Denny's is coming back to Columbia. It will off Stadium where The Pasta House used to be located. While Denny's isn't the greatest restaurant, I do love their milkshakes.
Another El Jimador is going in off Forum by Dunn Bros Coffee. Just how many Mexican restaurants can one town support? Apparently quite a few!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Cafe Berlin New and Old
Cafe Berlin is in its new location at North Tenth Street and Park Avenue with new hours and a new menu. Read the Tribune's article on the move here.
Olive Cafe and Grocery has opened up on Providence where Cafe Berlin was housed. I haven't had a chance to stop in yet and I can't find a web site for it, but the Tribune also had an article on it. Apparently it will serve Middle Eastern and Asian food while the grocery will have dry goods as well as some frozen meats. Read more about the Olive Cafe here.
Olive Cafe and Grocery has opened up on Providence where Cafe Berlin was housed. I haven't had a chance to stop in yet and I can't find a web site for it, but the Tribune also had an article on it. Apparently it will serve Middle Eastern and Asian food while the grocery will have dry goods as well as some frozen meats. Read more about the Olive Cafe here.
The Case of the Shrinking Food
When Agave first opened, the portions were large. My husband and I could split an entree and be plenty full. Our favorite thing to get: nachos fajita.
At first, the nachos were 90% nachos, 10% lettuce, sour cream, guacamole. After awhile that changed to 80%, 20%.
This weekend I went there and it was about 60/40. The nachos fajita were no longer enough to share. In fact, if one of us had ate them by ourself we'd still be hungry. At $10 for the plate that's disappointing.
I know restaurants are struggling in this economy but if you're going to shrink the portion size that much, you better make cost adjustments too or as the food begins to shrink, so will your customer base.
We might not have the nachos fajita anymore but we'll always have the margaritas. Unless you shrink those too.
At first, the nachos were 90% nachos, 10% lettuce, sour cream, guacamole. After awhile that changed to 80%, 20%.
This weekend I went there and it was about 60/40. The nachos fajita were no longer enough to share. In fact, if one of us had ate them by ourself we'd still be hungry. At $10 for the plate that's disappointing.
I know restaurants are struggling in this economy but if you're going to shrink the portion size that much, you better make cost adjustments too or as the food begins to shrink, so will your customer base.
We might not have the nachos fajita anymore but we'll always have the margaritas. Unless you shrink those too.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Where's the Wheat?
With long wait times a regular thing at Flat Branch, it was time for another brewery to enter the ring. The early reviews from friends who tried Broadway Brewery weren't overwhelming but I wanted to try it for myself.
Broadway Brewery is located between 8th and 9th streets. The restaurant was a lot nicer - and bigger - on the inside than I was expecting based on the downstairs location. It gave me that underground feel that made you both relaxed and on edge.
The beer list was extensive but I was disappointed to hear they only three beers of their own right now - a stout, porter and an IPA. I prefer a lighter beer, so instead I ordered a raspberry ale. It was smooth and delicious. My husband ordered the IPA and I tried it but it was just too malty for me.
The menu, while somewhat limited was creative. Many dishes made with local ingredients. I opted for a butternut bacon pizza, consisting of butternut squash, carmelized onions, crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese. The pizza was about the right size for two. It was a tad greasy but tasted great.
The prices were all very reasonable. Most of their entrees were under $15.
As I made a trip to the bathroom, I saw the brewing room where more beer was in the process of being made. I am hoping that soon the beer selection will be larger and include a wheat or an ale - something that I can really enjoy.
I think Broadway Brewery will do just fine. Next time you find yourself waiting 2 hours for a table at Flat Branch, head to Broadway Brewery. I think you'll like what you find.
Broadway Brewery is located between 8th and 9th streets. The restaurant was a lot nicer - and bigger - on the inside than I was expecting based on the downstairs location. It gave me that underground feel that made you both relaxed and on edge.
The beer list was extensive but I was disappointed to hear they only three beers of their own right now - a stout, porter and an IPA. I prefer a lighter beer, so instead I ordered a raspberry ale. It was smooth and delicious. My husband ordered the IPA and I tried it but it was just too malty for me.
The menu, while somewhat limited was creative. Many dishes made with local ingredients. I opted for a butternut bacon pizza, consisting of butternut squash, carmelized onions, crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese. The pizza was about the right size for two. It was a tad greasy but tasted great.
