This month the CDC experienced the Caribbean cuisine at Jolly Bob's on Williamson Street. It was a smaller than normal crew, but it included a new member. Hopefully the new member will make participation a monthly occurrence. Especially next month, seeing as he suggested the location.
But I digress, back to Jolly Bob. The restaurant was fairly empty but considering they only have one server, that is a good thing. The server had more than one table, so I realize we were not his only customers. But the service still ranked in the unacceptable level. Drink orders were not filled until he was reminded multiple times. Often while the drink sat on the server mat at the bar awaiting pick up. He did not discuss specials (maybe there were none) nor do I remember any offer to discuss the menu. But service does not make a restaurant, the food does.
The drinks and the food were both strong and good. I ordered the jerk combo (chicken and pork) platter. Not as spicy as I hoped, but well balanced and tasty.
Once again, I feel a little like I was deprived growing up. My family never went Jolly Bob's or any other Caribbean restaurant. So my only prior experience was a "Trinidad and Tobago" restaurant in D.C. At that restaurant I always ordered the curried goat, simply for shock factor. It was good, very good in fact, but I ordered it mainly because no one in my social circles eat goat. Jolly Bob does not serve curried goat (or any unique meats) simply the normal stuff with Caribbean seasoning.
I will give them credit for serving excellent salad dressing on the side salads, but other than that it seemed mediocre. Good food, and different food. But nothing that created a desire in me to return.
If you have a craving for Caribbean spices, or strong drinks, Jolly Bob's is adequate. If you are looking for a great culinary experience, this is not going to excite you.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Giza of Tokyo
The Capitol Dining Crew (CDC) strikes again. This month our fearless leader made the reservation at Ginza of Tokyo on Madison's east side. This is one of the few parts of Madison with an access road. Highway 151 is called East Washington Avenue on most of its east side track, yet by Interstate 90/94/39 the access road is East Washington Avenue.
Once again I arrived extremely early. And sat around studying Federal Income Tax law and waited. Five minutes before our reservation time I noticed a fellow member of CDC exiting her vehicle. She parked at LaBamba, but I doubt they cared. We went in, found one other CDC member, and went to the bar to wait for the others. The bar keep offered to retrieve drinks, and didn't bat an eye when only one person purchased something.
Ginza refuses to seat people until their entire group is there. This is only fair considering the style of the restaurant. It is as much entertainment as food. Dinner is cooked on a flat top grill at your table. The Chefs cut and season your meal with flair. This cannot be done one meal at a time, and only by seating an entire table at once can the restaurant accomplish this theme.
Once all the attending CDC members arrived the hostess escorted us to our table. The night seemed oddly quiet. The group talked about it for a minute (yes we talked about not talking as much) and realized the reason. The regular vociferous members were absent. This peaceful dinner was short lived, the normally quiet members quickly took up the task and a lively conversation about, who knows what, entailed. I think we talked about one members assignment at work. Something none of the others had experienced but were more than happy to dissect.
Finally we ordered. Most ordered the dinner for two with Steak, Chicken, and shrimp. With my significant other missing in action, I chose the Shrimp and Scallops meal. A waitress took the order and then brought soup and salad for everyone. The soup is mostly (95% or more) broth. Very good broth, but still broth. The salad had kind of a weird dressing. Lumpy would be the best description.
As the last of the salad disappeared, the chef appeared. He pushed out an aluminum cart with all the ingredients he needed for our meals. First up, fried rice for one CDCer and shrimp for everyone. Lots of movement, steam and even some fire ensued. leading to fried rice on one plate and 4 shrimp on every plate. The shrimp was excellent. It had spice but not too much. The flavor was excellent.
Then the chef began on the individual entrees. Starting with the sea food and moving onto the terrestrial meats. I ordered the shrimp with Kagane sauce. I saw an egg in the ingredients, but I also saw the word sauce. To me, the word sauce me fluid. This was not the case. The shrimp came in a yellow foam that most resembled an omelet. The "sauce" was fairly tasteless and the shrimp was good, but not great. The scallops? Well the scallops did not dissapoint. Not too chewy and yet with a slightly browned exterior. Well seasoned (I am not an expert but I like it) and not overpowering. The meal included mushrooms, which, to be frank, were mushrooms. I was not impressed, but not disappointed either.
