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.

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.

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.