Tally Foodie

Announcing: saraSOtasty - my new blog!

2011-06-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Hope you're all doing well. I'm super excited to announce that I have started a new blog devoted to Sarasota restaurant reviews - saraSOtasty! My focus will be on the Sarasota area along with the Keys, but I'll also be featuring Tampa and Orlando reviews as well - so if you're ever traveling down South for vacation be sure to check it out!

The picture up top is from my first review of Roy's Hawaiian Cuisine - so yummy! I got the Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish, and it literally melts in your mouth like butta (no joke). To check out the full review, click here.

And one last thing - I'm planning to make a visit back to Tallahassee at some point this summer! Does anyone have any recommendations for new restaurants that have sprung up that I should check out? I promise I'll review them on this blog afterward (how's that for a bribe?).

I hope all my foodie friends are doing well. I miss ya guys!

What's a Foodie To Do?

2010-08-05T12:57:00.000-07:00

Well, my friends, I have to start this - my FINAL post - by saying THANK YOU! Thank you for reading the blog, commenting, emailing me with suggestions, passing the blog along to friends and all the other things you've done to support Tally Foodie over the past year. Without you, I probably would not have continued this venture that I started as just "something fun to do." I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. And if I've gotten you to try even one new place that you didn't know about before - my job is done, and I can close my laptop with a smile on my face!

So I'm sure you're all wondering what is to become of the Tally Foodie blog. After giving it a lot of thought, I've decided NOT to let someone else continue to write the blog. Because it was my vision, I just didn't feel comfortable handing the reins (or the knife and fork, as it were) over to someone else. I hope you can understand. I am going to leave the Tally Foodie blog up on the Interwebs for a while, however, so that you can still peruse the reviews at your leisure and pass it along to friends. I am turning on the comment moderation feature (I seem to get a lot of asian spam comments for some reason) so don't be surprised if your comments aren't posted right away. And I may end up starting a Sarasota food blog sometime in the future. At first, I'm just going to focus on settling in and starting my new job - a girl's gotta have priorities!

But, I didn't want to leave you without some alternatives to turn to. So, if you'd still like to continue reading reviews of Tallahassee restaurants, here are a couple of places to look:

UrbanTallahassee - A website completely dedicated to following the growth and development of the Tallahassee region. Reviews are often posted of new and revamped restaurants in the area.

Urbanspoon - The world's leading provider of time-critical dining data with restaurant reviews from food critics, bloggers and friends. You can find reviews here for Tallahassee and a whole host of other cities throughout the country.

Grubbus - A blog written by Eli, an Austin, TX native who travels frequently to Tallahassee on business. He writes colorful restaurant reviews for both cities.

Le Grand Fromage - A passionate food blog written by Brie, a blogger friend of mine. Many of her posts detail her adventures in cooking, but she also comments on local Tallahassee food shops, events and restaurants from time to time.

Black Coffee & Bourbon - Another blog I found recently through Urbanspoon, who posts Tallahassee restaurant reviews from time to time, along with other miscellaneous musings about his life. His restaurant rating system even looks eerily similar to mine (coincidence???)!

I know I'm irreplaceable - but hopefully one or a few of these sites can fill the empty void that I'll be leaving on your taste buds (*smirks playfully*). I also wanted to leave you with "THE LIST" all the places that have been recommended to me by you - my readers - but that I just hadn't gotten around to trying out and/or reviewing for the blog yet. Maybe it will give you some ideas the next time you can't decide where to go on a Friday or Saturday night! They're listed in alphabetical order, and I've provided links to their websites where available:

Another Broken Egg Cafe
Bada Bean
Bamboo House
Barberitos (Thomasville)
Boss Oyster (Apalachicola)
Brooklyn Pizza
China Delight
Circa Sushi
Dog Et Al
Donut Kingdom
Fat Sandwich
Ghengis Grill
Gordo's Cuban Food
Grandaddy's Barbeque (Thomasville)
Habana's Boardwalk
Harry's Seafood
Jim & Milt's Bar-B-Q
Lindy's Chicken
Los Compadres
Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant
Momo's Pizza
Moto Sushi & Grill
Nini's Bakery
One Fresh Stir Fry
Pitaria
Po Boys
Ray's Steel City Saloon
Reangthai
Sage
Sumo Sabi Sushi
The Dogg House
Ted's Montana Grill
Tupelo's (Monticello)
Z. Bardhi's

Feel free to add other suggestions in the comment area as well! At this point, I think all that's left to say is - try new places and treasure your local favorites! I will miss you all.

Happy Eating Tallahassee!

A La Provence - A Spectacular Sionara

2010-08-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well, my fellow foodies, this is it. My final Tallahassee restaurant review. But never fear - I've got one more post coming up after this one that will discuss the fate of the Tally Foodie blog, my final thoughts on the Tallahassee restaurant scene and some alternate places to look for the latest reviews. So....stay tuned!

On our last Friday night in Tallahassee, I made reservations for us a A La Provence - the restaurant that used to be Aria and that used to be Albert's Provence before that. I'm not sure what all the name changing/menu changing/ownership changing means - but I'm thinking it was for the best. Hubby and I ate here once when its moniker was Aria, and while the food was good, it was nothing to write home about. However, A La Provence should really be considered in a class of it's own when it comes to Tallahassee dining.

I have to start by talking about their truly exceptional service. No where else in Tallahassee have I been treated with such attention or been given such detailed explanations of the food and wine offerings! The servers don't just place the food down and run - they present the dish to you, making your mouth water as they divulge each and every creative ingredient that is waiting to delight you on your plate. They check on you often to make sure you are happy - but not so often that they become a pest. Water glasses are filled expertly - sometimes even by the hostess when she isn't busy seating patrons. It's as if each employee is acutely tuned in to the needs of each individual customer - and fulfills them before you even have the chance to speak. To be served in such a manner is a treat and an honor. Hats off to you, A La Provence.

Next, on to the decor. It has an all at once old fashioned, yet homey feel. With a large stone fireplace area, various landscape and still life paintings and country chairs - it feels almost as though I've stepped into my Grandmother's house. Not that I really minded. There's just something about Grandma's house that makes you feel special - you never have to lift a finger, you're served food till you're stuffed and then someone else cleans everything up! Not too shabby. But if A La Provence did want to step into the 21st century at some point, I wouldn't mind a more modern take on the place. In fact, it may bring a more youthful slant to their customer base. I can see how this place wouldn't be "cool" to bring a date to. But nonetheless, I ain't mad at 'em!

You can't be mad when you're served food as wonderful as this. A La Provence bills themselves as a "fine dining restaurant offering French Classics and Euro-American cuisine." We were told their menu changes seasonally to reflect the vegetables, fruits and seafood that are fresh at the time, although they do have a few "staples" that they always offer - these included steaks, lamb and duck.

To start off our night, we were served a complimentary "Amuse Bouche" - a French term which translates to "amuse the mouth." It was a little bite-sized treat that our server explained was to "open and delight our palates." On this night it was made with parsley, carrot, radish and mozzarella cheese in a light sauce made with tobasco, cayenne pepper and lemon juice. And open the palate it did! It was a spicy, crunchy little kicker that made both of us open our eyes in surprise and nod vigorously at each other while uttering things like "mmm" and "oooh."

Next, we were served fresh Ciabatta bread with both a sweet cream butter and an olive tapenade made with chopped olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil. While I tried the butter, it was cold (which made it hard to knife and spread) and didn't taste very sweet at all. I would have loved a good room-temperature honey butter instead. But the olive tapenade - now that's where it was at! It was salty and tangy and yumdillyicious! I think we pretty much scraped the bottom of that bowl clean that's how good it was!

As an appetizer, we ordered their version of a Caprese Salad. Made with tomatoes, house-made mozzarella, green and black olives and fresh greens it was lightly topped with olive oil, salt and pepper. Honestly, I have never tasted mozzarella like this - it was so utterly light and fluffy, it was divine. Sometimes mozzarella can have a slightly slimy texture (which I know a lot of people like, and I personally don't mind either), but this mozzarella just knocked my socks off. You gotta just try it for yourself!

As if we needed any more food at this point, I ordered the Pistachio Crusted Rainbow Trout as my entree, which came with an heirloom tomato confit, calloo spinach, spring herbs and a tomato-horseradish vinaigrette. This fish was cooked to absolute perfection. It was moist and melty on the inside and the outside of the skin was cooked to a crispy, flaky crust with the pistachios providing a bit of extra salty deliciousness. When combined with the tangy-ness of the vinaigrette and the mushiness of either the tomatoes confit or spinach, it was a delectable combination of textures and flavors. Although I couldn't seem to put my fork down, the trout eventually defeated me. It was a rather large piece of fish, and in hindsight, hubby and I probably could have split it and been just fine. It was the perfect summer dish, with light and bright flavors and a consistency that just melts in your mouth.

Hubby ordered the Veal Chop with Grilled Peaches, which I also thought was a fine harmony of flavors. Served with a succotash made with peas, corn and shallots and topped with a homemade mushroom sauce, it was an excellent pairing of savory and sweet with the succotash providing a nice crunch. Hubby didn't quite care for the grilled peaches (I think he thought they were too girly), but to me, a bite of veal wasn't complete without a bite of the grilled peach that was so a-mushingly good!

Needless to say, we were sad that we visited this new found gem on our last weekend in Tallahassee. If we had eaten there sooner, we probably would have spent many a Friday or Saturday date night enjoying the various delectable delights that A La Provence has to offer. And don't be fooled into thinking that because the service and food were so outstanding that the prices were astronomical. The amuse bouche and the bread were free. My trout was $22 and hubby's veal was $28. Again, not too shabby. Simply put, it was an utterly special way to end our time in Tallahassee.

Tally Foodie Rating:
Atmosphere - B
Taste - A+
Presentation - A+
Service - A++
Price - $$

Restaurant Info:
A La Provence
1415 Timberlane Road
Tallahassee FL 32312
850-329-6870
Website Link

The Crepe Vine - Oober Delicious

2010-08-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Awhile ago, I got a note from an FSU reader, who recommended I try out a whole bunch of places on the "campus" side of town. My eye was immediately drawn to one name on the list - The Crepe Vine. My love of crepes began on my honeymoon to Tahiti, where hubby and I visited La Roulettes - roaming carts of cuisine that set up shop after dark in the middle of town, offering local fare straight from the back of their trucks. We were told it was the best way to sample true Tahitian food. After each meal, we would inevitably end up at a crepe truck ordering dessert - chocolate and banana was our poison. They were absolutely TO DIE FOR. So when I saw that there was a creperie in town, it definitely piqued my interest. However, hubby and I never seemed to be able to make it over there.

Then one day, I was driving down Monroe St. after picking up some dry cleaning, and a wonderful young girl knocked on my window with a 25% off coupon to what else - but The Crepe Vine's newest location! I was thrilled. This spot was much closer to our house, and what with the moving and all - it was going to be much easier for us to test it out. So, that Sunday, I woke hubs up early to get our crepe on.

As we walked in the door, I was immediately taken aback by the modern-ness of the space. Pale yellow walls exist in stark contrast to black tables, chairs, couches and bar stools. One whole wall is dedicated to what I'm going to call "crepe space" - where the cooks work their magic. I'm not sure why, but I expected to be waited on. However, that was not the case. You step up to a cash register where a staff member hands you a large menu. What with hubby's poor decision making abilities I was afraid we were never going to order! They've got breakfast crepes filled with things like eggs, bacon, ham and sausage, and they've also got savory crepes (that are pretty much like sandwich wraps) filled with meats, cheeses and veggies. Not to mention salads, parfaits and yogurt bowls. But my eyes went directly to the sweet crepes, because seriously people - is there anything else that should really be in a crepe, but ooey, gooey, sugary deliciousness? I think not.

I quickly ordered up the Oober Goober which was filled with banana, whipped cream, peanut butter and topped with Nutella (a chocolate hazelnut spread). Then I looked over at hubby who was still sweating over his decision. It was then that I noticed the T-zers on the menu. They were billed as a smaller portion, so I thought that would give hubby the chance to try a few different things. He jumped at it. And after a few more agonizing moments, he selected the English T-zer (filled with bacon, eggs, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, spinach and cajun remoulade sauce) and the Mackavelli T-zer (filled with fresh strawberries, Nutella and topped with white chocolate syrup). When it came to drinks, I asked if they had milk or juice and was told that they only had Powerade, bottled water and soft drinks. I thought it a bit strange that a place who relied so heavily on breakfast service would not offer milk or juice to drink. I frowned and ordered a water while hubby grabbed a Powerade. (**Side note - we did go back a week later, and they did have orange and apple juice offerings. I guess enough people asked for it, so they figured they'd better get some. Still no milk though. I mean, come on. Anything with peanut butter, chocolate and bananas better come with some dang milk!**)

Now, the only complaint I had heard about the Crepe Vine was the long wait to get your food. I mean, they're just crepes, right? Throw all the stuff on the flat little pancake and wrap it up, right? How long could it take? So, I pulled out the cell phone and started the timer. We sat down at 9:06am. They do have a few large screen TVs in the restaurant that you can peruse, however, the sound is turned off and none of them have subtitles, so that was a little strange. So we waited. And waited. And waited. There were 3 people back in the "crepe space" all working on something - but apparently not OUR order. And then at 9:26am, our crepes were served. All in all, it was a 20 min wait for our food. It did seem a bit much.

So once our crepes got to the table, I was sufficiently salivating. I took one look at my Oober Goober and said "woooah, ha, ha!" (evil villain laugh) and then dug in! That sucker literally melted in my mouth. The bananas and whipped cream were so light and mushy and the peanut butter and Nutella offered the perfect nutty compliment. I couldn't get enough. Until I ate about 3/4 of it too fast and felt sick. Then I had to slow down. The one thing I will say about their crepes is that they're almost more flaky than they should be. I like my crepes to have a nice, soft, pancake-like texture, but these are a bit more stiff. Other than that, it was absolute heaven.

Now, let's take a minute to talk about hubby's T-zers. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but these things weren't any smaller than their regular crepes! And if they are, the difference is so miniscule that it can't be seen by the naked eye. So we joked that they should call them Same-zers cause they're the exact same size as the other ones. Honestly, I didn't care for his breakfast crepe. For some reason, I've got this idea stuck in my head that crepes should be sweet and the saltiness of the eggs and bacon didn't really work for me. I also didn't particularly enjoy the cajun remoulade sauce, which was more smokey than it was spicy. But hubby didn't seem to mind, and he gobbled it right up. When he moved on to his sweet crepe - I don't know if he was full, or if he had just been poisoned by his taste of the goodness that is the Oober Goober - but he didn't particularly like the Mackavelli. We couldn't quite figure it out, but there was something in that crepe that tasted of coconut - even though that wasn't in any of the ingredients used. Whatever the reason, it just didn't work for him. So he started his "stealth" tactic of stealing bites off of my plate (which isn't so stealthy, by the way). And between the two of us, we tackled what was left of the Goob.

And then I took a nap. A nice, long hibernation-type nap. At the pool. With the Goob rolling around in my belly. It was a good day.

Tally Foodie Rating:
Atmosphere - A
Taste - A (sweet crepes), B (breakfast crepes)
Presentation - A
Service - C (food comes out real slooooow)
Price - $

Restaurant Info:
The Crepe Vine
1304 North Monroe St
Tallahassee FL 32303
850-329-6754
Website Link

Piggy's BBQ - Oink if You Like Pork!

2010-07-20T15:15:00.000-07:00

Since my go-to BBQ spot, Shane's Rib Shack, has closed down, I thought I should probably try somewhere new to get my pulled pork fix. Piggy's BBQ has been on my list of places to try for a while, and so I thought I'd grab a few friends and stop on by for lunch.

At first glance, Piggy's is everything you'd want a down-home BBQ place to be. Booths lined with brick walls, paintings of pigs, an assortment of old license plates, a chalkboard menu and that smokey smell coating the air. I couldn't wait to place my order! But upon seeing the cafeteria style way in which the food was served, I had my doubts. There's a reason why cafeteria food gets a bad name - normally because nothing ends up cooked exactly right. Some food is cold, some food is burnt and some food is stale. It's just not an ideal situation.

But I stepped right up and ordered a pulled pork sandwich anyway. The friendly lady behind the counter eagerly scooped up a large portion of pulled pork and slapped it onto a white bun, with much of it falling over the edge and onto the plate. I slid down the line and was asked what side item I would like with my meal. After perusing vats of mac 'n cheese, green beans and potato salad, I went with the safe choice - french fries. I then slid to the end of the line where I was informed that a fountain drink was included in my meal (a nice little surprise) and promptly forked over the plastic payment.

As I grabbed a seat at a booth, I noticed my friends had pretty much followed in my footsteps with their orders. Three of us got the pulled pork, and one decided to spring for the sausage plate. I have to note that the pulled pork is also available on Texas Toast, but unlike the honkin' slices you'd get at Shane's, their Texas Toast is like the size of a small piece of garlic bread that comes with a spaghetti plate. One of my friends got the Texas Toast option, but most of his pulled pork ended up on the plate vs. the toast. For more substantial sandwich bookends, I'd highly recommend the bun.

Now, I have to give credit where credit is due - Piggy's pulled pork is DE-LISH! All of us that got the pulled pork basically scarfed it down. And with 5 sauces to choose from to douse your pork, there seemed to be an option for everybody. I chose the Ss-weet sauce for my sandwich, as I liked the tangy, savory kick that it provided. Honestly, I went back and doused my sandwich about 3 times it was that good! My friends also enjoyed the Ooo'ey Hot sauce (which they said wasn't too hot) and the Spice'ay Musta' was perfect on the Sausage, I was told. Now, back to the pork itself. It was hot and melty and even included those wonderful crusty pieces of "bark" that let you know that the pork was smoked RIGHT (aka: not in a slow cooker). The bark is that crispy outer layer of pork that contains all of the incredible spices from the rub. These pieces are arguably the most flavorful part of the pulled pork, and they were plentiful at Piggy's.

Now, if Piggy's had an area where it could improve - it would be the side items. As mentioned in the beginning, they really suffered from the "cafeteria" effect. Two of my friends got the green beans, but said they were overcooked. Another got the mac 'n cheese and said (and I quote) "It's not the best I've ever had. It was pretty cold, actually." And another thought the potato salad was "too mayonnaise-y." I wasn't thrilled with my fries either. They looked like nothing more than Ore-Ida crinkle cut frozen fries that you can pick up at any supermarket. With a pulled pork this good, I'd rather see a nice seasoned fry - something like Five Guy's Cajun Fries or Black Bean's Island Fries - served as a perfect compliment to the smokiness of the pork. A french fry with a nice spicy kick would really punch that plate up a notch.

And my friend who got the sausage was pleased as well. He added onions and peppers on top and seemed perfectly happy to eat the entire thing. I'm not a big sausage person, so I'll just have to take his word for it!

Don't get me wrong, I left utterly satisfied and in need of a nap, even if my french fries were subpar. Piggy's definitely has something goin' on with their pork. But when you go in, instead of a side dish - maybe you should just ask for extra pork!

Tally Foodie Rating:
Atmospere - B
Taste - B+ (can't give an A because of the sides)
Presentation - C (but BBQ is always sloppy)
Service - A (there's no table service, but they get you through the line rather quick)
Price - $

Restaurant Info:
Piggy's BBQ
1887 Capital Circle NE
Tallahassee FL 32308
850-668-2271
Website Link

Hopkins - Everything a Deli Should Be

2010-07-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, there are just 3 components that make up a good deli:

Fresh Ingredients
Inventive Combinations
A little bit of chaos

Hopkins Eatery happens to have all three. I don't know how they do it, because they have about a GAZILLION ingredients, but they are all fresh! And I'm talking straight off the vine, fresh from the oven, direct from the farm FRESH. From sweet peppers to toasted walnuts and artichoke hearts to crispy bacon - even alfalfa sprouts and sun dried tomatoes, their ingredients are bananas (oh yeah, and they have those too)! If you're looking for wilted lettuce, sour tomatoes or slimy lunch meat - first of all, who the heck are you?? You need your noggin checked!!! And second of all, you won't find any of that no-good nonsense at Hopkins.

