You can probably tell by now I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants. Sure, I eat at my fair share of them...but rarely are they memorable. I like the small restaurants, the ones with character...and of course great food! Hidden Gem will be a regular entry on the blog. One restaurant will be highlighted...a quick, short take on a place that's already proven itself in the art of awesome food. And if you think Hidden Gem begins and ends in Houston, you're wrong...stay tuned for other cities!
Restaurant: Alamo Tamale & Taco
Location: 809 Berry Road http://www.alamotamale.com/
Tables: Maybe 5 (in the porch out front). This is a stand, order and get out place.
Specialty: Well...guess it's in the name. Breakfast tacos and tamales are great...maybe not the best but darn close. They are a little higher in price than most places, but portions are bigger. Highly recommend anything pork...and I never met an egg there I didn't like.
Chance of getting food poisoning: LOW. Clean place, and I've never gotten sick.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Quick Hit
I usually save my recipes for Tuesdays, but a reader emailed me this one yesterday. This sounds disgusting...still gonna give it a try! It received excellent reviews. One person claimed adding tomato and bacon makes it even better. Baby steps for me. I'll report back in the comment box sometime this weekend after I give it a go.
Peanut Butter, Mayonnaise and Lettuce Sandwich
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Mayonnaise-and-Lettuce-Sandwich/Detail.aspx
Peanut Butter, Mayonnaise and Lettuce Sandwich
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Mayonnaise-and-Lettuce-Sandwich/Detail.aspx
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
He Said, She Said
I promised a He Said, She Said by the end of the month. Carrie and I came through! Here’s how it works:
We went to the same restaurant at different times.
• Neither of us had been to this restaurant before.
• We read no previous reviews.
• We wrote our reviews separately.
• Once written, the reviews were not changed.
Cafe Rabelais specializes in French cuisine and is located in Houston's Rice Village. We'll be doing this once a month...it was just too much fun not to make it a regular blog entry. Hope you enjoy!
Atmosphere: (3.5) Stars
He Said:
Café Rabelais’ décor has a nice cross-section of modern and rustic. Nice bold colors, cement floor, exposed duct work…all the standard things that make you feel like you’re somewhere. They have a wonderful bar taking up about 25% of the restaurant and wine racks running along the walls. We went for lunch...pretty laid back vibe with a nice flow of customers. The menu was displayed on an enormous chalk board. I wasn’t too keen on this…couldn’t see the board from where we sat. Sara actually had to get up and stand over someone’s table. I’m guessing for dinner Café Rabelais has a nice, romantic feel…and who knows…maybe even some menus.
Atmosphere: (4) Stars
She Said:
Having never been to France, this is what I imagine a French bistro to be. Simple but clean décor. What some may consider cozy, I found a bit crowded, especially since I was trying to navigate through the tightly packed tables with a child in a car seat. By 7:00 (they open at 6:00 on Mondays), the place was crowded with only a single table open and patrons waiting at the bar for a table outside. Could be romantic if not so noisy. Also, while the chalkboard menu on the wall may be considered quaint, I found it annoying, as I had to crane my neck around to order. Other diners stood in the middle of the restaurant deciding on their dinner choice. Hey, Café Rabelais, splurge on some menus, please!
Taste: (4) Stars
He Said:
Nothing bad about the meal. They brought out some bread which was pretty good…super crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside…steaming hot! Sara ordered a glass of wine and Nat and I split an Orangina. The Orangina was a first for me…citrus flavored drink with a slight bit of carbonation...very refreshing. Sara ordered the Sandwich au Poulet. This contained sautéed chicken, onions, tomatoes and swiss cheese. It came on that wonderful French bread with a butter condiment. She let me steal a bite…solid sandwich. I ordered the special…Shrimp with Garlic Butter. This came with white rice and a sautéed vegetable medley. The rice and veggies didn’t do much for me but the shrimp were spectacular and the presentation was nice. Five jumbo-sized, head-on shrimp…bathing in a pool of herbed buttery goodness. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and I know this sounds gross to some, but don’t be shy about eating the head innards. Very tasty! My dish also came with a side salad that was pretty run-of-the-mill. Dessert was the most interesting part of the meal. We all split a Lavendar Pear Tart. Sara loved it…I just liked it. It was a bit too savory for me but the lavender throughout was undenieably good. It came with a raspberry sauce. If you are into trying unique desserts, give this one a try. We both had coffee. Given that it was a French place, I expected more out of the java…it came up short.
