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Recently we have had the opportunity to dine (more than once) at this fine establishment.
Okay, don't go out of your way, but if you like cafeteria food, this is pretty good. I would recommend not going to the grill, this is where they make the hamburgers. They are very overcooked and not worth the wait, but I have to admit the guys behind the counter always seem friendly.
The area where the pizza is usually has some special of the day. I enjoyed the Fajitas, very tasty and it was warm when the cook gave it to me. Unfortunately by the time I waited in line to pay for my meal it was cold.
The sandwiches are good and made to order. They are more expensive than other foods available, but the quality is pretty good.
If you are unfortunate enough to be stuck here, give it a try. It is fast and you don't have to leave the building.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Twisted Cuisine - Kenosha, WI
We ate here a couple times after they first opened. We enjoyed our first visit, but the second visit was not good and we decided to cross Twisted Cuisine off our list.
Then last week I read an article about their new chef and we decided to give it another try. There are more entress then there were previously, so we were off to a good start.
We were offered a drink as soon as we were seated. Another good sign! They have very generous wine pours and some quality brands of wine.
We started with the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms. The mushroom caps were huge and stuffed with crab, garlic, cheese and breadcrumbs. They were very good.
Each entree comes with a choice of soup or salad. I had the salad, which was your typical garden salad. My husband had the soup, which was a squash soup. He asked before ordering if it had cream. He was told no, but I suspect that was not right. It was very good though.
I ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto for my main course, which was good. My husband ordered the "Catch of the Day", which was flounder. The menu stated that it could be prepared grilled, sauteed or blackened. He ordered it sauteed. The server then came back and said it could not be prepared that way, it was stuffed with rice. Then she came back and said they were very confused, now he could have it sauteed. It made us think that it was not fresh, but frozen and they really didn't know what they had in their freezer. Not that we really believed the catch of the day would be fresh, but one could hope. Despite the fishy smell, it actually tasted pretty good.
Overall, we were very pleased with the food and experience, especially for the price. We will definitely go back. I think they have their act together.
http://twistedcuisine.com/
Then last week I read an article about their new chef and we decided to give it another try. There are more entress then there were previously, so we were off to a good start.
We were offered a drink as soon as we were seated. Another good sign! They have very generous wine pours and some quality brands of wine.
We started with the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms. The mushroom caps were huge and stuffed with crab, garlic, cheese and breadcrumbs. They were very good.
Each entree comes with a choice of soup or salad. I had the salad, which was your typical garden salad. My husband had the soup, which was a squash soup. He asked before ordering if it had cream. He was told no, but I suspect that was not right. It was very good though.
I ordered the Wild Mushroom Risotto for my main course, which was good. My husband ordered the "Catch of the Day", which was flounder. The menu stated that it could be prepared grilled, sauteed or blackened. He ordered it sauteed. The server then came back and said it could not be prepared that way, it was stuffed with rice. Then she came back and said they were very confused, now he could have it sauteed. It made us think that it was not fresh, but frozen and they really didn't know what they had in their freezer. Not that we really believed the catch of the day would be fresh, but one could hope. Despite the fishy smell, it actually tasted pretty good.
Overall, we were very pleased with the food and experience, especially for the price. We will definitely go back. I think they have their act together.
http://twistedcuisine.com/
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Matsukaze Japanese Restaurant - Hilton Hotel, Narita, Japan
I have been to this restaurant on numerous occasions. It is a traditional Japanese restaurant, but being at a hotel you have many choices of food. You can have Sushi, Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki or just a very nice steak.
The service has always been great; the only thing I don’t like is the ambiance. It is too much like a cheap Japanese restaurant you’d find in the United States. I could live with this because the food is fantastic.
I arrived in Japan after a disappointing trip to Taiwan and I was looking forward to eating here. I have never had reservations in the past, so I was surprised when I showed up and they were booked. I was asked to come back in 20 minutes and they would have a seat ready. I showed up 25 minutes later and still had to wait 10 minutes before I was seated. Then it took forever for someone to take my order and then I waited a long time for my first course to arrive. I ordered a seven course tasting menu.
As I sat there waiting the restaurant became more and more empty. I then figured out what happened. They were offering very inexpensive dinner meals and the locals were taking advantage of the fact. There is nothing wrong with this, but when your service suffers because you think an Early Bird special is going to bring in some extra cash you have, as they say on TV, “Jumped the Shark”.
Just so you know the meal was fantastic; as usual the food is worth the trip.
My recommendation is that you show up after 7:00 PM for better service.
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/NRTHIHI-Hilton-Tokyo-Narita-Airport-hotel/dining.do;jsessionid=8154A3CDA603B62CB6919384661BE150.etc84#2
The service has always been great; the only thing I don’t like is the ambiance. It is too much like a cheap Japanese restaurant you’d find in the United States. I could live with this because the food is fantastic.
I arrived in Japan after a disappointing trip to Taiwan and I was looking forward to eating here. I have never had reservations in the past, so I was surprised when I showed up and they were booked. I was asked to come back in 20 minutes and they would have a seat ready. I showed up 25 minutes later and still had to wait 10 minutes before I was seated. Then it took forever for someone to take my order and then I waited a long time for my first course to arrive. I ordered a seven course tasting menu.
As I sat there waiting the restaurant became more and more empty. I then figured out what happened. They were offering very inexpensive dinner meals and the locals were taking advantage of the fact. There is nothing wrong with this, but when your service suffers because you think an Early Bird special is going to bring in some extra cash you have, as they say on TV, “Jumped the Shark”.
Just so you know the meal was fantastic; as usual the food is worth the trip.
My recommendation is that you show up after 7:00 PM for better service.
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/NRTHIHI-Hilton-Tokyo-Narita-Airport-hotel/dining.do;jsessionid=8154A3CDA603B62CB6919384661BE150.etc84#2
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sebastians - Racine, WI - UPDATE
We have been to Sebastians many times and I must say, the new menu is unbelievable. I think the service is best in the bar area, but lately we have had good service in the restaurant.
Tonight we started with the Lump Crab Cakes with apricot and mustard sauces. I wasn't sure about the apricot, but the flavor worked well with the crab. The crab tasted very fresh.
For my entree I had the Lobster Dumplings that were pan-fried and topped with a shitake-mirin butter sauce. Oh my! It was unbelievable.
My husband had the scallops that were served wtih potato croquettes, spinach and a smoked tomato butter sauce. He really liked it, but I think mine was much better. Although I tasted his croquettes and they were really good.
This restaurant never ceases to amaze even if it seems in the middle of nowhere (at least for us). It's worth the drive.
http://www.sebastiansfinefood.com/
Tonight we started with the Lump Crab Cakes with apricot and mustard sauces. I wasn't sure about the apricot, but the flavor worked well with the crab. The crab tasted very fresh.
