Wed 9/25: Raul & Theresa's (Litchfield & MC85)

This is the second time I’ve been to R&T’s (the original location, still haven’t been to the new one but everyone says this location is the best). It was for a celebration lunch with 20+ coworkers. We had a room reserved in the back and the tables were set up in an L shape. There was one server for the whole party so it took a little while to get everyone’s drink order.

I ordered the Chimi Lunch Special for $7.99, chicken, with rice and beans, no guacamole. The server was very nice and called everyone “babe”. I didn’t eat any chips and salsa. I recalled from my first visit that their salsa was spicy and I prefer a medium heat. But the guys kept the chips coming for all who were eating them. Took some time for all the food to come out, which is to be expected for a large party. But most of it came out at about the same time, maybe a couple had to wait another minute or two.

From what I could tell, they seemed to get everybody’s order right, so that’s always appreciated. They also brought out pitchers of water and soda for the tables. The chimi was bigger than I expected. No cheese came on or in it. I ate half of it. I don’t think it was as good as Carolina’s. Can’t really identify what it was, just tasted a little off. The rice and beans were good, no problems there. One of our guys brought a cake so our server went and got it from the fridge. It was a bit hard to hear people who got up to speak due to some background noise.

The server asked if I wanted a small box for the rest of my chimi. I did. Always nice of them to offer! Other reviews I’ve read about this place tend to say the food is great but the service isn’t, but personally I think that’s backwards. Good service but the food isn’t up to par with places like Valle Luna, in my opinion.

Tue 9/24: Del Taco (Dysart & I-10)

I didn’t see it on their menu so I asked if they still had the Chili Cheese Fry Burrito. They do! So I got one of those plus a Mini Cheddar Quesadilla for $0.50. Filled up my cup with tea. It tasted bitter. Like they used a coffee filter for it. I dumped it out and got water. A couple ordered about 20 tacos and were eating them with their own salsa they brought.

I ate the baby quesadilla first. Simple, like what I would make at home, but it’s $0.50! The chili fry burrito was delicious. The fries inside might have been a little undercooked, but the chili masked it well. The restaurant was on the chilly side. They still had a sign up saying their furniture is for sale (the place is decorated with purple, green, orange, confetti patterns, etc.). Think they are planning to remodel at some point.

Sun 9/22: AMC Esplanade (24th St & Camelback)

Worst Esplanade experience ever! I thought this place was so awesome when I first started coming here, but since then, it’s been hit and miss. This one takes the cake. I invited my parents to watch The Prisoners at Fork & Screen (Cinema Suites is nicer with the fully reclining chairs, but Fork & Screen is still 18+ and you get to order food there too). Our server came over with a little notepad which I thought was odd because they usually have the tablet. He took our drink order. Two iced teas (with lemon) and two waters (without lemon).

The previews had started before a girl brought the drinks. Only one water and one tea… We told her there needed to be one more of each. Several minutes passed, still missing two drinks and still no sign of the server to take our food order. I pressed the button. The movie had started by the time the server came back. He seemed clueless as to why we pushed the button. I said we are missing a water and an iced tea and we need to order. He had the little tablet this time, but he seemed to be really shaky with it. I don’t know if he didn’t know what he was doing? It was weird.

I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with the parmesan fries. We got the other drinks, but the water had lemon and the tea didn’t. When the food came out, my friend had potato chips with his sandwich. I asked if he wanted chips. He said, “No, I asked for a salad instead.” I told him to push the button. He said, “No, I’m done with it.” I’m like, you wanted salad, you’re getting salad! I pushed my button. When the server came back, I said, “He asked for salad and I want mustard.”

So we finally got all the correct food. I wasn’t even going to bother trying to get a refill during the movie. I had already missed a lot dealing with all this crap. Then the check came. We got charged for a salad in addition to the other food. Are you kidding me?! What is wrong with these people?? So when he came back to pick it up, we told him to fix it. What a freaking hassle! I thought it was nice having a meal with a movie, but here it’s just a giant distraction. So frustrated. I may never go back to this establishment again.

Sat 9/21: KFC (Dysart & Indian School)

Second review on this KFC… I ordered the chicken bites again with mac & cheese and potato wedges. It wasn’t very busy, but a few people trailed in after us. The dining area wasn’t as dirty as the last visit. One table was dirty, but I think the people just left and it hadn’t been cleaned yet. When I got the food, the chicken bites and mac & cheese were warm, the wedges only slightly warm. Everything tasted good.

Other observations… A worker told a customer that the wings would be 8 minutes. Then told another customer that they didn’t have any wings in whatever he wanted, so he said original was ok. There were 3 different people running the register during the meal. One was speaking Spanish with a customer. One was an older lady who seemed very nice and friendly.

Fri 9/20: IHOP (Dysart & I-10)

I wanted pancakes for dinner and went to IHOP. There was no one at the hostess stand, but the girl who came out to seat us also turned out to be our server. We requested a booth and she said she’d sit us out of the sun. Very thoughtful. IHOP had a new menu since the last time I was there. It had lots of pictures and I liked that. I ordered a full stack of double blueberry pancakes. It took about 30 minutes from the time we got there until we got our food. Seemed like a long time. Other people were waiting long too. Not sure what the deal was, I’ve had quicker service during breakfast when it’s packed.

My friend’s meal was supposed to come with salad, but we were confused when the server brought out garlic bread. We told her the menu said it came with salad. She said something like, “Oh no problem, you’re paying for it!” and then went back to get the salad. My pancakes were very hot. There were blueberries in the pancakes and on top, as well as a big dollop of whipped cream. They were delicious, but I couldn’t finish them. As the sun was setting it ended up shining through the window to our table.

So my breakfast for dinner was tasty, but I had to wait for it!

Thu 9/19: Carolina's (91st Ave & Peoria)

I just want to start by saying this place has awesome tortillas. You can buy them and make your own burritos at home. :) I have only eaten here a few times, but people seem to love it. It was very busy for dinner and I waited in line for a couple minutes. The girl at the register had acrylic nails and all I could hear was a rapid “click click click click” as she made selections on the touch screen. Pretty entertaining. I ordered the mini chimis, beef, with rice and beans.

Found a booth to sit in, but the seats were obviously old and were a bit ripped up. Got some fresh brewed iced tea and it was tasty. The restaurant was pretty noisy with all the people. When I got my food (served in a Styrofoam container), I realized I forgot to say no guacamole, so I had to scoop it off. The chimis also had cheese, sour cream, and garnish. They were delicious! I polished off the whole plate (minus the garnish and guac). :)

Tue 9/17: Wienerschnitzel (91st Ave & Northern)

I love Wienerschnitzel! I wish there were more around. Fortunately I discovered this one when I lived down the street from it. As I approached the counter to order, the cashier appeared. Her hair-do was interesting… It was like a beehive on top and really long in the back, with blonde streaks in it. Very odd. I ordered a chili cheese dog with fries.

