Grassy Knoll Institute: restaurants

Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts

11/15/2007

Gallaghers Steak House - New York

Gallagher's Steak House, located at 228 West 52nd Street, Manhattan, NY.

When in New York, I always try to get to Gallagher's Steak House. Yes, you are correct, there are dozens of quality steak houses in Manhattan but Gallagher's just seems to have the leading edge. Of course, you must arrive early which is the only way to get seated unless you want to wait an easy hour for a table. Get there before 6 and you will be OK.

We were greeted and politely escorted to our table where water and fresh warm bread and rolls were immediately placed on our table. The bread is actually pretzel twists, and when butter is applied, it is a heavenly combination.

Drinks were ordered, (I had a Coke) and then dinner. I ordered, being in a famous steak house, (Gallagher's is well known for its wood fired ovens for steaks and chops that enhance the flavor of the meat) the Filet Mignon, and had it butter-flied for it was such a tall piece, I wanted it cooked more than the normal. I added the Gallagher fries as a side dish.

Drinks were brought right away and after a very short wait, I was spying my filet. Of course it was superb, cooked precisely perfect, tender, juicy, with almost zero fat. The fries, (potato wedges) were crisp, hot, and tasty.

The service was polite, efficient, and professional.

The cost was a little pricey with this meal closing in on $60.00 without tip. The Grassy Knoll Institute highly recommends Gallagher's Steak House and awards 4.75 out of 5 shots.

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11/03/2007

Stage Deli - New York City

Stage Deli, Times Square, New York City

This sandwich was so good, I posted it twice......

Just a quick walk from David Letterman's theater is the Stage Deli restaurant where legend has it the portions are so huge you will not be able to finish it. The Grassy Knoll Institute needed to investigate post haste.

Upon arrival, the joint was packed but the waiter squeezed us in at a table that looked out to the street. Although we were piled in, we were comfortable. The service was exceptional. Although the deli was crowded, the hostess seated us immediately and even obliged our request to sit by a window. In just a matter of minutes, our drinks were on our table and several minutes later our dinner arrived.

I ordered the turkey breast, American cheese, on a Kaiser roll sandwich and of course already drinking the coke provided. Potato pancakes and French fries were also ordered as side dishes.

When my sandwich was brought out, I could hardly believe it. The sandwich was packed so high with turkey and cheese that to eat it, I had to re-distribute the sandwich using the top and bottom of the roll. It was the equivalent of four large sandwiches at other restaurants. And I was staring down two side dishes that were huge as well in portion.

Of course the sandwich was tasty, fresh, and perfect. The coke, a fountain coke, was exceptional as well. The cost was just under $20.00 excluding tip. Remember, the Stage Deli is in the heart of Times Square where everything is expensive. And BTW, I could not finish the sandwich. Not even close.

The Grassy Knoll Institute recommends Stage Deli and it scores a perfect 5 out of 5 shots.

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11/02/2007

Open Hearth Restaurant

While in Gatlinburg, Tennessee this past November, I found that the Open Hearth restaurant had closed it's doors. Perhaps they had lost their lease, couldn't afford the property taxes, or just had a bad business plan. Whatever the reason, here is a last meal from the now defunct Open Hearth.

We walked to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and saw the sign, Open Hearth and walked in. It was very eloquent inside and we were waited on right away. For being a busy evening in Gatlinburg and waiting lists of an hour or more at the other restaurants, this was a pleasant surprise. I asked what the soup of the day was and the waiter said that they didn't have any soup today. Oh well, I went for the Loaded Potato Skins and for the main course, Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti.

My fellow Grassy Knoll Institute scientist tried to order several different appetizers but none were available. Even the main courses were not available. he settled for the prime rib. Five minutes later, the waiter came back and said that he was sorry but the prime rib was also not available that evening. Reluctantly, he settled for the fish.

The potato skins were cooked just right, plenty of bacon, cheese, and no sour cream which I asked to be left off.

The chicken parm was very good as well. A very generous portion with plenty of tangy sauce. The spaghetti was average, a little to rubbery, and almost cold, like they forget to warm it up. But I was so full from the skins and parm, that the spaghetti was left on the plate and not touched.

