Carter's Restaurants - 22990 Outer Dr, Dearborn, MI 48124 - (313) 277-9033

General thoughts - I love these types of restaurants where it's all counter seating. The whole building, inside and out, is white.You know everyone that works there and they know you. There are always the regulars that are there every morning by 8am and do not leave until almost 11am. There's something comforting about walking in and seeing the same people. Carter's used to be a chain but are now individually owned and operated. The first picture is the outisde. As you can see, the window has the sign for cheap (and yummy) burgers. The second and third pictures show the interior.

Foods tried - Breakfast Special, Cheese omelette, Fried egg sandwich, Cheeseburger, Fries, Boston cooler, Strawberry malt

Thoughts -

1. Breakfast Special - It is only available until 11am, and at $3.25, you can't beat the price for what you get - 2 eggs any style, hash browns, 2 slices of bacon, 2 slices of buttered toast. With a nice hot cup of coffee, you can't ask for a better start for your day. I guess this is one of those seemingly foolproof meals that any diner makes, but maybe it's the taste left on the grill from years of cooking on it that makes this Breakfast Special better than the others. I've been to places where the hash browns aren't cooked through, and this place definitely knows how to cook a breakfast properly (if that made sense at all). As you can see from the picture, it's actually a "reenactment" of what it actually looks like. The spots on my knife isn't junk leftover from the previous user of the knife but from me taking a couple bites of the food before I remembered to take the picture. And you can see I also "rearranged" the toast so the piece that I already ate half of is in the bottom. I would think that's a excellent proof that it's very delicious.

2. Cheese omelette - Another yummy offering from Carter's. This time I remembered to take the picture before I started to eat it. I also enjoyed this a lot because the eggs are not rubbery like some omelettes can be. Omelettes seem easy to make but it is an art and I cannot tell you how many times I've tried and failed. As you can see, it also comes with hash browns, 2 slices of bacon, and buttered toast. The bacon is well done and brittle to the touch like I asked for it. It's just my preference.

3. Fried egg sandwich - One day I decided to be adventurous and I thought I'd try something new just for once. The fried egg sandwich, however, doesn't come with bacon. It is exactly what it is, fried egg in between 2 slices of extra heavily buttered toast. I did order bacon separately that time so i can make a bacon and fried egg sandwich. I love when the eggs are cooked over easy because of the taste of the toast and egg yolks together when the yolk breaks. There's just something deliciously satisfying about that.

4. Cheeseburger - I think the cheeseburger is pretty good for the price. The patty isn't the biggest, but it is cooked right. Topped with some grilled onion (you have to ask for it), it's actually quite yummy. Being the experienced cooks that they are, of course all the burgers are cooked to order. If you order it deluxe, it come with fries and coleslaw.

5. Fries - Carter's serve skinny fries. You would think it's easier to burn those becaue they're so thin but they make some dang good fries - Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. It's not expensive and you get a healthy portion of it.

6. Boston cooler - This is one of the easiest drinks to make and yet I've never had it until I was 28 years old. It is literally a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with Vernor's (similar to a root beer float). I've had it with regular and diet Vernor's and they both taste good. It is an awesome summer drink. The simplicity of this drink makes me smile. :-)

7. Strawberry malt - This is the reason you go to a place such as Carter's. Although these have become more common over the years and served in various chain restaurants, the ones that come from soda fountain shops like Carter's just seem to taste better. Maybe because of the nostalga factor? Either way, they're served in the very recognizable cone shaped glasses and you are given the leftovers. Love it!

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy in My Tummy? Yes. Will I be coming back? The short answer is yes. The long answer is that this is one of those restaurants I like coming back to again and again because the food is good and it's something I don't want to see go away. It is an institution to the area. This restaurant has been there for well over 50 years, I would love for it to be here for another 50.

Sanka Tei - 39520 West 14 Mile Road Commerce Twp, MI 48390-3908 - (248) 960-3363

General thoughts - I found Sanka Tei from when I decided to drive around where I work to see where I can grab lunch from. This place is about as non-descript as it gets. Even though they have a few tables, all its foods are served in toss away plastic or styrofoam containers. Based on its take out menu, other than the restaurant's name, the next biggest words are "Take Out Sushi" so it should come as no surprise the containers are all disposable. There are 2 people running the restaurant, 1 makes the sushi/takes orders, and the other is the chef. I'm guessing they're a couple. It's not a very big place, but for a place this size the menu selection is quite good.

Foods tasted - Curry rice with breaded pork, spicy tuna roll, spicy yellowtail roll, Katsu don, Kakiage udon

Thoughts -

1. Curry rice with breaded pork - It's very good. I like that the curry is very thick. Some places has very watery curry and that's flat out gross. The breaded pork wasn't tough and the breading isn't burnt. It has pieces of carrots and potatoes in it.

2. Spicy tuna roll - I just wanted to test something simple since I've never been there before. The fish was fresh, but my favorite part is that instead of the usual spicy mayonnaise (which add tons of calories), the spiciness comes from hot sauce poured directly onto the rice.

3. Kakiage udon - It's udon with vegetable tempura, seaweds, and 2 pieces of fish cakes. There wasn't a large amount of tempura but it was sufficient. The bowl looks smaller than it really is so I guess it was worth the $7 I spent on it. Sanka Tei's broth is good, but I have yet to decide which Japanese restaurants (of the ones I have reviewed so far) has the best one. *I only have the stock picture here because I forgot to take pictures the last time I was there but this is pretty close to the real thing.

4. Spicy yellowtail roll - I thought I'd give some different foods a try just to see (for my now third visit). The yellowtail is also fresh and the hot sauce was also poured onto the rice instead of the spicy mayonnaise. See above for pictures along with the spicy tuna roll.

5. Katsu don - Since the curry rice was good, I wanted to taste another dish that I often order at a Japanese restaurant (also for the third visit). It came with 2 pieces of raddish (which unfortunately I don't eat), a slice of honey dew (for dessert), and a small bunch of spaghetti noodles mixed with mayonnaise. I'm guessing it's suppose to be their version of coleslaw? Katsu don is basically a breaded pork cooked with sauted onions on top of a bed of rice with a cooked egg on top of it (I still can't figure out how they do the egg to get it to that consistency) and a sweet sauce. There's more than enough for a second meal.

Updated 9/21 - Yakisoba, Bibimbop, Squid and masago roll, Miso soup

Thoughts -

1. Yakisoba - If it's up to me, I usually get Yakisoba versus Yakiudon, which is the same stirfry dish but with fat white noodles instead of the skinner soba noodles. Yakisoba consists of pieces of cabbage, pork, carrots, and pickled red ginger stir fried in a teriyaki type sauce. I like that the noodles and the pork are not over done and the cabbage is not mushy. I also like that they put a generous amount of sauce in it, which is convenient for the reheating so that the noodles do not become dry as it is being reheated.

2. Bibimbop -  This is another knockout dish from Sanka Tei. The dish contains shiitake mushrooms, carrots, sunny side up egg, thin slices of beef, sesame oil, shreds of daikon, pickles, seaweed, and a delicious sweet and spicy sauce on top of a bed of white rice. The presentation is great for a takeout dish like this. I also love that this sauce is spicy in addition to being sweet, which is what most restaurants serve alongside their bibimbop. This is one of those dishes where you pretty much have to mix everything together, egg yolks, sauce, and all in order to fully enjoy it. It does come with a side of miso soup. It's too bad that since this restaurant is mostly a takeout restaurant that they do not serve Dolsot bibimbop (bibimbop in a burning hot stone bowl). The difference besides the burning hot stone bowl is the bits of rice that are deliberately burnt from being in the bowl. It adds additional texture and taste to a bibimbop that you otherwise wouldn't have. I definitely would order this again.

3.  Squid and masago (smelt roe) roll - This simple roll is only $3.25! The quality of both the sqauid and masago are great. It is a great alternative to the spicy tuna or spicy yellowtail roll. This roll made me want to order more squid nigiri (individual sushi pieces) the next time I eat at a Japanese restaurant.

