Bravos!

Bravos!
East Beltine
Grand Rapids, Michigan

We were able to dine her with two of our dearest friends. I should mention that first. Because after all, they were the most important part of this meal. Anyhow, with reservations we were let into the restaurant.

Billy and I both got the Lasagna, which the obligatory gay waiter explained that was sort of their premium product. When it arrived, I was taken aback at the size of it. It was the size of a wet burrito in a Mexican Restaurant. It was very tasty, and although I never thought I could finish it, I did. So that says something about how tasty it was.

Bill's wife Sandy elected a chicken dish and she shared a small portion of it with me. It was very delectable indeed.

The lasagne was a nice sized portion. And it was tasty indeed. But seriously, reservations?


The Good: Easy parking. Great informative service.

The Bad: It's noisy in there. The acoustics leave a lot to be desired. It was difficult to carry on a normal conversation without practically hollering across the table.

The Ugly: For a just average loud restaurant experience, it requires reservations. Bravos!, you ain't all that. You are not a notch above Chili's or the Outback. Don't kid yourselves. But the food was really good.

The Egg and I

The Egg and I
Pensacola, Florida.

While we were in Pensacola on our last venture, we stopped to a place near our hotel for breakfast one day. We ended up eating there three times. It was wonderful.

A nice clean atmosphere with a terrific menu that offered lots of interesting options. My wife is more of an experimenter, so she usually jumps around a menu. I tend to find something that is very good and order it every time. 

Penny tried lots of stuff. Pecan Pancakes being one of her favorites. But everything here was interesting and good. 

It is a breakfast/lunch place as the sign says. But it has a loyal following. Once we got there early and there were people lined up. They didn't open till like 8 or 9 which I thought was weird for a breakfast place. And after they opened the place filled up quickly. No dinner menu. 

They focus on the egg. And whatever they do that involves an egg, they do it very well. We went there three times and look forward to maybe stopping here again when we are there in July. 

So yes I recommend this spot if you ever need breakfast or lunch while in Pensacola, Florida. 

Not to mention that I love that they are inspired for their name by a great Hollywood film. 

We love it and will be there again. 

Grade: A-

McGuire's

McGuires
Pensacola, Florida.

We went to this place because our daughters who have lived in Pensacola for a number of years raved about the place. It touts itself an Irish Pub and is well known as a premier eating establishment. 

It is a nice place with an interesting atmosphere. The wall are covered in dollar bills. There are sharpies and staplers strategically place around the restaurant and people sign a dollar bill and find a place to staple. The walls and ceilings are covered. It's crazy. And no, you won't find a bill with my name on it there. 

But the wait staff were outgoing, and the young lady we had as it turned out was from Rockford. The next town west of us! How crazy is that?

So we ordered. I ordered some brouchetta. I happened to mention out loud that the only place I really  liked it was from The Twisted Rooster and that is how we found out our waitress is from Rockford. And honestly, if you are from out of town and can't effectively take something home and warm it up later, this is not the place for you. Huge portions. You will never leave here hungry. Never. 

And they do serve alcohol with a large beer and wine menu.

It was good food, but my complaint is that honestly the portions were too big. No one could eat this at one setting. And one pays a wee bit extra because of the portion size. 

So if you are hungry in Pensacola this is the place for you. Well worth the visit. The food was good. Everyone was satisfied. Great wait staff. And the cool thing is, to tip, just pull a few buck off the wall.

Grade: B+

The Melting Pot

The Melting Pot
in front of Celebration Cinema
on the East Beltline,
Grand Rapids, Michigan

My wife has always raved about this place. She's gone a couple times before. We have talked about going, but hey, she has always said it's pricey and it's fondue. So how good could it be I asked myself.

Well how about fricking great?

So here's the thing. We ordered the French Quarter entree, which meant it was New Orleans cajun. It definitely bit back, but we both kind of like that. Me more than her. We both like stuff that says, "Hey let's talk about what 'Spicy Hot' means.

So the opening course was a cheese fondue they conjured up according to my wife's direction. And then we were given a course of apple pieces, veggies, and pretzel bread.

The main course was of course our entree. It included pieces of beef, pieces of pork, and shrimp. The entree appeared pitiful. But I was nearly stuffed when this was over.

And finally they brought the dessert course. I don't eat sweets. So this was not a big deal to me.
But they mixed up a combination of chocolate and peanut butter, and Bailey's and other cool stuff in the fondue pot and then set a plate of banana chunks, marshmallows, brownie, cookie, strawberries, and rice crispy treats.

I walked away a better person for have eaten here. I was full. I was undoubtedly $80 to $100 bucks lighter. But sometimes it be like that. Try it once.

