A few weeks ago I posted an article that the Original NY Bagels Deli had opened a new location in Mooresville at the Town Square center at Brawley School Road and Williamson Road. That short posting got two hearty thumbs up. So, I decided to give it a try last week. Glad I did.
I walked in and took a look at their menu. It was sizable, and it took me a while to make a decision. Eventually I decided on the Appalachian. It's a turkey and bacon sandwich on a bagel. I chose a sesame bagel with mustard, lettuce, and tomato. I was told to choose a small side salad, so I went with a macaroni salad.
The sandwich took a while to prepare, over 5 minutes. However, my impatience was tempered once the I looked over the sandwich that was brought to my table.
The sesame bagel was stacked high with turkey, bacon, lettuce, and two thick slices of the best winter-time tomato I've ever seen. (Where did they get it???) The turkey was standard deli turkey, the bacon was cooked to a crisp, and the bagel was good. But for me it was the produce that put this sandwich above average -- just top-notch. By my rule of thumb: when the produce is good, it shows that the restaurant pays attention to details.
The macaroni salad was good, and the chips that came with the sandwich were just average chips. The atmosphere in the deli isn't anything special, just lots of tables packed into a tight place -- I wasn't looking for a quiet and romantic table when I was only meeting a buddy of mine. But the food and service were good. If you like a good NY style bagel, this is your place.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Price: $$ (Sandwich and soda just over $10 -- more than I was expecting.)
Kid Friendly: Yes
Conclusion: Good deli style food and friendly service are what you remember walking out of here. On a side note, I grabbed a salt bagel to take home. Delicious!
Restaurant Info:
Original NY Bagel Deli & Restaurant
Can't find address, but it's on the North East Corner of Williamson and Brawley School Roads
Mooresville, NC
Showing posts with label Sandwich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandwich. Show all posts
Friday, December 18, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Mimi's Cafe (North Lake)
After a morning of Christmas shopping at Northlake Mall (why do they call it Northlake when it's actually SOUTH of the lake??), my wife and I decided to give Mimi's Cafe a try. Neither of us had been there before, but we'd heard good things. So we hopped in the car, drove across the street, and made our way inside.
Mimi's is new, and it shows. There really isn't much wear and tear to be seen. The carpet is still new, the tables aren't scarred, and the booth seats aren't cracked (one of my pet peeves). We were quickly taken to a booth in a back room. The room had some French flair, and the ceiling was designed to look like brick. So, I'm guessing that the room was supposed to be in a quasi New Orleans style -- but don't quote me on that.
The menu was huge. So many items to try to understand, it was a little overwhelming. After a long time thinking about it, I decided to go with a Chicken Parmesan Ciabatta and a cup of French Onion Soup. While my wife decided on a Sweet and Sour Chicken Wrap and a cup of Chicken Gumbo.
Up to this point our server was awesome. She was friendly, helpful, and seemed like a top notch waitress -- until she forgot my soup. After my wife's gumbo was dropped off, she disappeared before I could even ask about my soup. About 4 minutes later, she apologized and said that she'd get my soup. About 5 minutes later, after my wife's gumbo was long gone, my soup arrived.
The French Onion soup was good, but not great. Melted cheese on top with a slice of soggy baguette under the cheese -- that's delicious! But in all honestly, it was just like every other good French Onion soup that most restaurants serve.
About 10 minutes after I finished my soup, our entrees arrived. Now it's about 45 minutes into our meal, and we just received our entrees. Needless to say, I was getting a little cranky.
My sandwich was quite good. The chicken was nice and crispy on the outside but the tomato sauce that topped it was lacking flavor. The ciabatta bread was good, and the fries were top-notch.
However, it's my wife's selection which gave us pause. The Sweet and Sour Chicken Wrap is a new menu item and described as "Roasted chicken cooked in ginger sweet and sour sauce, shredded cabbage, carrots, jasmine rice, green onions and won ton crisps with baby spring greens tossed in balsamic dressing." Sounds good right?
Here's the thing, it tasted like .... wait for it....... FISH!
FISH?? Yeah, really fishy fish.
They must have put in too much fish sauce, or cooked the chicken on the same grill that cooks fish, because the fish smell and flavor were overpowering. Needless to say, my wife didn't finish her wrap. But she ate half of my sandwich instead. (I think she stole some fries too!)
Long after we were done eating our waitress appeared and took our plates. Fortunately, she asked about my wife's uneaten wrap, and once she heard our response, she summoned the manager. He apologized for the fishy wrap, and handed us a total of two coupons. One for a free appetizer, and one for a free dessert. And though nobody told us about it, the wrap was removed from the final bill (as it should have been.)
Here's the thing that really annoys me about this meal it was VERY inconsistent. The service was sometimes good, and sometimes bad. The food ranged from horrible (the afore mentioned wrap) to really good (the chicken gumbo). I'm really having a hard time trying to score this one.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Total: 8/15
Price: $$ (even minus the one entree, this lunch was easily over $10 per person)
Kid Friendly: Yes, kids menus and high chairs abound.
Conclusion: Inconsistent food and service made this a mixed bag. Even with coupons for free items, I don't see a reason to return. I'll just stay across the street and eat at Firebirds.
Restaurant Info:
Mimi's Cafe
10224 Perimeter Parkway
Charlotte, NC
http://www.mimiscafe.com/
Mimi's is new, and it shows. There really isn't much wear and tear to be seen. The carpet is still new, the tables aren't scarred, and the booth seats aren't cracked (one of my pet peeves). We were quickly taken to a booth in a back room. The room had some French flair, and the ceiling was designed to look like brick. So, I'm guessing that the room was supposed to be in a quasi New Orleans style -- but don't quote me on that.