For my entree I had the Lobster Dumplings that were pan-fried and topped with a shitake-mirin butter sauce. Oh my! It was unbelievable.
My husband had the scallops that were served wtih potato croquettes, spinach and a smoked tomato butter sauce. He really liked it, but I think mine was much better. Although I tasted his croquettes and they were really good.
This restaurant never ceases to amaze even if it seems in the middle of nowhere (at least for us). It's worth the drive.
http://www.sebastiansfinefood.com/
Carlos' - Highland Park, IL
This marks about our 15th visit to Carlos. It is our favorite restaurant and not only because of the food. The service is excellent and many of the staff has a great sense of humor. The atmosphere is romantic, the lighting and décor are perfect. There is no stuffiness here. You feel comfortable the minute you walk in.
We have dined here for business and pleasure. Even though it has a romantic atmosphere, it is perfect for business dining also. We’ve been here with family and friends, and everyone comes away agreeing with us: this is the best restaurant in the Chicago area.
For this particular visit, we were with our nephew. It was his gift to me for my birthday. Now keep in mind that he’s only 23 years old and for him, it’s a huge gift monetarily.
I made up my mind beforehand to try to be frugal when ordering. I had not intended on getting the degustation, but my husband and my nephew were both getting it, so I decided to also. I decided to just order wine by the glass instead of getting the wine pairing. Oops! I did not realize how much the wine was by the glass!
Both my husband and nephew got the Meat and Game Degustation and I ordered the Shell Fish and Fish Degustation. Let me backtrack a little. In all previous visits there was always a degustation menu that you could order, but substitute some items from the regular side of the menu if there was something you didn’t like. Some of these items had an upcharge, which was fine. Now, the first thing they tell you if there are no substitutions. I understand the reasoning behind it, but previously you could always ensure that every course was perfect and exactly what you wanted. I understand that change is sometimes necessary, but I wish we could return to the way it was.
In spite of all that, both degustations were out of this world! Both were 6 courses plus Petits Four. Some of the game courses were:
Grilled California Squab Breast with Tart of Spinach and Mushrooms with a natural jus.
Pan Seared Duck and Duck Confit with Hudson Valley Foie Gras
Cocoa Crusted New Zealand Venison with Caramelized Fennel
The seafood one included:
Smoke Trout and Butter Poached Fingerling Potato Terrine
Maine Lobster Ravioli with Julienne Vegetables
Norwegian Salmon Pinwheel with Fava Bean-Wild Mushroom Fricassee (I don’t like salmon, but this was really good)
I forgot to mention that they sat us in a little cubby-hole, which has more privacy than any other place in the restaurant. I always wondered how you got to sit there. Now I realize it’s the perfect place for 3 and that’s probably why we ended up there.
I won’t let these changes affect our #1 rating. We look forward to returning soon.
http://www.carlos-restaurant.com/
We have dined here for business and pleasure. Even though it has a romantic atmosphere, it is perfect for business dining also. We’ve been here with family and friends, and everyone comes away agreeing with us: this is the best restaurant in the Chicago area.
For this particular visit, we were with our nephew. It was his gift to me for my birthday. Now keep in mind that he’s only 23 years old and for him, it’s a huge gift monetarily.
I made up my mind beforehand to try to be frugal when ordering. I had not intended on getting the degustation, but my husband and my nephew were both getting it, so I decided to also. I decided to just order wine by the glass instead of getting the wine pairing. Oops! I did not realize how much the wine was by the glass!
Both my husband and nephew got the Meat and Game Degustation and I ordered the Shell Fish and Fish Degustation. Let me backtrack a little. In all previous visits there was always a degustation menu that you could order, but substitute some items from the regular side of the menu if there was something you didn’t like. Some of these items had an upcharge, which was fine. Now, the first thing they tell you if there are no substitutions. I understand the reasoning behind it, but previously you could always ensure that every course was perfect and exactly what you wanted. I understand that change is sometimes necessary, but I wish we could return to the way it was.
In spite of all that, both degustations were out of this world! Both were 6 courses plus Petits Four. Some of the game courses were:
Grilled California Squab Breast with Tart of Spinach and Mushrooms with a natural jus.
Pan Seared Duck and Duck Confit with Hudson Valley Foie Gras
Cocoa Crusted New Zealand Venison with Caramelized Fennel
The seafood one included:
Smoke Trout and Butter Poached Fingerling Potato Terrine
Maine Lobster Ravioli with Julienne Vegetables
Norwegian Salmon Pinwheel with Fava Bean-Wild Mushroom Fricassee (I don’t like salmon, but this was really good)
I forgot to mention that they sat us in a little cubby-hole, which has more privacy than any other place in the restaurant. I always wondered how you got to sit there. Now I realize it’s the perfect place for 3 and that’s probably why we ended up there.
I won’t let these changes affect our #1 rating. We look forward to returning soon.
http://www.carlos-restaurant.com/
Friday, October 24, 2008
Medusa - Lake Geneva, WI - UPDATE
We have been back to Medusa's several times over the past year and have never been disappointed. Our most recent trip introduced us to a brand new menu. There are some new items and some familar items.
We started with a special appetizer, which was a bruchetta with grilled calamari on top. Excellent!
I had the special fish, which was Mahi-Mahi with their lobster butter on top. We travel to Hawaii a lot and I've never had Mahi-Mahi that tasted this good. It had a smokey flavor to it, which made the dish.
My husband had scallops with a basil pesto sauce on top. The flavor was really good.
Both dishes were accompanied with sticky rice with a squash puree on top. The puree was sweet. You would not think that those two items would be good together, but it was unbelievable!
Their wine pours continue to be generous for the price.
We started with a special appetizer, which was a bruchetta with grilled calamari on top. Excellent!
I had the special fish, which was Mahi-Mahi with their lobster butter on top. We travel to Hawaii a lot and I've never had Mahi-Mahi that tasted this good. It had a smokey flavor to it, which made the dish.
My husband had scallops with a basil pesto sauce on top. The flavor was really good.
Both dishes were accompanied with sticky rice with a squash puree on top. The puree was sweet. You would not think that those two items would be good together, but it was unbelievable!
Their wine pours continue to be generous for the price.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Canoe Bay - Chetek, WI
If you are looking for the most romantic and relaxing evening or weekend of your life you must go to Canoe Bay. It is truly a remarkable place, so remarkable, in fact, that it is part of the Relais & Chateaux collection!
The rooms are fabulous. We recommend that you stay at the Rattenbury or the Edgewood. Both are very expensive, but if you want to really have a special occasion, take the hit and fork over the cash.