And then like us, we'll take people to The Twisted Rooster and then hit The Melting Pot for dessert.

Grade: A-

Johnny's Barbecue

Johnny's Barbecue
Cullman, Alabama


We had to spend a night in Cullman, Alabama. We've done this before, but this time couldn't find the nice hotel we had last time. But I digress. When my wife asked the toothless one at the desk who was on the phone, for a good local place without a beat she said "Johnny's, a mile down the road." So we went. We always want to try local places.

I have been to barbecue joints all over the south: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida etc. So I was anxious to try a barbecue joint in Alabama that I have not tried.

So we went to Johnny's. The locals filled the place. My wife ordered the half chicken and I had the ribs. The ribs were bland at best. I asked for 'no ice' in my Diet Coke. Our totally toothless waitress asked, "No Oz?" So to me Oz has munchkins and a Wizard and stuff, so I have to process before I answer, "Yes, no ice." And even though I asked for extra sour cream and butter for my baked potato, I didn't get it.

Penny's half chicken was dry and tough. Hey, she didn't order chicken jerky, but that's what she got.

So if you ever have to spend a night in Cullman, Alabama, and you might if you are headed to Florida's panhandle from Michigan, avoid Johnny's. If you want better cuisine, find a McDonald's.

And seriously Cullman, they invented these things called dentures. Check it out.

Clementines

Clementine's

500 Phoenix Street
South Haven, Michigan 49090

The Building was once a bank, and the one next to it that has been absorbed into it was probably a drug store. But this is a distinct building and nearly in the center of the town. When people were trying to give us directions to a book store, we just asked "Where from Clementine's?"

One thing everyone that ever spoke on this place mentioned onion rings. And so we had to try them. One orders them here by the inch, either 6 or 12 inches. So we ordered 6 inches (they come on a base that has a stick coming up and the rings are stacked on this). They were wonderful. Golden and crunchy, and served with ranch dressing.

Penny ordered the Harbor Bay Burger which is their olive burger. I had the Gold Miner burger which is just a cheese burger. But the meat patties were very generous and these would be a double burger in most places. They are served open face, so one has to put it together so to speak. Which is good because we could add the fixings to our liking. They are served with your choice of a side and they automatically come with cole slaw. When they were presented my wife commented "It smells like they did them on a charcoal grill." She has a good nose because that's exactly what they tasted like. Like there was a charcoal grill going in the backyard and they had done them there.

They also come with a house salad, which was pretty standard. I chose the side of potato pancakes, and Penny chose their French Onion Soup. The French Onion soup was very much to her liking and she knows of what she speaks when it comes to French Onion soup. The potato pancakes were just the mini version of McDonald's "hash browns", and nothing special here. But they provide sour cream you can dip them in.

So when in South Haven, visit Clementines. Worth the visit, if for no other reason than the onion rings.

The Good: They offer a full menu which includes seafood, Italian and Mexican based entrees, steaks, and many homemade soups that change daily. They also offer a full bar, and yet are family friendly and feature a kid's menu. The interior is beautiful with the original metal ceilings and other interesting features of an era sadly gone by.

The Bad: Parking is tough even though they have the street around them and an additional lot. But so what if you have to walk a block to get there? Not likely, but even if you do, you'll need to burn the calories on the way back to the car.

The Ugly: They are too far from me for me to be a regular.

Grade: A-

Maria's

MARIA'S
330 Center Street
South Haven, Michigan.

Admittedly we were there on March 18th. So for South Haven, the "off season." So we were seated right away. I think after Memorial Day, not so much. There is a sign at the entrance that says, "Only send in ONE person from your party, to reserve a table."

We did not wait at all to get a table. So I'm guessing there are usually lines in the summer. 

We got in right away and got a wonderful table. The wife ordered a sample of the blueberry wine, and the "Tour of Italy." That included noodles Alfredo, meat ravioli, and stuffed shells. She raved about all three. I settled for the Chicken Parmesan. I meant to order the cod on spaghetti but had a brain cramp at the wrong moment. But still, this was great!

The sample of the blueberry wine sold her, so she bought a glass, and we bought a bottle. When we got the bill, we pointed out to the server that she forgot to charge us for the glass, and she responded, "What the heck, you bought a bottle, it's on us." 

My wife's favorite cuisine is Italian, and she is picky, but this is easily in her top 1 or 2. I loved what I had and look forward to about half of it as lunch on Sunday.  

THE GOOD: Great food. Nice prices. People who seem to care, and a chef that takes pride in his/her food. Great Service. Generous portions. 

THE BAD: Parking is tough in the summer. But that's it. 

THE UGLY In the summer, this may mean a long wait in front of the restaurant. 

Worth the wait. 

Grade: A-