The cost was just under $30.00 without tip which was reasonable, but not the best. The Grassy Knoll Institute rates Open hearth 2.75 stars out of 5 shots and barely recommends Open Hearth for dinner.

The lights are on, but no one's home.

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10/26/2007

Geneva Times Square French Fries

Cheeseburger And Fries In Paradise.

One of my favorite summer time relaxation spots is Geneva On The Lake, Ohio. Geneva is a little town time has forgotten from the 1950's, when roll up cuffs on jeans and hot rods was the craze.

One place we always stopped at while there is Time Square Restaurant, a quaint little outside restaurant that is famous for its huge order of french fries.

The first time we ordered lunch, I went to the counter, ordered two cheeseburgers, a chili dog, three cokes, and three orders of french fries. The waitress kindly told me that I only wanted one order of fries. I told her, "No, I want three orders, there are three of us." She just looked at me in disbelief, smiled, and told me matter-of-factly that I would only be getting one order. I thought she was messing with me. She said to trust her. I did.

I grabbed my rock, which had a number painted on it, which was my order number, and took a seat on the round picnic table. (I did tell you that this place was right out of the 1950's)

The waitress called my rock number and I went to the counter to claim my prize. The picture above is what we received. Now I know why the waitress only gave me one order of fries. The fries were almost 8 inches tall and filled the entire cafeteria tray.

To the critique. The cheeseburgers were excellent, and were quarter pound in size. The buns were fresh, cheese melted, and tasted great. The fries were well cooked, almost crunchy, and as you can see, it was a large order. No, we did not finish the fries. There were to many of them.

The service was excellent, the waitress friendly, and the food fantastic. The price was under 18 bucks which was remarkable considering the ample amount of food received. The Grassy Knoll Institute rates Times Square Geneva On The Lake 5 shots out of 5 and recommends them for lunch and dinner.

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10/08/2007

Jib Jab Chili Cheese Hot Dogs

Jib Jab Hot Dog Shop Girard Ohio Chili Cheese Dog And Fries

Location: Jib-Jab Hot Dog Shoppe – 313 S. State St.
Girard, OH 44420 – (330)545-1129
The Order: Two chili and cheese hot dogs and a large french fry.
The Service: The dogs were hot, the fries were hot and cooked with fresh oil, and most importantly, the order was correct.
The Taste: Buns were fresh, dogs were cooked and hot, chili spicy and textured, the cheese completely melted, and the fries freshly cut and cooked to a golden brown.
Presentation: Plain white cardboard boxes, no markings wrapped in a plastic see through bag.
The Value: Under 5 bucks for lunch. Acceptable for the quantity received.

The Rating: 4 out of 5 shots. Grassy Knoll Diner recommends Jib Jab hot dogs.

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Periscope Sub Shop

Location: Phone: 330-793-9162
3101 Mahoning ave, Youngstown, Ohio
The Order:.Pepperoni Roll.
The Service: A phone call in, and order was picked up. The problem was the prices had gone up with no mention that they had.
The Taste: It was adequate, but not top notch by any standards. It was greasy, was not entirely cooked and the cheese wasn’t melted all the way.
Presentation: Standard paper white wrapper with a super sandwich bag logo.
The Value: Uner 4 bucks. Not over priced if taste isn’t one of your priorities.
The Rating: 1.5 out of 5 shots. Grassy Knoll Diner does NOT recommend Periscoop for lunch.

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Lamancusa Tavern - Bacon Cheeseburger

Lamancusas Restaurant Bacon Cheeseburger

Lamancusa’s Restaurant
Location: Lamacusa Tavern – 15 South Davis St. Girard, OH 44420 – (330)545-9151
The order: Bacon cheeseburger and cheese and bacon french fries.
The Service: Standard take out. A call on the phone and the order was ready upon arrival.
The Taste: Great. Very juicy burger. It was well done, the bun was fresh and not soggy, the cheese melted, and the bacon cooked. Fries were crispy and the cheese and bacon topping abundant.
Presentation: Do we see a pattern here? White Styrofoam cartons.
The Value: Under 6 bucks for the combo. The burger was big, as was the bun, the fires were many. a very good value for the money.

The Rating: 4.00 out of 5 shots. Grassy Knoll Diner recommends Lamacusa’s Restaurant for lunch.

