the other 3 people were who would help me finish it. I couldn't believe this sandwich was for ONE person. Luckily, my guest was hungry and offered to share it with me.

As for the Potato Soup, this is a passable soup,nothing really exciting to talk about, a little too liquid for my taste.

Dubliner North does have an ample on Tap beer menu, and they pour a near perfect pint of Guinness - or course, something I always look for!

Price:
Good, not out of line for a day watching football, drinking beer and eating.

Final thought:
They obviously still have an identity crisis with the Dubliner in South Tampa (there menus are actually from there). I will, of course, go back, but probably only when my friend is working.

TGI Fridays, New Tampa, FL

Date: 01/23/2010
Time: Lunch
Type: Restaurant/Bar
Where: 18001 Highwoods Preserve, Tampa, FL
Party: 1 Male, 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
I really don't want to be here! I wanted KFC Grilled Chicken, but for some reason, all the fast-foodie type places in New Tampa close at 9PM on SATURDAY night! The patio was packed with young adults (18-24). The bar was empty, but for some reason the 8 people in there still made it loud.

Service:
Our bartenders were really funny and really attentive. They were able to make good suggestions and kept us in the loop about recent specials.

Menu/Food:
A little bit for everyone, they are currently running a 3 course meal for $12.99, which I went for easily. I ordered the Classic Wedge Salad (which was edible), the chicken bruschetta pasta - which honestly is a really easy, lazy dish for a restaurant, and for some reason my pasta was burnt, and the Brownie Explosion hold the Pecans - this was the most fantastic part of dinner.

My guest ordered the Jack Daniels Sirloin with Mashed Potatoes and broccoli. The steak was over-cooked but the Mashed Potatoes and broccoli were really good.

Something in my meal made me sick - really sick - I am assuming it was the chicken on my pasta, BEWARE!

Price:
Reasonable for a chain restaurant

Final thought:
Not bad, but I would try to spend less, if I ever go again. Maybe just appetizer and dessert. I would rank this like a Chili's, especially if there are really no other late night options, but, I still would have preferred KFC!

Los Mariachis, Largo, FL

Date: 01/23/2010
Time: Lunch
Type: Restaurant
Where: 9100 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL
Party: 1 Male, 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
This is a really big place, wonder if it ever gets full. Not a big fan of Mexican, but I'll try it out.

Service:
Great! We had 4 different people come to our table to bring out various aspects of our meals. Everything was really quick and the waiter who took our order was very polite and helpful.

Menu/Food:
Traditional Mexican food; the chips and salsa presented when we sat was great - note: the salsa is more on the hot than mild side, personally I prefer this, but just to warn those who aren't into hot sauce. The menu is vast, with various types of fajitas, a la carte items, and combos. Personally, I ordered the Beef (Burrito, Enchilada and Tamale), my guest ordered Enchilada, Hard Taco and Tostado combination.

The presentation of both dishes was fantastic. Although I thoroughly enjoyed my tamale, which was actually a chicken tamale with ground beef on top, I was not impressed with the Burrito or Enchilda. The burrito only contained meat, and the meat was dry; the enchilada was just a smaller version of the burrito, and equally as dry. However, my guest's Tostada was very good, I especially like the layer of melted cheese before the lettuce. As with my enchilada, the meat was dry, and the Taco we relatively bland, again, caused by the over-cooked spiceless ground beef.

Price:
CHEAP!!!!

Final thought:
I may go back to try the fajitas, which smelled really good, but I am going to stay away from everything else. This is probably a great place for a quick lunch off the a-la-carte menu.

Bar Louie, International Mall, Tampa, FL

Date: 01/22/2010
Time: Happy Hour
Type: Restaurant/Bar
Where: International Plaza, Baystreet 2223 N. Westshore Blvd B202, Tampa, Fl
Party: 4 Females

Immediate Impression:
I've been here before, mostly for Football Sundays, but I was shocked at the sheer volume of people - mostly men - there for Happy Hour. It was packed!

Service:
Service was lackluster, the bartenders were less than attentive. Our first bartender was helpful, but as the night went on, our new bartender was actually a little smug and slightly bitchy.

Menu/Food:
I normally do not eat at Bar Louie - I have been disappointed each time. However, it was getting late, I was drinking and I needed to eat. I ordered the "safe" Hummus platter, the other ladies ordered the Tuna appetizer and the Calamari.

