Review #71 - Patrons Golf & Lounge

Patrons Golf & Lounge
Variety: Casual Dining
Address: 27 Dellridge Lane
Date Visited: Thursday, July 21, 2016
Orders: Nachos, Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Salad, Pad Thai

Taste: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 9 + 9 = 18/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: -
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)

Notes: We've visited a number of the restaurants in our neighbourhood (Bedford South) and most of them have left much to be desired. So, it was really nice to visit one and be pleasantly surprised by the experienced, to the extent that we'll most likely visit it again in the near future.

In a way, Patrons isn't really a restaurant; it's a facility with golf simulators that doubles as a restaurant and lounge. Walking in, the place looks kind of like a show room, in that everything is sleek and new. At the same time, we didn't feel out of place, despite really not giving a crap about golf. It's kinda posh, without being pretentious. It had fairly minimal decor - some nice photographs on the wall and not much else, but their light fixtures were really impressive - a series of beautiful orbs along with an impressive chandelier. Off to the east side of the room was the golf simulators, curtained off but with enough of the screen peeking through to inspire intrigue from these non-golfers. Maybe next time...

Although they have a new patio, it was a really nice afternoon and all of the tables with umbrellas were taken, so we opted to sit just inside the front doors. Good call: It was nice and air conditioned inside, but we still got the benefit of the cool breeze. The ambiance
 
Our server, Jeff, greeted us with a warm smile and was very friendly. We felt as though we were being treated not only as customers but also as friends. We noticed his interactions with the other customers and he offered a everyone perfect blend of chit chat and getting down to business. He had T's beer over to the table in seconds, which she described as "the coldest, most delicious beer I've ever had. No joke." It was "Patrons Ale," which was just a fancy way of saying Keith's Red. Still, apparently it was that good, with "perfect carbonation," and it was reasonably priced, so we were off to a good start!

The menu was a little curious in that it seemed kind of all over the place. Some typical pub fare (nachos, chicken fingers), salads, sandwiches, pizza, some Asian-inspired dishes, plus salmon and steak. T contextualized the variety: although golf may seem like a hoity-toity sport to some, Patrons is likely looking to appeal to those who are interested in the sport but come from all walks of life - some to give it a shot without having to spend a full day on the links, and other looking to refine their skills...plus their spouses and children. When you look at it that way, it makes a heck of a lot of sense. Looking around the room and patio, that's exactly who we saw. So, clearly this place knows its audience!

We ordered nachos to start, and when they arrived, it looked like a big pile of chips covered in sizzling cheese. Translation: we were a little put off by the lack of vegetation. However, after we burst through the first layer of chips, we located ample tomatoes and red/banana peppers (we held off on the onions). Some green peppers would have been nice, but we enjoyed them nonetheless, and the portion size was just right.

Thanks to some intuitive serving (hence the bonus point), our mains arrived just as we finished our nachos - we decided to split the Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Salad and the Pad Thai. The salad was excellent, offering a perfect ratio of greens, cheese, beets, nuts and dressing. The Pad Thai was very tasty - red pepper was an unusual but very nice touch - but it was on the small side. Had we not ordered the nachos, we might have left hungry.

All in all, the service was very good, as was the food, we just think a couple of tweaks to the portion size and prices would help move this place from very good to great.

Final Verdict: Even if you don't like golf, this place is worth a shot!

McDonald's Create Your Taste - Australia vs Canada

Over the Christmas holidays, we traveled to Australia for a little adventure. We never expected one of our favourite meals would be from McDonald's, but it's totally true!

Macca's response to the worldwide "gourmet burger" trend, Create Your Taste lets you customize your regular fast food burger with some interesting ingredients you wouldn't normally expect to see at McDonald's. We tried it a total of three times, with each Frankenburger being better than the last.

Upon our return to Halifax, we learned that Create Your Taste has already hit Western Canada and would soon be rolled out nationwide. We were pretty excited...but would it be as good? We finally gave it a shot in May 2016. Here's what we found:

(Note: Anything denoted with an * = an ingredient not included in the base price)

Buns
Canada (3): Black & white sesame seed brioche-style bun, Artisan-style bakery roll, Lettuce wrap
Australia (4): Toasted brioche-style bun, Baker's bun, Ciabatta bun, Lettuce wrap
Advantage: Australia. Although the Canadian buns sound fancier, Australia's tasted (and, frankly, looked) better, plus there's an extra option.