As we said the rooms are beyond incredible, but they don't compare to the food at their restaurant. I'd like to give you details of the meal, but it changes from day to day. All I can say is that if we were to give this restaurant stars, there would not be enough.
We have one complaint, you can only get the prefix menu, which is okay in itself, we like when the food is picked for us. The problem is, we felt a little slighted. We like having a appetizer, salad, main course and desert. To be truthful we both could do without the desert, but this is the order we like. If they throw in an amuse bouche that adds to the evening, but when you only get three courses it does not seem right. Also, every night we were there we had the same bread.
Overall though, the food was fantastic. We are just a little picky.
By the way, the service is fantastic and the view priceless. If you have an opportunity to go here, don't skip it!
http://www.canoebay.com/foodwine/dinner.htm
The rooms are fabulous. We recommend that you stay at the Rattenbury or the Edgewood. Both are very expensive, but if you want to really have a special occasion, take the hit and fork over the cash.
As we said the rooms are beyond incredible, but they don't compare to the food at their restaurant. I'd like to give you details of the meal, but it changes from day to day. All I can say is that if we were to give this restaurant stars, there would not be enough.
We have one complaint, you can only get the prefix menu, which is okay in itself, we like when the food is picked for us. The problem is, we felt a little slighted. We like having a appetizer, salad, main course and desert. To be truthful we both could do without the desert, but this is the order we like. If they throw in an amuse bouche that adds to the evening, but when you only get three courses it does not seem right. Also, every night we were there we had the same bread.
Overall though, the food was fantastic. We are just a little picky.
By the way, the service is fantastic and the view priceless. If you have an opportunity to go here, don't skip it!
http://www.canoebay.com/foodwine/dinner.htm
Friday, September 5, 2008
Charcoal Grill and Rotisserie - Kenosha, WI
We have been dining at this restaurant for years, mainly for lunch. They have the best chicken dumpling soup in the area.
Last night we decided to go there for a quick, inexpensive dinner. We enjoy rotisserie chicken and they are not many places in Kenosha that serve chicken cooked this way.
My first question is: why has the Kendall Jackson salesman not been in there? I think a restaurant should have more than one brand of wine, especially if half the restaurant is a bar. I hate having cheap wine as my only choice. Not that KJ is my favorite, it's one step up from what they serve.
We started with the chicken dumpling soup and it was not as good as the hundred other times we've had it. Something was totally different about it.
Our server brought out our entrees while we were still eating our soup, which is a hugh pet peeve of ours. She apologized as she arrived at the table, but our feeling is that she just should have waited.
Now we realized that not only was the soup different, but the quality of our entrees was not up to the standards we've come to expect from this restaurant. Plus they have removed all the sauces that they used to have on the tables, so I had to ask for BBQ sauce for my chicken and she brought it in a small bowl. I don't believe it was Sweet Baby Rays, which is what used to be on the table. You may think this is minor, but I've been putting that sauce on most sandwiches I've ever ordered there.
The vegetables were a green been and carrot saute and it was horrible. I can't even begin to tell you why. The taste was nothing I've ever had before. It didn't look like there was a sauce, but the carrot didn't even taste like a carrot and I wasn't even going to try a green bean.
I hope this change isn't permanent. I'd hate to write this restaurant off.
www.charcoalgrill.com
Last night we decided to go there for a quick, inexpensive dinner. We enjoy rotisserie chicken and they are not many places in Kenosha that serve chicken cooked this way.
My first question is: why has the Kendall Jackson salesman not been in there? I think a restaurant should have more than one brand of wine, especially if half the restaurant is a bar. I hate having cheap wine as my only choice. Not that KJ is my favorite, it's one step up from what they serve.
We started with the chicken dumpling soup and it was not as good as the hundred other times we've had it. Something was totally different about it.
Our server brought out our entrees while we were still eating our soup, which is a hugh pet peeve of ours. She apologized as she arrived at the table, but our feeling is that she just should have waited.
Now we realized that not only was the soup different, but the quality of our entrees was not up to the standards we've come to expect from this restaurant. Plus they have removed all the sauces that they used to have on the tables, so I had to ask for BBQ sauce for my chicken and she brought it in a small bowl. I don't believe it was Sweet Baby Rays, which is what used to be on the table. You may think this is minor, but I've been putting that sauce on most sandwiches I've ever ordered there.
The vegetables were a green been and carrot saute and it was horrible. I can't even begin to tell you why. The taste was nothing I've ever had before. It didn't look like there was a sauce, but the carrot didn't even taste like a carrot and I wasn't even going to try a green bean.
I hope this change isn't permanent. I'd hate to write this restaurant off.
www.charcoalgrill.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Bank Lane Bistro - Lake Forest, IL
One word, "Wonderful"...
This restaurant sits on the second floor of another good restaurant called South Gate Cafe and you overlook the quaint town square of Lake Forest.
We almost always get the tasting menu where they create the meal for you, we love surprises. Regardless, everything is fresh and exciting. From first courses like Black Truffle Infused Cauliflower Soup to the Sweet green pea dusted Australian Barramundi as a main course, you will not go wrong enjoying an evening here.
The service is exceptional and the prices reasonable for a restaurant of this caliber. Executive Chef Michael Gottlieb has a talent everyone should enjoy.
http://www.banklanebistro.com/
This restaurant sits on the second floor of another good restaurant called South Gate Cafe and you overlook the quaint town square of Lake Forest.
We almost always get the tasting menu where they create the meal for you, we love surprises. Regardless, everything is fresh and exciting. From first courses like Black Truffle Infused Cauliflower Soup to the Sweet green pea dusted Australian Barramundi as a main course, you will not go wrong enjoying an evening here.
The service is exceptional and the prices reasonable for a restaurant of this caliber. Executive Chef Michael Gottlieb has a talent everyone should enjoy.
http://www.banklanebistro.com/
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Sailor Dan's - Kansasville, WI
This used to be Auctioneer's Inn which failed for many reasons. My opinion is that it probably failed because of poor service and a change in management. The nice thing about Auctioneer's Inn was that it had character and some of the dishes were quite good.
Sailor Dan's has none of this. The restaurant now looks like a bar in a bowling alley. The food is over priced and poor quality.
Our meal started out with warm bread that had been heated up in a microwave. It was rubbery and uneatable. It is hard to believe that in this day and age everyone knows you cannot heat bread in a microwave.
We also had salads, which were good, not great.