4. Miso soup - I love the simplicity of miso soup - broth, miso paste, seaweed, cubes of tofu, scallions. I love the salty taste of the miso soup, the softness of the tofu, the taste and texture of the seaweed and the scallions. Fortunately, this is one of those soups that every Japanese restaurant can make correctly.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? I like it more and more each time I get food from there. Will I go back? I would, especially when I'm craving rice/noodles at work since it's only a mile away. I don't know if I would drive from home for it. I think they're starting to recognize me as they threw in a spicy tuna roll for free today. Score! As with other restaurants, I'll update with more pictures as I go back.

Union Street - 4145 Woodward Ave. Detroit MI 48226 - Phone: (313) 831-3965

General thoughts - I've been there many times and have never had a bad meal there, I honestly don't know if it's even possible. The best thing about going the night we did was that they served $5 martinis and $5 appetizers. The atmosphere is very cozy, awesome place to go for a night on the town. And unlike a bunch of other restaurants in Detroit, this one does open on Monday nights.

Foods tasted - Mac & Cheese w/ Wings, Lobster and shrimp Casino, Blackened (Tilapia?) with Jambalaya

Thoughts -

1. Mac & Cheese w/ Wings - This was one of the $5 appetizers. Honestly, 2 orders of this and I would've been a perfectly happy camper. Their wings were not those scrawny little things and the mac & cheese was delicious and not over done where the cheese starts breaking down. Like the apptizer "menu" says, it came with a lemon tequila BBQ sauce. Couldn't quite taste the tequila or lemon distinctly, but the bottom line is that those 2 elements made normal BBQ sauce that much better.

2. Lobster and shrimp Casino - I honestly don't think I found any actual pieces of lobster, but it does come with a lot of shrimp. Perhaps they used the lobster in form of a lobster broth to cook the pasta in? I don't know, but either way, it was THAT good. I love cooking but there's no way I can imitate that. It had a lot of shitake mushrooms and garlic in it, that's for sure. The sauce was very buttery. It was well worth every penny.

3. Blackened (Tilapia?) with Jambalaya - This one isn't on the regular menu, it was a Chef's Special. It's not even on the website's menu anymore. There was a good amount of blackening seasoning on the fish, and the rest of the components in the jambalaya was very good as well. I'm a person that loves salt, but quite honestly, this dish was a bit too salty even for me. I'm sure for someone out there, it's just right.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. Will I go back? For sure. I really like the feel of the place. It's a great place to go before a Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert because it's right down the street. It's slightly dark in the restaurant, but not in a bad way at all. It's a great date place. As always, I'll put more pictures on this the next time I go.

O'Sushi Japanese Restaurant - 22431 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI (313) 562-4166

Again, no picture. If you Google map it, it still shows the old gelato place that was there before O'Sushi.

General thoughts - I've been there at least a hundred times and I always leave very satisfied. It is at a great location with an attached parking lot, whereas their competition (less than 2 blocks away) is at the corner of a big street but the parking situation is hideous. O'Sushi is known for their very innovative an appetizing rolls. They of course have the standards - Spicy tuna, Philadelphia, Spider, etc. But it also has a lot to choose from that is far from the ordinary. They has an O'Sushi roll that is wrapped in cucumber slices instead of your standard seaweed, they have a White Christmas roll that is baked and is top is treated with a blowtorch. The possibilities are endless. They also have the standard udon, teriyaki, tempura, and even some Korean dishes which are really yummy as well.

Foods tasted - Unagi Nigiri (eel sushi), Chicago roll (has multiple kinds of fish in it), Spicy scallop roll, Philadelphia roll, Yum yum roll (deep fried and has avocado, cream cheese and other things in it), Tempura udon.

Update on 9/8 - here's a picture of all the rolls + nigiri minus the yum yum roll (will add it the next time I eat it) From top to bottom - Chicago roll, Philadelphia roll, tuna avacado roll, salmon roe nigiri, unagi nigiri, salmon nigiri

Thoughts

1. Philadelphia roll - I like that it is made with raw salmon instead of smoked salmon like other places does. Not that it's expensive to begin with, but the raw fish makes it worth the cost. Since it's made with the same salmon that they use in the nigiri, needless to say the salmon in this roll is very fresh.

2. Tuna avacado roll - We were just looking for something simple, and since neither of us are crazy about cucumbers, this is perfect. The tuna is blood red (which indicates freshness) as I would expect from O'Sushi and the avacado is also fresh.

3. Salmon roe nigiri - This is one of my favorites. I know it sounds kind of cruel that I feel like I'm eating Nemo's cousins, but strangely I like that fishy salty taste. As with "grown" salmon, the eggs are suppose to be bright orange (which they were). O'Sushi is also pretty generous with the amount of salmon roe it puts into the salmon roe nigiri which I like a lot.

4. Salmon nigiri - I know I'm totally just rehashing this, but I cannot stress enough how fresh this restaurants' fish are. I know this is just a piece of salmon and rice, but bad sushi really does leave a bad taste in your mouth. This one is far from it.

Thoughts -

1. Unagi Nigiri - John and I both love the eel sushi with the sweet sauce on top. The eel is cooked and delicious. There's really no need to dip in the soy sauce, but I love soy sauce. And of course with lots of wasabi.

2. Chicago roll - It's a great value for $9.95. 4 types of fish inside seaweed and rice into 8 pieces. The chefs do not skimp on the fish, and each fish taste really fresh - which is the key for all sushi. There's no fancy sauce or anything that's on top on it or in it, it's a roll that is for people looking to fully enjoy the raw fish and nothing else. It is one of our new favorites.

3. Spicy scallop roll - It's an 8 piece roll with fresh scallops mixed with masago (smelt roe), topped with a spicy mayo. It has a nice little kick to it, I like it. It's always nice to be able to have something as simple as spicy scallop that features 1 item to go with the fancy Chicago roll that has everything but the kitchen sink in it.

4. Yum yum roll - It looked interesting so we had to try it. It happens to be on sale as well, so that never hurts. The deep frying had melted the cream cheese a bit and it made it sweeter than when it's cold, so that's a pleasant surprise. It does have avocado in it and it was fresh (not mushy).

5. Tempura udon - This is one of my all time favorites. It's a large bowl of noodles in a hot broth with 2 tempura battered fried shrimps and 2 slices of tempura battered yams. SOOO GOOD! I especially love this dish in the winter when it's freezing outside it really warms me up. They give you a red pepper flakes type season to go with it in case you like the broth spicy. I like it when the shrimps and yam have been sitting in the soup for awhile and the batter starts to break off. The batter carries a little bit of taste from the shrimps and yam which seasons the noodles. However, I think the next time I go, I'm going to tell them to put the tempura stuff on the side because I want to have the option of eating them while crunchy if I happen to be in the mood for it. But I order this every time I go almost without fail.

Final thoughts - Yummy In My Tummy? For sure. If it wasn't, I wouldn't keep going back. Their staff is super friendly and they know me by name and vice versa. They do have a liquor license, so I suppose if you want to drink a JD while eating sushi, you can (although I don't recommend it). They do have sake. Once again, I passed out after the huge meal. Surprise surprise!

Ajishin - 42270 Grand River Avenue Novi, MI 48375-1836 - (248) 380-9850

General thoughts - I go to Ajishin mostly for 1 thing because it's just that good. It's weird the only day they're closed is on Tuesdays. It's a very small restaurant with less than 50 seats so there's always a wait. Unless it moves to another location it can't really expand because it's at the end of a strip mall. If you're into manga (Japanese comic books), they have plenty for you to read while you wait.

Foods tasted - Ajishin udon, salmon avacado roll

Thoughts -

1. Ajishin udon - The reason I keep coming back to this is because not only is it economical (less than $8) but the portion is huge. In addition to the noodles, it has half of a hard boiled egg, crab meat stick, seaweeds, some tempura crumbs, scallions. I love the broth at Ajishin, it's hard to describe it but you can tell it didn't come from a pack of soup mix.