The fries were amazing. Hot and fresh. There’s just something about their fries... The hot dog was good but I bit down on a couple hard fragments of what I assume was ground up bone. Their all-beef Angus dogs are better than the regular dogs. After dinner, I ordered a mini strawberry sundae from the Tastee Freez menu. It was delicious. Thick soft serve… a yummy treat!

Sun 9/15: Jimmy John's (99th Ave & McDowell)

Went to Jimmy John’s for a late dinner (about 8pm). There was nobody else in there. I ordered the Slim 4 (Turkey) with cheese. I usually get bacon on it too, but not this time. The subs were ready before we sat down. Sometimes they are even ready before I finish paying. Got some mustard packets for my sandwich. It was very simple. The French bread is the best part. The sub would’ve been better with some crunch to it, like potato chips, since they don’t have pickles for their subs (just the big dill pickles as a side). A few people trailed in to eat later.

JJ’s delivers but I’m still upset that my house is literally down the street from their delivery area. BAH! But I still like to eat there.

Sun 9/15: Szechuan (89A, Sedona)

I was in Sedona for a hike and then lunch at a dog-friendly patio afterward. There were a few restaurants to choose from, but my dad’s preference was Chinese food, so we went with Szechuan. I stayed outside with the pups while my dad went in to order our sesame chicken. He came back out with iced teas and then we waited a little bit before he went back in to get the food.

The sesame chicken was good. The sauce was sweet and was red-orange in color. The rice was more dry and flaky than fluffy, like I would prefer, and I didn’t eat a lot of it. The meal also came with a spring roll, which was good, fried wontons, and fortune cookies. The fortunes were: “Happiness will bring you good luck” and “If we are to have magical bodies, we must have magical minds.” The patio area was hot and there was almost no shade. But it was a satisfying lunch.

Sat 9/14: Golden Corral (59th Ave & Northern)

Golden Corral is a buffet that seldom disappoints. I introduced my parents to it when I lived in Colorado and they’ve been hooked ever since. We went at the tail-end of lunch time and they were just starting to prep the dinner offerings. That works out because you pay a lower price for lunch but have the opportunity to enjoy dinner too! The restaurant was busy and we picked a table towards the back. A lot of the tables were still dirty and needed to be wiped.

For my first round, I got mashed potatoes (made from scratch), macaroni & cheese, awesome pot roast, BBQ pork (which I have only seen there one other time!), and a yeast roll. Everything was tasty. While we were eating, they announced over the intercom that all children must be accompanied to the buffet by an adult (first in English, then in Spanish). I hadn’t heard that announced before. It may be related to the fact that one of the last times I went there, the Chocolate Wonderfall was out of operation because a kid stuck his hand in it so they had to shut it down to be sanitized…

For my second trip I got a baked potato with chili. Then I visited the dessert bar for swirl soft serve and chocolate covered strawberries. Everything was good. There’s so much I want to eat here but I was full and had to stop. We had good service getting drinks refilled and plates cleared from our table. There were also several employees nearby, eating dinner between shifts. If you’re looking to overindulge, this is the place for you!

Fri 9/13: Chipotle (99th Ave & McDowell)

Went to Chipotle for dinner. There were about 10 people in line ahead of me. They were well staffed with six people working behind the counter, plus the cooks, and the line moved at a decent pace. When I got up to the counter, I said I’d like a Barbacoa Bowl to go. “What kind of rice do you like?” White rice. “What kind of beans?” Black beans. “What kind of meat?” (Again) Barbacoa. My bowl moved down the assembly line. “What kind of salsa?” No salsa, just cheese and a little sour cream. The girl confirmed, “Just a little sour cream?” Yes. I appreciate that so much. Many times I have been to Chipotle and they completely ignore my request and dump a giant spoonful of sour cream on there.

 

When the girl ahead of me was at the register, she asked that the cashier put $10 on her card and $4 in cash. Interesting request, but ok. She handed him her card and a $10 bill. He ended up doing it backwards, taking the $10 in cash and putting the rest on her card. She said, “I wanted it the other way.” And the guy was like, “Oh… sorry.” But she kind of went, “whatever, it’s fine” and walked away.

 

When it was my turn to pay, the effeminate male cashier called me "love". =/ Then he had to change the register tape to give me my receipt, but he did it quickly. By this point there were at least 15 people in line behind me. When I got out to my car, I was accosted by a guy selling candy. Those kids are always out there selling pixy sticks and whatnot to keep them off the streets. Sorry, no thank you.

 

When I got home to enjoy my burrito bowl, it was delicious. The barbacoa (shredded beef) had very little visible fat on it and had the usual heat/kick to it. The rice and beans were tasty and just a little sour cream. Yum!

Thu 9/12: Arby's (Litchfield & Van Buren)

I went through the drive-thru at Arby’s and there were at least 3 vehicles in front of me. Took about 3 minutes til I could order. I asked if they had the Arby-Q (knowing they probably didn’t since they only have those every now and again, but I like them so I figured it was worth asking). The girl said no, they discontinued them awhile ago. But I think certain restaurants still carry them. I went with Plan B, a Chicken Bacon Swiss with no honey mustard. “Do you want to make that a combo or just the sandwich?” Just the sandwich.

 

It was another 6 minutes til I got up to the window. I gave her the cash and a couple minutes later, she says, “sorry, just a moment.” And then, “I hate to do this, but can you pull forward into that parking space?” Okay. The setting sun was reflecting in my mirrors and blinding me. About 3 minutes passed and a guy brought out my food. “Chicken Bacon Swiss with no honey mustard.” Thanks. Only took 15 minutes…

 

When I got home, the sandwich was still warm and it tasted fresh (it better, I waited long enough). I added some ketchup to it. The chicken was crispy and juicy. The breading had a good seasoning. It was rather delicious. Unfortunately my stomach started gurgling noisily all night and continued into the morning. Not sure why exactly, but that’s what happened! I’ll still order that sandwich in the future.

Wed 9/11: BJ's Brewhouse (Loop 101 & Northern)

For this visit, there was no wait, which is unusual for the dinner hour. Maybe because it was a weekday? I was glad to be seated in the middle of the restaurant because whenever we get seated back on the north end we tend to get painfully slow service.

 

The server was good and took our order in a timely manner. I selected the Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo with grilled chicken (can also get blackened chicken). This place has a big menu, similar to the Cheesecake Factory, except the food is better at BJ’s. When I got my meal, I ate the garlic bread first. It tasted a lot like a crouton. Not as hard, but the seasoning was very crouton-like. Not bad, but not the best garlic bread I’ve ever had.

