billfish's Profile
Best Buys - Rehoboth Beach
I know i have put this one up before but its still around and its a winner.Fish and chips at Stoney Lonen in Rehoboth is half price (about 8$) on Friday night.I think there is a special on pints of beer too.208 Second st.Recommended.
5 guys? Is it really that good?
Try telling the drive thru girl shes cute?Usually works for me.
5 guys? Is it really that good?
Alright i was away a little while but I wanted to get in for the 4Q 09 5 Guys vs Wendys Update.
5G is up first.Regular size burger,American cheese,no bacon.Cooked to death.Satisfying taste though.Obviously fresh meat.Fries,just exceptional.Removed from bag within 30 seconds.Soda,nothing special.
Total price $10.15 (!).
WendysClassic Double cheese,fresh,tasty meat,never frozen,cooked to death,satisfying.Fries,very weak.Not even McD quality.Limp.Very bad fries.
Soda,it was soda,it had ice in it.
Total price $6.19
The 5G meal was a little better because of the good fries.It was not 4$ better.It was maybe a dollar better.If 5G would offer a combo (which takes over a buck off a la carte prices at wendys) I might go back,but they show no interest,service was bored and perfunctory.So was Wendys but at least Wendys gave me a VIP discount for another 62 cents off-total 5.57! Easy decision-Winner-Wendys.See you in 2010 I hope.
5 guys? Is it really that good?
OK here we go with my 5G scorecard.Keep in mind Ive only been to one store,been there a dozen times or so.
1}Fries are the best I've had.But only if you get them out of the brown bag immediately.And I dont mean 10 minutes later when you get home or back to the shop,I mean immediately,like right now!Im not kidding,Any time in that bag decreases their goodness exponentially.In 2 1/2 minutes they will be no better than Wendy's fries,which arent real great.
2)Burgers good quality,never frozen,cooked to death.More expensive and no better than Wendy's which are also never frozen and cooked to death.
3)Service was good the first time I went,I think they were imported trainers.All times after that it was the same thoughtless service as all the other chain places.
Overall it was as good as Wendy's but loses points because too expensive.
The good and the bad of Double T
Been to the DoubleT in Pasadena,oh maybe 50 times,and still havent made a dent in their ginormous menu.But in generic terms,the breakfast stuff has been satisfactory,sandwiches adequate,waitresses pleasant in the Balto-Hon mode,prices mostly too high,and with all that glass and chrome,its kinda harsh in the AM.Nonetheless,in that neighborhood,its dependable and out of towners always want to go there.Its hard to quibble with a place like that.
H.I. Rib & Co - Conshohocken - open? good?
Back in the 90s there was a HI Rib in Egg Harbor Township NJ,and then after that they moved to Rt 40 in Mays Landing.They were Ok,nothing special for BBQ as I recall but I dont remember them as being even remotely Cajun.Seems odd that they would reincarnate in the Philly burbs,I guess it may be a completely different outfit.
Five Guys - eh
I've been thinking the same thing.My co-workers just rave about the 5G burgers but i dont see why.They are OK,the beef tastes fresh and good,and the fries are excellent IF you dump them out of the paper sack immediately.But its too expensive for what it is.
For the money,I'll take Wendy's too.Their burgers are also not frozen and also too well done.Fries not as good but usually passable.And they offer drive-thru (even though its usually horribly screwed up).But you save about 3 bucks over 5g on the double cheese-fries-coke combo.
Looking for the BEST restaurant South Jersey shore, Atlantic City to Cape May. Any recommendations?
In Atlantic City,with no $$ restrictions,I dont think you can do better than the Knife and Fork Inn.Besides being a totally amazing building it's a fine restaurant,might not be a cutting edge place but it does what it does really well.A lot of $$ has gone into upgrading it,and I dont know anybody who came away disappointed.
If you want to go over to the Mainland,the Renault Winery and the Rams Head Inn have always been expensive and reliable.
Best pizza in Lynn?