My fellow CDCers seemed to like their terrestrial food, and it look good to me. Cooked to order and full of the juices that make steak and chicken worth eating.
Finally, well after all others finished eating, the last member of CDC arrived. He had sushi waiting. I am not sure if it was good, because he barely stopped talking about his recent tour. Very, Very entertaining and interestig stories. No info on the food. Finally, after all other costumers left, the lights over all but out table were extinquished, the group departed.
Conclusion: Ginza of Tokyo provides great entertainment and good food. The price is moderate ($30 total with my coke). This is a good spot to go for a group dinner, but not for culinary reasons. The food was good, but nothing to get excited about. Ginza, in my opinion, is a family resturant of the Denny's quality, only with Japanese cuisine.
I am glad we went, I enjoy the entertaining meal as much as the next guy. Now a month of frozen food until the next time an evite excites my pallat.
Once again I arrived extremely early. And sat around studying Federal Income Tax law and waited. Five minutes before our reservation time I noticed a fellow member of CDC exiting her vehicle. She parked at LaBamba, but I doubt they cared. We went in, found one other CDC member, and went to the bar to wait for the others. The bar keep offered to retrieve drinks, and didn't bat an eye when only one person purchased something.
Ginza refuses to seat people until their entire group is there. This is only fair considering the style of the restaurant. It is as much entertainment as food. Dinner is cooked on a flat top grill at your table. The Chefs cut and season your meal with flair. This cannot be done one meal at a time, and only by seating an entire table at once can the restaurant accomplish this theme.
Once all the attending CDC members arrived the hostess escorted us to our table. The night seemed oddly quiet. The group talked about it for a minute (yes we talked about not talking as much) and realized the reason. The regular vociferous members were absent. This peaceful dinner was short lived, the normally quiet members quickly took up the task and a lively conversation about, who knows what, entailed. I think we talked about one members assignment at work. Something none of the others had experienced but were more than happy to dissect.
Finally we ordered. Most ordered the dinner for two with Steak, Chicken, and shrimp. With my significant other missing in action, I chose the Shrimp and Scallops meal. A waitress took the order and then brought soup and salad for everyone. The soup is mostly (95% or more) broth. Very good broth, but still broth. The salad had kind of a weird dressing. Lumpy would be the best description.
As the last of the salad disappeared, the chef appeared. He pushed out an aluminum cart with all the ingredients he needed for our meals. First up, fried rice for one CDCer and shrimp for everyone. Lots of movement, steam and even some fire ensued. leading to fried rice on one plate and 4 shrimp on every plate. The shrimp was excellent. It had spice but not too much. The flavor was excellent.
Then the chef began on the individual entrees. Starting with the sea food and moving onto the terrestrial meats. I ordered the shrimp with Kagane sauce. I saw an egg in the ingredients, but I also saw the word sauce. To me, the word sauce me fluid. This was not the case. The shrimp came in a yellow foam that most resembled an omelet. The "sauce" was fairly tasteless and the shrimp was good, but not great. The scallops? Well the scallops did not dissapoint. Not too chewy and yet with a slightly browned exterior. Well seasoned (I am not an expert but I like it) and not overpowering. The meal included mushrooms, which, to be frank, were mushrooms. I was not impressed, but not disappointed either.
My fellow CDCers seemed to like their terrestrial food, and it look good to me. Cooked to order and full of the juices that make steak and chicken worth eating.
Finally, well after all others finished eating, the last member of CDC arrived. He had sushi waiting. I am not sure if it was good, because he barely stopped talking about his recent tour. Very, Very entertaining and interestig stories. No info on the food. Finally, after all other costumers left, the lights over all but out table were extinquished, the group departed.
Conclusion: Ginza of Tokyo provides great entertainment and good food. The price is moderate ($30 total with my coke). This is a good spot to go for a group dinner, but not for culinary reasons. The food was good, but nothing to get excited about. Ginza, in my opinion, is a family resturant of the Denny's quality, only with Japanese cuisine.