My wife had Sherry's Dijon Chicken, which should have been called Sherry's De Jonge Chicken. She ordered it thinking it would be in a dijon sauce, but was surprised that is was actually a de Jonge prepration with garlic, butter and breadcrumbs. The chicken had a rubbery texture and a very strange taste. It could have been freezer burn, not sure, but she could never eat more of the chicken and only ate the pasta with the sauce. The de jonge sauce was actually quite good, just not what was expected.
I had the Porterhouse Steak, not bad actually, not very tender, but very flavorful.
This cost us almost $100.00
Overall the place is a bar, it really is not a place to go out and have a meal that is anything remotely of good quality. I can see this place hopping on the weekend with a bunch of bikers livening up the place. Go for the drinks, don't go for the food or atmosphere.
We'd give you the website, but from we can tell, they don't have one.
Sailor Dan's has none of this. The restaurant now looks like a bar in a bowling alley. The food is over priced and poor quality.
Our meal started out with warm bread that had been heated up in a microwave. It was rubbery and uneatable. It is hard to believe that in this day and age everyone knows you cannot heat bread in a microwave.
We also had salads, which were good, not great.
My wife had Sherry's Dijon Chicken, which should have been called Sherry's De Jonge Chicken. She ordered it thinking it would be in a dijon sauce, but was surprised that is was actually a de Jonge prepration with garlic, butter and breadcrumbs. The chicken had a rubbery texture and a very strange taste. It could have been freezer burn, not sure, but she could never eat more of the chicken and only ate the pasta with the sauce. The de jonge sauce was actually quite good, just not what was expected.
I had the Porterhouse Steak, not bad actually, not very tender, but very flavorful.
This cost us almost $100.00
Overall the place is a bar, it really is not a place to go out and have a meal that is anything remotely of good quality. I can see this place hopping on the weekend with a bunch of bikers livening up the place. Go for the drinks, don't go for the food or atmosphere.
We'd give you the website, but from we can tell, they don't have one.
Friday, July 25, 2008
South Gate Cafe - Lake Forest, IL
This is certainly one of our favorite places to stop by for lunch in Lake Forest. Great soup and sandwiches and you can dine outside on the patio. Lunch aside, their dinners are fantastic also.
Tonight I was by myself and I had a spicy squid appetizer and the wild game plate, which consisted of: Duck, Boar and Kangaroo. It was fantastic! The squid was tender and the game had so much flavor I would have liked seconds. I ate out on their patio and the service was excellent.
I just happened to be in the area the next night and thought I would try the restaurant again. This night I ate in the bar and once again I was very happy with the food. On the other hand, the service was terrible. I received my salad before my appetizer which came out just before my main course. The waitress was rarely seen and obviously had little training. I'd recommend you stay out of the bar area and stick with the main dinning room or patio where they keep the good wait staff.
Tonight I was by myself and I had a spicy squid appetizer and the wild game plate, which consisted of: Duck, Boar and Kangaroo. It was fantastic! The squid was tender and the game had so much flavor I would have liked seconds. I ate out on their patio and the service was excellent.
I just happened to be in the area the next night and thought I would try the restaurant again. This night I ate in the bar and once again I was very happy with the food. On the other hand, the service was terrible. I received my salad before my appetizer which came out just before my main course. The waitress was rarely seen and obviously had little training. I'd recommend you stay out of the bar area and stick with the main dinning room or patio where they keep the good wait staff.
Even with this bad service, I highly recommend South Gate Cafe; this was the only time I have been disappointed.
http://www.southgatecafe.com/Saturday, July 12, 2008
Sanford - Milwaukee, WI
Located in an old family grocery store, Sanford has been serving the Milwaukee area for 19 years.
The food is a mix, but I would say the menu we hadwas more French or Mediterranean.
The décor is modern with white table clothes, but don't let this fool you. It is a very relaxed atmosphere. Two of us showed up in jeans (they were nice jeans, but jeans just the same), and we did not feel uncomfortable at all. Most were dressed business casual, only a few men had jackets.
Most likely the food will be different when you go since they try to use fresh local ingredients. We had two appetizers, one was a roasted morel mushrooms with ramps. It could have been a meal it was so large. The other appetizer was Lobster Benedict. The description on the menu said it was: Seared Serrano Wrapped Lobster and Poached Quail Egg, Lemon Herb Salad. I wish they had said the sauce was a dill sauce, I hate dill. Even with the dill, though, it was good.
For our second course we had a soup which was a Parmesan Broth with Prosciutto and Grilled Scallions, Parmesan Flan. It was light and rich at the same time, very creative.
For our main course we had the: Chargrilled Strauss Veal Loin and 17 Hour Veal Breast , Crispy Onion Potatoes, Tart Apple and Endive. The veal loin was good, but the veal breast was out of this world. The apparently marinated it is some sort of pressure unit for 17 hours. All I can say is FANTASTIC.
We also had the Elk, which was a little gamey, but if you like game we think you will like it.
This was our first trip to this restaurant. For years now we wanted to go, but just kept forgetting to stop by. After this experience we will certainly be back.
http://www.sanfordrestaurant.com/
The food is a mix, but I would say the menu we hadwas more French or Mediterranean.
The décor is modern with white table clothes, but don't let this fool you. It is a very relaxed atmosphere. Two of us showed up in jeans (they were nice jeans, but jeans just the same), and we did not feel uncomfortable at all. Most were dressed business casual, only a few men had jackets.
Most likely the food will be different when you go since they try to use fresh local ingredients. We had two appetizers, one was a roasted morel mushrooms with ramps. It could have been a meal it was so large. The other appetizer was Lobster Benedict. The description on the menu said it was: Seared Serrano Wrapped Lobster and Poached Quail Egg, Lemon Herb Salad. I wish they had said the sauce was a dill sauce, I hate dill. Even with the dill, though, it was good.
For our second course we had a soup which was a Parmesan Broth with Prosciutto and Grilled Scallions, Parmesan Flan. It was light and rich at the same time, very creative.
For our main course we had the: Chargrilled Strauss Veal Loin and 17 Hour Veal Breast , Crispy Onion Potatoes, Tart Apple and Endive. The veal loin was good, but the veal breast was out of this world. The apparently marinated it is some sort of pressure unit for 17 hours. All I can say is FANTASTIC.
We also had the Elk, which was a little gamey, but if you like game we think you will like it.
This was our first trip to this restaurant. For years now we wanted to go, but just kept forgetting to stop by. After this experience we will certainly be back.
http://www.sanfordrestaurant.com/
Friday, July 11, 2008
Geneva Chophouse - Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, WI
The food is good, the service is great (if a little stuffy) and the atmosphere is perfect. Eating outside is a great choice if it is available and if the bugs are too bad.
For an appetizer pick the tuna tartare. If you venture off the steak menu, choose the Sea Bass, very nice. As a side, get the lobster Mac and Cheese.
