Couple of weeks worth of reviews
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 1:08 am
I haven't anything major to report, just a few accumulated reports and thoughts from the last couple of weeks.
Marigny Brasserie - this report is bad news. It was a last minute idea on a crowded Fri. night, but I don't care--if you're overwhelmed, don't seat people. The service was so bad that I refuse to go back anytime in the next decade. Food? Doesn't matter.
Ninja, Wasabi, and Saki Cafe, all good to outstanding
Little Tokyo on Carrolton, food good to outstanding, atmosphere sucki yuki
Squeal on Oak--this is a good news spot. My wife is not a bbq fan and she even likes it. I've had the ribs and the pulled pork, both were very good, not much sauce. They seem to be proud of their meat so no/little sauce type mentality, That may be my only gripe about the place--I am a fan of Carolina style pulled pork with a vinegar based sauce, where Squeal uses a thick, sweet sauce, sparingly. Huge portions and great value. Pulled pork plate is enough for tomorrow's sandwich. All in all, a keeper. ps Great sides--best hush puppies in town, killer cheese grits, hand cut fries, good salads, good place.
Frankie and Johnnie's--Mixed review--Best fried seafood I've had in a long while. I had a half and half plate that was incredible, grease-free and flavorful light corn meal coating. The absolute best fried oysters I've had in memory. Fried shrimp were medium sized at best, not butterflied, not on the same scale of incredible as the oysters, but excellent no less. I'd do that again any day, and will soon! They were shucking oysters, too. They were fresh, nice size, great texture though not salty, don't know why because they were fresh, Excellent, only a little salt away from perfection. Bad news here was the crawfish--overspiced and overpriced at $11.50 per 2 lbs. of small size bugs that burned my mouth out really bad. Another bit of bad for Frankie and Johnnie's--they serve Country Crock instead of real butter--now, I gotta ask you, how bad is that? Can you really take a place seriously, if they serve Country Crock? It's a shame. Disgustingly 80ish and a serious threat to the overall impression of a place. Did I mention that I hate places that serves Country Crock instead of butter?
Gumbo Shop--I knew there had to be a reason why I had never been to this place before. It was OK for a tourist spot in the Quarter, it wouldn't make it Uptown. That's about all I have to say about that experience. It is what it is and that is what we wanted, so there. My wife had a teenager/child of a friend/visiting from the Midwest with a youth group who wanted to try Cajun food in the Quarter. Nice young lady and we enjoyed our time with her.
Breakfast
Refuel is on the top of my list for neighborhood joints. Great food. Small, crowded dining area and ordering from a line, make for a not so great overall environment on the weekend, but the food is still great. The Huevos Rancheros are as good as they come. Fresh fruits, berry parfaits, waffles, etc.,
Riccobono's is a still a very good breakfast spot at half the price of Refuel. Roomier dining area. Waitresses. They have simplified their menu lately. I had two poached on rye with grits, coffee, and milk, $6.95 or something like that.
I think I can go to sleep now. Thank you and good night.
Marigny Brasserie - this report is bad news. It was a last minute idea on a crowded Fri. night, but I don't care--if you're overwhelmed, don't seat people. The service was so bad that I refuse to go back anytime in the next decade. Food? Doesn't matter.
Ninja, Wasabi, and Saki Cafe, all good to outstanding
Little Tokyo on Carrolton, food good to outstanding, atmosphere sucki yuki
Squeal on Oak--this is a good news spot. My wife is not a bbq fan and she even likes it. I've had the ribs and the pulled pork, both were very good, not much sauce. They seem to be proud of their meat so no/little sauce type mentality, That may be my only gripe about the place--I am a fan of Carolina style pulled pork with a vinegar based sauce, where Squeal uses a thick, sweet sauce, sparingly. Huge portions and great value. Pulled pork plate is enough for tomorrow's sandwich. All in all, a keeper. ps Great sides--best hush puppies in town, killer cheese grits, hand cut fries, good salads, good place.
Frankie and Johnnie's--Mixed review--Best fried seafood I've had in a long while. I had a half and half plate that was incredible, grease-free and flavorful light corn meal coating. The absolute best fried oysters I've had in memory. Fried shrimp were medium sized at best, not butterflied, not on the same scale of incredible as the oysters, but excellent no less. I'd do that again any day, and will soon! They were shucking oysters, too. They were fresh, nice size, great texture though not salty, don't know why because they were fresh, Excellent, only a little salt away from perfection. Bad news here was the crawfish--overspiced and overpriced at $11.50 per 2 lbs. of small size bugs that burned my mouth out really bad. Another bit of bad for Frankie and Johnnie's--they serve Country Crock instead of real butter--now, I gotta ask you, how bad is that? Can you really take a place seriously, if they serve Country Crock? It's a shame. Disgustingly 80ish and a serious threat to the overall impression of a place. Did I mention that I hate places that serves Country Crock instead of butter?
Gumbo Shop--I knew there had to be a reason why I had never been to this place before. It was OK for a tourist spot in the Quarter, it wouldn't make it Uptown. That's about all I have to say about that experience. It is what it is and that is what we wanted, so there. My wife had a teenager/child of a friend/visiting from the Midwest with a youth group who wanted to try Cajun food in the Quarter. Nice young lady and we enjoyed our time with her.
Breakfast
Refuel is on the top of my list for neighborhood joints. Great food. Small, crowded dining area and ordering from a line, make for a not so great overall environment on the weekend, but the food is still great. The Huevos Rancheros are as good as they come. Fresh fruits, berry parfaits, waffles, etc.,
Riccobono's is a still a very good breakfast spot at half the price of Refuel. Roomier dining area. Waitresses. They have simplified their menu lately. I had two poached on rye with grits, coffee, and milk, $6.95 or something like that.
I think I can go to sleep now. Thank you and good night.