 

The fettuccine noodles were on the firm side. I guess you could call it “al dente” but I think the pasta could have been cooked another minute or two. The Alfredo sauce was good, not super heavy. The chicken was a small fillet cut into six slices. Very simple. It was a fine dinner, but I’ve had other dishes there that were more impressive than that one.

 

I would have loved to order dessert, but alas, I must skip it. They have several types of Pizookie (pizza cookie) and they are delicious. The cookies and cream pizookie is one of my favorites. The beignet is also delicious. Like a sugary donut with strawberries. Also, BJ’s has handcrafted root beer, orange cream soda, and black cherry soda. They are awesome! Good restaurant.

Tue 9/10: Wendy's (Litchfield & I-10)

This is my 2^nd review for this Wendy’s location. The parking lot was pretty empty. And for some reason there was a yellow sign out front that said “Caution Wet Floor.” Clearly, the floor was not wet. The restaurant felt chilly again. I ordered a Pretzel Burger combo, plain with just cheese. When I went to get my drink, the cashier came over and asked if it was ok with the cheese sauce (in addition to the regular cheese). I said yes. Then somehow I didn’t have my cup positioned correctly under the spout and I squirted tea onto the floor. I wiped it up with some napkins.

When I sat down and unwrapped my burger, it also had bacon on it. Normally I’d be okay with that but this time I pulled it off. The pretzel bun was really good. The fries did not taste fresh, unfortunately. I noticed the fireplace was a lot cleaner than last time, with only a couple of handprints. Someone had left a tray on a table with a big puddle of ketchup on it. But I was happy to see a worker come and clean it up. All in all, an okay Wendy’s visit.

Sun 9/8: 5 & Diner (75th Ave & Bell)

I went with my family to 5 & Diner for breakfast. I have been to this 50’s style restaurant many times over the years, but had never tried breakfast there. We were greeted by two girls in poodle skirts (guessing one was training the other). Our shoes were extremely slippery on the wet, tile floor (it was raining that morning). The restaurant was fairly busy. Oldies playing, of course. Our server was wearing a Cardinals shirt, which told me it must be football day.

I ordered the Sourdough French Toast with bacon and a scrambled egg, well done. The food came out pretty quickly. As the server handed me my plate, she said, “Eggs well, look ok?” They did! Very nice of her to ask. Many times restaurants don’t get it right, so I appreciated it. There were 6 triangles of French toast on the plate. It was delicious with warm maple syrup. The eggs tasted great, the bacon was crispy and good. Really good breakfast! I’m so glad we tried it. I’ll definitely go back! They have yummy burgers and milkshakes there too.

Sat 9/7: Dairy Queen (107th Ave & Indian School)

This was an entertaining Dairy Queen experience. When we parked, we noticed an SUV full of people just sitting alongside the curb. There was a line of cars in the drive thru, and a line of people inside. I counted 7 people working behind the counter and they all looked pissed off. One of the soft serve machines squirted on a girl’s shirt and she looked upset.

After quite some time waiting in line, I ordered a mini banana split blizzard. We sat down. The people at the table next to us got their ice cream cones, but they still had to wait for the food they ordered. A guy came in (from the SUV outside) to get the food they had been waiting on for so long. Apparently their ice cream had to be remade because it had sat and melted. What an inefficient bunch of kids working there.

I saw my blizzard sitting on the counter as they still had to make my friend’s Julius. By the time I got it, it was kinda melty. They definitely weren’t gonna flip that one over to see if the spoon would stick! Oh silly Dairy Queen. I expect so little of you and you can barely deliver. If only my pal Warren Buffett knew of your impotence… (DQ is one of Berkshire Hathaway’s companies.)

Sat 9/7: Culver's (Avondale & I-10)

Went to Culver’s for dinner. It was busy at the register, but not a lot of people in the dining area. I ordered a butterburger cheese single basket with ketchup, mustard, and pickles (no onion). The restaurant felt cold and the floor needed to be swept and tables wiped. It seemed to take longer than usual for the food to come out. The fries looked darker than usual but they were still warm and crisp. The burger was tasty. A girl came by and picked up the trash from our table. Thought that was nice.

And may I recommend the frozen custard? Mmm mm!

Wed 9/4: Sonic (99th Ave & Indian School)

This is my second review for this Sonic location. My dogs rode with me in the car and I ordered a snack size popcorn chicken and small chili cheese fries. I didn’t time the wait, but it didn’t take very long for the food to come out. The guy who brought the food was very nice and commented on how fluffy my dogs are (at least Meka). “This one’s like a pillow! My dogs are buff.” He asked if I needed anything else. I requested some barbecue (they had included ranch in the bag, by default). I expected it to be quick, but it seemed to take a few minutes for him to come back with it, and he brought 3!

The fries were not the best I’ve had. Some were really crunchy, and some tasted like they were undercooked. The chili and cheese helped disguise it a bit, but they could have been better. The popcorn chicken was really good though. They were hot with crunchy breading. Didn’t taste like they had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours like some I’ve had. So not a horrible experience, they just need to get the fries right next time.

Mon 9/2: Yogurtland (99th Ave & McDowell)

This is review #2 for Yogurtland. They were really busy with lots of families and kids, but fortunately there were still some open tables. Most of the flavors they had were the same as last time. I got the Chocolate Milkshake again, and also tried Tasmanian Devil Devil’s Food Cake, Double Cookies & Cream, and Plain Tart. I got cheesecake bites and Reese’s Pieces for the toppings. There was a sign that said they were out of strawberries. After this visit, I realized their topping selection is quite a bit smaller than Yogurtini. The only fruit they had were blueberries, watermelon, and cherries.

I got a Bugs Bunny spoon to add to my budding collection with Tweety bird. As for the frozen yogurt, all of the chocolate flavors were good, but I did not like the plain tart. It tasted way too much like regular, plain yogurt. Not very appetizing and I pawned it off on my friend. I’ll stick with vanilla next time! But it’s a fun place and I like seeing all the creations that other people come up with.

Mon 9/2: Panda Express (99th Ave & McDowell)

Panda, you disappointed me today. I was so excited that the classic fried rice won the battle over the brown fried rice that I went there to enjoy some. I was a little surprised to see that they were still offering both options. I got a panda bowl with the classic fried rice and orange chicken. The lady behind the counter was very pleasant and offered up samples and additional sides like egg rolls, which I declined. She tried their usual beverage upsell: “medium drink?”