The menu was huge. So many items to try to understand, it was a little overwhelming. After a long time thinking about it, I decided to go with a Chicken Parmesan Ciabatta and a cup of French Onion Soup. While my wife decided on a Sweet and Sour Chicken Wrap and a cup of Chicken Gumbo.
Up to this point our server was awesome. She was friendly, helpful, and seemed like a top notch waitress -- until she forgot my soup. After my wife's gumbo was dropped off, she disappeared before I could even ask about my soup. About 4 minutes later, she apologized and said that she'd get my soup. About 5 minutes later, after my wife's gumbo was long gone, my soup arrived.
The French Onion soup was good, but not great. Melted cheese on top with a slice of soggy baguette under the cheese -- that's delicious! But in all honestly, it was just like every other good French Onion soup that most restaurants serve.
About 10 minutes after I finished my soup, our entrees arrived. Now it's about 45 minutes into our meal, and we just received our entrees. Needless to say, I was getting a little cranky.
My sandwich was quite good. The chicken was nice and crispy on the outside but the tomato sauce that topped it was lacking flavor. The ciabatta bread was good, and the fries were top-notch.
However, it's my wife's selection which gave us pause. The Sweet and Sour Chicken Wrap is a new menu item and described as "Roasted chicken cooked in ginger sweet and sour sauce, shredded cabbage, carrots, jasmine rice, green onions and won ton crisps with baby spring greens tossed in balsamic dressing." Sounds good right?
Here's the thing, it tasted like .... wait for it....... FISH!
FISH?? Yeah, really fishy fish.
They must have put in too much fish sauce, or cooked the chicken on the same grill that cooks fish, because the fish smell and flavor were overpowering. Needless to say, my wife didn't finish her wrap. But she ate half of my sandwich instead. (I think she stole some fries too!)
Long after we were done eating our waitress appeared and took our plates. Fortunately, she asked about my wife's uneaten wrap, and once she heard our response, she summoned the manager. He apologized for the fishy wrap, and handed us a total of two coupons. One for a free appetizer, and one for a free dessert. And though nobody told us about it, the wrap was removed from the final bill (as it should have been.)
Here's the thing that really annoys me about this meal it was VERY inconsistent. The service was sometimes good, and sometimes bad. The food ranged from horrible (the afore mentioned wrap) to really good (the chicken gumbo). I'm really having a hard time trying to score this one.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Total: 8/15
Price: $$ (even minus the one entree, this lunch was easily over $10 per person)
Kid Friendly: Yes, kids menus and high chairs abound.
Conclusion: Inconsistent food and service made this a mixed bag. Even with coupons for free items, I don't see a reason to return. I'll just stay across the street and eat at Firebirds.
Restaurant Info:
Mimi's Cafe
10224 Perimeter Parkway
Charlotte, NC
http://www.mimiscafe.com/
Friday, July 24, 2009
Recipe Friday: Tomato Sandwich
As you know, I'm new to the South. Though my wife is originally from South Carolina, there are still things that I run across which make me say "HUH??"
So, this Wednesday when Kathleen Purvis from the Observer wrote an article on Tomato Sandwiches, you could hear an audible "HUH??" emanate from my lips.
White bread with only tomato and mayonnaise? Where's the bacon? The lettuce? The yummy stuff??
Apparently, I think like those darn Yankees, who according to the article, think the same thing.
However, towards the end of the article Purvis listed some Tomato Sandwich recipes that resonated with the California Boy in me. Brie? Dijon Mustard? All RIGHT! Now, we're cookin'!
So, below is the recipe that Purvis borrowed from Cooking Light Magazine. I've made some minor modifications, so that it sounds even better to me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I plan to:
Ingredients:
sourdough bread
olive oil
1 clove garlic (cut in half)
Dijon mustard
Brie cheese
spinach
tomatoes
Directions:
1) Heat pan over medium-high heat. If pan not Teflon coated, use small amount of butter or oil
2)Drizzle each slice of bread with olive oil, and rub cut side of garlic on both sides
3) spread small amount of Dijon mustard on one side of one slice of sandwich.
4) Top mustard with thin (or slightly thicker) slices of brie, spinach, and slices of tomato
5) Top with remaining slice of bread
6) place sandwich into pan, about 2 mins per side. Until each side is golden-brown, crunchy, and cheese is melted.
So, this Wednesday when Kathleen Purvis from the Observer wrote an article on Tomato Sandwiches, you could hear an audible "HUH??" emanate from my lips.
White bread with only tomato and mayonnaise? Where's the bacon? The lettuce? The yummy stuff??
Apparently, I think like those darn Yankees, who according to the article, think the same thing.
However, towards the end of the article Purvis listed some Tomato Sandwich recipes that resonated with the California Boy in me. Brie? Dijon Mustard? All RIGHT! Now, we're cookin'!
So, below is the recipe that Purvis borrowed from Cooking Light Magazine. I've made some minor modifications, so that it sounds even better to me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I plan to:
Ingredients:
sourdough bread
olive oil
1 clove garlic (cut in half)
Dijon mustard
Brie cheese
spinach
tomatoes
Directions:
1) Heat pan over medium-high heat. If pan not Teflon coated, use small amount of butter or oil
2)Drizzle each slice of bread with olive oil, and rub cut side of garlic on both sides
3) spread small amount of Dijon mustard on one side of one slice of sandwich.
