SueFH's Profile
Looking for dinner for 13 for 50th birthday celebration
Looking to spend maybe $30-40/pp. before drinks, maybe share appetizers and salads but not necessarily entrees. Not fancy but not pub-like, sort of upscale casual. Not asian or indian. Prefer downtown branching out northbound. Some suggestions I've received include Paris Club, Piccolo Sogno, MK, GT Oyster. Doubt we can get in anywhere really hot, but don't really want old and tired either.
Any suggestions will be carefully considered! Thanks.
Follow-Up Report--Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs
I was shocked my normally "beef with peapods" husband would even consider pho, so I ran with it. Knew nothing about it as we walked in, thus were not disappointed!
Follow-Up Report--Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs
Just wanted to follow up my anniversary trip by thanking the people here who responded to my request for information and report on where we did end up going.
After the Rockies game Saturday night we walked past Vesta's Dipping Grill. Sorry I don't know the street. My friend works with the chef's mother, so I'd heard of it. VERY loud, "happening" sort of place, everything we ate (sat at the bar and had a few small plates) was delicious particularly the lamb riblets and the bacon-tater thingies. We liked some of the dipping sauces, and I'm afraid I cannot recall the one other thing that was excellent, sorry.
Had brunch Sunday at Red Rocks to meet some friends and view the place and visitor center. What a place. Not exactly a food destination but tolerable enough and included a mimosa.
In Boulder we ate at a place called Black Pepper Pho, just walked past it, looked good and we enjoyed it. Nothing fancy, I'm again not sure of the street, but right across from the 28th Street Mall. We were supposed to have the Monday prix fixe dinner at Frasca (on Monday of course) but my husband became ill and we had to cancel. The ONE thing I was most looking forward to, alas.
In Colo Springs we stayed at the Broadmoor and loved our dinner at the Penrose Room. Just impeccable service, very very delicious food with reasonable portions, and excellent pours of the wines accompanying dinner. Loved it. Memorable courses included white asparagus soup with caviar, a scrumptious lobster carpaccio (though there was no discernible horseradish taste to the horseradish cream) and a small lamb tenderloin I think it was called with fingerling potatoes. Just perfect.
Honestly found the other food at the Broadmoor (golf club, poolside, lobby sandwich place) to be rather pedestrian. Great homemade ranch dressing, but otherwise, eh. We also at dinner at The Keg in Manitou Springs after visiting Pike's Peak. Fun atmosphere, big portion of chicken fried chicken, but WAY undercooked. Fortunately I was full before I got to the raw part.
Anyhow, thanks again for the responses to my request. Sure hope to come back some day.
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Penrose Room
1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO
Another Denver/Boulder/Colo Springs Anniversary!
Thank you all so far!! I'm pretty excited having never been in Colorado, and SO happy we're not going to Vegas again LOL.
Please feel free to keep the ideas coming!
Another Denver/Boulder/Colo Springs Anniversary!
I did try to reply on the other thread and was unsuccessful, sorry. But I'm traveling without kids!
Coming into Denver next Saturday, going to Rockies game that evening (we like to see different ballparks) then staying at some generic Marriott in Boulder for two nights. Looking to see Estes Park, maybe the Celestial Seasonings place (I think I heard that was Boulder), etc.. I was able to get a reservation at Frasca for the Monday night tasting menu (chef's table, I'm pretty psyched), but otherwise we're wide open. Hoping for recommendations that may not be quite as pricey as Frasca for other meals!
We're not tremendous beer drinkers, like it but not avid tasters so the brewpubs would be fine but we'd be as interested in the food as the beer!
Tuesday we head to the Broadmoor for 2 nights (it's our 20th, we get a trip once ever 10 years so since we're using points at the Marriotts....) and leave Denver on Thursday evening. I would like to have one nice meal at the Broadmoor, looks like there's 2 options there, any votes on which one is better? Price not the main issue (dress code would be!!) since it's, yes, the 20th LOL. My husband knows he's in for a few pricey meals!
Thanks in advance, if there's any must-sees I'm glad to hear about those too. Hoping to find a gentle rafting ride somewhere, will take recs on those companies too if it doesn't make the head Hound mad.
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Celestial Seasonings
4600 Sleepytime Dr, Boulder, CO 80301
Top Chef Aug 22nd. [Spoilers]
Sooo disappointed about Tre, but not surprised based on the editing of tonight's show. I was really happy to see the Garage team pull it together, not sure why.
taking my parents out for their 40th anniversary
We are taking my parents to Joe's Steak and Seafood for their 50th in October.
WIll be in Morton Grove 3 days, any Recs ?
