Britt's

Butter Chicken

 Our very own version of rich velvety butter chicken, served with mango chutney, naan bread, and your choice of side and vegetable

I forgot that this chicken was served in a curry sauce, which I enjoy but the dish is better eaten on its own.  Curry always becomes the predominate flavour and smothers other flavours. My dish came with "cooked just right" vegetables but was a concerted effort to taste their flavour.  I was amazed at how filling my meal was, perfect portions, quality flavours and great company.

SERVICE:  Britt's owners are great for waiting tables and giving that extra care.  They make you feel very welcomed with conversation and tidbits of information.

QUALITY:  There is pride here in what is being cooked. I love the food.

ATMOSPHERE:  Another historic SJ building. These buildings have great ambiance. The paintings displayed takes me back to my childhood when Miller Brittain was a neighbour.

VALUE:  You definitely get your moneys worth. Great taste, quality preparation and great surrounding.

Would I pay a return visit:  I'm looking forward to the next time.

Friend's Night In

    Chez My Kitchen

Tonight, I took a different approach on eating out/in.  I and three good friends cooked and ate at home, good friends and good food.  We took unfamiliar receipts and created a burst of taste and colour.  Now cooking is not my strength but it is for my friends; I was taken back by their results.  The table looked too good to eat, but we did!  Water Chestnut wrapped in bacon, oh my!  Lobster, grapefruit salad who would think, but it was amazing!  Scallop and sautéed vegetables bedded with Basmati rice, more please!  Thank you so much Charyl, Margie and Vickie.


ATMOSPHERE:  I love my dining room, we have served and enjoyed many guest in this room.  This time my friends were indulging my designs (to have them cook for me). 

VALUE:  For the price of one meal at a restaurant you can feed many.  I love to entertain.

Would I pay a return visit:  I come here often.

Mexicali Rosa

Enchilada Dinner; Choice of two enchiladas served with Mexi’s Enchilada Sauce.  Baked corn or flour tortillas stuffed with chunks of tender braised beef, enchilada chicken or Monterey Jack & Spanish onion.  All enchiladas baked with Jack cheese and served with Fiesta Rice and Santa Fe beans.

Oh my! The food was terrible!  My work cafeteria can prepare a better meal.  But then on the other hand what kind of money do the cooks get and what is their training.  What is more important to Mexicali Rosa, profit or quality.  The enchilada filling was comparable to wallpaper paste; tasteless, paté consistency and too many beans. The wrap was leathery and undercooked.

QUALITY:  I got the impression that this meal was made from leftovers.

ATMOSPHERE:  It is usually noisy and full of teenagers but tonight it was quiet and we actually could talk and hear one another.

VALUE:  Not a pricey restaurant but definitely very little value for what you pay.

SERVICE:  Our server was Shelby and she was really great. I hope we all left her a good tip.

Would I pay a return visit:  Probably not.

WENDY'S

Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

A perfect mix of peak-season red and green apples, real blue cheese crumbles, sweet cranberries and roasted pecans, topped with a warm, grilled chicken fillet.

If you are looking to loose weight on this salad forget it.  It is high on fat but big on taste. It is a combination of tart and sweet, I really enjoy this salad.  Oh Well!

SERVICE:  This is a fast food take out so the service is at the counter and manned by students. They are usually pretty good, after all these kids are in the learning mode so I should be a good customer/teacher.  Still, check your order.

QUALITY:  Always fresh, enough of a turn over that the produce does not sit too long before being sold.

ATMOSPHERE:  I took my meal out and enjoyed it at my table.

VALUE:  This is a salad that I find the price a bit high for a fast food restaurant.  But it is tasty enough to purchase again and again.

Would I pay a return visit:  I come here often.

Maple Leaf Queen's Buffet

A buffet is, what it is; lots of food cooked quickly to satisfy the masses.  Lots of people touching/feeling the utensils and food, hmmm "food for thought."  The Wonton was much better than the week before...we had a talk with the waitress.  The broth was what it should have been, chicken based. Last week the soup was loaded with salt and soya sauce....I wonder if they were covering up something.  

SERVICE:  We actually received a bit more attention than what is usual for a buffet.