The prices were all very reasonable. Most of their entrees were under $15.
As I made a trip to the bathroom, I saw the brewing room where more beer was in the process of being made. I am hoping that soon the beer selection will be larger and include a wheat or an ale - something that I can really enjoy.
I think Broadway Brewery will do just fine. Next time you find yourself waiting 2 hours for a table at Flat Branch, head to Broadway Brewery. I think you'll like what you find.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Word verification enabled
Due to some spammers getting into our comments, we have enabled word verification for all comments. I just wanted to mention it to everyone so you wouldn't be surprised.
You can still post comments anonymously, and we will not be moderating comments, just trying to make sure porn/gambling stuff stays off the blog.
You can still post comments anonymously, and we will not be moderating comments, just trying to make sure porn/gambling stuff stays off the blog.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
5th Down Bar and Grill
You have to love a place that knows Columbia's history and uses it to its advantage. The 5th Down Bar & Grill has opened on Rainforest Parkway and Rangeline in north Columbia. It fills the vacancy left by TP's Bar & Grill.
I have yet to eat there but have visited for drinks. The drinks have been cheap and the service good but their beer selection is somewhat limited to mostly domestics. But one domestic you won't find there is Coors. Colorado got a 5th down; they won't get this bar's beer sales.
Check out the full grand opening piece in today's Tribune here.
I have yet to eat there but have visited for drinks. The drinks have been cheap and the service good but their beer selection is somewhat limited to mostly domestics. But one domestic you won't find there is Coors. Colorado got a 5th down; they won't get this bar's beer sales.
Check out the full grand opening piece in today's Tribune here.
Hemingway's Crepes on My Favorite Restaurant List
Wow. Why did I wait so long to give Hemingway's a try? Last night my husband and I decided it was time for something new, something nice. Hemingway's was our choice.
Having never been there, I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping we didn't need reservations because we didn't have one. The place looks small on the outside but was surprisingly large inside. There were lots of people there but we were seated right away. We were escorted into a back room that served as the wine cellar where we were alone for half our meal. It felt like our own private dining room.
The bread they brought us to start our meal would have been bland by itself but with the chipotle butter had a little kick. We spent at least 5 minutes looking over all the delicious dishes on the menu. There was appetizers, crepes, salads, soups, pastas, sandwiches and entrees. The descriptions of each dish appealed to my growling stomach.
For an appetizer we ordered the spicy saffron lobster dip, which was listed as a 'fan favorite.' They were right. The creamy blend of cheddar and pepperjack with the chopped lobster on top of grilled flatbread was a perfect start to the dinner. It had a little kick without the burn your face off spice.
I knew that Hemingway's specialized in crepes so I felt that this was a must. I went with the crepe champignon with grilled chicken, asparagus, mushrooms and spinach finished with a creamy swiss cheese sauce. The crepes were really large. My husband and I split one and were still plenty full. I don't normally eat mushrooms but there were delicious - possibly because they were doused in cheese sauce. There was an abundance of cheese sauce and all the ingredients were perfectly tender, not at all crunchy. I ate every last bite and had I been at home would have licked my plate. It was that good.
The prices were really reasonable. My husband and I both ate for under $30. With entrees, it would have ran closer to $50 but the food quality couldn't be beat. And the service was on cue. My water glass never went empty. I'm already dreaming of my next Hemingway's visit. Make it a dinner visit though - they are no longer serving lunch.
Having never been there, I had no idea what to expect. I was hoping we didn't need reservations because we didn't have one. The place looks small on the outside but was surprisingly large inside. There were lots of people there but we were seated right away. We were escorted into a back room that served as the wine cellar where we were alone for half our meal. It felt like our own private dining room.
The bread they brought us to start our meal would have been bland by itself but with the chipotle butter had a little kick. We spent at least 5 minutes looking over all the delicious dishes on the menu. There was appetizers, crepes, salads, soups, pastas, sandwiches and entrees. The descriptions of each dish appealed to my growling stomach.
For an appetizer we ordered the spicy saffron lobster dip, which was listed as a 'fan favorite.' They were right. The creamy blend of cheddar and pepperjack with the chopped lobster on top of grilled flatbread was a perfect start to the dinner. It had a little kick without the burn your face off spice.
