Just Wonderful

I thought I'd get my blog obligation (blogbligation?) out of the way, since we are expecting a rather busy rest of the month, make that year...

Last week Aunt Beth took the group to Pezzettino Italian Deli and Market, and I'm so glad she did! Located in an old Piggly Wiggly building in the Crossroads, I had never noticed this little gem. Walk inside and you'll find the perfect, spacious Italian-feeling deli, with lots of good eats and good smells to take in. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the food, probably because many of the recipes were her grandmother's very own!

We enjoyed a few appetizers, including scrumptious stuffed peppers (see photo) and bruschetta--probably the best I've ever had anywhere. The bread was oozing with olive oil, making it soft and tasty.

For my entree I had the torta stuffed with spinach, ricotta and veggies and served with a lovely little side salad dressed heavily with lemon. The torta was just perfect: deep golden brown crust and flavor-packed cheese and veggies inside. The best part is this healthy-yet-filling dish was a humble $6. Add a glass of wine, and you'd think you were in Italy.

I'd love to go back and try more of what Pezzettino's has to offer. I've already recommended it to several coworkers for a future work lunch. My score: 4.1 stars.

It was my pick this month and I wanted to do something the gassies have never done and try sushi.  I am not a sushi fan, however typically really enjoy the other foods they have to offer. I decided to take the gassies to Friends Bento and Sushi. The location is down near some of my favorite resturants, so I was excited to try another place in that area. When we got there were many of us who owed appetizers so we ordered edemame, vegetable tempura and calamari. I really enjoyed all of the appetizers. For dinner I decided to order a bento box with tempura shrimp and veggies. The box came with soup, salad, cheese cracker, spring roll and dessert. The cheese cracker was great and I loved the ginger dressing on the salad.  As josh ordered I just watched him in amaze of the many things he was ordering,, all though he says he feels that Friends is overpriced I disagree. Yes our bill was expensive but we ordered 2 appetizers, bento box, side of seaweed salad, side of soup, and about 6 sushi rolls!! I enjoyed this place and could see us going back and trying some new bento boxes! I give it a 3.8/5.

Feeling friendly

It was a dark and rainy evening. Luke and I drove around the 39th Street area for a while looking for a parking spot. We finally found one, and ran into Mimi, who kindly shared her umbrella.

When we got inside Friends Bento and Sushi Place, the staff smiled and welcomed us to our table. It was pleasant, about what you'd expect for a sushi place, and our table was large enough for the big group.

I'm limited on sushi options to cooked fish, so I looked outside the sushi menu for my entree. They offered--no joke--a ramen noodle soup which I almost got. I love ramen! It was ideal soup weather! But wait: Then I saw the bento options (pictured), which let you try an entree with lots of sides. I opted for the sushi version: smoked unagi (that's eel, folks!) and a California roll (with imitation crabmeat, also cooked). So I got my sushi fix after all. It came with miso soup, simple noodles, a ginger salad, some deep-fried cheesy log things and a lovely puff of orange whipped cake for dessert.

Before you ask about the eel, let me say: It's delicious. Picture the most tender piece of BBQ chicken you've ever had, and make that even tastier. Seriously: Justin has to remind me each time we go for sushi that the eel is the best. So just try it next time.

The bento box was a larger portion than I could eat in one sitting, though I did my best. I would recommend putting half in a box right away to avoid overdoing it.

The service was great. Luke got over-antsy, and when it became apparent we needed to get going, our server was quick to bring our check without rushing the rest of the group.

I don't recall my exact score at the restaurant, so I'll give it a 3.75 stars now. Well done, Friends!

Friends is something we all want!

SO we went to Friends for Erin's pick a place that had some high expectations for its famous sushi. I was a little shocked that Erin chose this place as she does not like Sushi. When walking in I was quite impressed it was a super cool looking place with neat decor and actual samurai swords. Now there is 2 ways to order at Friends. The sensible way Order one of the many combos that will give you some sushi soup, salad and heck even a dessert or order the Crazy way of ordering everything as a side 3 rolls a soup a seaweed salad and beer. One will cost a very reasonable $10 the other will cost around $80. Pretty obvious the route to go right? Which route do you think I took? Thats right the most expensive one possible! To be honest it did not seem like it would add up like that, but I promise you that it does add up really fast! At least I had a lot of left overs.

As for the food it was ok nothing spectacular nothing special but nothing that made me say it wasn't worth the trip. I would go back but only to get the combo plate at a much more reasonable price. All in all I gave it a 3.5 little above average but unless you do the combo very overpriced.

"Friends" & Family, That's What it is All About

Mr. Ref here, last month we went to Friends Sushi & Bento Place, and for me, I am not a sushi person.  For the appetizers we had veggie tempura, edamane & shrimp rolls, and I will have to say they were all pretty good.  What really surprised me was the edamane, I did not know what it was, soy beans, but it was very taste and I enjoyed several.
For my main course I had teriyaki steak, which came with onion soup, house salad, spring roll, cheese cracker & steamed rice.  It was good, it wasn't special.  I did try some of Mrs. Ref's sushi and it tasted just like all of the other sushi I have tried.  Sushi is just not my thing.
I will say the service was really good, the decor was really cute and definitely had an oriental theme.  If Mrs. Ref wanted to go back I am sure we would venture back, but it would not be my first choice.  I gave it a 3.00 out of 5.

"Friends" let friends eat Sushi together

Friends Sushi & Bento is in my favorite restaurant corridor--39th Street by KU--where  Gassies often traipse.  On a rain soaked Thursday evening, we braved the elements and the parking situation and opened the door to Friends taking a delightful step into a cozy well-appointed Japanese dining space.  We walked past the Sushi counter to make our way to our table.
I was a little confused about how to order the Sushi and realized too late that I could have paired my Sushi with a Bento box to include soup, salad, veggies and a lite dessert.  I missed that opportunity, but no matter--the real draw for me was another chance to try Sushi.  I'm not a Sushi virgin, but I am definitely on the in-experienced side and didn't recognize anything on the menu except California roll.  I ordered one and added a Volcano roll, which is deep fried before serving.
The Sushi looked attractive enough, but on this day, I didn't find the taste particularly appealing.  The Volcano roll definitely outperformed the California roll on my tongue but it didn't stand up to other Sushi I have tried.  The "deep fry"  made the seaweed outer layer slightly crispy, but not greasy, I guess I couldn't tell how it may have changed the taste.
I was lucky enough to be dining with some non-blogging Gassies, so had an opportunity to try appetizers like veggie tempura, edamane, and shrimp rolls(?)  All the apps were particularly tasty--even the edamane, once I learned how to eat them.
I'm still searching for fabulous Sushi, but in the meantime, Friends is a nice neighborhood place and I'll bet with enough experience, one could find something fabulous on their menu to draw you back.  Service and surroundings were great!  Final score 3.5 of 5 from Mrs. Ref

Zaina was the pick for September, one of favorite types of food, Mediterranean.  Of course Papu's is the nectar of the Gods, but Zaina has some things that meet that high standard.  I ordered the Gyro platter which included rice, rather bland, and a greek salad.  For me a Gyro needs good pita and hot sauce.  Although, the meat was not as good as Papu's the hot sauce was right up there.  Also, the salad was delicious and I would buy it, if it were available.