I will go along with Monte's for the best in Lynn.I will also say the Lido cafe has a good one,though entirely different.Unfortunately,Bennie's has been gone for 20 years,that was the classic "City of Sin" pizza.
Food in Bethany Beach, DE?
Bethany Blues is a cool looking space with a really nice little bar.I like the brisket and the pulled pork,but I just cant get behind the ribs.It makes me nervous that there is no copious amounts of smoke pouring out of this place,as there is at all top notch BBQ places.But if your inlaws think Grotto Pizza is good,well,all bets are off.
Where is the best place to get strawberry shortcacke in the Baltimore area?
I can't say its the best,I haven't tried them all.But the Sunset in Glen Burnie is renowned for strawberry shortcake.
The best buffalo wings in Balt?
I think Bateman's wings are the most reliable in the area.The rest of their menu is forgettable,and the BWI location is just a mess,but you can pretty much count on their "original" wings.
Italian/other near Salem State College
Bertini's is about 1/4 mile from the college on Canal St.Nobody would call it a destination,but its a solid red sauce Italian place and I always liked their pizza.Been there for at least 40 years that I know of. Veggie,cant help ya there.
Black Eyed Pea?
I didnt realize they were still around.The one in my town closed maybe 7 years ago.But for the couple years they were open,they were quite serviceable.The chicken fried steak was as good as I've had in the Northeast,and they knew how to make milk gravy.Much better than what you get at Cracker Barrel.Plus they had a bar.Im not sure why they shut down but I always thought they were pretty respectable for a chain.
Prime Rib
If you mean the Prime Rib on Calvert St. in Baltimore,I dont think you will be disappointed by anything on the menu.I myself will probably never get past the steak,its just the best I've had.But i do remember my wife once raving about some seafood bisque soup she had there.
Of course,the usual high-dollar alert is in effect,and remember jackets are required for men.
Has anyone ever had a good experience at IHOP?
Pancakes are not something you want every day,but when you are jonesing,they really hit the spot.And IHOP has never failed to hit the pancake spot for me.When I lived in New England,I frequented the Bickford's chain ,mostly because of a delightful waitress who worked there named Roberta.She was a living doll;but if pushed to the wall,i would say that IHOP does pancakes better.I never venture into the sandwiches and dinners on their menu,and never much asked for any high-dollar service,just bring the pancakes and leave me be.I cannot recall IHOP ever disappointing-but agin,this is only a 2-3 times a year thing.Hey,its pancakes.
The carafe of coffee used to be really cool,but in these days of No-Smoking,it is pretty much a non entity.
Lunch places in Salem MA.
Monte's is good pizza,its a ways from Salem tho..May I recommend Dube's Lunch on Jefferson Ave in South Salem,a simple tavern that has rockin good fried seafood.Big local favorite.
Philadelphia - Staying at Hotel by stadium July 4th
Tony Luke's is about 1/4 mile from the ballpark and its a must visit (tho I usually end up with the chicken cutlets).Are you staying at the Holiday Inn on Packer Ave? I had some service problems there,but they have some rooms that look out onto the ballfield.Are you gonna have a car? About 1/2 mile in the other direction is Celebre Pizza,which gets good reviews but never worked for me.Also Chickie and Pete's,a popular sports bar.Ron Jaworski owned that Holiday Inn,maybe still does,and there was a rocking bar in the lobby when I was there.
Coming to Mechanicsburg?!?!
My favorite in Mechanicsburg is Ye Olde Ale House.Its just a tavern that serves food but its solid.When I was there a couple years back they had 1/2 price wings on Monday,and they were a good value.They have a air cleaner system on the cieling that is the size of a Pontiac Trans Am so there are no smoking issues.Would that more restaurants would go this route so that smokers and non smokers could co-exist.
McDonald's Sweet Tea -- Not as Sweet?
The McD sweet tea that I had last year had a metallic,chemical tinge.I never tried it again.