2. Salmon avacado roll - The most important thing to check for when eating sushi of course is the freshness of the fish and in this case avacado. The salmon was bright orange (indicating freshness), and the avacado wasn't brown (if it's been sitting out for a long time). The sushi chef is working nonstop, so obviously Ajishin is doing something right. :-)

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Of course, that's why I keep going back. Will I go back? See previous sentence. Most of the time there's a short wait, but since I usually go alone I can walk right up to the sushi bar and sit right down and get served right away.

Pictures

Per my readers' request, I have started to post pictures of the foods I tasted as I go back to these restaurants. So today I've updated the O'Sushi post with pictures of various yummy foods. I'll put whichever post I update on top so you can find it easily. I'll put in a new post when I add more pictures so you'll know where to look. :-)

Priya Restaurant & Bar - 36600 Grand River Avenue, Farmington, MI 48335-2916 - (248) 615-7700

General Thoughts - This restaurant came at a high recommendation from John's Indian coworkers. They said this restaurant is better than Ashoka in Canton, so we had no choice but to try it out. It's on Grand River Ave right in the heart of the Farmington Hills/Novi area where a lot of restaurants are. Here's their menu. The restaurant is really big, it even has a second level. The decorations are really nice, and provides a good ambiance. But since we went on a weeknight it was really quiet. There were only a few more tables other than us. While I was hoping to try something slightly different, my main reason to be here is to compare its food to Ashoka's food.

Foods tasted - Mango lassi, Vegetable Samosa, Gosht (lamb) Vindaloo

Thoughts -

1. Mango lassi - Honestly, not much to compare here. I ordered it because mango is my favorite fruit. It's a mango smoothie, it's hard to mess it up. The only way this would be a "bad" lassi is if the mango wasn't fresh.

2. Vegetable Samosa - These samosas were as good as Ashoka's. There was nothing about it so spectacular that would make me choose the samosa at Priya over the ones at Ashoka.

3. Gosht (lamb) Vindaloo - This is where I decided to stray from the one dish I've become very familiar with (Lamb Koorma). There's nothing about this dish I didn't love - spiciness, potatoes, lamb, vinegar. I knew this was going to be a winner. The portion is very similar in size to the same dish at Ashoka. The lamb was tender and the potatoes were cooked through. I will say that Lamb Koorma now has a contender the next time I sit down in front of an Indian restaurant's menu.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. Will I go back? Honestly, living where I live, and seeing that I didn't honestly find something so spectacular that I would specifically return for, I'll probably end up at Ashoka more often simply because of distance and time to get there. Perhaps we ordered the really common Americanized Indian dishes and that's why I didn't think there was anything super special. But it's definitely worth a try.

Taqueria Mi Pueblo - 7278 Dix Street, Detroit, MI 48209-1204 - (313) 841-3315

General thoughts - There is something to be said about a Mexican restaurant that has decided to operate in an area of Detroit that's heavily populated with Mexicans instead of situating itself in Mexicantown. It definitely isn't situated in the best part of Detroit, but it is totally worth the drive. As with any ethnic restaurants, I spend a couple of minutes observing the people that work there and the people that eat there to get an idea of how good it is before I even order. I knew I was in the right place when I noticed the wait staff barely spoke English and 95% of the people eating there are not speaking English. I wish they had an online menu because it's huge. I go there and eat the same thing every time because I don't go there often but they serve all sorts of other things too for the regulars. The restaurant is painted in very festively bright colors. I heard colors like red and orange is suppose to promote a good appetite, works for me every time. :-)

Foods tasted - Chips and salsa, Horchata, Burrito dinner with fried pork and beef tongue (comes with refried beans and rice)

Thoughts -

1. Chips and salsa - As soon as you sit down the staff will give you a basket of chips with 2 salsas - one mild, one medium. The chips are clearly fresh and haven't been sitting under a lamp all day. The salsas always taste fresh. I love spicy food so I basically only eat the spicy salsa, but both are good in terms of flavor. The salsa also goes great on whatever else you order.

2. Horchata - This is such a delicious and simple drink. Horchatas in general are made with rice water, condensed milk, cinnamon, sugar at the least. I know there are plenty of recipes that are much more complicated but that's a simple version of it. It's thirst quenching and refreshing next to the generally heavy Mexican food. There's nothing like it. It's just THAT good.

3. Burrito dinner - It comes with 3 healthy sized burritos along with a heavy amount of refried beans and rice. There were other options for meat such as beef or chicken, but it's not everyday I get to voluntarily choose to eat fried pork and beef tongue, so why not? The fried pork is slightly tough in my opinion. But then again, it's hard to not think the fried pork is tough when the beef tongue is so tender. Also, I'm probably mentally comparing it with the fried pork Chinese people serve, which is generally more tender as well because for the most part the skin is the actual deep fried part. Beef tongue sounds gross but it really is good. There's no gamey taste or anything weird like that. The texture is very different from other parts of the cow such as tendon or tripe or liver. It's basically really tender beef that happens to be really tasty. I usually can't finish the 3 burritos and rice and beans, so I usually have leftovers. At less than $8 a plate, it's a steal. The rice seemed a little overdone and slightly underseasoned this time but other times it's really good. I've never been a big fan of refried beans so other than saying it's beans and it was refried, I have nothing else.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? You bet. Will I go back? Can't wait. I get a nagging craving for good Mexican food about once a month or so and that is the only local Mexican restaurant I'd want to go to. Taco Bell just doesn't cut it no matter how you look at it.

Talley's Log Cabin Bar - 2981 County Rd 612, Lewiston, MI, 49756 - (989) 786-2011

General thoughts - Owned by my friend's aunt and uncle, Talley's is the place to be if you're near the Atlanta/Lewiston, MI area. It's busy all year around. People come to the bar by car or by snowmobile. Its cozy atmosphere makes you feel right at home. It's too bad this wasn't on the GQ's top 20 burgers to try before you die, what do they know anyways? Their burgers are damn good and I will gladly place this as one of the top 3 burgers in the state.

Foods tasted - Chili, Talley burger with cheese (medium rare), seasoned potato wedges with ranch dressing

Thoughts -

1. Chili - That chili was excellent. It was exactly what I needed to warm up from tubing down a river during heavy downpour. The spiciness was just right. It wasn't too mild but not offensively spicy. I usually don't like chili that has beans in it but this one is pretty dang good. It's nice and thick, and has a good amount of meat in each cup. I can easily eat bowls of this with bread. Yum.

2. Talley burger with cheese (medium rare) - Like I said, this is on my top 3 (I can't specify which of the top 3 a Talley burger places though). The meat was fresh, and the burger definitely juicy. The melted American cheese makes it twice as good. It's really hard to describe why a burger is superior over another, but you just know it when you bite into a quality burger.

3. Seasoned potato wedges with ranch dressing - If you must compare them to something more relateable, I guess they would be similar to the potato wedges you'd get at Buffalo Wild Wings. These wedges are definitely a good alternative to fries. They are always fresh off the fryer, and the ranch dressing makes them that much better. Talley's is never skimpy with the portions either, which is great for a potato lover like me.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. Would I go back again? The next time I go up north. If Talley's wasn't so far away I'd probably go there more often. I think Talley's need to open a second restaurant closer to southeast Michigan. Amber?

University Cafe - 621 Church Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3045 - (734) 662-7162

General thoughts - I've been coming here since 1998 and I've remained loyal to this place even though other similar places have popped up. Across the street from this place is Pizza House (which is also a great spot), but if U-Cafe (as it's affectionately known on campus) is open, I'll pick it over Pizza House any day. Here's the menu. The food hasn't changed much since 1998 and the food is consistently delicious. I'm going to list some of the menu items that I've tried over the years. As I go back and try new stuff I'll update this. Along with any entree, you get a bowl of rice and 4 sides - 2 spicy (kim chee (picked cabbage), picked radish), 2 non-spicy (broccoli and bean sprouts seasoned with sesame oil)

Foods tried - Yakimandu, Jam Bong, Mandu Ramen, Galbi Tang, Kah Soo Dong, Dolsot Bi Bim Bop

Thoughts -

1. Yakimandu - This is your standard potstickers and comes with your soy sauce which has chopped green onions in it.  The potstickers are made with pork. You can also order them steamed. There's 8 in an order and they are cooked just right. The skin isn't too chewy and it's definitely cooked to that lovely golden brown color. The pork is well seasoned.