Plus, I absolutely love the creativity that they use to come up with their menu items! Their sandwiches boast names like The Picnic, The Guac, Zorba, Black Bird, The Spin and The Hummer (it's hummus, turkey, feta, black olives, tomato, onion and lettuce served on rye-pumpernickel with mayo and house dressing - so get your minds out of the gutter people!). And their salads include interesting offerings like the Chicken Tetrazzini, Tuna and Tabouli and Walnut Gorgonzola Salads. Heck - even the breads that they serve their sandwiches on are out of the ordinary - things like Poppy Seed Rolls, Onion Rolls and Pumpernickel Rolls are sure to spice up any sandwich! Cause there's nothing worse than a boring ham and cheese on white bread is there, people? No. That's right. No.

Now, I'm sticking to my guns on #3. I've never been to a spectacular deli that wasn't it's own breed of crazy. Stand in this line! Order at the counter! Wait till we call your number! NO substitutions! Fight to grab a seat! Get your own drink! Order up! I love the hectic energy that comes with a packed place hungry for delicious food. Put a different way - if you walk into a deli and no one is screaming - RUN! There's an old truth that there is beauty in chaos, and it's never more apparent than at a superb deli.

At Hopkins, the chaos is as follows: you stand in line, place your order, grab your cup, get your drink, snag a seat, wait for your name to be called, pick up your order and dig in. The slew of names being shouted from behind the counter let you know that you're eating at a place that's in high demand. JAMIE! BOB! DIANE! RYAN! KATIE! CHELSEA! SAM! MARY! BUSTER! (Seriously, whose name is Buster??)

On this day, a friend and I traded the hubub of the office for the hubub of the deli. We both ordered salads - she picked a Mini Chef's Salad with the house Parmesan Italian Dressing and I chose the Hopkins Cobb Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing. My friend had the right idea ordering the mini, because their portion sizes are off the charts!!! But I absolutely love the cobb salad, and it only comes in a regular size, so I had to do battle with the enormity of it. I'm not ashamed to admit that it always defeats me, but I always put up a good fight!

Her Chef's Salad included lettuce, tomato, carrots, bell pepper, ham, turkey, mozzarella, cheddar cheese, onion and alfalfa sprouts. I'm sure I don't have to tell you again - but all the ingredients were delightfully crisp and fresh and the homemade Parmesan Italian dressing provided a nice tart and tangy kick. My Cobb Salad was made with lettuce, grilled chicken, crumbled bacon, boiled egg, artichoke hearts, tomato, gorgonzola cheese and croutons (I had them hold the onions). I know most people like to do a Cobb with ranch or blue cheese dressing, but honey mustard is my drug of choice. I think the sweetness of the dressing evens out all the saltiness of the various ingredients in the salad. The crispy bacon and seasoned croutons are my favorite parts of this salad - they provide a bit of flavorful, crunchy texture to the dish. Oh - and the artichoke hearts! You don't see them too often on a Cobb, and I like the little zippiness that they bring.

Please, for your own health, check out Hopkins today! If only to hear your name shouted across the restaurant and feel that little flutter in your stomach from knowing that you're about to consume something ridiculously good. JOHN!

Tally Foodie Rating:
Atmosphere - B
Taste - A
Presentation - B+
Service - N/A (there's no table service here)
Price - $

Restaurant Info:
Hopkins Eatery
1415 Market Street
Tallahassee FL 32312
850-668-0311
Website Link

San Miguel - Simply Authentic or Just Too Simple?

2010-07-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I love us some good Mexican food. Tex-mex, Cali-mex, Ameri-mex or just good old fashioned Mexican - we love it all! So, when a neighbor told us that their favorite Mexican restaurant in Tallahassee was San Miguel - a place we had never heard of before, we decided to track it down and give it a try!

Located on Tharpe St, just off of Monroe, it's not necessarily off the beaten path, but it's never really caught my eye. And that's surprising, seeing as how San Miguel makes its home within a bright yellow building across from the Lake Ella CVS. The entrance to the restaurant does not face the street however, which could contribute to it's un-eye-catching-ness. One rule of thumb that hubby and I have is that if the parking lot is empty, or you never see people going in there - it's likely not very good.

But, we had made it this far, and weren't about to back out now. We entered and were seated promptly in a wooden booth, surrounded by wall murals and paintings of the pueblos and scenery of Mexico. As you would expect, we were brought out some chips and salsa and ordered up a couple of margaritas. Let me tell you - their salsa is NO JOKE. This stuff is fire-extinguisher worthy! I was licking the salt off the chips just to ease the burn until our margaritas arrived. And those puppies were nothing to fool around with either! They were truly a tall drink of tequila! After 2 each, hubby and I were feeling significantly fuzzy brained. But hey - that's how I like it.

We also ordered up a side of queso for the chips, because well...we just can't help ourselves. Although the cheese had a nice flavor, it was a bit runny and could have used a bit more thickness in order to really coat the chips. We felt a little bit like we were playing slip and slide with the queso as we tried to keep it on our chips. Let's just say - it's no Morelia's queso.

For our entrees, hubby and I decided to shake things up a bit from our usual fajitas order. He went for the Shrimp Quesadilla and I ordered a Beef Enchilada and Chicken Taco. Each of our meals also came with a side of mexican rice and refried beans. Honestly, we weren't very impressed with any of our entrees. While all of our meats were perfectly cooked, we found it really hard to find flavor among any of the dishes. Again, I found the enchilada sauce to be a bit runny, which just made the tortilla soggy. My chicken taco was made with pulled chicken that, while moist, was not marinated in anything or coated with any spices. The taco simply included chicken, cheese and lettuce and could have benefitted from a sauce with a nice zesty kick. And while hubby's shrimp quesadilla was exactly what you'd expect from a dish with that name - it too, was a bit underwhelming. The shrimp were red, which probably means they were coated in some type of spices - but they didn't really taste like it. I don't know about you - but when I eat mexican, I expect spicy food with flavors that burst in my mouth. Here, the food was so bland, I was bored.

Now, sometimes simple means authentic. Sometimes we, as Americans, decide to add crazy sauces, spices, marinades and toppings that aren't exactly traditionally Mexican. I get that. But simple should still be savory. It should still make you want to groan with its goodness. San Miguel didn't. So if you're looking for flavor, you might want to look elsewhere.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B- (it was clean, but seats were hard)

Taste - C

Presentation - B

Service - B+

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

San Miguel

200 W Tharpe St

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-385-3346

Stinky's Fish Camp - Food that Smells of Success

2010-07-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

The initial story of Stinky's Fish Camp in Tallahassee really stunk. After opening a location off Mahan Dr. near the I-10 intersection in mid-Nov 2009, it burned to the ground 18 days later from an electrical fire. I was really excited to try the place out after hearing a lot of great chatter from people who enjoyed the Santa Rosa Beach location. But with the fire happening on December 2nd, and the holidays just around the corner, I had no delusions that I would get to try it anytime soon.

But lo and behold...Stinky's fought back against their fiery fate and re-opened in a temporary location, also on Mahan, across from Costco and Walmart, which, to me, is a much more convenient location. So, I met a friend there for dinner one night recently to check it out. I have to give anybody who takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' huge props. And with Tallahassee's restaurant scene suffering from frequent closures - the fact that Stinky's has perservered speaks volumes.

Now, because it's a temporary location - I won't be too harsh on the interior, but there isn't much pizazz to speak of. There's a fairly large bar area with a few high-tops and bar stools and a separate dining area with tables and chairs of regular height and a few booths. The tables are covered in brown craft paper, which made me think either things were about to get messy, or they didn't want to invest in nicer tablecloths for the "in-between." All in all it makes you feel as though you're in a high school cafeteria/small town dive. But again, I'm letting them slide because I'm assuming they are spending all the money they have on the rebuild/refurb of their original location.

But I have to be honest, seeing an interior like this, usually has me running in the other direction. The only things keeping me firmly planted in my chair, were the rave reviews I had heard, and some liquid courage from a Pinot Grigio. We perused the menu, and after asking me if it was a "cop out" my friend ordered the Fried Shrimp Basket. I confessed to her that I was actually thinking about doing the same thing - because really, who can screw up fried shrimp? But, in an effort to give you guys more variety in my review, I ordered the Shrimp and Fettuccine Pasta with a Louisiana Hot Cream Sauce. They claimed to use only the freshest ingredients and local seafood, so we clinked our glasses and hoped for the best.

Honestly, we were pleasantly surprised. Everything we had heard about Stinky's was true. The food really does deliver! My pasta was spectacular. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and the sauce was a delectable blend of what tasted like a creamy vodka sauce with a slight spicy kick. It was smooth and rich and buttery and oh so savory. And although it was a pasta dish, attention was still paid to the presentation - with the shrimp tails fanned out at the edges of the bowl and a garnish of green onions and parmesan cheese on top. My friend's fried shrimp basket - while a fairly common offering - was also quite tasty. The breading on the shrimp was light and airy with a nice kick of spices included. And the tartar sauce provided a complimentary tang with a special recipe that we couldn't quite put our fingers on. The tartar is a bit more yellow than usual, so I wondered if they put some sort of dijon into the mix. But I can't be sure. The cole slaw was also very nice - creamy and sweet and also looked like it benefitted from some sort of honey mustard because we could see the mustard seeds. It just goes to show that sometimes you can't judge a book by it's (temporary) cover.

I can't wait for the permanent Stinky's Tallahassee location to re-open! I can only imagine what the place would be like in all of it's Fish Camp, quirky, seaside-esque glory. Hopefully an upgraded interior/exterior will give the place the boost it needs to head straight to the heights of the Tallahassee restaurant list!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - C (but again, it is temporary)

Taste - A

Presentation - B+

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Stinky's Fish Camp

3550 Mahan Drive

Tallahassee FL 32308

850-656-5970

Website Link

Tally Foodie is Leaving Tallahassee

2010-07-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

My dear readers - I write this post with a twinge of sadness, for Tally Foodie is leaving Tallahassee. No, you didn't read that wrong - I will be moving out of Tallahassee at the end of July 2010. I have accepted a new job that I am very excited about down in Sarasota. So while I'll still be in sunny FL, I'll no longer be residing in Tallahassee.

So...what does that mean for the blog? I'm not really sure yet. What I DO know is that I'm going to do as many posts as possible in this next month to give you guys as much insight on the Tallahassee dining scene as possible - and simply to go out with a bang!

What I DON'T know is what exactly will become of the Tally Foodie blog. I've talked to some friends and family and I've heard everything from letting someone else continue to write the blog to turning it into a Sarasota food blog. I have mixed feelings about all of these options. Tally Foodie is sort of like my baby - my experiment in blogging and I feel like I'm leaving it at a point when it's finally gaining some steam and some great viewership. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable letting someone else continue to keep my baby alive. But then again, I don't want to leave you guys stranded either.

So, let me know what you think - what should become of the Tally Foodie blog? What would you like to see happen to it? And in the meantime, I promise lots of new reviews in the coming weeks!

Azu - Where's the White Meat?

2010-06-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

One beautiful Saturday afternoon, I met fellow Tallahassee blogger Brie, who writes Le Grand Fromage, at Azu - Lucy Ho's latest concept restaurant. If it was anything like Masa, one of my favorite joints in town, I would be totally psyched. However, I knew it was the replacement restaurant for the former Lucy Ho's located near the I-10 overpass and Kaiser University. Hubby and I had eaten there once when we first moved here because we had a hankerin' for some good Chinese food. Sadly, all of our chicken dishes were made with dark meat and hubby's tummy didn't feel so good after our visit (insert frownie face here). So, I was hoping that with Azu would come some major improvements.

The first improvement was their location - Azu is more centrally located off of Apalachee Parkway. The second improvement was the interior of the restaurant. All I can remember about Lucy Ho's were some sticky vinyl tablecloths and flimsy furniture. Azu is decked out in substantial mahogany wood tables and cherry wood chairs. The wood paneled floor, beige and maroon walls and colorful accents also add to the class of the joint. And I personally love the bamboo stalk and Samurai wall. Just cause it makes me smile. I mean, come on, look at those little guys!

Now down to brass tacks, or wonton soup, in this case. It was time to sample the food. Brie and I both decided to order a lunch bento box because of the amount of food we would be able to sample. Each bento box comes with a vegetable, spring roll, noodles, fried rice and side dish of the day, which today was crab rangoon - all for just $8.00! For my bento box, I selected the General Tsao's Chicken and Brie chose the Cashew Chicken.

On the whole, our meals were delicious. The crab rangoon was crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The shells of the spring rolls were light and crispy, the veggies inside were flavorful and the sweet and sour sauce was perfectly balanced with a tart kick. The noodles were coated in a light oil that didn't weigh the dish down, and the fried rice (while not extraordinary) was respectable. I was delightfully happy eating my General Tsao's chicken, which was slightly sweet, slightly spicy, with a pleasantly crunchy batter, just the way I like it - until I cut one of the bigger pieces in half. It was then that I noticed I was eating dark meat. Now, I know that some people genuinely like dark meat, but I am certainly not one of them. To me, it's just a bit slimier, saltier and somehow gamey-er than white meat. Now, Brie's cashew chicken seemed to be white meat - and I'm assuming that's because, unlike mine, it wasn't hidden beneath any batter. I then began to notice that quite a few of my pieces were also slightly fatty. I'm not sure why Azu couldn't spring for all-white meat chicken in ALL of their dishes, but I have to say it tainted my experience just a bit. Brie, on the other hand, proceeded to consume all of her cashew chicken without one complaint.

All in all, I had a rather enjoyable lunch. We got a lot of food, for just a little price. The service was outstanding. I got to meet a fellow blogger and friend with whom I've been exchanging blog comments and emails for almost a year. And I got my Chinese food fix. It's worth mentioning that Azu also has a rather sizeable sushi and sashimi menu as well (just like Masa), which I've sampled during other visits and it holds up to the standard that Masa has set. Now, if I could just convince them to stop using dark chicken meat - we'd be BFFs.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - B+ (I'm knocking them for the dark meat)

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Azu

3220 Appalachee Parkway

Tallahassee FL 32311

850-893-4112

Website Link

Restaurant Pet Peeves!

2010-06-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: freefoto.com

Last week I read an article from eatocracy entitled "Are you still working on that?" It catalogued some of the most annoying things that servers say and do to their customers. Many of them I agreed with - like the server who conveniently disappears when it's time for the check, or the pitiful looks they give to solo diners, but it also got me thinking about what my own personal grievance list would be. I thought it would be fun to share my list of restaurant pet peeves and then have all of you share yours as well! You know, like a group therapy venting session! But before I get into it, I just have to state (for the record), that YES, I had a waitressing job in college, so I know what it takes to be a darn good server! Okay, so here it goes:

Drinks not getting refilled - This is my number one no-no. When I was a server, my rule was that no glass should ever get more than half empty. Basically, if you can hear me sucking through my straw like an impolite child, it's time to refill my drink!
Empty plates not taken away - There's nothing worse than sitting with a plate full of drippings and crumbs in front of you for 20 minutes. If you come to ask if I want any dessert or coffee and walk away without taking my empty plate, your tip automatically goes down by 2%! Sometimes I get really cranky about it and actually stack the plates up and hand them to the server myself.
Check always given to the man - When I was a server, I always placed the check in the middle of the table. Cause you know what happens when you make assumptions, right? I must admit, it's nice when I'm out with my husband - but when I'm having lunch or dinner with a guy friend, it makes for some awkward exchanges.
Asking if I want a box. When I say no, asking "Are you sure?" - First of all, it's condescending. Second of all, I don't like leftovers. So sue me.
Not making a recommendation when one is asked for - Not being knowledgeable about your menu is inexcusable. Servers should be required to sample all of the dishes - even the ones they may not personally like, in order to answer customer questions about flavor and provide honest recommendations. Not doing so is just plain lazy.
Not being knowledgeable about the wine/beer list - See #5.
Appetizer coming at the same time as your entrees - There's a reason why they call it an appetizer. Because it's supposed to come first! It's really not that hard to stagger when you put the orders in with the kitchen. Learn how to do it. There's nothing worse than taking one bite of your potato skin and then having your entree shoved under your nose!

Now it's your turn! Sound off in the comment section about all those things that drive you crazy when you eat out. You shouldn't keep that kind of thing bottled up. Trust me, I feel better already!

Marie Livingston's - You Clean Up Good, Girl!

2010-06-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

When I first moved to Tallahassee, I asked around at work to see if there was a good steakhouse in town. Now, you must keep in mind that this was B.S. (Before Shula's). Someone mentioned Marie Livingston's, so hubby and I decided to check it out. I can't say I was really impressed by our visit. The location was very out of the way - off Monroe, past the Tallahassee Mall, past the I-10 overpass and tucked away as part of a hotel (it had no visibility from the street). We had to turn around a few times before we finally found it. All I can really remember about that first visit was that the inside seemed pretty old, dirty and tired. We were seated upstairs in the loft area - I remember going up some wooden steps - and that the steak was no better than I could have made myself at home. There was no seasoning on it, no sauce and no flavor. There was really no reason for us to go back.

Then I saw that Marie Livingston's was building a new location off of Apalachee Parkway, a location that actually looked like it had a bit of class to it. So when I heard that it had finally opened, I asked a friend to join me there for dinner and see if there had been any major improvements.

I'm happy to announce that the new Marie Livingston's is definitely IMPROVED. You notice it the first moment you walk in the door. The interior boasts a modern color scheme of taupe, black and white with damask print curtains, stylish hanging lights and comfortably cushioned chairs and booths. There are 2 separate dining rooms, one to the left and one to the far right with a bar area in between. It's upscale enough to dress up for a date, but casual enough to meet a friend for drinks after work. Essentially, it's the best of both worlds.

The service is pretty good, too. We were greeted promptly and asked for our drink order. He returned with those quickly and then asked for our dinner order. The only beef (no pun intended) I have with the service is that once your original server gets your order, you don't see them again until almost the end of your meal. Other servers come out to bring your salads, entrees, even refill your drinks. We didn't see our original server again until we had already taken a few bites of our main entree and then he came over to ask how everything was. So while everyone was attentive, you're never really sure who to ask when you need something.

Since Marie Livingston's is billed as a steakhouse, it's pretty preposterous to try anything other than the steak. So, my friend and I both ordered the 7 oz Filet. At $19.99, you get a lot for your money. Your meal comes with bread, a salad and your choice of potato. For those with bigger appetites, you can get a 9 oz Filet with all of the same accoutrements for just $21.99! At half the price of a Shula's steak and with more extras (at Shula's sides and salads are an additional cost), you definitely get more bang for your buck. Now, we just had to see if they tasted any good. But, first things first, let's start at the beginning...with the bread.

I love it when restaurants put more thought and effort into the bread they serve rather than just put out a couple of slices of thick, crusty white bread. The bread you get at Marie Livingston's is not really even bread at all, but hot, doughy rolls. They felt like they were fresh out of the oven! And they're served with a side of honey butter that one of the servers told me is homemade. Ugh, it was delish! I kept re-buttering my roll after every bite. Even though I knew it was totally going to my hips. I just didn't care - that's how good it was.

Next, our salads. Nothing fancy going on here - just some lettuce, tomatoes and croutons. But all the ingredients were fresh - there was no brown or wilting lettuce and the croutons actually tasted homemade as well. I ordered mine with honey mustard dressing and it was sweet and tangy, just how I like it. The size of the salad was what I like to call a classic "side" portion, which I also liked. Enough to whet your whistle, but not so much that you're full before your entree arrives.

Now, let's talk about those entrees, shall we? The steaks were absolutely savory. A better cut of meat than you'd find at Outback or Longhorn, but not quite as superior as Shula's. It definitely holds it's own, though. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a better steak at that price anywhere else in town. They were both cooked exactly as we had specified and came with Marie Livingston's "special sauce." A bit smoky, a bit tangy with a taste similar to A1, but less thick and better tasting. When I asked our server what it was made of, he confessed he wasn't privy to the recipe but he suspected it was a mixture of Worchestershire sauce and soy sauce and probably something else. After tasting it again, I had to agree. You can definitely taste the Worchestershire, which was the likely culprit for the smokiness. Whatever it was, I mopped it all up with every last bite of my steak. As far as our sides go, I ordered the sweet potato that came with cinnamon butter, and my friend ordered a regular baked potato that came with two heaping helpings of butter. They were the perfect compliment to a hearty hunk of steak.