The restaurant was small with counter service, it was a nice change of pace, plus it was walking distance from work.

I give Zaina a 3.5/5 and would go back for lunch and one of my monthly outings with my co-workers.

Zaina, a nice change of pace

Last month our club dined at Zaina, a Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Kansas City. It was great to get back to the concrete jungle where the buildings block out the sunlight and you add ten minutes to your commute to account for limited parking. Seriously!

Zaina was a low-key joint. Justin and I left Luke at home with his Grandpa so we could enjoy a relaxing meal, though this place would have been perfect for a toddler. You order at the counter, and the staff was friendly and helpful.

I had the vegetarian platter: falafel, rice, stuffed grape leaves, salad, pita and hummus. It was good. Not great, but I was pleased enough to eat the entire thing instead of saving leftovers for lunch.

Mediterranean food is healthy (when you eat an entire platter...not so much), which means you can splurge on dessert. I had the rice pudding, which I enjoyed, and Justin and I shared almond and pistachio baklava.

I liked Zaina and would eat there for lunch if I find myself downtown. I don't recall my score at the restaurant, so today I'll give it a 3.5/5 stars.

Zaina

Mr. Ref here, this month we went to Zaina, which is Mediterranean food.  I would have to say I was disappointed.  Josh has always come up with some of the best choices we have had over the years, even if some of them have been a little scary, or maybe challenging is a better word, but the food has always been really good.  Zaina, not so much.
I had the beef gyro platter and it was okay.  I am not real familiar with this type of food, therefore I was looking for something that said BEEF, after all "What's for dinner?"  I have had a beef gyro sandwich in the past and usually they are good, not great to me.  The beef gyro platter wasn't awful, but it wasn't something to write home about, for me.  The place looked more like a cafeteria or a fast food place, and had very little decor.  It looked like it could have been a "Mom & Pap" type joint, but even that did not seem the case.  I am sure for lunch or a quick bite, sometimes it would be fine, but not as a place you would want to visit frequently, more of a change of pace kind of place.  I gave it a 3 out of 5, nothing special.

Zaina satiates for cents

Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, tobouli, pita bread and Downtown KC ambience adds up to a very fine supper experience!  It probably cost more to drive to the restaurant than it did to get a full dinner plate.  The entree (chicken) was not extraordinary until I mixed it with the tobouli served on my plate.  Then it really rocked! The tobouli was overwhelmingly parsley and had a tart bite that paired perfectly with the grilled chicken and yogurt sauce.  The saffron rice was forgettable and not worth ingesting the calories.
The supper crowd was sparse in the cavernous space, but this meant that we could take our time at the counter looking at the menu and speaking with the attendant who guided us in our choices with more patience than we had a right to expect.  She brought our dinner plates out with a smile, very shortly after our orders were placed, and the food seemed hot and fresh cooked.
If this place were closer to home, I would want to visit weekly!  Reminds of Johnny Rays Diner in Lee's Summit, but serves Gyros instead of burgers.  What a bargain at around 8 bucks/plate1  Final score from Mrs. Ref 4 of 5.

Q39

Last month was Richard's pick, and it was a good one: Q39.  It is now my favorite BBQ restaurant in KC.

West 39th is a great area that is home to passed GAS gems like Anna's Oven - so it had that going for it right from the start. The atmosphere inside was great.  Modern and very nice, but casual.  The food was served on plates not in baskets.  Our server was great - very friendly and quick with suggestions.

I had the judges platter - which included smoked chicken, brisket, and ribs.  The ribs were super tender, and the chicken was super moist, but what really impressed me was the brisket.  It was so perfectly cooked and tender.  I really appreciated how much emphasis Q39 put on the meat, and not just sauce.  In fact the sauce was served on the side, which I thought was great.

They also had a good beer list, and the sides were excellent - I had apple slaw and baked beans.

My only complaint was they had two or three big screen TVs with MMA on them pointed right at me - watching two men beat the crap out of each other is not the most appetizing thing in the world.  To their credit, they did change it as soon as I asked. 

Overall it was a great place, and one I would recommend to anyone. 4.6/5.0

Q39

Move over Kansas City BBQ restaurants,  Q39 is in town.  I have been to many of the Kansas City BBQ spots, but none meet the delicious food served at Q39.   The venue itself is bright and open with table service.   What is KC BBQ know for, is it the sauce, the burnt ends, the ribs,  the smokiness of the meat.  It something different for each person and each BBQ joint.   Jack Russell  the best sauce,  Smoke House the best chopped meat,  Winslow's great turkey.  Everyone has something wonderful to offer, but Q39 is the most well rounded of all.  I had the pulled pork and a smoked chicken breast.   The pulled pork, was tender and smoky, but the highlight was the smoked chicken breast, moist, smoky and the most delicious dish I have ever had at BBQ restaurant.  I will go back many times.  I rate Q39 4.5/5.

Q39 = yummy

Q39 = YMY - kind of sounds like an algebraic formula.  Don't get me wrong I like algebra but it can't compete with food - especially BBQ from Q39.  Great food and great service.  I have never had such tasty chicken wings and my Q39 burger was incredible.  I could only eat half and had the rest for lunch the next day.  Even reheated it was delicious.   John's burger was just as tasty.  The next day I told several people about it for it was just too good not to share.  BBQ is not my favorite food either but we will definitely return for another great meal.   definitely deserves 4.5/5

Q39: The Quintessential BBQ

Mr. Ref here, this month was my month to pick and I picked Q39.  I don't even know where to start.  B-B-Q is one of my favorite things to eat and even though I enjoy several different types of BBQ, it is always the meat that makes it good, and the sauce makes it excellent.

Q39 was not even a place I had ever heard of, my wife read a review in the local newspaper and she thought it sounded good.  I also read the review and thought the same thing.  While reading the review, it indicated that Q39 had not been opened very long, about 2 or 3 months, however this place had won several top awards at local and national BBQ contests.

All I can say is Q39 did not disappoint, it was excellent.  First we started with BBQ wings as an appetizer, and they were a good size and covered in BBQ sauce.  Then I had the Q burger and baked beans, because baked beans always tell me how much time an establishment puts into doing things right, especially when it comes to BBQ.  The Q burger was very good, the meat was tender, with lots of flavor and the baked beans were also very good.  The thing I loved the most was the BBQ sauce, when you first tasted it, you could taste a little bit of honey, or something sweet, and then within a second or two the spices kicked in and lit your mouth up.  It was the perfect sweet & spicy BBQ taste.  Our waiter did an excellent job serving us, he was there when we needed him and let us be when we were having a great time with the family.  I gave Q39 a 4.75 out of 5, I don't think I will ever give a perfect 5, but 4.75 is the best score I have given so far.

So good I forgot to take a photo

Last week our group met at Q39, a barbeque place on 39th street in midtown. Unlike most BBQ joints, Q39 had style: you felt like you were in an Architectural Digest setting, only slightly barn-like. Cool, but not stuffy.