2. Jam Bong - I was looking for a spicy noodle dish and I landed on this one because once in awhile I feel like seafood and this one has plenty of it. They don't kid around with this whole spicy thing. It does make me sweat, but it is so delicious. I can't promise this is a spiciness everyone can tolerate, but if you love spicy food, this is a good one. I'm sure if you asked nicely they can put it in their non-spicy broth but I've never tried so i honestly don't know if they would do it or not.

3. Mandu Ramen - This is hands down my favorite and I've gotten this for the last 15-20 times I've been there because not only is it delicious, it's almost $2 less than the other entrees. It uses the same mandu (dumplings/potstickers) as the Yakimandu. The broth is spicy as well which is perfect. The mandu is very well marinated because of the spicy broth. The ramen is cooked just right. The ramen I cook at home is like theirs about once out of 10 times. The eggs are scrambled and there are some vegetables. Since I love spicy food, I dumped all of the kim chee and picked radish in with everything else. I don't like radishes, but I wanted the spicy stuff off the pieces.

4. Galbi Tang - This is a non-spicy noodle dish. The noodles are a little different. It's thick see through rice noodles so the texture is different as well. Galbi is sliced short ribs. The meat is so tender it falls off the bone. The only reason I haven't gotten it more than once is because I discovered Mandu Ramen. If they ever add the Galbi into the Mandu Ramen, I'll probably never order anything else.

5. Kah Soo Dong - This dish is very similar to a Katsu Don at a Japanese restaurant, except this is made with strips of meat (I usually choose pork) that are not breaded. The cooking method seems to be quite similar and the eggs are around the same consistency as the Katsu Don. It's basically strips of meat sitting on top of white rice with soft scrambled eggs poured over the top + whatever sauce is used. I've asked for it to be made spicy and it was a good addition to the dish.

6. Dolsot Bi Bim Bop - This is a classic Korean dish. The difference between this is regular Bi Bim Bop is that the bowl is pre-baked so that it's incredibly hot. Then once you put in all the rice and all the other stuff in it, the rice continues to cook because of the bowl and starts sticking to the bowl. This is one of the few instances where burnt rice is a good thing. All the meats and veggies are topped with a fried egg (usually sunny side up or over easy). The whole idea of it is that you can pop the yolk and mix the yolk into the dish and add to the taste of it. A red sauce is also provided for the Bi Bim Bop. It looks spicy but it's not really spicy. I'm not quite sure what kind of sauce that is, but I know I don't see this sauce used for anything else.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Oh yeah! Will I go back? You know it! Going to U Cafe is like having a Korean mom cook for you. All the ads around the restaurant are either maize and blue or in Korean. Most of the staff speaks minimal English. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. They also pick it up at the end. I wish there was one closer to me so that O'Sushi would actually have a competition for my business. I've tried other similar restaurants that have popped up at the U of M campus over the years, but in the end their attempts at copying U Cafe's menu are futile because U Cafe has this whole Korean food thing on the lockdown.

Ashoka Indian Cuisine - 2100 Haggerty Rd, Canton, MI 48187 - (734) 844-3100

General thoughts - Honestly, I never thought I would enjoy ever Indian food since my previous bad experiences with Indian lunch buffets. But I decided to give that another run, and I've now been here at least 2 times within the last year and I am a believer. Indian food is soooo good, I'm sad that I didn't discover that sooner. And here is their menu.

Foods tasted - Mango Lassi, Vegetable Samosa, Lamb Koorma, Hydrabadi chicken Biryani, Lamb Kadai

Thoughts -

Mango Lassi - essentially a mango shake but with more yogurt so it's smoother. I'm biased because I love mango and all forms of mango shakes and lassi they can whip up. Perfect for a cool down from spicy food.

Vegetable Samosa - large and deep fried  potato dumpling thing  that also has some peas and other finely chopped veggies in it. It's potato and deep fried, it doesn't get better than that considering there's no meat in it.

Lamb Koorma - I got this every time I've been here. It's lamb in a nutty tasting curry sauce (says so in the menu). I got it at the medium spice level, but I wonder if that's the real "medium" or the non-Indian medium because I thought it was pretty mild. Then again, I love spicy food so maybe that's why I didn't think it was that hot. It comes with a separate plate of white rice and it's so good to mix it all together. Since there's an ample amount of sauce, you can dip your naan it it and eat it that way. It's so good. And just as expected, the lamb was very tender.

Hydrabadi chicken Biryani - the first thing that comes to mind is the huge portion and for the same price as Lamb Koorma ($13.95). Since the only biryani I can compare with is the one I got from a liquor store down in Taylor which I was told wasn't technically the real thing, I would have to say it's very good. Ordering Biryani at an Indian restaurant is kind of like ordering chicken fried rice at a Chinese restaurant, but the biggest difference is the spices used in it.

Lamb Kadai - the curry is closer what most people think curry tastes like. The only reason I didn't order this dish is because it has green peppers in it. My friend John said it was good. I did taste it and from what I did taste I enjoyed it (again minus the green peppers).

Final thoughts - Very Yummy in My Tummy? Always. Will I ever go back? How about tonight? Both my boyfriend John and another friend John works with a large amount of Indian people and they recommended that we try this place. Prices aren't that high at all. Since there's a movie theater close by, this would be a great place to eat at before a movie.

Superior Pho (AKA Pho Hoa) - 3030 Superior Ave Ste E Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 781-7462

General thoughts - I've been here, oh, about 50 times? Even though I don't live anywhere near Cleveland these days, I make every effort to go there whenever I'm  back. There's something about finding an awesome place that's off the beaten path - in fact, just a spot inside a building - that makes it extra special. If you're looking for an ornate restaurant, this is not it. But if you're truly looking for "superior" Pho, this is perfect. Sorry, no menu online. It's pretty cool that they have meals you can choose from for those who want to try different things or just simply indecisive. Some include rice dishes and some noodles dishes.

Foods tasted - #1 Meal - small bowl of Pho of choice, 2 spring rolls, and a can of pop (I don't think you'll need a review on a can of Coke) - all of this for less than $9.

Thoughts -

1. Pho - As you'll see on every review for Vietnamese restaurant, I always order the Pho that has all the different meats in it because I like variety. The broth is very flavorful and is comparable to the one at Pho Hang in Madison Hts, MI and far superior to #1 Pho, which is down the street from Superior Pho. The meats are fresh and the noodles are done just right. Sometimes the Pho noodles are overcooked and that kind of ruins the Pho experience. It's no different than overcooking pasta, it's just kind of gross.

2. Spring Rolls - I love Spring Rolls. Certainly not the healthiest of foods around but OMG it's good. They were clearly made after I placed the order as the skin is super crunchy, and although some may not like it, there's a sheen of glistening oil. It does come with that tangy sauce for dipping.

Final thoughts - Is it Very Yummy In  My Tummy? For sure. Will I go back for the 51st time? I plan on it. My descriptions above is reason I always order the same thing. It's because that meal is perfect for me. It's making me drool just writing this. Why does Madison Hts have to be so far away? I need to get a Pho fix soon. I was just thinking that I have to be thankful for my pretty decent metabolism or else with the way I eat and how much I love eating I should be about 700 lbs. I hope I didn't just jinx myself. Haha.

Pho Hang Restaurant - 30921 Dequindre Road, Madison Heights, MI 48071-2287 - (248) 583-9210

General thoughts - I'll update it with a picture the next time I go because I can't seem to find one online and they don't have an online menu. This restaurant is the real deal. A good indication is that all the ads on the bulletin board are in Vietnamese, there's a long video about Vietnamese and its culture constantly looping, most of the guests are Vietnamese, and most of the staff speak enough English to take your order and that's it. It's about $7 or $8 for a large bowl of Pho and it never disappoints. Their menu is big enough as it is which also includes Chinese dishes, but I have to give them lots of extra kudos for constantly trying to expand their menu. They started serving Vietnamese sandwiches and hot lunches to go where you get to pick and choose specifically what you want. And that's all Vietnamese food too. They added bubble tea, juices, etc.