QUALITY: I am going to make an educated guess that the food is very fresh, considering the turnover.

ATMOSPHERE:  Nicely done, fresh, clean and comfortable.

VALUE: The price is very fair for unlimited eating.

Would I pay a return visit:  Sure, why not.

RELISH

The Simpleton™Lettuce, tomato, roasted garlic mayo and relish.

Well, all the hype was for not.  An over promoted hamburger with an over priced cost.  Simon and I ordered 2 burgers, 2 small sides and 2 very small pop....$30.00....way too much. The "meal" really didn't taste any different than one from any other restaurant.  I ordered The Simpleton burger, boy was it simple, I asked to eliminate the garlic mayo and add fried field mushrooms.  The mushrooms were forgotten and I didn't feel like chasing staff for them, AND I had to put on my own relish....go figure.  This is a selfserve spot, they volunteered to clean the table, thanks.

SERVICE:  There was no service.  We did that ourselves. 

QUALITY:  I am sure the meat was fresh; don't know what the mushrooms tasted like.  This is nothing to write home about.

ATMOSPHERE:  This is a fun place, a "Whole in the Wall" that is easy to be in.  The downfall for atmosphere is the echo when talking.

VALUE:  The prices are excessive and not justified.

Would I pay a return visit:  Not likely.

Montana's

MEDITERRANEAN GOAT CHEESE CHICKEN

Two chicken breasts coated with Mediterranean seasoning.  Oven baked with goat cheese and spinach, and topped with a tomato and roasted red pepper sauce.  Served with rice and seasonal vegetables.

Montana's has been on my list of places to stay away from, it is always a big disappointment.  I am glad we gave it a 4th chance; over 3 years of trying.  Our experience tonight was enjoyable.  The server was great, the food not bad for a change.  This dish was tasty but why do so many restaurants use so many sauces , it was just a bit too thick.  I wonder if is because the meat is old or dried out.  Shouldn't meat and vegetables be graded on their own natural flavours?  The vegtables were cooked perfect, a bit of crisp.  Garlic mashed potatoes were creamy and flavoured with butter.

SERVICE:  Our Server was a sweat heart. Kudos to Montana's for hiring a good wait person.

QUALITY: I'm not sure if the chicken was fresh, but the vegetables were.

ATMOSPHERE:  I love the ranch decor, it is warm, inviting and kick back relaxing.

VALUE: The prices are fair.

Would I pay a return visit:  I don't want to jinx my luck by returning too soon.  Someday. 

Urban Deli

Deli Meatloaf Sandwich

 Think of a rainy day, curled up on a comfy chair, by a warm fire.  This is the mood I found on a visit to the Urban Deli.  This sandwich shop was a wonderful find.  A warm meatloaf sandwich sounds odd but I absolutely enjoyed it.  Sour dough bread, warmed and topped with sun dried tomatoes & aged white cheddar...the perfect comfort meal.  The tomato soup came in a tea cup.  It was made from fresh and canned tomatoes, you can tell...it wasn't weighed down with flour, but filled with chickpea and curry. 

 SERVICE:  Lovely server, very attentive.

QUALITY:  Made from fresh supplies and you can taste the difference.

ATMOSPHERE:  Lots of bricks and beams and soft lighting.  Booths and one long table, quite a large space for a sandwich shop.

VALUE:  Good prices for a good product.

Would I pay a return visit:  Yes, this was a positive experience.  Can't wait till next visit.

Thandi's

Rogan Josh $22:  Tender lamb marinated in a fragrant blend of clarified butter, onions,
tomato & Thandi spice

I think I am at the stage in my life that I have to give up on curries, they are just too hot for me, even the mild ones. At least I am told they are mild.  Rogan Josh boosts thick sauce heavy with cumin and coriander, a wonderful ethnic taste and aroma.  I love the Indian flavour, but had to eat slowly because of the strong spices.  After my Splash restaurant experience I knew to asked for sour cream at the beginning of the meal, it helped.  Loved the coriander bread.


SERVICE:  This server was a little too serious for me.  My present and previous visits to Thandi's is not a warm and fuzzy visit; I wonder who does the training and what is the couching.

