Morris East
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 5212 Morris Street
Date Visited: Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Orders: Nacho Special, Margherita Pizza
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: 2
Minus: -
Final Grade: 82% (Good)
(Scoring:
100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good,
60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40%
to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We were all dressed up for a fancy holiday party and didn't really want to head home to make a boring stir-fry, so we decided to stop into Morris East for a bite. It was Nacho Night and they had a special on a platter that had some intriguing items - roasted garlic, oven-dried tomatoes, chicken, blue and mozzarella cheeses - so we gave that a shot, and added a margherita pizza to ensure that we didn't head home hungry. The nachos were, again, intriguing and quite tasty, albeit there was too much salt on the chips themselves, causing J to down an entire carafe of water. T is a salt fiend, though, so she was in heaven. Bonus point from each of us on the creative ingredients. The pizza was good but nothing particularly special. While the price tag was a little high for our liking, the quality of the food was good and the atmosphere was a nice cap to our soiree.
Final Verdict: Creativity and atmosphere make it a solid option in the south end.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Review #43 - Cheese Curds
Cheese Curds
Variety: Gourmet Burger
Address: 380 Pleasant Street
Date Visited: Friday, November 30, 2012
Orders: Legendary CC Porker with onion rings, BBQ Triple Bacon Burger with poutine
Taste: 9 + 8 = 17/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -1
Final Grade: 83% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: This was J's third visit, but T's first - first to any gourmet burger joint in Halifax, that is. They've seemingly sprouted up all over the place in the past year or so, with no signs of stopping. Upon entering, the server was very enthusiastic and charismatic, attempting to build rapport right off the bat. T thought this was cool, but J thought it was borderline annoying - he was there for the burger, not the chit-chat. Cheese Curds burgers always take a while to make, but that's probably because they're made fresh. They're worth the wait. J went for the double decker classic CC Porker, which was massive and required utensils. No knives available, so he made do with a couple of forks. Solid burger, onion rings were coated with buttermilk batter and drizzled with honey. Good stuff. T is a poutine aficionado, and gave this one an instant 10. The burger...not so much. You see, in his attempt to build rapport, the cashier would not rest until she ignored the menu board and looked at the photos of the burgers above the grill. Unfortunately, she's not the type who like a whole bunch of extras on her burger, so the Triple Bacon one looked the "most" normal. Had she had a chance to look at the menu board, the plain Black Angus Beef Burger would have been her weapon of choice, and she would have left happier, and with a few extra coins in her pocket. Hence the minus point, and the docked taste score. Although the gourmet burger craze is a welcome one in Halifax, we both find that the burgers are a little too expensive. Clearly, they're no McDonalds, but they're still a little pricey for our liking. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable experience, and as good of a reason as any to take a trip over to Dartmouth!
Final Verdict: A little pricey, and kinda hard to focus, but worth the trip.
Variety: Gourmet Burger
Address: 380 Pleasant Street
Date Visited: Friday, November 30, 2012
Orders: Legendary CC Porker with onion rings, BBQ Triple Bacon Burger with poutine
Taste: 9 + 8 = 17/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -1
Final Grade: 83% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: This was J's third visit, but T's first - first to any gourmet burger joint in Halifax, that is. They've seemingly sprouted up all over the place in the past year or so, with no signs of stopping. Upon entering, the server was very enthusiastic and charismatic, attempting to build rapport right off the bat. T thought this was cool, but J thought it was borderline annoying - he was there for the burger, not the chit-chat. Cheese Curds burgers always take a while to make, but that's probably because they're made fresh. They're worth the wait. J went for the double decker classic CC Porker, which was massive and required utensils. No knives available, so he made do with a couple of forks. Solid burger, onion rings were coated with buttermilk batter and drizzled with honey. Good stuff. T is a poutine aficionado, and gave this one an instant 10. The burger...not so much. You see, in his attempt to build rapport, the cashier would not rest until she ignored the menu board and looked at the photos of the burgers above the grill. Unfortunately, she's not the type who like a whole bunch of extras on her burger, so the Triple Bacon one looked the "most" normal. Had she had a chance to look at the menu board, the plain Black Angus Beef Burger would have been her weapon of choice, and she would have left happier, and with a few extra coins in her pocket. Hence the minus point, and the docked taste score. Although the gourmet burger craze is a welcome one in Halifax, we both find that the burgers are a little too expensive. Clearly, they're no McDonalds, but they're still a little pricey for our liking. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable experience, and as good of a reason as any to take a trip over to Dartmouth!