When I went to sit down, my chair wobbled (one of my biggest pet peeves) so I moved to another seat. The orange chicken was very low grade. There were tendons and fatty pieces that I actually had to spit out. The highly anticipated fried rice had crunchy bits in it. They obviously mixed undercooked rice in with the good rice! Just awful! And to top it all off, the fortune cookie was stale. Definitely one of the worst Panda experiences I’ve had.

Mon 9/2: Cafe 87 (Fort McDowell)

Yet another place to eat at Fort McDowell. The $2.99 breakfast special drew me in. 2 pancakes, 2 scrambled eggs, 2 strips of bacon. There was a waiting list so they take your name and number and text you when a table is available. Pretty smart so you can go spend money gambling rather than wait in line for 20 minutes.

When the table was ready, we had to weave around a lot of tables/chairs to get to it. The hostess handed us their breakfast menus. When the waitress came over, she said something like “do you know what you want to order?” but in sort of a discourteous manner. I said yes, the breakfast special. “Do you have your club card?” Yes. Then she handed us index cards with the 3 specials handwritten (with poor spelling, the other two options had sausage & home fries or country fried steak), asked what we wanted to drink, and walked away. Not the friendliest person I’ve encountered.

Took a little while for her to bring the waters, then we had to wait for the food. I didn’t have high expectations for a $2.99 breakfast, but I thought they’d at least be able to get it out quickly. Wouldn’t they rather have people out in the casino spending money than sitting in a café waiting for food? When it finally came out, the guy that brought it over was friendly. Much nicer than our grumpy waitress.

As for the cheap breakfast, I’m pretty sure the pancakes were just frozen pancakes and the syrup was pretty thin. The scrambled eggs were not especially mushy/liquidy, but also not well done (though I did not request this). The bacon strips were small, but hey that’s what a $2.99 special looks like! At least the check came quickly so we could leave cash and weave on out of there.

Sun 9/1: A New York Deli (Fort McDowell)

This is another place to eat at Fort McDowell. I just got a slice of cheesecake for a tasty treat, but I’ve also had pizza here and other desserts (their cookie/brownie thing is amazing, by the way). They are open 20 hours a day (only closed 7am-11am) so you always have somewhere to get food while you’re gambling away your hard earned money.

Sun 9/1: Silver Platter (Fort McDowell)

This is one of the places to eat at Fort McDowell Casino, back in the bingo area. You order at the counter like a snack bar, but there’s a big dining area to sit and eat. It’s quiet since it’s not by a bunch of slot machines. I’ve found the food here to be surprisingly good and very reasonably priced (and you can use points from your Fortune Club Card for a discount). I ordered Fry Bread with beans and cheese. It was delicious. The best part of all, drinks at Fort McDowell are free! There’s a beverage station in the bingo area with a Coca Cola Freestyle machine. I wanted to get ice cream later but Silver Platter closed at 9pm.

Sun 9/1: Which Wich (Westgate)

This was my first time at Which Wich. When you walk in, there’s a wall with brown bags labeled: Turkey, Ham & Pork, Beef, Chicken, Seafood, Vegetarian, Italian, Classics, etc. I grabbed a Turkey bag and proceeded to check off boxes with a red Sharpie. Turkey & Ham, Wheat, Toasted, Regular 7”, Provolone, Yellow Mustard, Pickles, and wrote my name in the box. When finished, I handed my bag to the cashier and she rang up the order. Not as cheap as Subway, but still reasonable.

After I got my drink, I sat down at a table. The chairs reminded me of the ones at Chipotle, wooden with metal legs that make a loud, screeching noise when slid across the hard concrete floor. Not the best of designs. I’m still not sure what was going on at Westgate but there were a lot of young people walking around dressed like different characters with crazy wigs and hats. I actually felt out of place in just a normal tank top and capris. Haha.

Anyway, they called my name and my sandwich was in my brown bag on the counter. It was made just the way I specified. The best part about it was probably the bread. It was warm and soft. I’m not easily impressed by deli meats in general, but it was a good sandwich. I’d like to go back and try the meatball sometime.

Sat 8/31: Red Robin (99th Ave & McDowell)

Went to Red Robin for lunch and I was surprised to see it so busy. I expect that during the dinner hour, but not lunch. There were groups of people waiting, but the hostess said if we wanted to sit in the bar area, then there was no wait. I said sure, though I recalled that past experiences in the bar area produced less than stellar service. But I hoped this time would be better.

Sat down in a booth that needed to be wiped down. The hostess started to hand us menus, then stopped and paged someone to wipe the table. The server greeted us quickly and took our drink order. When she came back with the waters, she said she’d get us menus. We mentioned the table needed to be wiped. She went to get a rag and menus. I noticed they are no longer using the cardboard coasters to set drinks on, or napkins for that matter, so the glasses condensate and easily slide around on the table.

They updated their menus since my last visit. They’re spiral-bound now. While my favorite burgers here are the Banzai, Whiskey River BBQ, and Royal Red Robin, I ordered the Keep It Simple burger, no pink, on a whole grain bun with American cheese and pickles. I chose Freckled Fruit Salad rather than bottomless steak fries. When the table next to us received their food, I noticed the steak fries now come in a metal cup. Only later did I realize that the food was served on plates, rather than baskets, like it used to be. I guess they’re trying to reinvent themselves a little bit.

When the food came out, I found my burger to be cooked perfectly. In the past I’ve had burgers that had some pink all the way through or a lot of pink on one corner. But they did it right this time. And it tasted delicious. The fruit consisted of apples, mandarin oranges, strawberries, watermelon, and pineapple. It tasted very sweet as the strawberry syrup had permeated throughout. I couldn’t help but notice the guy in the next booth, eating his burger in layers (top bun, then tomatoes, bacon, etc.). Interesting... But anyway, our server was very attentive and this was a really good Red Robin experience.

Fri 8/30: Valle Luna (35th Ave & Bell)

This is one of my favorite restaurants and I’ve been going to eat here since I was little. They send out coupons in the mail (Valpak) every month for buy one entrée, get one free. I usually go there for dinner, which is always very busy, but this time I met my parents for lunch. The place was still pretty full. I ordered my usual chicken enchiladas with red sauce, rice and beans (no garnish). It was cheaper on the lunch menu than the dinner combination, and we were still able to use the coupon.

As is customary with most Mexican restaurants, you get complimentary tortilla chips with salsa and hot sauce. I think their salsa is awesome, though I was caught off guard that this particular basket of chips was cold. They’re always so much better when they’re warm. Maybe not a bad thing because it kept me from eating too many before my meal came out. It’s easy to go through a couple baskets of those things.

Generally it doesn’t take very long for the food to come out, and this visit was no exception. I think the lunch-version enchiladas looked a bit smaller than I’ve had in past dinners. But it was all very delicious. We had a good server too. I don’t think I had seen her before so she might have been new. I didn’t save any room for dessert, but if I may recommend their fried ice cream, it is amazing! Sopapillas are also tasty.

