tlackner's Profile
Cedar Rapids
Re The Class Act, I've eaten there several times, and always come away with the same impression: for culinary arts students, the food is pretty good. But the service is execrable. Servers are slow to take orders, the food is slow (and I don't mean local) and often cold on arrival, and the service is generally indifferent at best. Worst of all, there is no way to report this to the alleged instructors. None of the instructors wander the dining room to take comments or observe, and there are no comment cards. My wife and I won't be back, just because of the bad service.
Re the White Star Ale House, we ate there for the first time a couple of nights ago. It's the usual Greg White place: imaginative menu but the service isn't all that great (the waiter couldn't tell us what a Chicago roast beef sandwich was), they don't take reservations for pre-theatre dinners even though the web site says they do, they don't answer the telephone until some time after 4. The beer list is extensive, but it turns out many aren't actually available. When my wife ordered a salad, the server assumed she wanted to substitute that for the menu-proferred sides, instead of asking her if she would like a side as well. Fortunately, my cheese potato side was large enough to share. We liked our dinners well enough, but we aren't excited enough to hurry back. Just across the street, Zin's has generally better food, better prices, and they do take reservations and guarantee to have you out in time for the curtain at the theatre just down the street.
Losing faith in cast iron cookware
As the Australians say, there are horses for courses. I use cast iron for a nice sear on steaks and hamburgers, and nothing does bacon better. My cast-core enamel Dutch oven is perfect for stews, spaghetti sauce, etc. But I find that cast iron's inherently uneven heat transmission makes it unreliable for sauteing and general cooking. My go-to pan is the 10" nonstick All Clad. Heresy, I know, and I'm sure the cast ironers have already reserved my place in hell, but if I can have only one pan, it's going to be a good quality nonstick.
Cheap but decent knives for single, irresponsible guy
If it's not too late, definitely the 8". My 8" chef's knife probably does 80% of the work in the kitchen, and unless I'm carving the Thanksgiving turkey or the Christmas roast the 12" never comes out of the drawer.
help - need a new range pronto
We converted a few years ago to the gas range/electric oven option. The appliance dealer recommended Kitchen Aid. I've been very happy with the range, but the oven door can be a bit cranky: we've replaced a hinge (under warranty, fortunately) and had it adjusted a couple of times to get a better/tighter seal; also had to put in a new sensor/thermostat. Knowing all this now, I think I'd look at something else.
Restaurant recommendation between O'Hare and Sofitel Water Tower?
To nsxtasy's list of places near the Sofitel I'd add Bistrot Zinc on State, a 10 minute walk north: good liver and onions (what? You don't like liver?) and the best frits in town. Bistrot 110, on Pearson near Michigan, can be good, too. But literally dozens of places in that neighborhood. Shaw's Crabhouse may be a little too far away for a walk at this time of year, but they have valet parking, and my wife and I usually get in to the oyster bar even on Friday evenings. If I were you, I'd just start walking north on Rush, then State, until you find something you like, and if you get as far as Bistrot Zinc, stop there.
Cedar Rapids
My DA experiences have been highly variable, and usually feature acceptable food but poor service. We don't go there any more, because of the service combined with the New York prices.
Cedar Rapids lacks good expense account-type places. Zin's, corner of 2nd Ave & 3rd St. SE, is the best. The Lincoln Cafe in Mt. Vernon always has interesting entrees, and the best burgers in eastern Iowa if your clients want to try something familiar. Augusta, 30 mins. south in Oxford, is very good but call ahead. Iowa City offers a wide variety: Motley Cow, Linn St. Cafe, Devotay, Beroncini, 126, Atlas World Grill ...
Looking for recommendations in west-central Wisconsin, Eau Claire to Rice Lake
My wife and I will be near Chetek for 3 nights in mid-October. We're on the lookout for decent places to eat in or near Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Rice Lake. Is it Mona Lisa in Eau Claire? We ate somewhere in Eau Claire 2 years ago, it was vaguely Italian with a beer garden behind and not too bad. Rural supper clubs are OK, too, as well as in-town restaurants. Any lunch ideas? Breakfast isn't an issue.
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Mona Lisa's Restaurant
428 Water St, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Opera Tavern, Covent Garden [London]
We dined here June 27th, 2011. The menu seems more Italian- than Spanish-inspired, but the food was excellent. We sampled several things - olives (my wife hates olives, but thought these were good), salami, chicken ... and found everything excellent. The list of wines by the glass is extensive and reasonably priced.