4) Top mustard with thin (or slightly thicker) slices of brie, spinach, and slices of tomato
5) Top with remaining slice of bread
6) place sandwich into pan, about 2 mins per side. Until each side is golden-brown, crunchy, and cheese is melted.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Panera Bread Company (Huntersville)
I've been a fan of Panera for about 9 years. One day my wife took me for breakfast, and I was hooked after I had some of their fresh bagels. As I continued to go there, I branched out to their lunch menu and desserts. So this weekend when my wife suggested that we grab some lunch at Panera, I happily obliged.
Panera is a fast food-ish style restaurant. You place your order with a cashier, you get your own drinks, you pick-up your food, and bring it to your table. The food is prepared quickly, and once you're done eating, you are supposed to clear your table, and throw away your trash. But on top of this you're supposed to separate the trays, plates, and utensils too! (I don't mind throwing away my stuff, but separating the plates and utensils?? Really?? Where am I? Add a sink, and I'm at my house!)
My wife and I placed our orders, grabbed a seat, and waited for our food. Panera is decorated with relaxing colors and features -- they even have a fire place. This establishment sorta looks like Starbucks would, if it started offering a full menu. In addition, they offer free WiFi. This is a huge advantage over Starbucks, and is why I spent many hours here when I first moved to the area, because I didn't have DSL yet. Needless to say, by the time I left I was hopped-up on cookies and coffee!
But this time, cookies and coffee were not in the cards. And I ordered a Pick Two option of 1/2 soup and 1/2 sandwich. I opted for the Turkey Artichoke Sandwich and the Broccoli Cheddar soup.
Once the food arrived, I took a bite of my sandwich. The Turkey Artichoke sandwich consists of "Smoked turkey, spinach artichoke spread, Asiago-Parmesan cheese, tomatoes & caramelized onions, grilled hot on our Focaccia." Not only does it smell amazing, but it is delicious and is easily a notch or two above standard fast food. There is plenty of turkey, and a the toasted focaccia bread adds another dimension to this sandwich.
However, it's the Broccoli Cheddar Soup that makes me come back every time -- yes, it is that good. It is rich, creamy, and cheesy. Also, it's some of the best broccoli cheddar soup that I've ever had. I love to dip pieces of the accompanying baguette into the soup and then eat it all up.
Also, I thought that I'd point out that the Panera website (link below) has an amazing amount of nutrition information. I was able to find out that this meal is about 560 Calories. Not great -- but not too shabby either! In my opinion -- DEFINATELY worth the calories.
Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 2/5 (Staff are friendly, but sorting out my plates is worthy of -1 point)
Total: 10/15
Price: $ (Just under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They have a kids menu, and according to the Panera website was "named 'One of the 10 Best Fast-Casual Family Restaurants' by Parents® magazine in its July 2009 issue."
Conclusion: Fast food service, but food and atmosphere are much better than standard fast food. Their Broccoli Cheddar soup is what keeps me coming back.
Restaurant Info:
Panera Bread Company (#1217)
Shops at Northcross (Across from the Staples)
9905 Knockando Drive
Huntersville, North Carolina 28078
p) 704-655-1255
f) 704-655-1256
http://www.panerabread.com/
Panera is a fast food-ish style restaurant. You place your order with a cashier, you get your own drinks, you pick-up your food, and bring it to your table. The food is prepared quickly, and once you're done eating, you are supposed to clear your table, and throw away your trash. But on top of this you're supposed to separate the trays, plates, and utensils too! (I don't mind throwing away my stuff, but separating the plates and utensils?? Really?? Where am I? Add a sink, and I'm at my house!)
My wife and I placed our orders, grabbed a seat, and waited for our food. Panera is decorated with relaxing colors and features -- they even have a fire place. This establishment sorta looks like Starbucks would, if it started offering a full menu. In addition, they offer free WiFi. This is a huge advantage over Starbucks, and is why I spent many hours here when I first moved to the area, because I didn't have DSL yet. Needless to say, by the time I left I was hopped-up on cookies and coffee!
But this time, cookies and coffee were not in the cards. And I ordered a Pick Two option of 1/2 soup and 1/2 sandwich. I opted for the Turkey Artichoke Sandwich and the Broccoli Cheddar soup.
Once the food arrived, I took a bite of my sandwich. The Turkey Artichoke sandwich consists of "Smoked turkey, spinach artichoke spread, Asiago-Parmesan cheese, tomatoes & caramelized onions, grilled hot on our Focaccia." Not only does it smell amazing, but it is delicious and is easily a notch or two above standard fast food. There is plenty of turkey, and a the toasted focaccia bread adds another dimension to this sandwich.
However, it's the Broccoli Cheddar Soup that makes me come back every time -- yes, it is that good. It is rich, creamy, and cheesy. Also, it's some of the best broccoli cheddar soup that I've ever had. I love to dip pieces of the accompanying baguette into the soup and then eat it all up.
Also, I thought that I'd point out that the Panera website (link below) has an amazing amount of nutrition information. I was able to find out that this meal is about 560 Calories. Not great -- but not too shabby either! In my opinion -- DEFINATELY worth the calories.
Score:
Atmosphere: 4/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 2/5 (Staff are friendly, but sorting out my plates is worthy of -1 point)
Total: 10/15
Price: $ (Just under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They have a kids menu, and according to the Panera website was "named 'One of the 10 Best Fast-Casual Family Restaurants' by Parents® magazine in its July 2009 issue."
Conclusion: Fast food service, but food and atmosphere are much better than standard fast food. Their Broccoli Cheddar soup is what keeps me coming back.