I wish Valle Luna had a location on the west side (their only locations are Bell Rd, Cave Creek, and Chandler) but if you want some good Sonoran-style Mexican food, it’s worth the drive every time!

Thu 8/29: Freddy's Steakburgers (Litchfield & McDowell)

Freddy’s was chosen as the destination for this month’s “sanity lunch”. When we arrived, there was no line and I was able to walk right up to the counter to order. I got the hot dog combo with ketchup, mustard, and relish. I went to sit down in one of their large booths (3 people can sit comfortably on each side). The restaurant was not very busy for lunch time. I guess everyone goes to Chipotle and Wendy’s. The dining area looked pretty clean and I enjoyed the oldies that were playing.

The hot dog was Vienna beef and served on toasted bread rather than a hot dog bun. The shoestring fries weren't hot, but I've found that to be the case with most shoestring fries, that they lose their heat quickly. My friend shared some of her onion rings with me. They were crisp and good. There were some signs posted advertising their S’mores Concrete (frozen custard) and it looked tasty. I think this is a good place to eat!

Wed 8/28: Subway (Litchfield & McDowell)

I can only review the food for this one since I enjoyed this meal at home. I had a 6 inch meatball marinara on wheat bread, toasted with provolone cheese, parmesan, and oregano. It was hot and delicious. And the best part? It was only $2! I love Subway’s promotions. I also got a chocolate chip cookie that was worth every calorie.

Tue 8/27: Domino's Pizza (107th Ave & Indian School)

I went to the Domino’s website and ordered a medium pan pizza and a large thin crust (both cheese). I used an online coupon that saved me $4. When I placed my order it said 20-30 minutes for delivery. I love their Pizza Tracker. It provides status of your order real time. It tells you the name of the person making it, what time it goes in the oven, and when it leaves the store for delivery. It’s fantastic! The estimate was right on too. It arrived in about 25 minutes.

Their pan pizza is awesome. Thick, soft crust. Tasty sauce. Not overly greasy like Pizza Hut (although I still eat Pizza Hut). The thin crust is also good. Crisp and simple. The best part about ordering pizza? Plenty of leftovers for lunches!

Sun 8/25: Mike & Ronda's The Place (51st Ave & Bell)

This is such a good breakfast (and lunch) spot. It’s my dad’s favorite place to eat. There are a couple locations in Flagstaff as well (the one on Route 66 is better than Milton, by the way). This location used to be down the street in a smaller space, but they were always packed and could never accommodate everyone, so they moved to a larger building a year or so ago. And they still fill up!

My family and I went for brunch on Sunday (10:30ish) and it was very busy. We waited for around 30 minutes. As we were waiting outside, someone dropped their to-go container of sausage gravy. The guy went back inside so we figured he told the hostess there was a spill. For several minutes we watched people walk by, dodging or nearly stepping in the gravy. Then a lady and her daughter stepped in it. The woman was obviously not happy and went inside to get someone to clean it up. A guy came out right away with a towel. A mop would have made more sense. But anyway, it was our turn to be seated.

We were seated in a booth near the middle of the restaurant. There was a vent blowing our way and it felt cold. Our server came over with silverware, read off a number of specials they had that day, and took our drink order. When she came back with the drinks, I ordered a breakfast burro with bacon and cheddar cheese (you can get veggies and other stuff in it but I keep it simple) and asked for fruit rather than hashbrowns or breakfast potatoes.

It did not take very long to get our food. Everything was delicious. I really like their tortillas. I ate about ¾ of the burrito. They are filling! The fruit consisted of cantaloupe, pineapple, red grapes, honeydew, and oranges. The honeydew was crunchy but I don’t much care for honeydew anyway. I like that their drink cups are so large. Fewer refills required. Our server was really good. She brought us the check and collected payment in a timely manner. Can’t wait to go back and get waffles!

Sat 8/24: CiCi's Pizza (75th Ave & Thomas)

I went to Cici’s with my friend, sister, and baby niece for an early dinner. We used a “buy one adult buffet and two drinks, get one buffet free” coupon. For a pizza buffet that’s only $5, it was a very inexpensive meal! This place has quite a spread with soup, salad, pasta, breadsticks, pizza, and dessert! I started with a couple slices of pepperoni and requested a mac & cheese pizza from the gal behind the counter. She asked how many slices. Six! She gave me a number and said they would bring it out to my table.

I got my iced tea and sat down in a booth. Kaylee looked like a little flower with her pink blanket in the high chair. I ate my pepperoni and then waited for the mac & cheese to come out. Took a few minutes but it was yummy. Very mac & cheesy with the corkscrew pasta. There was no regular cheese pizza on the buffet line so my friend requested one. When they put it out I grabbed a couple slices. The fresh ones are the best! I also got a cinnamon roll (love them) and a slice of Bavarian dessert pizza. Yum yum! I love pizza and would’ve eaten even more (especially dessert), but I still got my money’s worth.

Other things to note: The place was pretty busy as it was nearing the dinner hour. The guys came around a few times to clear the plates from our table. There was some pepperoni/crumbs on the floor nearby that needed to be swept. Cici’s also has some arcade games for the kiddos to play. Great place to bring your family for a cheap meal!

Fri 8/23: Olive Garden (Pebble Creek Pkwy & McDowell)

It was around 8pm and the restaurant parking lot was full, so we had to park across the way. There were a lot of people waiting to eat (probably there for the never ending pasta bowl). The hostess handed me a buzzer and said it would be 25-30 min. It ended up only being about 8 minutes. Sweet! They sat us over in the bar area. We waited awhile for the server to come greet us.

I had soup and breadsticks (no salad). Minestrone for the first bowl and pasta e fagioli for the second. The minestrone is a really good vegetable soup with zucchini, Italian green beans, celery, kidney beans, white beans, tomatoes, carrot, spinach, and pasta. The pasta e fagioli has white and red beans, ground beef, tomatoes, and pasta. Both were delicious! I ate 3 breadsticks and they were delightfully soft and garlicky.

My friend had salad with his meal and noted that the lettuce was a little bit wilted, but that it did not affect the quality of the salad. The server brought the check but then it took her a very long time to come back to collect it (and bring a box for my friend’s leftovers). Once she brought it back with the Andes mints, we scarfed them down. Delish!

Wed 8/21: Jack in the Box (Avondale & Van Buren)

I like this Jack in the Box because it has the kiosk you can order on. I like using the touch screen, being able to see pictures of everything, and customizing my meal. I selected the grilled chicken strips combo with an egg roll as the side instead of fries. After the kiosk fun came to an end, I then had to deal with real people. I waited at the counter for someone to come give me the drink cups, then I went to get my tea. There was a piece of paper over the fountain drinks that said “Out of Ice” which, funny enough, was not the case.