QUALITY:  Thandi's have some great chefs.  Enjoying a meal that is cooked fresh, with lots of character and new experience.


ATMOSPHERE:  Built after the Great Fire, there is lots of rich, warm ambiance. Fireplaces, heavy dark wood trim, richly restored brick, high ceilings and soft lighting. Corners for intimacy and long tables for partying. Love this building.

VALUE:  Good prices for ethnic foods. I probably won't order this dish again but I am glad for having tried it.


Would I pay a return visit:  Feeling welcomed is important too. I won't hurry back.

Boston Pizza

Cajun Rice Bowl  A dish inspired in Louisiana! Tender pieces of chicken breast, prawns, tomato, green pepper and red onion sautéed in our spicy cajun tomato sauce. Served over rice.

This Cajun dish was not very inspirational. Tiny cubed chicken pieces, tiny diced green peppers and the prominent vegetable was red onion. I like red onion but not to eat an entire one at one meal.  The shrimp was was large and fresh tasting, its saving feature but then there was just too much rice.  Does a restaurant really fool anyone with cheap fillers like rice, pasta and iceberg lettuce.

This is not my favourite restaurant, so I went kicking and screaming.  It's not because I don't usually enjoy their food, it's because I question their hiring practices.  Does Boston Pizza have something against servers over size 1 and over age 20?  The restaurant could learn something from a mature server, maybe as a customer I'm not skinny or good looking enough....hmmmmm.  Well, tonight I was surprised, our server was actually a size 5 and maybe 25 years old and, she knew not to set cutlery on the seats when setting tables...hmmmmm.

SERVICE:  This server was friendly and attentive.  Again, Saint John has great service staff.

QUALITY:  I think this dish was created mostly from frozen foods.  The taste didn't remind me of Louisiana.  Not much of a presentation either, smudges on the sides of the bowl.

ATMOSPHERE:  Fun environment, clean and the music was not too loud.

VALUE:  The prices are average, but this meal was not worth the price.

Would I pay a return visit:  Not is a hurry to return.

Bourbon Quarter

Grilled Watermelon Salad, Buttermilk Vinaigrette, Goat Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes, Watermelon Coulis (juice from the watermelon)

Blackened Catfish, smoothered in "Slap Yo' Momma" spices.  Potato wedges and asparagus.

This is a great restaurant.  I had put off going because it is more pricey, but "you do get what you pay for", and we did.  The meal was superb!  Watermelon salad alone sounds fine but, broiled and a dash of salt over the sweet watermelon, well....it was amazing....I've got to find the receipe, I'm even dreaming of it.  I don't remember eating goat cheese before, I have always had feta, so what a nice change.  This cheese has a smooth, gentle sharp flavour, with a hint of old.  Now Catfish, there is a new experience;  I feel a southern drawl coming on.  Any fears I had was immediately gone with the first bite.  This is a gentle white fish, easy on the palate and stomach.  The crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside potatoes were the best and asparagus cooked perfectly not stringy, thank you.

SERVICE:  The server was knowledgable and attended to our needs often.

QUALITY:  The tastes were wonderful,  rich flavours.   The spices were a guarded secret except for "lots of garlic"; you've got to love any spice that's named "slap yo' momma".

ATMOSPHERE:  We choice a dark and stormy night, typical for Saint John,  so yes our corner of Bourbon Quarter was quiet and inviting.  This is another historic building, well renovated to fit the name.

VALUE:  Higher then average prices and worth it.

Would I pay a return visit:  Can't wait for a return visit.

Splash

GREEN THAI CURRY (Gaeng Kioh Waan)

Green Curry with Thai eggplant and herbs in coconut

milk. A powerful and popular curry designed to

stimulate all the taste centres at once.

Oh my goodness, I thought I was going to die!!  I ordered a medium curry, I love curry, but holy cow was this hot, hot, hot!!  There was no way I could tell if this dish had value until I could chew and swallow.  It took forever to find a server to bring some sour cream, by that time the meal had cooled temperature wise. The sour cream was the only way to keep the curry from incinerating my mouth.