I left Marie Livingston's that night with a full belly and a happy heart, genuinely pleased that a Tallahassee tradition had managed to give itself a face lift and end up looking like Demi Moore instead of Joan Rivers!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Marie Livingston's

2705 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-270-9506

Mockingbird Cafe - An Inconsistent Truth

2010-06-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

I love eating at new restaurants. I love it even more when the experience is spectacular. Unfortunately, that is not how my review of Mockingbird Cafe is going to go. I wish I could write something different about the new little place that has sprung up in Fusion's old spot, I really do. There were moments of brilliance, but then there were also moments of mediocrity. Unfortunately on this visit, the mediocrities tipped the scale. And that's the honest truth.

My friend invited me to dinner at Mockingbird after having a great lunch there with some of her co-workers. She had ordered the Cobb Salad, raved about the freshness of it and hoped to be able to order it again for dinner. I'd also heard through the grapevine that the transplanted Havana restaurant had a solid reputation. So I was more than thrilled to go with her.

When we arrived, we accidentally entered on the "lounge" side (formerly Tantra), where there were lots of small tables and some live musicians were setting up. Wanting to be able to hear each other talk, we walked over to the "cafe" side to get a table. I expected a complete re-imagination of the space. With a name like Mockingbird Cafe, and knowing about their original Havana location, I expected something akin to the Central Perk coffee shop from Friends (see the photo below).

You know - big comfy couches and chairs, quaint and colorful artwork gracing the walls, even perhaps some sort of antiques filling in the empty spaces at the edges of the room. However, there was hardly any imagination applied to the redecoration. The tables and chairs are the exact same as those that Fusion used. And where Fusion's walls were maroon and grey, they have simply repainted them to a more neutral palette of white and beige. While some may think this a drastic change, it didn't make the place feel cozy, so much as sterile. And the large photos that graced the wall gave off a very depressing vibe - a Padaung woman with neck rings, an elderly African man with his head in his hands - not really the types of images I want to look at while I'm trying to enjoy a good meal and a fun evening out.

So, we averted our eyes and turned them to our menus. My friend didn't see the Cobb Salad on the dinner menu and so she asked our waitress about it. We were told that unfortunately, it couldn't be ordered at dinner. So, we asked the waitress if she had any recommendations. When she said that everything was excellent, it should have been my first clue. Usually when a waitress tells you this it either means she hasn't eaten any of the food (or at least not enough to feel comfortable selecting a favorite) or that none of the food is very good. We pressed her a little bit and she eventually told us that she can never bring herself to order anything except the Ribeye. She admitted she'd tasted a few other of the dishes, but the only thing she's eaten completely is the ribeye. So, my friend decided to order that. I opted for the Almond Crusted Mahi-Mahi. But first we decided to start off with an order of Sweet Potato Fries.

Now, these sweet potato fries were one of the shining stars of our meal. Cut thinly, dusted with sea salt and served with a side of bourbon barbecue sauce, these little beauties were honestly like crack. My friend and I did not stop eating them until every last little bit had disappeared from the plate. I generally like a good side of tangy honey mustard sauce with my sweet potato fries, but I thoroughly enjoyed the bourbon barbecue sauce. The bourbon added a little touch of sweet kick and kept the barbecue taste from being on the smokey side. It was a good start. I was looking forward to being WOWed by the entrees.

Unfortunately, I had no such luck. We'll start with my dish - the Almond Crusted Mahi-Mahi. Now, I'd hardly call that piece of fish crusted with almonds. Yes, there were almonds sprinkled on top, but to me, crusted means that there is a crust that goes all the way around the entire piece of meat - usually made up of crushed nuts, pretzels, coconut or something to that effect. Not so. It was supposed to have a honey-lime glaze. I didn't taste a hint of either honey or lime on this fish. It was also supposed to be served with a coconut-curry sauce. Now, generally a coconut-curry sauce is somewhere in the range of a white or light orange sauce. As you can see from the picture, this sauce was a deep red. And again, tasted neither of coconut, or curry. It actually tasted like it had more of a tomato base, which would account for the deep red color. It wasn't spicy, it wasn't sweet, in fact, it didn't really have much flavor at all. I felt the fish was a bit on the dry side, which with Mahi-Mahi isn't unusual. I find most people tend to overcook Mahi-Mahi, which is why I rarely order it at restaurants. But I though with it being glazed and then served with a sauce, that would cancel out or at least cover up the dryness. There was no covering it up, this dish just didn't work. And the napa cabbage stir fry that it was served with was not my cup of tea either. The bitterness of the cabbage and the saltiness of the soy sauce just didn't sit well together. I took two bites and abandoned it completely.

Now, for my friend's dish. At the recommendation of our waitress, she ordered the Blackened Angus Beef Ribeye. She wasn't sure about the tomato hollandaise sauce that it was served with, so she asked to have it put on the side. It was also served with beer battered onion rings and a side of mashed potatoes. I know that a ribeye is a particularly marbled cut of meat (aka: it has some fat in it), but it seemed like my friend's cut was mostly fat, and only some meat. It was also fairly cool by the time it had been brought out to our table. Not good. Fortunately for her, the mashed potatoes were outstanding. Very creamy and with a nice buttery taste, they just melted in my mouth. And because I could see some skins in the potatoes, I'm guessing they were homemade. My friend also thought the onion rings were quite good, with thick cut onions and a light, crunchy batter. I, as you all know, won't touch an onion with a 10 ft pole, so I've just got to take her word on it. Oh, and the tomato hollandaise sauce was fairly savory, even though it does sound a bit weird.

Determined to make up for our less than satisfactory entrees, we decided to order dessert. We selected the Vanilla Cheesecake, which came topped with blueberries and raspberries and was served with a sliced strawberry and whipped cream. What the entrees lacked in flavor, the cheesecake more than made up for. Fresh, fluffy and delectable, with visible flecks of vanilla bean, this cheesecake is one of the best I've had in years, outside of my own wedding cake (and that's saying a LOT!). Again, it tasted like it was made fresh, and not simply cut from a frozen pre-made concoction. So I'll give them credit for that.

Overall, I'm not sure this place lives up to all the hype I've heard. I'm willing to assume that I may have ordered wrong, or the chef may have been having a bad night, or that their lunch menu is simply better than their dinner menu. But all I can tell you for sure is that my experience was a very inconsistent one.

Tally Foodie Rating:
Atmosphere - C+ (I wish they would have made a bigger departure from Fusion, and featured some more uplifting artwork)
Taste - C+
Presentation - A
Service - A
Price - $$

Restaurant Info:
Mockingbird Cafe
1225 N Monroe St
Tallahassee FL 32303
850-222-4956
Website Link

Angelette's - Southwoodians Rejoice!

2010-06-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

First of all, yes, Southwoodians is the correct terminology for all those of you who make your home in the community of Southwood! Because I made it up, that's why. And now you have something to be truly happy about, because after living with only Burger King and China Wok in your neighborhood for who knows how long, you are now graced with the presence of Angelette's Cajun Kitchen!

Tucked into the Publix strip mall off of Blair Street, it looks fairly unassuming on the outside, but don't let that fool you. This. Place. Delivers. The servers are attentive, the food is outstanding and the price is just right.

But, before I get into that - let me talk a little bit about the environment of the restaurant. There aren't a TON of tables - perhaps about 8-10 inside and only a few outside, and when I arrived at 11am on a Sunday to meet my girlfriend for brunch, I snagged the last table in the joint. It's a comfortable hodge podge of tables and chairs of various colors, shapes and sizes, set against a palette of beige, sage and rust colored walls. And while the artwork on the walls is almost too small in size to be impactful, the food and service more than makes up for it.

I was promptly greeted at the door, ushered to a table and asked for my drink order. As I waited for my friend to arrive, my server checked in on me one more time and I decided to go ahead and get an order of beignets for my friend's arrival. I just HAD to compare them to the yumdillicious ones that I had at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans recently. Honestly, I wasn't sure they would be able to measure up, but they certainly held their own. Presented with just as much powdered sugar and with the same sweet cakey pastry dough, the only difference was that Angelette's were hollow inside. But I'd like to think that means that I consumed less calories!

As I looked over the menu, I was struck by the fact that every item was priced under $10. While that would usually make me a little nervous (you get what you pay for!), I had only heard good things about Angelette's, so we forged ahead. For our main courses, I ordered the Bananas Foster French Toast and my friend ordered the Egg Platter. OMG - this place is seriously wrong (and I mean that in a very, very good way)! That is the BEST french toast I've ever had in my life. It was thick sliced, served with warm bananas foster sauce and crunchy caramelized pecans. The warm ooey-gooey bread and bananas, drenched with the brown sugar, cinnamon and dark rum of the foster sauce was enough to send me to the moon and back - but the pecans - ugh, the pecans added the perfect bit of crunchy texture that sent me beyond the moon into the heavens itself. This dish is NOT to be missed!

Okay, now on to my friend's dish - which I can't comment too much about because she totally scarfed it all before I could even try any of it (I still love her, though!). She ordered the Egg Platter, which was composed of 2 eggs made to order (she chose scrambled egg whites), your choice of grits or home fries (she chose home fries) and she added on an order of bacon. When I looked up and saw her plate completely empty with only a few crumbs, I asked her how it was. Her answer was that although these are fairly standard breakfast items, that they were cooked to perfection and tasted great.

Throughout the whole meal, our server was right there with waters, clearing our plates and asking if we needed anything else. The check was brought to us promptly and even after we had paid and were just sitting and chatting, she came and checked on us one last time. Talk about service! Finally Southwood has a great little local eatery. FINALLY! Now, if only they could get a decent bar or two...

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B+

Taste - A+

Presentation - B+

Service - A+

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Angelette's Cajun Kitchen

3551 Blair Stone Rd

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-656-1772

OPEN Tues - Sun, 6:30am - 3pm

CLOSED on Mondays

Website Link

Fuzions - Yogurt Your Way

2010-06-07T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a posting on a dessert place - oh, who am I kidding, it's been a while since I've done a post AT ALL - but I'm definitely excited to tell you about Fuzions. It's a fairly new joint that has popped up on Thomasville Road next to Red Elephant and Five Guys, which makes it very convenient if you want to grab something sweet after dining at either of those establishments (which I highly recommend).

Painted in bold swaths of orange and red, decked out with funky hanging lights and equipped with plenty of seating inside and out, it's one of only a few yogurt/ice cream shops that I'd actually want to spend any time in. Fuzions has definitely made an attempt to rise above the two sticky-topped, wobbley-legged tables you'll find squeezed into a tight corner at those other places. Its contempo-chic vibe is only augmented by the fact that Fuzion's yogurt flavors are non-fat, low-calorie and contain probiotics that support a healthy immune system! In other words, it's yogurt for the yoga crowd. But don't worry - unlike rice cakes and fiber cereal, this stuff actually tastes good!

Now, that's not to say that you can't get yourself into quite a bit of guilty trouble with some of their toppings - which include a bevy of chocolate offerings, brownie bites, cookie crumbles and candy pieces among others. But if you MUST insist on consuming an entirely healthy snack, they also offer fresh cut fruit, granola and nuts.

The very best part about this place is that it's completely self-serve. Their yogurt flavors change weekly and there are usually 6 offered at a time. They put out little free sample cups (see the one on the right in the above picture), so that you can taste all the flavors first to decide which one is your favorite. For those of you who are part of the cheap college crowd - that alone could be your dessert! But, if you're willing to go further, all you have to do is pick out a big cup, mix up to 2 yogurt flavors and then load it up with your favorite toppings. The price you pay is based on the final weight of your creative concoction.

For my first foray into the world of Fuzions, I selected the Coconut and BlueRazz flavors and yummied them up with peanuts, chocolate chips, cookie dough and gummy bears. I swear I really tried to be good and only put on fruit and granola, I SWEAR, but I just couldn't help myself. That cookie dough was eyeballin' me! I'm just lucky I was able to get out of there without adding some cheesecake bites as well! The flavors themselves were not as tart as some other yogurt places I've been (think Pinkberry), but were still quite wonderful. I liked the Coconut flavor better as it was a little on the sweeter side, but hubby liked the BlueRazz for its tangy kick.

Yes, it's fun. Yes, it's delicious. But the absolute best part about this yogurt is that it doesn't leave you with that oh-my-god-I-just-gained-10-pounds-can-somebody-roll-me-outta-here? feeling. The yogurt is light and fresh and satisfying, but you can still look at yourself in the mirror when you go home that night. And for me, that makes it worth it's weight in gold. Or pound cake squares.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A

Presentation - Depends on your own artistic abilities!

Service - Again, it's all you!

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Fuzions Frozen Yogurt

1870 Thomasville Road

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-201-8822

Website Link

Chez Pierre - All Decked Out

2010-05-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to be writing this post, as Chez Pierre holds a very special place in my heart in terms of my Tallahassee memories. Chez was the first place in town that I got invited to have some after work drinks with my co-workers, and I will always think of Chez as the place where I started to make real friends in this town. Every time I step onto their grand outdoor deck, I know I'm going to have a good time!

Chez Pierre, although it bills itself as a French nouveau type of restaurant, is the closest thing I've found to southern comfort. When you walk up to the joint, it feels like you're going to visit a friend's house. You walk through a lovely outdoor garden area, and directly onto their sweeping deck surrounded by live oaks. I have to admit, I've only eaten inside Chez Pierre once, and the experience did not live up to all of the times I've eaten outside on the deck. I think it's just the fresh air, the views of the sunset and the live music that makes being outside on the deck an infinitely more special experience. The best thing about the deck is that it's climate controlled - they've got space heaters in the winter, mister fans in the summer and plastic roll-down screens that they use when it rains. So no matter the weather, you'll always be comfortable.

My favorite thing to do at Chez is order up a drink or two. They have a very nice wine list (which you would expect of a French restaurant), and their cocktails are always superb, while not being overpriced. In fact, I think they make one of the best Mojitos in town. On this night, I ordered up a glass of sweet Riesling and hubby ordered a Blue Moon. On a nice spring evening, there's nothing better than a few drinks enjoyed out on the back deck.

As we perused the menu this evening, we noticed that a lot of our favorite items were nowhere to be found. After asking the waiter, we were informed that they changed things up for spring and completely refreshed their menu. Perhaps a little too much for my taste - they used to offer a killer chip and dip appetizer with salsa and guac, a great BBQ burger with crispy onion straws and a delectable salad with candied pecans, blue cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette. But alas, they were all gone. After a bit of pouting on my part, we decided to make the best of the situation and try a few new things.

After some recommendations from our waiter, I ordered the Grouper Bienville. It was a deliciously grilled piece of grouper, served with a cajun cream sauce that included some sweet crab meat. And it came with a generous side of grilled asparagus, expertly seasoned. Now, before you get the wrong idea, the sauce was not really all that spicy at all. It was more of a light creme sauce. In my opinion, if you're going to call something "cajun" it should come with a slight kick. And although they could have pumped up the heat, I don't think the dish was any worse for the wear without it. The fish was moist and flaky, the crab added a nice sweet yet salty accompaniment, and the asparagus were crispy and savory. All in all, it was a very satisfying dish.

Hubby decided to go for the new burger creation on the menu, their Rustic Burger. And while all burgers are served with fries, hubby did the respectable thing and upgraded to the sweet potato fries. The burger was a nice hunk of angus beef, topped with fresh basil, brie, oven dried tomatoes and a white truffle oil. Mmm....fancy! I asked to try a bite and I must say that it was very mouthwatering. But in my book, you could put truffle oil on anything and it would be mouthwatering. There's just something about truffle oil that takes the taste of any dish to the next level. The brie was gushy and ooey-gooey good, and the oven dried tomatoes provided a nice tangy texture. While I still miss their BBQ burger, the Rustic Burger isn't a bad replacement. Not bad at all. Ooooh - and lest we not forget the sweet potato fries. In my book, these are the best sweet potato fries in town. Crispy, covered in thick flecks of sea salt (there's that sea salt again!) and served with a side of maple dijon that is so tart and tangy sweet that you won't be able to keep those fries out of it! Sometimes I even have to ask for ANOTHER side of the maple dijon, because.....yes.....that's right....I have no shame.

So the next beautiful evening you find yourself thinking about dinner and drinks, make a stop over at Chez Pierre. But make sure to sit outside on the deck. I promise you'll feel like you're visiting old friends.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - B+

Presentation - B

Service - B (can be hit or miss)

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Chez Pierre

1215 Thomasville Road

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-222-0936

Website Link

Jonah's - Everyday is Fried-day

2010-05-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

One lovely Saturday afternoon, a girlfriend and I decided to make the trip up to Thomasville to do a little shopping and have a little lunch. I'd been hearing a lot of good things about Jonah's, the eatery located right next to Liam's (one of my all time favorite restaurants in the area), so we decided to make that our midday stop. After wearing ourselves out buying a few trinkets and truffles, we put our name on the list at noon and were told we'd have to wait about 20 minutes. At that point, we were both ready for a few mimosas! But just as we got seated and took a gander at the menu we realized - dun, Dun, DUNNN - they don't serve alcohol!!! I guess with a biblical name like Jonah's and biblical illustrations gracing the walls, we should have known better. But hey, Jesus turned water into wine, didn't he?

Okay, I don't want this to devolve into a religious discussion, because after politics, it's the least PC topic of conversation, but I just want you guys to know that if you go there expecting a nice afternoon or evening cocktail - you'll be sorely disappointed. Jonah's does, however, bill themselves as a family-friendly, alcohol-free restaurant that represents the owner's faith. So there you have it.

It's a casual, cozy little place with probably about 15 or so tables and a menu that hinges on - what else? - seafood. I mean, cause, you know, Jonah and the whale. Get it? So after frowning and ordering a Coke and a Sweet Tea, we started perusing the dishes and we noticed one startling similarity between most of their offerings. Almost everything seems to be dipped in a seasoned cornmeal batter and deep fried in peanut oil. Literally. Almost everything. Unless you get the Grilled Chicken Salad or something. But, when you can't have alcohol, you've got to feel guilty about something else, right? So, fried food it was.

My friend ordered the Farm Raised Catfish and I ordered the Cyclone Shrimp. And let me tell you - there is something about that cornmeal batter that is simply magic! It's a blend of seasonings, and the crunchy tiny-ball-like texture of the cornmeal batter, which is light and just a bit sweet. Her catfish was served with their signature spicy tartar sauce, which was tangy, tart and spicy all at the same time. And mine was covered in a spicy citrus aioli that tasted very similar to the sauce used on the Bang Bang Shrimp at Bonefish (which I absolutely LOVE). It was zesty and zippy and a touch sweet. I was literally popping them like my life depended on it!

Now, let's talk about the side dishes. Can you see those big flecks of sea salt on those fries? Those are pieces of sheer bliss. I love a good thick sea salt on my french fries. Yeah, they scrape the coating off my tongue and the roof of my mouth, but that's a small price to pay for sublimeness. But the hush puppies, I wasn't so over-the-moon about. I like hush puppies just like I like my crabcakes - WITHOUT filler. Just the breading. I'm not even sure what these had in them - all I know is that I took a bite, saw something green and didn't touch it again. Tsk, tsk, tsk (*clicking her tongue*). But other than that, I was hooked. Get it? Hooked. Cause of the fish...and the whale...and the....oh, okay, I'll stop.

By the way - thanks to all my readers who emailed and wondered if everything has been okay with me. I've just been out of town on business a while and haven't had much time for blogging between the 10-12 hour days. Yes, that's right. It was "the man" keeping me down again. Doesn't he know I have food to eat and restaurants to write about??!!!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B - (I'm docking them a bit for the lack of alcohol)

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Jonah's

109 East Jackson Street

Thomasville GA 31792

229-226-0506

Website Link

Jenny's Lunchbox - Worth waking up for?

2010-03-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Whenever I drive by Jenny's Lunchbox during the weekends, I always see an overflowing parking lot and streams of people lined up outside waiting to get a table. To my foodie mind, that means "great place to eat!" So I've been wanting to try Jenny's for a while now. But honestly, I can't get my foodie butt out of bed early enough on the weekends to go out to eat for breakfast! But when hubby said he wanted to take me on a "Sunday morning date" to Jenny's, I just couldn't resist.

