Bonefish Grill (N. KY)

We needed somewhere to go for a work luncheon. Being that I cannot abide by going to Texas Roadhouse 1 more time on the premise that it is "fine dining", I chose Bonefish Grill. I love seafood and thought it would be a good change.

It has a very upscale look to it with dark hardwood interiors, white table cloths and the staff are all outfitted with either white chef coats or white oxford shirts and the long aprons. It still felt casual enough for our work lunch.

I decided on the Snake River Trout ($14) below. I found from a native Idahoan in our group that Snake River is in Idaho. That bodes well for me since I do not eat Canadian seafood. I was impressed by their menu. All of the seafood has an option of a sauce. I chose the simple lemon butter sauce.

While waiting on your order you get some foccacia bread and oil with pesto. You could not cut that bread with a damn light saber! I just gave up. I don't need to lacerate my mouth for the joy of a bready start. NO thanks.

My fish arrived piping hot and I was impressed by its size. It was obviously a whole fish and was well over a foot in length. I chose the potatoes au gratin which were delicious. They were prepared in more of a chopped potato instead of a slice. Well worth it as a side. Their "house" side of the day was chickpeas, salsa and spinach. It wasn't memorable at all.

I love to eat fish and anytime I can go somewhere and not be relegated to order salmon I'm happy. Salmon can be so sad sometimes. They always forget your salmon, they forget your sauce or whatever. They put all their thoughts into the meat eater's plates. I was impressed by their selection and will definitely go back.

Werner's Smokehouse (Jeffersonville)

Driving up N I-71 toward Columbus you will find this little gem near the Jeffersonville Outlet mall. If by chance you are doing some outlet shopping make it a point to stop by here for dinner or lunch.


Sorry for the not awesome pics of the menu.

Here's the menu on their site.




Here we see the beef brisket meal with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy with a side order of 4shrimp. Cornbread is also there. My side of beans is pictured below. ($10.99 for the brisket meal / $4.00 to add on the shrimp) These shrimp tasted FRESH. They did not taste like frozen shrimp. They tasted remotely sweet like good fresh shrimp does. I was surprised.

I really like the sauce here. It's very smoky and not ketchup-y tasting like Montgomery Inn. It was thick and I used it like someone would use ketchup. I am not a sauce girl either.


Here we have the full rack of ribs ($18.99). Pat said they were very good. They were meaty, not cheap ribs and the sauce's smokiness really could be tasted in the meat.

Here we have Pat's sides from his ribs. Mac and cheese and waffle fries. You get a choice of either a yeast roll or cornbread.

They have an excellent selection of items on their menu. There really is something for everyone. I was pretty impressed by it. I kind of want to go back now. That means I have to check out the outlet!

Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse

Meant to take pictures but wine distracted me.

We went to Montgomery Inn for a work lunch. I could hardly care less about barbecue or sauce or anything like that. I don't like ribs so that usually limits me with barbecue choices.

I usually choose the pork chops. They make some tasty pork chops. I love anything that comes with onion straws. I get the chips and straws combo for the table and we all snack on it while waiting for everyone's ribs.

If you haven't been by now, you're probably not going to go. If you have been, you have your own opinion. The Boathouse is the most picturesque location that they have, if you have to go to Montgomery Inn, I would choose this one hands down. You get a great view of the river.

Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace (Columbus)

I drove 100 miles for these hot dogs. 200 if you count round trip miles. It can be said that I am a hot dog fanatic. My husband keeps making Patty Duke show references at me that I don't get about "hot dogs make her lose control". They very nearly do. I could eat one almost any day, any time. I'm not terribly picky either. So during a search I found out about this place. When we went up tonight I was happy to see it was SO close to my favorite gallery. Hawk Gallery does a lot of great exhibitions and specializes in Dale Chihuly pieces. Stop in sometime. Now onto the dogs!



In this photo above you are seeing the Whoa Nellie! ($3.50 which is a Vienna Beef dog with beef brisket and BBQ sauce on the right. Pat says it was pretty tasty with a good combo of flavors. In the middle you are seeing the fries with cheese and bacon ($3.50).Pat says they are the best part of the meal. He could tell they were hand-cut and double fried so they were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. This was not melted cheese but a cheese sauce but the real bacon made it all work. On the right you are seeing the Doginator ($5.00) bacon-wrapped dog topped with beef brisket, BBQ sauce, cheddar, and onion rings. Pat says it was good, not the best, it could have used more cheese. Pat thinks that onion straws might have been better than onion rings.