Honestly, I was caught off guard. They must be using new pita for their hummus platter, it was thick and tasty. The hummus and cous cous was just the right texture and had just the right spices.

The most surprising dish was the Calamari - awesome!!! It was crisp, light and just the right size. Unfortunately, because no one was sure whether there was oyster sauce used in the making of the tuna, I am unable to comment.

Of course, the beer selection at Bar Louie, is what keeps me coming back, and that drafts - including Guinness, Turbo Dog, Red Hook, etc. - is only $3.00 at happy hour. I love drinking at this bar, they always have rotating taps and they have Pabst on tap! Too funny!

Price:
Reasonable...especially during happy hour. However, the service makes the price seem less reasonable.

Final thought:
I will be back, this is a great happy hour spot, and from prior experience, great football place. But I will be pretty cautious about what I chose to eat.

Cafe Japon, International Mall, Tampa, FL

Date: 01/21/2010
Time: Evening
Type: Restaurant
Where: International Plaza, Baystreet 2223 N. Westshore Blvd B224, Tampa, Fl
Party: 1 Male, 1 Female

Immediate Impression:
Cute place, although must say, the LCD's of swimming fish seems a bit mean, considering this is a Sushi joint and all; guess it's better than live fish!

Service:
Ana, our waitress, was great; very diligent and attentive. Everything came promptly, and I especially like how quickly my dishes were taking away once I was finished. The only thing the server missed was telling me the Ice Tea was flavored tea - I think passionfruit; caught me off guard.

Menu/Food:
The menu was well laid out, standard Sushi/Sashimi, a large selection of specialty rolls, they offer rice paper for $1 more, and for those non-sushi loving people, there is a large selection of non-fish entrees.

I ordered Tuna and Salmon sashimi and the Sakura Roll, miso soup and edamame; my guest ordered a customized Chicken dish. The presentation was phenomenal! The sashimi was delectable, very fresh, chilled just right and the slices were thick; my roll (Salmon and White tuna on top of a spicy tuna roll), was delicious - except for the small bit of sauce on each of them. Sorry, not really sure what it was.

The chicken dish was well worth it. Good portion size and just the right seasoning. It was a mix of vegetables, chicken, and a soy based sauce. My guest added his rice to the dish for more texture. He cleared his place!

The only downside with dinner was the Miso Soup - it was very weak and the seaweed over-powered the rest of the soup. As for the edamame, wasn't spectacular, but still edible.


Price:
Expected! It was over priced for sushi but expected because of International Mall. Honestly, the experience was enjoyable so the price was secondary.

Final thought:
So far, the best restaurant at International Mall; I will definitely go again, there are tons of specialty rolls I would love to try - if I they will make it without all the pesky shellfish!

Square One Burger, Tampa, FL

Date: 01/20/2010
Time: Evening
Type: Restaurant
Where: 3701 N. Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
Party: Group - mixed

Immediate Impression:
Pretty cool looking, I like the decor, but where are they expecting to fit a group of 35?

Service:
Our service was okay, but we also had one waitress for the entire group. She did well considering we kept moving around. We had called ahead to let them know we would be a group of 35 beer drinkers, they had not prepared, which caused confusion and split our group between the back room and the bar area.


Menu/Food:
The Fried Dill Pickles are fantastic and plentiful, shared with 4 people. However, I would stick to the more traditional burger selections. Most of my friends did the standard Angus burger Make you own, they were all pleased with the outcome. I decided to stick to my diet, and do a Veggie Burger - boy, was I severely disappointed. My burger was one big pile of mush, when I went to cut it, it spewed (yes, spewed) out of all sides of the bun. The Guacamole topping was tasteless and the tomato was tiny.

If I hadn't gotten so frustrated with the burger, I may have liked the fries - Sweet Potato Fries with cinnamon sugar.

There beer selection is vast, I drank the draft Brooklyn Brown and tried the Bell Oberon. The taps are fresh, but they have a wider selection in bottles.


Price:
A little high for a burger, but not excessive.

Final thought:
I am going to try it again before I give my final yes or no; this time I will stick to the traditional burger and see what happens.