Went to sit down and wait for the food. It was pretty chilly in there. I looked around and noticed a mop bucket just sitting out. Observed a girl in the corner with a Panda Express uniform eating there. When I went up to get the food, the guy said something I didn’t understand at first. I asked him to repeat. He said they no longer carry the apple bites my friend ordered. Hmm, the only non-fried side they have on their menu is no more. He asked if we wanted another side. Nope, so I got back a dollar and some change for the apples.

There was no egg roll or teriyaki sauce on the tray, so I had to ask for those. I was concerned the grilled chicken might be rubbery, but it wasn’t at all. Four pieces of tender chicken strips, wet like they had been marinating in soy sauce. They were quite good. One had a little piece of tendon on the corner. Guess it’s real chicken! The teriyaki dipping sauce was yummy. Thick and rich. I then had to go ask for sweet & sour sauce for my egg roll, which was delicious! Hot and crispy.

When gathering the trash, I found the container the chicken strips were in had stuck to the table a little. The liquid had soaked through the bottom. I wiped the table with a couple napkins. I was thinking about getting a piece of cheesecake for dessert, but I was actually full so I didn’t. All in all, the food was really good but the people working there need to get it together.

Tue 8/20: KFC (Dysart & Indian School)

I ordered the 6 piece chicken bites with mashed potatoes & gravy and a biscuit. The girl at the counter asked if I wanted the new hot shot bites or original recipe. Original. When I sat down, I noticed crumbs (and some trash) on tables, chairs, the floor... the dining area really needed to be wiped down and swept.

When I got my food, I was reminded that I like KFC bites better than Chick-fil-A nuggets. While they may not be as juicy, the breading has such good flavor. They were great dipped in honey BBQ sauce. The mashed potatoes were piping hot and delicious. The biscuit was a little dry. Might have been better with butter and/or honey. But a very satisfying meal!

Mon 8/19: Taco Bell (99th Ave & McDowell)

The girl at the counter seemed like she was new. I ordered a cheesy potato burrito and pintos & cheese with no red sauce. The tea tasted strong and I could tell it was running low. While there, I observed a couple employees in the dining area eating on break. There was nothing special about my burrito but it’s one of my favorite things to get there. Meat, potatoes, cheese, and sour cream in a tortilla. Nothing wrong with that! The filling likes to try and leak out the bottom sometimes. The pintos & cheese were very thick and hearty. I’m surprised they don’t try and water down the beans to save money.

Before leaving, my friend & I went to get refills. There was a young couple standing in front of the drink station completely oblivious to their surroundings, giving no mind to other people who might want to get a beverage. Waited patiently for them to move out of the way. At this point, the tea was completely empty. My friend went up to the counter for a refill. The new girl took his cup by grabbing with her finger over the rim. That’s not how you hold another person’s cup! It seems today’s young workforce has no manners or common sense. My standards are never high for Taco Bell, but come on people!

Sun 8/18: Yogurtini (Litchfield & Indian School)

I wanted to see how this place compared to Yogurtland. From outside, the store looks very bright and inviting. They had 16 flavors of frozen yogurt to choose from. I tried the Classic Vanilla, Ultimate Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Hawaiian Pineapple, Red Velvet, and Bananalicious. They had tons of toppings available. I just got a few cheesecake bites, strawberries, blueberries, and raisinettes. It just happened to be between 9 and 11pm which is when they have buy one, get one 50% off. Sweet!

The place was packed with high school kids, so we had to sit outside. Luckily it had just rained so it wasn’t too hot. There was a guy and a girl sitting out there too and it was obvious they were just meeting in person for the first time. I think they met on the internet. I was entertained overhearing the awkward conversation about tastes in music, car accidents, and baby daddies. (Wait, how old is she??) Anyway, it was really good frozen yogurt. I think it’s pretty even with Yogurtland, except no Tweety bird spoons here.

Sun 8/18: Sam's Club (Dysart & Van Buren)

The snack bar at Sam’s Club is great for a cheap meal. $1.50 for a hot dog and a drink? You can’t beat that. There were several people in line but it moved quickly. Got my food right away. (The cheese pizza looked awesome, by the way.)

When I went to fill up with iced tea, it was basically clear. Doh! Guess I have to get the high calorie cherry limeade, which is delicious. I topped my hot dog with ketchup, mustard, and relish. By the time I was done eating, a guy came out to refill about 4 different bags of soft drinks, and then came back to refill the tea. Success!

Sat 8/17: Bobby Q (27th Ave & Dunlap)

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Phoenix. Their BBQ is excellent. I love that you can smell it outside as you’re walking from the parking lot. Met my parents there for lunch today. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with mashed potatoes. (FYI, their mac & cheese is excellent too!) The server brought out a basket of cornbread which is just delectable. Warm and buttery. So yummy.

The food was good as it always is. The server brought us some extra BBQ sauce (regular, they also have spicy). Be careful when pouring because it’s very hot and comes out fast! My only complaint about the pork was there was a tiny piece of bone in it, but that is not uncommon with pulled meats. The mashed (red) potatoes were creamy and very good. They are semi-loaded with little chives in them.

The manager stopped by toward the end of our meal to make sure everything was good. Our server was good with the exception that a water glass went dry for several minutes (though she was apologetic), and she forgot to bring out a little box for the cornbread my mom wanted to take home. For dessert, she offered their new apple cobbler, but we stuck with the complimentary mini donuts they bring out with your check. They are warm with cinnamon sugar, taste like churros, and melt in your mouth. Mmm mm! Love this place!

Fri 8/16: Denny's (99th Ave & Camelback)

For this lunch visit, we had to wait a minute for the hostess to come seat us. The booth was comfy and the server came over quickly to take our drink order. She brought them to us right away. After studying the menu for a bit, I decided on the “Build Your Own Burger” with a grilled seasoned chicken breast, whole wheat bun, and cheddar cheese, with seasonal fruit.

While we were waiting for the food, I noticed a customer nearby making occasional snorting noises. Luckily he left shortly thereafter. I was enjoying the oldies that were playing. A group of regulars came in and were chatting it up with the servers. When the food came out, it was evident that the chicken breast was kind of small and didn’t cover the whole bun. It tasted good though. Cooked right and juicy. The bun tasted very “wheaty”. The fruit consisted of red grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries. It was a good alternative to the usual fries.

