Friday, August 27, 2010

65th Street Diner

A nice lady was kind enough to let me borrow this picture...
it was in the napkin holder on the table!
Home Cookin!  Yummmmmmm!  It's Friday and fish day...do you remember when we always had fish on Fridays for lunch in the school cafeteria?  I do....ahhhhh...you are as old as I am!


I left the Fletcher Library at Noon today; 




picked Chuck up at First Tee and headed for 65th St. Diner!  


Chuck has had a cravin' (Southern speak!) for catfish for the last three weeks.  We debated between Catfish City on University, Frontier Cafe on I-30 access road and 65th St. Diner after the Otter Creek exit.  65th St. won!  It has the best catfish for the best price.  It is cafeteria style and the line always move fast even at noon.  Today was no exception.  We even got a fresh batch of the fish!  We had to let a few people in line before us, but the sacrifice paid off!  We got fresh fish, fries, pinto beans, hush puppies, iced tea(it would be nice to have real lemon for the tea and fish) and slaw (the best in town!)...


I would love to have the slaw recipe.  I have yet to make an edible slaw.   I refuse to give up.  If I figures it out, I will share the secret.  (you probably already have it...if you do, will you share? :D) 65th Street Diner Incorporated on Urbanspoon

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Pizza Joint

The Pizza Joint is the
first stop in the quest.  






Pizza is our favorite "comfort" food, that is, almost equal to the "hamburger".  We have eaten a lot of pizza and have our favorites.  Now we are going to revisit these pizza restaurants with a "review" in mind.
The Pizza Joint is located on Hwy. 10 almost to Chenal Parkway.  It is a long trip to eat pizza so it has to be worth it.  We liked the decor...very "pizza-friendly".  We got the Veggie Thin Crust and a small house salad. The pizza was really good, but could have been excellent with more sauce.  The salad was nondescript: lettuce (not enough), mozzarella cheese(too much) and bacon bits (ok)...rated: boring. 


We will The Pizza Joint on our "TTA"* list.  However, there are so many pizza places and so little time.


The Pizza Joint on Urbanspoon
*To Try Again

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Riverfront Steak House North Little Rock Arkansas

What a great end to the celebration of our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  Chuck's sister, Peggy, and brother-in-law, Del, treated us to a wonderful meal at the 
Riverfront Steakhouse 


at the 
Wyndham Hotel 
in North Little Rock.





We didn't get there early enough, but the lobby bar looked like a great place to have a before dinner drink and people watch.  Maybe next time.*



Always the best steak in town.  Just a few comments from us.  We would suggest that you make reservations and ask for a specific area of the restaurant for your seating.  You can do this at Opentable.com or by calling the restaurant*.  There are two or three choices: the back of the room just inside the entrance and behind the cashier, the front of the room closer to any live music and salad bar or the front side for more intimate dining.  All seating is good.  It just depends on your personal preference.
*If you call, you can find out if there is an event at the Verizon Arena and the best time to beat the crowd.


Be sure and take advantage of the free valet parking.  It's worth it. At peak times a place to park is had to find.


How can you fault the food and service?  You can't. . .both are first rate.  However, a word from the wise.  If you are ordering a fillet, find out if it is a thick or thin cut.  I ordered mine cooked "Medium".  It was well done because it was a thin cut.  It was still tender, but I would have preferred "Medium"  Where as Chuck ordered his "Medium" and it was perfect because it was a thick cut. 


The menu is "ala carte".  The baked potato was perfect. (We split it because we just can't eat a whole potato anymore.)   I ordered Sautéed Fresh Asparagus - Served with Hollandaise Sauce.  I would not order it again. . .just don't think it was worth the extra cost.  I might try the Sautéed Fresh Wild Mushrooms next time*.
*Chuck put his card in the bowl for a free dinner for two.  We are counting on being lucky.  We are ready to go again.  


August 3, 1985
Happy 25th Anniversary!

Riverfront Steakhouse on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Eating In Tonight

A good country meal...Meatloaf, Squash, Green Beans, Cantaloupe and Cornbread. It's the kind of meal you could go back for more helpings.


The meatloaf recipe came from The General Foods Kitchens Cookbook that I have had since the '60's.


Onion Meat Loaf

1 Cup soft bread crumbs
1 egg, slightly beaten
3/4 Cup minced onions
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 TBS chopped parsley
1/2 Cup grated carrot
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
2-6oz cans tomato juice...I use one plain and one Hot 'n Spicy
2 strips bacon

We use a mix for the cornbread-Martha White's Cotton Country Buttermilk Cornbread Mix.  The squash is simmered w/onion in a saucepan with a little water until tender.  The green beans are Del Monte whole green beans boiled, then simmered, with 1 tsp. of salt for 30 minutes (they taste like home grown to us). 