Crowne Plaza Airport (MSY), Kenner, LA

I won't normally review hotels unless I have a fantastic or horrific time. This stay definitely deserves a mention.

Date: 01/17-18/2010
Time: Overnight
Type: Hotel
Where: 2829 WILLIAMS BLVD, KENNER, LA 70062
Party: 2 Girls

Immediate Impression:
Why are there so many children running around the lobby area?

Reason for Stay:
Our flight to Atlanta was cancelled because of a mechanical issue. This was the hotel the airline chose to pay for.

Room:
Room was standard, no view, beds were comfortable, nothing spectacular or note-worthy.

Staff/Service:
I felt really terrible for the staff, but then again, it was the manager's fault. It seemed the hotel was hosting a Youth Soccer Tournament with Tweens (11-14yos boys/girls) from all over the country staying in the hotel. They were loud, rowdy, rude and obnoxious. They were not only playing soccer in the lobby and hallways, but also hanging out at the bar and around the elevators. There was debris everywhere - cookies, crackers, pudding, and chips, strewn all through the hallways and elevator area. A complete disregard or respect for anyone but themselves, and their chaperons couldn't have cared less - they all permitted this to occur. The soccer players slammed doors all night and yelled down the hallway - oblivious to anyone else staying at the hotel.

We awoke at 5AM completely unrested and irritated.

Menu/Food:
Don't eat in the restaurant, the food is tasteless, and they overcooked my tuna steak.

Price:
Not sure, but whatever it was, it was too much, would have rather have slept in the airport which was at least quiet.

Final thought:
If I ever get stuck at MSY again, I will make sure to ask for a different hotel.

The Corner Oyster Bar & Grill, French Quarter, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/17/2010
Time: Early Afternoon
Type: Restaurant
Where: 500 Saint Peter Street, New Orleans, LA
Party: 2 Girls

Immediate Impression:
Rather big place, but nobody looked happy to be there!

Service:
Okay, don't put out a "Wait to be Seated Sign" if you don't want people to wait. Obviously, this started out well; when we were sat, our waiter - Chad - threw a hissy fit because the other waitress had taken his table and he didn't want ours (strike 2). Obviously, Chad did not want to be at work, because his service was horrendous and brought our Bloody Mary's with no garnishment, and, at some point before our check, had managed to get hit in the head with the kitchen door.

Menu/Food:
The only stand out factor of this place is their fantastic Cajun Bloody Mary's - honestly, the best I had in New Orleans (and I had quite a few); as for the food, eh! My friend ordered the Belgium waffle, which you really can't mess up, so that was standard; I ordered the Jambalaya Omelet, which even after putting hot sauce on was still relatively flavorless, and I think they tried to use only one egg for the omelet. The egg was thinner than a crepe!


Price:
Ridiculously expensive for the food quality and the service; the bloody mary's were $7.50 each, and the only think worth the price.

Final thought:
I would only go there for more Bloody Mary's other than that, skip it.

Alibi's, French Qtr, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/17/2010
Time: Early Early Morning
Type: Bar w/food (wouldn't call it a restaurant
Where: 811 Iberville Street, New Orleans, Louisiana
Party: 2 Girls, 1 Guy

Immediate Impression:
Am I really this hungry....I think I am kinda scared, but its 3AM and nothing else is open; it open late and they have a hellavu beer selection, but jeez, sketchy!

Service:
The bartender - Melissa - was really nice and attentive, well, to be honest, to me. It took a while for my friends to get their drinks. One of my friends wanted a cider, they didn't have any, she offered to make her a shot which tasted like cider -Applesauce - I didn't, so she threw it away and didn't charge us. All in all a great bartender for a 3AM crowd.

Menu/Food:
We all ordered cheeseburgers, mine must have come from an old batch cause it was bigger than the other two and well done, theirs were about medium. Personally, I thought the burgers were okay (again, its 3AM, not looking for gourmet); but I was allergic to something and ended up having an allergic reaction - my tongue went numb.

I would recommend purchasing bottle beer, the taps are not the cleanest and don't make my mistake and order a Guinness. They have an extensive bottle beer selection, something for everyone.


Price:
Not expensive at all, neither the food nor the beverages.