Final Verdict: A little pricey, and kinda hard to focus, but worth the trip.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Review #42 - Hamachi Mura
Hamachi Mura
Variety: Sushi & Thai
Address: 540 Southgate Drive
Date Visited: Sunday, October 21, 2012
Orders: Thai Spring Rolls, Beef Pad Se-ew, Chicken Masaman Curry
Taste: 4 + 5 = 9/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 3 + 3 = 6/20
Service: 6 + 6 = 12/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -4
Final Grade: 55% (Marginal)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We loves us some Thai food. In fact, two of our top three reviews to date come from Thai restaurants. Unfortunately, Hamachi Mura currently finds itself in the bottom three on our scoreboard. Neither of us had been to a Hamachi restaurant before, although we'd heard very good things, and had enjoyed some of their fine cuisine in the VIP Room at Halifax Rainmen basketball games. Hamachi Mura and its sister restaurant, the Mediterranean-themed Son Vida are the only restaurants in the vicinity of our home in the Larry Uteck Boulevard area, and we were hoping that it might become our new "go-to" dining option close to home. The fact that we got a discount coupon in the mail only helped its cause, and after a long day, we decided to stop in to give it a try. We ordered the Thai Spring Rolls to start, and they were hot, fresh and tasty. Off to a good start, but it all went downhill from there. In short, the Beef Pad Se-ew, one of T's all-time faves, was an epic fail. They got the "ew" part right - the rice noodles were mushy, the beef was stringy, the egg was just plain icky, the vegetables were barely cooked and to make matters worse, the dish smelled very strange, too. We flagged down the waitress and informed her of the problem and to her credit, she offered to get us a new order, but we asked for another recommendation instead. She suggested the Garlic Ginger Beef, so that's what we went for. However, it took nearly 15 minutes for the order to come back, leaving our other order to get cold. Said other order was one of J's faves, the Chicken Masaman Curry. Mysteriously, it was made with sweet potato instead of regular potato, which frankly was not a solid choice. It was also served with a random bowl of extra masaman sauce, which was kinda weird, but whatever. The whole thing was far too salty, but passable. At long last, the Garlic Ginger Beef arrived, which was edible, but that's about it. A run-of-the-mill stir-fry, it relied far too heavily on salt, yet the meat itself was neither well-seasoned nor well-prepared. T referred to it as "a bit of salt water poured over some vegetable with big sticks of ginger." To add insult to injury, the pre-coupon bill came to over $50 (without gratuity), and that was without anything other than water to drink. Needless to say, we were not at all impressed. On the scorecard, T insisted on two negative points "for the experience, period," and J echoed that sentiment. We've been far more satisfied with the fare at Thai Express in the Halifax Shopping Centre, and have walked away from there with change in our pockets. Although we walked in hoping for the best, we went home very disappointed with this dining experience, which T aptly summed up by saying: "We were bound to get an unexpected fail someday."
Final Verdict: Stay home and make it the right way for 1/6 the price.
Variety: Sushi & Thai
Address: 540 Southgate Drive
Date Visited: Sunday, October 21, 2012
Orders: Thai Spring Rolls, Beef Pad Se-ew, Chicken Masaman Curry
Taste: 4 + 5 = 9/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 3 + 3 = 6/20
Service: 6 + 6 = 12/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -4
Final Grade: 55% (Marginal)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We loves us some Thai food. In fact, two of our top three reviews to date come from Thai restaurants. Unfortunately, Hamachi Mura currently finds itself in the bottom three on our scoreboard. Neither of us had been to a Hamachi restaurant before, although we'd heard very good things, and had enjoyed some of their fine cuisine in the VIP Room at Halifax Rainmen basketball games. Hamachi Mura and its sister restaurant, the Mediterranean-themed Son Vida are the only restaurants in the vicinity of our home in the Larry Uteck Boulevard area, and we were hoping that it might become our new "go-to" dining option close to home. The fact that we got a discount coupon in the mail only helped its cause, and after a long day, we decided to stop in to give it a try. We ordered the Thai Spring Rolls to start, and they were hot, fresh and tasty. Off to a good start, but it all went downhill from there. In short, the Beef Pad Se-ew, one of T's all-time faves, was an epic fail. They got the "ew" part right - the rice noodles were mushy, the beef was stringy, the egg was just plain icky, the vegetables were barely cooked and to make matters worse, the dish smelled very strange, too. We flagged down the waitress and informed her of the problem and to her credit, she offered to get us a new order, but we asked for another recommendation instead. She suggested the Garlic Ginger Beef, so that's what we went for. However, it took nearly 15 minutes for the order to come back, leaving our other order to get cold. Said other order was one of J's faves, the Chicken Masaman Curry. Mysteriously, it was made with sweet potato instead of regular potato, which frankly was not a solid choice. It was also served with a random bowl of extra masaman sauce, which was kinda weird, but whatever. The whole thing was far too salty, but passable. At long last, the Garlic Ginger Beef arrived, which was edible, but that's about it. A run-of-the-mill stir-fry, it relied far too heavily on salt, yet the meat itself was neither well-seasoned nor well-prepared. T referred to it as "a bit of salt water poured over some vegetable with big sticks of ginger." To add insult to injury, the pre-coupon bill came to over $50 (without gratuity), and that was without anything other than water to drink. Needless to say, we were not at all impressed. On the scorecard, T insisted on two negative points "for the experience, period," and J echoed that sentiment. We've been far more satisfied with the fare at Thai Express in the Halifax Shopping Centre, and have walked away from there with change in our pockets. Although we walked in hoping for the best, we went home very disappointed with this dining experience, which T aptly summed up by saying: "We were bound to get an unexpected fail someday."
Final Verdict: Stay home and make it the right way for 1/6 the price.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Review #41 - Applebee's
Applebee's
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 278 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Friday, July 27, 2012
Orders: Mozzarella Sticks, Rib-let Platter, Provolone-stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine
Taste: 6 + 7 = 13/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 9 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus:-
Minus: -
Final Grade: 78% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We were looking for a place to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, so we stopped into Applebee's. Be careful what you ask for...we got to WATCH it, but the TVs were on mute and pop music blared on the speakers. Though, it was kinda funny to watch a horde of people in industrial revolution-ish costumes performing their choreography to Carly Rae Jepsen. Anyway, we ordered the "2 for 25" special, which meant that we got an appetizer and two mains for a decent price. The mozza sticks were generous in number (8 - we expected 4 of 5) and were pretty big, too. Not a bad start. T's meatballs weren't particularly cheesy, and the pasta was. The Rib-lets...J probably wouldn't order them again. While they BBQ sauce was tasty, they were a little too charred and far too much work for the amount of meat that was on them. The service was solid - quick, friendly and not overly intrusive. Good stuff.
