Saturday, October 20, 2007
Most ridiculous fortune ever!
Last night Peggy and I ate Chinese take out and my fortune read: "Just believe it. Water and oil cannot be mixed." That has to be the most silly fortune I have ever read. Wait, it is not even a fortune, it's a statement. Come to think of it over the last decade I have noticed the slow demise of the fortune cookie. It seams that they are no longer fortune cookies but "statement cookies." (and lame statements at that)
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Lone Spur Grill and Bar - Minnetonka, MN - Review
Lone Spur Grill and Bar
11032 Cedar Lake Road
Minnetonka, MN 55305
952.540.0181
***
“Tex-Mex Cooking Served with Southwestern Hospitality” are words that occupy the menu cover at the next restaurant we are going to review. Lets see if they live up to their self proclaimed slogan.
Located in yet another suburban strip mall, the Lone Spur Grill and Bar is a popular spot in the Western metro. They draw a good crowd in both the Bar and Restaurant. The theme is what you might expect when you think Tex-Mex; painted murals on the walls, southwestern style pottery, ox skulls, tapestries, cactus, etc. Not a bad job of decorating for a strip mall.
After being seated, we were greeted by our friendly server. We both decided to try a drink special called the “Perfect Margarita” ($7.95). This margarita is made with upscale tequila served table side in its own shaker. You receive a small salt rimmed martini glass adorned with a lime and a full sized metal shaker with ice and margarita inside. I would say there is enough to pour about 3-½ - 4 drinks (keep in mind the small size of the martini glass). After the first couple of sips, I must admit I had a hard time stopping. It was so smooth and sweet. It reminded me of the way I drank Kool-aid or Tang when I was a kid. I didn’t want to just sip, I wanted to slam the whole glass. So beware and bring a designated driver.
The Lone Spur always seems to have good coupon deals consistently throughout the year. You will find these in the neighborhood circulars if you live in the area or you can find them online by CLICKING HERE. Since we were ordering two entrées and two drinks, we were able to take advantage of a free appetizer coupon (up to $7).
For our appetizer we chose the Moppo Wings ($7.99) which are whole battered chicken wings with Moppo seasoning. To use internet lingo OMG, these wings are out of this world! Six whole wings served crispy and piping hot seasoned to perfection. The seasoning is so good, like regular seasoned salt, but with cinnamon and nutmeg overtones. I once had a friend from out of town visit and he thought they were so good he took two orders to go and brought then back to Menomonie, WI with him.
When ordering our entrées I decided to go with the Bourbon Steak ($14.95) an 8 oz. top sirloin rolled in dry rub and topped with sautéed mushrooms and bourbon sauce served on a bed of crispy fried onions. The server took my order and later returned to let me know they had run out of that particular entrée. I asked if they had the Carne Asada ($10.95) an 8 oz. top sirloin marinated in chipotle sauce, pan fried with tomatoes and green onions, served on a sizzler with Mexican rice and refried beans. She had to check. The manager returned and informed me it was the 8 oz. sirloin that they were out of and that they would be willing to make either of those entrées substituting two 5 oz. sirloins instead. I declined and went with the Texas Size 12 oz. Smoked Beef Brisket ($15.95). The beef brisket is smoked for 14 hours, thinly sliced, and served fanned out on a plate with homemade barbecue sauce on top. I have to admit the brisket was cooked to perfection and I did not need a knife at all. It literally melted in my mouth and when paired with Lone Spurs amazing sweet/spicy barbecue sauce it sent culinary shivers down my spine. It is worth noting that all dinners include Texas toast, choice of coleslaw or cup of soup, and choice of seasoned steak fries, ranch house beans, cornbread or baked potato (after 4 PM). I had the coleslaw (creamy and crunchy and quite tasty) and the ranch house beans (smoky and spicy with barbecue flavor).