Foods tasted - #22 (Spring rolls), #25 (the Pho that has all the different meats in it)

Thoughts -

1. #22 - Spring rolls - I only order a half order (2) when I go alone. It comes with a tangy sauce for dipping. I'm not 100% sure of everything that's in it, but I did notice vermicelli (glass noodles), carrots, pork. They're done perfectly every time and are always burn-your-tongue fresh off the fryer. The skin is always golden brown. Love them!

2. #25 - Large bowl of Pho - The actual name is in Vienamese so I basically order by number because the menu does describe the ingredients in English and I do know what Pho is. The broth (which I'm convinced it's beef) was delicious. I do usually add a bunch of hoisin sauce and Sriracha sauce (garlic hot sauce with flecks of hot pepper seeds) into my broth to give it an extra kick. It comes with pieces of brisket, raw beef (ends up cooked because it's in the hot broth), meatballs, pre-cooked beef, and tripe. They also provide you with a dish of raw bean sprouts, a lime wedge, a couple of small hot peppers, and springs of basil in case you want to add those in your Pho as well. Since the beef (all different cuts) are thin slices, tenderness is never an issue. The meatballs are pre-made that you buy in a package if you were in a Chinese grocery store.

Final Thoughts - Very Yummy in My Tummy? Oh yeah! Will I go back? Every chance I get when I'm in the Troy/Madison Heights area. It's located at a strip mall in the Southwest corner of Dequindre Road and 13 Mile Road. If you love ramen noodles, this is basically an upgrade of that. Since I don't go there very often, I always order the same thing, but maybe someday I'll try something else. But somehow I got a feeling I'll regret not order my #22 and #25 regardless of how good the new dish is.

Adrianna Restaurant - 9477 Harding Avenue, Surfside - (305) 867-1220

General thoughts - I have never been to a Peruvian restaurant before. I noticed a lot of dishes have some Chinese and Mexican and Indian influences based on the flavors. Here is their menu. But the most well known (and must try) menu items are the Ceviches (on the menu it's spelled Cebiches) and the Lomo Saltado. It was great that we got to sit outside and I was happy with the service. They even gave us a shot of some traditional Peruvian drink on the house when we told them we were there for a bachelorette party. Pretty cool.

Foods tasted - Shrimp Cebiche, Lomo Saltado Risotto, Peruvian Style Seafood Rice

Thoughts -

1. Shrimp Cebiche - For those not familiar with Cebiche/Ceviche, it's basically raw food "cooked" by just the acidity of (most often) lime juice. The shrimps do turn out pink as if they had hit a pan when they really haven't so it's served cold. It's usually done with thin slices of seafood such as fish. I really did enjoy it because the dish is so simple, No frills, no bells and whistles, just shrimp and lime juice. Accompanied by some red cabbage slaw (or was it shredded red onion - I forgot) and 2 big leaves of heart of Romaine. Not only was it delicious, it was beautiful to look at.

2. Lomo Saltado Risotto - I couldn't help by try it even though there were many menu items I wanted to taste, I want to try the signature Peruvian dish in case I never get to go back again. I thought it was interesting that they were able to incorporate some Italian style cooking into this dish. The dish was really creamy as I expected, the beef was tender, my only complaint was that it was really salty. I don't know if it was because the chef got a little salt-happy that day or was the sauce that salty in general. Unfortunately, I must say that the saltiness of the sauce did robbed me of this overall enjoyable experience with this dish.

3. Peruvian Style Seafood Rice - Honestly, I think this was just a variation of the Lomo Saltado but with rice instead. The sauce was also very similar to the one I had so it was also quite salty but it wasn't as bad. One good thing was that they were very generous with their seafood which is never a bad thing.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Some dishes more than others, so I guess that's an eh. Would I go back? If I can find another Peruvian restaurant to go to, then probably not. The dishes were about $20 & up, so as far as prices, it's not bad considering the sophisticated ambianace of the restaurant.

La Goulue - 9700 Collins Avenue Bal Harbour, FL 33154 - (305) 865-2181

General thoughts - Unfortunately my friends and I didn't purposely choose to go there. We were going to eat at a different restaurant but we ended up spending more time shopping at Bal Harbour than we intended so we looked for a place at Bal Harbour that struck our interests instead and it turned out to be a fortunate mistake because overall my meal was delicious. Being a French restaurant in the North Beach area of Miami, it wasn't cheap, but it was delicious and the food was memorable. Here's their menu.

Foods tasted - Endive salad, Escargot, Braised short ribs, Foie Gras (served with crostinis)

Thoughts -

1. Endive salad - It's similar to a Caesar salad with the anchovies but with grilled endives, shaved Parmesan cheese instead of grated, and cherry tomatoes. Grilled endives really adds to the taste and quality of the salad. There is a fine line between just the right amount of anchovies and too much anchovies which can end up overpowering the whole salad, but La Goulue did a great job with its salad. Unfortunately, since I'm not usually a fan of cherry tomatoes I did not taste them personally but I was told they were great.

2. Escargot - It has been a long time since I've had escargot and this dish reminds me why I enjoy them so much. These were cooked outside of their shells in lots of garlic butter with a piece of puff pastry on top of each snail. I'm guessing it's suppose to resemble beef wellington. Although I liked that they weren't overcooked, I think I prefer them served in the shells so that I'm not fishing the piece of escargot out from the bottom of the tray from a pool of butter like this time. Although the puff pastry idea is great and I can see why it would go well with the garlic butter since it's buttery to begin with, I honestly think I could've done without it or have it come on the side because while it was baking on top of the wells of butter, the bottom layers of the puff pastry began to get soggy.

3. Braised short ribs - The ribs were served boneless and the meat was tender but I honestly think the dish would've been better if the bones were left on. From experience, the longer the meat stays on the bones, the better it tastes, and these were just above average. There's something about being able to use a salad fork to pick pieces of meat off the bone because it's an indication that the dish was very well made. The sauce was great. The carrots, celery, and mashed potatoes were all pretty good. As good as it was, I think the restaurant could've done much better in the selection of sides to go along with the braised short ribs and be more creative instead of having their dish turning out like a standard American pot roast that I can make at home myself. So on that note I'm somewhat disappointed.

4. Foie gras (fattened goose liver) with crostinis - I must say that I was a bit apprehensive in trying it because of all the bad experiences I've had with liver growing up, but I suppose it was time for me to suck it up and try something "exotic." The crostinis were nice, warm, and crunchy. The foie gras was surprisingly tasty with no irony after taste like a normal liver. Perhaps something was done to it to get rid of that taste? Since I don't know how to prepare it, I have no idea. As long as I think of it as something similar to salmon pate I'm fine. I don't see myself purposely ordering foie gras, but I think I can deal with taking a taste or two if someone else orders it.

Final thoughts - Very yummy in My Tummy? Yeah I guess it did the trick. Would I go back? I honestly don't know. Other than the fact I don't foresee myself visiting North Beach any time soon, I just don't think the food we got was worth the money. It was a nice atmosphere and all and we got to sit outside, but I think it was

Miller's Bar - 23700 Michigan Ave Dearborn MI 48124 - (313) 565-2577

General thoughts - This was another one of GQ's Top 20 Burger to Try Before You Die - #8. I love that Michigan has 2 Top 20 Burgers and I live less than 5 minutes from this one. We go there about once a month (or more if we have the craving or if we have out of town guests that have never been there). The 2 things we love most about Miller's are 1. the very simple menu, and 2. your bill is based on the honor system. When you're done, you walk up to the bartender and tell him what you had and he's able to tell you exactly what you owe without a second thought.