Final thought:
If I was starving again at 3AM, I would definitely go there. Plus it is a fantastic place to people watch...very interesting. As a late night, I need to eat spot, which is better than pizza on Bourbon street, I would definitely recommend Alibi

Mothers, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/16/2010
Time: Late Morning
Type: Restaurant
Where: 401 Poydras Street,New Orleans, LA
Party: 2 Girls

Immediate Impression:
I am way to hungry to wait in that line...oh wait, there is another place around the corner..perfect. Um, okay, what do I do now...

Service:
Like a diner, not good, but good enough. But you don't go there for the service, you go to eat and the food speaks for itself.

Menu/Food:
I ordered the Combo platter with no Etouffee**(allergic - see my warning below), extra Jambalaya, collard greens and potato salad; guest ordered the Traditional Po'Boy. I was not impressed with the Red Beans and Rice - too bland for this latin girl, but the Jambalaya -OMG - I couldn't stop eating. The collard greens also...yummy yummy!

WARNING: if you are allergic to shellfish and order the combo with the changes above, and they bring out the plate with Etouffee on it, be warned. They only scraped the Etouffee off the plate and put the extra Jambalaya. Carry your allergy medicine with you in case of emergency!


Price:
Honestly, I found it REALLY expensive, but after eating, it was worth it. If you share it with others it becomes reasonable

Final thought:
This place is a must do! Food is plentiful and the atmosphere is interesting. I would highly recommend the Jambalaya and the Ham Po'Boy...can't say anything about the shellfish stuff.

Pat O'Brien's, French Qtr, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/15,16/2010
Time: Late Afternoon, Late Evening, Early Morning
Type: Bar/Restaurant
Where: 624 Bourbon Street,New Orleans, LA
Party: Group - mixed

Immediate Impression:
Ah...great big huge Irish Bar! Let's go sit on the patio near the huge fire...be careful walking ground is wet!

Service:
Depends on where you are...service in the small bar off Bourbon at lunch, the waiter was fantastic; service at the same bar in the late night, not good at all, service on the patio on a Saturday night, awesome!

Menu/Food:
Didn't try the food..my primary focus going there was to drink their famous HURRICANES! I was not disappointed! Those things rock, but are ridiculously sweet..so I wouldn't recommend mixing Guinness with Hurricanes.

Price:
Reasonable for Bourbon Street, skip the souvenir cup and get the to go cup to save a few $$$.

Final thought:
For drinking, I've been here every time I've been to New Orleans, and I will go again. Hell, I even go to the one in Orlando (much cleaner). Its a funny meeting place for a group and everyone has a good time.

Dickie Brennans Steakhouse, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/15/2010
Time: Late Afternoon
Type: Bar/Restaurant
Where: 716 Iberville Street,New Orleans, LA
Party: 2 Girls, 1 Guy

Immediate Impression:
Great Bar! Love the dark woods, the good use of small shot bottles of booze, and the cigar selection...also, fantastic lighting. Think this may be pricey!

Service:
Was great, even though we arrived at the very tail end of lunch. Actually, at one point, three different people brought out our food, including the manager. Maybe they were trying to get us out of there, but it still made us feel special.

Bartendar took our drink order promptly, food came out promptly, dishes were cleared quickly and check was dropped quickly (after being asked for).

Menu/Food:
We went there because one of our guests wanted Turtle Soup, which he was not impressed with; the other guest had their Chicken Gumbo Soup which she said was fantastic but wish there had been more for the price; because of my ridiculous allergies to nuts and shellfish, I got stuck having a rather blah chopped salad.

We all had Bloody Mary's,which are not really worth talking about.

Price:
Pricey!!! I hear they are known for their steaks, may want to try that.

Final thought:
One time was enough for me. The food was not exquisite enough for any of us to go there again. There are better options in New Orleans, unless you are looking for Turtle Soup on a Friday Afternoon.

Central Grocery, French Qtr, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/15/2010
Time: Early Afternoon (yes, 2 hours after Cafe Du Monde)
Type: Deli
Where: 923 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA
Party: 2 Girls, 1 Guy

Immediate Impression:
My god, it smells fantastic in here! What a neat little place, suddenly I want to eat again.

Service:
Great, fast, courteous and funny! They know how to move their line along.

Menu/Food:
They have other dishes but we went there for their World Renown Muffaletta. I have never seen a 8"diameter sandwich in my life - thankfully there were three of us. My girlfriend and I both had a quarter with our male friend hording the remaining half.