We arrived probably around 10:30am, and were told we'd have to wait about 20 minutes. There was no place to wait inside, so we squatted at a table outside and braved the cold morning air. After about 25 minutes, we were ushered to our table, and realized that "box" couldn't be closer to the truth. There are probably only about 10-12 tables inside, all either 2 or 4 tops, and they're definitely jam packed in there.

Jenny's Lunchbox reminds me a lot of the Lanford Lunch Box from Roseanne. (Throwback!) But it's fancifully decorated on the inside with various lunch boxes hanging from the ceiling. I think I saw everything from I Love Lucy and New Kids on the Block to Star Wars and Care Bears. (More throwbacks!) Looking at all the different lunch boxes definitely makes you smile and remember the days when you used to trade jello cups for moon pies right before recess.

The food is definitely of the greasy spoon variety - eggs, pancakes, bacon, home fries, waffles, cheese grits and biscuits and gravy. But the portions are large and the prices are small. I got a Short Stack of 2 Buttermilk Pancakes for $2.50 and a Side of Bacon for $2.00. The pancakes were large and fluffy and the bacon was thick and crispy (a must in my book!). But I have to admit that I wasn't super impressed. Hubby normally makes a mean pancake breakfast for me on Sunday mornings and I'm not sure Jenny's ranked any better than his (except we didn't have to cook or clean up afterwards).

Hubby ordered the Jenny's Special - 2 eggs any way you like (hubs picked scrambled), your choice of bacon, ham or sausage (he picked bacon) and your choice of home fries or cheese grits (he went with the fries). I believe his meal was just a little over $4. The eggs were awfully whipped and fluffy and the home fries (my favorite part of both of our meals) were crispy on the outside and melty on the inside. They were also coated in a good dose of salt and pepper, which made them even tastier. I love a good crispy home fry. And these were darn good.

All in all, you can grab a cheap, decent breakfast at Jenny's. But instead of fighting the crowd and being jammed into a restaurant like sardines, I'd rather stay home in my jammies and watch Hubby flip the flapjacks. Even if I do have to do the dirty dishes.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - C-

Taste - B

Presentation - C

Service - B

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Jenny's Lunchbox

295 N Magnolia Dr

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-942-9766

Liam's - More like Li-YUMS!

2010-03-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

If you visit Thomasville but for no other reason than to eat at Liam's, it will have been well worth the trip. This cozy, fine dining establishment is smack dab in the middle of Thomasville's downtown historic district, and it certainly does look historic. The building was constructed in the early 1900's and has been renovated to retain much of its original charm. The interior has a very rustic vibe with exposed brick walls, heavy country-style furniture and an open kitchen. The atmosphere at night is dark and romantic, and the gourmet food is nothing short of spectacular.

The menu varies by the week and is dependent upon the seasons and the freshest foods available. Liam's makes it a habit to serve only natural, organic, sustainably-sourced foods, not necessarily out of any sense of social or environmental responsibility, but because they believe that it just tastes better that way. They dice and grind and mash and chop and cook everything by hand, because that's the honest way to do it, and it's their passion. They love to create cuisine that you'll love. And believe me, you will love it.

At Liam's, it's best to start out with a selection of their delectable cheeses. They're a bit freakish about their cheese at this place - as they normally have between 50-100 cheeses on hand at any given time. Unless you're a real cheese-head, don't even try to decipher the cheese menu on your own. Just have the lady of the house come over to your table and talk to you about your cheese preferences. Then she'll make the selection for you. On this night, hubby proclaimed that he didn't want anything soft or anything smelly (eloquent, right?). And just like that we were delivered 3 delicious cows milk cheeses from around the world. They were brought out to us with a dollop of honey and a handful of almonds and it was absolute perfection. I would eat a bit of cheese and then eat a honey-dipped almond, and then eat a bite of honey-dipped cheese. Ummm. Combine all that with the perfect, fruity glass of white wine and the dinner was off to an excellent start. Vive la fromage!

Next, I ordered a bowl of the Tomato Basil Blue Crab Bisque, because it sounded absolutely divine. Made with heavy cream, fresh tomatoes and hand-picked blue crab, it was rather delicious. The only thing that would have made it better was if they had de-seeded the tomatoes before adding them to the soup. There seemed to be a lot of seeds in my soup, and I kept having to spit them out into my napkin. I'm not particularly fond of tomato seeds, as I always seem to bite into them and they end up hurting my fillings. Weird, but true.

Next, the main delight. I ordered the Black Trumpet Yellowfin Crusted Tuna and hubs ordered the Prime Beef Tenderloin. Both were superb. I mean just look at that tuna - seared rare with that beautiful red color, atop a bed of pickled seaweed and drizzled with a sweet soy glaze. This was definitely a generous portion of fish. I could have probably done with just two of the portions instead of four. And I definitely could have used more of the glaze to dip the tuna in. But this was certainly a delicious dish. The tuna just melted in my mouth, almost as if it was made of butter. And the pickled seaweed provided a nice, tangy texture.

Hubby's dish was also sublime. It was the most tender cut of meat, served atop sauteed fingerling potatoes, topped with sauteed mushrooms and coated with a demi-glaze. It was like eating the most juicy piece of meat you could ever imagine, that had been floating on a fluffy, buttery cloud of potatoes with the sauce adding a bit of sweet-smoky haze to the concoction. I hope that sounds as wonderful as I want it to sound. But if not, just know that it was totally, absolutely, ridiculously wonderful. So there.

If you haven't traversed the 36.6 miles from Tallahassee to Thomasville to eat at Liam's, you should really pick up the phone and make a reservation right now. Because you will need a reservation to eat there. With only about 15 tables in the house, don't expect to show up and just get a table. Food like this generally sells out every single show. As it should.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A+

Taste - A+

Presentation - A+

Service - A+

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

Liam's

113 East Jackson Street

Thomasville GA 31792

229-226-9944

Website Link

Cabo's - Get the Lard Out!

2010-03-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

If there ever was a restaurant that was part Jimmy Buffett, part Jungle cruise and part Mexican Riviera it would be Cabo's. It's quite an enigma. As you walk in, the first thing that will strike you are the multitude of surfboards hanging from the ceiling throughout the restaurant. And you might assume that Cabo's is a seafood restaurant, which it is. But then you notice the tropical jungle murals, and wonder if the place serves Caribbean island food, which it does. And then you sit down and see the extensive authentic Mexican section of the menu, and at this point you should be thoroughly confused. Cause I know the first time I visited Cabo's, I was.

To me, I can't think of Cabo's as anything other than a Mexican restaurant. I've never ordered anything off the Seafood or Island Specialties section of the menu. To me, it's Mexican or bust. The only thing that's different at Cabo's versus other Mexican restaurants is that the chips and salsa do not come free. But at $1.69, they're not super-expensive either. You just have to remember to ask for them when you sit down, because if you don't, they'll never arrive.

The thing I like best about Cabo's is their strong HATE of lard. They slap it all over the Mexican section of their menu in black letters with a red slash through it. Get it? NO LARD. They don't use lard in any of their beans, so I guess that makes it semi-healthy Mexican (if there is such a thing). Their refried beans taste exactly the same as any other beans I've had - so there's no love lost as far as taste goes. And it just makes me happy to know that I'm ordering something that is devoid of lard. Because, let's face it, lard sucks.

So, I ordered the Supreme Chicken Burrito for just $4.99, with chicken, refried beans, sour cream, olives and tomatoes. If you prefer, you can make your burrito Wet by smothering it with lettuce and salsa, or you can make it Ultimate by covering it with queso cheese. The size of the burrito is comparable to those of Moe's or Chipotle's, but there's no rice included, which means that it won't fill your belly up as quick. The chicken is marinated and all white meat. All in all, it makes for one tasty (and partially guilt free) burrito. You know, cause of the no lard thing.

My friend who was with me that day ordered three Beef Tacos for just $5.59, which quickly disappeared from sight without a complaint, so I'm pretty sure those were delish as well. As with most Mexican restaurants, the portions are generous and the prices are low. But I do have one bit of advice for you. Don't let them give you the table in the back of the restaurant near the fish tank. Unless you want to be bothered by an endless stream of kids clamoring up on the step stool, tapping on the glass, banging the back of your booth, laughing and screaming and going all gaga over the darn fish! I mean seriously kids, they're just fish. But I guess if you HAVE kids, it might be good to sit there to keep them occupied and not have them bothering other well intentioned patrons. Like me. Okay? Just a suggestion. A very strong one.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - B

Presentation - C

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Cabo's

1221 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-878-7707

Website Link

Carl's on the Parkway - Closed

2010-03-10T17:24:00.000-08:00

Well friends, my next post was going to be about Carl's on the Parkway, a chop house out on Appalachee Parkway that serves only Braveheart Black Angus steaks. But I've just learned that Carl's has become the latest in a string of Tallahassee restaurants that have closed their doors lately. The blood letting began last year with the closings of the Silver Slipper, Anthony's and Carlos' Cuban Cafe and has continued this year with the shut downs of Urbane, Gill's Tavern and now, Carl's on the Parkway.

I can't say I don't understand why Carl's has shut down. When hubby and I visited, the service was extremely slow - it took almost 15 minutes after we were seated for a server to come over and take our drink order. Then, after ordering, it was another 20 minutes before we were served our salads BEFORE our appetizer, no less. And then at the end of our meal, we must have sat for another 20 minutes before our server came to clear our plates, and another 10 after that until he brought the check. If you haven't gotten my drift already, the service was sloooooooooooooow. The food wasn't much better than mediocre and the location was very out of the way.

But what is happening to our restaurants Tallahassee??? I know the economy's bad, but going out to eat is one of the only things to do in this town! Okay, I may be exaggerating a bit, but seriously - restaurants are a big staple in this town. It deeply saddens me that more and more of our local joints are closing down. What do you guys think? Were all the restaurant closings I mentioned above justified, or are you sorry to see some of them go?

Mr. Roboto - Not Bad, Sir

2010-03-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

When I saw that Mr. Roboto was the #1 ranked Cheap Eats restaurant in Tallahassee on UrbanSpoon, I was a bit intrigued. I hadn't really heard much buzz around town about Mr. Roboto. But hubby and I decided that if it was #1 on the list, then we had to give it a try.

I have to be honest - I had low expectations. From everything I'd heard, it sounded like "fast food" sushi. And I wasn't sure if I'd get something fresh or something akin to what you get when you grab a carton out of the Publix cooler. I was certain the seafood would be rubbery and the rice would taste like it was day old leftovers. But you know what? I was pleasantly surprised.

Yes, you stand in line, place your order at the counter, take your number and have a seat. Yes, the sushi is on the cheaper side ($4.95 - 7.95 per roll). Yes, the tables are a little sticky and some wobble a bit. But yes, the sushi is actually good. Is it the best sushi in town? No. Masa and Sakura are still tops on my list, but Mr. Roboto's is no sloppy seconds.

The edamame was properly cooked and excellently salted (can you see all that salt?). The rolls were large and full of flavor. We ordered the Roboto Roll (cause come on, you have to order the namesake roll!) and the Shrimp Tempura Roll. The Roboto roll was made with panko crusted spicy tuna, topped with baked krab (note the k) in a spicy sauce. It was a delightful combination of crunchy and spicy and hot and melty. The shrimp tempura roll was made with, of course, shrimp tempura, along with cucumber, avocado and teriyaki sauce. And it was also a sweet crunchy little thing.

It's easy to see why college kids pack the place from wall to wall. It's right across from campus, the food is good and reasonably priced and the atmosphere is fun. Aside from sushi, they also have hibachi, kitchen meals like General Tso's chicken and there's a great little "sauce bar" where you can choose from about 10 sauces like soy, miso, teriyaki or peanut sauce to top your dish.

It's a fresh, funky little joint where you can get a lot of bites for your buck. The next time you're in the neighborhood, give it a shot. You might just be surprised by what Mr. Roboto's got cookin!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B-

Taste - B+

Presentation - C+

Service - B

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

1350 W. Tennessee St

Tallahassee FL 32304

850-915-0555

Website Link

Shane's Rib Shack - It's Good to Get Messy!

2010-02-25T12:39:00.001-08:00

Well, we're in the south y'all (I can't believe I just typed that, by the way). And down south, BBQ is just about as important as nail salons and grits. Now, I must admit that I am a creature of habit, so when I find something good, I tend to forfeit all others and keep returning to that sweet spot. And oh, what a sweet spot Shane's Rib Shack is!

It's not fancy by any stretch of the imagination - you order at the counter, seat yourself and then go wash up at the basin that's conveniently located right in the dining room. They do bring your food out to you, but for your drinks and your sauce, you're on your own. But that's alright by me, because what they lack in fancy, they make up for in food.

To me, a good pulled pork sandwich can cure just about any ill. Your job driving you crazy? Pulled pork sandwich. Tired of cooking dinner? Pulled pork sandwich. House is a mess? Pulled pork sandwich. Feeling fat? Yes...that's right...pulled pork sandwich. Why? Because when you bite into this melty, juicy, smoky, saucy piece of heaven, your eyes will roll into the back of your head and you'll forget you were ever upset about anything at all!

The "Big Dad" sandwich at Shane's delivers all that and more. Tender, juicy pork is delivered between 2 pieces of buttered Texas toast (for a nice little crisp) and then you're allowed to slather as much of Shane's BBQ sauce on there as you want. Which for me, is an awful lot. I regularly test the limits of the Texas toast with the amount of sauce I drench my sandwich with. There's just something about Shane's sauce that gets me right between the jaws. It's a little bit smoky, a little bit sweet and all too savory delicious. On their website, they claim the recipe is a old family secret, so I guess we'll never know what gives it it's "je ne sais quoi." But whatever it is, it goes all over my sandwich and when I'm done there, it goes all over my fries as well. And sure, you might get some on your fingers, arms or even your shirt. But that's a small price to pay for awesomeness.

Normally, I like my pulled pork to come to my table already coated in the sauce. I've found that at other places where I have to add the sauce myself, the flavor doesn't seem as potent or omnipresent in the sandwich. However, I think Shane's sauce is a bit more watery or slippery if you will, which sounds bad, but is actually good. When the BBQ sauce is too thick, you put it on your sandwich and it stays put. So you'll sometimes get bites with BBQ and some without. I hate that. I want BBQ sauce in EVERY bite. But there's something about Shane's sauce that just seems to permeate the entire sandwich, even though you're adding it on afterwards. And don't get me wrong, sometimes I get halfway through my sandwich and then go back and add more sauce, but it's because it's soooooo yummy. Not because it's not doing its job.

I've been told I also need to try Jim & Milts and Piggy's BBQ, but every time I get a hankerin' for BBQ I can't make myself go anywhere other than Shane's. It's becoming a real problem.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - A

Presentation - C (But hey, it's BBQ!)

Service - B

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Shane's Rib Shack

1424 West Tennessee St

Tallahassee FL 32304

850-309-7427

Website Link

Chef's Sampler - Sunday Feb. 28th

2010-02-24T16:51:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for a way to get a taste of more than 50 of the area's top restaurants and caterers, all you need to do is attend the Chef's Sampler this Sunday! Here are all the deets:

25th Annual Chef's Sampler

Sunday, February 28, 2010

7:00-9:00pm

Tallahassee Mall

Tickets $50/person

Website Link

If you're thinking that's a lot of money, I don't blame you. But, I went last year, and believe me - you get a ton of food! Everything from appetizers, soups, tacos, ribs, oysters, sushi, steak, cookies, cake, mousse, chocolate fountains and so much more. Plus, many of the booths offer alcoholic beverages as well - wine, margaritas, champagne, etc. Last year, the likes of Barnacle Bill, Bella Bella, Masa, Andrew's, 101, Soup Swift and Peterbrook Chocolatier were all in attendance. And the best part is that the money benefits the Children's Home Society of Florida. CHS is a non-profit organization that offers various social services that protect children at risk of abuse, neglect or abandonment, strengthen and stabilize families, and find loving homes for children.

Believe you me, I had to be rolled out of there! But, I felt good knowing that my gluttony was for a good cause. I highly recommend checking it out!

Aruba - Culinary Highlights

2010-02-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I posted the first ever Tally Foodie poll on this website. The question was:

I'm traveling to Aruba next month, would you want to hear food reviews from my trip?

While there were 33 votes total submitted, I must say that the results were very tight. Here's how it panned out:

Yes! Do the in-depth reviews like you always do - 14 votes (42%)

Yes, but just a summary with highlights - 10 votes (30%)

No, just stick to the local joints - 9 votes (27%)

And while the in-depth review category was the clear winner, I wouldn't call it an overwhelming majority. So, I've decided just to post some of the highlights - and since it's been a few months since my trip, that's all I can remember anyway! And then, I promise, it's back to Tallahassee restaurant reviews.

The first night of our trip we ventured out to a quaint little place called Madame Jeanette's. While not on the beach, it's not devoid of atmosphere. All the seating is outside (with the exception of the bar), with a rock quarry-like floor, plenty of twinkle lights and a high privacy fence surrounding the area. Waiters are friendly and a great live musician started playing some soft music at 7pm (and in English, no less!).

Everything we had at Madame Jeanette's was delicious, and if we had more time it was the one restaurant I would have loved to return to. Our meal started with an Ahi Tuna appetizer that was absolutely scrumptious. The tuna was fresh, seared rare and served with a curry pepper mayo. I'm telling you - that mayo was ridiculous! And when I say ridiculous, I mean, super duper tasty. I've never had ahi tuna with a dipping sauce like that, but I was blown away by how well it complimented the tuna. Genius. Pure genius.

For our main courses, I ordered the Almond Crusted Jumbo Shrimp in a Red Thai Curry Sauce and hubby ordered the Almond Crusted Grouper in a Lemon Butter Spinach Sauce. Can you tell they like to crust things in almonds? Well, they do. And it was totally worth it. My shrimp were enormous and the sauce was spicy and sweet all at the same time. The rice was also good and sticky and I loved scooping it in the sauce to get some of that extra flavor. You betcha!

Hubby wasn't as enthralled with his dish, but I still thought it was pretty amazing. The fish was moist and the almond crust was crunchy. And while the lemon butter wasn't really an exotic sauce, it was a nice addition to the dish. Hubby kept giving me the "I want more of your food" eyes, which I promptly ignored by sipping my wine. Oh, I'm just kidding, of course I gave him a few bites of my shrimp. But just a few!

Another one of our great meals actually happened right inside of our hotel - at Ruth's Chris Steak House. We started out by sharing the Ruth's Chop Salad, which was phenomenal! They julienne iceberg lettuce, spinach and radicchio, then toss them with mushrooms, green olives, bacon, eggs, hearts of palm, croutons and blue cheese and then top it off with a lemon basil dressing. This salad is like an explosion of flavors in your mouth. The dressing is so tangy and delicious and the ingredients are a perfect blend of crunchy and salty and the whole thing is just absolutely brilliant.

The only thing better were our steaks. Ruth's Chris steaks are seared to perfection at 1800 degrees, topped with fresh butter and brought out to you on a hot plate that continues to cook the meat as you eat it. That means that every single bite - from the first to the last is warm and juicy. Now, don't get me wrong, if you order your steak medium it won't end up well done by the time you're almost finished. I don't know how they do it - but if you order it medium, it stays medium to the very end. It's pretty much spectacular is what it is. Hubby ordered his Filet Mignon straight up, but I just couldn't help getting mine topped with a Blue Cheese Crust. It was a bit extra, but totally worth it.

And then, we topped off our dinner with the Chocolate Explosion dessert - a chocolate cake topped with hot fudge and served with vanilla ice cream. A classic. But still ooey-gooey good. The good news is that Ruth's Chris has plenty of locations here in the US. Closest to us are Jacksonville, Destin and Orlando locations - so if you get the chance, I'd highly recommend checking it out.

Worth just a quick mention, was the Screaming Eagle restaurant. It was an uber-contemporary, hip, moody joint with bed-like areas in the lounge where you can sit back and have a drink. We opted to head straight to our table, and while our entrees were just okay, the highlight of this meal was the Lobster Bisque.

While it looks very unassuming, it was rich, creamy and filled with large chunks of lobster. I can safely say this is the best lobster bisque I've ever had in my life. When I told the waiter, he simply nodded his head and said that the chef decided not to get fancy with it or add anything extraneous - when you stick to the classic recipe and make it well, lobster bisque needs nothing else. I couldn't have said it better myself.