Taste: (4) Stars
She Said:
Luckily, I am taking my husband’s meal into consideration here. I must admit, my disappointment with my meal may be due, at least in part, to my expectation. I ordered the Sandwiche de Nice, described as “fresh tuna steak, egg, tomato, spring mix, aioli.” Picture it….got it? OK…so the tuna steak was maybe ½” thick and lacked the crisp sear that I love on a tuna steak. Did you picture hard boiled egg? I did. It wasn’t. It can best be described as “egg snot,” fully cooked, but lacking flavor or texture. The sandwich was redeemed by the incredible ciabatta bread on which it was served and some of the best damn French fries I’ve ever eaten. Perfect crunch, salty…yum! Warren ordered fish soup and the pork chop with oyster mushrooms and bacon (although the menu stated it was oysters, bacon, mushrooms…). The fish soup was very fishy and somewhat one note but presented beautifully with a garlic crostini. The pork chop was delicious. Tender and juicy with the most wonderful big chunks of crispy bacon. Just proves my theory that everything is better with bacon.
Service: (2.5) Stars
He Said:
The service just was lacking for me. Our waiter was a nice guy, but didn’t seem knowledgeable about the food nor wine menus. By the way, the wine menu was thick…scanned it and saw several bottles that hit the $2500 mark. Our food took a bit longer than expected and the plates took awhile to be cleared. As Sara tells me…the French don’t use bread plates. This annoys me. I hate sitting in a mess of crumbs and if you aren’t gonna give me a plate, you better clear that stuff off my table quickly.
Service: (2.5) Stars
She Said:
The service left much to be desired. The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, yet we waited for nearly 10 minutes for the waitress to come to our table. We ordered wine and again waited. When asked if there were any specials, our waitress responded, “The entire menu is special.” No mention of the soup of the day. Hmmm... The gentleman (the manager, maybe) who took our order seemed significantly more professional and knowledgeable, but there appeared to be a lack of communication when the waitress brought me utensils and a wet one to eat the mussels which I had not ordered. Food arrived quickly, but the waitress was inattentive. We would have ordered a second glass of wine if offered and we needed to get her attention for the check.
Pricing: (3) Stars
He Said:
My meal was $15.00. For lunch, I was feeling more the 12.50-13.00 range. But go figure…they weren’t up for negotiating. Although, as a side note, wouldn’t that be fun if you could do that at restaurants? Sara’s sandwich was reasonably priced at about $8. I wouldn’t go back here for lunch but I’d check it out for dinner. Café Rabelais was a bit overpriced, but not outrageous.
Pricing: (3.5) Stars
She Said:
Pretty much what I expected in the Village. Wines ranging from $5 - $20 per glass, $8.95 for my sandwich, $25.00 for the pork chop.
Overall Opinion: (3.5) Stars
He Said:
I would go back to Café Rabelais. My highest rated category was Taste…and that’s never a bad thing. Those shrimp were awesome. I could see myself getting a craving for them with a nice glass of wine. I firmly believe this is one of the key ways to make it as a restaurant. Do something (at least one thing) so well, it will keep the people coming back. The service needs to be better, and quite possibly I caught them on an off day. When you open an authentic French cuisine restaurant, every person better be knowledgeable.
Overall Opinion: (3.5) Stars
She Said:
I would probably go back if someone else suggested it. Nice ambiance, hit-or-miss food, not so hot service.
http://www.caferabelais.com/
We went to the same restaurant at different times.
• Neither of us had been to this restaurant before.
• We read no previous reviews.
• We wrote our reviews separately.
• Once written, the reviews were not changed.
Cafe Rabelais specializes in French cuisine and is located in Houston's Rice Village. We'll be doing this once a month...it was just too much fun not to make it a regular blog entry. Hope you enjoy!
Atmosphere: (3.5) Stars
He Said:
Café Rabelais’ décor has a nice cross-section of modern and rustic. Nice bold colors, cement floor, exposed duct work…all the standard things that make you feel like you’re somewhere. They have a wonderful bar taking up about 25% of the restaurant and wine racks running along the walls. We went for lunch...pretty laid back vibe with a nice flow of customers. The menu was displayed on an enormous chalk board. I wasn’t too keen on this…couldn’t see the board from where we sat. Sara actually had to get up and stand over someone’s table. I’m guessing for dinner Café Rabelais has a nice, romantic feel…and who knows…maybe even some menus.