Peggy had the Chicken Fajitas ($12.95) served on a hot sizzler with red and green peppers and onion, accompanied with a builder platter of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, Mexican rice, refried beans, and hot tortillas. At risk of using an oxymoron Peggy describes them as extremely average. The meat and veggies were cooked through, but seemed a bit bland. Lets face it, fajitas are not a rare find anymore. Many restaurants serve them and there is a certain standard of quality that we have come to expect. Usually when fajitas are grilled they get that nice smoky taste and the meat and veggies are blackened by the grill. Well no smoky blackened goodness here. Since this is listed on the menu as their house specialty, we will give them the benefit of the doubt and say the chef was having a bad night. They must be better than this to be a specialty.
As we finished our meal we discussed our dining experience and overall felt satisfied. The atmosphere was decent, service was prompt and friendly, drinks were fantastic, and most of the food was very good. We both recommend checking out the Lone Spur if your travels take you to the Western Twin Cities suburbs. Should you make a special trip from across town to try this place out? It depends…if you like good drinks and smoke house barbecue then yes, if you want good Mexican food we suggest you look into other alternatives.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
To water or not to water? That is the question...
Is anyone old enough to remember the good old days of going to a restaurant and not having to ask for water with your meal? Think real hard…a server approaches your table for the first time, greets you, hands out menus, and finishes with “I’ll be right back with some waters.” Most restaurants even had the water glasses right on the tables ready to be filled without as much as a mention on your part. Call me nostalgic, but I miss my water.
Today this is not the prevalent practice. In fact at most restaurants if you don’t ask for water, you will not be served a glass, period. This practice scares me about what the future has in store for us. Maybe no menus unless you ask. How about no silverware? Maybe you eat with your hands. Napkins? Why bother? The diner might use their shirtsleeve.
I know there are several reasons why water is not a sure thing anymore:
*People like their bottled water and would never be caught drinking that scary tap water.
*Restaurants can make money by selling bottled or sparkling water.
*Some people don’t drink water and restaurants don’t want to dirty the glasses and wash them if they don’t need to.
*It helps save the environment. (no wasted water, dish soap, energy for the dishwasher, etc.)
OK, there are a lot of reasons why water is not served automatically. This still is not going to stop me from asking for it each time I go out to dine. Ahhhh, I can hear it pouring out of the pitcher right now…clink, clink, splash, splash… This post is making me thirsty…gotta go…
Today this is not the prevalent practice. In fact at most restaurants if you don’t ask for water, you will not be served a glass, period. This practice scares me about what the future has in store for us. Maybe no menus unless you ask. How about no silverware? Maybe you eat with your hands. Napkins? Why bother? The diner might use their shirtsleeve.
I know there are several reasons why water is not a sure thing anymore:
*People like their bottled water and would never be caught drinking that scary tap water.
*Restaurants can make money by selling bottled or sparkling water.
*Some people don’t drink water and restaurants don’t want to dirty the glasses and wash them if they don’t need to.
*It helps save the environment. (no wasted water, dish soap, energy for the dishwasher, etc.)
OK, there are a lot of reasons why water is not served automatically. This still is not going to stop me from asking for it each time I go out to dine. Ahhhh, I can hear it pouring out of the pitcher right now…clink, clink, splash, splash… This post is making me thirsty…gotta go…
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Best of India - St. Louis Park, MN - Review
Best of India
8120 Minnetonka Boulevard
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952.935.2320
***1/2
Have you been to your local run of the mill strip mall lately? Well almost every neighborhood in America has one…or two…or three…oh well, I think you get the point. Strip malls are everywhere! These malls are increasingly home to local restaurants. Some of them are even good restaurants and Best of India happens to be one of them.
We walked in and were greeted and seated immediately, which is unusual for 7:00 pm on a Friday night. The interior is average with minimal decorations. Some Indian tapestries, swords, and a captains wheel are hanging from the walls. The tables have white tablecloths under glass with candles adorning each one. Underneath the glass is the drink menu and an unexpected advertisement for a power drink similar to red bull.