Ahhh, not sure if we would recommend this. If you really like steak houses this might fit the bill, but in a word, over priced. There are many places it he area where you can get a good steak at a much lower price.
One word of advice to the managers put a wall up between the kitchen doors and the dining room. All night there was a constant commotion going on there and it is very distracting. A nice panel or something could block it from your guest trying to enjoy a relaxing evening.
http://www.grandgeneva.com/dining/dining_geneva_chophouse.asp
For an appetizer pick the tuna tartare. If you venture off the steak menu, choose the Sea Bass, very nice. As a side, get the lobster Mac and Cheese.
Ahhh, not sure if we would recommend this. If you really like steak houses this might fit the bill, but in a word, over priced. There are many places it he area where you can get a good steak at a much lower price.
One word of advice to the managers put a wall up between the kitchen doors and the dining room. All night there was a constant commotion going on there and it is very distracting. A nice panel or something could block it from your guest trying to enjoy a relaxing evening.
http://www.grandgeneva.com/dining/dining_geneva_chophouse.asp
Thursday, July 3, 2008
SOPRA Trattoria - Lake Geneva, WI
We saw this restaurant when we were driving through town. It has been in operation since March. We have been to Lake Geneva several times over the last several months, but we had not heard a word about the restaurant.
Sopra is an Italian restaurant with a modern flair. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The only thing that was strange was the spot lights on each table, they should be dimmed a little, they were a bit blinding. This is our first experience at the restaurant, so we can't give you a detailed description of the menu, but we can tell you what we had.
We started our meal with the steak tartare, if you like tartare, this is a great one. Just enough spice.
I had the roasted beet salad and my wife had the Sopra salad. This is the only part of the meal we did not care for. The beets were great on my salad and the goat cheese went well with it, but the frissee was nasty. I honestly don't know what the attraction is with bitter greens.
Regarding the Sopra salad, my wife just says, "Yuck!" Next time maybe we will get two appetizers.
For a main entree, my wife had: Scallops - Pan-seared scallops layered with brie cheese and fried potato rounds, served with a fennel cream sauce. This was a hell of a meal, the fennel cream sauce was very unusual. We will have this again.
I had : Veal Chop - Pan roasted veal chop basted in thyme and garlic, served with caramelized garlic porchinis, shaved parmesan and roasted radicchio. I will have to say this was the best veal chop I have ever had. It was prepared perfectly and the flavor was out of this world. I could have done without the radicchio, once again what's with the bitter greens?
Over all I guess it comes down to will we go again, and the answer is yes. Next time, though, I hope the chef will allow us to have salt and pepper at the table. Even if we did not need the extra salt and pepper, I hate when a chef thinks he or she knows better how something should be seasoned.
By the way, the service was exceptional and the wine pours were generous, always a good sign.
http://www.sopratrattoria.com/
Sopra is an Italian restaurant with a modern flair. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The only thing that was strange was the spot lights on each table, they should be dimmed a little, they were a bit blinding. This is our first experience at the restaurant, so we can't give you a detailed description of the menu, but we can tell you what we had.
We started our meal with the steak tartare, if you like tartare, this is a great one. Just enough spice.
I had the roasted beet salad and my wife had the Sopra salad. This is the only part of the meal we did not care for. The beets were great on my salad and the goat cheese went well with it, but the frissee was nasty. I honestly don't know what the attraction is with bitter greens.
Regarding the Sopra salad, my wife just says, "Yuck!" Next time maybe we will get two appetizers.
For a main entree, my wife had: Scallops - Pan-seared scallops layered with brie cheese and fried potato rounds, served with a fennel cream sauce. This was a hell of a meal, the fennel cream sauce was very unusual. We will have this again.
I had : Veal Chop - Pan roasted veal chop basted in thyme and garlic, served with caramelized garlic porchinis, shaved parmesan and roasted radicchio. I will have to say this was the best veal chop I have ever had. It was prepared perfectly and the flavor was out of this world. I could have done without the radicchio, once again what's with the bitter greens?
Over all I guess it comes down to will we go again, and the answer is yes. Next time, though, I hope the chef will allow us to have salt and pepper at the table. Even if we did not need the extra salt and pepper, I hate when a chef thinks he or she knows better how something should be seasoned.
By the way, the service was exceptional and the wine pours were generous, always a good sign.
http://www.sopratrattoria.com/
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Inn at Kristofer's - Sister Bay, WI
The restaurant sits across the street from the harbor of Sister Bay and it has an unobstructed view of Green Bay. The location makes if probably one of the best places in Door County to enjoy a really fabulous gourmet meal while watching the sunset.
The Inn at Kristofer's is open year round and to be honest, it has never disappointed us. We have even gone there in the dead of winter when it was below zero. Oddly enough the restaurant had a small crowed of customers even in such miserable weather.
They always have something creative and this time was no exception. Depending on what time of year you go, the local restaurant suppliers are pushing one item or anther, so the restaurants in the area all have the same ingredients. It is how the chef prepares them that makes the difference.
This night, my wife started with: Escargot Kristofer -Six snails are sautéed in shallots, green onions, garlic butter and shitake mushrooms. Topped with garlic flavored Japanese breadcrumbs and broiled. If you are going to this restaurant only one time, get this! Just be aware that it is very rich so you should probably share.
I started with: Shiitake Mushroom and Asparagus Crepe -A thin crepe is filled with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, asparagus and brie cheese. Finished with a mint infused hollandaise sauce. This is a treat and I personally would not have thought of the combination, EVER. Once again, this is very rich, but worth the extra calories.
For the main course my wife had the special which was whitefish on top of risotto with a beurre blanc sauce, drizzled with a balsamic reduction. This was so good Chef Terri Milligan should get some award. We have never had whitefish taste so good.
I’m a game fan, so I had: Kristofer's Game Sampler - A grilled semi-boneless quail is finished with an apple brandy reduction and coupled with a chicken and pine nut sausage that rests on top of a polenta and applewood smoked bacon cake. Duck confit sits on top of the sausage which is then finished with a white wine, cream and rosemary reduction. As usual, I was not disappointed.
Just to let you know how much we like this restaurant, we have driven the 4 hours it takes us to get there, had dinner, spent the night at whatever place that would have us and drove back the next day. So, an 8 hour drive for dinner should tell you how much we like this restaurant.
One tip, call ahead and go on a night they have live music, it makes the experience even better.
http://www.innatkristofers.com/
The Inn at Kristofer's is open year round and to be honest, it has never disappointed us. We have even gone there in the dead of winter when it was below zero. Oddly enough the restaurant had a small crowed of customers even in such miserable weather.