Atmosphere: (4) Stars
She Said:
Having never been to France, this is what I imagine a French bistro to be. Simple but clean décor. What some may consider cozy, I found a bit crowded, especially since I was trying to navigate through the tightly packed tables with a child in a car seat. By 7:00 (they open at 6:00 on Mondays), the place was crowded with only a single table open and patrons waiting at the bar for a table outside. Could be romantic if not so noisy. Also, while the chalkboard menu on the wall may be considered quaint, I found it annoying, as I had to crane my neck around to order. Other diners stood in the middle of the restaurant deciding on their dinner choice. Hey, Café Rabelais, splurge on some menus, please!
Taste: (4) Stars
He Said:
Nothing bad about the meal. They brought out some bread which was pretty good…super crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside…steaming hot! Sara ordered a glass of wine and Nat and I split an Orangina. The Orangina was a first for me…citrus flavored drink with a slight bit of carbonation...very refreshing. Sara ordered the Sandwich au Poulet. This contained sautéed chicken, onions, tomatoes and swiss cheese. It came on that wonderful French bread with a butter condiment. She let me steal a bite…solid sandwich. I ordered the special…Shrimp with Garlic Butter. This came with white rice and a sautéed vegetable medley. The rice and veggies didn’t do much for me but the shrimp were spectacular and the presentation was nice. Five jumbo-sized, head-on shrimp…bathing in a pool of herbed buttery goodness. The shrimp were perfectly cooked and I know this sounds gross to some, but don’t be shy about eating the head innards. Very tasty! My dish also came with a side salad that was pretty run-of-the-mill. Dessert was the most interesting part of the meal. We all split a Lavendar Pear Tart. Sara loved it…I just liked it. It was a bit too savory for me but the lavender throughout was undenieably good. It came with a raspberry sauce. If you are into trying unique desserts, give this one a try. We both had coffee. Given that it was a French place, I expected more out of the java…it came up short.
Taste: (4) Stars
She Said:
Luckily, I am taking my husband’s meal into consideration here. I must admit, my disappointment with my meal may be due, at least in part, to my expectation. I ordered the Sandwiche de Nice, described as “fresh tuna steak, egg, tomato, spring mix, aioli.” Picture it….got it? OK…so the tuna steak was maybe ½” thick and lacked the crisp sear that I love on a tuna steak. Did you picture hard boiled egg? I did. It wasn’t. It can best be described as “egg snot,” fully cooked, but lacking flavor or texture. The sandwich was redeemed by the incredible ciabatta bread on which it was served and some of the best damn French fries I’ve ever eaten. Perfect crunch, salty…yum! Warren ordered fish soup and the pork chop with oyster mushrooms and bacon (although the menu stated it was oysters, bacon, mushrooms…). The fish soup was very fishy and somewhat one note but presented beautifully with a garlic crostini. The pork chop was delicious. Tender and juicy with the most wonderful big chunks of crispy bacon. Just proves my theory that everything is better with bacon.
Service: (2.5) Stars
He Said:
The service just was lacking for me. Our waiter was a nice guy, but didn’t seem knowledgeable about the food nor wine menus. By the way, the wine menu was thick…scanned it and saw several bottles that hit the $2500 mark. Our food took a bit longer than expected and the plates took awhile to be cleared. As Sara tells me…the French don’t use bread plates. This annoys me. I hate sitting in a mess of crumbs and if you aren’t gonna give me a plate, you better clear that stuff off my table quickly.
Service: (2.5) Stars
She Said:
The service left much to be desired. The restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived, yet we waited for nearly 10 minutes for the waitress to come to our table. We ordered wine and again waited. When asked if there were any specials, our waitress responded, “The entire menu is special.” No mention of the soup of the day. Hmmm... The gentleman (the manager, maybe) who took our order seemed significantly more professional and knowledgeable, but there appeared to be a lack of communication when the waitress brought me utensils and a wet one to eat the mussels which I had not ordered. Food arrived quickly, but the waitress was inattentive. We would have ordered a second glass of wine if offered and we needed to get her attention for the check.
Pricing: (3) Stars
He Said:
My meal was $15.00. For lunch, I was feeling more the 12.50-13.00 range. But go figure…they weren’t up for negotiating. Although, as a side note, wouldn’t that be fun if you could do that at restaurants? Sara’s sandwich was reasonably priced at about $8. I wouldn’t go back here for lunch but I’d check it out for dinner. Café Rabelais was a bit overpriced, but not outrageous.