And the last restaurant I'll rave about is Yemanja. It's the only woodfired grill in Aruba, and that preparation style gives the food it's unique flavor. Hubby's dish was really the star here. He ordered the Grouper Boursin - two pieces of grouper stuffed with cheese and then topped with more cheese. I mean, who does that? Incredible.

I couldn't stop stealing bites off his plate - it was savory and melty and moist and oh so stupendously good. I mean, seriously flavorful and richly delectable. Ugh - I wish I could take another bite right now!

Well, that's about it for our quick little jaunt to Aruba. We had a great time soaking up the sun and savoring some of the culinary delights of the island. If you ever get a chance to go, I'd highly recommend doing a Jeep Tour with ABC Tours - they'll take you over rough terrain to the northern parts of the island, which are some of the most beautiful natural vistas you'll ever see.

But for now, it's back to Tallahassee and trying to uncover some of our local restaurant gems. I've got reviews coming up for Shane's Rib Shack, Mr. Roboto and Carl's on the Parkway among others. Stay tuned....and stay hungry!

New York - Joe Allen

2010-02-07T18:19:00.001-08:00

While in NY, we also decided to catch a Broadway show - since we've never done that before. West Side Story, in fact, one of my all-time favorite musicals right up there with Grease and Chicago (yeah, I've got a little nerd in me). So we made reservations at Joe Allen, an infamous place among the cast and crew of the Broadway theater gang.

It's a cozy little joint - with posters from past and present shows gracing the walls, random B and C actors and actresses milling about (yes, we saw one or two, but I couldn't put a name with the faces) and a loud, boisterous din permeating the room. The ambiance is informal, and not at all trendy and seemed to harbor a mostly older demographic. But we weren't there for hip, we were there for some good food.

And that's exactly what we got. We started with an appetizer of shrimp cocktail, and while I was a bit worried that the shrimp wouldn't seem fresh - they were pleasantly plump and the sauce had a nice kick to it. I guess being a Florida native now, I'm always a little hesitant to order seafood that far north, lest I be disappointed. But since I didn't have anything to worry about after the app, I went ahead and selected fish for my entree.

I chose a Grouper in a Red Curry and Coconut sauce and Black Rice and hubby selected their signature dish - a Grilled New York Strip Steak with Red Wine Reduction and French Fries. The waiter warned me that the fish would be a bit spicy, but I laughed it off in a "Oh sure, whatever, I can handle the heat" kinda way. But let me tell you - he wasn't a-kiddin'! That fish was like an atom bomb in my mouth. Thank goodness it came with a side of rice because I would have needed to dunk my head in a bucket of milk otherwise. That fish was totally drenched in that sauce so there was really no escaping it. But honestly, it was delightful. So what if I had to blow my nose 3 times while I was eating it? I think the chef would have taken that as a compliment.

I also kept stealing bites of hubby's strip steak...uh...to help with the heat...yeah, that's it! It was uber-delicious as well. Moist, perfectly seasoned and complemented by the tangy zip of the red wine reduction sauce, I'm not sure it gets much better than that. I also loved the crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, seasoned with sea salt french fries that they served up next to the steak. No wonder it's their signature dish.

The tragedy this night was reserved for the stage, as our meals were absolute masterpieces. (If you didn't get that reference, crawl out from under your rock and Netflix West Side Story immediately. But be sure to keep a box of tissues on hand. You'll need them!) So if you ever find yourself a few hours away from a Broadway show in New York, make sure you stop by Joe Allen's for an outstanding meal in an understated environment. But be sure to make a reservation!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

Joe Allen Restaurant

326 West 46th St

New York, NY 10036

212-581-6464

Website Link

New York - Baked by Melissa

2010-01-27T17:13:00.000-08:00

Once again, I know I haven't posted in a while (sorry!), but I literally have not been home for the past month. Between visiting my family over the holidays and traveling for the first 3 weeks of January on business I've been a busy little bee. So I hope that you guys cut me a little slack. Because I promise to get back on top of things here in the Tallahassee restaurant scene....in a just a bit.

First, I'm going to fill you in on some of the best treats from my travels. First up is Baked by Melissa, a wonderful little cupcakery in NYC. During my trip to the Big Apple, I was staying in SoHo and one afternoon as I was exploring the city I found this little gem. And since you all know my eternal love for cupcakes, I could not pass it up. Literally, my DNA is just hard-wired to seek out and consume all cupcakes in the area. So, I totally have that excuse.

Anyway, I LOVE the Baked by Melissa philosophy. She felt that all too often when you walk into a bakery, you just want to eat everything in sight! So she decided to make a line of miniature stuffed cupcakes, so that people can experience more flavors without all the guilt. That's right - I said STUFFED cupcakes. These things have everything from cookie dough to jelly to marshmallows to oreo cookies inside! I have no idea how she could make something so tiny taste so scrumpdillyicious, but she certainly did just that. I mean, check them out - they're barely bigger than a quarter! But don't be fooled, they pack a big punch.

I picked up a pack of 6 for $5.50 and 3 is about just right for one serving. The hardest part is trying not to scarf the darn things in one bite! I tried with all my might to make them stretch to two bites each - but I think once I did pop a whole one in there.

So, if you ever find yourself in SoHo, be sure to search out Baked by Melissa. It's worth the trip. I certainly went back for more. Like the next day. For a whole new box. Yep. I'm obsessed.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - N/A (it's just a take-out window)

Taste - A (but be sure to eat them fresh, they get stale rather quickly since they're so small)

Presentation - N/A (again, take out)

Service - A

Price - $

Bakery Info:

Baked by Melissa

529 Broadway

New York, NY 10012

212-842-0220

Website Link

Georgio's - Fine Indeed

2009-12-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Before I get into my review, I have to preface it by saying that my husband is one of those unfortunate Christmas babies. You know, the ones whose birthdays are right before or right after Christmas and usually get lost or downplayed in the shuffle of the holidays? Yep, that's him. My Mom just happens to be a Christmas baby too, so I've had lots of experience in how to handle this sort of thing. Oh yes, there are rules, you know. The first rule is NEVER, NEVER wrap their presents in Christmas paper. It might be convenient, but it's not very nice. Their birthday is NOT Christmas. And NEVER, NEVER lump their birthday celebration in with a holiday party. You have to do it separate and you have to make as big a deal out of it as you would have made for anyone else's birthday (sometimes a little bigger deal, just to combat all the Christmas hoopla)!

So for hubby's birthday this year I made reservations at Georgio's. When the lovely woman on the phone asked if I had a seating preference, I asked what my options were and she began to rattle off a list of about 12 different areas within the restaurant that we could choose from - in the room with the piano player, up on a higher level, etc, etc. Having never been to Georgio's before and not knowing the lay of the land, I told her it was my husband's birthday and asked what she would recommend. She told me she would reserve a private area for us. Sounded perfect!

When we arrived, we were promptly ushered to our table in The Alcove - a tiny private room (that probably could have been a storage closet) off of another small secluded area (which you can see in the pic above). And when I say tiny, I mean, we were the only table in that room and our server didn't even have room to talk to us beside our table, so he just stood at the doorway and took our orders. It was definitely private, so that was nice. But because we were situated near the front windows of the restaurant, there was also a slight draft coming in from outside, and so it was also a bit chilly. But it made hubby feel special, so hey, my plan worked!

Georgio's is decorated much like a gentleman's lodge. Dark woods dominate a landscape of maroon and green colored furnishings and pictures of racing horses and dogs decorate the walls. It definitely feels as though it was originally established much earlier than 1994.

The menu is extensive, as is the list of daily specials, but the waiter was quick to pair it down to the most worthwhile selections for us. We were debating whether or not to get an appetizer, but after hearing that our entrees came with fresh bread (with smoked salmon spread), fresh vegetable and potato sides and our choice of soup or salad, we opted to skip the appetizer course.

So we both started with the Roasted Pecan Salad with their house vinaigrette. And I must say, this salad was extremely scrumptious! With creamy feta cheese and a tart dressing, it was all we could do not to lick the bowls after we had finished with the greens!

Many of the menu items have a decidedly Greek/Mediterranean flair to them, but we headed straight for the steaks since this was a special occasion. Hubby picked the Filet Alla Rossini - filet mignon atop a crostini topped with cognac and bernaise sauces and pieces of prosciutto. I ordered the Filet Au Poivre - a peppercorn crusted filet with cognac sauce. While both steaks were equally tender and flavorful, I think I preferred hubby's over my own. I think the combination of the two sauces on his steak made for an interesting mix of tangy and savory.

Both of our steaks also came with asparagus, a potato cake and cooked carrots. The potato cake was absolutely yummy - with layers of cheese, melty potatoes and crispy bacon - what a trio! The carrots were also delicious - they tasted like they had been basted in honey and were topped with poppy seeds. The asparagus, while decent, was nothing more special than your average cooked asparagus.

All in all, it was a very nice meal. I think if we go again, we'll decide to sit in the main dining room - perhaps in the area with the piano player so we can feel like we're a bit more in on the action. No one ended up sitting in the adjacent room next to us the entire time we were there, so we felt a bit isolated, but hey - it was a Tuesday night and we wanted to have our alone time anyway. We left with full bellies, happy smiles on our faces and high hopes of making a return trip sometime soon.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B- (a bit outdated)

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

Georgio's

3425 Thomasville Road

Tallahassee FL 32309

850-893-4161

Website Link

Red Elephant - A Stampede to Your Arteries!

2009-12-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

Arteries - prepare to be clogged! And YOU - prepare to like it! At Red Elephant, you get nothing less than cheesy, meaty, greasy, completely, totally, unabashed bar and grill food that's sure to go straight to your hips, thighs, tummy or any other problem area that you've been trying to get rid of for the past 10 years.

But you know, sometimes if something's wrong - you don't wanna be right. And that's exactly how I feel about Red Elephant. Of all the pizza joints I've tried in town, this one is my favorite. And believe me, that's saying a LOT because I have quite a few requirements for what constitutes "good" pizza in my book. I know this debate has been raging since the beginning of time, and there are those who will punch someone in the face if they like Chicago Style pizza better than NY Style pizza or vice versa. Pizza is a personal thing. I get it. So I'm not saying you have to agree with me, I'm just saying this is what I like:

Thin crust
Not a lot of sauce (I hate when you take a bite of pizza and the sauce squirts all over your face - or your shirt)
Lots of toppings on TOP of the cheese (Don't bury those puppies! I want to see how much I'm getting! And If I order pepperoni, I want pepperoni, dangit! Not just one or two - but LOTS)
Crunchy meat toppings (I hate soggy, rubbery pepperoni, sausage, ham or bacon)
Low on grease (yes, some grease is essential, but I don't want to be able to soak my napkin in it)
Small slices (I want to pick up my pizza with one hand and eat it, not cut it, fold it or use two hands to lift it!)
Fresh made (Not something that's been sitting around under a heat lamp, I want that sucker to be made-to-order and come out piping hot!)

Red Elephant consistently delivers on all of the above. In fact, they back their food with a 100% Quality Guarantee and you don't see that too often anymore. Plus, they do it all within a fun, casual, family atmosphere with good, friendly service. What more could you ask for? Loaded Fries. That's what.

I can't set foot in this place without ordering their Loaded Fries - a monstrosity of crispy cheese fries, topped with bacon bits and served with a spicy ranch dressing. If you don't get an order the next time you go in, I'd say you're certifiably crazy. These things are like eat-your-heart-out delicious. And not only that, but I'm quite certain they put something in this dish that makes them highly addictive. I can't stop eating them until I pick every last piece of cheese and bacon off the plate. And you couldn't stop me, even if you tried. Even if you told me that the place was on fire, I would calmly continue to stuff my face with the cheesy-bacony-potatoey goodness that is their Loaded Fries, and a burly fireman would have to throw me over his shoulder, plate in hand of course, and carry me out. Order them - I'm telling you - you won't be disappointed! Unless you hate awesome stuff. Then, you might.

Because the Loaded Fries are such a generous portion, we only ordered a Small Hearty Meat Lovers Pizza to follow them up. That's pepperoni, sausage, ground beef and bacon - all perfectly crispy and all loaded on top of their fresh cut mozzarella cheese and homemade sauce. I mean, seriously? Salty and savory, crunchy and melty, this pie was just what the doctor ordered. And look at all those toppings! If you think you could get more toppings on this pizza - I just dare you to try. I mean, I just couldn't even see the cheese underneath! LOVES IT! So, the next time you're planning to cheat on your diet, give this place a try - I promise, I'll never tell!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B (a bit loud and lots of kids running around)

Taste - A

Presentation - C

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Red Elephant

1872 Thomasville Road

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-222-7492

Website Link

Peterbrooke Chocolatier - Chocoholics Start Drooling!

2009-12-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

After having a lovely dinner at Kiku, we decided to make a stop right next door and explore Peterbrooke Chocolatier. Basically, if you can imagine it dipped, dunked, soaked or coated with chocolate, you can surely find it here!

They've got chocolate covered pretzels, popcorn, cherries, blueberries, toffee, walnuts, pecans, cashews and every other nut imaginable! They've got chocolates in the shape of turtles, starfish, sand dollars and seashells. They've got baskets of chocolates, boxes of chocolates and even chocolate pizzas! They've got white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Basically if you can think of it, and it's chocolate, Peterbrooke has it.

We visited right before Thanksgiving (can you tell I'm behind in my posts?) and they even had a chocolate cornucopia - what an amazing feat of chocolacity??!! (And yes, I just made that word up.) For our after-dinner dessert, we selected a bag of milk chocolate dipped pretzel sticks. It was $15 for a bag of 12. And while hubby really didn't want to fork over the dough, I gave him my best puppy dog eyes and pouty lips and eventually, he folded. Of course, when we got home and I dug into the bag, who was right there next to me, hand outstretched? That's right. It was hubby.

While I admit, it's pretty hard to screw up chocolate dipped anything, these bad boys were absolutely delicious. I mean, sinfully delicious. So bad, that you couldn't eat just one. There's just something about that salty-sweet combination that keeps your taste buds watering for more! Needless to say, the bag was gone in a matter of days. So, if there's someone on your Christmas list that you're just not sure what to get - a boss or co-worker, a hairdresser or petsitter, heck, even your in-laws - may I suggest a tasty little chocolate delight from Peterbrooke? I think I just did.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A+

Service - A

Presentation - A

Price - $

Store Info:

Peterbrooke Chocolatier

3491-13 Thomasville Road

Tallahassee FL 32309

850-893-6007

Website Link

Kiku - Go for the BOGO!

2009-12-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay. I know. Long time, no blog. But, as I'm sure you know, tis the season to be crazy! It always seems like December is the busiest month of the year for me - with work, with shopping, with parties to host or attend - and that leaves little time left for sleep, much less anything else! If you don't believe me, I dare you to come over to my house and look at the mountain of laundry that has overtaken my living room for the past week, just sitting there, stinkin' up the place. I DARE YOU!

I did, however, have time to squeeze in a quick visit to the newest sushi place in town, Kiku. Located over by the Bonefish Grill on Thomasville Road, it's a chic, cozy little place all decked out in gold, red and black. And since they've opened, they've been running a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Sushi special - which makes them a spectacular value, especially right now while all of your money is going towards the ho, ho, holidays!

We started off with a bowl of salted edamame (surprise, surpise!) which was delightfully delicious and not an overly generous portion. I hate when they give you a bottomless bowl of edamame and you pop so many of those puppies that you have no room left for the main event!

For our sushi rolls, we selected the Alaskan Dream Maki and the Bahama Roll. While they were both good, we definitely preferred the Bahama Roll, which was shrimp, cucumber and asparagus with spicy mayo. I liked the little kick of the spicy mayo and the crunchiness of the ingredients inside. The Alaskan Dream Maki was good too - spicy tuna, cucumber and tempura flakes with salmon covering the roll and salmon roe on top. I'm not sure you can tell from the pictures, but those balls of roe were GINORMOUS! They were seriously the size of peas and I think it freaked me out a bit. I tried to shake as many off as possible, but I still ate a couple and for whatever reason, at that size, the texture sort of weirded me out.

At any rate, the sushi was fresh, the service was prompt and the atmosphere was pleasant. I only spied one small TV over the sushi bar that was playing a football game, but the sound was turned off (which could be a positive or negative depending on whether or not you have a Y chromosome). I for one, hate competing with a TV for my husband's attention when we go out to eat. And I did ask how long the BOGO special was going on, but the server had no idea. Although it's plastered all over a billboard on Capital Circle and it's prominently displayed on their website, so I'd guess it's not going anywhere anytime soon!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - B+

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Kiku Japanese Fusion

3491 Thomasville Rd Suite 12

Tallahassee FL 32309

850-222-5458

Website Link

Mozaik - When Fancy Falls Flat

2009-11-22T17:56:00.000-08:00

The concept of Mozaik is an interesting one - serve up a menu that changes daily with dishes composed of diverse elements in an artful, imaginative setting. The restaurant tries hard to be an exact definition of its very name. The atmosphere itself is punctuated by various pieces of artwork, vases and mirrors that are beautiful, colored mosaics. Believe you me, the mosaic theme isn't very hard to miss. But the problem with mosaics is that if they're not exactly done right, with exactly the right pieces, they turn out to be an ugly mess.

Every time I've eaten at Mozaik it's been a completely underwhelming experience. They try so hard to be fancy and eclectic, but it usually ends up downright ordinary. Our meal started out very promising, so I was hopeful that I would be proven wrong this night! But by the time we bit into our entrees, my previous experiences were confirmed.

We were promptly brought fresh bread with a red pepper and sour cream dipping sauce. It had a spicy tang matched with a refreshing coolness that was simply irresistible. And the bread was soft, light and airy. Hubby and I ate every single piece of bread and soaked up every last drop of that dipping sauce!

Next, we decided to split their Greek Salad - a combination of baby spinach and field greens, marinated artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, feta, tomatoes, caper berries and a garlic rubbed crostini topped with a creamy white balsamic vinaigrette. We had them hold the red onions and anchovies (ew, gross!) though. Now, normally when we split a salad, it all comes on one plate, but they were gracious enough to split our salad on two plates and gave each of us a crostini - which I broke into smaller pieces and used as croutons (delish!). The dressing on this salad was absolutely spectacular! It was not as oily as regular greek dressing and not as garlic-y either. It had a nice consistency with a slight zest that made me keep going back forkful after forkful.

We asked our server for recommendations for entrees and she suggested the Tagliatelle and the Gulf Grouper and Jumbo Hopper Shrimp, so we ordered one of each. Hubby tackled the Tagliatelle (above) - which is Mozaik's house made pasta in a poblano-almond pesto cream sauce topped with grilled chicken. Well, I'm not sure you can really tell from the picture, but it came out looking like green slop in a bowl. I mean, that's just waaaaaaay to much sauce, right? And I've had pasta in a pesto sauce before, so it wasn't the color that bothered me. It's just that it was so drenched that the pasta got a bit soggy. Plus, it was a bit bland too. And the grilled chicken was just that - grilled chicken. No flavor, no spices, no nothing. Snoozefest. Zzzzzzzzzz...

The Gulf Grouper and Jumbo Hopper Shrimp looked absolutely amazing on the plate, so I was excited to dig in. But again, it was a let down. The grouper was just lightly breaded in what tasted like a simple cornmeal and the shrimp were just seared without any sauce or spices at all. There were 3 dipping sauces on the plate - an eggplant-lemon aioli, charred tomato jus and what I think was some sort of balsamic. But because the seafood itself had no inherent flavor, the sauces couldn't do much to combat that. It was also served with a house made ricotta that tasted very pungent and bitter. Alas, this mosaic was not a masterpiece.

While the meal got off to a strong start, it ultimately crashed and burned, leaving a bad taste in our mouths. But dang, if everything could taste like that Greek salad, they'd be in business!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - C+

Presentation - B+ (everything besides the pasta looked beautiful on the plate!)

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Mozaik

1410-D1 Market Street

Tallahassee FL 32312

850-893-7668

Website Link

Urbane - Puh-lease Eat Here!

2009-11-20T17:13:00.000-08:00

Of all the restaurants I've eaten at in Tallahassee, Urbane rises quickly to the top of the list. With a chic, upscale atmosphere, a top notch staff and exquisitely flavorful menu options, dining here is always a treat!

