Showing posts with label sandwiches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sandwiches. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Tom + Chee - Cincy/Sharonville

I'd been dying to try Tom + Chee because it's something Dayton doesn't have. Remember in the early 2000s when Time Warner kept showing Sonic ads to the Miami Valley and the closest one was 30 miles away in Middletown, and we all went apeshit when they opened six of them at once? Then we were all, "Oh, that's it?" Similar experience at Tom + Chee. I'm not saying it's as bad as the experiences I've had at Sonic, but at least Sonic has their "system" down. Let me explain.

I managed to drag Mr. FvF to a mid-century furniture show in Sharonville. Normally, we'd hit up Izzy's when in that part of town. Alas, Izzy's is closed on Sundays, co-conspiring with Chick-fil-a to ruin my Sabbath and not give me the foods that I want. We were both newbs to the dine-in experience, even though he'd had one of their sandwiches at a con a few months prior.


Yeah girl, you like that sucky photograph? There's more where that came from.

Contrary to popular belief, I actually hate shit-talking any eating establishment (especially local or regional) unless they've somehow personally wronged me (this is why I'll never eat at Disalvo's) or I know them to be unclean. My first experience with T+C was way below par. It's an order at the counter joint, and they bring you your food - similar to a deli. The line was to the door and the place was already at capacity, so I couldn't help but wonder where the hell all these people will go, and hoping some orders are to-go.

We picked up our drink cups and waited behind four people at the soda fountain, then started circling like vultures to catch a visual or verbal cue from a family or couple about to vacate a table. We finally caught one and wiped down the sticky table ourselves, and our food arrived about 5-10 minutes later. I got the Flying Pig - roasted turkey, bacon, smoked gouda on white (grilled), along with a dipper of the creamy tomato basil. If you're wondering what the hell a dipper is, it's basically a shot of soup just for dunking your sandwich. My sandwich was pretty good, but just not mind-blowing. I'll admit, my taste buds may have been predisposed to harsh judgement because of the Thunderdome experience of vying for a table. The soup was not something I'd get again. I didn't exactly find it creamy, and it was way too sweet.

Given the right circumstances, I'd try it again but I certainly wouldn't wait in a long line or arm wrestle for a table. The cost was pretty reasonable, though. Two sandwiches, two soups (one big, one small) and two beverages came to just over $20. As much as fast food prices have risen, you'd pretty easily pay that for two combos at most places - and I would pick Tom + Chee over most of that crap any day.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Free fries at Penn Station - ANY day!

Most sandwich lovers know that every Sunday in April denotes FREE fresh cut fries with the purchase of any sub. Wouldn't it be nice to get free fries on a Tuesday in June, though?

You lucky dogs, I can make that happen for you!

I have three free fry passes, good until 2015 - any ol' day of the week. The first person to send me three new fans, or the first three people to send me a new fan on the Facey Pages, are winning these suckers.  Make sure your friends that "like" FvF on Facebook shoot me a message to let me know who sent them.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Archer's Tavern - Centerville, Ohio

Archer's Tavern has been open for a couple of years now, and I'd heard almost a 50/50 share of great and terrible things about the place.  It's close to Ma and Pa FvF's, so we figured when we could give it a try before picking up Lil FvF from a night with the grandparents.  We're not college football watchers, but we were still aware of the OSU/Michigan rivalry game - but we figured we'd be going for lunch early enough to miss most of the hooplah and fanboys.  The parking lot had enough spots left that I figured we'd made a safe bet - but the second we opened the car doors and heard the yells coming from inside, we knew we were wrong. I'd promised this review to another entity (who later decided they didn't want it), so we pressed on instead of trying to find a quieter eatery.  This is my warning to all of your Archer's loyalists (I can tell there are a few) that yes - I realize I chose a bad time to review them - but a restaurant should be on their A-game for new patrons at ALL times.

The roars got louder as we approached and opened the door, and I could feel my blood pressure rising.  The hostess was perfectly pleasant, as was our server.  As we were lead to our seats, we noted the layout that the bar was mostly separated from most of the restaurant by a wooden and glass partition, which would contain a lot of the whooping going on toward the game.  Unfortunately, there some serious assholes there that think it's kosher to bring your wife and small children to the main dining room, pound almost half a dozen Captain and Cokes, and scream at the TV in the main dining area.  It became painfully and quickly evident that this family are probably regulars and the staff made zero effort to ask this douche to bring it down a peg or two, regardless of the other families with children and older patrons trying to have a meal near them.  They just kept letting this guy breathe up all of the good air and run up his bill.  Sorry, natives - but this is the kind of drunken entitlement that Centervillers are known for.  This is why I almost never, ever eat in your town.



Anyhow, the food was par.  We ordered fried pickles, the Mister had a Brat Burger and I had a cheesesteak.  His burger was actually pretty impressive, but cancelled out by how dry and bland my cheesesteak was.  Yes, I just said a DRY cheesesteak.  I actually had to ask for mayo to get through it.  \T


The pickles were pickles - nothing to write home about.  I'm sure there's some inside joke or bizarre logic to the pricing, but nothing was a nice round number.  This annoyed me for an unknown reason.