China Chef on Lincoln is an old-time americanized Chinese spot (I went to HS with the daughter and my parents still go there whenever they're back in the old neighborhood). It's reasonably priced, relatively typical surly service but decent quality for what it is and it's a throwback. We went there weekly when I was growing up in MG.
China Chef5920 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove, IL
Tel: (847) 967-6050
Where to go with kids
For Italian, don't forget Scoozi (on W. Superior?), it's VERY kid-friendly. In fact most of the LEYE places are quite reasonable with kids. MityNice, at the Water Tower, has a great kids' menu and decent enough food for adults.
State of Barbecue in Las Vegas
We had dinner last week at Salt Lick BBQ. Was not impressed with the brisket, though it was fatty it wasn't tender fatty. Flavor at the pink edges was legit, but just not pleasant to chew. Oddly enough, my husband ordered the baby back ribs and we loved them. Wasn't expecting that! And we thought the sides were eh. The mac and cheese wasn't hot and didn't really taste "smoked" in any way. Coleslaw was very celery-seedy, not our fave. Service was acceptable, nothing special, nothing horrible. Don't know that I'd make a special trip out there again for it, but we did enjoy the casino after dinner and wouldn't refuse to go or anything.
Rate my Vegas meal picks
We had a wonderful lunch at Rosemary's this past Wednesday. The coupon on the net is now $22/pp, but our service was as impeccable as the food. The waiter even went to ask the chef what type of heirloom tomatoes were being served as I really really wanted to know!
We also had the salmon and filet kebob...didn't want the shrooms either so we got the cheese grits instead, and they were spectacular! My husband actually loved that flourless chocolate cake, it was rich and fudgy, he didn't mind that it wasn't a traditional fallen souffle-like one. We enjoyed the flavor of the ice cream trio but agree with comment above that it was too icy/grainy texture-wise. Really the only flaw of the day though.
Wouldn't have found Rosemary's without this board, thanks for the rec.
LoS Vegas Recs please
Just a brief check-in on our Lotus of Siam experience. Our flight arrived about an hour late on Monday, we drove out to Summerlin and then came back in for a dinner at Lotus. Probably not our smartest move, though traffic was ok. The wait at Lotus was very long...we should've called, I know, but we were really unsure about our timing.
Anyway, to be honest, we were underwhelmed. Maybe my expectations from reading this site were just unrealistic. Maybe our service was just so awful, no explanation of any specials, not giving us the Northern menu, incredibly slow in getting food to the table...and maybe our palates just aren't that sophisticated.
We started with that crispy northern rice with sausage and it was a winner. We asked for just a little spice and it was plenty hot for us. We really enjoyed it. We followed with northern larb, as highly recommended by the gentleman at the table next to us. I thought it was good, my husband didn't love it. I think it would be great wrapped in some lettuce or something, if it's supposed to be, we didn't see anything wrap-worthy. My husband ordered the shrimp pad thai and he thought it was good, different than what we get at home but tasty. I thought the shrimps were fresh and tasty. I had the crispy duck curry, again on the next table's recommendation, and it was very good. My husband even liked it some.
Dessert, the sticky rice with coconut and mango, was excellent. I'd go back just for that. And I would try it again, just maybe our timing put a damper on things too much.
Anyway, that's the report. I enjoyed talking to the opthamologist who was sitting at the next table and hope he'll come onto this board, he was quite a foodie!!!
LoS Vegas Recs please
Thank you, I think it was one of your threads or posts that made me think about heat levels!
Open Table cancellation question
To clarify, I would never intentionally blow off a reservation. I have called to cancel many times and always been thanked for doing so.
I just got a little nervous about how they'd get the $65 if something happened that was out of my control. And the prix fixe we're going to is under $50/pp so that cancellation charge would be extremely egregious IMO.
LOL
And thanks.
Open Table cancellation question
Hi, my first time using open table and I made a rez at a restaurant that asks me to call if I'm going to cancel or be charged a hefty per person fee. Like $65/pp hefty!
But I wasn't asked to give a credit card and now I can't remember if I've already given that to OT and so may be charged if I have to cancel the rez too close to the time.
Otherwise, if I didn't actually show up when I was supposed to, am I supposed to do the honorable thing and call to give them my credit card to charge me for not showing?
Don't mean to be flippant, just wondering if anyone's got any thoughts on this one. Thanks.
LoS Vegas Recs please
Well I think I've talked my husband into trying Lotus of Siam. He's NOT an adventurous eater (his thai meal of choice is pad thai with peanut sauce) so I'm kinda on my own.