Cheeses
Canada (5): Natural cheddar*, Monterey Jack jalapeno*, McDonald's classic cheese, Swiss*, Crumbled blue cheese*
Australia (5): Natural cheddar, Swiss, McDonald's classic cheese, Shaved parmesan, Tasmanian brie
Advantage: Australia. Monterey Jack jalapeno is great and all, but we'll take those big honkin' flakes of shaved parmesan any day of the week. PLUS, in Australia, up to three slices of cheese are included in the base price of your burger. In Canada, one slice of classic cheese is included in the price - you have to pay extra for anything else

Sauces
Canada (11): Ketchup, Big Mac special sauce, Guacamole*, Garlic aioli, Chipotle aioli, Smokey BBQ, Mustard, Grainy mustard, Mayonaise, Sriracha sauce, Sundried tomato pesto
Australia (10): Ketchup, Big Mac special sauce, Guacamole*, Herb aioli, Chipotle mayo, BBQ, Dijonaise, Tomato chilli jam, Tomato and onion relish, Chili lime aioli
Advantage: Tie. Australia doesn't really cut the mustard if that's your jam, but the tomato chili jam was phenomenal. Canada's Sriracha sauce on top of the sundried tomato pesto is pretty darn tasty, but the herb and chili lime aiolis were really stellar.

Vegetables
Canada (8): Tomato, Leaf lettuce, Red onion, Caramalized Onions, Crispy Onions, Sliced Jalapenos, Long sliced pickles, grilled mushrooms
Australia (8): Tomato, Leaf lettuce, Red onion, Caramalized Onions, Sliced Jalapenos, Long sliced pickles, sliced beetroot, spinach
Advantage: Australia. Canada's crispy onions were pretty tasty, and mushroom lovers might appreciate the grilled mushrooms (no idea if they cost more - we wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole). But seriously, have you ever tried beets on a hamburger? If not, you're missing out. Big time. The spinach was a nice lettuce alternative, too.

Proteins
Canada (1): 100% Canadian Angus Beef
Australia (4): Angus beef, Grilled chicken breast fillet, Gourmet crispy chicken, Grilled halloumi. You can also do a Create Your Taste salad, too.
Advantage: Australia. All. The. Way. Is there really any question?

Extra stuff
Canada (2): Hickory smoked bacon pieces*, Hickory smoked bacon strips*
Australia (5): Crispy bacon*, Rasher bacon*, Egg*, Tortilla strips, Grilled pineapple
Advantage: Australia kicks Canada's arse yet again. As with the beets above, those who've never tried egg on their burger are really missing out. Then try both. Yeah, exactly. You're welcome. In case you're wondering, Rasher bacon is kinda like "Canadian Bacon." Which isn't an option in Canada, either...

Service
Canada: You place your order at a kiosk, take an electronic chip, a server brings your beverage to your table (and ketchup, if you ask), both of which are served in regular McDonald's disposable cups and ketchup cups. When your order is ready, they ding a bell and the server returns with your meal. Your burger is served on a wooden plank and your fries are served in a little metal basket. The server checks on you a few minutes into your meal, and takes it away when you're done.
Australia: Pretty much the same, except they give you a table number instead of an electronic chip. However, your beverage/ketchup are served in fancier glasses/dishes, and you're also given actual cutlery (not the fake plastic stuff).
Advantage: Australia. Those little extras help you forget you're eating at McDonald's.

Taste
Canada: No complaints! The burger patty is comparable to the ones on the regular Angus burgers, the ingredients taste fresh (the lettuce was almost ridiculously huge) but, in truth, there aren't enough "extras" that differentiate this from a regular trip to McDonald's. Also, they really skimped on the fries but not on the salt. No likey.
Australia: Much like the service, the variety of available flavours and the overall package helps you forget you're eating at McDonald's.
Advantage: Australia.