The drink menu offers beer, wine, and an assortment of non alcoholic drinks such as the Lassi, a cold sweetened yogurt drink. Several domestic beers and wines are available as well as some Indian selections. We kept it simple with a glass of house merlot ($4.50) and bottle of Miller Light ($3.25).
The menu is strictly Indian and offers a wide range of appetizers, breads, Tandoori dishes, Biryani dishes, many curries, and desserts. If you want steak or a hamburger, this is not the place to go.
With so much to choose from, we thought it would be a good idea to try a dinner special for two. They describe them as starting with appetizers and finishing with desserts…is there any other way? There are two choices for the dinner special; one with meat and one vegetarian.
Since vegetarianism is wide spread in India within its Hindi and Jain communities, we decided to choose the Special Vegetarian Dinner For Two ($28.50). Items included are an appetizer plate, choice of two vegetarian curries, basmati rice, choice of bread, and dessert. If you break it down the savings over ordering ala carte is about $6.50.
The appetizer plate features Vegetable Samosa (flaky pastry filled with seasoned potatoes and peas), Vegetable Pakora (mixed vegetables chopped, made into balls, dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried), Paneer Pakora (homemade cheese, similar to mozzarella, dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried), and Pappadom (homemade lentil wafers served with green and red onion chutney). Our favorite is the Veggie Samosas. The crust is very flakey like good pie crust, and the vegetables inside have a consistency similar to vegetable pot pie without all the liquid. It is worth noting that the Pappadom is paper thin and crisp, more so then even a cracker. The chutneys that are provided are great for spreading on top of the Pappadom. Each is very flavorful and spicy, but the red onion chutney has a sweet overtone.
For our choice of vegetarian curries we picked the Baigan Bharta (freshly roasted eggplant with tomatoes, onions, and green peas) and the Nav Ratton Korma (delicately spiced vegetables cooked in a creamy sauce). The server will ask how spicy you would like your entrée. We choose medium spice, but I would warn you that medium is hot by Minnesota standards.
The Baigan Bharta is a mix of finely chopped vegetables served in a bowl. The texture was very soft and velvety. The only thing I can think of to describe this in terms of American food is that of a spread or a dip. It’s great over rice or on the bread provided with the meal. The spices used are so varied and in such large number it is impossible to describe one dominant flavor. If I were to attempt to give examples some might be chili pepper, cumin, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom to name a few.
The Nav Ratton Korma also has a wonderful mix of fascinating flavors but the vegetables in this dish are more coarsely cut. Easily distinguished veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, peas, with cashews and Paneer cheese in a thick creamy sauce. An interesting side note about the Paneer cheese it even though it tastes a lot like mozzarella, it doesn’t melt when heated. Because of this you may mistake it for a firm tofu.
Served with the meal is your choice of Tandoori Breads. These range from Naan, a traditional Indian white bread similar to pita bread, to more complex offerings such as the Alu Paratha which we choose to have with our meal. Alu Paratha is a whole wheat bread stuffed with seasoned potatoes and peas. Again, think pita, but stuffed and baked in a traditional clay oven. It is slightly crisp on the outside and very warm and soft on the inside. Trust me when I say it is worth trying this place just for the bread alone.
Also served with our meal was basmati rice. The rice is a long grain variety with a nutty flavor that is light, flakey, and smells similar to popcorn. It is very different than the sticky short grain variety you find in Chinese food.
Finishing off our meal we had the Kheer for desert. Served slightly warm it is a lightly sweet and runny rice pudding with raisins and pistachios. I guess the raisins and pistachios are just for flavor since there were none in our dessert. Regardless, it had a crisp clean taste and was perfect for cleansing our palates after a spicy meal.
Even though the atmosphere leaves a little to be desired, the food and good service makes up for it. Water glasses were kept full and we were frequently asked about our meal. If you love Indian cuisine and are looking for a new place to try, or if you have never had Indian before and want a good place to start, you can’t go wrong with Best of India.