There is nothing healthy about this sandwich - which if eaten in full packs 2000 calores - or so the internet says. Yummy Olive Salad smothers the bread, then layers of capicola, salami, mortadella, emmentaler, and provolone. Fantastic...way to yummy and messy! There is so much olive oil on this sandwich my lipstick came clear off!

Price:
Can't tell you, sorry, didn't pay

Final thought:
Another must do for New Orleans, but bring three friends with you to help...this sandwich is tremendous!

Cafe Du Monde, French Qtr, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/15/2010
Time: Late Morning
Type: Coffee/Pastry Shop
Where: 800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA
Party: 2 Girls

Immediate Impression:
Packed!!! Bustling crazy little place, with very dangerous floors when wet - need to find a table FAST!

Service:
Is really not that good, but it doesn't have to be; they know you will come, and they want you in/out as quickly as possible.

Menu/Food:
We got two Large Cafe Au Lait - no sugar needed, and one order of Beignets - otherwise known as my diet killer, but oh, so yummy. Come on now, fried dough saturated in powdered sugar. My hips didn't like it, but my mouth was in heaven.

Price:
Really have nothing to gauge it against, but for me it was reasonable; plus you have to go!

Final thought:
I love this place, whether its 9AM or 4AM, you can never go wrong with fantastic Chicory coffee and fried dough in sugar! Next time in New Orleans, I will, of course, go back and throw my diet out the window again!

Old Absinthe House, French Qtr, New Orleans, LA

Date: 01/14/2010
Time: Late Evening
Type: Bar
Where: 240 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA
Party: Group - mixed

Immediate Impression:
Holy crap this bar is packed...but no it really wasn't! It just doesn't really have alot of room around the big huge bar.

Service:
Forgettable.

Menu/Food:
As a bar it had your staple drinks - their draft beer selection was nothing to write about; I drank them out of their Guinness (all two bottles). My friend ordered a gin and tonic and made in interesting observation - the glass were hot, really HOT! Odd.

Price:
Not cheap! Our two drinks were $13.50 before tip - which I only gave because I've been in the industry.

Final thought:
You have to visit if you go to Bourbon Street, but definitely make this part of a bar crawl. It fills up fast because it is relatively small; don't expect prompt service but do expect a bit of a chip on the shoulder.

International Beer Garden, Lutz, FL

Been out of the loop lately...sorry, been really busy with work, traveling and my social life!!! Let's go back in time (squiggly lines, whoo whoo sound)

Date: 01/13/2010
Time: Evening
Type: Primarily Bar - serves "pizza"
Where: 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Lutz, FL
Party: Group approx 30 - mixed

Immediate Impression:
In the middle of absolutely no where - that is unless you live off SR 54 near Lutz. Once inside, the place is really cozy.

Service:
Very good, both the bartenders and the waitstaff did a phenomenal job at keeping us all happy - and we are a demanding group. As far as I know, all the tabs were correct at the end of the night.

Menu/Food:
It was pizza buffet night, so I didn't order any thing off their menu. The pizza which was provided was about the equivalent to Tostino's pizza, or rather, think elementary school lunch pizza. But, Pizza and Beer do always go together when you HAVE to eat.

As for the beer selection, I was very pleased, especially because they had Left Hand Milk Stout on tap! Also, it was $5.00 IPA night, and boy, our group took advantage of it.

The best part was they had GLUTEN-FREE beer and MAGNERS on tap, so it really was a place for everyone!

Price:
Again, $5 IPA night, and this changes weekly! Their other selections were in keeping with specialty bar pricing (read NOT CHEAP!) but well worth it (just ask you liver!)

Final thought:
I will definitely go back there, it seems more of a group place, but I might enjoy a few libations on my own to get a better sense of the actual bar atmosphere. Highly recommend for groups and for anyone who loves beer!

Senor Locos, Largo, Fl

Date: 01/10/09
Time: Evening
Type: Restaurant
Where: Largo Mall, Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL
Party: 1 male and 1 female

Immediate Impression:
Eh! Looks like your standard big box restaurant, and it was completely empty -Never a good sign.


Service:
Christina was sweet and prompt! She was very helpful with the menu and the selections. All food was brought quickly and the dishes taken away fast.