Price
Canada: Slightly higher than your average meal, but not by much. About $10 per combo apiece, plus tax... unless you splurge on the extras.
Australia: About $12 (Canadian) per combo apiece, plus tax, and there aren't too many extras for which you're dinged additional fees. Keep in mind, food in Australia is a lot more expensive than it is in Canada (partially because service staff are paid WAY more).
Advantage: Australia. Given all the extras, we didn't mind paying extra in Australia. The extra fees really hindered our enjoyment of the Canadian burger. So, Australia it is...until Canada axes the fees (year right) or brings in the beets and eggs!

Final verdict
We realize not everyone has been to Australia and, if they have, maybe they tried something a lot more exotic than McDonald's. We were traveling on a budget, and this feature really caught our attention - for good reason: it's awesome. The Canadian version is slightly less awesome, but it's still worth a try.

Review #70 - Prospectors' Pub

Prospectors' Pub & Eatery
Variety: Pub
Address: 75 Peakview Way
Date Visited: Thursday, April 21, 2016
Orders: Gold Nugget burger, Chicken Wings, Onion Rings

Taste: 4 + 7 = 11/20
Portion Size: 5 + 8 = 13/20
Presentation: 5 + 5 = 10/20
Value: 4 + 7 = 11/20
Service: 3 + 3 = 6/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 2
Final Grade: 49% (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: A couple of years ago, we visited a fairly new restaurant (opened about six months at that point) and had such a pitiful experience that we decided to pass on giving them a score and decided to return a year later, hoping they had their act together (which they had). Now, we had a bit of a dilemma on our hands when we visited Prospectors' 11 months to the day after they opened. Because, friends, this was a brutal dining experience. I mean, they MUST have had someone call in sick that day because there were literally only two people running the show so the service was horrible and the chef's culinary skills were questionable at best. To say this place has PROBLEMS is an understatement.

After much debate, we decided to proceed with the review. 11 months is more than enough time to iron out the kinks. They have such a golden opportunity, being one of the very few restaurants in a booming area of town (Bedford South), but if every experience is like this, we cannot in good faith recommend this establishment.

We arrived around 7pm on a Thursday evening and the place was packed. We were kind of impressed that it was so bumpin' at that hour. However, once we were seated, we quickly figured out why - it was because we only saw two staff on duty - we believe one was handling the food prep while the other handled the serving and bartending. Nobody in the joint looked overly impressed, and it quickly became clear that we'd be in for a long wait. We should have bailed, but we were so hungry that we must not have been thinking straight enough to make that call.

The menu was...ridiculous. It had everything from wings and burgers to pasta to stir fry to seafood. Based on what we saw at our table, and around the restaurant, it's the kind of place that tries to do everything and doesn't do anything particularly well. That might be harsh, but we really tried to give it a fair chance. We were just let down again and again and again. Honestly, the only thing we were impressed by was the beer special. That's it.

After what seemed like an eternity, our food was served. T's Gold Nugget burger (bacon, cheese, fried egg - see below) was served on a crappy store-bought bun and was "just ok." She wasn't able to finish it - not because she was full, but because she just gave up. It was served with "chippers" - basically heated Miss Vickie's chips. J's Dusted Dry Spiced Sriracha wings were minuscule, overcooked, and barely had any flavour. He seriously wondered if they came straight out of the freezer. The onion rings were most definitely straight out of the freezer and were sadly soggy and beyond bland. Our friends were equally unimpressed by their stir fry and fish & chips - we put a napkin on top of the fish batter when it arrived and the grease sopped through it in less than a second. Gross. We genuinely wished the meals had been served with a side order of TUMS, and J went straight for the medicine cabinet when he got home.

What was most disappointing was the service. We understood the server was run off their arse, but although that person was pleasant, they were beyond inattentive. Our water was never refilled. It took several tries for them to remember an ordered glass of pop. When our meal was finally ready, it took almost ten minutes to get everything delivered to the table. The server never asked how the meal was, and despite asking twice, we never received a takeaway box for one of our friends' order, so we had to wrap it in napkins. Worst of all, when the stir fry was delivered, the server brought the bottle of soy sauce to the table shoved into their arm pit. We're not even kidding.