They always have something creative and this time was no exception. Depending on what time of year you go, the local restaurant suppliers are pushing one item or anther, so the restaurants in the area all have the same ingredients. It is how the chef prepares them that makes the difference.
This night, my wife started with: Escargot Kristofer -Six snails are sautéed in shallots, green onions, garlic butter and shitake mushrooms. Topped with garlic flavored Japanese breadcrumbs and broiled. If you are going to this restaurant only one time, get this! Just be aware that it is very rich so you should probably share.
I started with: Shiitake Mushroom and Asparagus Crepe -A thin crepe is filled with sautéed shiitake mushrooms, asparagus and brie cheese. Finished with a mint infused hollandaise sauce. This is a treat and I personally would not have thought of the combination, EVER. Once again, this is very rich, but worth the extra calories.
For the main course my wife had the special which was whitefish on top of risotto with a beurre blanc sauce, drizzled with a balsamic reduction. This was so good Chef Terri Milligan should get some award. We have never had whitefish taste so good.
I’m a game fan, so I had: Kristofer's Game Sampler - A grilled semi-boneless quail is finished with an apple brandy reduction and coupled with a chicken and pine nut sausage that rests on top of a polenta and applewood smoked bacon cake. Duck confit sits on top of the sausage which is then finished with a white wine, cream and rosemary reduction. As usual, I was not disappointed.
Just to let you know how much we like this restaurant, we have driven the 4 hours it takes us to get there, had dinner, spent the night at whatever place that would have us and drove back the next day. So, an 8 hour drive for dinner should tell you how much we like this restaurant.
One tip, call ahead and go on a night they have live music, it makes the experience even better.
http://www.innatkristofers.com/
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
T. Ashwell's - Ellison Bay, WI
There is a place called Door County Wisconsin, it is the little peninsula thing sticking off the east side of the state. This area is the Midwest's answer to Martha's Vineyard. It actually has a few vineyards and the best part there are many fine dining establishments.
One of our favorite restaurants is T. Ashwell's. We found this restaurant when we first started coming to the Door County area for vacation. We try to come up once a year and this is one of the first places we go.
The restaurant was a lodge, properly named The Ellison Bay Lodge. It had many guest rooms and served their summer long guests every meal. As you walked up past gardens of the entrance you can tell that you are entering a place that has a long history.
Now the important part, the food. I had the special appetizer, which was sauteed morel mushrooms. You only get these in season, so it is a very special treat. My main course was a bone-in ribeye which was cooked to perfection. I normally would be a little more adventurous and not get a steak, but for some reason I was craving meat.
We shared the appetizer and salad, but what was most remarkable was what my wife got, which was: VEGETARIAN TASTING - Italian fire roasted tomato & mozzarella bread pudding, with a sun dried tomato, caper-cream sauce paired with roasted vegetable raviolis, tossed with fresh mint pesto & caramelized apples finished with an aged Parmesan cheese custard timbale with a roasted tomato coulis. Neither one of us are vegetarians, but I'll tell you what, if all vegetarian meals were like this I might not want meat as much.
A few days later we saw in a real-estate magazine that the restaurant is up for sale. We are really going to miss T. Ashwell's if Chef Smith sells, especially since we have been going there since they opened. Maybe if you take our advice and go to his restaurant he will reconsider his decision to sell. It is a tough market with only 3 good months or so to be busy and T. Ashwell's stays open all year, we really don't know how any restaurants make it.
https://www.tashwells.com/
One of our favorite restaurants is T. Ashwell's. We found this restaurant when we first started coming to the Door County area for vacation. We try to come up once a year and this is one of the first places we go.
The restaurant was a lodge, properly named The Ellison Bay Lodge. It had many guest rooms and served their summer long guests every meal. As you walked up past gardens of the entrance you can tell that you are entering a place that has a long history.
Now the important part, the food. I had the special appetizer, which was sauteed morel mushrooms. You only get these in season, so it is a very special treat. My main course was a bone-in ribeye which was cooked to perfection. I normally would be a little more adventurous and not get a steak, but for some reason I was craving meat.
We shared the appetizer and salad, but what was most remarkable was what my wife got, which was: VEGETARIAN TASTING - Italian fire roasted tomato & mozzarella bread pudding, with a sun dried tomato, caper-cream sauce paired with roasted vegetable raviolis, tossed with fresh mint pesto & caramelized apples finished with an aged Parmesan cheese custard timbale with a roasted tomato coulis. Neither one of us are vegetarians, but I'll tell you what, if all vegetarian meals were like this I might not want meat as much.
A few days later we saw in a real-estate magazine that the restaurant is up for sale. We are really going to miss T. Ashwell's if Chef Smith sells, especially since we have been going there since they opened. Maybe if you take our advice and go to his restaurant he will reconsider his decision to sell. It is a tough market with only 3 good months or so to be busy and T. Ashwell's stays open all year, we really don't know how any restaurants make it.
https://www.tashwells.com/
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Gabriel's Restaurant - Highwood, IL
What a surprise, that's all I can say.
We have gone to Froggy's which is next door to Gabriel's many times and for one reason or another we just never tried going in. From now on we'll give them both equal opportunity to our dining dollars.
On this night we were greeted at the door by Gabriel Viti, who is the chef and owner. We were seated at a very comfortable and inviting booth and offered drinks immediately. The menu is a mix of French and Italian cuisine. We are not a big Italian fans, but if you feel the same way, you will not be disappointed in your dining experience.
We chose the degustation menu where Chef Viti come to your table and explains what each course will be. If you have any food allergies or just don't like something, the chef will accommodate you anyway he can. Also, if you choose, you can have a wine pairing. If you're not driving I highly recommend this.
Either way, don't miss out on a wonderful experience.
http://www.egabriels.com/
We have gone to Froggy's which is next door to Gabriel's many times and for one reason or another we just never tried going in. From now on we'll give them both equal opportunity to our dining dollars.
On this night we were greeted at the door by Gabriel Viti, who is the chef and owner. We were seated at a very comfortable and inviting booth and offered drinks immediately. The menu is a mix of French and Italian cuisine. We are not a big Italian fans, but if you feel the same way, you will not be disappointed in your dining experience.
We chose the degustation menu where Chef Viti come to your table and explains what each course will be. If you have any food allergies or just don't like something, the chef will accommodate you anyway he can. Also, if you choose, you can have a wine pairing. If you're not driving I highly recommend this.
Either way, don't miss out on a wonderful experience.
http://www.egabriels.com/
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Ukai Toriyama - outskirts of Tokyo near Mount Takao
Ukai Toriyama is called a traditional Japanese restaurant. It is quite a long haul from Tokyo, but it really is worth the trip. If you are in the Tokyo area and you have money to burn, get your butt to this restaurant.
