3 posts tagged “restaurant reviews”

Everyone seems to be flocking to the new restaurant on the corner of Fifth and Elm called the Salad Bowl. I tried it out last week, but I have to say, the results are mixed.

First, I have a lot of trouble with a restaurant whose whole theme is salad. I mean salad is healthy and can be tasty, but if I want a salad, I don't really want to go out and spend $20. Lettuce is cheap. Cucumbers and tomatoes are cheap. Salad dressing is not only cheap, it lasts forever. And the thing about salad is that as long as the ingredients are fresh, all salads taste pretty much alike. So why would anyone spend $20 for a salad when they can make one for under $5.

Now the Salad Bowl does have more than salads. I like their soups. The pumpkin coriander soup is really good. Also, the apricot chowder is well, different. But you should still try it. Finally, the cheese and bean soup was a great example of experimentation. I certainly can appreciate a kitchen that is always pushing the envelope, trying new things. However, this soup... maybe you should just skip it. Cheese and beans is just not a fantastic combination.

If you stick with salad you can lose weight and feel healthy. Yet my advice is not to waste your money by going out and buying salads. You should save the money so that you can buy more exercise equipment. Instead, go to the Salad Bowl and have an interesting soup. Even in the Summer, soup can be fun

We are continuing with our series on the sensory adventure that can be found at a good sushi bar. As we have talked about, Sushi should not be considered mere food any more than wine should be considered a "drink." Both sushi and wine are complicated experiences that can be appreciate by all five senses. If you have grabbed a California Roll on the go and chased it down with a swig of coke, you have not experiences sushi. On the other hand, if you are sitting in a nice, airy sushi bar and watching the chefs make up the pieces and rolls for you, you may be on the right track.

We have already discussed how to use your eyes and your nose to understand sushi. Today, we are going to venture to a topic that is almost never discussed in sushi circles: the sound of sushi. Yes, just as we use our senses of sight, smell, touch, and taste, we can also use our ears to enjoy our sushi.

Sushi is so complicated that one must concentrate to fully appreciate its intricacies. Sitting in a loud restaurant with crying children nearby just won't do. Likewise, many American sushi bars are now trying to be hip by blasting techno pop music at the sushi bar. Great for dancing but terrible for breaking down sushi. No, one needs a quiet oasis to explore the refinements of sushi. While this is difficult in any public setting, the best sushi bars are able to do it.

They use sound absorbing curtains everywhere around the bar. Sushi chefs actually use their hands when making sushi. One of the reasons is that it is much quieter to prepare food with your hands than with a spatula. When you order a piece of sushi, the best chefs will simply nod their heads to show that they heard you. The less talk the better.

Wooden serving trays and chop sticks eliminate the garish sound that china and silverware can make. Although, a true sushi connoisseur does not use chop sticks. The true expert eats with his of her hands. Again, it keeps sound to a minimum and enjoyment to a maximum.

Every town has a Jack's cafe, or at least it should. Jack's is the place where the food is not so great, the service is slow, and the prices are slightly higher than they out to be. Yet, for some strange reason, we all love Jack's. It is a place that becomes familiar, where we know what to expect. Chances are we will see old friends every time we come. It is this familiarity that is the attraction.

Many people have a favorite piece of clothing that has seen better days. I remember an old sweater that I kept around well after I should have tossed it. It just felt good to put it on. I was used to the feeling. Jack's is like that. I know I will never walk out of Jack's raving about the hamburger or tuna salad. But then, after all, there is only so much that you can do to either a hamburger or a tuna sandwich. They won't be a meal to remember, but on the other hand, you will fill up and be on your way. Sometimes, that is all you need.

Places like Jack's always list fancy dishes somewhere near the bottom of the menu. Yet if you ask, the server will tell you that they are out of that entree. In truth, they have not served the fancy "specials" for over eight years and want to keep the streak intact. Just order the tuna. Believe me, you, the server, and the short order cook will all be very grateful.

When I was younger, I used to go to Jack's twice a week. It was where we would all meet to discuss the latest news over a tuna on rye. Today, while I miss that carefree age, I can still treasure my memories by sitting on a stool at Jack's and watching the new crowd come in out of the corner of my eye. And of course, I can still get the tuna on rye.