We just didn't care for the place, and we won't be back.  We've also told anyone thinking about going not to waste their time.  It's bar food, done sub-par, quite a bit of it overpriced and with no regard for non-regular customers.  Same reason we never set foot back in Bunker's in Vandalia, and they had much better, cheaper food.  

1 out of 5 sporks.  

Archer's Tavern on Urbanspoon


Sunday, September 11, 2011

McDonald's Premium Chicken Sandwiches


McD's has recently rolled out a new line of premium chicken sandwiches, and they want some FvF readers to try them out for free.  Available in original, Club or Ranch BLT, you can get the chicken either grilled or crispy on a new bakery-style bun.  Same drill as the last contest:  you send me a fan on FvF's Facebook page and you'll get a coupon in the mail for a freebie.  Make sure the friends you send let me know that you put them up to it! 

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Ramsi's Cafe on the World - Louisville, KY

Forever ago, Mr. FvF and I were in Louisville for Derby City Con.  To be diplomatic, let's just say comic conventions aren't really my thing.  Good people watching and all, but not exactly boner magic for me.  So, I always try to find something to do or a buddy that lives nearby when we're in another city and he's hawking his wares.  My old friend Dan had lived in L-ville for a while, so I had him come pick me up and cart me around to all of the record stores and cool shops on Bardstown.  After we'd done our fair share of window shopping, he suggested we lunch at Ramsi's Cafe on the World.  Having lost the list I made of places we should eat in Louisville, I was still pretty sure this was on there.

I was glad Dan was driving and is highly skilled at parallel parking, because the parking sitch alone would have cause me to shy away from this place.  But, we got a close spot, walked in and were seated right away.  The restaurant was crowded and bustling, but not in an uncomfortable way.  We ordered drinks and Samosas (Indian dumplings with tamarind sauce, super tasty) while we perused the huuuuuge menu.
Since all sandwiches are made on locally-made gluten-free bread, that's the section of the men that my eyes honed in on.  It's not just anywhere that ol' angry guts can order a sandwich.  I was totally prepared to order the Isabelle Panini, which is basically a Cuban, until our server informed me it was served with SWEET pickles.  The hell?  Cuban sammiches should only have dill pickles.  Never relish, and never sweet.  Ew.
So, I opted for my back-up choice, the Panini Caprese.

The sandwich was very good, but I got this overwhelming feeling that I should have made a different choice.  It was just a bit too sweet for my taste and didn't really satisfy my savory hankering.  The potatoes were decent, but needed a fancy dipping sauce in my opinion. They were well-cooked, but the any effort at seasoning had pretty much been phoned in.  My buddy ordered the Southwestern Caesar and was very happy with his choice - but he had a leg up, as a resident.  You may balk at the ballpark of $10 per sandwich and side, but the portions are massive. MY Caprese was about the size of a personal pizza, and just as filling.  I tried taking the remains back to Mr. FvF at the con, but the goat cheese hadn't kept well on the hot ride to the convention center.

I wish I'd had room for dessert, since that part of the menu is just as diverse and worldly as the rest.  I dont want to hold it against Ramsi's too much that I didn't like my sandwich, because I feel like my choice was a bit too vanilla.  I probably would have been wowed if I ordered something more adventurous.

Service was good, the place was quite clean and the prices were commensurate with what you're getting.  I'll give them a solid 3.5 out of 5 sporks and be sure to give them another try when we go back  for DCC next year.

Ramsi's Cafe on the World on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Amici's Place - Kettering, Ohio

So, there's a new deal website akin to Groupon and LivingSocial called Seize the Deal.  The first email offer I got from them after signing up was for a joint called Amici's Place in Kettering on Dorothy Lane, where the old Barbie's Bistro used to be.  I didn't even know there was a new restaurant there, but apparently Seize the Deal made a bold move and offered the $20 for $10 gift certificate just as the place was opening.  Clever, because nothing will hurry me into a new eatery like a nearly-free meal.

It was a bit too hot to dine al fresco, but they do have a nice patio.  I'm actually already looking forward to next summer when I'm not making another human and can enjoy one of their signature Limoncellos on that sunny deck. We sat inside, where the tables are seemingly far fewer than outside.  I think there were maybe three or four tables and bar seating, which would accommodate half a dozen comfortably.  It's small in stature, but big on everything else important, as we soon found out.

I'd already perused the menu online, but once Mr. FvF got to check it out, we decided to get two 8" pizzas - since we never agree about what to get on a pie.  The small pizzas are $9 for a specialty and $7 for a build-your-own with three toppings.  The front house manager came and greeted us first, asking if this was our first time in, explaining their special bevvies and asking if we had any questions - then another nice fella came to take our order as he brought our drinks.  The Mister picked the Buffalo Chicken sans onions, and I opted for the Chicken Pesto, adding bacon (duh).  I also asked for one of their craft root beers, which was almost red in color and super tasty.