The food and service are spectacular, but the scenery is out of this world. The restaurant is made up of small private cottages where you cook over hot coals. The cottages are hidden away in a beautiful garden that sits in a ravine and there is a stream running right down the middle.
We started our trek from Tokyo just after lunch and after a few site seeing events (and wrong turns) we arrived for dinner at 5 pm. It is good to get to the restaurant just before sunset. This way you can see the garden in sunlight and then at night with all the artificial lighting and the warm glow coming from the cottages.
Can't find a website for them, but here is some information: Ukai Toriyama
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hyatt - Hakone, Japan
We spent a few days enjoying the spa area of Japan and we stayed at the Hyatt in Hakone. The hotel is a year old and it was just marvelous. In the lobby there is the aroma of wood smoke that comes from the chalet style fire place. It keeps you warm in the cold mountain air. This is a hot springs hotel, so you can enjoy a hot bath and let the volcanic minerals invigorate your body.
There are two restaurants, a French one and a Japanese one. We tried both.
The French restaurant is also where you have breakfast, but at night they dim the lights and it becomes quite intimate.
The Japanese restaurant is very authentic, except its decor. We had a private room with one large table made out of a polished tree. Our niece and nephew were with us and they had never had raw fish, but they were even impressed.
http://hakone.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp
There are two restaurants, a French one and a Japanese one. We tried both.
The French restaurant is also where you have breakfast, but at night they dim the lights and it becomes quite intimate.
The Japanese restaurant is very authentic, except its decor. We had a private room with one large table made out of a polished tree. Our niece and nephew were with us and they had never had raw fish, but they were even impressed.
http://hakone.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Mere Bulles - Brentwood, TN
This restaurant is in an old mansion. The original owners apparently owned everything around it at one time, but now it is surrounded by office buildings and hotels. Don't let this dissuade you, this is a fine restaurant and well worth going to.
If you just look at the menu, it seems pretty plain. Simple meals like Veal Chops, New York Strip, Prime rib and others like Phyllo Wrapped Sea Bass are going to wow you with their taste and presentation.
This time I had the Phyllo Wrapped Sea Bass, which is stuffed with shellfish, brie and spinach. It is then wrapped in buttered phyllo and served with an artichoke tomato beurre blanc. I do not know if the Sea Bass is good every night, but the this night it was remarkable. No fishy taste at all and not oily at all.
On a previous visit I had the Rib Eye, I highly recommend this also.
The staff makes your meal even more pleasurable with prompt accurate service and they really do put on that southern hospitality.
If you are in the Nashville area, take a little trip south of the city and enjoy an evening at Mere Bulles.
http://www.merebulles.com/
If you just look at the menu, it seems pretty plain. Simple meals like Veal Chops, New York Strip, Prime rib and others like Phyllo Wrapped Sea Bass are going to wow you with their taste and presentation.
This time I had the Phyllo Wrapped Sea Bass, which is stuffed with shellfish, brie and spinach. It is then wrapped in buttered phyllo and served with an artichoke tomato beurre blanc. I do not know if the Sea Bass is good every night, but the this night it was remarkable. No fishy taste at all and not oily at all.
On a previous visit I had the Rib Eye, I highly recommend this also.
The staff makes your meal even more pleasurable with prompt accurate service and they really do put on that southern hospitality.
If you are in the Nashville area, take a little trip south of the city and enjoy an evening at Mere Bulles.
http://www.merebulles.com/
Friday, March 7, 2008
Little Europe at Timber Ridge, Kenosha, WI
This is billed as a Bohemian restaurant, but the dishes come from all over such as Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Poland.
The food is good, if you can put up with the bad service. Don't be in a rush and don't expect to be pampered.
The food has a home cooked feel and it really is good if you like this type of food. If you are a health nut this is probably not the place for you.
From the signs outside you can see this place is having an identity crises. It seems that the owners are trying everything they can to bring people in, but nothing seems to work. They even built a second restaurant next door and it has been filled by at least three endeavors. I believe it is empty at the moment.
For now, unless something changes, we are taking this one off our list.
The food is good, if you can put up with the bad service. Don't be in a rush and don't expect to be pampered.
The food has a home cooked feel and it really is good if you like this type of food. If you are a health nut this is probably not the place for you.
From the signs outside you can see this place is having an identity crises. It seems that the owners are trying everything they can to bring people in, but nothing seems to work. They even built a second restaurant next door and it has been filled by at least three endeavors. I believe it is empty at the moment.
For now, unless something changes, we are taking this one off our list.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Lighthouse Bistro - Kenosha, WI
Last night we did something we never do - go to a restaurant on its first night, but we couldn't resist.
This is a new restaurant by the owners of Froggy's in Highwood, which is an excellent French restaurant. We've never had a bad meal there.
When we heard they were taking over the Kenosha Yacht Club, we were so excited. An article in the February 27 issue of the Kenosha News informed us that the restaurant was now open. The article mentioned that the food would be American fare, so we were somewhat disappointed, but really wanted to try it anyway.
We arrived around 6:00 and it was not too crowded, but by the time we were done, they had filled up. Since this is their first night, I'm not going to be critical about the service. I will say though that everyone else's server seemed to be right on top of things.
The manager, Scott, was out in the dining room quite a lot, making sure everything was being taken care of. He came to our table a couple times, which we did appreciate.
We started with the crab cake appetizer, which was good, but needed more of the sauce. I had the Coq au Vin, which was excellent - it was so tender. My husband had a steak, which he really enjoyed too. Both entrees were served with mashed potatoes, or I should say pureed potatoes.
They were very good too. We did not have a salad; we thought they were ala carte, but we heard other customers being offered soup or salad, so I think that our server's fault.
The wine pours here seem to be generous and the selection was pretty good. Also, they did a really nice job remodeling. It doesn't look or smell like that old smoky place!
This is a new restaurant by the owners of Froggy's in Highwood, which is an excellent French restaurant. We've never had a bad meal there.
When we heard they were taking over the Kenosha Yacht Club, we were so excited. An article in the February 27 issue of the Kenosha News informed us that the restaurant was now open. The article mentioned that the food would be American fare, so we were somewhat disappointed, but really wanted to try it anyway.
We arrived around 6:00 and it was not too crowded, but by the time we were done, they had filled up. Since this is their first night, I'm not going to be critical about the service. I will say though that everyone else's server seemed to be right on top of things.
The manager, Scott, was out in the dining room quite a lot, making sure everything was being taken care of. He came to our table a couple times, which we did appreciate.