A meal that would normally have taken 45 minutes to order, serve and eat should not take two hours, but that's exactly what happened. We left wondering if maybe we were on Just For Laughs Gags, but sadly nobody laughed at us and pointed to a hidden camera when we left.

Based on this experience, a score of 49 is really very generous for this establishment. And, only two minus points - one for the "soy sauce incident" and one for general neglect is, also, very generous, if we do say so ourselves. Again, maybe this was a bad night for them and it isn't indicative of their usual standards, but we daresay we won't be back anytime soon to see for ourselves.

Final Verdict: Mediocre at best. Someone call Gordon Ramsay!

Review #69 - La Piazza

La Piazza Resto Cafe
Variety: Pizzeria
Address: 6430 Chebucto Road
Date Visited: Friday, January 22, 2016
Orders: Spinach Pizza, Tuscan Pizza

Taste: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Portion Size: 8 + 10 = 18/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
Final Grade: 81% (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 location has hosted numerous enterprises in recent years - a coffee shop, a BYO wine restaurant, and now a friendly neighborhood pizzeria. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but on the inside, it kind of feels like dining in someone's home (that has a stone oven inside it - gosh, we wish we had friends with one of those!). That could be good or bad, depending on how you're feeling that day, but we rolled with it.

We were seated at a table directly under a heater, which was kind of uncomfortable, in that J's hair might have singed just a touch. But, whatever, it was a cold day at the end of a long week, so at least we weren't at work.

We each order pizzas - T picked the Spinach, J selected the Tuscan. The Spinach (see below) featured red pepper, goat cheese, mozzarella, chicken and, well, spinach. It was fine. The Tuscan had red pepper, arugula, sausage and mozzarella (he passed on the sauteed onions). It, too, was fine. The pizzas came out looking pretty huge, but in reality, it was just air. We both left the place in need of a pit stop for a snack on the way home, which is never a good thing - but it's a reality when you pay $17 apiece for a pizza that doesn't fill you up. So, in other words, it was good, but too expensive for what it was. Our dining companions, on the other hand, had the gourmet burger, which was huge and featured fried salami on top. That one looked like a winner (and sounded like one, too, based on their reviews).

Final Verdict: Ok pizza, but a little expensive for what it was.

Review #68 - The Lower Deck

The Lower Deck (Clayton Park)
Variety: Pub
Address: 278 Lacewood Drive
Date Visited: Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Orders: Pulled pork quesadilla, Donair egg rolls, Nachos

Taste: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Portion Size: 7 + 9 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 10 + 10 = 20/20
Service: 8 + 9 = 17/20
Bonus: -
Minus: -
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: J had been to this venue a couple of times in its previous incarnations, but never really to eat. The Lower Deck downtown is known more for its beverages than for its food, and that's likely the case at this one as well - it was dinnertime and almost completely empty (and reeked of stale beer). The good news for us was that the service was really fast, and it was also half-off appetizer night - allowing us to try more than we normally would have.

J went for the pulled pork quesadilla, although that's not something he normally orders at restaurants - a tortilla with some cheese and maybe some meat and vegetables for around $10 and is never, ever even close to filling? No thanks. Due to the special, the selection was far more affordable. The pulled pork itself was good, but didn't really work with the diced peppers - chicken would have been a better choice. He was still hungry afterwards, so thankfully the Donair egg rolls were at hand. They were small and a little too crunchy, but full of meat. Both items combined made for an adequately filling meal.

T's nachos were big, the toppings were plentiful and the chips tasted kinda like Doritos. They weren't amazing, but they were pretty good.

We couldn't help but give this place 10/10 on value, but that's really only because of the special that happened to be on that night. We enjoyed our visit, but our order - and likely the score - would have been drastically different had we visited on another evening.

Final Verdict: It won't blow your mind but it's decent. Go on a Tuesday and hope the special is still on!