The food came out quite a bit faster than expected, considering the craft that goes into making a pizza like this, and looked absolutely amazing - not to mention massive.  When I think 8 inches in my mind - well, I won't tell you what that really brings to mind - but in terms of pizza, I was certainly thinking more along the lines of one of those crappy Pizza Hut personal pans.
If this pizza was only 8", I'll lick my own elbow.  There were eight solid slices, and I could barely finish three.  I seriously considered continuing to eat and just making myself ill with it, and I almost had to stage an intervention with Mr. FvF when he was eyeballing his sixth slice.  All of the ingredients were super fresh - the kind of fresh that you can actually taste.  Crispy bacon, bright tomatoes and long stretches of cheese.  Also, not the kind of fresh that gets skimped on just because they advertise fresh and locally grown ingredients that happen to cost more.  There was no shortage of toppings on these whatsoever.
The Mister's Buffalo Chicken Pizza didn't look like much, but was pretty killer, even to a gal who doesn't like hot sauce.  Heavy on the cheese (including bleu) with a sassy kick and super tender chicken.
The star of the pizzas at Amici's, though, is the crust.  Think along the lines of Dewey's, but then imagine if Dewey's had their asses handed to them by someone else.  Bubbled and raised perfectly, but not too thick or chewy.

As we boxed up our extra slices and paid our bill, the owner came over and asked how we liked everything.  I commended him on the excellent staff and food, and in an uncommon turn of events, actually told him I was a food blogger and would be giving his new venture a rave review. I don't think I've ever done that, but it was very thoughtful for him to come chat with his customers, and I feel that certain compliments deserve better than anonymous internet delivery.

So, stellar service and top-notch food - must be expensive, right?  Couldn't be further from the truth.  The price points are so spot on, that I'm hoping and praying they'll bring the kind of crowd Amici's need to stay put.  I've dined at nearly every eatery that's graced that spot in the last 8 years, and they were all overpriced and unimpressive.  I think the steepest thing on their spanking-new menu is a family spaghetti dinner for around $17.  They deliver, you can get carry-out, they have a great looking sandwich and salad menu, and they even have breakfast!  Still not enough for you?  They also host a farmer's market in the adjacent lot on Saturday mornings.

After several months of duds in the Gem City, I'm super pumped to give Amici's Place
5 out of 5 sporks!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

This is just a test: Tim Horton's New Panini Sandwiches

In case you guys didn't know, Dayton is one of the most revered test markets in the US.  We have such a smattering of cultures and tax brackets that we get to try almost every damn thing that food companies want guinea pigs for.   The shitty part about that is, if it doesn't do well enough, it doesn't launch and we never see it again.

I remember the torrid affair I had with Taco Bell's Border Fries in the summer of 2004 (Or was it 2003?).  Every night that I stumbled out of Walnut Hills, I simply did a u-turn out of their lot and stopped for Border Fries.  My day job was very manual and outdoors, so I didn't have to worry about the calories - just the awesome.  One night toward the end of the summer, I rolled up to the drive-thru only to find that they'd been replaced with some other unappealing, short-lived side item.  If you're sensing some resentment, it's probably because I'm still seething over it like a scorned lover.  You never even said goodbye, Border Fries!  We could have had something special!!  Basically, imagine you were banging Sofia Vergara for an entire summer, then she just gives you the vapors but leaves you Fergie's number - that's how I feel about it.

But, I digress.  What I was trying to get around to are Tim Horton's new Panini sandwiches.  Not only are they being test marketed right here in the Gem City, they're ONLY being tested marketed here in Dayton.

I think these launched sometime in April, or maybe early May.  Either way, it's a safe bet that it was cold and rainy here, which combined with my aversion to most meat, led me here to purchase a grilled ham & cheese.  I'm pretty sure all the paninis ring it just over $4, and you can choose from Tuscan Chicken, Pesto Chicken, Chipotle Turkey, Smoked Ham & Cheese and Tomato & Cheese.  The first one I ordered was the Pesto Chicken, which was really tasty, but also WAY messy.  Not a sandwich that should be eaten in the car, even if the car is not moving.  Nice pieces of white meat chicken, and I didn't sense much of the rib-meat filler that most placed use in chopped chicken.  The pesto and cheese blended together in a warm, ooey-gooeyness that made it a perfect rainy day lunch.  


When I ordered a week or so later, what I asked for was the smoked ham & cheese with tomato, but they chose to ignore that last part.  Regardless, it was still a damn tasty sandwich - except for the mayo that was apparently applied with a spackle knife.  You can order your 'wich on white or whole grain, and the whole grain is really, really good bread for fast food caliber.  It crisps up nicely and it sturdy enough not to give under heavy, melty contents.  I have yet to finish one of these paninis, even with the ravenous hunger I've been prone to lately.  Considering most sub-par fast food sandwiches will run you at least $4, T-Ho's new paninis are a hell of a value.  They lose half a point for not following my order and overdoing the mayo. I would take off another point for switching from Coke to Pepsi products, but that has zero to do with the sandwich.  


4.5 out of 5 sporks! 