Bon Appetit!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Bravo - Wow Out Two Nights In A Row!



Bella Sera! Friends called and we went.  Bravo is a part of a national chain located in the Promenade at Chenal.  This was the first time for us.  They had been before and liked it.  
We weren't so lucky.  Chuck got the 5 oz. fillet "medium" with a skewer of shrimp and mashed potatoes.  He was expecting a thick piece of meat...not!  What he got was a well-done thin fillet and cold mashed potatoes.  The waiter was most congenial and brought some hotter mashed potatoes.  Chuck didn't ask about the steak.  

I got the tilapia which was good, but a little dry.  Luckily, a substituted angel hair pasta for the potatoes and it was hot so I didn't have to contend with that issue.


For what we got it was a little pricey.  In hindsight, we should have split the tilapia and ordered house salads and maybe a cup of soup.  That would have been plenty for us, as we usually subscribe to the "everything in moderation" advice.  As we have gotten older we find we fill up much faster and metabolize our food much slower.  (heads-up to all of you that love "eat all you can buffets"...your time will come)


Bravo Cucina Italiana on UrbanspoonFor such a large space our table was located by the windows so it seemed more private than the middle of the main dining room.  The service was a little slow, but that may be because it was new and really popular.  The chefs, I am sure, are kept pretty busy.  We will certainly give it another chance.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Starbucks at Barnes and Noble






Yum!  Tall Skinny Latte with two Splenda and an Apple Purse.  You can't beat it...







...unless it is an frapuccino with an Apple Purse!...or maybe two Frapuccinos and two Apple Purses for Two. 





And then again it's hot so let's make that a shaken iced tea with one Splenda.


Meet you there!











Cantina Laredo - Viva Mexicano!

Last night we were treated to dinner and conversation by two of our favorite people at one of our favorite restaurants, Cantina Laredo at Midtowne Little Rock. 


The occasion-our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  Here's how our evening went:


We would like a booth, please!  (We like booths...for conversation and privacy.)


Lynne:  What is that in the bowl? "An avocado and a lime".  It must be to entice you to order quac.  We opted out for cheese dip...delicious!


Drinks:  Pinot Grigio for me, 
virgin pomegranate margarita*, 
and 2 beers.
      *could have been better with tequila! :) 


Lynne:  I am going to have the new CILANTRO CHICKEN SALAD-Fajita chicken with black beans, red pepper, monterey jack cheese, and avocado with cilantro-lime dressing..that is, unless you want to split?


Chuck:  No, I am going to try something different...which ended up being 
TAMPICO-Grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed artichoke hearts, mushrooms, spinach, red bell peppers with sour cream-poblano sauce and monterey jack cheese


On previous visits we split the Botanos Platter and the Fiesta Grill.  These were by far better selections than what we had on this occasion.  


Lynne:  The salad was in a neat bowl that appeared to slant toward you...that's all I can say for the salad.


Chuck:  The TAMPICO was just fajita chicken with a little sauce and potatoes on the side.  It really didn't taste Mexican.


While we were somewhat disappointed in our entrée selections last evening, the atmosphere, service and DESSERT made up for it.  DO NOT, repeat DO NOT miss the Mexican Apple Pie. How can you beat apple pie sizzled at the table in Mexican Brandy Butter Sauce and topped with cinnamon ice cream?  It was delivered with four spoons and was shared by all.


Friends were heard to say:  Her: "C'mon Brooks you have to try the Sauce.  It is to die for...no apples for me, just sauce.  Brooks: "Hmmm, the ice cream is good."


We highly recommend the experience, especially with two of your favorite friends. The wait, if there is one, is reasonable as are the prices...and did I say the service was excellent.  We had the cutest waitress who was not only charming but was knowledgeable on the menu. We will return.





Cantina Laredo on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Bar Louie - Little Rock - Arkansas

Bar Louie new to Little Rock...


We like to try new places and decided to meet a friend last Monday Night.  She's moving away so we wanted to say goodbye for now and have a nice dinner.  Not the place to have a visit.  The acoustics are not good for hearing what you are thinking let alone what you or your guests are saying.  In fact, for us it was too loud for anything.  I call it "noise pollution".


We ordered the beer-battered fish and chips, chicken nachos and philli-steak sliders.  I would rate those dishes a 5 on a scale from 1 to 10...10 being excellent...5 being "fair to middlin".  (fair to middlin...a good Southern expression).  The price was a little on the high side for what we ordered.  We know places where we can eat about the same thing for a little less.  There was a lot of food, but not what I would order next time.  That is to say, if there is a next time.  Too many restaurants-too little time.Bar Louie on Urbanspoon