There was a mix-up with our reservation, but we were accommodated anyway. The service was very good, attentive but not intrusive. The next time we're in London, we'll be back.
[Co. Kerry, Ireland] Recommendations?
My wife and I ate at Out of the Blue last night, with variable results. I had the roast cod, my first experience with such a dish. The cod was mushy, although the taste was fine. The steamed muscles in a rosemary broth (my starter) were much better. My wife had a potato-crusted pollock that was heavenly! The pollock was flaky and moist, and the grated potato crust was perfectly crisp. The salads that accompany the mains are varied and interesting, although there is too much dressing on the mixed greens for our taste. Perhaps they could put it on the side, or ask for half the normal amount of dressing.
For desert we shared the strawberry & creme cake. This was an experience I'd repeat any time. The cake was moist, the strawberries actually tasted like strawberries (I had some in Connemara that weren't quite ripe, and still bitter), and the whipped cream was fresh and sweet.
Out of the Blue is near Ocean World, on The Strand near where The Strand becomes The Wood. If you go, make a reservation. The restaurant is very small (seats perhaps 24) and very popular. Telephone 066 915 0811.
Updates needed on Kenmare and Connemara, IR
It's been a few years since there were updates on restaurants in Kenmare and in the Recess, Connemara area. My wife and I will be in Kenmare for 2 nights and Recess for 1 in June. Any suggestions? My wife likes fish, I like shellfish, but we have a total of 10 nights along the west coast so a few meals of red meat will be fine.
We'd rather not drive from Kenmare back to Killarney for dinner, since we're staying in Kenmare. My Connemara geography is bad, but I think Clifden wouldn't be too far for dinner (we're actually staying at Ballynahinch Castle).
TIA
Good food, bad service - again
We went back to Zins for Sunday brunch today. Zins bills itself as a tapas/small plates restaurant, and it is. We have never been disappointed with the food there. But the service is a different story.
There were four of us, with a 12:30 reservation: my wife and myself, and her mother and her boyfriend.
The boyfriend is 93 and uses a walker, Mom will be 83 in June. At 12:26 they said it would be "just a moment." We were finally seated at 12:48, even though there were by my count three empty tables, none of which had been cleared even though they were unoccupied when we arrived.
Having finally been seated, the waitress took another five minutes to arrive, poured water, then left. It wasn't until 1:10 that we finally ordered. We had two dirty - unwashed - forks, and that took several minutes to rectify. The drinks didn't arrive until after the first plates, even though the bartender was standing around, looking bored.
This, unfortunately, is often our experience at Zins. The food is good, but the service is second-rate. We've already written off Daniel Arthur's, because of bad service. Zins isn't far behind, unless we're going to the theater. We dine in Iowa City, because the food and service are both good. In Cedar Rapids, it's hard to find good service. Too many staff seem to get their training at chain restaurants, and the managers don't seem to care.
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Zins Restaurant
227 Second Ave, SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Daniel Arthur's
821 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Authentc northern Italian pizza on the Gold Coast?
We're looking for genuine ultrathin-crust pizza tonight, in the Gold Coast/Streeterville area. I know it's not Chicago pizza, but it's what we like. Any suggestions?
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Gold Coast Cafe
1112 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
What happened to Va Penseiro?
My wife and I will be in Chicago over Labor Day, so we thought we'd renew acquaintance with Va Penseiro, only to find that it's gone. We're going to Piccolo Sogno instead, but does anyone know if the Va Penseiro gang has set up shop somewhere else?
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Piccolo Sogno
464 N Halsted, Chicago, IL 60622
What to eat in Savannah and Charleston
Sorry. We get to Kansas City pretty regularly. BBQ any time, but not in Charleston when you can get to Jack Stack.
What to eat in Savannah and Charleston
Thanks, all. Nice to know there's life beyond the Waffle House. And especially nice to know about pizza by the slice; guess that answers the Third Great Question.
What to eat in Savannah and Charleston
My wife and I are heading to Savannah and Charleston right after the New Year. More than where to eat, we're wondering what to eat for breakfast. Other than grits (like polenta, can't stand grits, go figure, probably never had good grits), are there regional specialties we should be looking for when we head to breakfast? We'll take restaurant/cafe/diner recommendations, too, as well as coffee shop recs. We plan on staying downtown in both cities, and like to walk to breakfast.