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 278 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Friday, July 27, 2012
Orders: Mozzarella Sticks, Rib-let Platter, Provolone-stuffed Meatballs with Fettuccine
Taste: 6 + 7 = 13/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 9 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus:-
Minus: -
Final Grade: 78% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We were looking for a place to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics, so we stopped into Applebee's. Be careful what you ask for...we got to WATCH it, but the TVs were on mute and pop music blared on the speakers. Though, it was kinda funny to watch a horde of people in industrial revolution-ish costumes performing their choreography to Carly Rae Jepsen. Anyway, we ordered the "2 for 25" special, which meant that we got an appetizer and two mains for a decent price. The mozza sticks were generous in number (8 - we expected 4 of 5) and were pretty big, too. Not a bad start. T's meatballs weren't particularly cheesy, and the pasta was. The Rib-lets...J probably wouldn't order them again. While they BBQ sauce was tasty, they were a little too charred and far too much work for the amount of meat that was on them. The service was solid - quick, friendly and not overly intrusive. Good stuff.
Review #40 - Lion's Head Tavern & Grill
Lion's Head Tavern & Grill
Variety: Pub
Address: 5833 Sullivan Street
Date Visited: Sunday, June 17, 2012
Orders: Sheppard's Pie, Braised Beef on Grilled Cheese, BLT
Taste: 4 + 6 + 7 = 17/30
Portion Size: 8 + 7 + 7 = 22/30
Presentation: 8 + 7 + 7 = 22/30
Value: 7 + 6 + 7 = 20/30
Service: 6 + 7 + 4 = 17/30
Bonus:-
Minus: -
Final Grade: 65% (Satisfactory)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Housekeeping: In honour of reaching 500 followers on Twitter, we selected one of them, @GrapplinGraboid of local punk act The Graboids, to co-review a meal with us. Whereas our regular scorecard is based on 100 points (50 each), we just added another 50 and the final score was out of 150 instead.
Notes: The Lion's Head is a friendly neighbourhood tavern. While it has a certain charm, this wasn't quite reflected in terms of quality of the meal and service. J's Sheppard's Pie tasted like mushy salt and not much else. It's kind of hard to screw up a BLT, but T's sandwich was more of an LT - one measly strip on each side of the sandwich. And the beef on GG's sandwich was really fatty, though what was edible was tender enough. Although the meal was passable, the service was the pits (not uncommon based on previous visits to this joint). Not only was the server particularly indifferent toward us, but there was also a lengthy 15 minute delay between order and arrival time. Our frustration was amplified by seeing most of the meals sitting on the counter waiting to be picked up, the few other patrons who had ordered after us being served first, and the two cooks in the kitchen standing back and chatting. Would we return another time to grab a beer and watch a game on one of the big screen TVs? Sure. Would we make a point to stop by for another meal? Unlikely.
Thanks to The Grapplin' Graboid for joining us. Check out his band at www.facebook.com/thegraboids.
Variety: Pub
Address: 5833 Sullivan Street
Date Visited: Sunday, June 17, 2012
Orders: Sheppard's Pie, Braised Beef on Grilled Cheese, BLT
Taste: 4 + 6 + 7 = 17/30
Portion Size: 8 + 7 + 7 = 22/30
Presentation: 8 + 7 + 7 = 22/30
Value: 7 + 6 + 7 = 20/30
Service: 6 + 7 + 4 = 17/30
Bonus:-
Minus: -
Final Grade: 65% (Satisfactory)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Housekeeping: In honour of reaching 500 followers on Twitter, we selected one of them, @GrapplinGraboid of local punk act The Graboids, to co-review a meal with us. Whereas our regular scorecard is based on 100 points (50 each), we just added another 50 and the final score was out of 150 instead.
Notes: The Lion's Head is a friendly neighbourhood tavern. While it has a certain charm, this wasn't quite reflected in terms of quality of the meal and service. J's Sheppard's Pie tasted like mushy salt and not much else. It's kind of hard to screw up a BLT, but T's sandwich was more of an LT - one measly strip on each side of the sandwich. And the beef on GG's sandwich was really fatty, though what was edible was tender enough. Although the meal was passable, the service was the pits (not uncommon based on previous visits to this joint). Not only was the server particularly indifferent toward us, but there was also a lengthy 15 minute delay between order and arrival time. Our frustration was amplified by seeing most of the meals sitting on the counter waiting to be picked up, the few other patrons who had ordered after us being served first, and the two cooks in the kitchen standing back and chatting. Would we return another time to grab a beer and watch a game on one of the big screen TVs? Sure. Would we make a point to stop by for another meal? Unlikely.
Thanks to The Grapplin' Graboid for joining us. Check out his band at www.facebook.com/thegraboids.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Review #39 - Indochine
Indochine Banh Mi
Variety: Vietnamese
Address: 1551 South Park Street
Date Visited: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Orders: Spicy BBQ Chicken Tacos, Buddha Bowl
Taste: 8 + 6 = 14/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 76% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Neither of us had ever had Vietnamese food before, but this was a decent start. T's Buddha Bowl didn't have much flavour, but made her feel good (and healthy), hence the bonus point. J's tacos were interesting and tasty, but could have used a little extra sauce. Both meals were a little heavy on the bean sprouts, but otherwise, not a bad start. We look forward to another visit!
