mwisdom's Profile
FL Hound in Laurel, MD Next Week
So, I'll be traveling to the above location next week. Will need to find some great lunch and dinner spots. Will be in DC for lunch and maybe dinner on Monday. Looking for an iconic experience on a expense account budget ($50 total for the entrie day). Unique decor, ambiance, food, etc. are all fair variables.
The rest of the week I am looking for non-chain lunches in Laurel and dinners in either Baltimore, DC or the surrounding area. I am not opposed to traveling 30 miles or so for a memorable meal.
I would, of course, like to find some crab cakes -- when in Maryland, to paraphrase. Other local specialties are encouraged as well. And, I am always a sucker for an outstanding pizza or burger.
Thanks!
Florida Hound Seeking Advice Near Cheshire, CT
I will be arriving in CT, Monday, October 12 and staying through Friday. I'd love to sample some quintessential New England food and I am looking for advice. Please point me in the direction of some moderately-priced establishments. Excellent pubs, taverns, mom and pops and the like are desired. Off the beaten path is absolutely welcomed (as long as it is not too far of a drive from where I am staying). Hartford or New Haven seem close, so any suggestions in those areas are fine, too.
I am also interested in hearing suggestions on the best locations to shoot some photos of the fall foilage.
Thanks!
Where can I get Provel cheese or St. Louis-style pizza around FL?
Hey BBV,
As someone stated in the chain above, you can find Imo's-style pizza in Florida about 2 hours north of you in Jacksonville. Picaso's makes one helluva good Imo's-style pizza. Made me nearly weep with joy when I found them.
Now if I could only find a White Castle near here (and NO Krystal is NOT just like White Castle).
Marc
Downtown Jacksonville Restaurant Recommendations?
Bistro Aix in San Marco is always a great palce for dinner. And it is less than 2 miles from the Times-Union Center. The food is delicious and very approachable. My wife always gose for the Creamy French Onion soup and Shrimp Tagliatelli, I am partial to the Smoked Tomato soup and whatever looks good on the entree list. I have had nearly everything they offer and NEVER been dissappointed.
Jacksonville and Beaches!
Surprisingly, downtown has not changed that much. There are a couple of nightclubs on Bay St., but I have never been so, I can't comment. Having been gone for 10 years you may not have heard of or visitied Bistro Aix in San Marco. I highly recommend this place for excellent Mediteranian inspired food and its awsome wine list. Speaking of wine, try The Grotto in San Marco for a large selection of by-the-glass vino and a very knowledgeable staff. Pizza -- the old stand-by Al's has spread from the Beaches and now has locations at Baymeadows and Riverside.
Jacksonville
While I am not as familiar with the Beaches area since I live quite a ways from it, I can speak to establishments near the southern end of town and downtown areas.
Depending on your friends' tastes you could send them to the Tree Steakhouse in Mandarin for a great steak dinner. I have been there many times and never had a bad experience. Steaks are hand cut to your specifications and then cooked perfectly to your order.
Or, if they prefer bistro fare, send them to Bistro Aix in San Marco. This is by far our favorite restaurant in Jacksonville. The chef prepares wonderful dishes with seasonal ingredients. My wife's favorite is the creamy french onion soup and shrimp tagliatelli, I love the smokey tomatoe soup and usually try a different entree each visit. Bistro Aix also has an excellent wine list with many outstanding selections by the glass. And don't forget dessert -- our favorite is creme brulee, but they usually have a wonderful fruit crustada as well.
Those are my two best local suggestions, there are many other great upper-end national restaurants here including Ruth's Chris, Roys, Bonefish, and Morton's.
Biscotti's in Jax - How many strikes??
Wow, sounds like a couple of really poor experiences. We like Biscotti's, but we usually only go for desserts after a play or symphony. We have had a few slow servers -- the place can be almost too layed-back.
I would bring your concerns to the attention of the general manager and mention that you would like to continue visiting the establishment, but that the staff will need to really step up. You might also mention your post here. This site carries an awful lot of weight with foodies both local and visiting.
I am of the strong opinion that local resaurants should be supported, but when service is poor managment must be made aware. See my note regarding Tentos at the beach. We enjoyed the food -- when we got it and managment's attitude was poor. So, we will not return. But, we gave management -- bascally the owners -- the opportunity to fix the problem.
Tento Brazilian Restaurant in Jax
Just returned from dinner at Tento located on First Street, Jacksonville Beach. I had made reservations earlier in the week and it is a good thing I did since the place was packed and tables were hard to come by. The hostess led us to our table promptly but it was a terrible table hidden in a dark corner. When I asked for a different table it seemed to be a hardship on the staff. I got various levels of attitude and, upon glancing down, noticed that the tables were assigned to specific people. While this may be a good idea in theory, it did not make for happy people since several other people we spoke with were upset about the policy and the odd system of allocating tables.
