tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90398240122897356382024-03-08T18:37:12.398-05:00Gainesville RestaurantsJoin me as I explore and talk about local restaurants in Gainesville. I'll tell you all about the restaurants I try, what they offer, what they cost, and of course, if they're any good.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-11812981916013868792010-06-13T22:05:00.009-04:002010-06-13T22:48:39.727-04:00Maui TeriyakiFor those of you who have lived in Gainesville long enough, you may remember Maui Teriyaki. It used to be on the corner of University and 13th, which is now the depressingly empty lot of the bankrupt University Corners project. There is another location on Tower Road, as well as a location in Alachua proper. However, it has been several years since Maui Teriyaki was available in central Gainesville, where students and the majority of its residents are more likely to visit. Maui Teriyaki has recently opened a location on 34th street, south of Archer in the same shopping center as Hooters and Rolls n' Bowls. This review is based on that location, but it really goes for any of the three, as I have tried them all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />All of the Maui Teriyaki locations I have visited thus far have been relatively basic lunch counters with a small seating area. They were nothing special, but functional. This new location has done a great job making their eating area inviting. There are several nice decorations and the chairs are really comfortable. They reminded us of the chairs in the library; padded, roomy, and perfect for people who will be camped out there for a long time. I would actually study in there. The area is clean, spacious, and they keep their condiment area well-stocked.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />At Maui Teriyaki, you order at the counter and then pick up your food when they call your name. On both of our visits, our food was prepared quickly and the people at the counter were very friendly. They are courteous and smile plenty, which makes a big difference in my book.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />Maui Teriyaki has a simple menu. They serve rice bowls with veggies and your choice of meat in a teriyaki sauce. They also have "power bowls" for those who are watching their carb intake. These just have veggies and meat in sauce. Their most popular dish is the chicken teriyaki bowl. They also serve pork, steak, and tofu. This location is working on a salmon teriyaki dish as well. There are a few extras you can get, like egg rolls, salad or wings. You can also get yakitori, which is meat cooked on a skewer. They serve fountain drinks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br /><br />We always get the chicken teriyaki bowls and they are delicious. It's simple - meat, veggies, rice, sauce. They know what they're good at and they consistently do it well. They use dark meat chicken, so it is always moist with a small amount of char for flavor. They have regular and spicy teriyaki sauce, both of which are delicious and thick. No watery sauces here! Most of the time the vegetables include carrot, broccoli, and baby corn. I believe their "power bowl" has cauliflower, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts (I just can't get myself to like water chestnuts). Maui Teriyaki serves a large amount of food. You can choose a small or large bowl. The small bowl feeds me (small female) 2 lunches or 1 big dinner. My husband gets the large bowl and it feeds him dinner with enough leftover for a small lunch the next day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br /><br />Maui Teriyaki has great prices. Each bowl runs from $6 to $8 and, as I said, it is plenty of food. They are also good about sending out coupons in the coupon books every Gainesvillian is always getting in the mail, so look out for those. We used a coupon that was 1/2 off one entree with the purchase of another entree, and our bill came out to just $11 for two!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />7/10. Maui Teriyaki is delicious, and I highly recommend you try it for a quick bite to eat. They have a limited menu, but it's a great place to grab some fast, large amounts of tasty food at a great price.Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-9863529403628479312009-10-29T21:00:00.006-04:002010-06-13T22:59:05.530-04:00Piesano's Stone Fired PizzaPiesano's Stone Fired Pizza offer dine-in, take-out, and catering. They are located in the Hunter's Crossing Shopping Center on NW 43rd street and NW 53rd avenue. We had heard good things about their food, so decided to check it out. In addition to pizza, they offer pasta, calzones, traditional Italian appetizers/antipasto, and a lunch menu from 11am to 4pm. I particularly like that their name is a play on the word "paisano," which is Spanish for a country man or slang for a friend in some countries.<br /><br /><strong>Atmosphere:</strong><br /><br />Piesano's has a great atmosphere. The sit-down restaurant's walls are plastered with Italian stucco and the occasional mural. The waiters are all dressed nicely in black and white, basically what you would expect servers in a high-end restaurant to wear.<br /><br /><strong>Service:</strong><br /><br />Our service was exceptional. <span style="font-style: italic;">(NOTE: Please see updates at the end of this post.)</span> All of our food came out at the perfect pace. The only thing worse than a restaurant that takes too long to bring your food is one that brings out all of your appetizers and entrees at once. So, your entree ends up getting cold or just sitting in its juices while you hastily stuff salad in your mouth. Piesano's did not have this problem. Everything came in order, without much lag time in between. We never wondered where our food was. Another plus was the frequency of our waiter visits. Our waiter did a great job of being both attentive and invisible. We barely noticed when he refilled our water glasses or brought our food out, and he was always pleasant.<br /><br /><strong>Menu:</strong><br /><br />Piesano's has done a great job with their menu. There are plenty of options for everyone, and everything you would expect a decent Italian place to have (and then some). Some appetizers include garlic knots, calamari, buffalo wings and mussels. Some of their gourmet pizzas include margherita, chicken pesto, San Genaro (sausage, green peppers and caramelized onions), baked ziti pizza (with actual ziti on top), three cheese philly, shrimp parmesan, and plenty more. You can also create your own pizza or calzone. They have a few subs, which I completely ignored since everything else looked so good. Their traditional entrees and pastas looked amazing. Five layer lasagna, baked cheese ravioli, eggplant rollatini, and chicken parmesan were expected, but they also threw in some specialty pastas such as chicken scarpariello (sausage, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes), Penne Piesano (peppers, onions, sweet peppers, mushrooms, chicken, Kalamata olives and potatoes on penne), spinach ravioli, penne alla vodka, and shrimp & mussels Fra Diavolo.<br /><br /><strong>Food:</strong><br /><br />When we first sat down, our waiter brought us a basket of garlic rolls. We figured they would be the usual drippy rolls swimming in garlic butter, but they were actually resting in a balsamic vinaigrette and dusted with parmesan cheese. It resulted in a lighter tasting roll with a tangy flavor. It was very original, and a great start.<br /><p>As our appetizer, we ordered the calamari. Not only were the calamari tender, but the batter was crispy and light. They came with 3 dipping sauces- marinara sauce, wasabi aioli, and what they call "bistro sauce." The marinara sauce was so flavorful it definitely made me think their pasta must be to die for! The wasabi aioli was pretty good, but not much more to it than heat. The bistro sauce was basically a spicy mayo. Another plus to the calamari was that they came with plenty of tentacles. Most of the time, you only get a couple of tentacle pieces with your calamari rings, but ours were about half and half.<br /></p>For our entree, we decided to go with Piesano's staple, their stone-fired pizza. We ordered a large Italian Veggie, which came with spinach, fresh garlic, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and mozzarella. I must say, we were pretty impressed by the amount of toppings. Unfortunately, all of our toppings made the bottom of the crust a little soggy. I love that I got more toppings than I paid for, but I do wish they had cut the artichoke pieces smaller. Those things were unwieldy! Overall, the pizza was great. The cheese was so good, we actually wished we had less toppings. Next time, we would go with a simpler pizza.<br /><br /><strong>Price:</strong><br /><br />We were so surprised when our bill came. The pizza was huge and fed us twice over, but it only cost $18. It could feed 3-4 people for lunch, especially if you get an appetizer. Appetizers were, on average, $8 each. We'll go back eventually to try their pasta.<br /><br /><strong>Overall:</strong><br /><br />7/10. You should definitely check out Piesano's. Go with some friends and share a huge pie. Definitely try one of the appetizers.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update 11/10/09:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pasta!</span><br />We went back for their pasta (again, at lunch time) and were not disappointed. I had the spaghetti and meatballs and Alex had the baked ziti. The pasta was cooked al dente and the marinara sauce was flavorful and meaty. The meatball had a great texture, soft and well-seasoned. Yes, it was only one meatball, but it was pretty big and the marinara itself had meat mixed in throughout. Two would have probably been a better idea. For a lunch portion, I definitely got plenty of food. We paid about $8-9 each, and both of our meals gave us enough leftovers for another lunch. We also got 3 of those delicious garlic knots in balsamic again, although 3 is a weird number of rolls to give 2 people. Both dishes got a thumbs up.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the service was not as good this time around. Our food came out quickly, but the waitress virtually disappeared after that. We sat around for at least 15 minutes after we were done eating before anyone passed by. Eventually, someone who seemed to be a manager asked how we were doing, and we had to ask her for boxes and our check. This knocked our overall rating down a notch.