Menu/Food:
Very Americanized Mexican food. The menu was not well thought out - besides the multitude of typos and misspellings, they tried to give definitions for the food, but failed miserably.

Instead of bread, you get nachos and salsa. The nachos were very similar to Chili's but the Salsa was fantastic. Sweet with a hint of hot in the finish. I didn't have to add any hot sauce. I wish I could say the same about my meal.

I ordered the Chicken Burrito, Enchilada, Tamale combination. The Tamale was okay, but tiny; There was absolutely no difference between the enchilada and the burrito except for the size. I was not happy, and I was still hungry when I was done clearing my plate.

My guest has the Beef Chalupa, Enchilada, Taco combo; he didn't touch the Chalupa because the guacamole was overwhelming, but he enjoyed the taco, and agreed the enchilada was pretty bland.

We did like the all day 2 for 1 happy hour; my guest had the house margarita - which was very tasty, and I had the house wine - good for the price.

The best part of our meal was the dessert, although they could have let it thaw longer. Our Fried Cheesecake with Vanilla Ice Cream was delicious and perfect for two people.

Price:

The a la carte pricing is reasonable, but the combos aren't worth it. The drink prices are very reasonable and are the desserts and salads.

Final thought:
We both agreed this would be a great place to come with friends, order a few pitchers of margaritas and have nachos/salsa and some a la carte Tacos and watch a game or just hang out. Other than that, there is better Mexican food!

Splitsville, Tampa, FL

NOTE: keeping this one short because this night was the coldest night in Tampa so the crowd is not typical of a Saturday night in Tampa

Date: 01/09/09
Time: Evening
Type: Bar/Restaurant/Bowling Alley
Where: Channelside, Tampa, FL
Party: 3 Females

Immediate Impression:
I love bowling, I love dancing and I love drinking...this place has it all, and NO cover on weekends. (I personally can't stand cover charges, your drinks already cost $8 each!!!)


Service:
Kyle, our tall 22 yo recently transplanted New Yorker, was great!!! Felt a little bad for him, all his tables were full of cougars, he was getting accosted from every side. He took it in stride - and denied our request to take his shirt off to prove he no longer had a six pack :(

Menu/Food:
I was surprised to find the food actually pretty good. I ordered a Greek Pizza, which was too big to finish even with sharing. I loved the thin crust!

I was please to learn they carried 44 North Huckleberry Vodka, this is a fantastic Potato Vodka out of Idaho - highly recommend it! We started the night getting one of there signature bowl drinks - the Splitsville Bowl, with, of course, 44 North Huckleberry vodka. Our next bowl drink was not successful - way to sweet for us - Finlandia Raspberry bowl, YUCK! We switched to beer, luckily, they had Guinness in a bottle, but alas, no Jamesons. And no, bartendars, Bushmills does NOT taste like Jamesons!

We were all happy with our selections and had a great night.

Price:

Pricing is a little high, especially for the food - $11 pizza; the bowl drinks were $23 each and the Guinness $5. And who knew 3 girls could run up such a large tab!!!

Final thought:
I know I will go back, maybe even bowl this time, who knows. I would recommend getting your drink on before you go there then party the night away! If you get too drunk be careful crossing Channelside drive, those trolleys don't stop!

New World Brewery, Ybor City, FL

Date: 01/08/09
Time: Evening
Type: Bar - Beer/Wine Only
Where: 8th and 15th, Ybor City, FL
Party: Large Group

Immediate Impression:
A little strange to walk into a place with globes all over, but hey, it's their gimmick. This is an indoor outdoor live music spot, very quirky and ecclectic

Service:
Good, but it was so cold inside even they were wearing gloves! They did well under the circumstances and were also able to recommend beers based on personal preference.

Menu/Food:
I heard they had pizza, but I didn't try it; as for their beer selection, quite substantial both on draft and bottled. There was a little for everyone - domestic, import, micro, etc.

Price:

Can't help you here, I didn't pay

Final thought:
This is a great place to start an Ybor night with friends; I didn't quite get the $7 cover charge, especially in 34 degree weather for an outdoor live band, but hey, that's just me.

Note: the second band Palantine is worth seeing!