Variety: Vietnamese
Address: 1551 South Park Street
Date Visited: Thursday, June 14, 2012
Orders: Spicy BBQ Chicken Tacos, Buddha Bowl
Taste: 8 + 6 = 14/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 76% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Neither of us had ever had Vietnamese food before, but this was a decent start. T's Buddha Bowl didn't have much flavour, but made her feel good (and healthy), hence the bonus point. J's tacos were interesting and tasty, but could have used a little extra sauce. Both meals were a little heavy on the bean sprouts, but otherwise, not a bad start. We look forward to another visit!
Review #38 - Cantina Mexicana
Cantina Mexicana
Variety: Tex Mex
Address: 1551 South Park Street
Date Visited: Monday, June 11, 2012
Orders: Pork Burrito, Beef Burrito with chips & salsa
Taste: 7 + 3 = 11/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -1
Final Grade: 69% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: "This one is probably going to end with vomit. I don't see how it can't." This is what T said after her first burrito. It certainly didn't help that they didn't take her onion allergy seriously (hence the negative point). To be fair, the Pork Burrito was tasty, but the Beef Burrito was nasty, even to a burrito connoisseur like J. The rice was nothing more than Uncle Bens and they didn't mesh well with the beans. Would have benefited greatly from some nice Mexican Rice. It also didn't help that the chips were totally stale. The place is only a few weeks old, so maybe they'll improve with experience, but they're off to a pretty rough start, by our account.
Addendum: The proprietor, via Twitter, has taken exception to my statement that his staff did not take the onion allergy concern seriously. To be clear: his staff did attempt to guide us through onion-free options, but unfortunately, they made a mistake. I stand by the statement, score, and negative point - people with dietary sensitivities need to be able to trust that the people who make their food know what they're talking about, or at least to admit when they're not sure so that the onus it put on the customer.
Variety: Tex Mex
Address: 1551 South Park Street
Date Visited: Monday, June 11, 2012
Orders: Pork Burrito, Beef Burrito with chips & salsa
Taste: 7 + 3 = 11/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -1
Final Grade: 69% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: "This one is probably going to end with vomit. I don't see how it can't." This is what T said after her first burrito. It certainly didn't help that they didn't take her onion allergy seriously (hence the negative point). To be fair, the Pork Burrito was tasty, but the Beef Burrito was nasty, even to a burrito connoisseur like J. The rice was nothing more than Uncle Bens and they didn't mesh well with the beans. Would have benefited greatly from some nice Mexican Rice. It also didn't help that the chips were totally stale. The place is only a few weeks old, so maybe they'll improve with experience, but they're off to a pretty rough start, by our account.
Addendum: The proprietor, via Twitter, has taken exception to my statement that his staff did not take the onion allergy concern seriously. To be clear: his staff did attempt to guide us through onion-free options, but unfortunately, they made a mistake. I stand by the statement, score, and negative point - people with dietary sensitivities need to be able to trust that the people who make their food know what they're talking about, or at least to admit when they're not sure so that the onus it put on the customer.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Review #37 - Brewdebaker's Tap & Grill
Brewdebaker's Tap & Grill
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 287 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Friday, May 18, 2012
Orders: Sweet Potato Fries, Great White North Burger with Kettle Chips, Hot Chicken Caesar Salad, Mini Oreo Sundae & Mini Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
Taste: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 76% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We'd never visited this particular establishment before, having visited previous restaurants in this location, but never Brewdebakers, as it conjures up images of beer-battered fish and only beer-battered fish (which, to be fair, is on the menu, but is far from the only item on, uh, tap). Because nothing in particular jumped out at us, we took advantage of the the three-course menu, which was a decent value compared to the regular cost of the mains alone. The food was...also decent. Nothing mind-blowing, but good enough. The Great White North Burger was ok, the Chicken Caesar was ok, the sweet potato fries were also ok, and the desserts were small but also ok. All in all, it was nothing special, but nothing terrible either. The service was pretty good and the waiter was kind enough to put our doggie bag behind the bar when we accidentally left it behind - nice touch. We're not in a hurry to rush back, but we won't avoid it all cost, either.
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 287 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Friday, May 18, 2012
Orders: Sweet Potato Fries, Great White North Burger with Kettle Chips, Hot Chicken Caesar Salad, Mini Oreo Sundae & Mini Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
Taste: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 76% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We'd never visited this particular establishment before, having visited previous restaurants in this location, but never Brewdebakers, as it conjures up images of beer-battered fish and only beer-battered fish (which, to be fair, is on the menu, but is far from the only item on, uh, tap). Because nothing in particular jumped out at us, we took advantage of the the three-course menu, which was a decent value compared to the regular cost of the mains alone. The food was...also decent. Nothing mind-blowing, but good enough. The Great White North Burger was ok, the Chicken Caesar was ok, the sweet potato fries were also ok, and the desserts were small but also ok. All in all, it was nothing special, but nothing terrible either. The service was pretty good and the waiter was kind enough to put our doggie bag behind the bar when we accidentally left it behind - nice touch. We're not in a hurry to rush back, but we won't avoid it all cost, either.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Review #36 - Thai Ivory Cuisine
Thai Ivory Cuisine
Variety: Thai
Address: 1067 Bedford Highway
Date Visited: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Orders: Spring Rolls, Cashew Chicken, Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice, Chicken Pad Thai
Taste: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Portion Size: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Service: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Bonus: 2
Minus: -
Final Grade: 96% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Our anniversary plans were hindered by a nasty cold, so we delayed our soiree a couple of days. Instead of heading downtown, J suggested that we try this establishment on the Bedford Highway, as he'd heard good things about it. We braced ourselves, as we were aware that it was attached to the Stardust Motel - one of the many drive-in crash pads along the Bedford Highway. Entering the restaurant, however, we immediately felt as though we were somewhere far away. The decor and tranquil atmosphere was wonderful - from the beautiful water fountain topped with a stone Ganesha statue and filled with water and dry ice, the gorgeous ivory tusks and charming Indian Barbies adorning the walls, and hell, even the floor was impressive. This place deserved two bonus points right off the bat for silencing our initial skepticism. The menu was solid, and contained photos of many of the unfamiliar dishes. The spring rolls were very tasty, and the addition of corn seemed both unusual and delightful. Our three mains were delightful, particularly the Cashew Chicken. - the only thing we would have appreciated would have been some tofu in the Chicken Pad Thai, which is fairly common at every other Thai place we've visited. Still the fresh vegetables were a very nice addition - the crispness of the green beans went very well with the dish. If Chabaa Thai is the gold standard, Thai Ivory Cuisine is going to give them a run for their money. We'll be back!