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update 6/13/10: </span>Service during lunch time has continued to disappoint me. It has been slow and very difficult to get in and out of there in time for a traditional 1 hour lunch break. The quality of their pizza has also dropped some. Dinner may still be as good as it was, but they are definitely getting lazy at lunch. Having said that, I still recommend this restaurant. The food is still very good, just not as amazing as it was originally. Again, this may just be a problem during lunch, when a lot of restaurants get sloppy.Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-72805130565009734892009-10-09T22:44:00.004-04:002009-10-09T23:19:39.746-04:00La Tienda - Traditional Mexican FoodLa Tienda is a great option if you're looking for traditional homemade-style Mexican food. These aren't Moe's burritos, here. It looks like it's run by a family, and there is even a small Mexican grocery in the back where you can buy items and ingredients only found in Latin-American markets. La Tienda is located on 13th street, just south of the junction with SW 16th Avenue (south of Arby's).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />The inside of La Tienda is much like a small cafeteria. The room is white with several tables, a counter where you order, and a few decorations to try to make it look festive (some Corona banners and pinatas). It doesn't look great inside, but you can show up and watch Argentinian soccer almost any time of day. They do have seating outside, which is probably beautiful once the weather cools down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />Great! We've never had a problem waiting for our food. You walk straight up to the counter, order, then sit. Someone will bring you the food in about 5 minutes, and you just pay after you've eaten. They speak both English and Spanish. You grab your own sodas (they have authentic Mexican Coca-Cola that uses real cane sugar) and let them know what you drank later. They certainly believe in the honor system here. Try the tamarind flavored Jarritos soda. It's my favorite.Your food is made fresh and brought to you by a server along with salsa and guacamole. Warning- their guacamole is HOT. My friends say I burned my taste buds off long ago, but I won't even use more than a few drops.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />La Tienda has a clean, simple menu. You can choose from several entrees they have available, but I always go with a burrito or taco. You choose whatever meat you like, be it chicken, steak, chorizo, beef tongue (yup), and a few other options served on freshly made tortillas. Yes, they make their tortillas from scratch in-house!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br /><br />Don't expect to get a typical hard shell taco with rice, cheese, tomato, lettuce, and meat. They don't do that here. Go to Taco Bell if that's what you want. La Tienda serves their tacos in deliciously soft tortillas. If they piled a hundred of these up, I could probably use them as a pillow. On top of that fluffy tortilla, you will find the meat you ordered, some onion, and cilantro. Period. It is so simple and so good. My favorite is the Campechano, a mix of chicken and chorizo, which is a popular spicy sausage used in Latin-American cuisine. <br /><br />Their burritos are built more the way you would expect, including rice. Alex loves them. If you have a larger appetite, I would go with one of these. Don't be afraid to try a meat you aren't familiar with. Alex tried the beef tongue and loved it! He described it as tender and flavorful. They also have a vegetarian menu that includes a chile relleno (stuffed pepper) and some dishes including cactus.<br /><br />Honestly, my favorite thing to get at La Tienda is their chicken soup. It is the perfect cure for anything (hangover, cold, bad day) and makes you feel at home, assuming your mom used to make you chicken soup. They give you limes to squeeze into the soup, along with cilantro, onion, and jalapeno on the side so you can turn the soup into whatever makes you happy. And this soup does make me happy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br /><br />One of the more affordable places in Gainesville. You can get 3 tacos or a burrito for $4.99.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />This is one of our go-to places for a quick bite. I usually call ahead and pick up the food. It works since we live nearby. I really can't find much wrong with this place. I think I would give them a 9/10, if only they would work on their atmosphere a bit.Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-77022045409553628122009-08-27T21:33:00.005-04:002009-08-27T22:22:30.802-04:00Chunky T's Old FLA BBQChunky T's takes their BBQ seriously. When you pull up outside at 918 NE 16th Avenue, the first thing you see is a giant smoker housed in its own tent. There is a pile of wood and a smaller smoker for tempeh. Okay, so the smoker isn't GIANT, but it's pretty big considering the size of the dining room. Chunky T's is first come-first serve BBQ, which is usually the best. They make a certain amount of each item and when they're out, they're out. So if, for example, you really want some brisket, you better show up within the first 2 days of the week they're open. This ensures that you get amazing BBQ every time. It hasn't been thrown together to quickly fill orders. Chunky T's has taken their time to make your food the right way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />This restaurant is a small white room with a tiny ordering counter. There are various types of patio/picnic furniture on which to sit. It probably seats 20 people or so. Like I said, it's about the BBQ, not the place. Even so, they display local art with any blues, Florida, or nature themes. I have a soft spot for places that show local artists off. When I went, they had these gorgeous oil paintings of blues artists. There was a great one of local legend, Bo Diddley. They also appear to have a small stage, but there was nothing going on when we were there. Then there is the giant pig. Yes, there is a large pig statue painted a perfect pepto pink. No big deal. We're here to eat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />Pretty fast. I don't really know how busy it gets earlier in the week (they are open Tue-Sat 11am-8pm). We went on a weekend, when they had a sign on the door that they were out of everything expect pulled pork and tempeh. I wasn't kidding when I said to go there early in the week if there's only one thing you want. Our orders were taken immediately, kindly, and delivered promptly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />It's an old style BBQ place. Think brisket, pulled pork sandwiches, mac 'n' cheese, green beans, baked beans, ribs, and chicken. They also have turkey and BBQ tempeh. Remember, once they run out of something, that's it for the week. There will be a sign on the door.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food/Bev:</span><br /><br />They have a few beers and drink options, but nothing amazing. The BBQ is great! It's flavorful, juicy, and drenched in a mustard-based BBQ sauce instead of tomato-based. If you've never tried mustard BBQ sauce, you should give it a shot! It is more tangy than sweet, and so delicious. Alex has said he could chug the stuff and not feel bad about it. It's that good. I tried their pulled pork sandwich, and Alex has had the brisket. I would probably put the pork up against any other BBQ place in town. It spilled its heavenly goodness over the sides of the bun and onto my wax paper-lined basket. Half the sandwich may have ended up there. Anyway, there was nothing left by the time I was done. Oh, I loved that they offer two sandwich sizes! I hate having to order the same size sandwich as Alex when one half the size would do me just as well, without that guilty feeling of leaving amazing food on my plate. One just has more meat than the other, it's not like a sandwich cut in half or anything. A surprising tidbit- their mac 'n' cheese is some of the best I've had at a BBQ joint! Not watery, not chewy or dry. Just perfect. The beans leave something to be desired, but what do you expect? Honestly, they probably use canned baked beans. Don't bother getting them, just go for the mac.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br /><br />Affordable. It's about what you'd expect to pay for a BBQ sandwich and a side.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />We're pretty smitten with Chunky T's. I want to go back. Alex has already gone back. If I worked closer, I'd definitely go there for lunch all the time. I'd give it an 8.5/10. The other 1.5 points are for the very "meh" sides (except the mac 'n' cheese), and they could probably use a better beer selection. Plus the fact that they run out of brisket. I understand it's because it is so good, and I think it is entirely appropriate to smoke what you're gonna smoke and be done with it for the week, but I want some brisket, dammit!Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-88951661188477232032009-07-20T18:04:00.005-04:002009-07-20T21:08:38.959-04:00Boca FiestaBoca Fiesta is a new Mexican restaurant located in the Sun Center, where the Pontiac used to be. The name translates literally to "Mouth Party," which you have to admit is pretty awesome. It recently opened and is the endeavor of a member of local band Against Me!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />The owners of Boca Fiesta did a great job decorating the locale. The interior is warm, welcoming and comfortable. The decor is simple, but gives you a sense of what a great local-favorite restaurant on the Texan-Mexican border might look like. Even the menu design draws some interest as it has hand-drawn dinosaurs carrying giant tacos and drinking sodas.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />The service is a matter of contention. They seem to organize their service the same way Satchel's does. That is, servers don't have assigned tables. They just walk around and take care of whoever seems to need a drink or looks ready to order. This method can work, but it has to be done right. Alex and I have visited Boca Fiesta 2 or 3 times. So far, we've had so-so service. On our first visit it took quite a long time to get our food. Maybe 30-40 minutes after we had received our drinks. Since then, their timing has improved. One thing the managers at Boca Fiesta need to work on is the friendliness of their staff. Some of them act aloof, as if you just happened to drop in on a friend's dinner party without being invited. If they happen to walk by they'll take your orders, but they won't be particularly happy about it. Sure, they say the typical "how are you" or "how was your food," but it's said is if read from a que card, with blank or irritated expressions. Of the times we've been there, only one server has been very nice and professional.