But what makes me angrier than all get outs is when my favorite restaurant in town looks like this - completely and totally empty! Now, we did have 5:30pm reservations (which is when they open for business), but in the hour that we spent there, only 3 other tables filled up. Now, I know Urbane is a bit on the expensive side and most people can't eat there on a regular basis, but when this place is empty on a Saturday night and there's a line out the door at places like Olive Garden and Outback there's something seriously wrong. We need to support our local Tallahassee treasures people!!!

One of my favorite things about this place is their warm, soft rolls that come fresh out of the oven, and their flavored butter. Yep, that's right. Their butter is flavored. Deliciously, scrumptiously, superbly flavored!

Every time I go, it's a different flavor - and so awesomely good that I usually end up asking for more! I've had mango butter, cinnamon butter, raspberry-strawberry butter and strawberry-lime butter, but on this night, we had strawberry-pineapple butter. So sweet and tangy, I pretty much used the whole scoop of butter on one roll! It is simply incredible.

For my main course, it was no contest - I absolutely had to order the Peppercorn Crusted Filet. This has to be one of my favorite steaks of all time. Crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the peppercorn coating gives it a spicy little kick. Plus, when you add the blue cheese fritter on top with all that melty-ooey-gooey-goodness...

...well, it's just purely divine! It comes with asparagus and olive oil poached fingerling potatoes, which I didn't much care for as they were rather dry and not flavorful. I believe this dish used to be served with garlic mashed potatoes, which I thought were much more mouth-watering. But I can overlook the potatoes for the sake of the steak!

Hubs ordered the Low Country Shrimp and Scallops, which is the same dish that he orders at Cypress, but I thought Urbane's version had much more flavor. The broth had a nice spicy little zest to it, enough to compliment the seafood without being overpowering. And the grits were the best grits I've ever had (and I'm not a grits lover!). I think because their consistency was a bit creamier than most, and of course, there was cheese involved - because everyone knows that cheese makes everything better! The grits also had a mushroom ragout sprinkled over top of them that was oh-so delightfully savory. Overall, it was a very delectable meal.

So the moral of this story is that if you haven't been to Urbane yet, you don't know what you're missing! Well, I guess technically now you do, since you read this review...so what are you waiting for? Head over to Urbane next weekend, tomorrow or heck...why not tonight? Just get there already!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A+

Taste - A+

Presentation - A+

Service - A+

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

Urbane

115 East Park Ave

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-422-2221

Website Link

101 - I'm Just Not That Into Your Food

2009-11-13T16:10:00.000-08:00

I really want this place to be really, really great. I really do. (Really!) The atmosphere is chic and contemporary, the servers are attentive and it's usually rather easy to get a table without a reservation. But every time I eat at 101, a trendy little restaurant and lounge in Kleman Plaza, I'm always a touch disappointed. The drinks are expensive (unless you take advantage of their 50% off drinks from 4-7pm) and the food isn't any better than average. They have a rather extensive menu, and I've tried a number of the dishes, hoping I was just a victim of POS (poor-ordering-syndrome) but alas, that is not the case.

Now, don't get me wrong, many of their dishes are edible. I just haven't had anything OUTSTANDING there yet. It makes me wonder if instead of offering every food option under the sun - sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, pasta, tapas and entrees - they should just focus their efforts on making a smaller number of dishes infinitely better.

We started out on this night with a Seared Tuna Sashimi appetizer, which wasn't half bad. The tuna seemed fresh, had a nice texture and it was served with a pear cucumber salad that had a nice tangy little vibe to it. But was I given a first class ticket to OMGville? Definitely not.

For our entrees, hubby made a rather surprising choice - he selected the Lemon Basil Chicken. He generally goes for seafood, steak or if he can't find anything he likes in those two categories he opts for a burger or sandwich. He rarely orders chicken when we're out at restaurants. (Probably because I cook so much chicken at home during the week!) But I digress. His dish was a marinated chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, portobello and coated with a lemon Beurre Blanc sauce. It sounded rather tasty on the menu, but ended up rather underwhelming on the plate. Although the chicken was moist, it just wasn't anything special. If this chicken went out on a first date with my hubby (not that I encourage that sort of thing)....she probably wouldn't be asked out on a second one!

As far as my main course goes, I selected the Black and Blue Salad. Featuring mixed greens, tomatoes, blue cheese crumbles and asparagus all topped with blackened steak and a homemade balsamic dressing, it had the all the makings of an amazing salad. Except the steak KILLED it. The steak wasn't marinated in anything, nor was it coated in any spices (except maybe a little pepper) before it was cooked, so it lacked any semblance of flavor. And whatever cut of meat they used was very fatty and chewy. What a let down! The rest of the salad itself was actually quite good - the dressing had a nice flavorful zip, the asparagus was crispy and the blue cheese was sharp. Too bad they couldn't spring for a nice quality cut of meat to go with it.

Now, just so you know I'm not being unfairly harsh on this place - I've also eaten their Steak Tips 101, Lettuce Wraps, Calamari Two Ways, Sauteed Mussels, Bruschetta, Spinach and Artichoke Dip and Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon. And besides the calamari and the mussels, nothing else was really that good. It's a fun, swanky little place to go for Happy Hour, and with their 50% off deal, it makes their drink prices more manageable. But I'd say steer clear of the menu, unless you're willing to take your chances!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - C

Presentation - B+

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

101 Restaurant and Lounge

215 W College Ave

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-391-1309

Website Link

Shula's 347 - You're Gonna Lurve This!

2009-11-09T15:54:00.000-08:00

Well, the town has been all abuzz about the opening of the Hotel Duval and it's various attractions - Level8, Shula's 347, Le Roc Cafe, etc. And I've been super anxious to give the town's newest steakhouse a try. I'll be honest, I think Tallahassee was in need of a good, upscale steakhouse. I've tried Marie Livingston's and didn't think it was anything better than my mom could make. I've tried Ted's (even the bison!), but the experience was butchered (no pun intended) because my steak was overcooked and the service was lousy. In fact, my favorite steak in town isn't served at a steakhouse at all. It's the Peppercorn Crusted Filet at Urbane - crunchy on the outside, melty on the inside and served with a blue cheese fritter - it's absolutely divine! So, hoping Shula's would take the cake, I invited hubby and a friend to accompany me for a lovely evening out.

From the moment you drive up to the Hotel Duval, the exquisite experience begins. A valet promptly greets you, opens your door and whisks your car safely away. Be sure to let them know you're dining at Shula's, as they'll mark your ticket with an S and then you can get it validated by your server, so the parking is complimentary.

We decided to go a little early and have some drinks up at Level8, the rooftop bar. So swanky and trendy, it seems like it would be better fitted for a New York high rise, rather than a Tallahassee boutique hotel. But the view is gorgeous, especially around sunset and there's ample seating outside so you can enjoy the fresh air. What's even better is that if you don't finish your drinks in time for your dinner reservations, you can take them down to Shula's with you!

So down to Shula's we went. We were ushered promptly to our table, informed of the specials and left alone to peruse the menus. Although, none of us had to look very long, because we all decided to order the 8oz Filet. Hubby got his with the smashed potatoes and asparagus, and my friend and I both got the steak fries and asparagus.

But before our steaks arrived, hubby and I decided to split the Wedge salad - an iceberg wedge with blue cheese crumbles, bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese dressing (we had them hold the red onions). It actually came out looking like a wedge, but hubby was so hungry, he immediately cut and mixed it up before I could reach into my purse for the camera. At any rate, the salad was delicious. The dressing was rich and creamy and the bacon was crisp and savory. It was a rather large portion, and for it's $10 price, I'd suggest you split it.

Our steaks arrived and our server asked us to do something I'd never been asked to do at a steakhouse before. She asked us to cut into our steaks immediately and verify that they were cooked to our satisfaction. She even had a small light that she used to help illuminate our plates in the dim lighting to ensure they were cooked correctly. After we had all done so, she asked us to enjoy our meal and enjoy we did. Now, if you LOVE a good steak, you will LURVE these. That's right, LURVE (that's like 10 levels up from love, if you didn't know). They are so buttery and melt-in-your-mouthy that you will just groan with pleasure. The steak fries were golden and crispy and nicely seasoned, but I had a taste of hubby's smashed potatoes and thought they were yummy as well. They were sprinkled with parmesan cheese and had real chunks of potato with the skin and all! The only thing we thought was a bit odd was the taste of the asparagus. It had a sort of tangy taste, almost as if they had been marinated in balsamic vinegar. Although, after the unusualness wore off, it did add a nice little zip to the plate.

It was a deliciously scrumptious meal from start to finish. And the service and attention to detail were perfection. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very chic and romantic, dressed in shades of black and grey, but there were also a few strategically placed TV's showing some games for all the sportsmen and women in the crowd. I would say that besides a few places like Urbane and Cypress, Shula's is one of the only real fancy places in town.

After dinner, we wandered over to ALoft and checked out their W XYZ bar for comparison. I'd describe the inside of the ALoft more as shabby chic, almost as if Target had created a line of hotels. It's not as upscale as Hotel Duval, but then it's a W lite hotel, so I'd expect that. But where you feel as though you're in a whole other city up at the Level8 bar, in the W XYZ you still know you're in a hotel lobby bar.

I ordered a Watermelon Martini, which was far too sweet for even my taste, and my friend ordered a Razzle Dazzle (I think that's the name) - it was some sort of fruity concoction made with real blueberries. After I downed my martini, I ordered one of those next and it was much less sweet, but much more potent. The weird thing about this joint was that it seemed they really couldn't figure out what kind of music they wanted to play. One second they were playing a heavy metal song, and the next it was techno, and after that it was pop, and then classic rock and so on and so on. Maybe that's because they call the area next to the bar the re:mix lounge, but it was still a little unnerving. It was like the place couldn't settle into a groove.

The one thing we did think was pretty fun about the W XYZ bar was the array of games that they have out on each of the tables. We grabbed a Yahtzee game and proceeded to play 2 fun filled rounds. Funny enough, the more we had to drink, the better we rolled the dice! YAHTZEE!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A+

Taste - A+

Presentation - B

Service - A+

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

Shula's 347

415 North Monroe St

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-224-6000

Website Link

And The Winner Is......

2009-11-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

I just want to take a moment to thank all who entered the First Ever Tally Foodie Comment Contest! I really enjoyed reading your entries and hope that this has made you all feel a bit more comfortable leaving comments and feedback on future posts. And keep an eye out - because I may just hold another Comment Contest sometime soon!

Okay, so here's the verdict. We had a whopping 11 entries (I know it says 12 comments, but one was a double entry that was deleted by the author), which is the highest amount of comments for one post on this blog! To select the winner, each post was given a number based on the order in which they were submitted, and I used the website Random.org to generate a random winning number. And the lucky winner is..........(drum roll, please)...............TaureanJ! Here's the winning post:

So, TaureanJ, to receive your $20 Bonefish gift card, please send an email to me at tallyfoodie@gmail.com with your name and address, and I will drop it into the mail for you!

Here are the other restaurants that were voted your favorites:

Masa - 2 votes

Crepe Vine

Jasmine

Kitcho

Firehouse Subs

Pitaria

Food Glorious Food

One! Fresh Stir Fry

Ted's Montana Grill

Tijuana Flats

Pepper's Mexican Grill

Sahara Greek & Lebanese Cafe

There are quite a few on that list that I haven't tried yet, but I am excited to have some new suggestions from all of you! Thanks again to all who participated!

Cafe Cabernet - Not Your Average Bar Food

2009-11-03T16:43:00.000-08:00

Cafe Cabernet is one of those places that I've been to before, but only to have a few drinks. They boast area's largest liquor selection and over 30 wine selections by the glass and 1000 bottles in their temperature controlled cellar. I've asked around about what the food is like, but none of my friends or co-workers have ever eaten there. So last Friday night, hubby and I decided to take the plunge and see if this wine bar's menu was up to snuff.

The inside of the cafe is definitely dedicated to the bar area. There were just a handful of tables on the lower level, and then an upper deck near the windows with a couple more. We arrived around 6pm, so we were lucky to snag a table up top. While the service was a bit slow, our waiter apologized multiple times, stating that he had a large group of 13 down below that he was also servicing. It wouldn't have been such a problem, except we were trying to catch a 7:30pm movie (which we did, but only by the skin of our teeth).

I was also a bit put off that we had to actually pay for bread, instead of getting it for free like at most restaurants. But we were really hungry and couldn't just wait for our entrees to arrive. We asked about the salads, but were told that they were rather large, entree-sized portions, so we didn't feel like we needed that much to eat before our main course. So, we reluctantly ordered the $6 Bread Box that came with tarragon basil butter and an olive tapenade. While the butter didn't taste much different than regular butter, the olive tapenade was very scrumptious. So scrumptious in fact, that I reapplied the tapenade to the bread after each bite!

At the recommendation of our waiter, hubby ordered the Brie Chicken (above) and I selected the Creole Seasoned Snapper (below) for our main courses. Once our entrees arrived, any qualms I had about this place were immediately squashed. These dishes were expertly prepared, full of tantalizing flavor and waaaaaaay better than I expected. Hubby's brie chicken came in a dijon cream sauce that was a nice tangy compliment to the cheese encrusted chicken and was served with mashed potatoes and garlic spinach. He graciously allowed me a bite and it literally melted in my mouth!

Now, the snapper wasn't a menu item that I initially had my eye on, but our server literally lit up when he talked about this dish, so I just had to try it. It was a large piece of snapper, coated in spicy creole seasonings and topped with crispy sweet potato ribbons. That alone, was enough to make me love this dish. But the awesomeness didn't stop there - oh, no! The fish was placed atop a heaping helping of mashed potatoes and garnished on either side by blue crab claw meat tossed with toasted Georgia pecans. And then a lemon butter sauce was placed around the exterior of the plate. I kid you not, this dish was RIDICULOUS! One bite allowed you to have spicy and sweet, soft and crunchy, buttery and crispy all in one mouthful. There was nothing about this dish that I didn't like - the fish was moist, the blue crab meat was fresh, the pecans and sweet potato strings were crunchy, the lemon butter sauce was rich and decadent. Muah (*kisses fingers*) - perfection!

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much more than some overpriced, underwhelming bar food from this place. But I have to say, their dishes really over-delivered. As the night wore on and the place got crowded, it did get a bit loud in the restaurant, and I was shouting at my husband just trying to have a conversation, so I'd suggest going early. And if only the wait staff would have been a bit more attentive (my drink sat empty for quite some time at one point), it would have been a pleasant experience all around!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - A+

Presentation - A+

Service - B-

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Cafe Cabernet

1019 N Monroe St

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-224-1175

Website Link

First Ever Tally Foodie Comment Contest!!!!!!

2009-10-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've been writing this blog for 4 months now and I've got a little group of followers and about a dozen comments, so I feel like it's starting to gain traction. However, I'd really like to make this blog more of a forum for discussion!

My reviews only reflect MY point of view, naturally, but I want to hear yours as well! If you've been to any of the restaurants I've reviewed, let me know about your experience in the comments - what you liked, what you didn't like, whether you agree or disagree with my review, or recommend an alternative restaurant in town that you think I should try!

I'm also going to start doing some things to encourage to more participation (or "Kick it up a notch!" as Emeril would say!). I've already placed a poll on the blog, which you'll see to the right, to get your opinion about an upcoming trip I'm taking. If you haven't already, please take a minute to cast your vote. And right here, right now, I'm instituting the first ever Tally Foodie Comment Contest! The winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to Bonefish Grill. Oh, come on, you know you want some bang, bang shrimp! Okay, here's the skinny:

To enter to win:

Post a comment in response to this posting, answering the following questions:

What is your favorite restaurant in Tallahassee?
What is your favorite thing to order at that restaurant, and why?

The only rules are:

You have to be a resident of the greater Tallahassee area (Thomasville, Havana, Quincy, Crawfordville, etc. are included)
Only one entry per person (but not per household - so forward this on to your spouse, roommate, friends, family, heck even your co-workers (but only the ones you like!) and have them enter too)
Comments must be received my midnight EST on Sunday, November 1st, 2009.

The winner will be chosen at random and will be announced on this blog on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009. Instructions will then be given to let the winner know how they will receive their prize!

Good luck and I look forward to reading all of your replies!

Jasmine Cafe - Value up the Wazoo

2009-10-26T17:05:00.001-07:00

On Saturday night, we ventured downtown for a light dinner and stopped off at Jasmine Cafe. I'd heard mixed reviews about this place, mostly centered around the fact that the sushi was cheap and the place catered to the college crowd. But who says that a meal has to be expensive to be good?

It's a cozy little joint with hand-painted windows featuring various sea creatures, low ceilings and the alcohol list scrolled on one wall made entirely of chalkboard. The servers wear black t-shirts with the phrase "I like it raw" printed on the back. Fun, right? There are only about 15 tables in the place, and we were lucky enough to get one of the last spaces. If you're bringing a larger group, I'd suggest calling ahead to see if they could push a couple of tables together, as their tables only seat 2 or 4 people.

I have to be honest, the service was a bit slow. We sat for awhile before even being greeted by our server, and it seemed to take forever to just get our drinks. I can't say it was due to understaffing because there were at least 4 servers in the place, so that would mean each of them only had 3-4 tables to take care of. Not exactly rocket science.

We started off, as we usually do, with a bowl of salted edamame. I was about ready to chew my arm off before it finally came out, and when it did, it seemed to be a bit over-steamed. The outside of the edamame looked a bit wilted and wrinkled, not exactly something you'd want to dig into. But we did anyway, because we were just so darn hungry.

Next, we selected the Rainbow Roll and the Hurricane Roll. I'm not quite exactly sure what was in each roll, because the current menu isn't posted on their website, so I'll just have to tell you as best as I remember. I'm pretty sure the rainbow roll was like a california roll inside and topped with various pieces of sashimi (tuna, salmon, etc.) and avocado. The hurricane roll (I believe) featured crunchy shrimp on the inside, tuna sashimi and avocado on top and hot pepper jelly drizzled on top. I preferred the hurricane roll, but hubby liked the rainbow roll best. I thought the pepper jelly really gave a nice spicy kick to the roll.

I had no qualms about the quality of the sushi - I though it was fresh and flavorful. I did think the size of the rolls were a bit smallish, but then I realized that they cut their sushi into 9-10 pieces instead of the normal 6-8, so I guess that's allowable.

Okay, so let's get back to the issue of the price. It was a very economical meal. Most of the rolls are priced from $5-$7 each, with some of the specialty rolls being a pit pricier. Our hurricane roll, for example, was $10. My husband ordered a draft beer (I'm not a beer drinker, so I didn't pay that much attention to the name, but I know it was a seasonal variety) and it only cost him $2, which made him a very happy camper. Now, if they could only improve upon the service a bit, this place would be an even better value!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B (a bit tiny and crowded on the inside)

Taste - B+

Presentation - B

Service - C

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Jasmine Cafe & Lounge

109 East College Ave

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-681-6868

Website Link

El Tapatio - Sticky but Spicy

2009-10-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

On Friday night, since the weather was so wonderful, we ventured over to El Tapatio for some good mexican eats and 2 for 1 margaritas on their spacious outdoor deck. We've eaten at El Tapatio before and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, so we were looking forward to another good meal.

The table we were ushered to was particularly sticky, so that was kind of a turn-off. But again, I could look beyond that for some delicious chow. I mean, who needs to put their elbows or forearms on the table to eat? Not me!

We were quickly given some chips and salsa to gnaw on while we pondered the menu. The salsa had a refreshing kick to it, but wasn't nearly as spicy and tongue-blazing as the salsa at Los Amigos. And besides, sometimes you just need an excuse to take a long swig of your margarita, right guys and girls?

Now, don't let the picture fool you - these margaritas weren't watered down, they were the real deal. After the first one (a small, by the way), both me and hubby were a little tipsy. At one point, he made fun of me, and I replied with a slurred, "Your suck." Nope, that's not a typo. I literally said, "Your suck." Ahhhh, margaritas, I love how you work your magic.