Restaurant Info:
Panera Bread Company (#1217)
Shops at Northcross (Across from the Staples)
9905 Knockando Drive
Huntersville, North Carolina 28078
p) 704-655-1255
f) 704-655-1256
http://www.panerabread.com/
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunshine Cafe (Blythe Landing)
The other day, a friend and I headed over to Blythe Landing to check out the new Sailing Center. But, since we were feeling a bit peckish, once we got to Blythe Landing we hit the snack bar instead.At least I thought it was just going to be a snack bar. But I was wrong. The Sunshine Cafe is a little more serious than a standard snack bar. It's run by Armin's Catering, and therefore most of the food has a slight gourmet touch. After all, when was the last time you went to a snack bar and ordered "Grilled Cilantro Chicken Breast served on Foccacia Bread with artichoke parmesan spread with melted muenster cheese?"
Ok, unfortunately I didn't order that -- it sounds delicious (I just saw it on the menu). But I did order the Birkdale Club, and was satisfied with my selection. This club contains "Grilled Sliced Smoked Turkey with melted muenster cheese with crisp bacon, honey mustard, leaf lettuce and tomatoes served on toasted wheat bread."
Granted, it's a basic sandwich. But the ingredients were solid. The bacon was crunchy. The lettuce crisp. And the tomatoes were large and ripe. It came with a bag of chips, and a can of coke. And it cost only about $6. A pretty good deal. The sandwich was good, but not great. It was perfectly edible, and the ingredients were good, but it didn't knock my socks off -- it just seemed to lack flavor. Perhaps I should have tried the sandwich with the grilled cilantro chicken. That one sounds a little better.Since the sunshine cafe is at Blythe Landing, there aren't too many seating options. And all that exist are outdoors. My friend and I grabbed a seat in front of the Cafe on a picnic bench. The nice thing is that there is a view of the water. The bad thing is that we were constantly shooing away flies. I get the feeling that the Cafe exists primarily to provide food for outbound boats, so people can eat while boating on the lake. Eating on land is an afterthought at best.
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5 (The flys were a problem)
Food: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 8/15
Price: $ (The price was a little over $6.)
Kid Friendly: No
Conclusion: Good food, for a good price. The outdoor seating is nice, but the competition with the flies is not. I feel like they offer better sandwiches, but I just didn't choose the best. It wasn't bad -- it just lacked flavor. I'll head back again, but next time I may choose to eat at home. FYI, they have limited days of operation (Wed - Sat; 11a-3p). If you have a boat, they offer dockside service.
Restaurant Info:
Sunshine Cafe
Blythe Landing
15901 NC Hwy 73
Huntersville, NC 28078
p) 704-947-1670
f) 704-947-1675
http://www.arminscatering.com/
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Micky's (Huntersville)
At the recommendation of one of my readers, I decided to visit Micky's in Huntersville. It's a deli off of 115 and is located between Stumptown Rd. and 73. To be honest, I didn't even know it existed, and I've driven this stretch of road many times.
So, yesterday I met a friend at Micky's so we could check it out and see what we thought. We entered, and the layout is pretty self explanatory. There's a large menu behind the register, a counter where you order and pay, and to the left is a HUGE room for dining.
After a quick look over the menu, I decided on Micky's Club. It's a sandwich with roast beef, ham, turkey, and bacon; with lettuce, tomato, and American cheese on a Kaiser roll. I also got a side of fries. After we ordered, we found a seat in the VERY empty dining room.
It's apparent that the dining room is under construction, or at least it soon will be. Tables are stacked on top of each other and the building plans were laid out in the middle of the room (I snuck a peek). The walls are mostly bare, and it felt a little awkward sitting down in there. I mean, this is almost a construction zone, were we allowed to be in here?? (Yes, we were.)
A short while after we ordered, our meals were brought to us. My sandwich was quite good. The Kaiser roll was so-so. However, the fillings of the sandwich were delicious. The ham, turkey, and roast beef seemed fresh, and the bacon was crispy. In addition, the lettuce and tomato were fresh too. I was slightly turned off by the American cheese (lets face it, it's not really a cheese), but this wasn't enough to make me dislike the sandwich.
Also the fries were really good. Cooked nice and crispy on the outside and tender inside. They were obviously cooked just for this order, and they were hot and delicious.
It should be noted that the woman behind the register was friendly and patient while my friend and I looked over the menu. It was a nice surprise when she brought the food to our table. I was expecting that we'd have to retrieve it ourselves.
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5 (when it's no longer under construction, I'll need to re-visit)
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10/15
Price: $ (sandwich, fries, and drink just under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They have a kids menu and a high chair.
Conclusion: Micky's has mostly standard deli fare: soups, sandwich, salads, etc. But the food was quite good, and the service was more than expected.
Restaurant Info:
Micky's
15906 Old Statesville Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
p) 704-992-1781
So, yesterday I met a friend at Micky's so we could check it out and see what we thought. We entered, and the layout is pretty self explanatory. There's a large menu behind the register, a counter where you order and pay, and to the left is a HUGE room for dining.
After a quick look over the menu, I decided on Micky's Club. It's a sandwich with roast beef, ham, turkey, and bacon; with lettuce, tomato, and American cheese on a Kaiser roll. I also got a side of fries. After we ordered, we found a seat in the VERY empty dining room.
It's apparent that the dining room is under construction, or at least it soon will be. Tables are stacked on top of each other and the building plans were laid out in the middle of the room (I snuck a peek). The walls are mostly bare, and it felt a little awkward sitting down in there. I mean, this is almost a construction zone, were we allowed to be in here?? (Yes, we were.)