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I've been told horror stories about their late night service. Alex and I haven't gone later than 10:30 or so, but a few close friends of ours went later. From what I've heard, Boca Fiesta gets rid of their servers and cooks after a certain hour. At that point, the people taking orders, serving, AND cooking are just runners, which I find unnerving. My friends' runner accidentally gave one of their tacos to someone else at the table, who ate it thinking it was a part of their own meal. Once they realized someone was missing a taco, the runner brought another out, but instead of just apologizing and chalking it up to a dumb mistake, they charged them for both tacos! When they asked for one to be taken off their tab since it was given to someone else, the runner simply said "well, SOMEONE ate it." Ridiculous! So you got to keep a few bucks for the taco, but you lost a customer for good and a large portion of your tip, if not all. If I were the owners/managers of Boca Fiesta, I'd put a stop to this immediately and just keep your servers on for a few extra hours (and teach them to fake a smile).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />While the Boca Fiesta menu doesn't have a ton of options, what they've chosen to include is interesting and original. As far as entrees go, there is only the burrito option or the taco option, but they have a decent variety of meats and meat substitutes to put in. You can choose from the usual, like steak or chicken, or you can be more adventurous and ask for gator meat or their TVP (texturized vegetable protein) chorizo. There is also a taco salad and something called a pizzadilla, which frightens me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food/Beverages:</span><br /><br />Boca Fiesta actually has a broad selection of beer! This was a great surprise. They have Blue Moon, Abita TurboDog, and plenty of others to choose from in varying price ranges. They also serve a delicious margarita sweetened with agave nectar and served on the rocks, and a refreshing, freshly squeezed limeade! The food is delicious and filling. The TVP chorizo is flavorful, and a steak burrito with Jalapeno Heat Wave sauce is always a great choice. One of their appetizers, the table-side guacamole, is one of the best guacamoles I've had. Honestly, it is second only to the fresh guacamole I had in Cozumel. Not enough restaurants do table-side presentations, and fresh guac is a simple way to make the customer feel special.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br /><br />While all the food tastes fresh and delicious, I do think the guacamole is too expensive. Six dollars is enough to make 4 times as much guac as you get. You do get free chips and salsa that are crispy and well-seasoned, so you can skip the app altogether. I also think they should work on the pricing for their specials. Specials are supposed to be an out-of-the-ordinary option at a great price. They recently had a special that was a kangaroo taco, which really intrigued me, but a single taco is not worth $5 in Gainesville, no matter what it's made of. Still, you can get out of there for relatively cheap. One burrito or 2 tacos will run you $8-9, including 2 sides. Sadly, their side choices are limited to rice and beans, corn on the cob, or a salad. Their lunch special is a great deal- 2 tacos, a side and a soda for $6.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />Boca Fiesta is a great addition to Gainesville dining. If they can sort out their service and late night issues, I think they'll do well and capture a lot more loyal local business. Overall, I would give them a 6. If they train their servers/runners a little better for consistent service, I'd bump it up to an 8. It's that good. Try it out!Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-21367943634470243102009-03-22T16:51:00.010-04:002009-03-24T21:47:46.141-04:00BJ's Restaurant & BrewhouseThere are very few chain restaurants Alex and I would endorse, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BJ's</span> Restaurant & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brewhouse</span>, besides having a fun name, filled our bellies with delicious food and great beer at equally delicious prices. Who wouldn't be happy with that? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">BJ's</span> recently opened here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gainesville</span> by the Oaks Mall, in the former location of Don Pablo's. Think Hops, but with a wider selection of food. This is fitting, considering that our Hops recently closed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />About what you'd expect at a chain restaurant/pub. There's plenty of booth and high-top seating, along with a bar if you don't want to deal with the wait. They are apparently good at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">accommodating</span> large parties, and will often hold birthdays and other large events. Their interior decorators are skilled, sticking to a stone and black decor both on the walls and floor, with a black exposed-duct ceiling. The indoor space is pretty large and they have a small outdoor patio as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />Alex and I sat at the bar and our waitress was great. She knew what she was doing and checked on us often enough without getting in the way of our conversations. She never got an order wrong and made us feel welcome to take all the time we needed to have a great experience. Other servers I saw walking around, however, were having a tough time of it. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BJ's</span> had just opened a week or two ago, so they were all still learning. It was also a really busy lunch time, so they were stepping on each other's toes while trying to be helpful. This includes my toes, which were painfully stomped by a rushing waiter. He apologized, but I was too worried that he had torn my Reef sandals. After a few more close calls, Alex and I moved to a spot against the wall while we waited for some seats at the bar to open up. The bar seemed to be the information hub, because there was almost a constant stream of waiters/waitresses asking where they were supposed to take their food, and we were brought random items that didn't belong to us twice. No worries, though, our waitress promptly corrected them and sent them off in the right direction.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />As any chain restaurant should, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BJ's</span> has a large selection of various types of food. They have salads, soups, deep-dish pizzas, appetizers, desserts, sandwiches, pastas, and plenty of hot dishes to fit <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">everyone's</span> tastes. They also have lunch specials Monday through Friday that include an unlimited soup and salad special. They also have a great selection of beer. Really, we were impressed (and we've been to Stubbies). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BJ's</span> has their own microbrewery as well as other decent beers on tap (including Orange Blossom <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Pilsner</span>, Arrogant Bastard, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hennepin</span>, Purple Haze) and available by the bottle (including <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Chimay</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Westmalle</span>, Delirium <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Tremens</span>).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food/Beverages:</span><br /><br />We started with the avocado egg rolls, with cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, red onions, pine nuts, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">chipotle</span> peppers. They took ingredients that I wouldn't have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">thought</span> to toss with avocado, wrapped it in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">wonton</span> wrapper, and fried it to crispy heaven. And this was the best part, it came with a sweet tamarind sauce. Tamarind is popular in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Latin</span> cuisine, and has a very tangy flavor. The sauce was a great compliment, although the rolls on their own were just as good. Warning, tamarind has a STRONG flavor. Just dip a tiny bit. I loved that the ingredients were mixed together before they were spooned into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">wonton</span> so it all blended into a perfectly spiced filling. The food was prepared well and decently flavorful. Alex had the mini deep-dish Mediterranean pizza. It had toppings of basil pesto, grilled chicken, roasted garlic, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Kalamata</span> olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and sliced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">pepperoncinis</span>. I had the shrimp tacos, which came with a delicious avocado cream sauce and fire-roasted salsa.<br /><br />The beers were impressive. We had the seven-5 oz. samplers. This let us try all of their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">microbrews</span>. The stand-outs: a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">citrusy</span> sweet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">hefeweizen</span>, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">hoppy</span> pale-ale, a fruity Irish-style red ale, and a flavorful porter with a creamy head.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br /><br />Alex and I got out of there with 2 beers, an appetizer, the seven beer sampler and two entrees for $40 before tip. That's pretty good. The dishes are about $8-13. A majority of the beers were priced, surprisingly, under $5. Even the higher-end bottles were on the frugal end of things.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />7/10. If we're ever feeling some good beers and a larger variety of foods, we'll probably stop by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">BJ's</span>. Their site: www.bjsbrewhouse.com.Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-62754527006746938132009-02-09T14:03:00.007-05:002009-05-07T17:05:19.853-04:00Luca's PastaLuca's Pasta has quickly become one of my go-to dinner spots. It happens to be on my way home from work, so it's a great choice if Alex and I don't feel like cooking but still want a homey, satisfying meal. Luca's Pasta is speedy create-your-own pasta served in containers similar to chinese take-out.<br /><br /><strong>Atmosphere:</strong><br /><br />Most of Luca's business probably comes from take-out customers, although they do have plenty of seating and a mod decor.