8120 Minnetonka Boulevard
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
952.935.2320
***1/2
Have you been to your local run of the mill strip mall lately? Well almost every neighborhood in America has one…or two…or three…oh well, I think you get the point. Strip malls are everywhere! These malls are increasingly home to local restaurants. Some of them are even good restaurants and Best of India happens to be one of them.
We walked in and were greeted and seated immediately, which is unusual for 7:00 pm on a Friday night. The interior is average with minimal decorations. Some Indian tapestries, swords, and a captains wheel are hanging from the walls. The tables have white tablecloths under glass with candles adorning each one. Underneath the glass is the drink menu and an unexpected advertisement for a power drink similar to red bull.The drink menu offers beer, wine, and an assortment of non alcoholic drinks such as the Lassi, a cold sweetened yogurt drink. Several domestic beers and wines are available as well as some Indian selections. We kept it simple with a glass of house merlot ($4.50) and bottle of Miller Light ($3.25).
The menu is strictly Indian and offers a wide range of appetizers, breads, Tandoori dishes, Biryani dishes, many curries, and desserts. If you want steak or a hamburger, this is not the place to go.
With so much to choose from, we thought it would be a good idea to try a dinner special for two. They describe them as starting with appetizers and finishing with desserts…is there any other way? There are two choices for the dinner special; one with meat and one vegetarian.
Since vegetarianism is wide spread in India within its Hindi and Jain communities, we decided to choose the Special Vegetarian Dinner For Two ($28.50). Items included are an appetizer plate, choice of two vegetarian curries, basmati rice, choice of bread, and dessert. If you break it down the savings over ordering ala carte is about $6.50.
The appetizer plate features Vegetable Samosa (flaky pastry filled with seasoned potatoes and peas), Vegetable Pakora (mixed vegetables chopped, made into balls, dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried), Paneer Pakora (homemade cheese, similar to mozzarella, dipped in chickpea batter and deep fried), and Pappadom (homemade lentil wafers served with green and red onion chutney). Our favorite is the Veggie Samosas. The crust is very flakey like good pie crust, and the vegetables inside have a consistency similar to vegetable pot pie without all the liquid. It is worth noting that the Pappadom is paper thin and crisp, more so then even a cracker. The chutneys that are provided are great for spreading on top of the Pappadom. Each is very flavorful and spicy, but the red onion chutney has a sweet overtone.
For our choice of vegetarian curries we picked the Baigan Bharta (freshly roasted eggplant with tomatoes, onions, and green peas) and the Nav Ratton Korma (delicately spiced vegetables cooked in a creamy sauce). The server will ask how spicy you would like your entrée. We choose medium spice, but I would warn you that medium is hot by Minnesota standards.
The Baigan Bharta is a mix of finely chopped vegetables served in a bowl. The texture was very soft and velvety. The only thing I can think of to describe this in terms of American food is that of a spread or a dip. It’s great over rice or on the bread provided with the meal. The spices used are so varied and in such large number it is impossible to describe one dominant flavor. If I were to attempt to give examples some might be chili pepper, cumin, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom to name a few.
The Nav Ratton Korma also has a wonderful mix of fascinating flavors but the vegetables in this dish are more coarsely cut. Easily distinguished veggies such as cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, peas, with cashews and Paneer cheese in a thick creamy sauce. An interesting side note about the Paneer cheese it even though it tastes a lot like mozzarella, it doesn’t melt when heated. Because of this you may mistake it for a firm tofu.
Served with the meal is your choice of Tandoori Breads. These range from Naan, a traditional Indian white bread similar to pita bread, to more complex offerings such as the Alu Paratha which we choose to have with our meal. Alu Paratha is a whole wheat bread stuffed with seasoned potatoes and peas. Again, think pita, but stuffed and baked in a traditional clay oven. It is slightly crisp on the outside and very warm and soft on the inside. Trust me when I say it is worth trying this place just for the bread alone.