Service was impeccable. Our waiter took great care of us and was funny and upbeat. The menu presented loads of options. I ordered chicken wings to share as a mea culpa for skipping my July blogging duties. The menu boasted that these wings were the "world's best," and that wasn't a lie. I'm famous for saying, "Oh order the wings. I won't have any," then eating a few on the sly. I could have eaten all of these wings--they were delicious.

For an entree I had veggie burger--I have to try 'em when I see 'em. Their version was unique; I'm guessing a white bean or chickpea base with lots of lemon and some intriguing spices to jazz it up. The bun was terrific too. I was thoroughly happy with it, and cold leftovers made for a tasty lunch the following day.

I tried all three kinds of meat on Justin's huge platter o' BBQ, and it was all delicious. Especially that smoked chicken. I stole a few bites of baked beans too, which were also very good.

I like BBQ fine, but it's not something I seek out. I would seek out Q39 again... and hopefully soon. My ranking: 4.5/5 stars.

Q 39 is Barbeque Royalty!

Is that Q short for barbeque or "Queen of Barbeque"?  Either way, Q 39 really is barbeque royalty!    I wouldn't mind calling this Pit Master "Your Highness" because the staff made me feel like a member of their family.  Just the right amount of attention was paid to our group of nine and our food was served hot and fresh. 
The atmosphere is warm, contemporary and bustling with energy.  The dark wood tables are flanked by the bar on the west and the visible kitchen on the East and nothing but happy diners everywhere you can see.  If you would have asked me last week, I would have said there was no way to improve on KC barbeque, but the genius of Q 39 is that it is true KC Barbeque, but so many elements of the food and experience puts this "Q" joint in a class of it's own. 
Food is served on bamboo cutting boards, side dishes in adorable ceramic bowls.  Nothing fake here-- real napkins, real silverware, real cocktails and let's not forget Real Good Company at this GAS CLUB meeting!
All the main dishes (chicken, veggie burger, Q burger, burnt end burger) I tasted were outstanding and cooked to perfection.  But what I dream about at night are those chicken wings!  Chipotle sauce carmelized over crispy skin covering juicy, delicious insides are probably the best dish I have eaten this year!  Except for the fries (just average) and white bean cassoulet (bland) this was a(n almost) perfect experience.
Mrs. Ref rates this classy bbq joint 4.5. 

Not Wasting My Time

0/5.

This place does not deserve a blog post!

By doing this I have a little regret that I am letting people know it exists and I am afraid people might go there just to see if it is as bad as we have said and to be honest I would not wish our experience  on my worst of enemies. The service was terrible, the manager was condescending, it took over 30 min to get drinks out than another 30 min to finally get the right meals to the right people, the food was cold, than after telling them how horrible the experience was they stick us with an 18% gratuity anyways. But hey at least we let the people next to us eat for free. I will say that after I wrote to the owners I finally got an apology for how horribly we were treated and offered a $50 gift card to try it again, but I will never be going back, so if you want to see for yourself how AWFUL this place is please let me know and I will gladly give you my $50.  

Haus of Horrendous Service

Very mediocre German sausages were delivered cold to our table.  Our orders were incomplete, came with wrong sides, and the level of apathy by the staff including the manager, would embarrass any professional.  Pork schnitzel was breaded and deep fried and served cold lying on a bed of barely sauteed red cabbage.  I could discern no seasoning.  Similar to, but not as tasty as a tenderloin on a bun at the local fast food, except cold and fried well past the "crunchy" stage.  Kansas City has some amazing German Restaurants, but nothing to recommend here.   Mrs. Refs final score 1 of 5

Haus to Pass on This One

Mr. Ref, this last month we went to Haus and it was not the best experience.  The meal started with a couple of appetizers and the appetizers were actually pretty good.  I believe we had the Pretzel Twists and the Bacon Wrapped Bockwurst Skewers and I think most everyone liked them.  I preferred the Bacon Wrapped Bockwurst Skewers.  The décor was not bad, it kind of looked like, what I would think, a German pub might look like, partly because the World Cup Soccer highlights were playing on the big screen TV's and we all know the European's like soccer.

Then the trouble started, it took awhile for our entire party to arrive, but once they did our orders were taken within a reasonable amount of time.  But it took too long for the orders to be delivered and a few were incorrect and most all of them were not even very warm, some were cool, and all were suppose to be hot or very warm when served.  I had the Sausage Dinner Plate which consisted of Bratwurst & Knackwurst served atop skillet red cabbage, with German potato salad and white wine pears.  I believe the Knackwurst seemed like it was pulled out of the package and served as is, and the Bratwurst seemed over cooked.  The red cabbage was good but I have had better and the German potato salad was also good.  Nothing was much to write home about.  I was really excited when I found out we were going to a German place because I really like that kind of food and I was disappointed with Haus.

As I mentioned earlier, we did have problems with the service after we ordered our meals and the issue continued until we left.  Towards the end we asked for the manager and she was no better that the waitress.  As a matter of fact she was worse, because she was the manager and should have tried to do everything in her power to make us as happy as she could, and the way she conducted herself was very unprofessional.   I would give it a 1 out of 5, only because the appetizers were pretty good.

Wurst meal ever.

Haus was terrible.  The menu was terrible and ordinary and overpriced, the service was terrible and slow and unhelpful, the food was terrible and cold and just plain terrible. 

What made it doubly terrible is that I have been there in the past about a year ago, and it was outstanding.  Whoever is running this place now has ruined what used to be a good restaurant. 

I will not go there again, and would not recommend it to anyone.  0.0 / 5.0. 

Haus

There is not much to say other than poor service, cold food and rather rude management.  I do not understand how an establishment does not care to take care of patrons with a reservation.  Thank goodness for the good company.  That was the redeeming factor from the experience.  This was all so unfortunate as we have been there before and it was enjoyable.  Won't bother again. 

Grunauer Redux

Last month we revisited GAS favorite Grunauer, the Austria restaurant in the Crossroads.  It was just as good - no, better than last time.

This time I had the Szegediner; braised pork shoulder.  It was fan-freaking-tastic.  And I ate more than my share of red cabbage and sauerkraut.  Really recommend this food.  I would order it again if past experience didn't show that every time I order something new at Grunauer it is even better than the last thing I ordered.

This time we splurged on dessert - a cheese strudel (or streusel, I can't remember the difference).  It was very good, a nice savory dessert.

I cannot recommend Grunauer enough for a reliably delicious meal that is familiar but uncommon and remarkable.  Very good.

Oh yeah, and they had beer from KC Bier Company out of Waldo on the menu this time.  Wal-DO!

So long, farewell, au revior, auf wiedersehen.
I'd like to go eat at Grunauer again.
So long, farewell, au wiedersehen, goodbye
I give Grunauer a four point eight of five.

Second time is just as fine

So this was my 2nd time here and I had some serious expectations since this was my original and first gas pick.  With that being said I wanted to really be wowed again. I wanted to o try something new but did not know what to pick so I let the waiter pick and he said that the Hungarian beef was the best thing on the menu. How could l not go with that? As it came out I was enjoying a beer which is a must with German food I do believe.  as I tried my first bite it was pretty good but not what I remembered. So I was a little disappointed but than I tried everyone else food and remembered why this place was so good.  In fact my meal was my lady favorite thing and I still really liked it.  So thanks to every one else my thoughts on grunaer stayed true. 4.3 this time for me lower than first time but only cause mine wasnt as good.