Variety: Thai
Address: 1067 Bedford Highway
Date Visited: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Orders: Spring Rolls, Cashew Chicken, Vegetarian Pineapple Fried Rice, Chicken Pad Thai
Taste: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Portion Size: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Service: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Bonus: 2
Minus: -
Final Grade: 96% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: Our anniversary plans were hindered by a nasty cold, so we delayed our soiree a couple of days. Instead of heading downtown, J suggested that we try this establishment on the Bedford Highway, as he'd heard good things about it. We braced ourselves, as we were aware that it was attached to the Stardust Motel - one of the many drive-in crash pads along the Bedford Highway. Entering the restaurant, however, we immediately felt as though we were somewhere far away. The decor and tranquil atmosphere was wonderful - from the beautiful water fountain topped with a stone Ganesha statue and filled with water and dry ice, the gorgeous ivory tusks and charming Indian Barbies adorning the walls, and hell, even the floor was impressive. This place deserved two bonus points right off the bat for silencing our initial skepticism. The menu was solid, and contained photos of many of the unfamiliar dishes. The spring rolls were very tasty, and the addition of corn seemed both unusual and delightful. Our three mains were delightful, particularly the Cashew Chicken. - the only thing we would have appreciated would have been some tofu in the Chicken Pad Thai, which is fairly common at every other Thai place we've visited. Still the fresh vegetables were a very nice addition - the crispness of the green beans went very well with the dish. If Chabaa Thai is the gold standard, Thai Ivory Cuisine is going to give them a run for their money. We'll be back!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Review #35 - Boneheads BBQ
Boneheads BBQ
Variety: BBQ
Address: 1014 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Orders: Beef Brisket Plate with Dirty Rice & Chili, Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs with Salad and Fries
Taste: 9 + 8 = 17/20
Portion Size: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 85% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: T was busy again, and longtime friend A was in town before heading around the world again, so we went out for some Southern BBQ. I'd been to Boneheads before and did not leave disappointed, and was pleased that the experience was similar today. Whereas it was dinnertime, I decided to pick a plated meal instead of just a sandwich - beef brisket, which came with cornbread, coleslaw, and a couple of sides (I picked Dirty Rice and Chili). It was a good thing I was hungry, because it was a TON of food - borderline Man Vs. Food quantity. The brisket was incredibly tender and very well seasoned, and all three of Boneheads' signature sauces worked well on it. The Dirty Rice was a little bland and the chili was pretty salty, but across the board, it was a solid feed. The "vinaigrette" on A's salad was suspiciously thick, but the food was enjoyable and his ribs were "Finger Lickin' Good." Interestingly, as I posted on Twitter the following morning, I actually had a really rough night after scarfing down the BBQ - meat sweats, night terrors, and T didn't exactly appreciate the nasty smells that were emanating from my pores throughout the night. I'd call that one hell of a brisket!
Pardon the soap box rant, but here's my only complaint about this dining experience: "service" is not really an applicable category at Boneheads - you have to go up and get your food (or stand around waiting for it), which to me equates it to a fast food restaurant or indoor food cart. That's fine, but you're not expected to leave a gratuity at Taco Bell or Bud the Spud. Nobody has a gun to your head, but whereas you have to pay when you order, it always feels awkward to hand the credit card machine back with no tip. I know that these folks work hard, and I'm notoriously frugal as is, but tipping at a place where you're not actually served or even checked on is like tipping at a buffet - you don't have to, but if you're like me, you feel like a jerk when you don't, and I don't think that's fair. I'll still be back again - T wants to try it - but that's the one reservation that I have about this place.
Variety: BBQ
Address: 1014 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Orders: Beef Brisket Plate with Dirty Rice & Chili, Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs with Salad and Fries
Taste: 9 + 8 = 17/20
Portion Size: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 85% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: T was busy again, and longtime friend A was in town before heading around the world again, so we went out for some Southern BBQ. I'd been to Boneheads before and did not leave disappointed, and was pleased that the experience was similar today. Whereas it was dinnertime, I decided to pick a plated meal instead of just a sandwich - beef brisket, which came with cornbread, coleslaw, and a couple of sides (I picked Dirty Rice and Chili). It was a good thing I was hungry, because it was a TON of food - borderline Man Vs. Food quantity. The brisket was incredibly tender and very well seasoned, and all three of Boneheads' signature sauces worked well on it. The Dirty Rice was a little bland and the chili was pretty salty, but across the board, it was a solid feed. The "vinaigrette" on A's salad was suspiciously thick, but the food was enjoyable and his ribs were "Finger Lickin' Good." Interestingly, as I posted on Twitter the following morning, I actually had a really rough night after scarfing down the BBQ - meat sweats, night terrors, and T didn't exactly appreciate the nasty smells that were emanating from my pores throughout the night. I'd call that one hell of a brisket!