Also served with our meal was basmati rice. The rice is a long grain variety with a nutty flavor that is light, flakey, and smells similar to popcorn. It is very different than the sticky short grain variety you find in Chinese food.
Finishing off our meal we had the Kheer for desert. Served slightly warm it is a lightly sweet and runny rice pudding with raisins and pistachios. I guess the raisins and pistachios are just for flavor since there were none in our dessert. Regardless, it had a crisp clean taste and was perfect for cleansing our palates after a spicy meal.
Even though the atmosphere leaves a little to be desired, the food and good service makes up for it. Water glasses were kept full and we were frequently asked about our meal. If you love Indian cuisine and are looking for a new place to try, or if you have never had Indian before and want a good place to start, you can’t go wrong with Best of India.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Restaurant Portion Control
Andy and I just returned from a nice vacation in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. Ever since our marriage there in the summer of 1999, Three Lakes has been a special place to us and we always have so much fun. This time was no exception…great weather, beautiful scenery and as always good food.
On this trip we tried out a few new restaurants and ate WAY too much. One thing I notice in the north woods is the portions are huge. Wouldn’t it be nice if restaurants offered a choice of portion size? The large portions served at most restaurants are usually the only option available. You may think to order off the kiddie menu, but that food is usually boring and not healthy at all (i.e fried chicken fingers, fried corn dogs, fried hamburger, macaroni and cheese, etc.) Some may think, just take the leftovers to go, but not everyone has that kind of self control, especially if the food is really good. Smaller portions, priced accordingly would be a great option. For example:
Pasta dishes - Some places serve as much as a pound of pasta per serving. Unless you are an athlete who needs to carbo load, that is way too much.
Specialty salads - Most are huge with as much as a whole head of lettuce in one serving. Can you imagine using that much at home when you are the cook?
Meat entrees - I notice that a lot of servings are two pieces of meat such as pork chops, chicken breasts, fish fillets, etc. Sure a hungry hunter just in from the woods wants a big meal, but a 105 lb city girl could get about three meals out of those portion sizes.
I write this from the perspective of a person that goes out to eat a lot. There are many out there that do not get the chance to go out on a regular basis and probably think large portions are great. All I want is the option to order less. I know that it would be extra work for the restaurant owners and menus would need to be a bit more complex, but options are good for us as the consumer. Restaurateurs shouldn’t forget the key to a successful restaurant is happy and satisfied customers. Providing more options just might be the key to keeping them coming back again and again.
On this trip we tried out a few new restaurants and ate WAY too much. One thing I notice in the north woods is the portions are huge. Wouldn’t it be nice if restaurants offered a choice of portion size? The large portions served at most restaurants are usually the only option available. You may think to order off the kiddie menu, but that food is usually boring and not healthy at all (i.e fried chicken fingers, fried corn dogs, fried hamburger, macaroni and cheese, etc.) Some may think, just take the leftovers to go, but not everyone has that kind of self control, especially if the food is really good. Smaller portions, priced accordingly would be a great option. For example:
Pasta dishes - Some places serve as much as a pound of pasta per serving. Unless you are an athlete who needs to carbo load, that is way too much.
Specialty salads - Most are huge with as much as a whole head of lettuce in one serving. Can you imagine using that much at home when you are the cook?
Meat entrees - I notice that a lot of servings are two pieces of meat such as pork chops, chicken breasts, fish fillets, etc. Sure a hungry hunter just in from the woods wants a big meal, but a 105 lb city girl could get about three meals out of those portion sizes.
I write this from the perspective of a person that goes out to eat a lot. There are many out there that do not get the chance to go out on a regular basis and probably think large portions are great. All I want is the option to order less. I know that it would be extra work for the restaurant owners and menus would need to be a bit more complex, but options are good for us as the consumer. Restaurateurs shouldn’t forget the key to a successful restaurant is happy and satisfied customers. Providing more options just might be the key to keeping them coming back again and again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)