Pricing: (3.5) Stars
She Said:
Pretty much what I expected in the Village. Wines ranging from $5 - $20 per glass, $8.95 for my sandwich, $25.00 for the pork chop.
Overall Opinion: (3.5) Stars
He Said:
I would go back to Café Rabelais. My highest rated category was Taste…and that’s never a bad thing. Those shrimp were awesome. I could see myself getting a craving for them with a nice glass of wine. I firmly believe this is one of the key ways to make it as a restaurant. Do something (at least one thing) so well, it will keep the people coming back. The service needs to be better, and quite possibly I caught them on an off day. When you open an authentic French cuisine restaurant, every person better be knowledgeable.
Overall Opinion: (3.5) Stars
She Said:
I would probably go back if someone else suggested it. Nice ambiance, hit-or-miss food, not so hot service.
http://www.caferabelais.com/
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Mighty Good Recipe
Prosciutto Ravioli
Here's the Giada recipe. This can be made as an appetizer or as a main course. I prefer to make as an appetizer and throw a little chopped Italian parsley on top. A few recommendations:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/prosciutto-ravioli-recipe/index.html
Here's the Giada recipe. This can be made as an appetizer or as a main course. I prefer to make as an appetizer and throw a little chopped Italian parsley on top. A few recommendations:
- You may want to cut down on the butter significantly if that's not your thing.
- I've made this with regular tomato sauce, instead of butter...and it's just as good.
- A little prosciutto goes a long way.
- Please make sure you squeeze the spinach well to get rid of excess water.
- Having a hard time finding dumpling wrappers? In Texas, you'll find them at Central Market in the freezer section. For a greater selection, go to any Asian market in your city. In Houston, I love going to H-Mart.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/prosciutto-ravioli-recipe/index.html
Monday, April 26, 2010
Giada
Tomorrow's Mighty Good Recipe comes from Food Network giant Giada de Laurentiis. If you have a pulse and watch television, you know the person I speak of. The lady can cook...after that...I take issue. Rather than be completely cynical, I decided to pair the good with the bad. Here's a look at my...
Giada Pros/Cons List
Con: Easy one...her pronunciation of Italian words is utterly revolting. I enjoy eating "spaghetti" not "spageeeeti".
Pro: Because of this...her show tops the ratings for the Italian immigrants 80+ demographic.
Con: Cleavage...we get it...you're rather fond of your breasts, and more importantly the six-inch, black line they create when smashed together. Mix in a turtleneck every six months.
Pro: Cleavage. Hey, I'm not an idiot. Sometimes the positives outweigh the negatives. I think that's a double entendre!
Con: Giada...Clinique called..they want their makeup counter back. Who knows...that might be Emeril underneath all that spackle.
Pro: Easy sponsorship deal coming her way. If the chick from The Office can get her own hair ad, I figure Giada is a lay-up for some eyelash revitalizer promotion.
Con: She's built like a candied apple on a stick. As the guy from Seinfeld once said..."You've got a big head. It's too big for your body."
Pro: Big head=big brain=better recipes=happier me
You just have to look on the bright side!
Giada Pros/Cons List
Con: Easy one...her pronunciation of Italian words is utterly revolting. I enjoy eating "spaghetti" not "spageeeeti".
Pro: Because of this...her show tops the ratings for the Italian immigrants 80+ demographic.
Con: Cleavage...we get it...you're rather fond of your breasts, and more importantly the six-inch, black line they create when smashed together. Mix in a turtleneck every six months.
Pro: Cleavage. Hey, I'm not an idiot. Sometimes the positives outweigh the negatives. I think that's a double entendre!
Con: Giada...Clinique called..they want their makeup counter back. Who knows...that might be Emeril underneath all that spackle.
Pro: Easy sponsorship deal coming her way. If the chick from The Office can get her own hair ad, I figure Giada is a lay-up for some eyelash revitalizer promotion.
Con: She's built like a candied apple on a stick. As the guy from Seinfeld once said..."You've got a big head. It's too big for your body."
Pro: Big head=big brain=better recipes=happier me
You just have to look on the bright side!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tip Jar
Each week I'll give out a tip. Take it or leave it.