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10/01/2007

Pizza Hut - 12 Inch Regular Pizza

Pizza Hut Delivery

Pizza Hut Restaurant
Location: 3917 Belmont Ave
Youngstown, Ohio

The order: One of every type of pizza pie they had.
The Service: Of course, it was delivered. And it was prompt and on time.
The Taste: For a franchise pizzeria, it was pretty good. the crust was cooked, the slices well separated, and the toppings abundant.
Presentation: Sturdy cardboard pizza boxes with the Pizza Hut logo.
The Value: Not bad for what you get. About $7.50 per regular pizza.

The Rating: 3.25 shots out of 5. The Grassy Knoll Diner recommends Pizza Hut for lunch.

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Jib Jab Hot Dog Shoppe - Chili Dog

Jib Jab Hot Dog Shop Girard Ohio Chili Dog

Jib Jab Hot Dog Shop

Location: 313 S. State St. Girard, OH 44420
The order: Chili cheese dog, cheeseburger, large order of fries.

The Service: As always, very prompt and the order was correct.

The Taste: Chili dog, very good. Cheeseburger, average to good. Fries, very good. The buns were fresh, the fries cooked to a golden brown.

Presentation: Standard cardboard box and Styrofoam boxes.

The Value: All this for under 5 bucks. Pretty darn good deal.

The Rating: 4 out of 5 stars this time around. Grassy Knoll Diner recommends Jib Jab hot dog shoppe.

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Arby's Roast Beef Four For Five Deal

Arbys Roast Beef Four For Five Deal

Arby's Restaurant
Location: Route 46, Youngstown, Ohio

The order: 4 roast beefs for 5 bucks and an order of potato cakes.
The Service: Standard drive through service. No long line, acceptable service. The order was correct.
The Taste: Pretty standard fare roast beef except one of them was a little fatty for my taste. Maybe they should change the spit more often.
Presentation: The sandwiches were pretty flat and wrapped in the standard Arby’s logo bag. They sure didn’t look like the ones touted in the TV commercials.
The Value: 4 sandwiches for 5 bucks. Do the math, that’s $1.25 per regular roast beef. Pretty good deal.

The Rating: 3 shots out of 5. The value was there but the sandwiches were smashed and the one was a little fatty. Grassy Knoll Diner recommends Arby’s roast beef.

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11/15/2003

San Francisco Restaurants

San Francisco Restaurants - This following program is dedicated to the city and people of San Francisco. Who may not know it but they are beautiful. And so is their city. This is a very personal song. So if the viewer cannot understand it. Particularly those of you who are European residents. Save up all your bread and fly Trans Love Airways to San Francisco U.S.A. Then maybe you'll understand this song. It will be worth it. If not for the sake of this song but for the sake of your own peace of mind. (Eric Burdon And the Animals)

Alcatraz Pier 33 Cafe Sandwich
Chinese Pizza - Sort Of Anyway
Crepe Cafe- Pier 39 - Strawberry Breakfast Crepe
New Village Cafe Breakfast
Star Bagel - Bacon, Egg, Cheese Breakfast Bagel

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New York Restaurants

New York Restaurants -

Bantry Bay Pub - Cheeseburger
Brassiere Restaurant - Angus Bacon Cheeseburger
Broadway 49 Cafe - Chicken Strips
Caffe Palermo - Italian Ice
Gallaghers Steak House - Filet Mignon
Rosie O'Grady Bar - Irish Traditional Fish And Chips
Stage Deli - New York Style Cherry Cheesecake
Stage Deli - Hot Turkey Sandwich
Stage Deli - Turkey And Cheese Sandwich
Toarmina Restaurant - Chicken Parmigiana