In the photo above you are seeing a half eaten Texas Tommy which is a bacon-wrapped dog stuffed with cheese($3.50), fried leeks ($2.50) in the middle and a Chicago hot dog (if you don't know it's: Fresh tomatoes, diced onions, Vienna® Sport Peppers, pickle relish, dill pickle, yellow mustard, and a dash of celery salt)($3.00) on the right. Chicago dog was good, a little soggy for me due to the tomato. But just what you'd expect from a Chicago style hot dog. The Texas Tommy was great! Simple and not overpowering. For a dog covered in bacon and then stuffed with cheese, that is.



Above here is are the Funnel Fries ($4.00). Funnel cake fries with powdered sugar! So tasty and not greasy.

The place seemed to be a haven for hipsters, which admittedly I am not. Still I didn't feel out of place. The service was spotty however everyone was nice and it seemed to be lackluster due to it being so packed. We had a minor issue with our orders but it was quickly corrected. Next time I go I will try one of the many local beers that they offer and I am interested to see what my vegan friends have to think as many of the menu items can be prepared vegan-friendly. Although it's a 200 mile round trip I guess that means I have to find more stuff to do in Columbus. My 7 year refusal to go with my husband to the Columbus Guitar Show is officially over.

Noce's Pizzeria

While at the Steak N Shake I saw this restaurant and knew we had to try it. We love all things pizza and were intrigued by a NY style pizzeria in our neck of the woods. The interior is very nice, chalkboard menu, brick interior, TV tuned to sports.


Pepperoni Slice pictured above ($2.75). Just what you would want from New York style pizza. Thin crust, not a lot of sauce, not too much cheese. Perfect.


Broccoli Roll pictured above ($6.49). This thing was HUGE! It was a foot long. Brushed with garlic and butter, I was glad to taste fresh broccoli inside. Excellent vegetarian option.


Chicken Alfredo pictured above ($11.95). Pat said it was very good. I tasted a bit of the chicken and it was moist and tasted fresh. Garlic knot and salad comes with the meal. Alfredo sauce tasted fresh, a little gritty from fresh Parmesan - the way it should be. The side salad was very nice. It was larger than I expected with fresh shredded cheese, tomato etc.


Garlic Knots pictured above ($4.25). These things are great! You can order just one or a half or whole dozen. Bready with garlic and butter on top. I know bready isn't a word. It is now!

Their menu is so expansive I will have to come back a few more times to see what else they have that was as good as the broccoli roll. The owner was very nice and came and talked to us for a bit. The place has only been open since October and it seems to have a decent following. Open till 11pm most nights it's a great late-nite alternative in sleepy ol' Montgomery.

Nada

I LOVE NADA!

I have been coming here for over a year. I think that the slubs like me that come here on a regular basis have helped make it what it is today. HOWEVER,it is clear to me that since they have found the success that they set out for, often loyal customers like me get left behind. I endeavor to keep eating here though. Enduring long wait times and having to eat on off days, I still show up. On Saturdays this place almost turns into a nightclub with tacos. That is the only nightclub I am interested in, by the way.


Here we see the guacamole single ($7). You get a basket of fresh chips (often hot), guacamole and fire roasted salsa. Well worth it. I can scarf this down by myself. I probably shouldn't but it's too good!


Here's my fave! Carnitas tacos ($14), marinated pork, pickled onion and a thinner guacamole on a fried tortilla served with sides of lime. Do you see the wee little Mexican flag? Adorable! MY absolute fave. The lime with the onions and pork are so delicious! I never get anything else.



I opted for the Poblano Rice side ($3). I was expecting just rice with chunks of peppers in it. Not so! The rice was moist and had a hint of spiciness. Very good as a side!

I also tried their Malbec wine from Argentina. ($9/glass). It was very tasty. If you like Malbec, try it.

My waiter was Joe and he was absolutely great! It was extremely busy and I didn't have to wait more than 15 minutes for a table for one. The hostesses were extremely sweet and got me seated right away and checked in with me during my meal. They play excellent music at Nada and even though I was seated basically in the center of the restaurant I didn't feel out of place.

Ultimately I am pretty proud to be someone who liked this place when it began and still like it as it's successful.