For our main entrees, we both decided to pick things that we've never had before (cause I know you guys don't want to see yet another chicken fajita review!). So, hubby picked the Shrimp Quesadilla and I picked the Mole Poblano. Just like every other mexican restaurant in town, this place gives you a ridiculous amount of food. Literally, you could have fed a small army with either of our meals that night.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the mole poblano (pictured above), which was billed as chicken marinated in a special chocolate sauce, but it was extremely tasty. It ends up looking like a pulled pork dish, and has the same smoky flavor, but without the tang of the bbq sauce. After adding some refried beans and cheese and mexican rice, it was a scrumptious little wrap.

Hubby also enjoyed his shrimp quesadilla, which was made of shrimp, cheese and tomatoes. I had a bite and it was richly cheesy, with tiny little shrimpies that were the perfect mouthful portions. Hubby was a little freaked out that the shrimp were red in color, but I told him it was just the spicy seasoning and he seemed to accept that.

All in all, it was a great meal. And because neither of us fully tackled our dishes, I would recommend splitting something on the next go-round. But not the margaritas. Never the margaritas.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - C+ (tables were sticky, chairs are plastic and the floor was a bit dirty)

Taste - B+

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

El Tapatio

1002 N Monroe St

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-224-0351

*I couldn't find a website for these guys, if you know it, please post in the comments!*

'Tis the Season for Food Festivals

2009-10-21T17:45:00.001-07:00

Photo credit: freefoto.com

The thing I love most about the fall season in Florida is that the weather gets a bit cooler, which means you can actually stand to be outside for more than 5 minutes at a time! And for whatever reason, it also means that food festivals start popping up everywhere you look. I thought you guys might like to know about some of these yummy events happening close by, so that you can partake in the festivities!

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Now - November 8, 2009

Orlando, FL

The park transforms into a showcase of culinary delights from regions around the world.

VegFest

October 24, 2009

Orlando, FL

A family-friendly, dog-friendly, smoke-free event featuring a diverse cross-section of vegetarian cuisine.

Taste of THE Beach

November 5-8, 2009

Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast

A culinary event spanning 3 gulf coast counties that features wine tastings, champagne brunches, five-course dinners and other exciting food events.

Downtown Oyster Roast

November 6, 2009

Apalachicola, FL

Enjoy an evening under the stars featuring the world's best oysters from Apalachicola Bay.

Ponte Vedra Beach Food & WineFest

November 6-8, 2009

Ponde Vedra Beach, FL (near Jacksonville)

Experience a tasting of over 145 international and domestic wines and champagnes and a sampling of signature dishes from 15 of the area's gourmet restaurants and bakeries.

46th Annual Florida Seafood Festival

November 6-7, 2009

Apalachicola, FL

This is the oldest seafood festival in the state boasting delicious eats, arts, crafts and entertainment all within a family fun atmosphere.

Orlando Food and Wine Fest

November 14-15, 2009

Orlando, FL

A celebration of food and wine from 35 of Orlando's top restaurants, plus live entertainment from national recording artists, chef seminars and cooking demonstrations.

Tampa Bay Spirits Festival

November 28, 2009

Tampa Bay, FL

Perfect for those who are passionate about distilled spirits! Come mingle with industry experts, master distillers, authors, aficionados, master mixologists, judges and celebrities while you sample world-class spirits and delectable cuisine.

Au Peche Mignon - Guilty Pleasures Indeed!

2009-10-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

After our adventurous lunch at Kitcho, we walked just a few doors down to a wonderful little French pastry shop called Au Peche Mignon. This bakery had also been recommended to me through email by one of my readers, so I was especially thrilled to try it out (even though I had to break my diet a bit to do so - yes, that's right, I'm TRYING to diet, and don't scoff - I'm getting ready for a trip to Aruba)!

It took me quite a bit of Googling and Wikipedia to figure out what the name of this bakery meant. Not knowing a lick of French, I first thought it meant, "my little mignon" (as in, filet mignon), but I was sure that meat had no rightful place in the name of a bakery. When I used a free online translator, it told me it meant "to the darling peche," which I was sure still wasn't right (since one of the words wasn't even translated). So I did a search for just Peche Mignon, which came back as "guilty pleasure." And when you add the Au, you get "the guilty pleasure." I think. Yes, that's my final answer. Lock it in, Regis!

It's a very fitting name, as there are many guilty pleasures that await you inside. So many, that I sat there dumbfounded trying to make my decision about which delight I was going to use to cheat on my diet. There were truffles and chocolates, cakes and pies, mousse and macaroons and so many other temptations I'd never even heard tale of before! What was a girl to do? A Vanilla Eclair. That's what.

After letting my lunch settle, I dug into my little white bag and extracted my vanilla eclair with the intention of eating just half to save the other half for later (as a good girl should). But before I knew it, I was licking my fingers, with no trace of eclair left in sight! Oops. The vanilla filling was so light and fluffy, the pastry was so flaky and airy, and the chocolate on top was so rich and crisp. And with just a dollop (or two) of whipped cream on top, it was so sinfully scrumptious! I can safely say, it is the BEST eclair I've ever had in my LIFE.

Well, you wouldn't believe it, but not 2 minutes after I concluded my little pig out session, H called me at my desk and asked me to share his Blueberry Pear Frangipane Tart. I tried to back out, really I did. (I can tell you don't believe me.) I'm telling you, I protested. But H brought me a quarter of the tart anyway, and you know, it started getting my file folders all greasy, so I had to get rid of it somehow. Yeah, I scarfed it. And it too, was yumdillyicious. The soft, tangy texture of the pear mixed well with the tartness of the blueberry and the cakey batter (not sure if that's the correct terminology) was moist and crunchy at the same time. Ugh. Heaven.

Did I feel guilty? A little. Was it worth it? Abso-friggin-lutely.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B (there are only a few wire tables inside and out of the tiny bakery)

Taste - A++

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $

Bakery Info:

Au Peche Mignon

1415 Timberlane Rd

Tallahasse FL 32312

850-668-5533

*I couldn't find a website for these guys, if you know it, please post in the comments!*

Kitcho - How Exotic Do You Want It?

2009-10-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

For lunch last week, a group of friends and I headed over to Kitcho for some sushi and other Japanese fare. Taste wise, we were a very hodgepodge group. I consider myself on the advanced sushi level - I've been eating sushi for years and will try some of the adventurous stuff (like eel), but there are other things that are still too exotic for me (like sea urchin). Two of my lunch mates, H and JB (names have been shortened to protect the guilty) I would consider to be sushi gurus - they eat mostly the exotic stuff and can wield chopsticks to eat salad, noodles, the works! And then the last of our foursome, JMo had only eaten Publix sushi (blech!) and while she wasn't impressed, she admitted she'd like to try out the real deal, so she was tagged as the sushi novice in our group.

Okay, you guys are getting a real treat with this post because we ordered A LOT of food between the four of us. And everyone was kind enough to let me try a little bit of everything (except those things that I was scared of - that's right, SCARED of) so I've got a pretty good handle on the meal. We started out with some Miso Soup and Salad with Ginger Dressing, two basic staples of Japanese dining. Both were very good, and very consistent with what we've all had at other places. JB, however, went so far as to say that the ginger dressing at Kitcho is the best in Tallahassee!

For the main attraction, JMo and I ordered some sushi rolls (well, more like I ordered and she obliged). We selected the Japanese Bagel, Seoul and American Dream rolls and after I gave her a quick chopstick lesson, we dove right in. Correction - I dove, she dipped her toes in the water. Her first taste was the Japanese Bagel (salmon, cream cheese, cucumber), which she said she enjoyed and could tolerate mostly because the cream cheese covered up some of the weirdness of the raw fish. Next, she went for the American Dream (salmon, shrimp, avocado), which she practically had to gag down. Although, she did admit she wasn't a big fan of the texture of shrimp, so that may have been why she didn't particularly like that one. But I have to give it to her, she was a real trooper and forged on, trying the Seoul roll (spicy tuna, masago, avocado) probably against her better judgment. That one too, she was not a big fan of. I think she ended up eating all of 4 rolls that lunch - I felt so bad that I offered to take her to McDonalds or Chick-fil-A afterwards! Some people just aren't big fans of sushi, and you know what? That's okay. But I applaud her effort to try something new! As far as my thoughts go, I agreed that the Japanese Bagel was probably the best roll of the three. The American Dream just really didn't have much flavor to it, and the spicy tuna in the Seoul was a bit mushy and not spicy enough for my taste. Let's just say, I've had better rolls at Kitcho.

H ordered the Yakiudon meal, which was a chicken and vegetable stir fry dish with thick udon noodles in a "special" sauce. He allowed me a taste, and I must say, it was absolutely delicious! The vegetables were crisp and not soggy, the chicken was flavorful and moist and the sauce (definitely soy-based) was savory without being overpowering. All in all, it was definitely something I'd order when I visit again!

He also got a side of Iidako (baby octopus), which I was very fascinated with, but in a is-this-thing-gonna-eat-ME? kinda way. Don't get me wrong, I like calamari, but this was an octopus of a different color! It was in some sort of red sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. H said that it tasted over-steamed, and thus was a bit too chewy. He also said that the sauce was far too sickly sweet and definitely added an unwelcome flavor to the piece. But hey, I give him points for even putting the thing in his mouth!

Last, but certainly not least, we come to JB's meal. He ordered the Tenzaru Soba, a dish that included cold buckwheat noodles, a side of shrimp and vegetable tempura and a special dipping sauce served both hot and cold (that's why there's 2 bowls there). JB put the hot sauce on the cold noodles and was dipping the tempura in the cold sauce, but halfway through the meal he decided it would have been better the other way around. I tasted the buckwheat noodles and found it very hard to describe their exact flavor. The special dipping sauce was definitely miso-based, however. I also broke off a bit of his tempura to sample as well. Now, let me tell you - their tempura batter is amazing! Light and airy, but slightly sweet, it's the best tempura I've tasted in a long time!

Being the sushi guru that he is, JB also ordered an exotic something-or-other on the side of his dish as well. It was a piece of Uzura, quail egg served up with masago. I have to admit, it was a very colorful little piece of sushi, but again, I wanted nothing to do with it. It must have been pretty good too, because it quickly disappeared without a word of complaint from JB!

So all in all, we had a nice little meal. I always find Kitcho to be a reliable source for fresh sushi and authentic Japanese cuisine. And while from the outside, it doesn't look like much, the inside reflects a very hip, metropolitan vibe. After Masa and Sakura, Kitcho is one of the best sushi restaurants in town.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - B+

Presentation - B+

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Kitcho

1415 Timberlane Rd

Tallahassee FL 32312

850-893-7686

Website Link

Andrews 228 - Missing Something

2009-10-13T12:08:00.001-07:00

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I SWEAR I have a good excuse. I recently celebrated my birthday and so I've taken a few trips out of town to relax, have some fun and of course, eat lots and lots of cake, cookies and ice cream! Now it's back to reality (boo, hiss!), but back to blogging as well. I hope you've missed me!

Okay, so in-between all of my out-of-towners, I was able to squeeze in a nice dinner out with a friend last week at Andrews 228. It's the fancier sister (brother?) restaurant to Andrews Capital Bar & Grill downtown on Adams St. And they're actually located right next to each other as well. I had never been there before, but was eager to try out somewhere new.

As I walked inside I was immediately impressed by the earthy decor with their stone tiles and waterfall in the lobby. The restaurant is very underground - LITERALLY. A flight of stairs at the entrance leads you down below to their dining area. It's like something you'd encounter in New York - where every ounce of real estate is taken advantage of, whether it's a basement bar or a rooftop lounge - right here in our very own Tallahassee! It's got a contemporary vibe, with colors of moss green, burnt orange and various shades of brown dominating a landscape of funky artwork, granite tabletops and modern track lighting. Lets just say, the looks of things were looking very good!

We were promptly brought water and some bread (seeing as how we were the only people there on this particularly slow Wednesday night) and I must say, the dipping sauce for their bread is absolutely magical. It was an olive tapenade mixed with some balsamic and olive oil and I think between the two of us, we licked the plate clean! Our server tried to take it from us once and I had to hold myself back from giving him a smack on his hand when he reached for that plate! (I'm still kicking myself that I didn't take a picture of it - sorry guys!)

We ordered some cocktails and salads and settled in for a night of good eats and good company. However, our salads were the first bummer of the night. We both ordered the Chop Salad, a mix of fresh greens, carrots, proscuitto and tomatoes with a gorgonzola vinaigrette, and while the presentation was fancy, the dressing certainly didn't have the kick that Bella Bella's gorgonzola vinaigrette does. The ingredients were also pretty standard, so it lacked a certain....oh, what's the word I'm looking for.....oh, that's it....FLAVOR! A sharp cheese or tangy fruit could have added a bit of vigor to an otherwise disappointing plate of rabbit food.

As we eyed the entrees, which were billed as American-Italian fusion cuisine, we both felt all the dishes were a bit too heavy, so we opted to do a few small plates instead. I ordered the Mussels and she ordered the Proscuitto & Fig Pizza. Don't let the name "small plates" fool you - these were very generous portions that we were served. So much so, that neither of us ate everything on our plates - imagine if we had gotten an actual dinner entree!

My mussels were steamed in a classic white wine, lemon and garlic sauce with grape tomatoes and spinach and served with crispy bread wedges topped with parmesan cheese (as if I hadn't had enough bread already!). They were good, but not great (I've had better at the likes of Kool Beanz and 101) but I couldn't really put my finger on their deficiency. The mussels themselves were a bit small, and a little dry (perhaps a bit over-steamed). And the sauce they were cooked in was broth-based and probably would have been a bit richer (and a bit better) had it been butter-based instead.

The proscuitto & fig pizza actually had a very interesting flavor. The tangy sweetness of the fig mixed nicely with the salty meat of the proscuitto, however it too was missing a certain "je ne sais quoi." My friend speculated that arugula was the missing link. But I was sure it was goat cheese. Nevertheless, it was one more dish that we found just a bit lacking.

Would I return to Andrews 228? Probably. Would I order the same thing? Probably not.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - B-

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Andrews 228

228 S. Adams St.

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-222-6822

Website Link

Experience Asia 2009 - Sat Oct 3rd!

2009-10-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be traveling back to the midwest to visit with the fam for a bit, so I won't be able to do any yummy reviews this weekend. But, I didn't want to leave you high and dry (or hungry and thirsty, as the case may be), so I thought I'd make a suggestion. This Saturday, October 3rd is the 5th Annual Asian Festival in Tallahassee. It's the 3rd largest festival in town, behind Springtime Tallahassee and Winter Festival, and last year 15,000 people attended!

It's a showcase of music, art, dance, crafts and cuisines from Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Thai, Persian, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese and Pakistani cultures. It all takes place downtown at Lewis and Bloxham Parks, right across from the Downtown Marketplace area from 10am - 5pm. It's a great way to get a little taste of lots of different restaurants around town and decide which ones are your favorite! Hubby and I went last year for lunch and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Plus, I bought this really cool origami ring that I always get lots of compliments on!

Food Vendors Include:

Bahn Thai(my favorite)

Lucy Ho's, Inc (which I'm assuming includes Masa)

The Tapioca Lounge

Lasang Pinoy

New China Chinese Restaurant

Great Wall Chinese Restaurant

Orient Express

Samrat India Restaurant

Japanica

Five Spice Seafood and Asian Bisro

Essence of India

Sushilicious

And more!

Here's a link to their website for more info: Experience Asia 2009

Have a great weekend! I'll see you on the flip side.

Los Amigos - Order the chicken anything!

2009-09-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

After spending a hot, sweaty Saturday afternoon at the FSU game (which we lost, making things even worse), hubby and I were ready to scarf on some down and dirty mexican food. We found a coupon in one of those little discount books we get in the mail for Los Amigos and thought we'd give it a try. We figured if it wasn't good, at least it wouldn't be full price, right?

As soon as we walked in we saw a big sign that said margaritas were 2 for 1, and nobody had to tell us twice. These puppies were large and in charge, but seemed a bit watered down and less flavorful than those at Morelia's. But that doesn't mean we didn't slurp them with enthusiasm!

We were quickly brought out chips and salsa and let me tell you - that salsa is NOT for the weak willed! That stuff will burn your tongue right out of your head! Which is probably why we were sucking down those margaritas so fast. As soon as we could, we ordered up some cheese dip to get relief from the heat. I could hardly take a minute to snap a picture before I devoured it to try to extinguish the flames. That salsa is muy caliente! The cheese was creamy and rich and thankfully, there was no kick to it. So, the slow burn eventually started to fade.

For the main event, I ordered up Chicken Fajitas, natch, and hubby did the pick two deal and chose a Beef Taco and a Chicken Quesadilla. I have to pontificate for just a moment about their chicken. I have no clue what they marinate that stuff in, but it comes out with a red tinge to it. But never fear - it is completely savory and scrumptious! What makes it red? Is it chili powder? Is it cayenne pepper? We may never know, but you know what, it doesn't matter, you'll just love it. Even after I finished my 4 tortillas worth of fajitas, I was picking the rest of the chicken out of the pan it was that good! The refried beans were creamy and the mexican rice was moist and flavorful (with no peppers or onions added to it - amen!), making my fajitas were absolutely chow-worthy!

Hubs agreed that the chicken made the quesadilla wonderfully delicious, but he was thoroughly disappointed with his beef taco. It was ground beef that was not marinated in anything and had absolutely no flavor to it, so it was definitely a bit bland. He didn't even eat more than a couple of bites of it - and this is coming from the man who would probably eat dirt if you put a yummy sauce over it, so that's really saying something!

Overall, I'd definitely return to Los Amigos. They've got a comfortable family-type atmosphere and I didn't notice any of the stereotypical mexican-type decorations, but I didn't venture any further than our table, which was right by the front door. The prices are also extremely reasonable, and they regularly run coupons in those little direct mail booklets, which makes it an even better deal. But whatever you do, make sure you order the chicken!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - B

Presentation - C

Service - B+

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant

2736 Capital Circle NE

Tallahassee FL 32308

850-385-9992

*I couldn't find a website for these guys, if anybody knows it, please post it in the comments!*

Fusion Cafe - Lounge the night away

2009-09-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

On Friday, after work, I met up with a girlfriend at Fusion Cafe for a gab 'n grub session. Honestly, I always forget about Fusion and this was actually only my 3rd visit to the restaurant in the year and a half that I've lived here. It's probably because like most of Tallahassee's non-chain restaurants, it's unassumingly tucked away in the corner of a little strip mall, just waiting patiently for you to visit. Once inside, you realize it's anything but unassuming. Decked out in deep maroon and dark grey colors, it definitely gives off a modern/urban vibe - almost like you've walked into a swanky hotel's lounge bar. The chairs are comfy and the lighting is low, which makes it easy to sit and stay awhile.

I'd had a rough day at work, so we ordered up some cocktails, pronto. She ordered the Elderflower Martini and I went for the Mojito. She fared much better than I did in the drink department. Her martini was a bubbly, sweet concoction made with elderflower liqueur and champagne with a cherry in the bottom. My mojito had no sugar (one of the most important ingredients!) and thus tasted too bitter and flat. I sucked it down as fast as I could, and moved on to a glass of their Relax Riesling, which was much better suited to my taste. Slightly sweet and crisp, it was a refreshing improvement from my lackluster mojito.

I ordered up a bowl of their She Crab Bisque to start, and was excited for it to arrive at the table. However, it wasn't much better than mediocre. It was more of a broth than a bisque and there were only about 4 lumps of crab included. It also tasted a bit sandy, which was something I might have expected from a dish made with mussels or oysters, but not crab. I probably should have gone with my first instinct and ordered the Sweet Potato Soup.

For dinner, however, I knew I'd pick a winner - I went straight for what, in my opinion, is the best dish on their menu - the Pretzel Crusted Grouper. This moist, white fish comes in a crunchy, salty, pretzel-y coating and is drizzled with a spicy mustard sauce that is the perfect tangy compliment to the dish. It's also served with sides of grilled asparagus (perfectly seasoned, I might add) and crispy herbed potato bites. I must confess, I also dip the potatoes in the spicy mustard, because, well, it's awesome and I like the little zip that it adds.

My friend ordered up the Cobb Salad with the buttermilk-dill dressing and the monster that came out looked absolutely delicious. Packed high with toppings like grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, olives, blue cheese crumbles and cherry tomatoes, it was definitely a ginormous portion. She worked at it diligently for a good 20 minutes, but made barely a dent. It would probably be a good salad to order for take-out and then split with the entire family at home. When I asked her how the dressing was she said that it was definitely not your ordinary run-of-the-mill ranch dressing, but the dill wasn't overpowering (I hate when that happens!). She seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, but, alas, wasn't able to conquer it!