Sunday, April 3, 2011

DoubleDay's Bar & Grill - Centerville, Ohio

I've reviewed Doubleday's before, so I'll keep this short & sweet.  I take my mom here for lunch about once a month or so, and we both always get soup & salad.  Their house salads are huge with a big, colorful veggie variety, and served with great pumpernickel oat bread.  All of their soups are made in-house, and they never have fewer than 4-5 per day.  I'm a major sucker for the black bean sausage soup, so I get that every time. Could stand a bit more sausage, but it's so filling and it hits the spot every time.  Probably not a good choice for a date night, considering you can lift yourself off to space within about 30 minutes of eating it.    
Ma FvF switches it up each time, though. This past time she got the Chicken & Pasta soup, which we both thought would be a broth-based soup on the low-cal side.  Not so much.  
An amazing, velvety cream base with small shell pasta, spinach, chicken and some other goodies.  It was fantastic.  The more I go there, the more it makes sense why you always have to wait for a table there.  It's not in my top five of all time or anything, but they're almost always a top lunch pick, especially if I'm in the Centerville area.  

5 out of 5 sporks

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Izzy's Deli - West Chester, Ohio

A trip to Jungle Jim's isn't gluttonous enough for me, so we decided to hit Izzy's Deli while we were down that way a few weeks ago.  For the longest time, I thought Izzy's was just a company that made really great pickles, until I finally got bored enough to look at the jar, then look'em up online.  A sandwich menu half a mile long!  Free pickles on every table?  Why hadn't anyone told me about this?!  Oh wait, my sister had.  She raved about the turkey rueben, and how it was loaded with sweet slaw, instead of the dreaded 'kraut that strikes fear into the heart of FvF family women.  

Tempting as that was, I went with the Andy Furman - Black Angus roast beef and creamy cole slaw on pumpernickel - and added melted Swiss.  Ding ding ding!  We have a winner.  I only got half a sandwich on my sister's advice, and I'm glad I didn't go for the gusto with a whole.  All sandwiches come with a giant potato cake that's bigger than the sammiches themselves.  Wait, did I say potato cakes?  What I meant was "batter-fried goodness from heaven."  The crispy, buttery outer shell of a funnel cake, filled with potatoes, onions and seasonings.  
The sandwiches mostly all looked the same, but it wouldn't be a trip to Izzy's if I didn't at least post a pic of their original Reuben.  Again, 'kraut sends me running like a kid avoiding a spanking, but I did nibble a bit of the corned beef and it was delicious.  

Service wasn't much of a factor in this place.  Think along the lines of Skyline.  As long as the gal keeps your sodas full, there's not much to think about.  They pretty much always have one cook and one server, which wasn't an issue when we went - but I'd imagine it could be a real pain around lunchtime.  The prices could have been a bit more reasonable (almost $7 for a half sandwich), but you have to consider you're kind of paying a smidge for local love and kitsch factor.  Plus, they have little bowls of free pickles on every table. So, I made sure I ate what felt like at least $2 worth of pickles to balance things out.  

4.5 out of 5 sporks!  

Monday, March 7, 2011

Butter Cafe - Dayton, Ohio

Better late than never, I suppose. Mr. FvF and I took advantage of a Groupon offer and finally tried Butter cafe - well, about a month ago.  I'd have loved to get this to you sooner, but I've had my big girl pants on, merging and acquiring with the best of them lately for my real job, which has also eaten its way into my evening and weekends.  

Anyhow, I'd heard a lot of mixed reviews about the place, so I was anxious to form my own unbiased opinion.  They have a lot of free-range, organic and gluten-free options at Butter Cafe, and not just your standard breakfast/brunch/lunch fare.  Jelly donut pancakes, coconut French toast kabobs, and even gluten-free waffles.  I'd been dead set on trying to g/f waffles (because c'mon, how many places do you have the option?)  but a shopping excursion had delayed the late breakfast we planned on until well into lunch time, barely an hour before they closed.  In light of that, I was more in the mood for a sandwich.  The Mister had the grilled cheese with bacon (remember, no tomato - he's from Indiana), and I had the club on g/f bread.  Club sandwiches are one of my seriously guilty pleasures, because the havoc wreaked on the roof of my mouth by that warm, toasty bread is second only to the complete annihilation of my innards by the same foe.  But, with the upcharged option of gluten-free bread (Udi's brand, not baked in-house), I could eat all three slices without guilt or crippling fear.  I'm not sure what the other options were for sides, if any, but we both chose tots.  
Mr. FvF's grilled cheese was pretty standard fare, but he was more than happy with it.  My club sammich, on the other hand, was a total mammoth.  It towered a good six inches (that's what she said) and its bread overfloweth with fillings.  Unlike the Filling Station, Butter Cafe understands that a club is supposed to have turkey AND ham, not make you choose between the two.  The ham & turkey didn't stand out, but the bacon was thick-cut, crisply cooked and super tasty.  Tomatoes were decent, and leaf lettuce is always welcome in the place of iceberg.  The toasted Udi's bread toasted up more firmly than regular breads, leaving you with destruction of both the upper and lower palates in its wake.  The tots were good, but could use some work.  The seasoning was great, but the potatoes themselves were really dry and gluey.  I'm guessing since it was 30 minutes til close, they weren't fresh at all.
Butter Cafe serves soft drinks, but if I remember correctly - they're bottled or canned, which means no refills. Which also means a firm "no thanks."   Luckily, they have carafes of cold water on the table and ask you if you're good with water or would like anything else.  I'm sure it's tap water, but that's what we drink at home.  If I went to the dentist, I'm sure they would thank me for drinking flouridated water, if they weren't so busy yelling at me for pretending I'm too cool to wear a mouth guard to sleep.  
The service was good, and the young gal was fairly knowledgeable about the menu - pointing out that they dust the tots with a mixture that does contain gluten, after I'd ordered my sandwich on g/f bread.  As our server rang us up, she asked if it was our first time and what we our first impression was, which was thoughtful.  I was hoping to go home with some gluten-free baked goods, but the bakery case was empty. Disappointing, but probably for the best.  Price points are a bit all over the map, which irks me.  $8.50 isn't too shabby for a giant sandwich with tots, but the yogurt parfait clocks in at $6.50 and the cucumber plate (dusted with pepper and parm) is $5.50.  Does not compute.  

