Review #59 - 2 Doors Down (one year later...)

2 Doors Down
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 1533 Barrington Street
Date Visited: Thursday, February 5, 2015
Orders: Smokehouse Cheeseburger, Old School Cheeseburger
Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 6 + 8 = 14/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
Final Grade: 79% (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 time last year, we visited 2 Doors Down for J's birthday and walked away bewildered and disappointed to the extent that we decided not to score the joint (see review) and to give them a chance at a later date because they seemed to genuinely try to fix the situation (albeit in a really strange way at first). The general gist: the hamburger meat was oddly chewy (and not in a good way), but more importantly, the pork chop was almost entirely inedible due to a ridiculously high amount of fat on the cut (and we were still charged full price after bringing it to the server's attention).

We decided to return a year later to see if anything had changed - fortunately, it went much better this time around! The restaurant was mostly empty, possibly due to an oncoming snowstorm. There was a sign on the door indicating they would be closing 2.5 hours later after we arrived, but we figured there was no way we would flirt with that time limit. Last year, we were unimpressed by the "sticky" and "glittery" tables. This time, they were noticeably un-sticky and clean - the the extent that the server actually stopped by to tidy up an unnoticeable spot after we were seated. T was also a fan of the cork used as a silverware holder and J enjoyed the aesthetic quality of the modern silverware (hence the bonus point). We enjoyed the big, high quality napkins last year and were pleased that they were still being used this time around.

J decided to give the cheeseburger again, this time available in a "Smokehouse" (smoked Gouda, bourbon BBQ sauce, crispy shallots, bacon, onion jam, chipotle aioli) variety which he selected. When T learned the Chicken Pot Pie was not available outside of the prix fixe menu (boo!), she went with the Old School cheeseburger (cheese, pickles, ketchup, mustard). Given the sparse crowd, we were a little surprised by the 20+ minute wait between the order and the delivery, but the waiter was pleasant enough so no big deal. The first thing we noticed was the burger bun - last year, it was soft and borderline flaky and it pretty much fell apart. This year, the pendulum had swung pretty far to the opposite end of the spectrum and they were served on what seemed like store-bought Ben's burger buns - not bad, but nothing special. The meat, like last year, was a little chewier than the average burger (the result of them being a mix of ground chuck, brisket and short rib), but unlike last year, they held together a bit better and didn't taste borderline gristly. The fries were crispy and tasty but there weren't many of them and the house-made ketchup was sparse and tasted kinda funny. Unique, but as T put it: "Heinz would have been better."

We can't really understand why these burgers, at $17.50 (Smokehouse) and $16.50 (Old School) respectively, cost considerably more than the most expensive (non-seafood or challenge) items on the menu at Ace Burger or Flipburger. Perhaps it's the ambiance? Perhaps it's the quality of the meat? We're not sure. It was a nice meal, but it was a little little pricey for a couple of cheeseburgers and fries.

Lastly, we noted and appreciated the inclusion of Tootsie Rolls with the bill instead of the usual mint (or, nothing). A nice, fun touch.

Final Verdict: A vast improvement, but we're not in a hurry to return.

Review #58 - Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca

Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca
Variety: Pizza
Address: 5144 Morris Street
Date Visited: Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Orders: VPN Margherita, Della Terra

Taste: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Portion Size: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 9 + 10 = 19/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: 2
Final Grade: 84% (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: After narrowly missing a downtown holiday party due to a slightly later than expected night at work, we were all dressed up with no place to go. Fortunately, we peered down from our parking spot and noticed Piatto. J had heard about this place that was "legally allowed to make Neapolitan pizza" (or something like that), so we gave it a shot. Walking into this industrial chic joint, it looked a lot more formal than it actually is. By that, we noticed that it's actually the kind of place you might want to bring your family - the kids and play around on the Vespa scooters parked randomly throughout the restaurant. That said, it wasn't too kitchy, either. It was a nice mix. Not sure how else to describe it! It was clear that we'd missed the dinner rush, which was fine by us, and it also meant that the host was able to pay a bit of extra attention to us, explaining the menu in great detail in a way that wasn't too overbearing. It was obvious that he took great pride in his work. Although the nightly complimentary soup and appetizers had all but disappeared, there were a few scraps left for us, which we gladly inhaled (we were kinda hungry after missing out on the party, after all!) T noshed on some olives while J indulged in some tasty squash soup served in an espresso cup. So, what's an enoteca? We didn't know, either, but apparently it means "wine repository." It didn't take T long to select the reasonably-priced wine flight (sampler), which included generous pours of a variety of wines. We enjoyed watching our pizzas being cooked in the cool wood-fired oven and it wasn't long before they were delivered - J had the VPN Margherita - traditional Neapolitan pizza with just tomato sauce, cheese and olive oil. It was fairly big but not too bulky, just enough for one. Though, the crust was "a touchy burn-y" for our liking. T had the Della Terra (from the earth, perhaps?), which was a vegetarian offering featuring olives, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, cheese, basil and olive oil. According to T, "It tastes exactly like the Margherita," so the ingredients didn't seem to add much. In addition, the cook obviously missed a pair of olive pits and T hurt her tooth. That was a little disappointing (and painful!). So, bonus point for the awesomeness of the wine sampler and for the host's passion, but two minus points for the pits. All in all, we enjoyed the experience, but T put it best when she said "They talk it up until it's hard to live up to it. When it arrives, it's just a pizza. It was good, but it's not the best pizza I've ever had in my life. An authentic experience doesn't necessarily mean it's the best."

Final Verdict: Enjoyable with a great atmosphere, but authentic doesn't guarantee excellence.