The server explained that she accidentally put seasoned fries on the ticket instead of fruit but it was the same upcharge so I said that was fine. She was a good server and kept our waters filled. She asked if we were watching the game this weekend. Game? (Cardinals vs. Cowboys.) Although I would have loved to get a real burger with all kinds of unhealthy stuff on it, this was still a good lunch at Denny’s.

Thu 8/15: Chick-fil-A (99th Ave & McDowell)

I didn’t used to be a huge fan of this place but over time I grew to appreciate it a little more. For this visit I ordered the 8 piece nuggets w/ barbecue sauce and waffle fries. My friend wanted soup and the girl at the counter said there would be a 15 minute wait. He said that was fine. I don’t think she said “my pleasure” at all, which was unusual because that’s their thing. Oh well.

The restaurant looked pretty clean and all tables had vases with flowers. The booths were slightly uncomfortable with the seat sinking down, and the big round leg of the table being positioned for anyone to easily bang their knee on. The cashier walked over and said it would be 20 minutes for the soup. He asked for a side salad instead. When the food was ready there were two orders of waffle fries on the tray. We pointed out the mistake but they said to keep them. Normally this would be awesome but when you’re counting calories it becomes an unfortunate test of willpower.

The food was in line with what I’m used to at Chick-fil-A. Nuggets slightly warm, juicy, not dry. Waffle fries barely warm and losing heat fast. While there, I saw the manager walking around with a tape measure, providing measurements to someone over the phone. Thought that was weird. The restaurant was busy with customers, especially when leaving around 7:15pm.

Mon 8/12: Panda Express (Dysart & McDowell)

A few months ago, Panda started using brown rice in their fried rice. I didn’t care for it so I haven’t been back to Panda until now. I saw on their website: “Vote in store to keep your favorite fried rice on the menu.” Until August 31^st they will be offering both the classic fried rice and brown fried rice and tracking purchases to determine the winner. So I had to go “vote” for the classic fried rice.

There were two ladies behind the counter. One was helping a man with what sounded like a pretty large order. The other lady took my order right away. A panda bowl with classic fried rice and grilled teriyaki chicken with sauce on top. Yum! One thing I’ve noticed about Panda is rather than asking if you want a drink and what size, they usually say something like “Large Pepsi?” If you take the bait, it’s like an instant upsell. Pretty smart! (Although I went with a small drink.)

The chicken was quite tasty as well as the classic fried rice I’ve been missing! I encourage everyone to visit and help bring back classic fried rice! They will continue to offer both regular steamed and brown rice as options. As for the fortune cookie wisdom… “Your keen sense of humor will make you many good friends” and “Fortune truly helps those who are of good judgment.”

Sun 8/11: Wendy's (Litchfield & I-10)

As soon as I opened the door, I noticed it was freezing in there! Not sure why they had the thermostat down so low. There was one group of people ordering ahead and then it was my turn. The guy at the register was nice. I ordered a double stack combo with no onions. I really like the Coca Cola Freestyle machines they have, although I didn’t use them this time. Just got iced tea.

Although this location was completely remodeled less than a year ago, the restaurant was not the cleanest I’ve seen. The table next to mine was dirty, there were French fries on the floor, and there were handprints all over the fake fireplace. I didn’t see anyone walking around with a rag, but there should have been.

The food was ready after a few minutes, although I didn’t hear them call my name from the table so they didn’t say it very loud. The fries were slightly warm, not hot out of the fryer, but still good. The burger was good as it usually is. I was tempted to get the Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger, but I decided against the additional 260 calories… this time.

Sat 8/10: Sonic (99th Ave & Indian School)

I have wanted to try their Pretzel Dogs since I first saw the commercials for them. I like the Pretzel Buns at Wienerschnitzel and wanted to see how they compare. I pulled into a stall and ordered the Cheesy Bacon Pretzel Dog with fries and a Strawberry Island Breeze Slush. The speaker was extremely crackly. The girl who took my order was nice enough to offer it as a combo to save me a little money. Always appreciated.

A guy brought out the food in less than 5 minutes. Pretty impressive because many times I’ve been to Sonic it has taken way too long. I thought it was interesting that the guy didn’t read back the order before handing it to me, because they always do that. Didn’t bother me, but it was a notable difference. I noticed the bag smelled like onion rings. I soon discovered the Pretzel Dog had onions on it. I didn’t realize that before, but when I looked at the picture again, I could see there were onions on it. It wouldn’t have been too bad because they were limp, but I wasn’t expecting onions, so I pushed the button and requested a fork, which they brought out quickly. I then scooped off the onions.

It was a really good hot dog. It had real bacon on it, the same as they use for their breakfast, and the combination of pretzel and cheese sauce is genius. The French fries were really hot, crisp, and good. The Strawberry Island Breeze was delicious, cold, and refreshing. I definitely need to exercise after that high calorie lunch, but it was yummy!

Fri 8/9: Subway (Arrowhead Mall)

It was about 10:30am and there was no line so I didn’t have to wait. There were three people behind the counter. I ordered a 6” ham, egg, and cheese on flatbread. The guy who took my order asked if I wanted white or yellow egg. I said “regular.” He started to grab the egg white and I said, “yellow, sorry.” He asked if I wanted it toasted. I said yes. He asked what kind of cheese. Swiss. Then just a little salt & pepper and that was it.

$3 for a breakfast sandwich and an iced tea. What a deal! I think the guy had it in the toaster oven a little longer than normal and the flatbread was so hot I couldn’t even pick it up for a few minutes. But it was a good, simple sandwich and I enjoyed it.

Thu 8/8: Paradise Bakery (Pebble Creek Pkwy & McDowell)

I’ll just start by saying I don’t get the hype about this place. I enjoy getting muffins and iced tea from there when I’m at the airport, but that’s about the extent of it.

For this visit, it was lunchtime and the line was very long. It took several minutes before someone was able to take our sandwich order. I got the Paradise Club with no lettuce, tomato, or Dijon-mayo. I find this place confusing because some people are just getting baked goods, some are ordering sandwiches, some are waiting for salads, and I don’t think people realize they can cut ahead and skip to the register. But after paying, we sat down and waited to be called so we could take it to go.

Quite some time passed and my friend went to check on our order. The bag had been sitting back there ready but never made it on to the final station… Lovely. My croissant sandwich looked squished. When we got back to work, my friend realized they gave him the wrong sandwich.

Mine tasted fine and all, and the chocolate chip cookie was good, but certainly not worth 8 bucks. I’ll probably stick with their baked goods in the future, if I can help it.

Wed 8/7: Carl's Jr. (Litchfield & McDowell)

I got a turkey burger, plain, with fries and then added my own cheese, ketchup, mustard, and pickles at home. I must say turkey burgers are not nearly as tasty as beef patties. It’s just kind of dry and not all that flavorful. My dogs got to enjoy the last few bites. The following day I experienced some stomach discomfort, so I’m blaming the turkey burger.