I am glad we went, I enjoy the entertaining meal as much as the next guy. Now a month of frozen food until the next time an evite excites my pallat.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
ADD Here.. and that Taint Su Chi
Werd. First Blog EVA for the CDC. And holding true to my name... It's ADD time.
Wow... Faust is like the furriest little kitten ever. Sooo Cute.
Speaking of cats... We ate at Ginza of Tokyo tonight. I'm really not qualified to review this place. I mean, I was stuck in meetings most of the night and only got to hang out for a while... but man the grass on my boat was so not good grass.
I'm so happy I don't have to cut grass now. Snows coming and that is going to suk.
Ok. I might have ate about 10000000 times at Ginza... Here is my summary of the experience that I didn't have this time.
Su-Chi is Good
Drinks are Cold
Service was Excellent... Hell I served myself... before I was even there!!!!
Overall a great place to have a good bite and a bit of the Su-Chi eats... I just hope they did that whole bananna thing....
ADD Out
Wow... Faust is like the furriest little kitten ever. Sooo Cute.
Speaking of cats... We ate at Ginza of Tokyo tonight. I'm really not qualified to review this place. I mean, I was stuck in meetings most of the night and only got to hang out for a while... but man the grass on my boat was so not good grass.
I'm so happy I don't have to cut grass now. Snows coming and that is going to suk.
Ok. I might have ate about 10000000 times at Ginza... Here is my summary of the experience that I didn't have this time.
Su-Chi is Good
Drinks are Cold
Service was Excellent... Hell I served myself... before I was even there!!!!
Overall a great place to have a good bite and a bit of the Su-Chi eats... I just hope they did that whole bananna thing....
ADD Out
Monday, November 3, 2008
Icon on State Street
The adventure begins with an Evite from "Thing 1." The dinner location is set, same day and time as always. This month reservations are made at Icon on State Street. A quick Internet search reveals Icon is a contemporary tapas restaurant. The salivating begins.
Arriving early I step up to the bar and order a beer from Capital Brewery. Whenever possible I choose a beer from a Wisconsin Brewery, and in Madison this task is always achievable. The bar tender hands me a (at best) half pint of beer and says "four dollars" as he grabs the five dollar bill I placed on the bar. "Four Dollars!" I think silently. I am use to paying $6 for a pint in D.C., but half a pint in Madison, highway robbery I tell you. Oh well, it is the atmosphere I am hear for, if beer was cheap the place would be crawling with undergrads.
As the rest of the group arrives the fun begins with pitchers of White Sangria . The Sangria does not disappoint.
The food at Icon is Tapas. Eating at a Tapas place always reminds me of going to a sports bar and ordering a meal of appetizers. Normally ordering one item off the menu will satisfy one person. And sharing items ensure everyone gets a variety and plenty to eat. Portions at Tapas do not meat this expectation, one item will not fill you up.
The group ordered at least four rounds of food. Everything from Talapia to chocolate mousse. Everything was absolutely delicious. I ate a little of every dish we ordered and wanted to eat all of every dish we ordered.
(Consensus opinion: the flat bread is a must order).
With drinks and food (including tip but not including the $4 beer at the bar) the total came to $26 each. The perfect price for dinner with friends. The quality of the food at Icon is hard to beat. Nothing disappointed in the taste and presentation categories.
I eat at Tapas restaurants regularly, both in D.C. and Madison, and normally I don't leave hungry. Icon is the exception. After four rounds (more than a dish per diner) most of the group left hungry. My recommendation, eat a late lunch when planning an evening at Icon. Three members of the group continued the night at the Brass Ring on East Washington and ordered food there to fill the remaining void.
Conclusion: Icon is a great restaurant offering excellent food, martinis and Sangria. The presentation is first rate and as for taste, every bite is better than the last. I highly recommend Icon for a first date, or any other occasion where filling up is not the ultimate goal.
Arriving early I step up to the bar and order a beer from Capital Brewery. Whenever possible I choose a beer from a Wisconsin Brewery, and in Madison this task is always achievable. The bar tender hands me a (at best) half pint of beer and says "four dollars" as he grabs the five dollar bill I placed on the bar. "Four Dollars!" I think silently. I am use to paying $6 for a pint in D.C., but half a pint in Madison, highway robbery I tell you. Oh well, it is the atmosphere I am hear for, if beer was cheap the place would be crawling with undergrads.