Fantasy Island in Salem--opinions?
In a sense,it all began with Dave Wong's China Sails.There are some things one never forgets.In its time,it was the most exotic restaurant in Boston.
Ledo's pizza? Vocelli's?
Ledo just opened here also,but I am familiar with it from my days in Maryland.The local branch recreates what I've had before perfectly.Admittedly,an unusual pizza.The rectangular (Tho advertised as square) pizza has the same cracker like crust that seems to need some salt,but is not unpleasant in texture.Theres the smoky flavored cheese which is hard to dislike,and I had it topped with sausage,which had a slight fennel hit and there was plenty of it (sausage).The sauce is tangy and pleasant,and not too abundant.
They say the goal of a chain store is to present the identical food at every location.I guess I have been to maybe 6 Ledo stores in MD,PA and now DE.The pizza and service has been identical in all cases,and if its not a mind-shattering pizza,its certainly not garbage.And the bottom line is my small pizza with sausage cost 5.75.I'm satisfied.
New Jerry's Seafood
The 2nd Street store in Lewes has been open a couple of years now and I think its top notch.Fish and Chips there is like a huge piece of haddock perfectly battered and fried.They have the ginormous Crab Bomb crabcake for big appetites.Full range of seafood entrees.Not cheap,but not overpriced.They don't advertise but they are always packed.
Popeye's
A couple weeks back,I ordered some Strips at the Popeyes drive thru.I was instructed to park my car as it would take 5 minutes.When they were delivered,the kid said "Be careful,they came out of the grease about 15 seconds ago".
They were truly transcendental.
The most fully realized chicken strips/fingers/whatever that I ever ate.
Pastore's in Rosedale
Well there has been a Pastore's on Mountain Rd in Pasadena for at least 20 years,in fact the little strip center is signed "Pastore's Plaza".Certainly looks a lot like what is shown on the Rosedale website.They have a wide assortment of Italian specialties,and a sandwich/sub counter,and what I call a deli counter,I guess one could call it a "salumeria" in a pinch.Its not as wooden floor and stinky cheese authentic as the Gloria Markets in the Boston area were,but I doubt you can find more serious Italian stuff in AA county.I rate it highly.
Recommendations for pizza/sub shop in Peabody/Danvers area
For pizza in Danvers,I hope you will try Sam and Joe's on Water St in Danversport.The crust is thin and they have been selling it for at least 40 years that I know of.Almost (maybe exactly) the same pizza is sold at Calitri's on Rt 1 south,there may be a co-ownership there.
I never knew of any really stellar sub shops in Danvers.Its a fairly quick trip to Super Subs in Beverly,which to me is about as good as sub shops get.
Peppermint Oil?
There is probably a chance that you can get it at the drugstore pharmacy counter.Thats where we used to get it when we soaked toothpicks in it.Duly noted that was probably 40 years ago.
Pho in Baltimore
The Thai place on Rt 2 behind Dunkin's is (or was last time I went by) is Bangkok Oriental,and its a winner,my introduction some 15 years ago to the world of Thai flavors.The owner is most gracious,the room is very pretty.It did take me quite a while to get them to crank up the Thai-heat,but they eventually gave in.Recommended.
Best Onion Rings in Boston area?
Been a while since I've been in the Boston area.But I cant imagine there would be any better than the ones served at the little shack on the road to Salisbury Beach.Yes they were the size of doughnuts-beer battered i supposed.In the late 60's you got like 4 of these monsters for a buck.i dont think the place had a name other than "onion rings" but it was the nuts,especially after a day of playing pinball at the Beach.
For the thin "string" type you couldnt go wrong with Jimmys Dairy Bar on High St. in Danvers.I know they are still around as Jimmy's Supreme Roast Beef or something like that.
Seafood in Atlantic City
In that price range,I would suggest Dock's Oyster House.Not especially casual but very good seafood.Any of the casinos would have a topnotch fish restaurant but they would be more like 50 and up.