Finally Got To Try What People Have Been Raving About

This past month the group voted to revisit a favorite. I voted for Graunauer, which happened to win. I ordered a Raddler to drink, which is just phenomenal! It is the perfect light best tasting summer beer. I had a difficult time deciding what to order, but finally decided on the Jäger Schnitzel Vom Schwein. 

It was in a mushroom cream sauce, which I was a little hesitant about, however I must admit mushrooms are starting to grow on me! My meal came out and it looked delicious. It was a piece of pork served over spätzle with mushroom cream sauce.  The sauce and spätzle was excellent! The pork was also very good, however a little dry. Luckily, the sauce really helped with the dryness. I really enjoyed everything I tried.  I give it an overall score of 4.4/5.

A GAS celebration at Grunauer

To celebrate four complete rounds of GAS club picks, we went to an old favorite, Grunauer. (Original credit goes to Josh for selecting this restaurant for our October 2011 outing.)

Grunauer is awesome. It's a classy joint and our server took great care of us, yet it's not at all stuffy. I had beef tenderloin with root vegetables served in brown stock. On the side were a trio of dipping sauces, none better than the apple-horseradish. I ordered an additional serving of sauerkraut and am glad I did. The rye bread was also tasty. What a meal.

For dessert, Justin and I ordered a cheese strudel which had pine nuts and golden raisins inside. It was perfection--and I'm glad I shared it with someone as it was very rich. I want to come back for just dessert and coffee (fancy Austrian coffee with real cream, that is).

Austrian Done Well

This month was a revisit to a favorite, Grunauer, one of the best restaurants in Kansas City.  I had spinach cheese stuffed schnitzel.  The breading on the schnitzel, was light, not overpowering the tender meat,   The filling complemented the meat, perfectly.   I also had a side of the red cabbage with apples, though I am not a big cabbage fan,  this cabbage dish would convert the most reluctant of cabbage eaters.   I tried several of the other dishes and each was delicious.  I give a 4.6/5

Grunaeur Will Never Disappoint

Mr. Ref here, it has been awhile since I have been able to accompany my family to a GAS club outing.  Yes, I have been busy refereeing.  This is my fourth visit to Grunaeur and it still does not disappoint me.  I love this kind of food, brat's and sausages, with sauerkraut and red cabbage.  As always they provide some taste mustard and a horseradish sauce to eat with the meats.  Mrs. Ref & I will continue to visit Grunaeur for years to come.  I, again, gave Grunaeur a 4.5 out of 5.

Salmon, German Style

This is my 4th visit to Grunaeur and so I decided to try something decidedly NOT German (at least in my mind) so ordered the Salmon.  But it was German or Austrian so it was served over creamy, Savoy cabbage with a pistachio relish.  Can't say I noticed the pistachios, but the relish gave an unexpected firey splash to the tasty, salmon.  But the real star of this dish was the creamy cabbage.
Often when I return to a restaurant, it is something very specific that calls my name.  I recall V's Restaurant of old that had the most delicious pumpernickel croutons and this is what kept me coming back for years.  The Bristol has the cheddar biscuits. 
Grunaeur knows cabbage ridiculously well!  What is secret to their cooked cabbage?  I'll never know, but I would drive downtown in a tornado for that creamy cabbage! 
Final score 4 of 5

Look at that Basil! It's so hot!

Last month was mom's pick and we went to Hot Basil, which one of my officemates said was the best Thai in Johnson County.  And, the fact that it is the only Thai I have had in Johnson County notwithstanding, I have to agree.

The place is subtly contradictory.  The inside setting is nice; with cloth napkins and water served in wine glasses, it is easy to forget that you are in a strip mall next to a liquor store, with a view of the Meineke.

But, who cared about the outside, when the food and company was inside.

I had the hot basil duck, which was very good.  I think it was a quarter duck, with great spices, sauces and rice.  I also think I ate more of mom's pad thai than she did.  But my favorite dish was Sara's soup.  I don't remember what was in it, but it was great.  The appetizers were good also - we had spring rolls and crispy tofu, and something else, I think.  And the Thai iced tea was great.

The waiter was very friendly, and they kept the waters full, which is super important at Thai places.

I give Hot Basil a 4.0 out of 5.
 

HOT BASIL

May was Thai food at Hot Basil and HOT it was.   I ordered the Pad Thai, medium and it was almost to hot for me to eat.  I like spicy food, and this was excellent Pad Thai, but next time I will order mild.  The restaurant was in a strip mall in Overland Park,  pleasant enough, but nothing special.   Our table was in a little alcove which was nice, though the restaurant was not very full, so noise was not an issue.
We began with some appetizers, crab rangoon, spring rolls and fried tofu.  All were very good,  the fried spring rolls, especially.
Besides the Pad Thai that most people ordered, Sara ordered a soup that was to die for.
Our waiter was excellent, and have found this to be the case at most restaurants we have visited.
I give Hot Basil a 4.1 and would definitely go back

I like me some spice

SO as we all know spice is my life if I aint sweating it wasnt spicy enough! Now this place delivered on the spice as i was one of the very few that didnt order pad which i did try and it was very good i understand why they would get it but i ordered the spicy garlic shrimp which was amazing spicy where i could taste it but it was flavorful not just hot! which is what happens a lot of times when you ask for some serious spice! So after some amazing apps and some tasty food and of course some great beer i was stuffed and as usual got to take gramps leftovers home with me to have another amazing meal the next day. I really enjoyed this place and would def go back since it is so close to my work! 4.2 for me!

Last month we went to Hot Basil in Overland Park.  People owed appetizers so we got to enjoy spring rolls, friend tofu and crab Rangoon before our meal.  I really enjoyed all three of the appetizers.  They each were great with different dips to dip them in.  The crab rangoon was very light and tasty.  The spring rolls were very refreshing and great flavor.  I ordered a Japanese beer as well as a Thai iced tea.  The Thai iced tea was delicious, so refreshing! For dinner I didn't step out of my comfort zone and I stuck with what I always get, pad Thai.  I go it with mild spice and with chicken.  I really enjoyed my meal.  I thought it was just the right spice and tons of flavor.  I really always enjoy Thai food, and wish I it more often.  The atmosphere was kind of bland, it was in a strip mall and nothing special about the decor, however the service was phenomenal!  I thought our waiter was very attentive and helpful.  I give Hot Basil a 4.1/5.0.

Holy galanga root: Let's eat at Hot Basil

Three Thursdays ago the club gathered for our May outing. Becky picked Hot Basil, a Thai joint out in Overland Park. I won't hold the Kansas against them too much.

Luke and I were the first to arrive with Grandpa and Beth right behind. We were led to our large table for eight, which was in a room all by itself. The vibe wasn't anything to write home about, but it is Kansas after all (sorry, I have to get in a few jabs).

The service was outstanding. Our server was attentive and informative, and best of all, our water glasses were consistently refilled--a must for spicy Thai dishes.

