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.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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!
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.
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!
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!
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