I knew that Hemingway's specialized in crepes so I felt that this was a must. I went with the crepe champignon with grilled chicken, asparagus, mushrooms and spinach finished with a creamy swiss cheese sauce. The crepes were really large. My husband and I split one and were still plenty full. I don't normally eat mushrooms but there were delicious - possibly because they were doused in cheese sauce. There was an abundance of cheese sauce and all the ingredients were perfectly tender, not at all crunchy. I ate every last bite and had I been at home would have licked my plate. It was that good.
The prices were really reasonable. My husband and I both ate for under $30. With entrees, it would have ran closer to $50 but the food quality couldn't be beat. And the service was on cue. My water glass never went empty. I'm already dreaming of my next Hemingway's visit. Make it a dinner visit though - they are no longer serving lunch.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Geisha Sushi
A few nights ago I tried the newest sushi place in town, Geisha. Geisha Sushi is located right next to Sycamore, in the old Quizno's location.
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the decor. Dark blues, greys and blacks contrast against bleached woods. On the left wall, a huge and beautiful fountain of rising bubbles through water is a real eye catcher. The waiters are in black and grey, the waitresses in black leggings and robes that are somewhat geisha-like. Now me, I'd think those wide sleeves would be a total PITA, but I don't work there and the overall look was fun. What I didn't like was the huge big-screen TVs, which I felt really took away from the overall atmosphere.
Another thing I didn't like so much was that I was seated at a table which, for space reasons, had stools with no back. It was actually a comfortable stool, but by the end of my meal, my back hurt. Dear Geisha owners, remember not all your customers are 20-somethings.
Looking over the menu, it's clear that there are a lot of varieties of sushi. It was lovely that the various types were described in enough detail to really give people an idea of what to choose. I ended up getting a salad, california roll, and shrimp and vegetable tempura.
Those who know me on this blog know that Osaka is my standard of excellence when it comes to sushi and Japanese cuisine. So I can't help comparing Geisha to Osaka. In terms of the salad, Geisha's was shaved carrot and crunchy romaine with an asian ginger dressing that was quite good, but not as good as the totally addictive dressing from Osaka (which is so good I often buy dressing to bring home). But the salad was fresh and I enjoyed it. The California roll came with plain ginger, unlike the gari (pickled pink ginger) that is served at Osaka. The Geisha California roll is also made with imitation crab, unlike Osaka. I hadn't noticed that before I ordered. I was told by the waiter that the California Snow has real crab in it. But like Osaka, the serving was generous.
I loved the selection of vegetables in the Tempura. There was an asparagas spear, thinly shaved acorn squash, zucchini and one other vegetable I wasn't sure of (eggplant perhaps?). I also loved the Geisha tempura dipping sauce, which had a slightly sweet flavor. However, the tempura itself was a bit tough and chewy and I missed the marvelous egg foo young that Osaka serves. The three shrimp were especially large and had great flavor.
Prices were fairly high, right on par with Osaka. My meal was about $22 not including tip. Service was excellent and the staff very welcoming. I didn't feel at all self-conscious about being alone. It was also nice to see a good crowd there mid-week.
Overall, I think Geisha has potential. I'd like to go again, and perhaps try the bibimbap. Though I don't think it quite measures up to Osaka, it has a great variety of sushi and I would love to give the tempura a try again, perhaps getting a better batch of batter.
Readers, have you been? What do you think?
The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the decor. Dark blues, greys and blacks contrast against bleached woods. On the left wall, a huge and beautiful fountain of rising bubbles through water is a real eye catcher. The waiters are in black and grey, the waitresses in black leggings and robes that are somewhat geisha-like. Now me, I'd think those wide sleeves would be a total PITA, but I don't work there and the overall look was fun. What I didn't like was the huge big-screen TVs, which I felt really took away from the overall atmosphere.
Another thing I didn't like so much was that I was seated at a table which, for space reasons, had stools with no back. It was actually a comfortable stool, but by the end of my meal, my back hurt. Dear Geisha owners, remember not all your customers are 20-somethings.
Looking over the menu, it's clear that there are a lot of varieties of sushi. It was lovely that the various types were described in enough detail to really give people an idea of what to choose. I ended up getting a salad, california roll, and shrimp and vegetable tempura.
Those who know me on this blog know that Osaka is my standard of excellence when it comes to sushi and Japanese cuisine. So I can't help comparing Geisha to Osaka. In terms of the salad, Geisha's was shaved carrot and crunchy romaine with an asian ginger dressing that was quite good, but not as good as the totally addictive dressing from Osaka (which is so good I often buy dressing to bring home). But the salad was fresh and I enjoyed it. The California roll came with plain ginger, unlike the gari (pickled pink ginger) that is served at Osaka. The Geisha California roll is also made with imitation crab, unlike Osaka. I hadn't noticed that before I ordered. I was told by the waiter that the California Snow has real crab in it. But like Osaka, the serving was generous.