Several folks treated the group to different appetizers. Like Beth, I really enjoyed the spring rolls. The fried tofu and crab rangoons were good too.

At Thai places, I spring for the Thai iced tea. It's delicious--dessert in a glass, really--and serves as an effective extinguisher against the spicy heat. Hot Basil's version was terrific, and Luke must have agreed since he drank a quarter of mine.

Hot Basil offers lots of entrees, making for a difficult choice. I settled on the Thom Kha soup with tofu. The broth had a coconut milk base and was perfectly creamy and silky. Our server explained that medium-level hotness is what they consider "American spicy." I ordered the medium but felt a little weak (bring on the Thai hot! I can take it!), but it ended up being the right choice.

I have to say I've never had galanga root before: it floated in the soup and looked like shreds of bark. The soup was delicious so it must have provided great flavor.

I gave Hot Basil four stars.

If you like Spicy, try Hot Basil

It may be in a strip mall, but the atmosphere is clean, modern and welcoming.  A beautiful bouquet was the first thing I saw when I walked in the door.  And this girl loves roses! 
The staff was very accommodating and friendly--couldn't ask for more efficient, helpful service.  These guys know their menu including the wine.  The wine list didn't hold a lot of surprises, but  solid choices at reasonable prices is right up my alley.  I played it safe and ordered the Pork Pad Thai and paired it with Martini and Rossi Asti Spumonte in honor of my Mom -- her favorite drink second only to Margarita!  I recommend it--the spicy food tasted great with the sparkling wine.
We were treated to several appetizers, but although the group seemed to take a shine to the crab Rangoon, I really thought the Spring Rolls shined.  The fried tofu was tasty, but would have benefited from a more interesting sauce.  Could have really used some AWESOME sauce from Blue Koi!
The soup that Sara ordered was layer upon layer of tasty flavor.  Unfortunately, it also had the kick of a Donkey, and I enjoy more of a tap than a kick--so a little above my spicy tolerance.  But, hey, what do you expect at a place called HOT Basil?
Would I go back?  Probably not until my tongue grows a protective husk to fight off that KICK!  Otherwise--couldn't be more delicious.  Final Score from Mrs. Ref 4 of 5.

A Step In The Right Direction.... but still not NC good!

This month we met for grandpa's pick to get BBQ. We arrived and you could tell it was a new place. The atmosphere was nice,  nothing overly specisl or unique but nice. I decided to go with the special, ribs and a side. I chose Mac and cheese for my side. Josh and I owed an appetizer of shame so we got chili cheese fries. They came out and they werr GREAT!  The meal then came out. The ribs were very tender snd good. I loved all the different BBQ sauces to try and that made the ribs even better. The mac and cheese was phenomenal! I dont say this often but it gave my moms a run for it's money. With this being s new place they had not yet gotten their liquor licencw... so no beer, which stunk. It is hard to eat BBQ without beer. Other thsn thst I think this was my favorite BBQ place in KC. I give it a 3.2/5

BBQ is good for the soul

In April we headed to Jon Russell BBQ, at Grandpa's suggestion. What a little gem. I gather from other Gassies the place recently opened, and I am glad it did. It's a typical order-at-the-counter BBQ joint, yet the service far surpassed my expectations. We were greeted by a friendly staffer upon arriving and made to feel very welcome.

I ordered the Jammin' Salmon sandwich, and it was awesome. For a side, I intended to get the coleslaw but a helpful employee explained it tops the salmon anyway. Instead I got the pit beans. The food was excellent, and it was loads of fun trying the rainbow of sauces (blueberry-habanero pepper, wow!).

Josh treated the group to huge platters of chili-cheese fries, which were tasty and heated up well for lunch the next day. Justin splurged on a root beer float for dessert because, really, shouldn't you order it when it's available?

I forget my ranking at the restaurant, but Jon Russell is easily a 4.5 stars going on a 4.999. The setting was fun, food was delicious and service was excellent. Thanks for a great dinner outing!

Kc BBQ is by far superior to North Carolina BBQ hands down!

So we went out for some good ol fashion BBQ and went to a place that just opened called John Russels. I sadly forgot to blog last time so apps of shame must be had! We got the chilli cheese fries and asked how many we needed for all of us and they told us 3 these things were so huge we could have easily split 2 of them and had left overs so needless to say. We had plenty of leftovers! I ordered the ribs and they were spot on they were moist and fall off the bone good! Some of the best ribs I have had anywhere! Another thing I really enjoyed was the tons of different and unique bbq sauces! Anything you could imagine from hot, to blueberry flavored and anything and everything in between! The only thing this place was lacking was the booze! However they said that since it was just opening they did not have liquor license. and would have one soon. How a place that knows exactly when they are opening doesnt know to plan getting it in advance baffles me, but thats neither here nor there.  Overall the food was great and the price was very reasonable for bbq so I gave it a solid score of a 4.2

Jon Russell's BBQ

We joined the family for another fun outing.  The food was very tasty and the service was great.  Nice new restaurant but unfortunately no liquor license yet.  We had samples of chicken chili that had a nice kick to it.  They also provided samples of their different sauces which was really neat.  I think the combined score for John and I was a 4/5.  Definitely would go back 

District.

Last month it was my pick, and I chose the District. Pour House + Kitchen.  I really liked this restaurant, and not just because I am a fan of gratuitous punctuation.

This restaurant is at the old location of the Gaf, which was an Irish pub/restaurant.  The inside is totally changed, updated in a pleasing modern look. It looked good. Real good.

The menu had a lot of good options.  I ordered the duck risotto, and it rocked.  It was so good.  Best I have had in Kansas City.  Really moist tender, duck, perfect risotto, nice sauce.

We also had the crab dip as an appetizer, and it was very good.

Our waitress was also very nice and attentive.  She did a nice job for our big group.

I wish I had blogged earlier so I could remember all the details, but I guess the overall impression is what's important, and I was impressed.  Happy to have the restaurant in my neighborhood, and I give it a 4.8/5.0.

 

   

District Pour House

For April we visited the District Pour House.  The restaurant was very warm and inviting.  We ate in a back room, which worked perfect for our large group.

We had crab dip, hush puppies and sweet potato fries for appetizers.  All were good, but not great.

The drink I ordered was fruity and delicious, but the most wonderful dish was the duck risotto.  Though I am not a big fan of duck, the dish was incredible.   The creamy risotto was topped with 2 slices of tender, moist duck an topped with fried kale (yum) and cranberries.  This dish was one of my favorite all time dinner club meals.  The risotto ranks up there with Affare's, seafood risotto.  Kudo's to the chef and a can't miss meal if you like risotto, or duck.

I give District Pour House a 4.4/5.