Table issues resolved we sat a table in the main dinning room near the buffet. We waited a little longer for our server than I thought it should take, but finally placed our drink orders. I had perused the wine list and, while it looked interesting, I am not as familiar with South America wines as I should be (please note that I called and asked about a corkage fee and was told it was a hefty $25). So, I went with water.
We walked to the buffet/salad bar and took samples of many of the offerings. I particularly enjoyed the chunks of parmesan cheese, the black beans and rice and the asparagus spears. I did not care for the lobster bisque, or the mashed potatoes. The bisque was too sweet for my taste and lobster chunks were totally absent. The potatoes tasted as if they had just come out of a can or were instant.
But, no one goes to a Brazilian restaurant for the grazing, they go for meat. Lots of it. Unfortunately, for the first 45 minutes of our visit we must have been invisible to the Gauchos. Server after server walked past us without stopping to slice of a piece of meaty deliciousness. Finally we mentioned this to our server and the frequency of visits increased but the variety of meats did not. We were told that there were 14 different meats to sample and that each would be brought to our table in a 30-35 minute rotation. Again there were problems. We were presented with lamb three times within a ten minute period, but sirloin and filets never came near our table. We did get beef ribs but, the Gaucho spilled meat juices all over the table and one of our dinner companions. He had the misfortune of wearing a white shirt that was spattered with red speckles the rest of the night.
The meats that we did get were tender and delicious; they were wonderfully seasoned and sizzling hot. But when I go out to eat, I go for the food and the experience. Unfortunately the quality of the food did not exceed the poor service.
All in all, I had high hopes for this restaurant. But unfortunately the poor service ruined the experience.
Report: Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, St. Helena
Since my wife and I will be visiting the Napa Valley area (staying in Napa) in July, how about sharing your suggestions Valleygirl? Would love to know where to go to get a great burger, casual dinners, and great breakfasts throughout the area.
FL Hounds Headed to SF
We will be in San Francisco for two and a half days in July. We are looking for a couple of things:
~The best place for an inexpensive lunch in Chinatown.
~Best burgers neat Fishermen's Wharf (In-n-Out?).
~Best breakfast in the same area.
~Good, inexpensive seafood.
~One moderately priced dinner, in a romantic place.
We are staying at Fisherman's Wharf and plan to use public transportation to get around. We are not looking for rock-bottom cheap but, we are also not looking for a meal we wold have to mortgage a house for.
Off-beat, interesting, out-of-the-ordinary places are always welcome.
Also, any notes on what to avoid would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Marc and Kim
FL Hounds Headed to Napa
Greetings to all you left coasters, we are headed out to visit Napa in July and would like to request your assistance with restaurant recommendations. Are plan is to be in Napa and the surrounding area July 2 – 6. We would like any info you can share on lunch and dinner places that – while different from the main-stream – are not overly-pricey. And for heavens sake, no chains! I have heard murmurings of great roadside eats and al fresco dining, so I know they are out there. Hit us with your best info, inside tips and anything else Napa Valley related!
Thanks and Happy Chowing!
Fine Brunch for Easter Sunday in Jacksonville/St. Augustine
Whenever we want to go to a nice brunch we head for the Sawgrass Marriott. The views are wonderful and the food is top notch. You may also want to check to see if the River City Brewing Company is offering a bruch on Easter. They often do have a brunch on special holidays; last year my kids took me there for Father's Day and it was great!
Marc
Five Points or Red Cat?
On a visit to Manhattan a few years ago, my wife and I decided on dining at Five Points because of its proximity to the Blue Man Group theatre and favorable reports here. We were not disappointed! While it is hard to recall the exact dishes we ate (although I willing to bet my wife had a rather safe steak -- she is not gastronomically adventurous), I do recall that the service was wonderful, the atmosphere interesting, and the food was excellent.
Be sure to tell us about your visit if you decide to go!
Recent Trip to St. Augustine/Flagler Beach
No bashing from me about Sonny's. Of the local BBQ joints I like them the best. Can't get enough of thier sweet sauce (I am from St. Louis where sweet BBQ sauce is king).
We have also been to Raintree and truly enjoyed our experience. Dessert, in particular, is outstanding.
One other place you might want to try sometime soon is A1A Brewery. We have been going there for years and love the food and atmosphere. If its a nice day, try to get a seat on the balcony overlooking the bay and Bridge of Lions. Try the Jerk Shrimp Scampi, YUM!!!
Marc
JACKSONVILLE, FL Recommendations Needed
See my review of Bistro Aix on Hendricks in the San Marco area of Jacksonville. Since I wrote the review Chef Tom has added another room -- Onyx -- which has it's own funky vibe. The food remains excellent and the service wonderful.
Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/131077?query=aix
Happy Chowing,
Marc
Upscale restaurant for 8, in Jacksonville
Bisto Aix has a private room that can be booked for large or small parites. Or you can just sit in the dining room, eight is not too large a number for them to handle. The food is spectacular, the wine list has recieved the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine, and the dining room has been honored by Dirona as a Distinguished Restaurant of America. John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston are frequent diners here (they live just south and west of Jacksonville).