Alabama Fish Bar

Do you like fish? Well can't call yourself a true fish connoisseur in Cincinnati unless you've tried Alabama Fish Bar. They're successful because the have a small menu. Okay really small. They do 3 things. But they do them well.
You can have:
Ocean Perch $7.99 (6 pieces)
Cod $7.99 (6 pieces)
Whiting $6.99 (5 pieces/strips)
I believe these are the new prices.

With each dinner you get the following:
tartar sauce
fries
bread slices
a packet of sauteed peppers and onions

When you go to pick it up you will no doubt be in line. The "lobby" of the restaurant is no bigger than a small closet. You order, pay and then wait for your order to be called. When called you can have the option of "dressing" yours with hot sauce, ketchup or mustard.

We usually get ours to go and I must say they are so sweet when I get to go orders. I don't have to wait in line, much to the chagrin of the people there. They also send someone out to carry the bags to my car for me. This is special stuff!

Somehow the food is always still hot when I get it back to my work. I dig right in to my fish with the tartar sauce and eat my peppers and onions on the side. The peppers and onions are another thing entirely. You get a wax paper packet of these delicious veggies sauteed in some sort of spice, I think maybe cayenne pepper? They must also sneak a little crack in there because I can't stop eating them. White onion, jalapeno, banana pepper, bell pepper and the seasoning are a great compliment to the fish. To me the fries and bread are an afterthought. I think they are just there to soak up grease from the fish. But I eat them also.

It's a Cincinnati favorite and once you go, you'll want it all the time.

Hot Doggin' It

Oh my GOD! It's like someone read my mind. It's like God and Vienna Beef got together and said "I Love You Becky!". But anyways before I have a joygasm - onto the food!

So Cincinnati's *only* Chicago restaurant. MMM! Can you tell I'm bonkers about hot dogs? First time there I had the classic. The Chicago dog. No short of perfection. Poppy seed bun, Vienna Beef dog, mustard, neon relish, onion, tomato wedges, dill pickle spear, sport peppers, celery salt. How did I live in the midwest without these until 2009? I don't know!

Second time I went there I had the classic Chicago dog and the Maxwell Street Polish sausage. A delicious Polish sausage on a poppy seed bun with sauteed onions and sport peppers with mustard. We also had Cheddar fries. The small is large enough to share. The cheddar cheese sauce that covers these fries is lava hot! When we were done we got a free ice cream cone. I didn't ask whether that came with a meal or if we shamefully met some sort of dollar amount food threshold that entitled us to 2 free cake cones of tasty soft serve. Pat got the cheddar dog (just what it sounds like - lava hot cheddar sauce) and the Italian Beef sandwich. That sandwich looked tasty.

3rd time I had the polish sausage Chicago style. That is my best friend! I <3 Polish Sausage. Ok. . . relax...... Another aspect of the restaurant was their Local's Map. They have a large map of Chicago and native Chicagoans are encouraged to register yourself with their book of locals and you get a small pin to put on the map for your neighborhood that you're from. Such a sweet idea that really conveys the pride they have for their hometown. I can't wait to take my sister-in-law, a proud Chicago girl from Cicero. They proudly display Chicago sports team jerseys and several photographs of the Chicago hot dog culture. The decor is 50's diner style and there's a TV on to entertain you if you've popped in for lunch like I try to do. Seriously. I have been there 3 times in about 2 weeks. If you like a straightforward delicious hot dog - go. GO!

Oriental X-Press

This is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants. When I lived in Latonia I was fortunate to be close enough to it to get delivery. Now I have to settle for ordering it from time to time for work lunch. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It doesn't look like much on the inside. Whatever they're doing works. I don't know if it's saving on overhead because there is only 1 table inside. I have never seen anyone eat there. Or if its just because its smack dab in the middle of skeezy Covington. It's right across the street from Holmes High School. And bringing me back to delivery. When we would order over $20 in take out we got free oolong tea and free cookies. How can you beat that? FREE!

The only thing I get there is their Basil Chicken, egg roll and shrimp tempura. Here we go.

Shrimp Tempura consists of about 5 rings of tempura battered shrimp with 2 shrimp per ring. You get a side of sweet and sour sauce for dipping but I skip that step. When you bite into it you can sum it up as a shrimp donut. Say it out loud to yourself. Shrimp. Donut. Repeat.

The egg rolls to me are nothing to write home about. But I love me some egg rolls with that spicy Chinese mustard. Very cheap.