Can anyone recommend true "don't miss" options that are not scary. LOL I typically like a little spice (maybe 2.5/5), he likes none. And we're not really sausage eaters so that northern sausage everyone raves about is not an option either.
Going to try for Monday evening, assumint our flight arrives on time.
TIA!
Sue
Anything great close to JWMarriott in Vegas?
Well we just got an amazing car rental deal ($20/day and we can drop off at Bellagio when we get to the Strip on Wed) so we'll have a car. I'd love to get my husband to try Rosemary's.
Thanks for the tips.
Vegas report - July 10-14 (long)
Just an FYI, we got a reservation for B&B next week, made via OpenTable on july 13.
Anything great close to JWMarriott in Vegas?
We're arriving on a Monday late afternoon and have 2 nights at the JWMarriott, looks to be NW of the strip.
Are any of their restaurants worth going to? Anything relatively close by? Wide open to cuisines, prices, ideas, just don't want to spend a ton renting a car or paying $50 in cab fare.
Thanks in advance!
Sue
Eiffel Tower Vegas-any updates?
Writing from Chicago: just came into some Lettuce gift certificates, would like to use them on a nice dinner for our anniversary. I have a reservation at Eiffel Tower (which I can cancel in the next week or so) for our final night in Vegas Thursday 8/2.
I'm not reading great stuff about this place, but nothing I've found is newer than one year old. I've always enjoyed Everest in Chicago, don't expect this to be that good but is it really awful or just overpriced? And since it's 100 degrees can my husband get away without a jacket?
Thanks!
Sue
Stripburger??? Vegas
Anyone been here yet? Just received an email notice from LEYE that this spot has opened in Fashion Show Mall next to Baba Reeba. Curious about peoples' opinions on this one.
www.stripburger.com
las vegas group dining abt. $25 pp, ON THE STRIP
I think you've dropped the Maggiano's idea but at least here in Chicago (where they started) they have prix fixe package where you order 2 apps, 2 salads, 2 pastas, 2 entrees and 2 desserts for a fixed cost of around $29/pp, they serve family style and it's all you can eat.
I know it gets a bad rap outside Chicago cuz it's a chain but we tend to think of it as "homegrown" and not "chain-y" and they do a nice job with groups. May even give you a private room if they have the space.
You would pre-order a menu if you do the prix fixe option.
The Nonna's pound cake dessert is really really good, btw. LOL
Family dining near Seneca Hotel in dwntn
My kids enjoy foodlife at Water Tower, it's like a foodcourt but not a chain. Behind it is Mity NIce Grill which is also extremely kid-friendly.
I'd recommend Ed Debevic's for a fun outing with the kids as well, great atmosphere and decent food.
For deep dish, we prefer Gino's East to Malnati's but that's just a matter of taste think...LOL
Finally, you're here next week amid the famous Taste of Chicago. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0628_d_taste_tips_vetteljun28,1,7714159.story?coll=chi-news-hed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/chi-mxa0628atplaycovertastejun28,1,6267739.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Check out the schedule and see if any of the music sounds good to you, grab a blanket from the hotel (shhh) and give it a shot!
Tom and Wendies? Wendee's?
THANK YOU! Glad to know it's still around and that there are other options as well.
Tom and Wendies? Wendee's?
Does anyone remember the Italian Ices place that was on Armitage just west of Sheffield maybe 10 years ago? Is it still around? I wanted to bring some people there but traffic after yesterday's storm was so bad I didn't want to take the chance it isn't around any more.
Any other recs for Italian Ices other than Taylor Street? North is best. Thanks.
Vegas Off-Strip?
Thank you all!! Really appreciate the hotel comments, not sure of the off-topic penalties, so thanks.
Part of me can't even imagine wanting to eat at all in that heat, LOL, but I'm guessing we'll do ok.
visiting chicago - need recommendations
My kids always liked foodlife at Water Tower, so much to choose from and reasonable quality if a bit pricey. We happen to choose Gino's East over the Uno/Due family but that's personal preference I guess.
Looking for a quite range hood!!! [moved from Site Talk board]
We put in a Zephyr designed by Fu Teng Cheng (famous for concrete counters) and it is gorgeous and very functional but man oh man is it LOUD. We have Wolf range with a grill (mistake) but needed something incredibly strong and ended up having to add a higher powered fan and venting it through a special box they had to install outside the house. And my smoke detector still goes off if I use the grill. grrr
Take-home foodie souvenirs from Chicago?
Blommer's Chocolate bars! http://www.columbiachronicle.com/back/2003_fall/2003-09-29/citybeat2.html