We started with the crab cake appetizer, which was good, but needed more of the sauce. I had the Coq au Vin, which was excellent - it was so tender. My husband had a steak, which he really enjoyed too. Both entrees were served with mashed potatoes, or I should say pureed potatoes.
They were very good too. We did not have a salad; we thought they were ala carte, but we heard other customers being offered soup or salad, so I think that our server's fault.
The wine pours here seem to be generous and the selection was pretty good. Also, they did a really nice job remodeling. It doesn't look or smell like that old smoky place!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
House of Gerhard - Kenosha, WI
We have been going to this restaurant quite a lot lately. We tried it several years ago, and for some reason, did not return until about a year ago. Not sure why, but I suspect it's because it's difficult to eat healthy, but we really enjoy the food. Now we probably go once every two months or so.
Specializing in German food, every entree comes with some house appetizers, and soup or salad. The house appetizers usually consist of liverwurst with bread to spread it on, hard rolls and butter plus some sort of muffin. Last time we also had a bean salad. Very good.
Their soups are usually very creative and I almost always opt for the soup over the salad, which is nothing special. They used to offer a spinach salad (dinner size), but they don't any longer. Now that was a really good spinach salad.
They have many German entrees to pick from including many different types of schnitzel. They offer several specials each night, which is usually where my husband goes. I have had the petite filet the last two times we ate there and the meat was very tender and full of taste. At the price, it's a bargain. We sometimes get the "fish in a bag" which is usually pretty good.
Last time one of our companions ordered the beef rouladen, which he thought was very good. I thought the portion was rather small though.
Regarding wine selection - the Kendall Jackson salesperson is doing a great job once again. I wish retaurants around here would get a little creative with their wine list. If you don't like KJ, you are pretty much out of luck.
Their pours are small, but their price is small too.
http://www.foodspot.com/gerhards/
Specializing in German food, every entree comes with some house appetizers, and soup or salad. The house appetizers usually consist of liverwurst with bread to spread it on, hard rolls and butter plus some sort of muffin. Last time we also had a bean salad. Very good.
Their soups are usually very creative and I almost always opt for the soup over the salad, which is nothing special. They used to offer a spinach salad (dinner size), but they don't any longer. Now that was a really good spinach salad.
They have many German entrees to pick from including many different types of schnitzel. They offer several specials each night, which is usually where my husband goes. I have had the petite filet the last two times we ate there and the meat was very tender and full of taste. At the price, it's a bargain. We sometimes get the "fish in a bag" which is usually pretty good.
Last time one of our companions ordered the beef rouladen, which he thought was very good. I thought the portion was rather small though.
Regarding wine selection - the Kendall Jackson salesperson is doing a great job once again. I wish retaurants around here would get a little creative with their wine list. If you don't like KJ, you are pretty much out of luck.
Their pours are small, but their price is small too.
http://www.foodspot.com/gerhards/
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Carlos' - Highwood, IL
This is undoubtedly our favorite restaurant ever, we go here at least two times a year, sometimes more. It has a contemporary French menu and the atmosphere is relaxing, regardless if there is two or six people in your group and the staff are friendly and not stuffy at all. They really treat you like family.
We almost always get the degustation menu. If you do this you have the option of swapping things from the regular menu, just in case you do not like something in the degustation. If you like wine, get the wine pairing, they do an excellent job choosing for you.
One time we went we brought my mother, who is not a heavy eater, so she just wanted an appetizer and a main course. Against my recommendation she had the Filet Mignon. Once she tasted it she said I had to try a piece because it was the best steak she had ever had. Once I took a bite, I had to agree.
The last time we took my brother and his wife. They had never been there before and they usually do not go to French restaurants. Carlos greeted us and showed us to our seats, which was the beginning of one of the most entertaining evenings we have had in a long time. My brother agrees now and Carlos has become if favorite restaurant.
Don’t take our word for it, give this restaurant a try. Just take a look at the menu and I am sure they will win you over.
http://www.carlos-restaurant.com/
We almost always get the degustation menu. If you do this you have the option of swapping things from the regular menu, just in case you do not like something in the degustation. If you like wine, get the wine pairing, they do an excellent job choosing for you.
One time we went we brought my mother, who is not a heavy eater, so she just wanted an appetizer and a main course. Against my recommendation she had the Filet Mignon. Once she tasted it she said I had to try a piece because it was the best steak she had ever had. Once I took a bite, I had to agree.
The last time we took my brother and his wife. They had never been there before and they usually do not go to French restaurants. Carlos greeted us and showed us to our seats, which was the beginning of one of the most entertaining evenings we have had in a long time. My brother agrees now and Carlos has become if favorite restaurant.
Don’t take our word for it, give this restaurant a try. Just take a look at the menu and I am sure they will win you over.
http://www.carlos-restaurant.com/
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Waves Grill & Pub, Racine, WI
Don't let the outside fool you, we almost did. We saw an blip about this restaurant on the Internet and decided to drive over there one night. From the outside it looks like a local bar. We almost did not go in. Once inside it looks more like a small seaside inn. With a nautical atmosphere and some cozy booths it is warm and inviting.
The food was exceptional and the service staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The spicy crab salad and the filet medallions with gorganzola sauce are high on our list of things to get.
We have been to this restaurant at least ten times now and we have run into a few kinks now and then. One time we sat for 15 minutes waiting for someone to serve us. We actually had to get up to get our server. She thought we were waiting for a third person, but either way, shouldn't we be offered something to drink while we wait? Once we got that taken care of the service was fantastic.
Another time someone kept opening the back door of the restaurant behind the kitchen and the entire restaurant smelled like rotting garbage. I think something was said and the smell cleared up.
If you drink wine, I would recommend getting a bottle. Their pours are small.
Even with these little complaints we love this place. We do recommend you get a reservations, they fill up fast.
107 4th St.
Racine,WI
53403
(262) 634-7668
http://www.wavespub.com/
The food was exceptional and the service staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The spicy crab salad and the filet medallions with gorganzola sauce are high on our list of things to get.
We have been to this restaurant at least ten times now and we have run into a few kinks now and then. One time we sat for 15 minutes waiting for someone to serve us. We actually had to get up to get our server. She thought we were waiting for a third person, but either way, shouldn't we be offered something to drink while we wait? Once we got that taken care of the service was fantastic.
Another time someone kept opening the back door of the restaurant behind the kitchen and the entire restaurant smelled like rotting garbage. I think something was said and the smell cleared up.
If you drink wine, I would recommend getting a bottle. Their pours are small.
Even with these little complaints we love this place. We do recommend you get a reservations, they fill up fast.
107 4th St.
Racine,WI
53403
(262) 634-7668
http://www.wavespub.com/
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