Cody's Roadhouse Grill, Largo, FL

Date: 01/07/09
Time: Evening
Type: Restaurant - family
Where: West Bay Drive, Largo, fl
Party: 2pp (1 male & 1 female)

Immediate Impression:
Definitely a family place, very laid back, the diningroom was loud (children, clanking, poor acoustics) but the bar area wasn't as bad. I, or course, could do without all the peanuts all over the place - I really hate taking benedryl before I enter a place. Oh, note on that, they should probably put a sign on the outside of the establishment making people aware of this.

Service:
We were seated promptly, our server Dan immediately came to the table. It was his first day, so I will cut him some slack. Overall, his service was good and he was friendly.

Menu/Food:
Standard Steak/Rib/Chicken joint. I started my meal with a cup of chicken soup (soup of the day), which was REALLY salty, my guest had a cup of Baked Potato Soup - this is their standard soup, very hardy, definitely not good if your on a diet of any kind! I ordered the Baked Chicken with Sweet Potato butter on the side, guest ordered 1/2 Rack of baby back ribs and a baked potato. Now the best part of a Cody's meal is the Endless Salad, drench in their house dressing. I am sure the dressing killed my diet but it is SOOOOOOOO good! After my third plate full, the entrees finally arrived. Honestly, my chicken was cooked to perfection and the sweet potato was fabulous. The chicken fell off the bone with only a slight pull with my fork, it was juicy, moist and seasoned just right. And...it was plentiful! I finished my sweet potato and took home half the chicken. I am unable to comment on the ribs because I didn't try them and received no feedback from my guest.


Price:
You can get some great deals at Cody's depending on which day you go. Thursday was Sirlion Steak night for $11.99, but I didn't feel like steak. The have 2 for 1 fajita night on Wednesday and I think Kids eat free on Monday or Tuesday. Overall the pricing is ballpark for a family restaurant


Final thought:
This is a good family place and a solid go to place for when you can't decide where to go. Personally, I would stay away from it on Kids eat free night, but that's just me.

Oldsmar Tap House, Oldsmar, FL

Date: 01/06/09
Time: Evening
Type: Bar - Beer/Wine Only
Where: 300 State St. E. #107, Oldsmar, FL 34677
Party: Group (16pp)

Immediate Impression:
Quaint, cozy, comfortable and relaxing. Felt like the kind of place you go as a stranger leave as a friend. There is only one main room, a few tables and a few bar stools. Definitely not for a big noise crowd, but a great place for a small group who wants to actually talk to one another. Its a great FIRST DATE place, unless you aren't comfortable with micro brewed beer choices!

Service:
Wonderful! The staff is very educated in the nuances of the various different beer types; even so much as to give geographically insight into the differences. The staff was prepared to answer any questions, and willing to let us sample every beer to pick the one which best suited our palates. Which is quite a chore since we are all beer snobs!

Menu/Food:
This is not a food place; there menu is small (sandwiches, cheese/sausage platters) and it seems the staff really doesn't want you ordering off the food menu. However, they have a few menus of local restaurants which deliver. I ordered a pizza which was fantastic and filling.

There draft beer selection is great, but it changes constantly. So you may not have the same beer there from a previous time. The beers are from all over the world, ask your server what you are looking for and they will help you find something suitable.


Price:

Reasonable for the area, and in line with other specialty beer bars.

Final thought:
if you are use to $5 buckets of bud, I would say, this is not your place; but, if you like quality beer and enjoying a good pint with friends, this is definitely the place to go.

Sukothai - New Tampa, FL

Date: 01/05/09
Time: Evening
Type: Restaurant
Where: 18101 Highwoods Preserve, New Tampa, FL
Party: 2 persons (1 female, 1 male)

Immediate Impression:
Secluded and intimate, especially if you sit on the floor - I didn't my jeans were too tight. The color scheme is very neutral, you immediately feel relaxed. Relatively small place, good for a small dinner party.

Service:
Good, however, we were 1 table out of 2! We sat across from the Sushi bar, we weren't difficult to miss. Prompt service of food, but slow on the removal of empty dishes.

Menu/Food:
A fusion of Sushi and Thai, various specialty rolls - I was please not all of them included Shellfish. I had Thom Buk HOT (Thai spicy chicken/lemongrass soup) which was OK,it really wasn't that hot, there was only one LARGE piece of chicken which required a knife to cut, and the broth was overwhelming. However, my friend ordered the Spicy Beef with Sprout soup, which was fantastic! The broth was had just the right amount of flavor, the sprouts seemed to absorb the broth and the meat was tender.