<br /><br /><strong>Service:</strong><br /><br />Amazing. Really. Alex and I still haven't figured it out, but they get your pasta to you in about 5 minutes. The amazing part is the pasta still tastes fresh! It doesn't seem like it's been sitting around. They must par cook it somehow, but it results in al dente pasta that doesn't clump. You walk up to the counter to order and can serve yourself Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes that they keep up there, which is very thoughtful since most of their customers are taking the pasta home and may not have parm for it. No parm for your pasta is a tragedy.<br /><br /><strong>Menu:</strong><br /><br />Luca's Pasta is create-your-own. Choose a sauce, choose a pasta, and choose a topping if you like. They'll put it all together. This isn't just red sauce or Alfredo here, either. Some sauce choices include Creamy Ginger, Olive Oil and Herbs, Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, or Curry and Roasted Red Pepper. The sauces rotate, so you'll have to stop by to see what they've got. You can add toppings to your pasta for an extra fee, including chicken, Italian sausage, and broccoli.<br /><br /><strong>Food:</strong><br /><br />Great! As I said, the pasta comes out fast, but it's not clumpy or sticky and perfectly al dente. My favorite is the cheese tortellini with sun dried tomato pesto or spicy marinara. I only got the toppings once, but I didn't think it was worth it. The pasta is good enough on its own and ordering a topping only gets you 4-5 pieces of it. If you get a pasta other than the tortellini, you might want to consider a topping or a strong sauce so you don't get bored.<br /><br /><strong>Price:</strong><br /><br />The sauces and toppings have different prices, but expect to pay about $6-$9. It doesn't look like a lot of pasta in that to-go container, but it fills you up quick. They also have different sized containers to fit your appetite.<br /><br /><strong>Overall:</strong><br /><br />8/10. Great for a quick bite when walking by or when you just don't have the energy to cook.<br /><a href="http://www.allmenus.com/fl/gainesville/282819-lucas-pasta/menu/"><br /></a>Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-73681183805588922442009-02-06T16:19:00.009-05:002009-05-07T17:21:18.305-04:00Reggae ShackReggae Shack is a surprising gem hiding among all the restaurants along the University Avenue strip. They serve traditional Caribbean dishes in a small but comfortable setting. They are just off 6th street on University, between Luca's Pasta and Otter & Trout Trading Company (both new favorites of mine as well).<br /><br /><strong>Atmosphere/Service:</strong><br /><br />Casual. It's a white room with a big kitchen. The other walls have interesting memorabilia and posters from Reggae musicians. Green, red, and yellow are the theme colors, of course. It seems to be family owned, and that's what really makes the atmosphere for me. The same woman always takes your order, with her amazingly cute baby in a fabric sling on her hip. Her apparent husband is the cook. The woman is kind and completely willing to describe every single dish to you if you like. She'll even warn you if a particular dish is too spicy or too odd for most patrons. I have to say, I have tremendous respect for any woman that can run a restaurant (including cashiering, serving and busing) with a baby on her hip and a smile on her face. Props to the baby as well, it seems to have the most calm temperament in the world. Ordering is nice and fast, and you'll get your drinks immediately. The food takes a bit longer since they seem to make it all from scratch when you order. It takes about 15-20 minutes.<br /><br /><strong>Menu:</strong><br /><br />Interesting. They have plenty of side dishes/snacks, entrees, vegetarian options, wings, and salads. And you probably have never heard of at least 75% of them. There are lots of non-alcoholic drink options. It seems they have wine and beer, but I didn't notice their selection. I was all about the guava-aloe juice, which is quite possibly the most refreshing drink since water.<br /><br /><strong>Food:</strong><br /><br />This is why you come to Reggae Shack. The food is delicious, well-seasoned, and different. My first time there I tried the Calalloo and Salt Fish. Mrs. Reggae Shack made sure to ask if I liked greens. Who doesn't like greens? Calalloo is a collard green-like vegetable. The salt fish was most likely salted cod, which I mainly know by its Spanish name, Bacalao. This dish was seasoned perfectly, which is tough to do with greens. It was a traditional dish that you don't typically see here, but I'm glad I ordered it. Alex had the brown stew chicken, which was tender and flavorful. He has said he would definitely order it again. The festivals were a light, sweet end to my meal. Festivals are fried dough pieces, similar to a cakey doughnut.<br /><br />On another occasion, I had the Curry Goat. I have recently decided that more people should try eating goat. It has a very interesting, earthy flavor. The curry sauce was a thicker, sweeter version that what I was used to, but it complimented the goat meat perfectly. Alex had the jerk tofu. He got MANY warnings for this from Mrs. Reggae. He assured her that he liked spicy food. Let me tell you now, unless you can handle hotter than Steamer's medium spice (if you haven't gone to Steamers, you should), don't order the jerk anything. It was delicious and Alex loved it, but he was definitely teared up by the end and had trouble finishing. The spice doesn't hit you in the first few bites. It builds up gradually until there is a fire dancing on your tongue with 6 of its buddies.<br /><br />Warning: Reggae Shack cooks bone-in. Be watchful when eating something covered in sauce. The bones are pretty big chunks, so it's easy to pick them out. Just pay attention. Bone-in cooking is worth it. You get much stronger flavors out of the meat when the marrow comes into play.<br /><br />The patties. Oh, the patties. I would eat those breakfast, lunch and dinner. Especially at only $2-$3 for a giant one.<br /><br /><strong>Price:</strong><br /><br />Expect to spend $7-$12 per dish. The meals feed me twice. Alex could probably finish a dish in one sitting if he pushed himself, but why do that when you're plenty full already?<br /><br /><strong>Overall:</strong><br /><br />10/10. Go to Reggae Shack, especially if you're craving something different. Oh, and get the aloe juice.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.allmenus.com/fl/gainesville/62990-reggae-shack/menu/"><img src="http://www.allmenus.com/fl/gainesville/62990-reggae-shack/link.gif" border="0" width="100" height="50" /></a>Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-51715843693641686052009-01-11T20:02:00.003-05:002009-05-07T17:22:20.257-04:00Satchel's PizzaIf you haven't been to Satchel's pizza yet, you are missing out. Both Alex and I agree they're the best pizza joint in town. Pair their delicious crust and fresh ingredients with an amazing atmosphere, and you can't go wrong. Please don't forget the are CASH ONLY. There is an ATM, but you don't want to have to pay those service fees.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />The best. Satchel's is a hippie joint. There is cool local art on the walls, great music playing (live on busy nights), a junk shop and greenhouse in the back, and even an old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">VW</span> van you can sit in. There is beautiful garden seating out front and a great fountain built out of old junk the owner, Satchel, collected. Each menu has a different back to it, thoughts and photos from Satchel. He started with one menu back for people to read while they waited for their food, but he added more since all of his regulars had read it. Now there are about 45 different menu backs.<br /><br />Satchel's is a real treat. So take your time, explore the junk shop and back patio, and have a beer while you wait. They tend to have live music Thurs-Sat. They are closed Sunday and Monday. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Check the</span> website for live music dates.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />Very good. The servers all share the tables and tips. This makes sure that someone is always looking at your table. All the servers will make sure you have drinks and that someone took your order. A warning... SATCHELS TAKES A LONG TIME. Don't go for a quick bite. It takes about an hour to make your pizza, but believe me it's worth the wait. On a busy night when the live music is going, it can also take an hour or more just to get your table. Again, worth it. Go with some friends and enjoy your time there. One way to get around the wait is to order your pizza to go and walk it out to the back patio to eat. They allow it and you enjoy fresh air.<br /><br />On a side note, Satchel also offers his workers great benefits. They are happy, and this shows through their service. Check out the website for more info: www.satchelspizza.com .<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />Satchel's offers slices, whole pizzas, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">calzones</span>, and a delicious salad. They also have a deep dish pizza that you have to order in advance. They also have some fresh-baked desserts by the register. They have about 30 different fresh pizza toppings. Pretty good beer and wine selection. Plenty of other beverages, as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br /><br />Delicious! Like I've said, the pizza is worth the wait. Do me a favor, though. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Don't</span> just get a slice of cheese or pepperoni and a Coke. Okay? They have great toppings. Be adventurous! Alex and my favorite is the Mama, which is a 4 topping pizza. We always get ricotta as our first topping. Some of our other favorites are fresh basil, mushrooms, garlic, spinach, roasted red pepper, or feta. You can always ask your server for suggestions. The different kinds of meat they offer are good, too. We always start with one of their salads. It has pieces of apple, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Romano</span> cheese,almonds, sunflower seeds, and a great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">vinaigrette</span> they sell by the bottle. Try it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br /><br />They are pretty affordable, but you don't want to eat there every day.They have a good lunch special of a salad and a slice for $6.25. The whole pizzas range anywhere from $16.50 to $26, but they're a good size and pretty filling. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Calzones</span> are $10-15.