A short while after we ordered, our meals were brought to us. My sandwich was quite good. The Kaiser roll was so-so. However, the fillings of the sandwich were delicious. The ham, turkey, and roast beef seemed fresh, and the bacon was crispy. In addition, the lettuce and tomato were fresh too. I was slightly turned off by the American cheese (lets face it, it's not really a cheese), but this wasn't enough to make me dislike the sandwich.
Also the fries were really good. Cooked nice and crispy on the outside and tender inside. They were obviously cooked just for this order, and they were hot and delicious.
It should be noted that the woman behind the register was friendly and patient while my friend and I looked over the menu. It was a nice surprise when she brought the food to our table. I was expecting that we'd have to retrieve it ourselves.
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5 (when it's no longer under construction, I'll need to re-visit)
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Total: 10/15
Price: $ (sandwich, fries, and drink just under $10)
Kid Friendly: Yes. They have a kids menu and a high chair.
Conclusion: Micky's has mostly standard deli fare: soups, sandwich, salads, etc. But the food was quite good, and the service was more than expected.
Restaurant Info:
Micky's
15906 Old Statesville Rd.
Huntersville, NC 28078
p) 704-992-1781
Monday, June 15, 2009
Firehouse Subs (Huntersville)
This weekend my wife and I spent all day Saturday doing chores. Laundry, dry cleaning, grocery shopping, gardening, etc. -- if it's a household chore, we did it. So, while running around we took a quick break and made our first visit to Firehouse Subs on Gilead.
To be honest, I didn't want to go here. It was a hot day, and who wants a hot sandwich on a hot day?? Not me!
Well, that was until I tasted this sandwich. It was REALLY good!
My wife and I walked into the store, and took a look at the menu. As you may have noticed in past posts, I tend to freeze up when looking at a large menu while the cashier looks at me like, "Make a decision already! You've been reading the menu for 20 minutes!" (No the cashier didn't look at me like that, and she was actually quite nice and helpful. However, that's the way I feel when I look at a new menu.)
I eventually picked the first sandwich I saw, the Hook & Ladder. The menu describes it as a sandwich with, "Smoked Turkey Breast and Virginia Honey Ham smothered with Monterey Jack." I also chose the "Fully Involved" option, which means that the sandwich comes with all the fixings (e.g. mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, etc."
As my wife and I sat down I got to look around. This new restaurant is exceptionally clean. Not surprisingly, it is decked out in firefighter garb. From a firefighter's jacket and gas mask, to a large mural across the wall, this place is a little boy's dream. Heck, while I was sitting there, I was beginning to feel as if I was a little boy again. (I'm sure my wife would argue that I still have the mentality of a little boy!) I knew I had fully regressed when I saw the plastic fire helmets that they hand out to kids. Suddenly I wanted one REALLY bad. No I didn't get one -- my wife wouldn't let me! :)
The sandwiches were delivered to our table and I took a bite. WOW. It was great! The melted cheese, the warm bread, the smell of the baked meats were fantastic. In addition, the veggies were fresh and crisp. Just the way I like it. Really, this is one great sandwich that I'll definitely order again. Also, it should be noted that my wife LOVED her meatball sub.
As I said earlier, I usually don't like toasted subs (bad Quizno's experience). However, this meal has me re-thinking my preference. If you want a warm cheesy sandwich, and you like fire engines. This is the place for you.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5 (Friendly staff that even cleared our table.)
Total: 11.5/15
Price: $
Kid Friendly: Yes. Along with a kids menu, they offer kid-friendly pricing two days of the week. I think it's Wednesday and Sunday. Call ahead to make sure.
Conclusion: Good price, tasty sandwiches, and friendly service made this an unexpectedly great meal. And my inner child loved the fire engines. Your child (inner or not) will probably like this place too.
Restaurant Info:
Firehouse Subs
9826 Gilead Rd.
Suite C-102
p) 704.992.2282
f) 704.992.2280
http://www.firehousesubs.com
To be honest, I didn't want to go here. It was a hot day, and who wants a hot sandwich on a hot day?? Not me!
Well, that was until I tasted this sandwich. It was REALLY good!
My wife and I walked into the store, and took a look at the menu. As you may have noticed in past posts, I tend to freeze up when looking at a large menu while the cashier looks at me like, "Make a decision already! You've been reading the menu for 20 minutes!" (No the cashier didn't look at me like that, and she was actually quite nice and helpful. However, that's the way I feel when I look at a new menu.)
I eventually picked the first sandwich I saw, the Hook & Ladder. The menu describes it as a sandwich with, "Smoked Turkey Breast and Virginia Honey Ham smothered with Monterey Jack." I also chose the "Fully Involved" option, which means that the sandwich comes with all the fixings (e.g. mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, etc."
As my wife and I sat down I got to look around. This new restaurant is exceptionally clean. Not surprisingly, it is decked out in firefighter garb. From a firefighter's jacket and gas mask, to a large mural across the wall, this place is a little boy's dream. Heck, while I was sitting there, I was beginning to feel as if I was a little boy again. (I'm sure my wife would argue that I still have the mentality of a little boy!) I knew I had fully regressed when I saw the plastic fire helmets that they hand out to kids. Suddenly I wanted one REALLY bad. No I didn't get one -- my wife wouldn't let me! :)
The sandwiches were delivered to our table and I took a bite. WOW. It was great! The melted cheese, the warm bread, the smell of the baked meats were fantastic. In addition, the veggies were fresh and crisp. Just the way I like it. Really, this is one great sandwich that I'll definitely order again. Also, it should be noted that my wife LOVED her meatball sub.