Foods tasted - Single cheeseburger, French Fries, Onion Rings

Thoughts -

1. (Single) Cheeseburger - I love that it's served very simply and deliciously. It consists of bun, cheese, about 1/3 lb. of pure delicious meat, and bun served in wax paper. Ordering it medium rare will give you a very juicy and almost rare burger where some of the juice from the burger soaks into the bun. You can add your own ketchup, mustard, raw onions, pickles, but it just seems wrong for me to ruin a perfectly good burger so I always have it plain. Love it.

2. French fries - Being the potato snob that I am, I believe Miller's has its method of making fries down to a science and is perfect every time. I got a feeling they have been blanched before frying, and that's why it's so deliciously crunchy outside and very fluffy inside.

3. Onion rings - Since I love potatoes, I'm obviously more partial towards the fries. Don't get me wrong, these onion rings are great. I'm guessing the coating is something closer to panko bread crumbs rather than standard bread crumbs. I was taught that in order to be able to bit through an onion ring (instead of biting on it and drag out the whole piece of onion) you have to let it cool for several minutes. Seems to work.

Final thoughts - Is it very yummy in my tummy? Oh yes. Will I go back? How about next week? I love that their menu on the website looks like this - 

They have since updated their menu to include a grilled chicken sandwich, grilled cheese and if I remember correctly even a fish sandwich for those that are not into red meat. Writing this is making me crave a Miller's Burger right now. You don't go there to eat healthy, you go there to satisfy an nearly insatiable craving. If you're trying to watch your weight, I would suggest you put yourself on a water only diet for a week if you do go get a Miller's burger. It's soooo worth it.

Cantonese House - 3159 S. Winton Road # 8, Rochester, NY 14623 - (585) 272-9126

General thoughts - This is obviously a local gem. It's in a strip mall that people drive past 50 times a day but yet it was packed when we got there. It takes up 2 large strip mall store spaces and somehow every table is full. If that's not good food, I don't know what is. Prices are pretty average for dim sum. This place makes me miss Hong Kong and the dim sum (and eveything else) there. Hopefully I'll go next year.

If you've never had dim sum, think tapas. Servers are weaving through the restaurant with carts piled high with stacklable steamers that has little plates of food in them that they serve to you inside the bamboo steamer cause the small plates are so hot. These are all one or two biters, so you end up ordering a lot. But unlike tapas, each dim sum dish will run you around $3 as opposed to $10 or more. Dim Sum literally means "pieces of the heart". the bites are smaller, and usually takes more care (from the heart) to make than your standard stirfry. Going here makes me miss Hong Kong, I really need to visit again soon.

Foods tasted - Steamed shrimp dumplings (har gau), Steamed Shu Mai, short ribs, chicken feet, Tripe and brisket, Pan fried chive dumplings, deep fried pork dumplings (ham sui gok), Turnip cake, Congee with "thousand year old" eggs and shredded pork, beef stirfry with broad rice noodles/scallions/bean sprouts.


Thoughts -

Steamed shrimp dumplings - Very good. The shrimp was not rubbery or overcooked.

Steamed Shu Mai - I don't have an English translation for it. But it's another form of dumplings that uses a different type of skin that are openfaced stuffed with pork. Pork is always the main ingredient in shu mai. I've seen other places adding other stuff to it, but the pork is a must. This one was also not overcooked.

Short ribs - Seasoned well. Not too tough.

Chicken feet - I thought they were quite good. Not too salty and not too bland. It's usually cooked in some sort of a red/orange colored concoction because I'm pretty sure no chicken out there have orange feet.

Tripe/Brisket - Tripe is cow stomach. It sounds grosser than it is. If prepared wrong it could be gross, but these were great. It was no Texas brisket but still excellent.

Pan fried chive dumplings - I don't know why I didn't like them when I was little, it's veggies and dough. Maybe it looked gross to me when I was little, but I think it's one of my favorites now along with Shu Mai (my all time favorite).

Deep fried pork dumplings - The skin on these are usually thicker because they get dropped in a deep fryer. They're like the shape of footballs. What you're looking for is the initial crunch when you first bite into one and compare to the more gooey middle. They mke good Ham Sui Gok at the Cantonese House.

Turnip cake - These are just ok. A little on the cold side. Most dim sum spots will have separate carts dedicated to Turnip cakes so they can cook them up in front of you fresh. It's a pan fry dish, so you're really looking for your turnip cake to be a bit caramelized on each size.

Congee with thousand year old eggs and shredded pork - The eggs are NOT a thousand years old. They are, however, treated with some sort of chemical so the whites turn into a black color and slightly jello-y, and the yolk into a blue/green color. I assure you these are perfectly safe to eat. I do not know why these were invented to begin with, but it does add a little something extra to what would be other a plain bowl of overcooked rice drowing in water. This dish (with the eggs and pork and all) is often served when someone's sick, similar to the chicken noodle soup idea. It puts some nutrients in you but doesn't shock the stomach.

Beef stirfry with scallions, sprouts, and broad rice noodles - My dad's favorite. We always get that when we go to dim sum. This dish is purposely made with less sauce so it's drier and slightly easier to eat. The alternate version of the exact same dish has more sauce in it and that's the one my mom likes better. I don't care, I just want good food.

Final thoughts - Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. Will I be back? If I'm ever back to Rochester, maybe. It was good but I'll want to see if there are better ones out there. But it seems like they're doing very well for themselves, that is great to see.

Southeast Asian (SEA) Restaurant - 741 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14607 - (585) 473-8031

Sorry, can't locate a menu.

General thoughts - It's not in the greatest neighborhood but it felt safer than the other Vietnamese place my brother was going to bring us to. It's at a great location though as far as visibility as it's on the corner of a main street. The restaurant is small and only has about 15 tables in it but it was a busy evening for them. The unpretentious decor is reflected in the prices. My mom commented that all the decorations are Thai, which I agreed. But honestly, the same people that say all Asians look alike are not going to be able to tell the difference so I'll chalk that up as part of the charm of the place. The portions truly are huge.

Foods tasted - Fried squid, #10 (I can't pronounce it. It's like the house special Pho that has tripe, brisket, rare beef, meat balls, etc), Iced coffee with condensed milk.

Thoughts -

Fried squid - I like the salt and pepper taste. It's mostly tentacles, so the pieces tend to be slightly tougher. But that's fine with me, because it's a nice change of pace from the calamari rings from the body that we get in most restaurants.

#10 - The noodles were a bit tough when it was first served so I let it sit in the delicious beef broth before digging into it to soften them up some more. I tasted the soup before adding a bunch of sauces in it to sweeten and spice it up. The soup was very fresh tasting and according to my mom, who is an excellent cook and very sensitive to MSG, she said she can tell the broth is the real deal, not from some packet. As with any pho dish, they give you a plate of bean sprouts, sprigs of basil leaves, wedges of lime, and little peppers so you can dress it to your liking. I decided to add some bean sprouts, basil, and a little lime juice to make it more authentic. Those extra flavors do add something else to a otherwise bowl of noodles with meat.

Iced coffee with condensed milk - This is a classic Vietnamese/Thai drink. It's like espresso, but instead of a little cup the size of a shot glass, it's served in a highball with some condensed milk in the bottom to help cut the bitterness. My dad thought I wasn't going to be able to sleep at all, but it didn't surprise me I slept like a rock because I was so tired from the festivities.

Final thoughts - Very yummy in my tummy? Yes. Would I go back? If I for some reason visit Rochester again, sure. It definitely hit the spot and satisfied my cravings. If only there are more Vietnamese restaurants closer to Dearborn. Madison Hts is pretty far for Pho, but writing this makes me want some for lunch. Hmmmm... pho....

Sticky Lips BBQ - 625 Culver Road, Rochester - (585) 288-1910

Sticky Lips BBQ menu

General thoughts - We went there in a group of 30, taking over the whole patio of the restaurant. The service was great, I can't say the same for the chefs/cooks. The food was great, but it took them 3 tries to get my order right. It was very clear at the time of ordering, but the first time it came with a wrong "meat" and the second time, came with the wrong sides. I understand the server was busy, but still, shouldn't she check the dish that came up against her order sheet to confirm it's correct before bringing it out to the guest? It would've saved her a lot of time if she checked it. Good thing that quality of the food made up for it. The atmosphere of the restaurant is cool too. It is covered with pictures and articles frm the 40's to 60's. Stuck on the ceiling are playing cards that have been signed by different people.