District Pour House + Kitchen - Try an Infused Drink

Mr. Ref hear and it has been awhile since I have had the pleasure of my families company on a night with the Gasses.  It is always fun to get together every month and reminisce about the trials and tribulations of our everyday life.  It is especially nice to hear how the young one is doing and how the older, but still younger ones, are living their lives.  It keeps us, a little bit older ones, young and remembering all of the things we experienced over the years.
This month we went to the District Pour House + Kitchen and it was a really neat place.  Nothing fancy, but it was well thought out and was very comfortable.  The food was very good also, I had Fish & Chips, and I wasn't expecting much.  I thought I would get a few fish nuggets and some fries.  Instead, I was surprised by the large size catfish, that was not in nuggets, but a whole piece of fish.  The catfish was very tasty and the fries were some of the best I have had in this type of setting.  For me the fries were not too salty and did not have too much spices.  I almost forgot they specialize in infused liquors, so I tried vodka infused with apricot and it was really good.  We also had the crab dip and it was very good.  I really enjoyed District Pour House + Kitchen and would definitely go back for refills, I gave it a 4 out of 5.

The Gassies Discover the District

I wasn’t sure what to expect when my dear husband picked District Pour House + Kitchen for our March outing. We have been talking about trying this place ever since it opened in the building that used to be the Gaf, a neighborhood Irish pub.

I’ll give it extra points for being so close to our house: four and-a-half blocks, to be exact.

What a makeover: the dark wood closed-off corners of the Gaf were gone, replaced by a large, bright space with great style. It felt modern and hip but also welcoming, like a neighborhood place should be. We ate in the rear dining area, and I was very comfortable there with a two-year old who has just learned how to shriek for attention.

I’d say this place is similar to Beer Kitchen in Westport—great drink selection, fun vibe and delicious food. This ain’t your standard pub fare. 

I had the hazelnut-crusted salmon salad with pickled fennel. (The pickled fennel got me, and hazelnuts are also a favorite.) It was a tasty salad. I ordered a side of root vegetable hash (as with fennel, if there’s hash on the menu, I’m ordering it.), which was also really good. 

Their appetizer menu was filled with some things you don’t’ see everyday, like Artichokes Rockafeller. We had crab dip and hush puppies, which were great. My only critique of the overall menu is that there are only two vegetarian entrees (pasta and mac ‘n’ cheese) and no veggie sandwiches. Not the end of the world, but next time I would like to try a more adventurous meatfree dish (of course I compromised anyway for the salmon!).

Our waitress was helpful and very attentive to our large group.

I gave the place 4/5 stars, and will definitely be back. Give it a try!

Spanish for The Patron

Last month was Erin's pick, and she picked El Patron on Southwest Boulevard.  This modern Mexican restaurant had a very cool atmosphere with a bustling bar/dining area downstairs and a more laid back dining room upstairs. 

We end up dining upstairs, which was better for our group.  And as per usual, I owed appetizers.  Bummer, except....TWIST!  The appetizers were the bomb-diddly-bombaroo!  I ordered empanadas and they were great.  The empanada appetizer only comes with one empanada, but it is enough for two people to share as a starter (despite what the waiter tells you). 

Speaking of the waiter, the service at this place was bad.  Maybe it was just our waiter, but he was not attentive, and even after we asked for things 2 or 3 times, he still did not bring them.  And we always had to ask for stuff, he was never on top of it.  Very poor service.  And our reservation got mixed up.

Now that that unhappy business is out of the way, back to the food.  We also had nachos courtesy of another naughty non-blogger, and they were very good.  Luke especially liked them.

For my main dish, I had the skirt steak with cactus and a whole roasted onion.  The skirt steak was fantastic, perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, just terrific.  And the cactus was also superb.  I never had cactus before.  It is like a really tender pepper, but better.  Very, very good.  Wish I knew where I could by some to cook at home.  The whole cooked onion looked very appetizing and interesting on my plate, but I tried it, and it was still a little too strong, under cooked.  Maybe it was garnish, but it was on my plate and it was cooked so I ate it.  When in doubt, eat it, right Josh (see: summer sausage).  And I had a limeade which was good, not super sweet like most places.  I tasted the margarita - very strong.

And, I will say this: I like rice and beans.  I really, really like rice and beans.  But it was nice to eat at a Mexican restaurant where every dish is not bisecting a pond of rice and beans.  I will say that.

Overall  I thought it had a cool, modern atmosphere, the food was superb, the service was poor, and, as always, the company was great.  I give it a 3.6.

El Patron

This past GAS meeting it was my turn to pick.  I went back and forth on a genre of food and decided on Mexican, mainly because my past 2 picks have gotten low ratings from grandpa and I knew he would rank Mexican high no matter what! :)  I decided on El Patron based off of reviews and things I had read.  Josh and I arrived a little late and the group was waiting for a table.  I guess there was a miscommunication when I called and they thought I said 8:30 instead of 6:30.  After a short wait we were escorted upstairs to a cute little area which we had all to ourselves.  The area was great, just enough space and very personal.  Although I loved the environment the service was extremely poor.  I felt like it took forever to get drink orders then another long period of time for appetizers and then another long period of time to put in food orders.  Luckily, the margaritas were very tasty as well as the appetizers so we enjoyed those while we waited.  I really enjoyed the appetizers, especially the empanadas.  I had not had good empanadas since living in Argentina, and although these were very different they were very good.  The nachos were also delicious!  I ordered a steak burrito for dinner.  By the time I got it, I was already pretty full, so was able to have lunch the next day.  The burrito was very rich with a lot of cheese sauce on top (just the way I like it! :)). I thought overall the food was delicious, I really enjoyed the environment, however due to such poor service my rating drastically decreased.    My overall score is a 3.1/5.0.

Not your average Mexican joint

Last month Erin selected El Patron. To be honest I can't remember how many stars I gave it, but let's say 3.2 stars.

The restaurant is two stories, with a bar-like area on the ground level and nice dining area above. I liked the space very much: We were tucked off in a nearly private room with funky lighting and lovely decor.

There is a drawback to a private room, and that is the waitstaff wasn't as available as one would have liked. They were friendly enough and efficient when around, but over service was on the slower side.

The menu was full of options both light and heavy, from seafood soup to cheesy cheese burritos covered in cheese sauce. We started with lots of appetizers (truthfully, enough to make a complete meal), thanks to our non-blogging members from last month. I especially liked the empanadas, though the nachos were pretty epic. I drank a horchata which is the perfect foil to spicy Mexican food. Luke took a liking to the horchata too. Rice milk with cinnamon and sugar--what could be a more appealing beverage to a toddler?

I went with the Chicken Mole enchiladas. The mole wasn't the best I've had, but that still means it's a darn-tasty dish. The black beans--fresh, not refried--and rice were good too.

I would go back to El Patron. In fact, I am going to up my score to 3.7 stars.

El Patron

February we headed backed to Southwest Blvd for Mexican at El Patron.  The restaurant space was my favorite in the 2.5 years we have been doing dinner club.   The space was very conducive for larger parties like we have.   Down to the business of dining.  The service was terribly slow, definitely some of the slowest service we have dealt with.  The food was much better than the service, the appetizers were very good, as were the margaritas. The cheese dip served with the empanadas was one of the best I have had.  I ordered tacos, one beef and one fish.  The beef taco was very good, but he fish on the fish taco was a little fishy for my taste.   One of the true tests of a Mexican restaurant besides the margarita is the chips and salsa.  I have a split decision on those, the salsa was good, but the chips were below par.  All in all if the service had been better the score would have been higher, but I can only give El Patron a 3.3/5.