This tip is for the individuals/families who eat-in Monday-Thursday. You can use Sunday afternoon to your advantage. Get ahead of the game by preparing Monday's meal the day before. When you get home from work on Monday evening, just pop it in the oven. Sunday is also a great time to cook with the kids. In a little over an hour, you can make three meals. Here's the plan. Buy a three-pound ground beef package. Separate the meat in thirds. Make three different beef recipes. I know...you don't want to eat beef three straight days. Put two in the freezer and those will be for the following Mondays. Here's three easy beef recipes that should take you no longer than an hour (total) to put together. For the first two, you may want to dice up some carrots or zucchini so you get your veggies.
1. Sloppy Joes: follow directions and stick in freezer
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sloppy-Joes-2/Detail.aspx
2. Spaghetti Pie: this freezes well too
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spaghetti-Pie-III/Detail.aspx
3. Meatloaf: don't cook this ahead of time...just put together (pop in freezer or fridge if you want to cook the next day)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Glazed-Meatloaf-II/Detail.aspx
This tip is for the individuals/families who eat-in Monday-Thursday. You can use Sunday afternoon to your advantage. Get ahead of the game by preparing Monday's meal the day before. When you get home from work on Monday evening, just pop it in the oven. Sunday is also a great time to cook with the kids. In a little over an hour, you can make three meals. Here's the plan. Buy a three-pound ground beef package. Separate the meat in thirds. Make three different beef recipes. I know...you don't want to eat beef three straight days. Put two in the freezer and those will be for the following Mondays. Here's three easy beef recipes that should take you no longer than an hour (total) to put together. For the first two, you may want to dice up some carrots or zucchini so you get your veggies.
1. Sloppy Joes: follow directions and stick in freezer
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sloppy-Joes-2/Detail.aspx
2. Spaghetti Pie: this freezes well too
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spaghetti-Pie-III/Detail.aspx
3. Meatloaf: don't cook this ahead of time...just put together (pop in freezer or fridge if you want to cook the next day)
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Glazed-Meatloaf-II/Detail.aspx
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Fon-don't
I don't like fondue. I know why...it's not the melty, cheesy goodness that only a vat of boiling cheese can provide. It's that weird wine aftertaste. I hate it and every couple years I think I'm not gonna hate it. Then I try fondue again and I still hate it. Candy corn has a similar effect on me, but that's an entry for another day. Although I hate fondue, you can't deny it's impact on society...
- The 70's provided us with the first fondue craze...but I don't think it had much to do with the cheese. Back then, fondue was a code word for "swinger's party". "Hey Mike...would you and Debbie like to come over for some fondue?" "Why yes...yes we would!"
- In the 80' s and 90's fondue pots were great wedding presents from people who neither liked nor hated you.
- Over the last few years fondue restaurants like the Melting Pot continue to be popular, but are the people going for the cheese or the pot of chocolate gold at the end of the dining rainbow?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Restaurant Review
Firefly was another Las Vegas restaurant I checked out last week...
Rate each category on a 1-5 star rating.
Atmosphere: (3.5) Stars
Brief Take: Typical tapas restaurant...bold colors, modern art, very clean layout on the inside. Firefly had a front, outside porch with about six tables. I'm guessing on a Friday night this place is hopping. It's not a big restaurant but it has a nice, open flow. The fairly small, but immaculate bar is located on the side. To be fair...we went as a family in the middle of the afternoon, so the place was dead. Am I the only one who feels these tapas restaurants are designated for 20-somethings trying to inject a tiny bit of culture in their lives? Guess I'm getting older.
Taste: (3) Stars
Brief Take: The food was good, not great...and certainly not memorable. What puts this place on the map for me is the mojito. You had a choice of the traditional or one of the multiple infused flavors such as peach, mango or passion fruit. I could imagine sucking down a few of these on a 100 degree Vegas day. Perfect blend of alcohol, fruit, mint and hand-crushed ice. We ordered five mini plates that included: gazpacho, tuna peppers, tomato basil soup, chicken skewers, and fish sticks. The tuna peppers came out and I was disappointed to see it was canned tuna...but surprisingly they were very tasty. The chicken skewers were well seasoned but were paper-thin and thus got dried out in the cooking process. The gazpacho was refreshing, pretty standard, but excellent. I was expecting big things from the panko-crusted fish sticks. Turned out good, but the tartar sauce was a bit underwhelming. Again, everything was good...just nothing stood out...besides the booze.