Foods tasted - the Lana Turner (Texas beef brisket, 1/4 Uncle Frank's chicken - leg/thigh, Chorizo cheddar grits, Collard greens), Mac & cheese, Pulled pork, sweet potato fries.

Thoughts -

1. Texas beef brisket - This is as close as it gets to the brisket I had in Austin, TX that I still dream about. Super tender, very succulent, and it tasted great with the Sticky Lips All-American BBQ sauce. Definitely a good choice. I was so excited as soon as I saw the neon sign for the brisket on the window, and they certainly didn't disappoint.

2. Uncle Frank's chicken - It was roasted and tasted excellent. It was well seasoned and tender. I was able to cut the beef off from the bones very easily. Also a good choice. I'm so glad I kept bugging them to get my order right.

3. Chorizo cheddar grits - It was very creamy and cheesy. I don't think I actually tasted a piece of chorizo, but I bet they cook the chorizo then use the oil leftover to cook the grits and so they get to call it chorizo cheddar grits. Regardless, it was delicious.

4. Collard greens - I love collard greens, and these were well made. They've obviously done this more than once or twice. No additional seasoning was needed.

5. Mac & cheese - It was ok. I'm glad I didn't get it or I would've been disappointed if I chose this when I could choose to eat the grits instead.

6. Pulled pork - Also very tender. I tried my brother's pulled pork and it was very good. I enjoyed it a lot but I love brisket so much more.

7. Sweet potato fries - I've never had sweet potato fries that are actually covered in cinnamon and sugar, which actually was a good idea. The chefs were smart to enhance the sweetness of the sweet potatoes by covering them with cinnamon and sugar. They could've easily over coat the fries with too much cinnamon and sugar, but I think they covered it with just enough to make it taste good without making me think it was too sweet and I'd have to scrape off some excessive cinnamon and sugar.

Final thoughts - Very Yummy In My Tummy? Definitely. Would I go back? Sure. However, I honestly don't know when I would be doing that since Petros has now graduated from RIT and who knows if he's be back to Rochester when he finds a job. It was definitely a good find, and I highly approve. I'm still hoping to go back to Rudy's someday, because their food is just that awesome.

Greektown Casino International Buffet - 555 E lafayette blvd Detroit, MI 48226 - (877) 424-5554

Sorry, no picture, but I do have the menu - Greektown Casino International Buffet menu.

General thoughts - Since my stomach can only take in so much and their menu is a rotating menu, I was obviously only able to taste so many things. Lunch for $9.99 is a pretty good price, and they let you use the Greektown Casino comps.

Foods tasted - Hand carved roast beef, Mac & Cheese, mashed potatoes, fried chicken wings, potstickers, wonton soup, lo mein, spaghetti with sauce.

Thoughts -

1. Hand carved roast beef - It was pretty good. Not too dry or overdone.

2. Mac & cheese - Also pretty good, nothing overly spectacular.

3. Mashed potatoes - I'm not 100% sure if that was box or the real thing, but it was pretty good for a buffet.

4. fried chicken wings - I didn't really want the commitment of the fried chicken so the wings are a good substitute. They're also pretty good, and they are cooked through.

5. Potstickers - Seeing that I make Chinese dumplings (basically potstickers that you cook in a broth instead of pan fry), I still think these potstickers are delicious and well done. The skin was browned properly and the inside was cooked through. I was afraid the skin was going to be gummy because of unnecessary moisture, but they weren't gummy at all.

6. Wonton soup - The "wonton" in the soup is the same as the potstickers which is great because I don't like wonton soups that are just skin or maybe with a dab of meat. Whoopie doo. So this one is great. The broth was your standard chicken broth but it wasn't too salty. I did go back for seconds.

7. Lo Mein - It was a bit cold. You can tell it's been sitting there in its oil for awhile. But ignoring the temperature of the dish, it was pretty good for a mass produced dish.

8. Spaghetti with sauce - It was a bit cold as well. But flavor-wise, it was pretty good.

Final thoughts - Very Yummy In My Tummy? It's alright. It fills me up, but I think I can only handle buffet for lunch once or twice a year. I'm not expecting dishes at a buffet to be out of this world, but the regulars do not worry about that.

Bistro 555 at Greektown Casino Hotel - 555 E Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226 - (888) 771-4386

Bistro 555's menu

General thoughts - My friends and I went there for our annual Greektown in Ballgowns event. We went to dinner about 12 strong. Considering how big our group was, I was impressed with their service, not to mention no one's meal was messed up. It is in the new parking structure of the Casino/Hotel so you don't have to be 21 to eat there. The view is pretty good and the ambiance tells me it's a great date/night out on the town type place to go.

Foods tasted - Cream of Broccoli soup, Crispy fried Calamari, Braised short Ribs, Beef (tenderloin) and Mushroom (Portabella) tower.

Thoughts -

1. Cream of broccoli soup - The soup was very thick and chunky. It wasn't over seasoned. I think they did a good job with it. I love chunky soup as much as the next person, but I don't know if I like it THAT chunky. It was very filling. I wouldn't say it was the best cream of broccoli I've ever had, but this was the alternative to a Ministrone soup that even the server said it's way too salty and just overall not good.

2. Crispy fried calamari - The breading wasn't too thick and the calamari was not rubbery at all. It came with a spicy marinara sauce. The sauce wasn't too tart and not too spicy. Kudos to Bistro 555 for a job well done.

3. Braised short ribs - That was sooo good! I only had a few tastes of it, but it was enough for me to remember it for future reference. I'll be comparing every braised short ribs dish to this one. I'm sure I would at some point crave this and just simply have to satisfy this craving and come back. It came with mashed potatoes for a side. As a potato lover, I thought it was very creamy and buttery. This was a top notch dish. Highly recommended.

4. Beef and Mushroom Tower - Basically it's 1 portabella sandwiched between 2 very tender beef tenderloins on a bed of finely cut hash browns with a nice reduction sauce. It came with fresh sauteed spinach. The beef was flavored very well but I thought the chefs could've eased up on the amount of sauce they put on the plate. The meat, mushroom, and spinach was swimming. The sauce should be an accent, not a pool for everything else to swim in.

Final thoughts - Very Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. Would I go back? Absolutely. The menu has a great variety and the prices aren't half bad. Not to mention I'll probably be craving that braised short ribs again very soon. As a side note, it was a lot of fun going to Greektown dressed as if I was going to prom all over again. Can't wait for next year's Greektown in Ballgowns.

Rest in peace, (formerly existed as) Cyprus Taverna - 579 Monroe Street Detroit, MI 48226-2932

So instead of the usual review, let this be a tribute. John and I were both sad and shocked to find that Cyprus Taverna had suddenly closed when we went to that area last night. We were just talking about going there to get some of their famous Lamb Riganato that came with a generous amount of rice with tomato sauce, green beans, and potatoes. The waiter used to tell us that if we don't love it, they'll pay for it but of course we always loved it. We used to go there every year after going to the North American International Auto Show, I even chose it over all other restaurants in Detroit to celebrate my 29th birthday at with my friends. It was open just a couple of weeks ago when John brought his coworkers down to the Greektown Casino area as part of their tour of Detroit. When we looked in, everything was demolished, and there was a handwritten sign from the owners thanking the customers for our business over the years. Lamb wasn't their only awesome dish, their fish was just as good. According to a friend there's a nearby restaurant that serves a comparable Lamb Rigonato dish. We shall see.

Bistro 10 - 3118 Fairlane Drive Allen Park, MI 48101 - (313) 336-0303

Sorry, can't find a picture and it's so new they don't have a website yet. Anyways...