Margarita makes it "All Better"

When you're a little tyke and have some bumps in the road (or on your knee) a kiss and a bandaid from your Mom makes things all better.  Same thing happens when you grow up; bumps can be smoothed over by a hug, a smile, or maybe a kiss--not always from your Mom!
The GAS Club started off with a few bumps in February with a lost reservation, but all was rectified once the Margarita's started flowing!  El Patron was very busy Thursday night with a happy, energetic crowd.  We were able to finally score a table upstairs, and for our group this worked out well as we could hear each other talk in the more sedate atmosphere.
Took a while for the waiter to get us going with some appetizers, but honestly they were worth the wait!  Delicious nacho plates and mouth watering empanadas!  I'ld go back for that!  Always a sucker for a fish taco, I ordered a combo plate and got one shrimp, and one fish taco.  To be honest, the fish taco was sub-par as it was very fishy tasting (I know, I know  What can one expect from a fish taco?)  But the shrimp taco got stuffed into my tummy even though I was super-full from the appetizers.  By the next day, that fish taco was mild and quite delicious for my lunch. Mrs. Refs final score 4 of 5.

 

El Patron

Another month, another restaurant, another blog! This month we went back to Southwest Blvd for some Mexicano!  As we get there they got our reservation mixed up and put us down for 8:30 instead of 6:30 not sure why anyone needs a reservation that late at night, but they ended up not making us wait too long. however this kind of represented the service all night, slow and never really giving us what we asked for. As for the Apps they were very tasty indeed and the margaritas were strong, in fact they were super strong. My main meal was okay, just okay. I wasnt a fan of the sauce that was on it... Thanks Justin! Overall it was okay and the fact that i can get Mexican cheaper and closer makes me give this place a 2.9/5

Hot Wine, Cold Wine... All So Devine

iFor January we finally got to try Cooprrs Hawk. When were walked in from the chilly streets we were welcomed with a warm glad of wine. We then we're. Escorted upstairs to what i would argue to the best seat in the overlooked the restaurant as wechatted amongst wine . We tried i belIeve 3 or 4 different kinds of wines,  all delicious.   As We enjoyed our  wine we devoured multiple pieces of soft  pretzlebread. We also had appetizers. An appetizer sampler which had just about everything on it.It was pretty good,  nothing extraordinary. We then placed our order. Josh and i started with crab bisque. So delicious. Very creamy and lots of flavor. I then ordered the beef medallions after contemplating what to order for a longtime . The medallions came with mashed potatoes and asperagus. It was so great! The meat very tender  i could only eat one medallion, so had a great lunch the next day!

I then tried Josh's which was highly suggested (short rib risotto). And man it lived up to what everyone said!! Everything that i tried was very good. I thought it was reasonably priced for the food you got. I will definitely go back! 4.5/5

Coop-A-Loop

Coopers Hawk is a wine bar that I have always wanted to try, in fact I wanted to make it my gassie adventure, but couldn't get reservations made. Lucky for me Beth had the same itching for something yummy on the plaza.

As we walked in we got a little glass of warmed up wine, which really hit the spot on that cold night. As we got seated I noticed the view in this place was spectacular the problem is there was even better views that you could have had and with the plaza lights still on I really would have liked to sit on that side of the restaurant, maybe next year!

As grandpa ordered 2 bottles of wine that were enjoyed by all one of the funnier things happen in my opinion, when Justin was asked if he wanted any wine he said no, when he found out that grandpa was buying of course his answer was yes! After those 2 bottles were gone another bottle was bought than another than all the sudden after we were all warm and toasty inside Justin got the craving for another bottle, but I think all of us had just the right amount or maybe a little too much ;-)

As for the food everything and I do mean everything that I tried was just amazing from the apps to the crab bisque to my short ribs. In fact we had to ask them to stop bringing out bread because we physically could not stop eating it!

As for our waiter, I am not sure if its just good luck or if its cause they really think I am nifty, once again was amazing! as for price it was steep when looking at the menu, but when you taste the food you feel much more comfortable about it. Oh and having every one else buy the wine for you doesn't hurt either!

I would love to come for a happy hour split a small meal or and app drink some wine and just enjoy the plaza.

Coop-A-Loop I mean Coopers Hawk gets a 4.6
 

Living the good life at Cooper's Hawk

Beth selected Cooper's Hawk on the Plaza for our January outing. It was delicious.

I was very glad because my parents joined us for the meal. The restaurant was dark and full of wood, but very warm and elegant and modern. We joined the rest of the Gas Club at our table on the second floor, and our table was huge! It was like eating a Sunday lunch in Italy, with the whole family there.

Grandpa started us off with a bottle of red and a bottle of white. The waiter dumped the red wine into a huge decanter, not unlike those giraffe beer dispensers they have at Buffalo Wild Wings. I'm not sure of its function, but it was an interesting apparatus. I liked the glass of red I tried.

Now the food. I saw the butternut squash gnocchi and nearly closed my menu, but man am I glad I didn't. Listed immediately after was the Gnocchi with Braised Fennel and Herb Ricotta (pictured). It was excellent. The fennel was crisp and citrusy, the gnocchi and cheese perfect, and the artichokes, cherry tomatoes (yes, even in January) and kalamata olives made for serious flavor. There is nothing bland about this dish.

I tried lots of other meals, and everything was great. The appetizers were wonderful too.

A few other things I like about Cooper's Hawk:
- They bring you brown bread with butter, and keep bringing more until you ask them to stop.
- They serve three kinds of potatoes as side dishes
- The service is great

Luke didn't eat his side of mashed potatoes, but enjoyed some of my olives and lots of bread with butter. (Interesting fact: The kids menu includes a salmon entree and a steak entree, both $15 each.)

I gave Cooper's Hawk 5/5 stars. I will definitely be back.

Cooper's Hawk

Last week we gathered at Cooper's Hawk on the Plaza.  It is a very neat restaurant with great views (from inside the restaurant and outside with the Plaza lights).  We had a great time. 

The service was very good.  Our waiter (sorry Beth I forgot his name) was attentive and accommodating.  They did not flinch when we asked to move another table over so Sara and Justin had room for their plates.

The food was excellent.  John ordered an appetizer plate and everything was tasty.  John wanted me to remind everyone he ordered the appetizer voluntarily - not for a failure to blog.  Beth's mushroom appetizer was surprising and delicious.   I really enjoyed my rigatoni and the bites from John's pork medallions.   I almost forgot about the yummy pretzel bread they kept bringing us.

Now we get to the wine.  It was so very good and not overly expensive.  The aerator they put on the table was very interesting but it must have had a hole in it.  The wine disappeared too quickly.

John gave it a 5 and I gave them a 4.5 so I guess that comes to 4.75 for us.  We would definitely go back.

Eden's Alley

Last month we went to Eden's Alley on the Plaza.  It is in the basement of the Unity Temple (I think that is what it is called).  It was pretty sweet.

It is a huge space that feels like a church basement.  I have never eaten at a restaurant space like it.  There was even a play area for kids with a huge gorilla.