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11/14/2003

Miscellaneous Restaurants

Miscellaneous Restaurants -

Alliance, Ohio Texas Roadhouse - BBQ Chicken And Ribs
Bahama's - Kalik Beer
Burger King - Ripley West Virginia - Hamburger
Champions Restaurant - Philadelphia - Chicken Strips Hopefully
Coke Zero - Taste Test
Conneaut Lake Park, Pennsylvania - Corn Dog And Fries
Fairfax Virginia - Jays Place - Maybe Chicken
Home Made - Halloween Cookies
Hoss's Steakhouse - New Castle, Pa - Filet Mignon (Closed)
Hoss's Steakhouse - Grove City, Pa - Chicken Strips
Margaritaville - Orlando, Florida - Cheeseburger In Paradise
North Lima - Dairy Queen - Butterfinger Blizzard
Philadelphia - Marriott Marquis - Liberty Bell Waffles
Philadelphia - Hard Rock Cafe - Twisted Chicken Mac
Room Service - Nebraska - Omaha Steak
Summitville Church - Turkey Dinner
Tamarack Rest Stop - West Virginia Turnpike - Sbarro Pizza

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Las Vegas Restaurants

Las Vegas Restaurants -

BLT Burger - The Mirage - The Classic Cheeseburger
Bonnano's Located At MGM Food Court (August 2016)
Cafe Chloe - Chicken Parmigiana
California Pizza - Mirage Hotel - Regular Cheese Pizza
Canters Deli - Turkey Sandwich
Caribe Cafe - Mirage Hotel - Breakfast Platter
Carnegie Deli - Mirage Hotel - Bacon Burger
Carnegie Deli - Mirage Hotel - Cherry Cheesecake (September 2016)
Carnegie Deli - Mirage Hotel - Turkey Cheese On Kaiser Roll
Fatburger - XL Burger And Skinny Fries (August 2016)
Francesco's Italian Restaurant - Chicken Parmesan
Harrah's Cafe - Breakfast Platter
Harrah's Fulton Street Food Hall (August 2016)
Hooters - Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
Japonais - Mirage Hotel - Filet Mignon
Kokomo's Steak House - Mirage Hotel - Filet Mignon
Kokomo's Steak House - Mirage Hotel - Filet Mignon (Revisit)
Michael's Gourmet Restaurant - Filet Mignon
Nathan's Hot Dogs At MGM Grand
Piero's Italian Restaurant - Penne Pasta
Stack Restaurant - Mirage Hotel - Filet Mignon
Stage Deli - Las Vegas - Turkey And Cheese Sandwich
Terrace Cafe - Breakfast Platter (CLOSED)
Treasure Island Steak House - Filet Mignon

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Houston Texas Restaurants

House Of Blues Restaurant - Bacon Cheeseburger
Murphy's Deli - Buyer Beware Sandwich
Quattro Restaurant - Personal Pizza

Geneva On The Lake Restaurants

Geneva On The Lake

Geneva On The Lake Restaurants - Once a thriving vacation resort and young adult get-a-way spot, has succumbed to the march of time as erosion destroyed the once beautiful beaches and amusement park. Only the restaurants and retail shops remain dotting the strip. And I have been to all of them.

Eddie's Grill - Cheeseburger Take Out Service
Eddie's Grill - Counter Service Cheeseburger And Fries
Eddie's Grill - Double Cheeseburger And Fries
Eddie's Grill - Foot Long Chili Dog
Eddie's Grill - Ice Cream Cone
Eddie's Grill - Boxed Take Out Cheeseburger
Eddie's Grill - Pizza
Madsen Dozen Donuts
Old Firehouse Winery - Bacon Cheeseburger
Old Time Candy Store - Wonka Bar
Time Square - French Fries - Regualr Order
Time Square Restaurant VS Eddie's Grill
Zeppe's Pizza By The Slice

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Chicago Restaurants

Carver Turkey Sandwich - Rosemont Convention Center
Chicago Style Pizza - No, Not Really
Crowne Plaza Room Service - Cheeseburger And Chicken
Crowne Metro - Grilled Chicken
Gibson's Steakhouse - Filet Mignon
Gibsons Steakhouse - Revisited - Filet Mignon
Gino's Pizza - Large Pizza
Metro Grill - Cheeseburger And Fries
River Rock Deli - Pizza
Shoeless Joe's BBQ Pork
Vile Breakfast In Chicago

Gatlinburg Restaurants

Gatlinburg Parkway - View From Blaines

Gatlinburg Restaurants - Gatlinburg, Tennessee, nestled in the foothills of the great Smoky Mountains has hundreds of retail shops and a wide variety of restaurants of which many I have visited. From Filet Mignon to BBQ ribs, even deep fried twinkies. Check out my critiques below.