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />Amazing. The best place in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Gainesville</span> overall. This is the one place I will miss dearly whenever I move away. You'll never find a more unique, relaxing, and welcoming place to eat. 10/10<br /><br /><a href="http://www.allmenus.com/fl/gainesville/248400-satchels-pizza/menu/"><img src="http://www.allmenus.com/fl/gainesville/248400-satchels-pizza/link.gif" border="0" width="100" height="50" /></a>Shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08202977104737884507noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-40690403805048236502008-12-29T18:20:00.002-05:002009-02-07T10:37:51.113-05:00Original Pizza Palace<div>Shirley here, guestblogging again. Although, this may become the more usual setup since Alex finds himself very busy with work/grad school stuff.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Original Pizza Palace isn't quite the real original. About 9 years ago, there was a Pizza Palace in the same location that was a great success, having been there on and off since 1953. It was a popular student hangout with food good enough to please the locals as well. Now the Pizza Palace has returned to the same location, a big house at 604 NW 13th street, after some legal proceedings way too complicated to go into here and some subsequent changes in management. Alex and I were excited at the prospect of trying what was once an age-old tradition in Gainesville. We got a big group of friends together to visit Original Pizza Palace when it reopened a few months ago. Unfortunately, we were embarrassed at having hyped the place up for so many of our close friends. We literally had to apologize to them for putting them through the ordeal that this trip became.</div> <div> </div> <div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span></div> <div><br />The atmosphere in Original Pizza Palace is actually pretty cool. It is laid-back hippie style, reminiscent of Satchel's Pizza on NE 23rd street (our favorite pizza spot). It is warm and welcoming, with plenty of interesting art and objects to look at, and a thrown-together, homey feel.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</div> <div><br />Horrendous. Granted, they had only been open two weeks, so it was still busy, but I didn't expect servers to be rude. It took about 2 hours to get a table.<br /><br />Our server literally ignored us when we asked her to come over many times for missing items or water. An older man came over at one point who seemed to be a manager or superior of some sort, and we told him our server hadn't been over to check on us in about 45 minutes. Instead of apologizing and getting our server, he simply said, "Oh, she's busy, she'll come over in a minute." It took another 10 minutes before she actually did.<br /><br />Alex and I returned a couple of months later to give the place another chance, and service was much nicer. We got a table pretty quickly, but the food still took a while. Basically, don't expect your server to check on you often, and don't go during a busy time of day. Perhaps they've gotten better with time, but the servers seemed completely unable to handle a busy night.<br /></div> <div> </div> <div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span></div> <div><br />Good selection of pizzas and pastas. Even a good selection of beer. The menu actually had us fairly excited.<br /></div> <div> </div> <div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br /><br /></div> <div>The first night we went, most of my friends were pretty sure they had been served Ragu or some sort of off-the-shelf sauce brand. I had a pasta that was supposed to have anchovy fillets in it, but there was just half an anchovy to one side of the plate. I had never really tried anchovy, so I was pretty disappointed when Alex ate that one and we found out I didn't have any more.<br /><br />The friends that ordered the pizza didn't really like it. It was a thin crust with minimal toppings and sauce. Not too much flavor to it. It was suspiciously round, far too perfect to be a freshly made crust. Honestly, I feel that the pizza Alex and I make at home using pizza dough from Publix tastes better. When our friends requested some red sauce for dipping to help with the blandness of the crust, after waiting at least 20 minutes for it, it was cold and almost certainly Ragu or some equivalent.<br /><br />Only one person of the group liked what they got - pesto pasta. And her comment was: "It tastes like canned pesto and pasta from a grocery store." Basically, it tastes good, but why go to a restaurant for it? Its saving grace was its cheap price.<br /><br />On our second trip, Alex and I decided to try the pizza. It had improved a little bit. It was good, but still not quite up to par with Satchel's, Big Lou's or Mellow Mushroom. It was a decent thin crust pizza, fairly crispy.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</div> <div><br />Mid-range. It's not cheap, but it won't break your wallet. The pizzas are not large for the price, unfortunately.<br /></div> <div> </div> <div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br /></div> <div>I don't like to be mean. Maybe go once during a slow time of day, have some pizza or the pesto pasta, and be able to say you've been there. Don't take someone there to impress them. 3/10 stars...4/10 if I'm being extra nice. 0/10 if I'm only basing it on that first experience on opening night where they apparently ran out of everything and started serving Ragu.</div>alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-84146534284882896972008-08-15T18:09:00.006-04:002008-08-15T18:54:03.548-04:00Louis' LunchExploring Gainesville, one might believe that it has little history, at least in a culinary sense. It seems as though sometime around the mid-70's, some enterprising young fellows looked around, realized there were no restaurants, and finally opened a few.<br /><br />And that's where Louis' Lunch comes in. Opened shortly before the Great Depression, a family business for about 80 years, this is a piece of Gainesville history. And it's also incredibly easy to miss. From Main Street and University, go South on Main Street, take a Left onto 5th Avenue, and Louis Lunch will be to your left on the corner of 2nd street and 5th Avenue.<br /><br />In Gainesville's downtown before downtown eventually shifted and left it behind, it is now buried amongst houses. Normally a place such as this would go out of business. But they're doing something right, and that's keeping the locals coming.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br />It looks it's age. Don't expect a spotless stainless steel and white tiled floor sort of place. This is a burger joint. The burger goes down on an old flat top, and the fries are fried in a pot. This is old school, and it's awesome because of that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br />Friendly. We went during a very slow time, but I can't imagine they would be any less friendly while it was busy. You go up to the counter to order and they let you know when the food is done. Pretty simple stuff.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br />About what you would expect. Shakes, fries, a wide variety of burgers, onion rings, and other assorted goodies.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br />Delicious. The fries are not seasoned heavily, so if you enjoy them salty you might want to put some on yourself. They however are fresh, hot, and enjoyable.<br /><br />The burgers are fried in such a way that the edges are crispy while the interior is still juicy. It makes for a delicious burger, with plenty of onion, lettuce, tomato, and mustard. This seriously is exactly what you want from a fast food burger. It's sloppy, a little greasy, but phenomenal.<br /><br />The shake was very good, though not exceptional.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>Incredibly cheap. Cost is not an issue here. Bring cash though.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />Overall:</span><br />Go. This is part of Gainesville's history, one that relies on customers to stick around. Try it and realize why it's been around for so long.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-60039707796849620832008-08-08T21:10:00.003-04:002008-08-15T18:08:44.140-04:00The JonesAfter hearing so much about this place, I was dying to try it. But I just did not have the time. With it being on the east side of Gainesville, and only being open until 3; things never worked out. <br /><br />Until Shirley and I had a day off a few days ago. So, we decided we'd have lunch at this little place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br /><br />Nestled between a laundromat and a pawn shop, I'm sure it could be better. However, the inside of the shop has great art, and the place is arranged to make for a warm and inviting dining experience. The place screams having a nice breakfast and reading the paper in the morning. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br /><br />Friendly, on the ball, and knowledgeable. The staff are all very helpful and made us feel welcome. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br /><br />I'll be honest, looking at the menu I was very disappointed that we had gone here for lunch instead of breakfast. The breakfast menu looks amazing! In addition to several original dishes, they have basic stuff that is "bare" and has a very low base price, which you then add accompaniments onto for an additional price. Kind of a neat concept, though I can see it being a bit frustrating for some. I'm sure the wait staff would be helpful enough to make it not a bother.<br /><br />The lunch menu is your basic sandwich fare. They offer almost everything with a vegan or vegetarian option and use tempeh from Jose's Tempeh Shop. I prefer Artie's stuff, but no biggie. I ordered their tempeh reuben and Shirley ordered the tempeh samsara, which was described as the tempeh reuben on a salad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br /><br />The tempeh reuben was very good. The sauerkraut was very tasty, the tempeh was prepared well, and the bread (from Gainesville's own 2nd Street Bakery) was very good. An incredibly solid reuben. I had rice and beans as a side, and my only complaint was that it was about room temperature. <br /><br />Shirley's general opinion of the tempeh samsara seemed to be that it should probably remain a sandwich. It tasted pretty good but the sandwich probably would have been better. <br /><br />We had a frozen blueberry and honey mousse for dessert, and I have to say it was absolutely fantastic. Probably the highlight of the meal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br />Very reasonable. Both the lunch and breakfasts can be enjoyed for under 8 dollars a person.