I’m sure other places have better turkey burgers, but I won’t be getting one from Carl’s Jr. again. I’ll just have to return to the higher calorie option known as the Western Bacon Cheeseburger (or I can try a grilled chicken sandwich).

Tue 8/6: Yan's Chinese Food (Estrella & Roosevelt)

I had not been to Yan’s before, but I have been on the lookout for a good Chinese place and this one seemed to have good reviews so I decided to try it. The restaurant was very clean and I liked the colorful menus on the wall, including pictures of all the entrees. It wasn’t very busy as they mainly have takeout orders.

A nice Asian lady was at the register. My friend and I ordered the orange chicken, chicken fried rice, and 6 steamed dumplings to share. She said 5-10 minutes, and that’s all it took! The orange chicken came out hot and had a sweet sauce. The fried rice was good and had giant pieces of chicken in it. The dumplings were tasty. The fortune cookies had weird sayings: “German proverb: no trees touch the sky” and “Humor is an affirmation of dignity.” 

Overall, I enjoyed the meal and there were plenty of leftovers to take home. I expect to visit again sometime and try some of their other food choices.

Mon 8/5: Yogurtland (99th Ave & McDowell)

This was my 1^st time trying one of these self-serve frozen yogurt places so it was pretty fun. This place had 16 flavors of frozen yogurt, and I tried 5 of them: Tweety Lemon Cream Cookie, Chocolate Milkshake, Fresh Strawberry, Madagascar Vanilla Bean, and Red Velvet Cupcake Batter. They had so many different toppings (fruit and candy) I could have gone crazy with it, but I limited it to cheesecake bites, a couple strawberry pieces, crushed Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, a few Reese’s Pieces, and Snickers.

At 39 cents an ounce, it was quite a treat! And I got to keep the fun Tweety Bird spoons. I look forward to trying some of the other flavors they have in rotation.

Mon 8/5: Sal's Tuscan Grill (Dysart & McDowell)

This was my 2^nd visit to Sal’s, but my 1^st time trying their wood-fired brick oven pizza. I was surprised to find the place completely empty of customers. I guess no one eats there on Monday night. The waitress was not the friendliest. Not rude exactly, but you could tell she didn’t really want to be there.

My friend and I ordered a large pizza, half cheese, half pepperoni and meatball. It was ready in about 15-20 minutes. The pizza was good. Crust was thin with a nice crispness to it. Meatballs were simple but good (I was glad to try them as they were out of meatballs when I ordered pasta the first time)! Took a few slices home to eat for lunch the next day.

I quite like the food at Sal’s, but the service is lacking a bit. I would recommend this place for takeout.

Sun 8/4: Village Inn (99th Ave & McDowell)

I’ve been to Village Inn a number of times, but this was my first visit to this particular location. It was Sunday morning so it was busy and we waited a few minutes to be seated. The server was polite and I ordered the VIB with ½ waffle, country potatoes, bacon, and scrambled eggs (well done). Service was on the slow side as it took awhile to get our food.

Everything was good except my eggs were wet (I didn’t eat most of them), and I neglected to ask for no butter on the waffle (but it scoops off easy enough). Got a slice of Lemon Blueberry Elite pie to go. It was delicious! I have not been impressed with their pies in the past, but this one was really good. I would be willing to order an entire pie, but that probably wouldn’t be a smart thing to do because I’d eat it all!

I tend to go to Denny’s or IHOP more often for breakfast, but I appreciate that Village Inn has so many options for the VIB, and that’s why I’ll go back.

Sat 8/3: Coldstone Creamery (Westgate)

Coldstone is one of my favorite places to get ice cream. It was Saturday night and there was quite a long line. They were advertising their Shark Week Frenzy: Blue Sweet Cream with graham cracker pie crust and gummy sharks. For this visit, I went for the lower calorie option of French Vanilla frozen yogurt and got some brownie mixed in. It was simple, but effective. A 2-for-$6 coupon made it even sweeter!

Sat 8/3: Island's Fine Burgers & Drinks (99th Ave & McDowell)

I had never been to Islands before, but someone told me it was good so I wanted to try it. The hostess greeted us with a “Y’all” so I found that interesting. I liked the music they were playing (oldies first and then more variety). Our server was nice and I ordered the Hawaiian burger (with no lettuce, tomato, onion, or mayo, of course) well-done, on a wheat bun.

It didn’t take too long to get our food. The burger was quite tasty, albeit a thinner patty than I’m used to seeing, and the fries were good, especially dipped in the teriyaki sauce from my burger. Overall, a very tasty meal. Food was reminiscent of Red Robin but with better service! I will plan to go again sometime.

Fri 7/26: Shane's Rib Shack (Westgate)

I had never been here before, but I love BBQ so it was worth a try. I ordered the potato with pulled pork. I was trying not to order a lot of food, but when the cashier said I could get a side for the same price as just getting a drink, I decided to try the mac & cheese. Their iced tea was empty and I didn’t want soda so I just got water (until the tea got refilled and then it was too strong).

When the food came out, there were two baked potatoes on my plate. So much for trying to be good and not ordering a lot of food! But there was no mac & cheese. My friend asked the cashier if there was supposed to be two. She said it is normally one large potato but their delivery had smaller potatoes, so they gave two. They could have just given me one and I wouldn’t have known the difference.

The pulled pork tasted like Lloyd’s BBQ from the grocery store. Pretty low quality. And they used a liquid cheese sauce instead of real shredded cheese, so it was fairly unappetizing. When they finally brought out the mac & cheese, it reminded me of Stouffer’s, except not as good. Also, the booths were very hard and every time the guy behind me would sit down, my seat would go up like a teeter totter. Overall, a disappointing experience and I would not recommend this place.

Introduction

Anyone who knows me well knows that I go out to eat a lot and that I'm somewhat of a picky eater.

I don't like salads (especially lettuce, and yes it does have a taste). I don't eat seafood or sushi. There's a lot of vegetables I won't eat, although I do like asparagus, peas, green beans, broccoli florets (with cheese), onions if they're limp, carrots are alright, celery in soups, cabbage in egg rolls, tomatoes only in the form of ketchup or marinara sauce... Most fruits are good. I don't eat mayo on sandwiches, only in potato salad or macaroni salad. I don't like coffee or coffee-flavored anything. Iced tea is my beverage of choice.

Given the information stated above, I thought it would be fun to share my dining experiences with others. Again, please keep in mind that there are certain things I will and will not eat so anyone looking for recommendations on salads, seafood, etc. you will not find it here. :) Thanks and I hope you enjoy!