Pardon the soap box rant, but here's my only complaint about this dining experience: "service" is not really an applicable category at Boneheads - you have to go up and get your food (or stand around waiting for it), which to me equates it to a fast food restaurant or indoor food cart. That's fine, but you're not expected to leave a gratuity at Taco Bell or Bud the Spud. Nobody has a gun to your head, but whereas you have to pay when you order, it always feels awkward to hand the credit card machine back with no tip. I know that these folks work hard, and I'm notoriously frugal as is, but tipping at a place where you're not actually served or even checked on is like tipping at a buffet - you don't have to, but if you're like me, you feel like a jerk when you don't, and I don't think that's fair. I'll still be back again - T wants to try it - but that's the one reservation that I have about this place.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Reviews #34 - Jerusalem Cafe
Jerusalem Cafe
Variety: Mediterranean
Address: 6015 Lady Hammond Road
Date Visited: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Orders: Kufta, Makluba, Kunafa
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 76% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: T was busy working (on a Saturday), so I recruited my lawyer friend, S, to join me for lunch at the Jerusalem Cafe. T and I lived just around the corner from this place but never got around to going - which is a shame, because it was pretty good. Walking in, this former video store had a great atmosphere - it didn't really feel like we were in Halifax anymore. Unfortunately, the restaurant was pretty empty, perhaps because it was gorgeous out, and also maybe because there was no lunch menu. As a result, the prices were pretty steep. The food, however, was very tasty and unlike anything we'd ever had in Halifax before. The Kufta was a soupy meat and potato tahini broth served with rice. Wasn't much to look at, but it was pretty tasty. The Makluba was an interesting looking rice, chicken, potato and peanut pile served with a tomato and cucumber salad, which was also very tasty. The server/chef recommended that we alternate rice/Kufta and salad/Makluba, which was a great idea. We also tried the Kunafa for dessert - a bright orange shredded dough and cheese dessert. "Interesting" pretty much sums it up. Much like local Indian food restaurants, the portion sizes weren't massive, and again, the prices were a little steep for lunch, but it was definitely worth a try! Will bring T back for a visit someday.
Variety: Mediterranean
Address: 6015 Lady Hammond Road
Date Visited: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Orders: Kufta, Makluba, Kunafa
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 76% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: T was busy working (on a Saturday), so I recruited my lawyer friend, S, to join me for lunch at the Jerusalem Cafe. T and I lived just around the corner from this place but never got around to going - which is a shame, because it was pretty good. Walking in, this former video store had a great atmosphere - it didn't really feel like we were in Halifax anymore. Unfortunately, the restaurant was pretty empty, perhaps because it was gorgeous out, and also maybe because there was no lunch menu. As a result, the prices were pretty steep. The food, however, was very tasty and unlike anything we'd ever had in Halifax before. The Kufta was a soupy meat and potato tahini broth served with rice. Wasn't much to look at, but it was pretty tasty. The Makluba was an interesting looking rice, chicken, potato and peanut pile served with a tomato and cucumber salad, which was also very tasty. The server/chef recommended that we alternate rice/Kufta and salad/Makluba, which was a great idea. We also tried the Kunafa for dessert - a bright orange shredded dough and cheese dessert. "Interesting" pretty much sums it up. Much like local Indian food restaurants, the portion sizes weren't massive, and again, the prices were a little steep for lunch, but it was definitely worth a try! Will bring T back for a visit someday.
Reviews #33 - Vinnie's Pasta Bar
Vinnie's Pasta Bar
Variety: Italian
Address: 5361 Inglis Street
Date Visited: Monday, April 9, 2012
Orders: Sicilian Sausage, Garlic Chicken
Taste: 6 + 8 = 14/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 6 + 8 = 14/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 74% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: The Sicilian Sausage should have been called the Saltilian Saltsage. There was a lot of potential there, and the sausage itself was quite good, but the sauce was difficult to enjoy. The host seemed very uninterested in serving us, and their bread knife was barely passable as a knife at all, making it pretty tough to get at the delicious pastry. The Garlic Chicken was pretty good, and nobody left hungry.
Variety: Italian
Address: 5361 Inglis Street
Date Visited: Monday, April 9, 2012
Orders: Sicilian Sausage, Garlic Chicken
Taste: 6 + 8 = 14/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Service: 6 + 8 = 14/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 74% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: The Sicilian Sausage should have been called the Saltilian Saltsage. There was a lot of potential there, and the sausage itself was quite good, but the sauce was difficult to enjoy. The host seemed very uninterested in serving us, and their bread knife was barely passable as a knife at all, making it pretty tough to get at the delicious pastry. The Garlic Chicken was pretty good, and nobody left hungry.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Review #32 - Pizza Delight
Pizza Delight
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 5680 Spring Garden Road
Date Visited: Friday, February 17, 2012
Orders: 9" Pizza & Caesar Salad, Panzerotti w/Caesar Salad & Garlic Fingers
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 2
Final Grade: 78% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We were thinking about visiting the new Pizza Delight on Spring Garden as we passed by someone handing out Pizza Delight coupons on the corner. Sold. The place looks amazing - much more chic than when it was Mexicali Rosa's a couple of years back. Our server was quick and quirky, though the food took a little too long to come out, and the cooks screwed up the order - the pizza toppings were in the panzerotti and the panzerotti toppings where on the pizza - hence the minus points. (The cooks were clearly the culprits because the bill was right). Anyway, Pizza Delight is a little formulaic - hard to screw up (unless you read the order wrong), but the taste is usually pretty consistent. And, you can't go wrong with a free bread grill!