Iowa City
This is a new "continental" restaurant, occupying the space formerly housing Prairie Table, next to the Englert. The last time I walked by - admittedly, a couple of weeks ago - the windows were still covered with brown paper. It will be a nice place to dine before the theater/concert, if it works out.
Northwestern suburbs French bistro
I need some help, Chicago hounds. Six or seven years ago my wife and I dined at a very pleasant French country-style bistro. All I can remember is that it was small, in a strip mall on Golf Road, about 45 minutes west of the lake (leaving Wilmette at 6:00 pm). The food, as I recall, was very good and the wine list ran to hearty reds with nary a Merlot in sight. Can anybody help me with a name, address, 'phone number, or web site? Thanks.
Jack Stack BBQ at Country Club Plaza
Thanks, all. Sounds like the consensus favors a relaxing drive to the suburbs.
Jack Stack BBQ at Country Club Plaza
My wife and I went to Kansas City for Christmas a few years ago and had such a good time that we're going back this year. One of the places we thoroughly enjoyed was Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue in Martin City. Now I see they have a new restaurant, in Country Club Plaza. Accepting that everyone there will be tourists, is the food as good at the Country Club Plaza, where we'll be staying, or should we invest in the 30 minute drive to Martin City to get the original atmosphere and better food? With gasoline at less than half the price of 6 months ago, we're willing to drive to get better food and real barbecue ambience.
Chetek, WI dining
We're off to Canoe Bay for a long weekend in October. Yeah, I know it's a long way off, but time flies. Anyway, we want to try the "local" cuisine apart from the dining room at Canoe Bay. Any suggestions? My wife doesn't go to smoke-filled taverns, which can be a problem in rural WI, I know. So, apart from the Canoe Bay dining room and the White Schnook somewhere down the road, are there good places to eat within 15 mi. or so?
Mid Month/Month End Updates
The discussion, like the Midwest board, also seems to be dominated by denizens of the dynamic duo (take that! Battyman). So here's my out-of-town take on the topic.
I leave 250 miles away, visit the Twin Cities once every couple of months or so, and frequently use Chowhound to find new places to eat, check up on old ones, etc. I'm finding it a little frustrating to search for reviews of a restaurant I haven't been to for a while, only to be inundated with 1-2 sentence comments and have to do a lot of scrolling to find a useful and realistic comment/review. I frankly don't care where you went for dinner last Thursday unless you can provide a reasoned analysis of why it was or was not a good place to eat.
It all looks a little too much like "what I did on my summer vacation." For my money (yes, I know Chowhound is free and you get what you pay for), we might usefully file the mid-month/end-of-month reports in a separate folder. They do get in the way and don't contribute a great deal to our shared interest in gastronomy. I'll leave the geometry of said folder up to the readers' imaginations.
Remember, a Lighthouse is a hazard warning
We went to the Lighthouse in Cedar Rapids a couple of weeks ago. It had been a couple of years since we were last there, so it seemed fair to try it again.
Big mistake. The service was slow, although the restaurant was by no means full. The food was very ordinary. I had a pan fried walleye fillet, something they used to do well. This time it was tough, but I couldn't figure out why until I did a little investigating: they left the skin on when they breaded the fillet. My wife had a shrimp dish, but the shrimp were also tough. No, they didn't leave the shells on, but the shrimp were overcooked.
The salads were nothing to write home about either. The greens were a little past fresh, and they wanted an extra $2 for the blue cheese dressing - probably Maytag, too. The twice-baked potatoes were also an extra $2.50.
Altogether we paid $50 for 2, including one beer but no wine. In Cedar Rapids, that's a lot of money, especially for a very ordinary sort of meal. For that sort of money they should be delivering meals of the quality of the Motley Cow or Devotay, not something which would embarrass Red Lobster. I suspect it will take more than a couple of years for this one to wear off.
Rue Lepic still stellar?
Thanks, all. Since we'll be staying nearby, and thoroughly jet-lagged, it sounds like the place to go.
Rue Lepic still stellar?
My wife and I will be passing through the Bay area soon. We looked at Rue Lepic (Pine St.) when we were last in The City 15 months ago, but wound up snaring a cancellation at Chez Panisse instead. The most recent posts about Rue Lepic are over 2 years old - any updates?