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br />I would very much like to come back here for breakfast as that seems to be the highlight of the Jones. The lunch is still worth a visit though, so don't fret if you can't make it for the breakfast. A reasonably priced, tasty, and vegetarian friendly option in east side Gainesville.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Addendum:</span><br />So, Shirley and I decided to go back to the Jones for some breakfast sooner or later, and felt it would be appropriate to put up the results of our trip for everyone. The verdict? Excellent. Gainesville has a hip, comfortable, and delicious breakfast spot in The Jones. <br /><br />I ordered the Smoked Salmon Omelet, an omelet folded with red onions, dill cream cheese and smoked salmon. It was accompanied by homefries and some toast. The omelet was absolutely delicious, and the homefries were well-seasoned.<br /><br />Shirley ordered The Jones Rancheros (don't kill me if I remembered this wrong!), which was very good. Definitely good for someone looking for a unique breakfast. <br /><br />The Jones is open 7 days a week from 7am-3pm. Check it out.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-54639270343303535232008-08-08T20:49:00.004-04:002008-08-08T21:09:46.249-04:00Pho HanoiSo there's a new pho place in town, looking to muscle in on Saigon Legend's monopoly on Vietnamese food in Gainesville. This one is on 34th street, just south of Archer Road, across from the Kangaroo. I'm a sucker for pho (pronounced fuh) of all types, and Vietnamese food is always tasty.<br /><br />To the review...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere:</span><br />Unfortunately, Pho Hanoi is in a strip mall. Restaurant owners can't really help this though, so while it's not the most scenic location you can't hold this against them. They have done a nice job on the interior, with a nice paint job and tasteful decorations. The seating is... cramped. But in a way, I think it fits. If you've never tried it, pho is an excellent hangover cure and generally good pick me up. Filing in, taking your seat next to someone else and eating seems a good part of the experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service:</span><br />So-so. Friendly enough, but a bit forgetful. We received our spring rolls after the pho had been brought out and only after reminding the waiter we had ordered them. It was also only one person covering the restaurant for a little while, so it's certainly forgivable. I'm sure as this place comes into it's own and the employees gain more experience, it will improve.<br /><br />One very negative point was that Shirley's pho was accompanied by a dirty soup spoon. We're talking several splotches of dried food. This is the kinda thing that can really kill a restaurant for me, so I hope that this was just a very rare mistake.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu:</span><br />I'll be honest and say I mostly came here for the pho. Everything else was secondary. But the quick glance at the rest of the menu showed a lot of names that are familiar to me from Saigon Legend, so I assume they are standard Vietnamese entrees. pho Hanoi offers some different choices than Saigon Legend in it's phos. They offer beef, beef tendon, tripe, chicken, and tofu as options. They also have bowls that have a combination of the beef, tendons, and tripe. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>I ordered the pho with just the beef, while Shirley ordered the beef & tripe pho. The first thing that struck me upon seeing the dish was that it was not a clear broth as I am used to, you could easily tell the beef broth by it's color. It also had a stronger smell of anise than the pho at Saigon Legend. The accompaniments were the usual lime and bean sprouts, along with culantro and thai basil. This is the first time I've had thai basil in my pho, and I have to say I'm glad they include it. It's delicious.<br /><br />The beef was sliced perfectly thin for the soup, and the broth was incredibly flavorful. I absolutely loved it. Shirley's pho with the tripe was very good too, and the tripe was very flavorful. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price:</span><br />Expect a bowl of pho to run you around 7$. It's a pretty huge soup, so trust me that this is a pretty cheap meal for what you get.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall:</span><br /><br />This is a promising new restaurant that offers what is currently the best pho in town. The service could stand to improve, but the quality of the food and the good prices would keep me coming back even if the service stayed the same.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span>alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-9869746215417929872008-04-29T14:37:00.002-04:002008-08-08T21:41:42.520-04:00Manuel's Vintage RoomSo just a couple weeks ago was my third anniversary with Shirley. We decided to make it a throwback night, to the days when we would wander downtown and pick some random place to eat at.<br /><br />We couldn't quite help ourselves about looking up a few places, but I swear we didn't call ahead! We walked up Main Street past the lovely Stab n' Grab, and found ourselves by Manuel's Vintage Room. Manuel's took the place of Pio's Pasta Company, and I didn't see too much difference between the two on my first impression.<br /><br />But anyways, here's my review:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere</span>:<br />Excellent. Taking a date for some Italian? Seriously, go here. Small, intimate, dim lighting. Can be a bit loud when there's groups, but it's not too bad. KItchen is slightly open, so there's something to look at.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service</span>:<br />Impressive. The waitress we had displayed a good mix of being knowledgeable and efficient while still being friendly. Food came out at a good pace, drinks were kept full, and we had a good time. <br /><br />I wasn't sure to put this under service or atmosphere, but if you come during dinner you may actually see Manuel. When we walked in, he was eating his dinner in front of the kitchen, pausing a few times to get up and see how everyone in the restaurant was doing. Some might find that annoying, I found it pretty cool. Another bonus for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu</span>:<br />The wine list has a decent amount of choices, but as is par for the course, everything is just too expensive to justify. I won't hold it against them, as I haven't found a place that's any better about it in Gainesville.<br /><br />The menu consists of soup, salad, starters, pasta, and entrees. Fairly standard fare. The pasta is a 'create your own' deal. Normally I'm not a big fan of this, as I think it's the restaurants job to tell me what the best they have to offer is. But the waitress was good with recommending something for us, so it wasn't a big deal.<br /><br />The entrees are mostly beef, veal, or fish options. <br /><br />Overall, I felt the menu was balanced and offered a variety that anyone could enjoy. I find myself wanting to go back to try some things I didn't have a chance to sample.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><br />To start the meal, we ordered 'Snails'. I guess they didn't want to call it escargot, but they prepared it very well anyways. Good texture, good amount of garlic and seasoning, very enjoyable.<br /><br />For our entrees, we split one of the create your own pastas and the cognac grouper.<br /><br />The pasta was served with a pesto that was very tasty, if a bit heavy on the cream. <br /><br />The grouper was cooked excellently, and the sauce was delicious. <br /><br />The meal was a very reasonable portion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price</span>:<br />Moderately pricey. Appetizers go from 6-10$, Entrees from 15-20$<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span>:<br />The intimate atmosphere, friendly service, and the good food won me over. Definitely worth a try.<br />8.5/10alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-72882344443737781632007-12-10T13:55:00.000-05:002007-12-10T14:45:09.098-05:00Lunch at Merlion Singapore CuisineHi everyone, Shirley here. I'll be guestblogging while Alex deals with finals. A couple of days ago, Alex and I were hungry for something new. So we decided to try out Merlion Singapore Cuisine.<br /><br /><strong>Location:</strong> On 13th street south of campus, across from the IHOP.<br /><br />Now believe me when I say it may look like a total dive hiding behind some bushes, but it's actually impressive.<br /><br /><strong>Atmosphere:</strong> Very clean look. We were surprised by the large amount of seating and the decor, which was simple yet elegant. There was definitely a struggle between the restaurant's ability to seat large parties and the desire to remain intimate. There were many 4-top tables in a large central area, lined by more spacious booths along one side and extra chairs and bar stools against another. There were beautiful candles and wall decorations around the room, but none were lit. I'm assuming this is because we went for lunch. Hopefully, they light the candles for dinner. I'm sure this place looks great, although too large to be romantic, at night. There also seemed to be a separate area to the left with curtains and 2 or 3 very large tables behind it. I wonder if this is a more private space for large parties, or an eating area for the people who work there?<br /><br /><strong>Menu:</strong> I was personally impressed by their Afternoon Tea menu. Yes, Afternoon... Tea... MENU. If you decided to bypass a complete meal, you could pay anywhere from 7 to 15 dollars per person and enjoy a pot of delicious tea (they had at least 20 varieties listed) along with some traditional tea cakes and snacks. Great for the person who likes to eat out, but can't stand the huge portions offered in popular restaurants. I would check on the times for this before you go, I didn't note when it was available.<br /><br />Alex and I ordered a pot of Rose Petal Green Tea, but went with full meals instead of the afternoon tea menu. The tea was delicious and served in a clear pot, decorated by what looked like hand-painted flowers. Rose buds floated in our green tea, which really makes you feel fancy. It was kept warm on a matching clear tea light holder. Food presentation itself was nice. Nothing too creative, but elegant nonetheless. Alex started off with the Communist Soup. Who can look at a menu, see Communist Soup, and not order it out of curiosity? It is described as a curry beef and potato soup. It tasted like a stew, but had the consistency of beef broth. It seemed like a flavorful, but light start to a meal. I had the Nyonya Veggie Soup. I was thrown off by the texture, which felt a bit like gelatin. Turns out it was textured soy protein. It tasted pretty good, but I think I'll steer clear of it next time. There was too much of an eggy taste to it, which I wasn't expecting. Not bad, but be prepared.