I think I'll give them a solid 4 out of 5, points removed for dry tots and weird price skewing.  

Butter Cafe on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Ye Olde Trail Tavern - Yellow Springs, Ohio

You've probably noticed a trend of fried pickle reviews, and this is no different.  The night we headed to Superfly Comics in Yellow Springs for the Adam Warrock in-store, we stopped at Ye Old Trail Tavern to grab a bite. I'd actually made dinner for Mr. Warrock and Mr. FvF, but made mine separate with a Japanese gluten-free (and practically calorie-free) noodle called Shiritaki.  Given it's guiltless nutrition facts, I really wanted to love it, but EW.  It took ages of rinsing and some par-boiling to get rid of the barf-o-riffic fish smell, and they had a rubbery chew and clumped together like hipsters trapped in Sears.  So, I picked the steak and snap peas out of my dish and figured I could grab an appetizer later.

The dudes bother ordered burgers, and my sister ordered the Pesto Grilled Cheese, which I may or may not have forced her into just so I could have a bite.  The pickles had a liquid-based batter on them that had quite a kick to it.  They were served with a creamy wasabi dip, which I originally thought was the source of the heat. But, even when I backed off of the dip, they still bit back.  They were definitely good, but we could have used a more attentive server to keep the water coming.

The burgers looked good, but the patty-to-bun ratio didn't impress me.  If there is any excess bun, I really don't think it should exceed 1/8".  This was more like 1/4-1/2".  But, keep in mind, this place is pretty cheap for a sit-down joint.
The grilled cheese that Skillz got was pretty amazing.  She shared a bit with me, which could either be contributed to sisterly love and the instinct to make sure your younger siblings are fed, or that she's afraid I'll hit her in the head with a sleeve of frozen bagels again.
More than likely, it's the latter, which led me to bartering further with her - a fried pickle for an onion ring.  That reminds me - restaurants who are crumb-battering your onion rings:  What the hell is your problem?  No one likes that shit.  Beer batter'em or GTFO.  Anyway, Ye Olde fry cook is smart enough not to pull that crumb mess with us, and they were delicious. 

I don't have a lot to base this on since I didn't have a full meal, but I did get to sample a good bit of everyone elses.  Service was so-so, food was cheap and tasty, and full glasses of wine were $4.

4 out of 5 sporks! 

Friday, January 28, 2011

Tank's Bar and Grill - Dayton, Ohio

You porkchops must be chompin' at the bit for another entry by now!  We're still experiencing technical difficulties at Chez FvF, so I'm rotating between my Droid and the Mister's lappy trying to get some reviews and recipes drafted.  

When our buddy Adam Warrock was in town for his show at SPT, we decided to take him to what we consider one of the most "Dayton-y" places of all, Tank's Bar, for lunch.  Due to my allergies and fat ass, we hadn't been to Tank's in ages.  Having taken the day off from work, I got up that morning and hit the gym, paying my penance in advance for the bacon cheeseburger that I planned on murdering. 
I always said I'd save my running for when the cops discovered my meth lab, but perspectives change when you hit 30 and start to resemble a something from a Flemish painting more than something on the side of a WWII bomber. 

Naturally, Mr. FvF and I both ordered bacon cheeseburgers, mid-well (this is one of the few areas where we agree on food).  He chose the fries, while I opted to sub my chips for their cole slaw, which I'd never tried. 


The burger, as always with Tanks, was stellar.  A huge, nearly one inch patty that was well-seasoned and cooked perfectly.  Toppings all on the side (including pickle chips *and* a spear), with plenty of melty cheese and enough bacon to cover your burger and still have a little nibble for yourself.  If I'm going to have bread, it's nice to have choices - so I'm always thrilled to be able to get my burger on an onion bun (they also have white, wheat, and kaiser).
The cole slaw, though, did not wow me.  See how dense and creamy it looks in the photo? that's a very accurate portrayal of how it tasted.  It was very thick with mayo, almost like a cream-based potato salad.  That left the veggies with little to no crunch, and there really wasn't a hint of sweetness to any of it.  Next time I'll just stick with the chips and pawn them off on my husband.  Our guest got the super-stuffed ham & cheese on rye with chips and was very happy with it.

One thing I wished I would have noticed before we ordered, is that Tank's now serves breakfast all day, every day.  Even when I lived across the street, I never managed to make it there for breakfast, so I sort of blew my first opportunity without even knowing it. But, apparently they've been doing this for ages, so it's no fault of the server for not mentioning it.  Speaking of which, our server was quick, friendly, and kept our drinks full - even bringing Mr. Warrock an entire carafe of coffee when he ordered a cup.  Some diners might see that as lazy service, but I think it's just working smarter, not harder. 