Lastly the Basil Chicken. Best food I've ever eaten in Covington, hands down! The chicken comes in one of those rectangular foil containers that keeps it lightning hot. You get either fried or steamed rice. The chicken comes in a brown basil gravy with mushroom, onion and celery. The chicken is always very thinly sliced and is extremely moist and could be cut with a fork. The basil sauce, which I call gravy, is amazing. I could put just the gravy on rice and be satisfied with that. I don't know what is in it besides basil but I suspect it's crack. SO good. If you like basil chicken, you don't need to spend a lot of cash and you can skip to Covington, give it a chance. Don't be scared by the exterior, or the interior. It's a gem!

Suzie Wong's on Madison

I thought this place was okay. I mean really just okay. I did enjoy the variety. You can have hot or cold starters, rice dishes, noodle dishes, big bowls of soup, salads, vegetarian options and specials. Among each section of food choices there is a great variety of dishes from different cooking styles throughout Asia. From Thai to Japanese it was pretty prolific.

I decided to order Suzie's Dumplings and Korean Jap Chae Noodles.

Suzie's Dumplings - they came in a very attractive serving plate with the dumplings on one side and the sauce on the other. The sauce tasted like regular old soy sauce. The dumplings were piping hot and not as brown on the outside as I would have liked. I found the dumpling without sauce to be pretty bland. I needed to use the sauce to make the flavor come out a little bit. It could have possibly used more onion or some other aromatic to bring out the flavor of the meat.

Korean Jap Chae Noodles - I had never had these before. They were Korean glass noodles with a brown gravy with your choice of meat. I chose beef. Glass noodles = slippery on the chopsticks or even the fork. Be careful! There was some onion, kimchi and the menu says chili paste but I couldn't locate it. I found these to be also pretty bland. I needed a lot of soy sauce to make this work. I was really disappointed because it looked so good. Make no mistake, I ate the whole plate. It was pretty good after the soy sauce treatment. I think more chili paste or perhaps hot pepper oil could have helped.

The other thing about this restaurant is the decor. It was very modern with black tables, modern looking flatware and wall treatments done with jewels in a mural to make a kimono display on the walls. What I did not care for so much was the manager Alex. He is apparently an acquired taste for the customers. Eating alone is something no everyone does, in doing that you don't expect to be made a spectacle of. Alex was incredibly annoying shouting (which is his volume of talking) at me and asking "why you so grumpy". I was not grumpy. I WAS ALONE! I didn't have anyone to talk to! What do you want me to do bother all the customers because I don't have a companion. I politely responded though, that I was simply waiting on my food.

He finally brought my food and told me to "stop being grumpy and eat". I was really pissed after this. If he thinks that I am to be his comedic relief for this evening's diners he is crazy. My server came over to me and asked me if he bothered me or "scared" me. Apparently this is commonplace for him to flit around the restaurant like he owns it (he does not) and interact with repeat customers and annoy new customers.

I would go back to Suzie Wong's if someone else was paying. I'd be more prepared for the blandness and stay away from Alex.

Fatburger

We decided to give it a try. What can I say, I like junk. No wait, I love junk. Who doesn't like cheeseburgers? Anyways. We ordered up some grub. I got the Fat Deal which is a fatburger with fries. I chose the Fat Fries - translation=steak fries. Pat chose the King Deal which is a large fatburger with fries. Pat chose the skinny fries - translation=shoestring fries. Pat always gets things plain, only bacon/cheese. I get whatever comes with it.

What struck me the most was that my cheeseburger had pickle relish on it. I would never have thought to put pickle relish on a burger. It was not unpleasant. Just an unexpected sweetness. Pat pointed out that the price point is a little high for something that could easily be ordered plain. Not exactly a huge value for the plain burger eaters.

There's a classic diner feel to the place and you can have a great view of the kitchen and see your order being made. I like the place. I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to eat there though. Give it a try. It's pretty tasty!

Chipotle

Seriously. You've probably been to a Chipotle by now. If you haven't I'm not sure what's wrong with you. Here's my gameplan for Chipotle:
Bowl - because I'm a mess. Sometimes I get the tortilla, its tasty also.
Rice - lots of it
Fajita Veg - cause it's crisp and soft at the same time.
Carnitas - DELISH! Flavorful and juicy pork. I will also go for spicy Barbacoa.
Green Salsa - for the kick!
Corn Salsa - sweet corn tastes so good.
Sour Cream - because why not?
Cheese - I live on cheese.
Guacamole - I have been told that mine is better but this is some of the best.









There it is! The best! I would not recommend the bottled water. $2.00!!!!!

If you're around, stop in.