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 5680 Spring Garden Road
Date Visited: Friday, February 17, 2012
Orders: 9" Pizza & Caesar Salad, Panzerotti w/Caesar Salad & Garlic Fingers
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 2
Final Grade: 78% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: We were thinking about visiting the new Pizza Delight on Spring Garden as we passed by someone handing out Pizza Delight coupons on the corner. Sold. The place looks amazing - much more chic than when it was Mexicali Rosa's a couple of years back. Our server was quick and quirky, though the food took a little too long to come out, and the cooks screwed up the order - the pizza toppings were in the panzerotti and the panzerotti toppings where on the pizza - hence the minus points. (The cooks were clearly the culprits because the bill was right). Anyway, Pizza Delight is a little formulaic - hard to screw up (unless you read the order wrong), but the taste is usually pretty consistent. And, you can't go wrong with a free bread grill!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Review #31 - Jungle Jim's
Jungle Jim's
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 189 Chain Lake Drive
Date Visited: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Orders: Headhunter Burger, Beef Nachos
Taste: 8 + 4 = 12/20
Portion Size: 9 + 8 = 17/20
Presentation: 8 + 7 = 15/20
Value: 6 + 7 = 13/20
Service: 7 + 6 = 13/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 69% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: On Tuesday Nights, the price of kids' meals are based on their height. So, cheap parents with short kids were in abundance this evening, but none were particularly poorly behaved. The Nachos were poorly tasting, though - pretty bland across the board. J had defeated the Headhunter Burger challenge before (a huge, tasty double bacon cheeseburger with a ton of fries), and had a voucher for this one half-off, but there was no second voucher on the line so he didn't try to scarf it all down, keeping half of the burger for tomorrow's lunch. The waitress lost a point for screwing up the bill and not fixing it. Hmph.
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 189 Chain Lake Drive
Date Visited: Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Orders: Headhunter Burger, Beef Nachos
Taste: 8 + 4 = 12/20
Portion Size: 9 + 8 = 17/20
Presentation: 8 + 7 = 15/20
Value: 6 + 7 = 13/20
Service: 7 + 6 = 13/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 69% (Good)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: On Tuesday Nights, the price of kids' meals are based on their height. So, cheap parents with short kids were in abundance this evening, but none were particularly poorly behaved. The Nachos were poorly tasting, though - pretty bland across the board. J had defeated the Headhunter Burger challenge before (a huge, tasty double bacon cheeseburger with a ton of fries), and had a voucher for this one half-off, but there was no second voucher on the line so he didn't try to scarf it all down, keeping half of the burger for tomorrow's lunch. The waitress lost a point for screwing up the bill and not fixing it. Hmph.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Review #30 - Woody's Bar-B-Q
Woody's Bar-B-Q
Variety: BBQ
Address: 159 Hector Gate
Date Visited: Sunday, February 19, 2012
Orders: Corn Nuggets, Fried Dill Pickles, Brunswick Stew, Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich with Mac 'N Cheese, Sloppy Woody Sandwich with Bar-B-Q Beans, Banana Pudding
Final Grade: 87% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Disclaimer: To be completely upfront, we received an invitation to attend the "Friends and Family Day" pre-opening party for the new Dartmouth Crossing location of Woody's. This invitation was clearly intended to drum up word of mouth, so we promised ourselves that we would go in and provide a purely objective review of this visit. As such, because the meal was free and the wait staff was clearly on their best behavour, we've omitted our usual five categories (Taste, Portion Size, Presentation, Value and Service) in favour of a straight up final grade.
Notes: Our first Dartmouth review! We were served a trio of appetizers - corn nuggets (kind of like mini deep fried corn fritters - an interesting and tasty mix of crunch and goo), Fried Deep Pickles (with light and corny batter, which complimented the saltiness of the pickles) and Brunswick Stew (a hearty soup that wasn't too heavy). Then we moved on to our mains: the Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich was good on its own, but even better after we added the four varieties of BBQ sauce available on the table - particularly the Tangy Mustard. The Mac 'N Cheese wasn't the greatest, as the noodles were a little overboiled. The Sloppy Woody Sandwich was quite good, and no extra sauce was required, as it was already coated with just the right amount of "secret sauce" (not a kind available on the table), and the Bar-B-Q Beans were nice and tangy, with a modest sprinkle of meat for good measure. We were just about ready to roll when we were brought a Banana Pudding for dessert. The words "banana" and "pudding" don't do this thing justice. It really should be given a sexier name, as we would normally never order something like this, but are we ever glad we gave it a chance. So incredibly flavourful - chock full of banana chunks, pie crust, pudding and whipped cream. So simple, but so perfect. Give it a whirl - you'll be glad you did. All in all, a great meal, albeit a little salty. Regardless, we'll be back.
Variety: BBQ
Address: 159 Hector Gate
Date Visited: Sunday, February 19, 2012
Orders: Corn Nuggets, Fried Dill Pickles, Brunswick Stew, Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich with Mac 'N Cheese, Sloppy Woody Sandwich with Bar-B-Q Beans, Banana Pudding
Final Grade: 87% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Disclaimer: To be completely upfront, we received an invitation to attend the "Friends and Family Day" pre-opening party for the new Dartmouth Crossing location of Woody's. This invitation was clearly intended to drum up word of mouth, so we promised ourselves that we would go in and provide a purely objective review of this visit. As such, because the meal was free and the wait staff was clearly on their best behavour, we've omitted our usual five categories (Taste, Portion Size, Presentation, Value and Service) in favour of a straight up final grade.