For our appetizer, we shared a bowl of Edamame. It was plentiful and they put the salt on the side, which I particularly liked. My friend and I were able to chose our own level of sodium overdose.

For our main course, we shared a platter of rolls (Red Dragon and a Salmon Rice Roll) and sashimi (tuna and Salmon). There were phenomenal!! The fish was ultra fresh and cold, the rolls were well made and didn't fall apart in the soy sauce. The Sashimi slices were HUGE and plentiful (3 of each).


Price:
I found the pricing to be high for a sushi restaurant in the New Tampa area, however, once I ate, it seems fair due to the high quality of the fish. Their alcohol prices - I had wine, my friend had sake - are reasonable and not out of line.

Final thought:
Excellent! I will definitely return and this time I might just sit on the floor for the full experience!

Prime Bar - Wesley Chapel, FL

Date: 01/04/09

Time: Evening

Type: Restaurant/Bar

Where: Wiregrass Mall, Wesley Chapel, FL

Party: 3 person (1 female, 2 males)

Immediate Impression:

Confused! Immediately noticed how large, yet empty, the place was. Decided to give it a chance since it was the first Monday after a holiday weekend. It seemed the space was trying to be everything at once - upscale, sports bar, trendy yet homey, all at the same time. The wall decor did not match the furniture; actually, the bar seemed the focal point, which would have worked if the rest of the decor didn't seem like such an after-thought! Although, the fans were really cool looking, they did increase the empty warehouse, ready to host a rave, at any time feeling. The massive two row light fixtures, on either end of the restaurant, were extraneous and ostentatious, while the track lighting in the middle seemed to get lost. The entire atmosphere seemed mis-matched and mis-placed. As were the uniforms...I didn't understand why you would put anyone in black shirt/black SHORTS! Again, out of place.

Service:

Although our server was extremely attentive to our table (I think we were her only one), she did seem to not want to be working. She was knowledgeable with the menu and about allergans one might incur, even going so far as to make sure my personal dish was prepared properly. I appreciated the extra effort she made in helping me chose an alternative sauce due to my allergies and also made suggestions as to portion sizes. I would say - she is the only real positive experience.

Menu/Food:

Again, mix-matched. The menu seemed to be all over the map with traditional bar food - sliders/calamari/Quesadilla/etc; Sandwiches, Pita wraps, some sushi rolls, and rather extravagant sounding fish/seafood dishes. The drink menu seemed even more awkward - the wine was organized in the standard traditional red/white/other, but the choices were all of the same quality. The prices of the wine did not at all reflect the quality. Two of us ordered wine - a Malbec and a Syrah. Although the wine was fresh, the glass which it was served in was ridiculous. It was a water glass which would have been used at your local diner, not a "upscale?" restaurant. And the beer menu - where do I start! First, it pissed me off that they chose to not put any pricing on the different beers or even the sizes. Although they had a ton of beers on tap, they had no bottle beer. It seemed they wanted to try to sell local micro-brews, however, they put no explanation as to what a consumer could anticipate.

As for the food, my dish was less than stellar. I ordered the Ahi-Tuna with Corn Relish Salsa, rice and spinach salad with a side of asparagus. The tuna was not cooked properly, the Corn relish had too much onion and was on the side, the rice was so bland and mushy, I had to add Sirachi sauce to make it palatable, and the salad was dry. Luckily I was able to put lemon on the fish and the salad to eat it. The asparagus, however, was well cooked, although I could have done without the horseradish topping.

Now, to be fair, my friends dishes were much better. The Steak Quesadilla was delicious, well cooked and ample sized; the Macaroni & Cheese was fantastic and worth the side dish. The Prime Rib sandwich was good, but not amazing, and the Au Jus was completely bland.

Price:

The food pricing was pretty fair and standard for the area, and the quantity of food; however, the Wine/Beer pricing is out of line, probably because you have no idea how much the beer is going to be until you get the bill.

Final thought:

As a relatively new restaurant, I am hoping they are simply weeding out the kinks. I will give it another try on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday night to see how they react to a crowd - if they have one; and what menu changes they make. I will keep you posted.