SERVICE:  The Friday night we visited, the restaurant had only been opened a few weeks and a few kinks were still being worked out.  The server was lovely but not quite on the ball; maybe it was just too busy and too new.  So of course I'll give it a second chance.   

QUALITY:  I'm not sure, the curry was so strong that nothing else could be tasted.  I wasn't scared about food poisoning, because the spices would have killed any potential danger.

ATMOSPHERE:  Beautifully designed, great ambiance, well done.

VALUE:  The prices are competitive.

Would I pay a return visit:  I'll have to pay another visit because I'm sure this meal wasn't a "good judge of character."

Vivaldi's

Chicken Oreganato

Marinated breast of chicken tenderloin, sauteed to perfection with red and green peper in a lemon oreganato sauce, served with choice of salad.

For some reason the chef loves to drown the salad. Salad should have just a brushing of oils and not a large puddle pooling on the bottom of the bowl and I keep forgetting to ask for the dressing on the side. Never the less it was tasty. The diced tomatoes were a nice change, not a lot of work in eating.  I love that Vivaldi's does not use iceberg lettuce. So many restaurants use this cheap filler instead of using the many other varities avaiable.  The chicken was perfect, not over cooked ....you know the taste of too cooked chicken...more paté then meat. 

SERVICE: The server was pleasant.

QUALITY:  This is a choice spot, always well prepared meals from fresh produce and meats.  I have never sent anything back....which is taking your life in your hands in most eateries.

ATMOSPHERE:  Monday night is a great time if you want an itimate and a quiet place to relax. This Italian decorated restaurant is a favourite of ours. 

VALUE:  The prices are good and so is the quality.

Would I pay a return visit:  Yes and we do.

Scores Sports Pub

Fish & Chips

Breaded haddock, house-made fries, house-made tartar sauce and coleslaw.  We unexpectedly visited this restaurant and were glad we did.  The plan was to eat next door but when there were no tables available, it was decided to try this small pub.  I don't eat fries often but these homemade ones were a great treat. The haddock was not dried out, was fresh and was spiced just right.

SERVICE: The server was a real sweet heart.  She was attentive and accommodating.

QUALITY:  Fresh and just cooked veggies, nothing limp.  Presentation, for the other meals, was appealing.

ATMOSPHERE: For a Tuesday night it was nicely quiet. Another historical building renovated with a sports theme; bar tables and high stools and lots of TVs. 

VALUE:  Average prices.

Would I pay a return visit:  I'll return

Jungle Jim's

Chicken Taquitos 'n' Garden Salad

Tortillas rolled around Mex-seasoned chicken and mixed cheese.  BBQ style, baked or fried.  Served with choice of salad.  It was an appealing presentation and a great taste too.  Every once in awhile you want to eat "fun" food, something not really healthy but just go'in for the taste.  I must say that the garden salad was 'chock full' of veggies....the really healthy part.  Wellllll, except for the bread the whole meal was a healthy choice.

SERVICE: The servers are always fun, they actually laugh at our humour.  Their memory is amazing, some don't use paper and pen for the order. I see this occasionally and am always amazed.

QUALITY:  Fresh salad, nothing limp. Tasty chicken.

ATMOSPHERE: Fun but getting a little old, could use a reno and cleaning. 

VALUE:  Average prices.

Would I pay a return visit: Yes and do so often.

Saint John Ale House

Indian Curry Chicken Fire grilled chicken breast – IPA curry sauce - tomatoes - spring onions

I have to say that this dish was better then Britt's curry chicken, and the presentation was better.  Don't get me wrong both are close contenders.  Thank heaven the curry was not strong, which can be the mistake of many restaurants and which does kill the flavours of the other foods on the plate.  I have been lucky with my choices here....wait a minute it is not luck, SJAH has quality cooking staff.

SERVICE: The server was friendly, efficient and attentive.

QUALITY:  I always find the food fresh, as if the menu is decided on what is bought daily at the market.  The presentation was as it should be, arranged and sprinkled with herbs for decor.  Well done.

ATMOSPHERE:  Another great job in renovating the old port warehouses.  Very clean and spacious.

VALUE: Average price , good value

Would I pay a return visit: Yes, often