<br /><br />For his main dish, Alex had the Java Fried Rice. I had the Kung Pao Seafood. There were lots of options, even though it was the lunch menu. I would definitely go back to see their dinner menu selections. The menu was organized as multiple flavor combinations and sauces, and you could choose to put it on chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu, combination (chicken and beef) or seafood (shrimp, scallops, and octopus). I chose the Kung Pao Seafood. It was a spicy sauce with crunchy peanuts, red and green bell peppers, and of course, my seafood. The seafood seemed perfectly cooked (even the scallops), and you could tell they actually cooked it all together as opposed to just pouring sauce on a precooked seafood medley. Alex seemed to enjoy his fried rice. Our meals came with a spring roll (Alex loved it, my sentiments were "eh", so he ate mine), crab rangoon (fried wontons with crab and cream cheese), and white rice. The crab rangoon was especially good. There were plenty of other selections, including curry dishes, vegetarian dishes, appetizers, pad thai, and noodle dishes. It looks like their dinner menu even includes more "americanized" dishes (such as a Merlion burger).<br /><br /><strong>Price:</strong> Great price. Keep in mind we were there for lunch, but Alex and I both ate filling meals and a great pot of tea for under $25 total. I would definitely go back. I also want to go back and try their dessert. I heard the guy in the booth next to us raving about a fried banana with ice cream. I also see fried ice cream on an online menu... mmmmm.<br /><br /><strong>Service:</strong> Fast, professional. Don't expect your server to smile too much or make jokes, but you'll get your food/drinks. They're pretty attentive without being annoying (I dislike servers who ignore you, but I dislike the ones that check on you every 2 minutes more). I think they almost gave my plate to another table, but a woman came out and corrected the server before he handed it to anyone. Again, it was such fast service that this didn't even matter.<br /><br /><strong>Score:</strong> Hmm, I feel like it's not my place to do scores on Alex's blog. I mean, it would be hard to compare to the other scores he's posted since we have different palettes. I would venture an 8/10 for lunch.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-75780883762149814542007-11-13T10:40:00.000-05:002007-11-13T10:43:43.384-05:00Copper Monkey<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Copper Monkey</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service</span><br />Generally quick and friendly. Nothing special but always deserving of a good tip.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food</span><br />Big, juicy, incredibly tasty burgers. Best burgers in Gainesville and they're had at a great price. My only complaint is that it's easy to hurt your jaw eating some of these burgers. <br /><br />I usually get the chips and salsa, which are actually tasty. The salsa tastes fresh and the chips don't taste straight out of the bag.<br /><br />They've also got your usual bar food appetizers, which being fried, can't be too bad.<br /><br />They have lots of other sandwiches available, including grilled chicken for those who a bit more health concious. I've only ever gotten the burgers, because hey, it's a burger place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price</span><br />The sandwiches are all 5-8$, and are plenty for one person. If you're getting appetizers or some beers, expect 15-18$ a person.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere</span><br />This is a good place to watch sports and drink a few beers. TV's in view from every seat and a well stocked bar. If you're looking for a place to watch the game, or ease yourself into going out for the night, this is a great place to do it.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-7261344131388282522007-10-02T09:00:00.000-04:002007-10-02T09:30:52.685-04:00Mark's US PrimeSo, it was Shirley's birthday and I decided to make it a fancy one. I looked around for fine dining restaurants in Gainesville, and decided on the nicest steakhouse in town: Mark's. <br /><br />Location: Downtown across from the parking garage and next to Dragonfly.<br /><br />Atmosphere: It's a steakhouse. Mark's captures everything you want from a steakhouse very well. Cushy leather booths, dark wood everywhere, and some jazz playing in the background. <br /><br />Service: Excellent. The wait staff is personable, knowledgable, and very quick. Empty dishes were cleared from the table as soon as they were emptied, and the food delivered as if they were reading our minds.<br /><br />Food: We lead with the steak tartare and crab cakes for appetizers. The steak tartare is served with horeradish cream sauce, capers, and red onion. It was tender and full of flavor. I don't think I could have had a better introduction to steak tartare.<br /><br />The crab cakes were served with a very nice looking presentation, and were absolutely delicious. These are not stuffed with fillers and grains. These are meaty, tasty, amazing crab cakes. If you like crab cakes, do not pass these up.<br /><br />For our main course, we both had steak. Mark's has other items that looked good, but hell, we're in a steakhouse. Get the steak.<br /><br />I chose the bone-in ribeye, and Shirley chose the petite filet. For sides, Mark's serves all their sides family-style. We chose grilled asparagus and potatoes lyonnaise. <br /><br />The steaks came out, and we learned about something special Mark's does with the steaks. They heat all their plates to 400 degrees, meaning that your steak comes to your table sizzling, and stays hot and tender throughout your meal. For those worrying about it ruining your meat by cooking it further, it seems to be at just low enough temperature for that to not be a problem. My steak stayed at a nice medium rare throughout the meal.<br /><br />The steak was near fork-tender. You will not have to work your knives much. It is delicious, large, and perfectly cooked. There's not much else I can say for these. They know steak, they have good cuts, and they prepare them perfectly.<br /><br />The asparagus made me jealous, they had such large and tasty looking stalks. Much bigger and tastier than what I can get at the supermarket.<br /><br />The potatoes lyonnaise were certainly not the highlight of the meal, but I think if I were not eating them alongside such great food, they would have stood out more to me.<br /><br />For desert, we looked at the cocktail menu because we were so full of food. Mark's offers several dessert cocktails for those wanting both alcohol and a little sweetness to finish the night. I chose the chocolate decadence cocktail, and Shirley chose the creme brulee. I'm not quite sure how, but I think if I were to order the actual desserts I would have not enjoyed them as much. The cocktails were delicious and everything I come back, I will be ordering one.<br /><br />Price: Expensive. Probably one of the most expensive meals you can get in Gainesville. <br /><br />Overall: 9.5/10 Excellent food, service, atmosphere, and drinks. What more can you ask for?alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-35219355918629142322007-09-25T10:13:00.000-04:002007-09-25T14:51:56.955-04:00Restaurant Review: Sushi MatsuriMy loss is your gain. After an eventful week, and a 5 hour wait in the emergency room, Shirley and I decided that going home to make dinner wasn't quite enough. We decided we needed some good food and a lot of it. We needed... a sushi boat.<br /><br />My usual sushi haunt, Miya Sushi is our go-to place. So we went there, ready for that sushi boat we know and love. But... it was dark. Windows papered up. Shit. Luckily, a quick investigation revealed it was just a remodeling.<br /><br />We still had the problem of needing a sushi boat to fill that hole in our hearts, so we went to Sushi Matsuri right down the street. And we were pleasantly surprised.<br /><br />Location: In Butler Plaza, right next to Target Copy and Blockbuster.<br /><br />Atmosphere: Good. It's small and a bit cramped, something I think is a bonus for a sushi place. Japanese lanterns, a lot of wood, and random decorations make for a comfortable atmosphere.<br /><br />Menu: I'm not going to lie, I didn't examine it as close as I should have. There was only one thing I had my eye on when I walked in. I did notice they had a lot of options. Lots of entrees and appetizers to choose from. The sushi menu seemed about as extensive as any of the other places in Gainesville.<br /><br />Service: Pretty good. The hostess seemed kind of confused when we walked in needing a table for two. I don't really know why. But the rest was friendly and quick enough that I'm gonna chalk it up to it being late at night and her being tired.<br /><br />Food: Presentation was good. Very good. And that sushi boat... they pack it full. This is the most impressive boat I've found in Gainesville and at comparable price to the other places. Tons of sashimi and rolls, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">huge</span> hand rolls. It was really nice. It also came with wakame so huge props for that. We dove into it, really excited. Unfortunately, I started with the salmon. One piece was actually icy. And the cut really wasn't that good. Luckily, everything else was much better but starting with the salmon made me very critical and inspecting of the rest of the fish. Luckily, it didn't dissapoint and I ended up having a great dinner.<br /><br />The miso was miso. Not great, just ok. The salad was kinda bleh. I like my ginger dressings to have a bit of sweetness to them, this one really didn't.<br /><br />Price: Average. I paid 45$ for the sushi boat, which was probably enough food for 3-4. (It provided dinner to two starving people and lunch for one later.)<br /><br />Overall: 7/10 This is a more than fitting replacement for Miya while it's being remodeled. I would definitely come back, but because of my previous experience with the salmon, I'll probably stick to tuna and other fish.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-24565018571289095372007-09-18T10:24:00.000-04:002007-09-18T10:31:22.045-04:00Restaurant Review: Guthrie'sSo I'm drunk sometimes, what of it? There are times when you crave hot, greasy, fried food. And those times are when Guthrie's is damn near perfect. <br /><br />Where: Corner of South 13th Street and SW 16th Avenue.