I ordered the spinach and mushroom loaf.  It was great.  Deep, rich flavors, and super-duper filling.  I couldn't believe how filling, I didn't even finish the whole thing.  I also had the pumpkin ginger soup, which rocked.  My next favorite thing I tried was Sara's dish, but I don't remember the name, and according to Sara's post, she doesn't remember either.  Everything I had there was great, one of the best meals I have had at a restaurant in a while.  And seeing what could be done with vegetarian food has inspired Sara and I into taking on another meat-free month (6 days into it now).

The service was OK - the waitress was attentive, but she did spill something on Sara.  The other thing was it took forever to check out, and the meal was much more expensive than we expected.  The dishes were reasonable priced on the menu, but our overall bill was ridiculous.  We were either over-charged, or we drank the most expensive beers in Kansas City.  And the bill wasn't pre-split, and it took forever to split and settle it.  But Luke did get to watch the dancers in the space next to the restaurant while we waited.

The food was great, but it was knocked down a peg from the other stuff.  I will certainly be back soon. In fact, I was thinking about going this weekend.  I give it a 4.1 / 5.

Also: I did Bernie after I chased Luke down to get him.  And that is a fact, Jack.

I logged on tonight to write my review,
And so many people were writing poems so I guess I'll write one too.

It was the moth of December and time for josh to choose
And he decided on vegan,  what was there to lose?

He was very sad that his first choice was booked
But he kept searching and Edens Valley got him hooked.

We drove around forever looking for a spot
I think we went through 3 parking lots.

We finally found a place to park
And we walked to Eden's hand in hand in the dark

When we arrived there was a big open space
Where often you can't smell the food, but that was not the case.

As we sat down our waitress came up
Then she brought me my beer with a cup.

I was so hungry and I knew what I wanted,
The food I ordered required no animals to be hunted.

I ordered the fancy grilled cheese
And after taking a bite I said give me more please.

It was on the most delicious crunchy bread,
With cheese melted all inside, yes that's what I said.

It came with the most flavorful bowl of soup,
And trust me it tasted far from poop.

It was a tomato bisque like no other
It was even better than any soup from my mother.

I ordered a salad with crisp apple, smooth cheese and walnut
It was dressed with a dressing that settled warm in my gut.

I give this place a 4.1 for my rate,
I would love to be taken back there for a date.

One more thing I almost forgot,
I did my Bernie of shame and whatnot
But I'm not sure justin did.... Maybe he forgot?

TTWAS the Night of Dinner Club

I decided to try my hand at blogging in a poem.

Twas December Dinner Club and all thru the town
The restaurants were all booked
Giving Josh a big frown
He searched the Plaza listings with longing and care
In hopes of finding a place, with eight sturdy chairs
The pups were all nestled in his and Erin's warm bed
With visions of dog treats dancing in their heads.
Josh and Erin sat down, armed with Wi-Fi
They finally found a restaurant, and let out a sigh.
Over the internet, he sent out an email
Alas, gassies, I did not fail.
Head down to the plaza and do not dally,
for vegetarian dining, at Eden's Alley.
Like a little old lady, so lively and quick
I headed to Peculiar, lickety split.
I picked up Grandpa and headed to town
To pick up Beth, who had to limp around.
Now Josh Now Erin
On Linda and Sara
On Justin and Luke
And everyone there
To the top of the ramp
To the top of the garage
Find a spot, Find a spot
Any spot at all

I walked and walked, the looked about
I had found the door and that was no doubt
Into the dining chamber, I did walk
With my coat and my purse and a small piece of chalk
I soon sat down with my companions near
Of whom many, had already ordered a beer
I check the menu for the variety of wine
And when I saw the prices, I started to whine.
Though high as they were, I ordered a glass
The original shock, had already passed.
The waitress was agreeable, a right jolly girl
Which always makes dining, a pleasurable pearl.
A wink of her eye and a nod of her head, soon let me know I had nothing to dread.
Back to the menu for one final look, I chose several items, to inspire the cook.
A soup make of pumpkin and a variety of spice.
A nice little salad, with nuts and apples sliced.
Lastly, I chose a sandwich with cheese and ended my order with a jolly ol' please.

She spoke a few words and went straight to work
Taking our orders, with nary a quirk.
With a bit of delay, our food did finally appear,
We began to eat, with a good deal of cheer.

Farm to Market Bread on the cheese that was grilled.
My favorite bread and I was quite thrilled.
The soup so tasty, I am sure you do know
I had it packed up, so I could take it to go.
The salad was fresh and apples so crisp, I added it to my home to go list.
We each took a turn to critic the new
I gave the place a 4.2.

As we set at the table, awaiting our checks,
It arrived as one, and we exclaimed what the heck!
To the cashier we flew, one at a time,
Waiting for them to ring up each line.
There was some confusion and it seemed quite a mess
It seems we doubled the time and they got more, not less.

This brings my verse, near the last line
I am changing their score to a 3.9..
Happy Dining to all and I will see you next time

Paradise inside a church basement

In December we ate at Eden Alley, a vegetarian cafe located on the ground floor of the Unity Temple on the Plaza. What a treat.

The space is really large, with tables and chairs spread far apart, and a high ceiling. They have lots of funky art everywhere, as well as a play area for kids, which Luke really appreciated.

I started with a mocktail, a raspberry limeade with real raspberry ice cubes. It was a little taste of summer on a cold winter evening. The appetizers, generously supplied by the non-bloggers in the group, were fun to try. I enjoyed all the dipping sauces and the Greek pizza was perfect.

I forget the exact name of my entree, but it was a kitchen sink style meal: chickpeas, chutney and raisins on flatbread, topped with fresh veggies. It was very filling and flavorful, and I ate every last bite (except the several bites Justin took. He liked my dish. A lot.). Luke enjoyed the kiddie falafel plate, complete with the best-tasting brown rice I've ever had. Overall I was impressed with the variety on the menu: one could find lots of options, guaranteeing repeat visits. Another treat: my dear mom joined the group. It was fun having her there and getting to share food.

For dessert, we enjoyed chocolate cake and Justin had an iced coffee with, get this, frozen whipped cream! Wow.

Make a trip to Eden Alley for a comfort-food style meal and unique atmosphere. I would say it's perfect for a date, a big group, a family outing--just about any event.

The drawbacks: While it's not expensive outright (entrees were around $12-$15 each), the bill really adds up when you have a mocktail, appetizers, entree, side of soup, kid's meal, dessert and finally coffee, which is what my family did. It REALLY adds up. You've been warned. Next time, I would go back and just get an entree with maybe a drink or one appetizer.

I'm so glad Josh made this selection, and will definitely head back to Eden Alley.

Eden, the Vegan Restaurant

Eden the Vegan Restaurant
Had a very lovely vibe
And if you ever eat there--
You have got to try the (tomato)bisque!

All of the other restaurants
Try to duplicate their taste.
They even gave them credit
For the Taziki Appetizer Plate!

Then one bright, delightful group
Entered Eden's door.
Gassies, you have found a place
that makes us beg for more!

Now that the Gassies Love It--
Foodies shouted out with Glee
Eden the basement restaurant,
You'll go down in history!

Final Score from Mrs. Ref 4 of 5