A pleasant experience at one of Dayton's finest institutions for lunch.  Only a scant half point off for that funky slaw.

4.5 out of 5 sporks! 

Tank's Bar & Grill on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Golden Nugget Pancake House - Dayton, Ohio

My good buddy Hump was in town and we wanted to take his friend, a Gem City newb, to a "very Dayton" lunch.  I don't mean the very best of what Dayton has to offer as far as dining, I mean more like what would be featured on Dayton's episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  An institution, if you will.  With me in Moraine and them in Centerville, a few places I thought of were a bit too far to drive for lunch, so we settled on The Golden Nugget.  I lovelovelove the Nug, and had only managed to make it there once since they've rebuilt.

I absolutely adore seeing the same faces waiting tables as the ones I saw 13 years ago, the first time I set foot in this place.  For a lot of restaurants, the lack of change - be it menu, employees, or ambiance - can be a death sentence...but not at the Golden Nugget.  There's always (let me repeat - ALWAYS) a line,  but it moves quickly, so don't be discouraged.

We were seated in less than 10 minutes and had our drink orders taken. Our waitress was, in typical Nug fashion, attentive, super friendly, and not shy to give us a hard time. It's not every day that you can find a menu with a grilled cheese with bacon and tomato, so I went balls out and ordered a sandwich (which I rarely to never do) with cole slaw.  My buddies opted for the fried fish sandwich and the grilled BBQ chicken club, respectively.

After just enough tie to chat and catch up, our food came out within about 15 minutes.  The fish sandwich was giant...
And at just over $4, the BBQ chicken sandwich was nothing to scoff at.  

But my tricked out grilled cheese?  Well, just look at all this damn bacon.

Oh, and y'all know I'm picky about slaw - but no worries here. It was a solid, traditional dairy-based slaw, and near perfect.  I didn't pick up the check, but my guestimate is less than $20 for all three of us.  Service was aces and the food was great. Not surprisingly for a trusty old stand-by, 5 out of 5 sporks!




Golden Nugget Pancake House on Urbanspoon

Monday, December 13, 2010

Food vs Face-Off: Fast Food Breakfast Challenge

Two different hangovers, two different (and new) fast food breakfasts. Which will prevail? Allow me to escort you through the calorie-laden Thunderdome that is our first fast food challenge.
Let's travel back a few weeks. I wasn't quite hungover, because I didn't exactly wake up sober. I had pies to bake and didn't want to ruin Thanksgiving, so Mr. FvF was nice enough to go get me breakfast. Taco Bell was the only place open, so it was as good a time as any to try their new breakfast menu. We couldn't find the menu anywhere online, since this is apparently regional (yay test market!) - so I just told him to order one of anything that sounded good, and we'd have ourselves a pig-out.

First, the Skillet Burrito. Or, as I called it, the answer to all of my prayers. Scrambled eggs, sausage, fiesta potatoes and cheese, all swimming in gravy and wrapped up in a tortilla. I'm normally a bit weirdy about fast food eggs, but these were fluffy, even if they were undoubtedly frozen. Did I mention it's covered in gravy? It was like a coronary bypass wrapped in paper, and it was delicious.

Next up, the Steak & Egg Burrito. Not too shabby. Mr. FvF loved this one. I thought it was pretty okay, considering the thought of "steak" from Taco Bell probably comes from the same place as the Mongolian Beef at New China. It did have a nice smoky sauce, though.

The Jimmy Dean Morning Wrap. A sausage patty, cheese and again with the fluffy eggs. Not impressive, but not gross.
Of course, no fast food breakfast would be complete without something sugary-sweet and made with plenty of lard. Enter, Cinnabon Delights! A bready little concoction, filled with Cinnabon's famous "hot jizz" icing and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Nothing like Cinnabon, otherwise, though - mostly a donut hole with ooze in the middle. They were pretty delightful, but I was beginning to toe that delicate line of how much you can eat when you're drunk or hungover without horking.

Fast forward to the day after our "company Christmas party." Neither of our companies give enough shits to throw a holiday party for their employees, or they decide that going bowling in an abandoned church camp with no music or prizes and serving jail food would be SO fun. So, we have one of our own, which consists of going to Shag's and watching a costumed Santa drown his sorrows in High Life and talk to hookers.

Mr. FvF promised me another fast food breakfast if I didn't make him stay at the bar until closing time. We had Taco Bell breakfast last week and even my beloved Skillet Burrito didn't agree with me, so it was time for a change. I haven't seen tons of advertising for it, but knew Burger King had some new items on their breakfast menu. Unlike Taco Bell, BK seems to have rolled out their new items nationwide, so you can view the menu on their website.

The Mister stuck with his ol' standby of Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissan'wiches, but I opted for one of the new offerings - the Breakfast Ciabatta Club Sandwich. Whole grain ciabatta, smoked ham, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, eggs and smoky tomato sauce.