As I said earlier, I usually don't like toasted subs (bad Quizno's experience). However, this meal has me re-thinking my preference. If you want a warm cheesy sandwich, and you like fire engines. This is the place for you.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5 (Friendly staff that even cleared our table.)
Total: 11.5/15
Price: $
Kid Friendly: Yes. Along with a kids menu, they offer kid-friendly pricing two days of the week. I think it's Wednesday and Sunday. Call ahead to make sure.
Conclusion: Good price, tasty sandwiches, and friendly service made this an unexpectedly great meal. And my inner child loved the fire engines. Your child (inner or not) will probably like this place too.
Restaurant Info:
Firehouse Subs
9826 Gilead Rd.
Suite C-102
p) 704.992.2282
f) 704.992.2280
http://www.firehousesubs.com
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunset Terrace at Grove Park Inn (Asheville, NC)
For the first time since 2006, my parents left the confines of the west coast and have ventured out to visit me and my wife. So, to make the most of their visit, and to keep my mother occupied, I took them over to Asheville to see the Biltmore Estates.
After a morning of oggling the largest house in America, and wondering how I'd redecorate it -- I'm thinking that I'd put a seven-story waterslide into the main dining room -- we decided to head over to the Grove Park Inn for lunch, and to meet up with my wife who was travelling though the area on her way back from a work trip.
It was a gorgeous day outside, so we opted for the casual outdoor seating at the Sunset Terrace. Since it was lunch time there was no sunset, but the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains were nonetheless breathtaking.
The first time we saw our waitress was 10 minutes after we sat down. She ran though the specials, and then took our drink orders. About 5 minutes later, our drinks came, and she took our food orders. I got the Bruschetta Chicken Sandwich. Which was described as a "Springer Mountain Farms chicken breast, havarti, goat cheese basil spread, prosciutto ..." For my side, I chose onion rings -- I was in the mood to get a little grease with my lunch.
After a 30 minute wait (What the #$%&$!???) our food arrived. My sandwich was a little different that I was expecting. It was large, and didn't resemble the smaller bruschetta that I'm used to. Instead, it was simply an open-faced sandwich. The ingredients were good, and I had very few complaints about it. The chicken was char-grilled and flavorful, with a hint of sweetness from a marinade. In addition, it was still moist, and not over-cooked. The onion rings were good, and just what I was looking for.
Some of the other meals at the table left a bit to be desired.
My wife's steak sandwich was VERY fatty. The only piece I tried was so fatty that I had to spit it out -- it simply was't chewable. And they forgot to put salad dressing on my Mom's lobster salad (lobster over greens). To top it all off, I had to flag down our waitress twice: Once to get a coffee refill for my Dad, and next to get salad dressing for my Mom. The thing is, our waitress was just a few feet away from us, but too busy talking with other wait staff to notice that we needed attention.
All in all, this was a disappointing experience. For the price, I had expected better service and food. Then to top it all off -- they added a service charge for only four people!! Sadly we left our waitress a small tip, because we were tired of waiting for the change. If it weren't for the view and the weather, this lunch would have been a waste.
Score:
Atmosphere: 5/5
Food: 3/5 (my sandwich = 4/5, my wife's = 2/5 so I gave the average.)
Service: 1/5
Total: 9/5
Price: $$ (My sandwich, drink and service charge came to about $20)
Conclusion: Great view, ok food, and negligent service. We would've been better served at McDonalds.
Restaurant Info:
Sunset Terrace
Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave.
Asheville, NC 28804
(800) 438-5800
http://www.groveparkinn.com
After a morning of oggling the largest house in America, and wondering how I'd redecorate it -- I'm thinking that I'd put a seven-story waterslide into the main dining room -- we decided to head over to the Grove Park Inn for lunch, and to meet up with my wife who was travelling though the area on her way back from a work trip.
It was a gorgeous day outside, so we opted for the casual outdoor seating at the Sunset Terrace. Since it was lunch time there was no sunset, but the views of the Blue Ridge Mountains were nonetheless breathtaking.
The first time we saw our waitress was 10 minutes after we sat down. She ran though the specials, and then took our drink orders. About 5 minutes later, our drinks came, and she took our food orders. I got the Bruschetta Chicken Sandwich. Which was described as a "Springer Mountain Farms chicken breast, havarti, goat cheese basil spread, prosciutto ..." For my side, I chose onion rings -- I was in the mood to get a little grease with my lunch.
After a 30 minute wait (What the #$%&$!???) our food arrived. My sandwich was a little different that I was expecting. It was large, and didn't resemble the smaller bruschetta that I'm used to. Instead, it was simply an open-faced sandwich. The ingredients were good, and I had very few complaints about it. The chicken was char-grilled and flavorful, with a hint of sweetness from a marinade. In addition, it was still moist, and not over-cooked. The onion rings were good, and just what I was looking for.
Some of the other meals at the table left a bit to be desired.
My wife's steak sandwich was VERY fatty. The only piece I tried was so fatty that I had to spit it out -- it simply was't chewable. And they forgot to put salad dressing on my Mom's lobster salad (lobster over greens). To top it all off, I had to flag down our waitress twice: Once to get a coffee refill for my Dad, and next to get salad dressing for my Mom. The thing is, our waitress was just a few feet away from us, but too busy talking with other wait staff to notice that we needed attention.
All in all, this was a disappointing experience. For the price, I had expected better service and food. Then to top it all off -- they added a service charge for only four people!! Sadly we left our waitress a small tip, because we were tired of waiting for the change. If it weren't for the view and the weather, this lunch would have been a waste.
Score:
Atmosphere: 5/5
Food: 3/5 (my sandwich = 4/5, my wife's = 2/5 so I gave the average.)