As we sat and finished up our last drinks of the night, a friendly employee (I'm not sure if he was the manager or not) came over and asked us how our meal was and if we were enjoying ourselves. My friend saw through his guise and asked if he needed us to stop squatting at our table to make room for new patrons. He smiled and said that a large party was coming in and if we could just scoot to the table next to us, he'd comp our last round of drinks for us. We happily moved over, and although we didn't think our waitress would really take off that last round of drinks, when the bill came - she certainly did! Needless to say somebody got a big tip that night!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B+ (it does get a little loud once the place fills up)

Taste - B+

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Fusion Cafe

1225 N. Monroe St.

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-222-4956

Website Link

Bella Bella - Bring Your Appetite!

2009-09-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, it's very hard for me to want to eat Italian in Tallahassee. To me, Italian food is winter food. I just really can't bring myself to eat hot, rich, saucy food when it's just as hot outside. But don't get me wrong, I'm an Italian girl and I love Italian food, but here in Florida I've found I rarely get the craving for it. So when I do, I must act!

Bella Bella is our go-to Italian place in town. There's something so quaint and homey about it, it feels as though I'm stepping into a relative's kitchen. The moment you walk inside, the smell of marinara sauce and freshly grated cheese wafts past your nostrils. And then you just succumb to it - that overwhelming desire eat massive quantities of pasta. And at Bella Bella, massive quantities of pasta you will get!

We've learned that it's best to split meals here, as the portion sizes are just like Italian families - HUGE! All of their entrees are served with salad and fresh bread and many come with a side of angel hair pasta. I always feel like I'm at my Grandma's house where she's grabbing my wrists and saying "You're so skinny! Here, you get an extra spoonful!" And I'm looking at a mountain of food and wondering how it's all going to fit in my tummy. I think that's what all the sauce is for - to make everything slide down easier!

A friend recently recommended we try the Bubble Bread, which we had never had before, so we put in a quick order before they could bring us their regular stuff. Be forewarned - unless you're prepared to make a trip to heaven, do not order the Bubble Bread. Because this bread will take you through the clouds, past the choirs of angels and straight to the pearly gates! Imagine if you will - crispy, crunchy Italian bread, topped with mozzarella and gorgonzola cheeses and baked until everything is so ooey-gooey and bubbly on top so that it's hard to tell where the cheese ends and the bread begins. Uh, oh. I've lost you haven't I? You've already left your computer and gotten into your car and headed over to Bella Bella. Aw, shoot. Well, I guess I'll just continue and maybe you'll come back and read the rest of my review after you awaken from your Bubble Bread coma.

Next, come the House Salads. I'm not quite sure what makes their dressing so irresistible, but it's equal parts tangy and garlic-y and creamy and you just won't be able to stop mopping your lettuce all up in it. It's one of those dressings that hits you in the back of your jaw, but in a love-hurts kinda way. I believe they bill it as a homemade gorgonzola vinaigrette - but I think there's more to it than that - someone's not revealing their secret ingredient (*tsk, tsk*)!

For our main entree, hubby and I split the Chicken Parmesan. And lucky we did - you get 3 whole chicken breasts, lightly fried and topped with mozzarella cheese and dunked in marinara sauce and baked (again) until bubbly. We made a little game of trying to find the chicken under all that cheese and sauce because it was definitely drenched! But oh soooo good. Our entree came with a side of angel hair pasta with marinara sauce and our server was nice enough to put a generous portion of shaved parmesan cheese on the top. There's just something about their marinara sauce that reminds you of home - they don't try to be too fancy about it, they don't add any crazy or overpowering spices and it's not sweet (spaghetti sauce should never be sweet - blech!) - it's just like your Mom or Grandma would make it. And in my book, that's just right.

I have to apologize a bit for the quality of the pictures on this post. By the time we went out to dinner that night, it was dark out and I ended up having to use the flash in the restaurant. I hate using the flash for 2 reasons: first, because natural lighting looks infinitely better, the flash always blows out the colors and second, because it draws attention to me and I always feel like a goober taking pictures of my food in public. But I do it all for you guys - my loyal readers - so I really hope you're enjoying my posts!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B (tables are a little too close together, I don't like other people overhearing my conversations)

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Bella Bella

123 East 5th Avenue

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-412-1114

Website Link

Wells Brothers - Burgers Well Done

2009-09-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

As we headed over to Wells Brothers (aka: Monk's), we weren't quite sure what to expect. I've lived in Tallahassee for a year and a half and I've never heard boo about this place. However, I received a suggestion through email recently and so hubby and I thought we'd check it out (see...if you email me, I will listen!)

It's a small little dive on a side of town that we rarely venture, but as we pulled into the parking lot, snagged the last empty spot in the back and saw people playing Cornhole outside, we thought it had to be a pretty fun place. And we know that sometimes the best burger joints are those little hole in the wall places that are off the beaten path, so our mouths were watering as we walked inside. But I do have to warn you - if you're coming here for the service, you will be extremely disappointed.

When we walked in, one of the servers barked out that there were open tables in the front, the back and outside. But he didn't make any move to try to seat us, so we just wandered into the back and sat ourselves. Inside, there's definitely a ruckus - a loud din that permeates the echoing room. And there were at least 9 TV's in the room we were seated in alone - which, as all you ladies know, makes it mighty hard for your man to concentrate on you and not whatever game or bright shiny visual is playing on the TV.

A female server approached us a minute later and the first words out of her mouth were not "Hello" or "How are you tonight?" or "What can I get you to drink?" they were - no joke - the following: "The kitchen is running slow tonight, so you're gonna have to wait about 30 minutes for your food." Well, okay, then, so that was how it was going to be. Now, we didn't have anywhere to be, so it wasn't a huge deal for us, but I did think it was a little rude to start out with that. She could have at least eased into it a bit, right?

Although their menu boasts various sandwiches, salads, pizzas and wraps, the place is best known for burgers, so we ordered up 2 of our own creations. And with over 60 toppings to choose from - including unique things like peanut butter, green apple slices, pickle chips and sour cream - it was a bit hard to choose! Mine was a BBQ, Bacon and Blue Cheese Burger, and hubby ordered a Cheeseburger with Lettuce, Tomato and Ketchup (a true All-American classic!). And indeed we did not have to wait 30 minutes for our burgers like Miss Badnews Betty predicted, but only about 15, so we were pleasantly surprised. And where the service was lacking, the burgers were not. They were both moist and juicy, made with fresh ingredients and served on slightly toasted buns. The bbq sauce on my burger was tangy and mixed well with the sharpness of the blue cheese and the crispy bacon. Hubby must have been equally satisfied too, as his mouth stayed full until his burger was completely demolished. The fries were also very good - crunchy on the outside, warm on the inside and nicely seasoned with salt and pepper (to me, the seasoning makes all the difference).

But if I could revisit the service for just one more moment. One of my biggest pet peeves is when my drink doesn't get refilled promptly. Not only did my glass sit empty for quite some time, when my server took it away to refill it she didn't return for about 10 minutes. And when she did, she claimed that another server took my Coke and served it to someone else. So - did that mean that some other poor patron was at that very moment sucking on a straw that had my cooties all over it? I shivered at the thought.

So, if you're looking for a pretty outstanding burger, give Wells Brothers a whirl. But if you're looking for great service, don't say I didn't warn you!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - C (it's pretty much a bar scene, so it's very loud inside)

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - C

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Wells Brothers Bar and Grill

1710 W. Tharpe Street

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-942-6665

Website Link

New Orleans Day 3 - Red Fish Grill

2009-09-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

For our last meal in New Orleans (*tear*), we traveled back to Bourbon Street to grab a bite to eat at Red Fish Grill before our Haunted French Quarter Tour - because everyone knows you don't want to meet a ghost on an empty stomach!

This fun and funky little place has been voted the best seafood restaurant in New Orleans 4 years in a row, so we were ready for a treat. We quickly requested an order of the joint's signature BBQ Oysters, and were completely blown away. These babies were flash fried, tossed in a tangy-smoky-sweet bbq sauce and drizzled with their homemade blue cheese dressing. I know I keep saying this about the food I've been having in New Orleans - but these were the best oysters I've ever had in my life! I've never eaten oysters any other way but straight up raw, but these sounded so scrumptious, we just had to get some. I'm so glad we did, because they were amazing!

Next, I ordered the RFG House Salad, which consisted of hearts of romaine, crumbled blue cheese, tomatoes, roasted pecans and an apple-rosemary vinaigrette. I have to admit, this salad had the potential to be super good, but the salad dressing kinda killed it for me. It really had no taste to it at all, which absolutely infuriates me. I don't just want wet lettuce - I want it to actually be flavorful - is that too much to ask??

For our main entrees, I ordered the Coconut Shrimp and hubs ordered the Hickory Grilled Redfish with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat. Now, I know what you're thinking - I ordered a heck of a lot of shrimp in New Orleans, and you're right. I really don't know what I was thinking other than the shrimp dishes always looked the most yummy to me! These were jumbo Louisiana shrimp fried in a sweet coconut batter and served with a sweet and spicy pepper jelly sauce. The shrimp were crunchily delicious and the sauce gave them a nice zip! But I could have done without the pineapple red pepper rice pilaf. The rice was flavorless, and of course, I don't like extra fruits and veggies in my rice, so it was 2 strikes and yooooooouuuuu're OUT (of my mouth)!

Hubby's dish was lip-smacking good. The redfish was light and moist and grilled with some cajun seasoning, topped with lump crabmeat and served with a lemon butter sauce. And it was served with some veggies and really crispy potatoes. It was a dish filled with various textures and flavors with the crunchy and the soft, the spicy and the sweet, but it worked - and it was an absolute success!

Because we still had a bit more time to kill before our tour, we decided to order up some dessert. As this confection takes 20 minutes to prepare, it was the perfect choice. If you ever have the pleasure of eating at Red Fish Grill, you should definitely order their Double Chocolate Bread Pudding. My husband doesn't like regular bread pudding, but he LOVED this. It's made with dark and semisweet chocolate bread pudding, served with chocolate almond bark, and if you didn't already have enough chocolate - you could pour on some white and dark chocolate ganache. Did I mention this dessert was made with chocolate? Rich, warm, sweet and creamy, this dish was like the exclamation point on an already great meal. But I definitely needed my hubby to roll me out of there...

Now, I'm sure you're all wondering if we did, in fact, encounter any ghosts on our Haunted French Quarter Walk. Well, we started off in one of the ballrooms at the Bourbon Orleans hotel and I snapped off a bunch of pictures to see what I could catch on film. And I struck gold with the photo below. As you can see, there's a big light orb in the upper right hand corner and there are also a few smaller ones throughout (if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you should be able to see them). We were told by our tour guide that there were about 6 ghosts inhabiting this room, so I'll leave it up to you - do you think I captured a spirit from the other side?

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B+ (chairs were a bit hard)

Taste - A

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Red Fish Grill

115 Bourbon Street

New Orleans LA 70130

504-598-1200

Website Link

New Orleans Day 3 - Maya's

2009-09-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

For brunch on Sunday, we headed over to the Garden District, not knowing what we would find. We had no recommendations from anyone about restaurants in this area, but we thought it looked like a cute part of town worth exploring. The parking spot we found just happened to be right in front of Maya's, and so fate graciously intervened.

Billed as having Latin Fusion Cuisine, we thought, what the heck? So we sauntered in and were seated right away, as there was only 2 other people in the joint. Normally, that would worry me, since all the other restaurants we went to required us to wait in line, but I was just so hungry, I didn't really care. Our waiter quickly informed us that they were offering 2 for 1 sangrias, mimosas and mojitos, which was their signature house drink. Well, you didn't have to tell us twice - we ordered up 2 mojitos right quick! And I have to say, is that these were the best mojitos I've ever had in my ENTIRE alcohol-drinking life. I consider the act of making mojitos an art form - if there's too much sugar it's too sweet and hurts your tummy, if there's too much club soda it's too bitter and hurts your taste buds. But these mojitos were just right - cool, refreshing and lightly sweet. Ahhhhhhh......

Next, they brought us out some chips and dip. But this wasn't just any ole chips and dips - these were so yumdillyicious I could have eaten 3 baskets worth (I actually ate 2, but hey - don't judge me!). The chips were so light and crispy and the dip was made with sweet pepper jelly and honey and it tasted like the nectar of the gods! It started out sweet and then it served up a tangy-spicy kick that was uber-addictive. Let me tell ya, I was ready to tap a vein and insert an IV of this stuff!

For our main courses, I chose the Coconut Curry Shrimp and hubby superbly chose the Tuna Tartar. The shrimp came in this deliciously sweet and spicy curry (it was just a sweet and spicy meal all around!) and were served up with sticky white rice. I have to admit, my nose did start to run a bit because of the spiciness, but I loved it anyway. My husband's dish was absolutely mouth-watering! It consisted of sushi grade tuna, tomatoes, avocado, green and red peppers, all chopped into little cubes, soaked into a soy-ginger sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. You took the chips, dipped it into the heavenly mixture and then let the tartar work it's magic. All of the ingredients were wonderfully fresh and flavorful and the soy sauce was just a tad sweet, making it irresistibly yummy. We were super glad that we just happened to find a parking spot right in front of this little joint, otherwise we never would have had the pleasure of eating there!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A+

Presentation - A+

Service - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Maya's

2027 Magazine Street

New Orleans LA 70310

504-309-3401

Website Link

New Orleans Day 2 - Commander's Palace

2009-09-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

The most extravagant meal of our entire trip was at Commander's Palace. From the outside it looks as if it could be a little girl's doll house. It's decked out in turquoise and white, with columns and scalloped edges and all. On the inside, it's a grand old house steeped in all the luxury and refinement of the Antebellum Age. It's not in the French Quarter, mind you, it's on Coliseum Street in the Garden District, so you'll need to take a car or a taxi to get there. Reservations are absolutely required to visit this restaurant, and let me tell you, they are absolutely worth it! But be forewarned, you must dress to the 9's - no shorts are allowed and they prefer that men wear jackets.

Upon entering and confirming our reservation, we were walked through a long hallway lined with waitstaff (each of whom wished us "good evening") and up a great staircase to the second floor. You literally feel as though you are going to the parlor room of the great Scarlett O'Hara herself! There are crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, ornate rugs gracing the floors at your feet and plush chairs that cushion your back. You truly feel as if this will be a meal "Fit for a King" or I guess, a Commander!

We were waited on by 3 servers the entire night, and their attention to detail was impeccable. Hubby and I ordered cocktails, but we were also brought waters that were refilled after even the tiniest sip. And once our ice melted in our glasses, we were brought fresh waters with brand new ice cubes. Can you imagine??? We were really and truly spoiled that night.

So, like true Kings, we decided to make it a 3 course meal. For starters, I ordered the Peach and Walnut Salad and hubby got the Romaine Salad. The salads were absolutely to DIE for. Mine had fresh peaches, crunchy walnuts, chunks of goat cheese and was drizzled with a champagne vinaigrette. Every bite was sinfully sweet. Hubby's salad featured hearts of romaine, eggs, bacon, french bread croutons and black-pepper buttermilk dressing. It was smack-yo-lips creamy with a little spicy kick. I could have gone home right then and been perfectly happy, but things just kept on getting better.

We moved on to our main entrees, which were Cajun Spiced Mako Shark for me and Black and White Shrimp for my husband. At first, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about eating shark, but I figured, when in Rome, right? It actually tasted like a very mild white fish and the cajun spices added a nice bite to the dish (no pun intended). The shark came on top of one of the most moist pieces of cornbread I've ever had in my life. Hubby's dish was Louisiana white shrimp, topped with black pepper and parmesan cheese and served with a lemon-limey sauce and caramelized onions. The shrimp, all by themselves, were divine - perfectly plump, not overcooked and seasoned with delightful flavor. However, the sauce added a creamy, tangy little zest.

BUT WAIT - there's more! For dessert, we were treated to Creole Bread Pudding Souffle with warm whiskey cream sauce and Chocolate Molten Cake. Just when I thought I couldn't eat any more, they brought out these two beauties and I found my second wind! The bread pudding was so warm and gooey and the whiskey cream was rich beyond words. And the chocolate cake was deliciously devilish. The combination of moist cake and warm chocolate lava was so baaaad it was good, if you know what I mean.

After dinner, we were told by the valet that the mansion where the Benjamin Button movie was filmed was just 2 doors down from the restaurant on Coliseum Street. So we wandered over and took a look. Hubby proceeded to look it up on his Blackberry, and sure enough, it was the exact house! And it's for sale for roughly $3 million, if you're interested. It was dark, so the pictures didn't turn out too well, but we were excited nonetheless. It was a nice little perk to a very extravagant evening.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A+

Taste - A+

Presentation - A+

Service - A+

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

1403 Washington Avenue

New Orleans LA 70130

504-899-8221

Website Link

New Orleans Day 2 - Mother's

2009-09-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

For lunch we headed over to Mother's to have an authentic New Orleans po' boy. And once again, we were forced to wait in line. Either we picked all the hot spots or New Orleans was crowded that weekend! And again, the Seating Nazi's were out in full force. Stand in line outside, go inside, stand by the elevator, scoot up, SCOOT UP!

We decided to split the Famous Ferdi Special, a mixture of Mother's Best Baked Ham, roast beef, debris and gravy. Hubby has gotten into the habit of ordering whatever is "most popular" at restaurants lately. If he can't ask a server the question, he generally goes by menu items that are placed in a featured box or that have the word "famous" in front of them. It's a pretty good system, and works most of the time. We also got 2 sides - french fries and seafood gumbo.

I have to say, this was my least favorite meal in New Orleans. While the meat on the sandwich was high quality, it just wasn't that flavorful. Besides the meat, the only thing on the sandwich was a little bit of coleslaw in a mustard sauce. But the mustard had no zip or tang to it, and the amount of coleslaw put on the sandwich was downright puny. To me, it was just bland and boring. The french fries also weren't anything to write home about. They were cold, not particularly flavorful and had no seasoning on them whatsoever. I'd actually take McDonald's or Wendy's french fries over Mother's fries any day of the week. The seafood gumbo was actually the most flavorful of the dishes, although not by much. At least it was nicely seasoned and the chunks of seafood were fairly substantial.

Would I go to Mother's again? Probably not. I know a lot of people rave about this place, but to me it was all hype. The food was blah, they corral you in like cattle and the tables and chairs were pretty flimsy and dirty. I just wasn't impressed.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - C

Taste - C

Presentation - C

Service - B

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Mother's Restaurant

401 Poydras Street

New Orleans LA 70130

504-523-9656

Hours: Mon - Sat 6:30am -10pm, Sunday 7am-10pm

Website Link

New Orleans Day 2 - Cafe du Monde

2009-09-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

We awoke on Saturday like kids on Christmas morning because we knew we were going to have breakfast at Cafe du Monde, a true New Orleans institution. A french market coffee stand, it was established in 1862 and after Hurricane Katrina, it was the first place in the French Quarter to re-open for business.

It's open 24/7, with the exception of Christmas Day. And there are really only 2 items on the menu - cafe au lait and beignets (pronounced ben-yays). Well, okay, they have other things to drink, too, if you're not a big fan of coffee (as I'm not). And if you don't know what beignets are, they're square pieces of dough, fried and topped with a generous heaping helping of powdered sugar. Think funnel cake, only thicker and doughier on the inside.

They come in orders of 3, and trust me, that's the perfect amount for one person. It's an open air market (that means no air conditioning relief from the sticky New Orleans air), they pack you in like sardines, and while you will wait in a bit of a line, it's all worth it once you take your first bite of the crunchy, soft sweetness of your first beignet. And there's no shortage of entertainment just outside the cafe either, balloon artists whip up elaborate monkeys and mermaids, jazz musicians serenade you, and horse drawn carriages clip-clop to and fro just across the street. It's definitely an experience like no other - just watch out for powder fights - people do like to blow sugar at each other!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B- (no a/c and cramped tables)

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Cafe du Monde

800 Decatur Street

New Orleans LA 70116

504-525-4544

Open 24/7

Website Link