Service: (5) Stars
Brief Take: Great service. No complaints here. The food came out in a timely fashion, kids were treated well, and he left the menu with us just in case we wanted more food. He checked on us regularly and kept the drinks flowing...hey...we were on vacation.
Pricing: (3) Stars
Brief Take: The mojitos were about what you'd expect in price...just wish they were a little bigger. Tapas is small, overpriced food. Everyone knows this going in. That said, I thought Firefly was reasonable.
Overall Opinion: (3.5) Stars
Summary: One of the best aspects of Firefly was location...a few blocks away from the bustle of The Strip. If I lived in Vegas, I'd go back again on an occasional basis. As a visitor, I'd definitely stop in for a cocktail again. Firefly had a good vibe, solid food, great service and perfect beverages!
www.fireflylv.com/
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Deep Fried...Testicles!
I recently ordered lamb testicles at a steakhouse in Oklahoma City. I'm not gonna get cute here...they were disgusting. Consisted of an earthy taste with an interesting texture. Looked like they had been run through a deli slicer on the #2 setting...battered...then fried to imperfection. Cattleman's, the restaurant I was at, is one of the most famous in the area and has been around for more than 100 years...as good a place as any to try a lamb's manhood. Wrong. I asked the waiter before ordering what he thought of the "lamb fries". I quote..."Sir, I don't put testicles in my mouth". Ten minutes later, he and I no longer shared that commonality. Just to be clear...still talking about lamb fries.
http://www.cattlemensrestaurant.com/
To the readers...ever eaten anything weird, crazy, absolutely disgusting? Would love to hear about it in the comment box.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Restaurant Review
I was in Las Vegas last week with the family. Our good friends Brendan and Stacy recommended we try out Battista’s…an Italian restaurant one block off The Strip. Great call!
Rate each category on a 1-5 star rating.
Atmosphere: (5) Stars
Brief Take: What an atmosphere! I think the Rat Pack use to kick-it at this place. Definitely looks the part. Extremely dim lighting (takes several minutes to adjust). The walls are decorated with celebrity, old-school pictures. The décor had a lot going on, but I honestly couldn’t see much. When I finally could, my focus was on the food. Expect to enjoy a nice, quiet dinner at Battista’s. The lighting definiely mellows the patrons.
Taste: (4.5) Stars
Brief Take: The food played the part as well. Battista’s menu is interesting…it’s limited to about 20 dishes. I ordered the veal parm. Sara got the lasagna. Each main entrée came with a side salad, side of pasta, unlimited house wine (red or white), garlic bread and a cappuccino. Let’s start with the salad. It consisted of a light olive oil vinaigrette, with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, a thin slice of salami, and hunks of fresh mozzarella. I can’t imagine a better salad at any restaurant. I don’t usually make a big deal about bread, but this was some of the best I’ve had. Crispy outside, soft inside..lathered with butter and pieces of roasted garlic. The house red wine was simple but offered a perfect compliment to the meal. It was served slightly chilled in a juice glass. I tried Sara’s lasagna and the freshness of the pasta is what stood out for me. It was also super cheesy. So was my veal parm. The only slight disappointment came with the veal..it was a bit tougher than I like, but still tasted excellent. Nat and I split the strawberry cheesecake. That’s one of those items that’s never bad, but the consumption gave me a one-way ticket to Discomfortville.
Service: (5) Stars
Brief Take: The service was impeccable. They really treated the kids like royalty. The waiter brought Nat a side of pasta and didn’t charge me for it. They even made it look fancy for her. Syd fell in love with our waiter. We didn’t have to wait long on our food, and they kept the wine flowing. Only complaint...the four-foot tall, 80-year-old accordion player making his rounds passed up our table. I had a $5er pulled out and couldn't wait to hear his stories about how he played for Sinatra. Oh well, maybe next time.
Pricing: (5) Stars
Brief Take: Dishes range from $22 (basic pastas) to $37 (steaks). When I first scanned the menu, I thought this was outrageous. But as you can see from above, when you take into account what comes with the meal…there may not be a better deal in Vegas.
Overall Opinion: (4.5) Stars
Summary: Battista’s has it all…charm, affordability, great atmosphere, awesome food and excellent service. There’s really not more you can ask from a restaurant. I honestly would not change one thing about the place. Next time, I’ll try to limit my cheese intake. The pound that I consumed that night sent me back to Embassy Suites breathing like a woman with contractions three minutes apart.
http://www.battistaslasvegas.com/
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