General thoughts - Bistro 10 has been around for less than a year. It is located in Fairlane Green shopping center on top of the hill. The inside definitely has a Mediterranean/Italian feel. This is probably a better spot for lunch than it is for dinner if you're speaking on the ambiance only. They have a pretty comprehensive menu with a few items that are definitely unique. The prices are not bad at all and the portions are huge. For $7.50, you can get a big sandwich, salad, rice or potatoes. I like that they serve lunch portions of pastas as well because then they can't be blamed on food induced comas suffered by the diners. The only bummer was that they don't have an alcohol license yet so you can't get a glass of wine with lunch/dinner even if you wanted to.

Foods tasted - Chicken lemon rice soup, House salad, Shrimp burger, Roasted potatoes, Fettucine Alfredo with chicken.

Thoughts -

1. Chicken lemon rice soup - It's a thinner soup but it has a lot of chicken, carrots and celery. It is very lemony which for some is a bad thing but I was a fan. It was served with a slice of crouton on top. It was a comforting soup. I would order it instead of the standard chicken noodle if I was sick.

2. House salad - They use a mixed veggies type salad and it came with the house dressing which is a creamy Italian. It was very good.

3. Shrimp burger - Very interesting. It is served on a pita that was cut in half with tomatoes and roasted red peppers as toppings (I forgot if there was cheese or not). It's served hot which I like. As much as I'm not a big fan of sliced raw tomatoes, it does add to the taste of the sandwich so I made an exception and took a bite with a chunk of tomato in it. Great burger, we were told it's one of the bestsellers. That came with the salad and potatoes.

4. Roasted potatoes - These are roasted potato wedges cooked in/coated in olive oil and rosemary. It was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I bet they blanched the potatoes first before pan frying them. As a potato lover, I give that a thumbs up.

5. Fettucine alfredo with chicken - It was very rich and full of herbs. The pasta was cooked just right and it seems the chicken breasts have been pounded out first so they were thinner and more tender pieces. A lot of places just cook up chicken breasts then slice them and throw them on top on the pasta, I like that they took the extra time to pound them out. It could use a little salt though but that was an easy fix.

Final thoughts - Very Yummy In My Tummy? Yes. I went home and assumed the horizontal position on the couch and in front of the TV right away and in true food coma fashion, I fell asleep. Will I go back? Definitely. The Tiramisu that the table near us ordered looked delicious. However, I'm always too full for dessert. This is a great work lunch spot for sure. Once they get their liquor license, I'm sure more people will come for dinner. Their menu, like I said, is pretty comprehensive. I'll definitely try something else the next time I go.

Jim's Place Family Dining - 13245 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126 - (313) 584-5437

General comments - Jim's Place is a very unassuming local gem that has been there for over 37 years. I didn't think I could find a good Polish restaurant outside of Hamtramck but there it was, right in Dearborn. It's like having a Polish mom cook for you - it's just that good!

Foods tasted - Polish combo with Kielbasa, Beef barley soup, cabbage soup.

Thoughts -

1. Beef barley soup / cabbage soup - delicious and hearty. Both seasoned very well.  They serve that at least twice weekly as their Daily Soups. Add on 37 years of experience, they have these recipes down pat. The cabbage soup could use a little salt today, but it's not necessarily a bad thing if someone is looking for a soup that has less sodium in it because of health reasons or whatnot.

2. Polish combo with Kielbasa (2 pierogies, stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, kielbasa, sauerkraut) - all I have to say is wow! The kielbasa was perfectly done. I really think the score marks made a huge difference, and somehow even by trial and error I can never make mine turn out like that. The stuffed cabbage was great as well. I'm glad the tomato sauce on it wasn't too tart, because that can distract a person from fully enjoying the stuffed cabbage. I am a huge fan of this stuffed cabbage. Again, with their experience, I would not even dare to suggest to make any changes in that recipe. Pierogies were perfectly cooked. They're obviously handmade because you can tell from their individually unique shapes. Some places make their pierogies with really thick skin so that it can taste kind of doughy, but Jim's pierogies are just right. Mashed potatoes are "eh". Not 100% sure if it's homemade (vs. from a box), but it's eh. Sauerkraut is good too, but it's what you would expect in sauerkruat - picked cabbage.

Final thoughts - Very yummy in my tummy? Oh yes. This is the type of meal that induces food coma. Would I go there again? Of course. My only wish is that I had discovered this place sooner. The menu extends beyond Polish food of course. But seriously, if the owners had intended for this restaurant to be a glorified diner with some Polish food, they wouldn't specifically put the words Polish food under their name on the awning for everyone to see. Prices are unbeatable. At a grand total of $7.95 for the Polish combo with Kielbasa, I have more than enough leftovers for another meal.

Sidetrack Bar & Grill - 56 E Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 - (734)483-1035

Sidetrack Bar & Grill menu

General comments - My friends and I went to Sidetrack at an EMU alum's recommendation and because we heard their burgers are among GQ's "The 20 Burgers You Must Eat Before You Die." I will say the restaurant is easy to find and it's at a great location that is full of railroad history, but the parking situation in that area leaves something to be desired. I love that there's an outside area to the restaurant and the feel of it is like that of an Irish pub. I'm impressed with how quickly we were seated considering how busy it was at the time and I walked in with a request for a table for 8. The staff was very nice to us despite the fact that 3 of the 8 turn out to be no shows. I'm also thrilled that Sidetrack sells merchandise that says "Beer is the proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin. That is awesome! Sidetrack does have a pretty good selection of beer. Unfortunately I just wasn't in the mood for it.

Foods tasted - Beer battered clams, Spinach artichoke dip, Gourmet mini burgers - Mini Driver with hand cut fries, and my boyfriend's half pound handcrafted burger with feta and roasted red peppers.

Thoughts - 

1. Beer battered clams - very solid appetizer for an excellent price. Clams can get chewy if not cooked correctly, but these were delicious. It was obvious these clam strips were not sitting under a heat lamp all day because the first few were HOT (temperature hot). The tarter sauce that came with it went well with the clams too. It's not overly seasoned so you can still taste the claims, which is the way I like it. The clam strips tasted great even without lemon juice and/or tarter sauce. That's the sign of a good dish.

2. Spinach artichoke dip - I like that it's very cheesy but still contains a good amount of spinach and artichoke. The only thing I would change in this appetizer is that I would chop up the artichoke pieces more. It's hard to share with 4 other people when I dip a chip hoping to get a taste of it and wind up picking up 20% of the whole thing just because the artichoke pieces pick up everything else around it. The chips are fine. Definitely not freshly made but as long as they're not stale...

3. Mini Driver (mini burgers with bacon and blue cheese) / handcrafted burger with feta and roasted red peppers - both very much overdone. The 1/2 pound burger was ordered medium rare and it was cooked medium well, borderline well done. They actually messed up on my Mini Drivers because they didn't put the blue cheese or bacon on them. So I'm sure by the time they were brought back to me, the mini burgers had been thrown back onto the grill to melt the blue cheese. I was disappointed to find more or less barely cooked bacon bits as the "bacon" on the mini burgers. I think the feta and roasted red peppers combination is a winner as far as toppings, but toppings are toppings. It doesn't really matter how great the toppings are if the burger is overcooked. I'll say the staff was very apologetic and fixed their mistake very quickly so I can't complain about that.

4. Hand cut fries - they were just OK. I've certainly had better and worse. The outsides were done but the insides still tasted raw and starchy. Like I said in my pilot post, potatoes are one of my all time favorite foods so I take potatoes very seriously. If you mess up on my potatoes, if I don't tell you in person, it will now be known to the whole world on my blog.

Final thoughts - Was it Very Yummy In My Tummy? Unfortunately, no. I'm disappointed to say the reviewer from GQ must have been sick and lost his sense of taste the day he went to Sidetrack for a burger, because quite honestly, the burger is NOT worthy to be in a Top 20 list. I've had chain restaurant burgers that are much better than this. Sorry GQ! However, I'm happy to see it as crowded as it was so obviously they're doing something right. I'm glad to see it's not totally crowded with drunk college kids as it seems this spot is located on the outskirts of the EMU campus and the general demographic of the customers are people in their upper 20's or older. Hopefully my next review of this spot will be better when I order a non burger dish. Don't get me wrong, it's a great spot and like I said, and they're crowded for a reason, but the burgers were just not worth they hype.