GARLIC

What is it with Garlic?

I've delvelop a sensitivity to garlic and avoid eating it or cooking with it. Try to order a meal in this city and maybe anywhere that does not have an infusion of this spice. It is as if it is the only spice worth using in preparing food. Really, are there no other flavours worth sensing in meats or pastas or vegetables? How about thyme, cinnamon or cilantro; even good old ground pepper. All these have wonderful flavours. Oh wait! Garlic is a cheap spice and kills the rest of the bad flavours in a so,so prepared meal! 

Super Store Cooking Class

Spinach Salad; luscious Poached Salmon with Lemon Mint Tzatziki; and for dessert,  a decadent, diabetic safe Warm Chocolate Soufflé!

This was a different and fun activity; a cooking class at the Superstore.  This was a "watch and learn" and we were served each portion as it was cooked.  The chef was great entertainment and the food was yuuuuuuuummy! I even learned that asparagus does not have to stand when it is cooked.

QUALITY:  Everything was fresh, considering that the supply was only a few feet away.  And when an ingredent was missing....a quick jaunt to the store's various sections. 

ATMOSPHERE:  The classroom is located on the upper floor, with large bright windows.  A sunny evening and large room made for a relaxing and enjoyable class.

VALUE: The price of $18 may be a bit high but we were given 3 courses.  And we did not have to clean up.

Would I pay a return visit:  I will and have already signed up for the Italian night.

TEXAS ROAD HOUSE-Bangor

Ribeye steak, warm rolls and garden salads

SERVICE:  Fun, fun, fun. Dancing staff, visiting manager and sweet server.  There was a wonderful chemical reaction from all this attention.  You even got to pick out, from the display cabinet, your steak.

QUALITY:  The salad was tasty and full of fresh veggies.  My husband critiqued the beef; not over cooked and lots of flavour.  He was pleased.  The beef in the display cabinet was red and not over marbled.  Why do we think that meat has to be fat to have flavour.

ATMOSPHERE:  Relaxing, fun, rustic.  Lots of wood, logs, a great big lodge. Lots of peanuts on the floor;  great place to take the kids.

VALUE:  The prices are average and worth the money. The food was well prepared and served by happy staff.
 

Would I pay a return visit:  This was our first visit and am looking forward to another visit.  

Olive Garden (Portland Maine)

Chicken & Gnocchi

A creamy soup made with roasted chicken, traditional Italian dumplings and spinach. Warm rolls with creamy butter and and house salad. 

SERVICE: I've been here many Olive Gardens and always find the staff great. Very customer focused . As with a number of eating spots, fresh bread and butter are brought to the table to warm the spirit and welcome the guest. Love it!

QUALITY: I chose this meal because it is a staple at the Olive Garden. And bcause this is a busy spot the produce, etc always re-fresh quickly.

ATMOSPHERE:  The attention to cleanliness and decor lend to a fun and relaxing experience.

VALUE:  The prices are average. The meals are well worth this price.
 

Would I pay a return visit:  I don't get to the States that often, but when i do this spot is on my list.

LILY'S

Pear & walnut salad

The salad was mixed with greens, goat cheese and cranberry citrus dressing. Soup of the day was vegetable beef.

SERVICE:  This server was young and did a good job.

QUALITY:  This is my first visit back since the disastrous fish/steak meal. My choice this time was much better. Everything was fresh, fairly tasty and appetizing.  The salad used walnuts, and I knew that but found the taste too bitter, it would have been better to use pecans or almonds.

ATMOSPHERE:  We ate on the deck and what a great place to be on a summer evening. Overlooking the lake and enjoying those having fun swimming.

VALUE:  I find Lily's a bit high in price for the quality, but the surroundings balance off the price.

Would I pay a return visit:  I will but will be more conscience of what I order.

LEMON GRASS/PEPPERS PUB

Ginger Beef

Tender beef sautéed with green peppers, red onions and bok choy tossed with fresh ginger in a savoury sauce.

                      

SERVICE:  Oh my, was this guy funny! He had us in stitches. And the bonus was that he was a great server too. Thanks Mike.

QUALITY:  The presentation was most appealing. Veggies were fresh and tasty.   The beef full, full of flavour and tender.

ATMOSPHERE:  What a great job the developers did when renovating these old ware houses on the Saint John waterfront.  Sitting among bricks, planks and history is just too nostalgic.

VALUE:  The price was a high average and worth the money. The food was well prepared and well presented.
 

Would I pay a return visit:  Our last visit to Lemon Grass did not impress our group and so it was a long stretch between visits.  I'm not sure if there was a change in staff/management but this visit was one to bring us back again.

Osaka Hibachi (Moncton)

Sukiyaki 

 

Marinated rib eye beef, miso soup, salad, grilled vegetables and fried rice

SERVICE: The server was sweet but a little busy for much attention. The fun was in the cook/entertainer who "performed" our food directly in front of us. This is a teppanyaki grill and it was great fun.

QUALITY:  Every thing tasted great.  The beef must have been marinated because it was easy to eat without much cooking.  The veggies were perfect, my perfect, a little crunch with lots of flavour.

ATMOSPHERE:  Bright, friendly, a different set up for the customer.  The seating was a bar style surrounding a grill.  We had a great time.

VALUE: The price was on the higher end but not highest. Lots of food and a great taste. Yes, go for good food and good value. 

Would I pay a return visit:  For us, this was a different experience and we will do it again.

Saint John Ale House

 Lamb Bolongnese

 Cavatelli Pasta, Fresh Mint, Parmesan Reggiano

SERVICE:  We have great luck with our servers and the same was so last night.  Personable, attentive and quick to our needs.

QUALITY:  The dish was dry, not enough liquid added to the tomato paste.  The lamb was reduced to lamburger; what a waste of good meat and very little of it.  The flavour was good but not worth $18.  Who cares if it is cavatellie or macaroni, it is still an inexpensive filler. There was little presentation, just a cup of carbs with a mint leaf on top.....I can do that.

ATMOSPHERE:  What a great job the developers did when renovating these old ware houses on the Saint John waterfront.  Sitting among bricks, planks and history is just too nostalgic.

VALUE:  I found the price high for what was on the plate. 

Would I pay a return visit:  I think the Alehouse needs to pick up their socks. Pay the cook more, get a new menu and stop serving second best. This used to be the best place to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LILY'S

LILY'S CAFE

This evenings meal was a big disappointment.  I had asked for my steak to be well done, it was medium done; I don't like seeing "red".  Thankfully the meat was tender and was easy to chew, but the temperature was only warm.  The scallops and shrimp smelled like a barn yard and was cold to eat.  So the dilemma was do I return the meal and take a chance on what may happen to it or do I suffer through and eat it.  I did keep the food and thoroughly didn't enjoy it.

I have to learn to slow down when reading the fine print; the dessert and starter that were listed on the same menu board did not belong to this special.  My conclusion is that as much as I enjoy Lily's it should be for the lunch meals not the supper meals.

SERVICE:  The server was sweet, but not attentive.

QUALITY: Cold and smelly are not qualities.

ATMOSPHERE:  Love the feel of this restaurant; large fireplace, large windows, clean.

VALUE:  I found, for what I got, it was very over priced. 

Would I pay a return visit:  Not soon, after this meal.