Whenever my wife and I want to have a truely exceptional dining experience this is where we go. As a matter of fact, wewill be dining here February 9th for our 5th wedding anniversary.
Call ahead to get preferred seating and be sure to mention that it is a special occassion -- often Chef Tom Grey will do something special for the honoree.
More info here: www.bistrox.com
Best wishes,
Marc
Ybor City recs
My wife and I were in Ybor City the Saturday before Christmas and stopped into the Green Iguana for lunch. It is an interesting, funky place that had an excellent solo singer entertaining the afternoon crowd. The real treats, however, were the burgers! They were excellent; big, juicy, cooked exactly to our order and the cooks were definately not stingy with the cheese. Then for dessert we shared the Fried Cheesecake; again, excellent. The staff was extremely friendly and we had a nice lunch. If this is the type of thing you are looking for, it may be just the place.
Orlando recommendations?
Check out my review of Raglan Road, an Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney. My wife and I had a WONDERFUL meal there on New Year's day.
Here's the link:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/356247?query=raglan&user_name=
Looking for good food & excellent service in JACKSONVILLE, FL - near Phillips Hwy?
For a wonderful, upscale lunch try Bistro Aix on San Marco. They offer a variety of marvelous dishes, prepared by a chef who knows his way around a kitchen. Try the Shrimp Tagliatelli -- its my wife's favorite. Also, start out with their awsome Smoked Tomatoe Soup.
Here is a link to the lunch menu. You can also get directions from this website, it is not far from the end of Phillips HIghway closest to downtown.
http://www.bistrox.com/lunch.html
Raglan Road at Downtown Disney
Upon being seated in the Downtown Disney restaurant Raglan Road, I asked my wife who has visited Dublin, if the interior decor was typical of an Irish Pub; she said it absolutely was just much larger. We had the good fortune to be seated in front of the fireplace in the area known as the Raglan Room at what our hostess said was the best table in the house. Our seats were comfortable armchairs unlike the chairs around any other table and were situated directly adjacent to the fireplace. The room is dark wood panels with interesting art and carvings. The above mentioned fireplace was gorgeous carved wood, inlaid tile, and heavy wrote iron. At one end of the room was a massive carved bar beyond which was the main dining area an open room with a bandstand and raised wooden dance floor.
Our server arrived promptly and, as is normal, asked what we would like to drink. I asked what the had on draught and was pleased with the list which consisted of brews you expect to find in the typical Irish pib -- Guinness, Boddingtons’s, Strongbow -- and a few others like Stella Artois. I chose Bodington's. We were ready to order (we looked over the menu while we waited for our table), my wife chose the sirloin steak and I ordered the Shepard’s pie.
As we waited for our entrees to arrive, the waiter brought a basket of bread and a plate with a dipping sauce. The bread, while not warm, was a delightfully chewy, multi-grain bread. The dipping sauce was different from anything I have had before, it was sweet which we determined to be honey, but also had a caramel flavor. Alas, I forgot to ask what the sauce actually was, perhaps another hound can provide that information, but it was very good.
Our entrees arrived very quickly to our great delight since we were quite hungry. The presentation was pleasant; my wife's steak was plated atop a mound of mashed potatoes, glazed with Irish whiskey, and topped with fried onion strings, my Shepard’s pie was contained in a large bowl, shaped into a two-layered, five-inch cylinder and surrounded by a red-wine reduction. I had also ordered a side of asparagus which arrived attractively lined up in a bowl set slightly askew atop another. Both entrees smelled wonderful.
My wife cut into her steak, scooped a little of the potatoes on the meat and wrapped an onion string around it. As she placed the steak in her mouth and began to chew I saw her eyes fly open, and a huge smile come over her face. She made a few noises that I have heard only during non-food related activities before and began to quickly cut another piece. She fixed the second bit up as she had the first and offered it to me. As I began to chew the mouthful it became apparent that chewing was strictly optional -- this steak was so tender that it literally disintegrated as the flavor exploded in your mouth. I began to understand the noises and I think I made a few of my own. This steak was quite possibly the best steak I had ever tasted -- and I have eaten many steaks in my 45 years.
I moved on to my Shepard’s pie with great anticipation; if this restaurant was that good with steak, I had to find out how it did with my dish. For my first bite I made sure to get an even amount of the mashed potato topping and the ground beef and lamb filling as well as some of the red wine reduction. The flavors melded wonderfully in my mouth and met my now raised expectations of the dish. The seasoning of the ground meats and the accompaniment of the red wine lent this classic Irish dish an extra punch that surely would make any Irishman long for home.
After the meal, we sat and allowed our meals to settle. The portions were a great value for their reasonable size and we were very pleased with the bill when it arrived. As we walked off our dinner strolling through Downtown Disney, my wife kept commenting on how good her steak was, and I reminisced on the savory delights of my Shepard’s pie. We have found a new favorite restaurant at Disney, Danny boy, and these eyes, though not Irish, are definitely smiling.