Service: 1/5
Total: 9/5
Price: $$ (My sandwich, drink and service charge came to about $20)
Conclusion: Great view, ok food, and negligent service. We would've been better served at McDonalds.
Restaurant Info:
Sunset Terrace
Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave.
Asheville, NC 28804
(800) 438-5800
http://www.groveparkinn.com
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Bagel Bin & Deli
After last reviewing a large chain restaurant, I decided to make sure that this next review was of a place on a more local scale. I had no idea what I was getting in to, but I couldn't have made a better choice. The Bagel Bin off of Hwy. 73 by Target, was a great find. This is your standard no-frills bagel place. It has a large selection of bagels from chocolate chip, to salt, to garlic, to green bagels for St. Patrick's Day -- this place has every type of bagel you could want!
Once you enter, the place is straight forward. Deli counter directly in front of you, and about eight tables on the left. I briefly scanned the menu behind the counter and decided on a sandwich with an Everything Bagel, honey ham, lettuce, tomato, and spicy mustard.
When I went to the cashier I noticed the woman who was making my sandwich was carrying a HUGE amount of meat from the slicer. (Yes, that's right, they cut if fresh for the sandwiches.) I also grabbed a Coke, and a bag of chips, just in case the sandwich might still be small -- after all, all that meat was probably for two or three sandwiches. Right??
Wrong.
When I got my sandwich it had over an inch of thinly sliced honey ham in it! I could barely get my mouth around that monster of a sandwich. In addition, the fresh lettuce, and thick cut tomato were delicious, and added even more to the size.
Needless to say, I didn't need the chips. This sandwich was plenty big, and delicious. The Bagel Bin uses Boars Head deli meats, so the quality of the sliced meats is very good. And the bagels, appear to be freshly made, and are tender and delicious. I'll be heading back there soon to pick up some salt bagels -- those are the first that I've seen since I moved here. I would have bought some on my way out, but the line was going out the door, and I wasn't in the mood to wait.
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/5
Price: $ (Total for drink, chips, and sandwich were under $10)
Conclusion: Don't let the lack of atmosphere fool you, this place makes a great bagel, and a phenomenal sandwich. The price is right, and it's in a convenient location that I'm near almost every day. I highly recommend this place.
Restaurant Info:
Bagel Bin & Deli
9815 Sam Furr Rd
# I
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-895-1455
Once you enter, the place is straight forward. Deli counter directly in front of you, and about eight tables on the left. I briefly scanned the menu behind the counter and decided on a sandwich with an Everything Bagel, honey ham, lettuce, tomato, and spicy mustard.
When I went to the cashier I noticed the woman who was making my sandwich was carrying a HUGE amount of meat from the slicer. (Yes, that's right, they cut if fresh for the sandwiches.) I also grabbed a Coke, and a bag of chips, just in case the sandwich might still be small -- after all, all that meat was probably for two or three sandwiches. Right??
Wrong.
When I got my sandwich it had over an inch of thinly sliced honey ham in it! I could barely get my mouth around that monster of a sandwich. In addition, the fresh lettuce, and thick cut tomato were delicious, and added even more to the size.
Needless to say, I didn't need the chips. This sandwich was plenty big, and delicious. The Bagel Bin uses Boars Head deli meats, so the quality of the sliced meats is very good. And the bagels, appear to be freshly made, and are tender and delicious. I'll be heading back there soon to pick up some salt bagels -- those are the first that I've seen since I moved here. I would have bought some on my way out, but the line was going out the door, and I wasn't in the mood to wait.
Score:
Atmosphere: 2/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 9/5
Price: $ (Total for drink, chips, and sandwich were under $10)
Conclusion: Don't let the lack of atmosphere fool you, this place makes a great bagel, and a phenomenal sandwich. The price is right, and it's in a convenient location that I'm near almost every day. I highly recommend this place.
Restaurant Info:
Bagel Bin & Deli
9815 Sam Furr Rd
# I
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-895-1455
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Jason's Deli
The other day I was in the mood for a good sandwich, so I headed over to Jason's Deli on Hwy. 73, across from Birkdale Village. I'd driven by this place hundreds of times -- I might as well give it a try!
In writing this blog, I try to stay away from large chain restaurants. I like to go to restaurants that have a local flavor to them. As it turns out there are over 200 Jason's Delis. Oh well, lesson learned.
When I entered the restaurant, I was a little turned-around and overwhelmed. There is no menu on the wall, just a listing of specials. So, after walking around for a few seconds, I found a menu. The menu is large, and again I was a little overwhelmed. How hard can it be to get a freakin' sandwich?
After looking over the menu a few times I decided to order the Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich. I walked up to the cash register and gave my order, and was told to go about 6 feet to my right to order the sandwich. It turns out that register is for take out orders only. So, after taking a couple of steps to my right, I gave my order again. This time the order taker took it, handed it off, and then started to walk away.
After stopping him and asking where I was to go next, I was told to continue down to my right along the deli counter to the register. I continued down, along the counter, and couldn't find the register. As it turns out, it was directly behind me. UGH. How hard can it be to order and pay for a freakin' sandwich?
After I finally got that figured out, I poured myself a cup of soda, and took a seat by the TV. The inside of this place is huge. Dozens of tables tightly packed with booths along one side. I'm guessing they can easily accommodate over 150 people. They have a patio, but it only has about 3-4 tables, and they were all full. Though the place is decorated nicely (warm earth tones, dark wood, etc.) the size of it is just too immense for a sandwich shop.