Notes: Our first Dartmouth review! We were served a trio of appetizers - corn nuggets (kind of like mini deep fried corn fritters - an interesting and tasty mix of crunch and goo), Fried Deep Pickles (with light and corny batter, which complimented the saltiness of the pickles) and Brunswick Stew (a hearty soup that wasn't too heavy). Then we moved on to our mains: the Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich was good on its own, but even better after we added the four varieties of BBQ sauce available on the table - particularly the Tangy Mustard. The Mac 'N Cheese wasn't the greatest, as the noodles were a little overboiled. The Sloppy Woody Sandwich was quite good, and no extra sauce was required, as it was already coated with just the right amount of "secret sauce" (not a kind available on the table), and the Bar-B-Q Beans were nice and tangy, with a modest sprinkle of meat for good measure. We were just about ready to roll when we were brought a Banana Pudding for dessert. The words "banana" and "pudding" don't do this thing justice. It really should be given a sexier name, as we would normally never order something like this, but are we ever glad we gave it a chance. So incredibly flavourful - chock full of banana chunks, pie crust, pudding and whipped cream. So simple, but so perfect. Give it a whirl - you'll be glad you did. All in all, a great meal, albeit a little salty. Regardless, we'll be back.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Review #29 - Curry Village
Curry Village
Variety: Indian
Address: 1569 Dresden Row
Date Visited: Thursday, February 2, 2012
Orders: Vegetable Samosas, Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Korma, Butter Chicken, Vegetable Kofta
Taste: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Portion Size: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Service: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 91% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: A group meal, so we were able to sample a bunch of different offerings. The portion size-to-price ratio is usually little off at Indian restaurants, but Curry Village can be forgiven with food that tastes like this. The Vegetable Kofta was a definite highlight. A delightful dining experience, enhanced by a very friendly and attentive owner, plus an impromptu (and complimentary) birthday dessert.
Variety: Indian
Address: 1569 Dresden Row
Date Visited: Thursday, February 2, 2012
Orders: Vegetable Samosas, Garlic Naan, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Korma, Butter Chicken, Vegetable Kofta
Taste: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Portion Size: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Service: 10 + 9 = 19/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 91% (Excellent)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: A group meal, so we were able to sample a bunch of different offerings. The portion size-to-price ratio is usually little off at Indian restaurants, but Curry Village can be forgiven with food that tastes like this. The Vegetable Kofta was a definite highlight. A delightful dining experience, enhanced by a very friendly and attentive owner, plus an impromptu (and complimentary) birthday dessert.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Review #28 - Jack Astor's Bar & Grill
Jack Astor's Bar & Grill
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 184 Chain Lake Drive
Date Visited: Sunday, January 22, 2012
Orders: Jack's Veggie Burger with fries, Chicken Fingers with fries
Taste: 5 + 2 = 7/20
Portion Size: 5 + 3 = 8/20
Presentation: 5 + 3 = 8/20
Value: 3 + 3 = 6/20
Service: 2 + 2 = 4/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 32% (Poor)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: In a word, this dining experience was "miserable." The restaurant was fairly busy, but not so busy as to have resulted in this level of service. It started off fine, as we were seated and served our drinks fairly quickly, but it all went downhill. The food took more than 30 minutes to be served, and was cold on arrival. One of our guests did not receive his fajitas until a few minutes after our food arrived, so we waited for him. Meanwhile, the server came back to check on us before he was served, so none of us had a chance to try our meals by that point, and that was the last we saw of her until she brought the bills around. Getting a drink refilled was an impossibility, and one of our guests ordered a soda when his meal arrived, and didn't receive it until his bill was already in-hand. As for the taste, the veggie burger was acceptable, but the chicken fingers were incredibly bland, and there were not nearly enough fries on either plate. Minus point for seating us at a table that received a blast of freezing air every time the front door opened. No wonder our food was cold! Service and taste issues aside, everything on the menu is pretty expensive - the value for the money is way off. We won't be back anytime soon.
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 184 Chain Lake Drive
Date Visited: Sunday, January 22, 2012
Orders: Jack's Veggie Burger with fries, Chicken Fingers with fries
Taste: 5 + 2 = 7/20
Portion Size: 5 + 3 = 8/20
Presentation: 5 + 3 = 8/20
Value: 3 + 3 = 6/20
Service: 2 + 2 = 4/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
Final Grade: 32% (Poor)
(Scoring: 100% to 140% = Exceptional, 85% to 99% = Excellent, 67% to 84% = Good, 60% to 66% = Satisfactory, 50% to 59% = Marginal, 0% to 49% = Poor, -40% to -1% = Abysmal)
Notes: In a word, this dining experience was "miserable." The restaurant was fairly busy, but not so busy as to have resulted in this level of service. It started off fine, as we were seated and served our drinks fairly quickly, but it all went downhill. The food took more than 30 minutes to be served, and was cold on arrival. One of our guests did not receive his fajitas until a few minutes after our food arrived, so we waited for him. Meanwhile, the server came back to check on us before he was served, so none of us had a chance to try our meals by that point, and that was the last we saw of her until she brought the bills around. Getting a drink refilled was an impossibility, and one of our guests ordered a soda when his meal arrived, and didn't receive it until his bill was already in-hand. As for the taste, the veggie burger was acceptable, but the chicken fingers were incredibly bland, and there were not nearly enough fries on either plate. Minus point for seating us at a table that received a blast of freezing air every time the front door opened. No wonder our food was cold! Service and taste issues aside, everything on the menu is pretty expensive - the value for the money is way off. We won't be back anytime soon.
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