<br /><br />Atmosphere: Non-existent. They have booths and chairs. Just go through the drive-through.<br /><br />Menu: They do one thing, and they do it very well. Chicken fingers. They fry chicken fingers, and will either put them in a box with fries, or put them on a bun and call it a sandwich. When you order, you can ask for a 'box' or a 'sandwich'. If you are morbidly obese, you can order a bucket. The box is six bucks and comes with the fingers, texas toast, fries, and cole slaw. It's what I always get, and it's what keeps me going some nights.<br /><br />Service: It's fast food. They get the food to you pretty fast. They have not cursed at me so I consider that good service!<br /><br />Food: Chicken fingers are so, so good. Seriously, they're straight up good chicken fingers. They're hot, moist, and tasty. This is the best fried chicken product in Gainesville.<br /><br />Overall: It's fast food and drunk food. It serves only chicken fingers. But damn if it doesn't serve the best ones I've ever tasted. 8.5/10alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-68962830284363769282007-05-17T23:30:00.002-04:002008-08-08T21:44:34.091-04:00Review: Chopstix CafeWhere: South 13th Street, next to X-mart and across from IHOP.<br /><br />When: I went to Chopstix Cafe on Thursday May 17, the restaurant moderately busy.<br /><br />Atmosphere: Quite nice, actually. Though a lot of restaurants along 441 suffer from dingy surroundings, Chopstix is very lucky to be on a nice looking lake. The inside is decorated well enough to make guests feel comfortable.<br /><br />Menu: The menu at Chopstix made me wish I was vegetarian. So many options for them! Unfortunately, I was really craving some kind of beef dish. Their usual dishes were standard chinese takeout fare, though prepared authentically. Think kung pao, general tso's, etc. but prepared without all the frying and MSG. They had some unique (and tasty!) appetizers, along with sushi, soups, salads, and other options. Definitely enough options to satisfy any diner.<br /><br />Service: Suprisingly good, actually. The reason it's a suprise is because from every story I've ever heard about Chopstix, the service is <span style="font-weight: bold;">horrible.</span> I have heard so many horror stories about rude waiters, wrong orders, long wait times, etc. So unless there's been a major change lately, I think it should be safe to assume my experience is out of the ordinary. While it was far from perfect or corteous, the wait staff kept my glass full of water, and the food came out in a timely fashion. It was enough to keep me happy.<br /><br />Food: I ordered the house kung pao beef for my entree, wth an appetizer of fried frog legs with garlic. The appetizer was decent, though the breading did not stick to the meat in the least bit. The sauce was quite tasty, and made up slightly for the bad frying.<br /><br />The kung pao beef arrived, and was very simply good. That's not a slight. It wasn't amazing, but it was solidly good. It had good fresh ingredients, the sauce tasted good, and the portion size was perfect. It wasn't great, but it's about the best 'good' cuisine you can find. My friends dining with me all had no complaints with their food, as well.<br /><br />Price: Quite reasonable. Appetizers from 3-5$. Soups 2-4$, Entrees 8$-10$. I didn't catch the prices of their noodle bowls or vegetarian options, but I'd imagine they fall slightly below that of the entrees.<br /><br />Overall: Feel like a sitdown asian meal, but don't feel like paying out for a meal downtown? Go to Chopstix. Familiar dishes made well and offered at a reasonable price. Make sure you have a few hours in case the service is as bad as history suggests, though. 7/10alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-63319128052055261972007-05-13T19:12:00.000-04:002007-05-13T19:21:31.673-04:00Recipe: Tea EggsTea eggs are a chinese new year's dish. They are known not only for their flavor, but the interesting patterns the shells take. Most do them with black tea, but being a fan of green tea, I substituted some green tea from the Asian market in this recipe.<br /><br />You'll need:<br /><ul><li>6 eggs</li><li>5 tablespoons soy sauce</li><li>1 cinnamon stick</li><li>2 teaspoons salt</li><li>1 star anise</li><li>1 teaspoon cracked peppercorns</li><li>2 teabags or 2 tablespoons of tea</li><li>2 teaspoons sugar</li></ul><br />Steps:<br />1. Put the eggs in a pot and cover with water. Bring water to a boil and boil for about 2-3 minutes.<br />2. Remove eggs, add all other ingredients to the pot.<br />3. Lightly tap the eggs with a knife to crack the shell.<br />4. Place eggs back in pot and simmer for an hour and a half to three hours.<br />5. Drink a beer.<br />6. Enjoy these cool looking and tasty eggs!<br /><br />Credit goes to Tastespotting.com and About.com for info about this dish.alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-74834761706675713582007-05-13T14:12:00.000-04:002007-05-13T14:26:58.360-04:00Review: The Top<span style="font-weight: bold;">Where</span>: Just north of University Avenue and Main Street in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gainesville's</span> downtown area, The Top restaurant can be found across from another popular hangout, The Atlantic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When</span>: I went Friday, May 11 for dinner. The restaurant was packed with people. Some at tables, some at the bar. This is a popular restaurant for locals and for students.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atmosphere</span>: The Top has a very laid back, indie sort of environment. It's walls have interesting art, and the lighting is kept dimmed and intimate. Interesting music is always playing, though never loud enough to disrupt a conversation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Menu</span>: A major attraction for The Top is their many vegetarian selections. They have many dishes that offer a choice of meat or tofu. The dishes are all over the place. From stir-fry to stuffed chicken to pastas. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Service</span>: The service I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">received</span> was friendly and quick. Make that very quick. Very, very quick. I barely had time to eat my appetizer before my salad was out, and when I was halfway done with my salad, the entree had hit the table. Despite this minor annoyance, the server was very friendly and attentive. It's important to note that it looked as though he was covering half the restaurant by himself, so that may have explained why the dishes were coming out as they were.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food</span>: I ordered the special of the day, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Crawfish</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Etoufee</span>. It's a Cajun dish with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">crawfish</span> and vegetables in a brown sauce served over rice. It was accompanied by some grilled asparagus. All parts of the dish were great. The sauce was just spicy enough, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">crawfish</span> and the vegetables were tasty and tender, and the asparagus was fresh and grilled just right. <br /><br /> For an appetizer, I ordered the 'word famous corn nuggets'. While that's an exaggeration, it probably shouldn't be. The corn nuggets are fantastic, and the garlic ranch complements them perfectly. While the other appetizers looked equally appealing, I don't think I could resist ordering these again.<br /><br /> I also ordered a small side salad, which was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">surprisingly</span> good for a garden salad. It had a good variety of vegetables, all of them fresh and tasty. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">vinaigrette</span> was quite good as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Price</span>: The average entree at The Top is around 10-13 dollars, with appetizers coming in at 3-6 dollars. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Overall</span>: The atmosphere and the quality of the food are the reasons to go to The Top. 8.5/10alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9039824012289735638.post-84768780426824389942007-05-13T00:15:00.000-04:002007-05-13T00:26:00.136-04:00Welcome!If you're reading this, then my blog might not be a complete failure! I'll be updating this blog weekly with new restaurant reviews and random tidbits about food in Gainesville. <br /><br />A review of The Top will be coming soon, but until then...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gainesville Farmer's Markets<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>As most people probably notice, Gainesville isn't exactly surrounded by bustling metropolises. To be totally honest, Gainesville is in the middle of a bunch of nothing. Just wide open spaces with the occasional trailer or flea market. But that's not such a bad thing. All that wide open space is filled quite nicely by local farmers. And Gainesville farmer's markets are definitely worth checking out.<br /><br />There are several times and locations for farmer's markets, with some farmers going to just one of them, and others being at all. My favorites are the markets on 441 Saturday morning and Haile Plantation farmer's market. The 441 market generally has the best prices and selection of produce. However, it has no crafts and no bakers. The Haile Plantation has a more limited selection of produce, but makes up for it with local crafts and bakers. I'll generally go to Haile if I want a great baguette, otherwise I'll go up 441. <br /><br />Some of the farmers grow their crops hydroponically, and almost always have fresh produce yearround. One always has delicious tomatoes and basil for sale. If you see a couple with beefsteak tomatoes, cluster tomatoes, and basil (sometimes some seedless cukes too) don't hesitate to buy from them. The tomatoes are all ripe and delicious, and the basil keeps for a long time.<br /><br />Other than that, look around! The produce at the market isn't always going to be very pretty, but it's always fresh and delicious. Expect to pay about 10$-15$ on a week's worth of vegetables and fruit. <br /><br />Other farmer's markets include the Union Street market Wednesday evenings. While I have friends who swear by it, I avoid it because it is generally more crafts than produce.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>alexevansufhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10783900437180652222noreply@blogger.com0