Surprisingly, it actually lived up to what I had imagined. The eggs weren't exactly scrambled, but more like a patty. Yet, not like McDonald's gross, hard and slimy egg patty. I took the first bite with egg for the full effect, expecting to yank them off after that. But, they were pretty passive except for adding some girth to the sandwich. The bacon needed a little help, but BK's bacon has always suffered a bit in that department. The tomatoes were good (season considered), the ham was good, the bread was ciabatta-like for fast food, but not authentic in the sense that you could barely bite through it and it tears up your mouth. The "smoky tomato sauce" wasn't very tomato-y, but it was incredibly tasty and took this Club up another notch. If anything, it reminds me most of ranch dressing and hot sauce, maybe with some smoke flavor.

We also got hash browns, which at BK are tots. I still curse their name for taking away cheesy tots, because their regular ones just don't measure up. I'm sure they might be okay right out of the fryer, but I can never seem to make a sweet score like that. But, if I can have this sandwich, I don't need their damn tots.

All things considered, I liked BK's better. Taco Bell's was certainly better than I was expecting, and I'm sure I'll eat it again at some point. But as far as actual flavor, quality and crave-ability, I'll stick with BK. I've never been a huge fan of the breakfast burrito, and I like a lot of textural differences in my food. So, TB's "everything soft inside a soft wrapper!" just isn't what gets my goat. I only have fast food breakfasts once in a blue moon (obviously, more often around the holidays), so this isn't like choosing the best fast food burger. It'll really come down to what you like.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

More than just cakes: ele Cake Company Cafe

Last week I had a lunch meeting in the party room of ele Cake Company in West Carrollton, mostly because they were one of the only places in town letting us use a large private space for free on such short notice.

For about a year or so, ele has been serving lunch out of their cafe, where they previously only served coffee and of course, baked goods. If you're not already in the know, ele was founded by some of the gals who used to work in the Woody's Bakery. At least, I think that's what happened. I had a hard time fact-checking this one, so please feel free to correct me here. ele actually started out as Taste of Elegance in the late 90s/early-oughts, serving up some of the best specialty cakes and baked goods in the Dayton area, most of them showcasing the fantastic buttercream icing that Woody's was known for.

They now have a pretty diverse lunch menu, with soups, salads, sandwiches & wraps, as well as different items like pita pizzas and specialty sides like their 4-cheese penne. I ordered the avocado BLT and the white bean chicken chili. The sandwich was top notch, with the tangy sourdough, roasted garlic mayo and fresh spring greens complimenting the perfectly cooked bacon and fresh avocado. The soup was good, but could have been better. The good news is, there was plenty of white meat chicken used - the bad news is it was mostly all in one piece. I had a piece of chicken breast the size of a massive mcnugget in my soup, and I had to try and break it up with my soup spoon. It could used a bit more seasoning, too. I'm always skeptical when trying soups at a restaurant that I've mastered at home, though. So, take that with a grain of salt since maybe I'm a bit bias.

It's counter service, then they bring your food to where you're sitting, so there's not much to make mention of here. No one seemed to go out of their way to help, but we didn't ask for much, either. Sorry for the lack of photos, but it was a very hurried lunch meeting. Plus, I like to keep Food vs Face as far from "work me" as possible, so you'll just have to deal with it, eaters.

4.5 out of 5 sporks!

Ele Specialty Cake Shop and Coffee House on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Table Scraps 10/5/10


Wendy's Pick Two: Their new deluxe salads are totally legit, and now you can opt for a smaller salad and pair it with one of their value menu items for just $4.99. Today for lunch I had the chili and BLT chicken cobb salad and it kept me full until well into dinner-cooking time.

Penn Station Halloween Hangman: Penn Station East Coast Subs brought back Halloween Hangman so you can all score some sweet deals and win coupons! Sign up at their website if you're not already on their mailing list.

OinkaDoodleMoo: Their Kettering location opens tomorrow! Remember where the Chipotle was on 48 near Stroop? Yeah, right there. I'm seriously considering partaking in their eating challenge, regardless of the full-body heartburn that will result from it.

Skyline Chili: Sport your favorite Reds gear in any Skyline tomorrow, purchase anything on the menu, and you'll get a free cheese coney. You get to support your home team on their way to the playoffs AND get free food? It's a win-win, lunchbox.

Amber Rose: No, not the big-assed model, the German Restaurant. They're serving up your first draft beer for only 10 cents, and each additional pint is only $1. And they say the Micks are cheap drunks.

Big Baller Alert: I got a new stove. Do I think I'm fancy? Well, yeah. After working magic on a 30 year old Tappan range for the last 4 years, this black and stainless number is like a gift directly from Jesus. Or my in-laws. Whatever. Excuse the egg bake, the recipe for that is coming later.


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Filling Station - Dayton, Ohio

I didn't want to have a full-on bachelorette party, so I decided to get some of my gals together for dinner. The Filling Station is right down the street from at least half of the gals I invited, and I know they have good food and a great beer list. The last time I went, just after they'd opened, I wasn't at all impressed with the service. I was hoping that a year later, that would have changed and they'd all be a bit less green.