Review #67 - The Maxwell's Plum

The Maxwell's Plum
Variety: Pub
Address: 1600 Grafton Street
Date Visited: Friday, August 21, 2015
Orders: Burger Platter (breakfast style), Chicken Fingers & Fries

Taste: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 10 + 8 = 18/20
Service: 7 + 7 = 14/20
Bonus: 1
Minus: 1
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: Back in J's university days, he frequented The Plum fairly often. Their current slogan "1% Fancy, 99% Beef" was true then, and it's true now. Although, to be fair, "1% Fancy" was generous back then, when you could have all the peanuts you wanted and were expected to dump the shells on the floor. He misses those days.

Anyway, the food was always pretty cheap and nothing special. Not much has changed on that front. J ordered the "Best Burger Platter in Town" (breakfast-style, meaning with a fried egg on top). The burger and fries were fine, but the bun was toasted a LITTLE too well (it was borderline burned), which took away from the taste a bit. It certainly wasn't the BEST burger platter in town, but for $7.99 (plus $1.95 for the egg), it was certainly good value.

T ordered the Chicken Fingers and Fries (a little more pricey at $12.95, but still reasonable) and almost instantly dropped a finger on the floor. Had there been peanut shells on the floor (and had she been a drunk frat boy), the lost finger might have been salvageable, but she's classy so it went to waste. Otherwise, it was a perfectly good pub meal, and the sweet & sour sauce came in a fancy little dish. On that note, our meals were served on cool branded plates - definitely worthy of a bonus point!

It felt as though the server was a little too eager to get our butts out of there, although our table ordered a fair portion of food and beverage. She kept clearing things the instant we were finished with them, and sometimes when we weren't - she inexplicably nabbed T's napkin three times, which was annoying. Minus point for that.

Although it had been years since our last visit, we weren't surprised by anything. It wasn't great, it wasn't bad, it was just fine. Nothing wrong with that.

Final Verdict: Still cheap and consistently ok!

Review #66 - Sunnyside Too

Sunnyside Too
Variety: Diner
Address: 1552 Bedford Highway
Date Visited: Monday, August 10, 2015
Orders: Monster Burger, Rise & Shine

Taste: 7 + 8 = 15/20
Portion Size: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Presentation: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Value: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Service: 8 + 8 = 16/20
Bonus: -
Minus: 1
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: The Sunnyside (and Sunnyside Too) is one of those places we've driven past dozens if not hundreds of times over the years but have never visited. For whatever reason, we kind of assumed it was pretty much the same as Smitty's. We decided to give it a shot, and guess what: It looks like a Smitty's, feels like a Smitty's, the menu is just like Smitty's, the clientele looks like what you'd find at Smitty's (largely older folks with a smattering of people with young children), and the food tasted pretty much like a Smitty's.

We were confused as to why there was a Sunnyside and Sunnyside Too beside each other with the Sunnyside being closed and the Too being open, but the server explained the other one has pretty much the same menu cooked in the same kitchen. Ok, I guess?

As you walk in, you can't help but notice the pie fridge on the wall. You know instantly that you'd better save room for dessert, which we totally did. J was hungry, though, so he went for the Monster Burger (see below) - the menu accurately stated "Designed for the monstrous appetite! Two beef patties topped with bacon and cheddar." That, plus lettuce, tomato, pickles and red onion (even though he asked for no onion). It was virtually impossible to eat that thing without a knife and fork. The only issue was that the (huge) patties, obviously made from scratch were dry and didn't have a lot of seasoning, making the whole thing kinda bland, even with all of those toppings. Seriously, look at the photo below and you can almost tell how dry those things were.

T's Rise N' Shine breakfast plate was perfectly adequate. A couple of eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, homefries and a glass of OJ. It's kinda hard to screw that up, and they didn't. Nothing wrong, but nothing special, hence her 8s across the board.

The much-anticipated pies, on the other hand...the lemon meringue was tasty, but the crust was mushy and not at all flaky as one would have hoped. The coconut cream pie, on the other hand, was bland as could be. No flavour at all. One minus point for tempting us with wonderful pie and falling flat on delivery.

Final Verdict: It's basically Smitty's.