For 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.
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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.
Food:
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.
Price:
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!
Overall:
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.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Piesano's Stone Fired Pizza
Piesano'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.
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
Our service was exceptional. (NOTE: Please see updates at the end of this post.) 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.
Menu:
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.
Food:
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.
Price:
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.
Overall:
7/10. You should definitely check out Piesano's. Go with some friends and share a huge pie. Definitely try one of the appetizers.
Update 11/10/09: Pasta!
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.
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.
Update 6/13/10: 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.
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
Our service was exceptional. (NOTE: Please see updates at the end of this post.) 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.
Menu:
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.
Food:
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.
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.
Price:
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.
Overall:
7/10. You should definitely check out Piesano's. Go with some friends and share a huge pie. Definitely try one of the appetizers.
Update 11/10/09: Pasta!
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.
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.
Update 6/13/10: 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.
Friday, October 9, 2009
La Tienda - Traditional Mexican Food
La 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).
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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!
Food:
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.
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.
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.
Price:
One of the more affordable places in Gainesville. You can get 3 tacos or a burrito for $4.99.
Overall:
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.
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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!
Food:
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.
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.
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.
Price:
One of the more affordable places in Gainesville. You can get 3 tacos or a burrito for $4.99.
Overall:
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.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Chunky T's Old FLA BBQ
Chunky 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.
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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.
Food/Bev:
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.
Price:
Affordable. It's about what you'd expect to pay for a BBQ sandwich and a side.
Overall:
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!
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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.
Food/Bev:
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.
Price:
Affordable. It's about what you'd expect to pay for a BBQ sandwich and a side.
Overall:
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!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Boca Fiesta
Boca 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!
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
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).
Menu:
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.
Food/Beverages:
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.
Price:
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.
Overall:
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!
Atmosphere:
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.
Service:
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.
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).
Menu:
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.
Food/Beverages:
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.
Price:
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.
Overall:
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!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
There are very few chain restaurants Alex and I would endorse, but BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, 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? BJ's recently opened here in Gainesville 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.
Atmosphere:
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 accommodating 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.
Service:
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. BJ's 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.
Menu:
As any chain restaurant should, BJ's 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 everyone's 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). BJ's has their own microbrewery as well as other decent beers on tap (including Orange Blossom Pilsner, Arrogant Bastard, Hennepin, Purple Haze) and available by the bottle (including Chimay, Westmalle, Delirium Tremens).
Food/Beverages:
We started with the avocado egg rolls, with cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, red onions, pine nuts, and chipotle peppers. They took ingredients that I wouldn't have thought to toss with avocado, wrapped it in a wonton wrapper, and fried it to crispy heaven. And this was the best part, it came with a sweet tamarind sauce. Tamarind is popular in Latin 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 wonton 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, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and sliced pepperoncinis. I had the shrimp tacos, which came with a delicious avocado cream sauce and fire-roasted salsa.
The beers were impressive. We had the seven-5 oz. samplers. This let us try all of their microbrews. The stand-outs: a citrusy sweet hefeweizen, a hoppy pale-ale, a fruity Irish-style red ale, and a flavorful porter with a creamy head.
Price:
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.
Overall:
7/10. If we're ever feeling some good beers and a larger variety of foods, we'll probably stop by BJ's. Their site: www.bjsbrewhouse.com.
Atmosphere:
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 accommodating 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.
Service:
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. BJ's 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.
Menu:
As any chain restaurant should, BJ's 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 everyone's 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). BJ's has their own microbrewery as well as other decent beers on tap (including Orange Blossom Pilsner, Arrogant Bastard, Hennepin, Purple Haze) and available by the bottle (including Chimay, Westmalle, Delirium Tremens).
Food/Beverages:
We started with the avocado egg rolls, with cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro, red onions, pine nuts, and chipotle peppers. They took ingredients that I wouldn't have thought to toss with avocado, wrapped it in a wonton wrapper, and fried it to crispy heaven. And this was the best part, it came with a sweet tamarind sauce. Tamarind is popular in Latin 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 wonton 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, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, and sliced pepperoncinis. I had the shrimp tacos, which came with a delicious avocado cream sauce and fire-roasted salsa.
The beers were impressive. We had the seven-5 oz. samplers. This let us try all of their microbrews. The stand-outs: a citrusy sweet hefeweizen, a hoppy pale-ale, a fruity Irish-style red ale, and a flavorful porter with a creamy head.
Price:
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.
Overall:
7/10. If we're ever feeling some good beers and a larger variety of foods, we'll probably stop by BJ's. Their site: www.bjsbrewhouse.com.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Luca's Pasta
Luca'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.
Atmosphere:
Most of Luca's business probably comes from take-out customers, although they do have plenty of seating and a mod decor.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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.
Food:
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.
Price:
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.
Overall:
8/10. Great for a quick bite when walking by or when you just don't have the energy to cook.
Atmosphere:
Most of Luca's business probably comes from take-out customers, although they do have plenty of seating and a mod decor.
Service:
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.
Menu:
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.
Food:
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.
Price:
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.
Overall:
8/10. Great for a quick bite when walking by or when you just don't have the energy to cook.
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