The food and atmosphere: tops. Everyone's food was plentiful and tasty, with a friendly, fun crowd and a good game room - where unfortunately, most things were still broken (as they were on my first visit). On the phone they'd told me since I had a large party, we could use the banquet room at no cost, since no one was in there that night. We got there and the hostess looked sort of put out and started asking waitresses to move tables together to accommodate us. Not sure what she didn't understand when I explained the phone call I'd made just an hour earlier about the banquet room. We had a server who had a trainee tagging along with her, which is normally no big whoop - except the "experienced" one didn't know what any white wines were, despite chardonnay. They then informed us that they were out of basically every white wine, and delivered my sister a glass of Chianti that she didn't order. Luckily, they had Maker's Mark - so at least I was still in business.

They took our the table's order in three different waves, so no one got their food at the same time. When we were ready to retire to the patio, it took almost 30 minutes for everyone to get their checks. Oh, did I mention some of our party walked in on our waitress sobbing hysterically in the ladies' room? Good times. Not awkward at all.

Again, I'll reiterate that the food was very good. I ordered some sweet chili wings and sampled the fries, club sandwich, quesadilla and cheese sticks, and they were all great. But, I doubt I'll be rolling the dice on their service many more times. Maybe restaurant owners could take a page from Figlio's book and start hiring people with excellent customer service backgrounds, instead of assuming that a lot of restaurant experience makes someone a good server.

3 out of 5 sporks!


Filling Station on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Free fries at Penn Station!

Penn Station East Coast Subs is holding a fan appreciation event tomorrow - Wednesday August 18. Visit any Penn Station and receive a small order of fresh cut fries. No purchase necessary! But, if you've got big hongries - might I recommend the chicken cordon blue sub?

Be sure to sign up for their email list, too - they send tons of coupons.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Sandwich Club - Charlotte, NC

After being holed up in the hotel room for the better part of the day, I met Mr. FvF for lunch. Again, the cute little park across from the convention center left little dining options that were even relatively affordable. Apparently Charlotte seems to think they're Chicago with the prices they're charging. Did I mention that Thursday night I paid $17 for a drink? Yeah, and beers were $8.

The rub is, he was on a tight schedule, so we had to go some place within walking distance. The only thing other than pizza was a little joint called Sandwich Club. They had a pretty good variety available, and the prices were fair enough. Most specialty sandwiches were $6.50, while the more standard fare was $5.50 - all chips, drinks, etc were a la carte. They had a good variety of sides and bread options, as well.

The food was fine. Not spectacular, but not bad. My chicken salad was decent, but wasn't sweet enough and just not flavorful enough in general. The Mister's chicken cordon blue was admittedly much better than my choice, but they definitely used the frozen chicken patties along the lines if what you might get at BK or Wendy's.













While I'm glad it was there (and open), it was just very mediocre and I don't have much to add about it.

3 out 5 sporks

Sandwich Club on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The Heights Cafe - Huber Heights, Ohio

A friend and I decided to pop in on an old networking colleague of ours who has now moved on to much more mellow pastures at The Heights Cafe in Huber Heights. I'm pretty sure the place has only opened within the last few months in the shopping center at Chambersburg, so, as with all start-ups, I wasn't expecting much. We figured we'd say hello, grab some coffee, and be on our way.

The location was very unassuming, but I was already impressed as we walked through the door. Muted, but modern decor - and nice, warm colors. A chalk board at the entrance told us about some specials and we were greeted by friendly employees right away. Before we even placed our coffee order, Chef Jeff LaFollette gave us a warm welcome as well. Not being a big coffee drinker, I just ordered a decaff latte, but wished I wasn't so full because their house-made pies and pastries looked absolutely amazing.

Turns out, we'd gotten their just in time for our buddy's lunch break, so we took a table together and caught up while she ate her lunch. She ordered the "Original 1762" sandwich - roast beef, horseradish sauce and cheddar on griddles white bread, which came with their own house-made potato chips (which I took the liberty of sampling one of - NOM!) and dill pickle chips.

Cheff Jeff and the owner, Eric Knowlton, eventually joined in our conversation, talking about plans for menu additions (for an already very encompassing menu) and how business was going. Most importantly, we got pie samples of the peanut butter pie I was eyeballing since we arrived. I know what you're thinking - but no, it's not just because our friend worked there - they actually do this on the regular for anyone! So, even if you're not Dayton's #1 food blogger (*brushes shoulders off*), you can still get yourself a sample. And trust me, you want one. You NEED one.

End result, I'm going to go ahead and give them 5 out of 5 sporks before I even eat a meal there. This is unprecedented on FvF history, but well-deserved, in my opinion. the staff is incredibly friendly, the menu is tops, great coffee (in your face, Starbucks) and devilishly good pies. I'll be back really, really soon just to order "Breakfast with Elvis," one of the most appetizing items I've ever seen on a menu. Griddlecakes, peanut butter, bananas - I'm drooling just thinking about it.

The Heights Cafe is currently working on a website and blog, and I've just requested that Urban Spoon add them as a HH restaurant so I can post the snapshots I got of their menu.
In the meantime, just go there and eat! They're at 6178 Chambersburg Rd in Huber Heights, Ohio and if I recall correctly, they're open Monday through Saturday from 9am until 3pm.
they serve fantastic food and make an effort to buy local, so this is a great business to support.

The Heights Cafe on Urbanspoon