As the rest of the group arrives the fun begins with pitchers of White Sangria . The Sangria does not disappoint.
The food at Icon is Tapas. Eating at a Tapas place always reminds me of going to a sports bar and ordering a meal of appetizers. Normally ordering one item off the menu will satisfy one person. And sharing items ensure everyone gets a variety and plenty to eat. Portions at Tapas do not meat this expectation, one item will not fill you up.
The group ordered at least four rounds of food. Everything from Talapia to chocolate mousse. Everything was absolutely delicious. I ate a little of every dish we ordered and wanted to eat all of every dish we ordered.
(Consensus opinion: the flat bread is a must order).
With drinks and food (including tip but not including the $4 beer at the bar) the total came to $26 each. The perfect price for dinner with friends. The quality of the food at Icon is hard to beat. Nothing disappointed in the taste and presentation categories.
I eat at Tapas restaurants regularly, both in D.C. and Madison, and normally I don't leave hungry. Icon is the exception. After four rounds (more than a dish per diner) most of the group left hungry. My recommendation, eat a late lunch when planning an evening at Icon. Three members of the group continued the night at the Brass Ring on East Washington and ordered food there to fill the remaining void.
Conclusion: Icon is a great restaurant offering excellent food, martinis and Sangria. The presentation is first rate and as for taste, every bite is better than the last. I highly recommend Icon for a first date, or any other occasion where filling up is not the ultimate goal.
Intro & Review of Casa Del Sol
On a monthly basis a group of friends gets together to try a new restaurant and new type of cuisinein the Madison, Wisconsin area. The prices range from everyday cheap such as $6-10 a plate all the way to moderately expensive at $35-50 a plate. We are from all walks of life and include a core set of reviewers who live in the Madison areas as well as some guest reviewers from outside the Madison area. This ensures we offer you real, honest and fair points of view on the restaurants we visit. We guarantee our feedback will be helpful as you decide on your next restaurant of choice.
Our first review is of Casa Del Sol which is located in Fitchburg, Wisconsin about 15 minutes from downtown Madison. This restaurant does not have a legal relation to Casa del Lara in downtown Madison, but you will find the food to be similar.
During this visit, it was still warm out. So, all 20 of us piled outside to their patio which overlooks a man made pond and Fish Hatchery road. Although the road was close, it was not too loud. We were able to enjoy great, well-poured margaritas and some chips and salsa. The chips were not salty at all. I'm not a huge fan of that as I love salt! I ordered a beef enchilada and had more then enough food. The food was good but nothing overwhelmed me other than the margaritas! The service was good. The server could tell we were there for a longer night of dining (more than an hour) and didn't make us feel rushed at all. They also were happy to run credit cards and cash for each of us which made paying very easy for a group.
Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for families as well as any size group getting together for a meal. I consider it an everyday restaurant where I would go if I was looking for decent, consistent food like at a chain restaurant.
Hope this helps...stay tuned for the next restaurant.
Our first review is of Casa Del Sol which is located in Fitchburg, Wisconsin about 15 minutes from downtown Madison. This restaurant does not have a legal relation to Casa del Lara in downtown Madison, but you will find the food to be similar.
During this visit, it was still warm out. So, all 20 of us piled outside to their patio which overlooks a man made pond and Fish Hatchery road. Although the road was close, it was not too loud. We were able to enjoy great, well-poured margaritas and some chips and salsa. The chips were not salty at all. I'm not a huge fan of that as I love salt! I ordered a beef enchilada and had more then enough food. The food was good but nothing overwhelmed me other than the margaritas! The service was good. The server could tell we were there for a longer night of dining (more than an hour) and didn't make us feel rushed at all. They also were happy to run credit cards and cash for each of us which made paying very easy for a group.
Overall, I would recommend this restaurant for families as well as any size group getting together for a meal. I consider it an everyday restaurant where I would go if I was looking for decent, consistent food like at a chain restaurant.
Hope this helps...stay tuned for the next restaurant.
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