I loved the selection of vegetables in the Tempura. There was an asparagas spear, thinly shaved acorn squash, zucchini and one other vegetable I wasn't sure of (eggplant perhaps?). I also loved the Geisha tempura dipping sauce, which had a slightly sweet flavor. However, the tempura itself was a bit tough and chewy and I missed the marvelous egg foo young that Osaka serves. The three shrimp were especially large and had great flavor.
Prices were fairly high, right on par with Osaka. My meal was about $22 not including tip. Service was excellent and the staff very welcoming. I didn't feel at all self-conscious about being alone. It was also nice to see a good crowd there mid-week.
Overall, I think Geisha has potential. I'd like to go again, and perhaps try the bibimbap. Though I don't think it quite measures up to Osaka, it has a great variety of sushi and I would love to give the tempura a try again, perhaps getting a better batch of batter.
Readers, have you been? What do you think?
Showdown: Sophia's vs Addison's
It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Sophias. In fact, I believe this was my first visit since their remodel. I looked and looked trying to figure out what was different. I could only find one thing. They had added more seating where the hostess station/waiting area used to be.
I tried to go to Sophia’s a few months ago and was turned away for a ‘private party.’ It was frustrating considering I had driven clear across town to eat there but I headed to DRowe’s and all was forgiven.
I had a hard time choosing what I was going to eat on the menu. My tastes have expanded over the year but I can still be pretty picky. I don’t eat nuts of any kind, mushrooms or olives. It seemed like at least 75% of the menu included one of these items.
Since cheese is one of my three favorite food groups with ice cream and potatoes, I finally settled on Ravioli Carne with Three Cheeses. The three cheeses were cheddar, asiago and mozzarella.
The ravioli was tender; the marinara tasted very light and the cheese was overwhelming (which is a good thing in my book). It was a big bowl of pasta and I happily ate it all despite my high hopes to save some for lunch today.
The service was on cue. I never had to ask to have my glass refilled.
Given the choice between Addison’s and Sophia’s, I would take Addison’s any day of the week but they offer very different thing. Addison’s lends itself to a girl’s night or meeting spot for my book club. We can sip martinis, munch on nachos and enjoy ourselves. Sophia’s is the perfect place for dinner for two. The lighting, the wine, the food all lend itself to romance.
With no doubt, these are two of Columbia’s best restaurants.
I tried to go to Sophia’s a few months ago and was turned away for a ‘private party.’ It was frustrating considering I had driven clear across town to eat there but I headed to DRowe’s and all was forgiven.
I had a hard time choosing what I was going to eat on the menu. My tastes have expanded over the year but I can still be pretty picky. I don’t eat nuts of any kind, mushrooms or olives. It seemed like at least 75% of the menu included one of these items.
Since cheese is one of my three favorite food groups with ice cream and potatoes, I finally settled on Ravioli Carne with Three Cheeses. The three cheeses were cheddar, asiago and mozzarella.
The ravioli was tender; the marinara tasted very light and the cheese was overwhelming (which is a good thing in my book). It was a big bowl of pasta and I happily ate it all despite my high hopes to save some for lunch today.
The service was on cue. I never had to ask to have my glass refilled.
Given the choice between Addison’s and Sophia’s, I would take Addison’s any day of the week but they offer very different thing. Addison’s lends itself to a girl’s night or meeting spot for my book club. We can sip martinis, munch on nachos and enjoy ourselves. Sophia’s is the perfect place for dinner for two. The lighting, the wine, the food all lend itself to romance.
With no doubt, these are two of Columbia’s best restaurants.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dining Deals under $15
Once upon a time not so very long ago lunch under $5 was possible and dinner under $10. Now unless you're resigned to a life of $5 footlongs the new magic numbers are $8 and $15. But there are still plenty of places out there where a great dining deal can be found. It just takes a little more work to find them. That's where you come in.
Tell us: what's your favorite dinner deal under $15. Hardee's, Subway, McDonald's need not apply.
Tell us: what's your favorite dinner deal under $15. Hardee's, Subway, McDonald's need not apply.
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