After a few minutes, my lunch arrived. The sandwich was large, and filled with quality ingredients. The sandwich description says. "marinated chicken breast, homemade
guacamole, bacon, tomato, russian dressing, swiss, grilled on whole grain wheat." And that sums it up well. The meat consisted of actual chunks of grilled chicken breast -- not sliced meat wheel. It had a great grilled flavor and even though I don't like swiss cheese or whole wheat bread (I should've read the description closer), I enjoyed my sandwich. However, the side consisted of crappy broken pieces of wanna-be Ruffles. I wasn't impressed with that, and it lowered the score of the food by a point.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Total: 8/15
Price: $ (most entrees under $10)
Conclusion: The sandwich was good, but the rest of the experience was lackluster: the staff were nice, but not completely helpful for pointing me in the right direction; the cavernous room overwhelmed the warm decor; and the sandwich was hampered by the cheap chips. Despite this, I believe this restaurant has great potential - I'll head back later to see if my next experience is a better one.
Restaurant Info:
Jason's Deli
16639 Birkdale Commons Pkwy
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-895-2505
http://www.jasonsdeli.com/
In writing this blog, I try to stay away from large chain restaurants. I like to go to restaurants that have a local flavor to them. As it turns out there are over 200 Jason's Delis. Oh well, lesson learned.
When I entered the restaurant, I was a little turned-around and overwhelmed. There is no menu on the wall, just a listing of specials. So, after walking around for a few seconds, I found a menu. The menu is large, and again I was a little overwhelmed. How hard can it be to get a freakin' sandwich?
After looking over the menu a few times I decided to order the Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich. I walked up to the cash register and gave my order, and was told to go about 6 feet to my right to order the sandwich. It turns out that register is for take out orders only. So, after taking a couple of steps to my right, I gave my order again. This time the order taker took it, handed it off, and then started to walk away.
After stopping him and asking where I was to go next, I was told to continue down to my right along the deli counter to the register. I continued down, along the counter, and couldn't find the register. As it turns out, it was directly behind me. UGH. How hard can it be to order and pay for a freakin' sandwich?
After I finally got that figured out, I poured myself a cup of soda, and took a seat by the TV. The inside of this place is huge. Dozens of tables tightly packed with booths along one side. I'm guessing they can easily accommodate over 150 people. They have a patio, but it only has about 3-4 tables, and they were all full. Though the place is decorated nicely (warm earth tones, dark wood, etc.) the size of it is just too immense for a sandwich shop.
After a few minutes, my lunch arrived. The sandwich was large, and filled with quality ingredients. The sandwich description says. "marinated chicken breast, homemade
guacamole, bacon, tomato, russian dressing, swiss, grilled on whole grain wheat." And that sums it up well. The meat consisted of actual chunks of grilled chicken breast -- not sliced meat wheel. It had a great grilled flavor and even though I don't like swiss cheese or whole wheat bread (I should've read the description closer), I enjoyed my sandwich. However, the side consisted of crappy broken pieces of wanna-be Ruffles. I wasn't impressed with that, and it lowered the score of the food by a point.
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Total: 8/15
Price: $ (most entrees under $10)
Conclusion: The sandwich was good, but the rest of the experience was lackluster: the staff were nice, but not completely helpful for pointing me in the right direction; the cavernous room overwhelmed the warm decor; and the sandwich was hampered by the cheap chips. Despite this, I believe this restaurant has great potential - I'll head back later to see if my next experience is a better one.
Restaurant Info:
Jason's Deli
16639 Birkdale Commons Pkwy
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-895-2505
http://www.jasonsdeli.com/
Monday, February 23, 2009
JD Rockers
I have a problem -- I'm addicted to Birkdale. And because of this -- I've been waiting months for the new sandwich shop to open. It recently opened it's doors, and this weekend I finally got to see, taste, and hear what JD Rockers was all about. Let me tell you, this is no Quiznos.JD Rockers is the latest food establishment to open in Birkdale Village. Upon entering, my senses were a little overwhelmed. The restaurant is decorated in a visually loud rock and roll theme. Bold colors adorn the walls and ceiling (purple with green dots), the benches are themed after different bands, and paintings of Elvis and Johnny Cash greet you as you enter. In addition, one of the TVs was playing a rock concert (with a band unknown to me) very loudly.
Once I scanned the lengthy menu, I decided upon the Southwest Fiesta sandwich, chips, and a coke. I took a seat along the window after grabbing my drink, and looking through the paltry - yet mostly gourmet - chip selection.
After waiting about 4-5 minutes, my sandwich arrived. After I freed it from it's paper wrapping, I examined it. The baguette seemed relatively small, (at most 8 inches), but it was FILLED with hot steak and topped with a large amount of melted provolone cheese. I took my first bite, and I was happily pleased. The steak was flavorful, tender, and moist. In addition the sandwich came with "spicy mayonnaise," though I would call it a southwestern sauce. The term "mayonnaise" doesn't do this sauce justice - It was flavorful, spicy (almost too spicy), and really made the sandwich great.
Though I loved the food, the interior didn't do it for me. It seemed misplaced for the type of food served, and the area it's in. However, the children in the restaurant seemed to love the sensory overload -- I'm just probably too much of an old fuddy-duddy to appreciate it. :)
Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 10/15
Price: $ (one person can get out for less than $10)
Conclusion: The food was great and though the service was friendly, it was a little slow and seemed slightly disorganized. I imagine that will change as the restaurant matures. If I lived in Birkdale Village, I would definitely take advantage of the free delivery!
Restaurant Info:
JD Rockers
16925 Birkdale Commons Pkwy
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-987-9431
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