Kreggers - @@@

Well time to reset expectations. I think they are benefitting from the really good meal I had a Edo's Squid last night and can't decide if this is a 2 or 3. Clearly not as good, just not sure by how much

I got out of work late and searched yelp for a nearby restaurant open late. This place looked ok and got good reviews so I stopped by. Live music on Wednesdays too!! Bonus!!

Wanting to keep with a southern theme, I got jambalaya and brussels sprouts. The jambalaya was odd in that it had at least 5 whole bay leaves cooked in it. Never have seen that many and that they were kept in it was odd. Not too heavy on the chicken, maybe 2 chunks?? Slightly more sausage which I guess is better anyways. Not too much flavor...too tired/lazy/disinterested to ask for hot sauce. The brussels were better I thought. They were paired with a bacon jam in the dish which was pretty decent. A bit of sweet to complement the vegetables. They weren't overly fried either which was good. Definitely better than the Cat Cora Restaurant brussels that were paired with a honey balsamic at the ATL airport that I had the other day.

All in all pretty reasonable place. Good prices although I may be leery of the $7 strip steak dinner on Mondays. Would I come back? Probably not which makes me think of it as a 2 but feeling generous for a 3

9523 Kings Charter Dr
Ashland, VA 23005

The Abbey - @@@@

I finally made it back! I was a little bummed that the Colombian place I wanted to try tonight was closed, so I decided on a big burger. I remembered this place from last time as a great place to have a juicy burger, and it did not disappoint.

Again, the burger I had was massive. They have a separate menu for just burger creations, but was really just feeling a solid basic burger. I went with the Uncle Sam - 2 patties, cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and mayo. No onions (which I'm sure the server thought was odd since I ordered french onion soup which I burnt my tongue on!). They cooked it better than I remembered and when I took my first bite it was juicy/greasy. Very good. Surprisingly the bun held up reasonable well for the first half and then fell apart for the second half. Somewhat sad but acceptable since the burger was massive. Cheese was slightly less well melted than last time but still pretty good. Since the burger fell apart at the end, I was able to go straight beef for a few bites. No problem at all, tasted great light salt and pepper seasoning. The fries were good but didn't even finish them all I was too full.

The place can be described as having character...some would call it dirty as well. The finish on the wood tables is chipping, benches, cracking, and overall looks like it could use a renovation but I guess that's the charm of the place?? It is near Providence College I believe so they can claim its a college bar. It is what it is though - a really good burger bar that I would recommend to others.

686 Admiral St
Providence, RI 02908

Roosters - @@@@

Perhaps some of my new favorite chicken wings. This is a mainly Ohio centric chicken wing joint that is basically your normal sports bar.

What I like about them is that they are clearly freshly fried and have a good crispness to them. They are not however fried so long that they are dry, as when you bite into them they are still juicy and very hot. Really well done and usually not drowning in sauce either (although you can get them "extra wet" if you prefer sauce). Also bonus is that you can get them just as drumsticks if you prefer, and I do. Nominal fees for that plus extra sauce, dressing etc seems a bit much but it's not prohibitive. Standard fried item sides are available along with a pizza I had last time i was here that was surprisingly good as well.

One thing I do not like is that the wing portion still has the tip on it, so you have to wrangle that off further delaying enjoyment. Also be warned that there are little to no vegetables at this sportsbar type place but I don't hold that against them.

You come for the wings and tvs and beers and it delivers. In the picture, I had no sauce on the left and medium on the right. Would order both again. This is a good, casual place that knows its audience and delivers. Would recommend

12120 Springfield Pike
Springdale, OH 45246

L'Ami Jean - @@@

L'Ami Jean in Paris

Started with the parmesean soup. Had crunchy onions on the bottom with raw onions as well. Very small at the bottom. Then had a large juggish type thing with the soup in it. Super rich and creamy. Very smooth. Like just cream and butter with cheese hints in it. Onion infused in the broth after it was soaking in it. Literally almost full it was that rich. By the way, it was 18 euro. Mind boggling. But I think it was to be shared not consumed individually. 

Funny quote "the English menu is me" not told to me. 

Odd - salt/pepper grinders on my high top table but not on the actual tables. 

Next had the beef shoulder cooked for a long time allegedly. Pretty tender and topped with what tasted to be nuts that were roasted, roasted onions again, and basil leaf. Bigger portion than expected, typing this halfway through and could be done. Obviously not but could be. Update - the "roasted nuts" we're actually burned carrots?? Odd. Also halfway through as I am thinking this dish is fairly a la carte comes a bowl of mashed potatoes. One word...rich. Also creamy similar to polenta but much richer. Also pretty full now. Either want to fall asleep or need to walk around for a while. 

Servers were flying around, lots of motion for a ~50ish seat place. Diners were sat chinatown style with a table of eight chairs in a row filled with 4 parties of 2. Funny sight was them pulling the tables in and out to get people fit in to the booth area. It did however encourage people to talk more and interact with each other...mainly in English oddly enough. Also was pretty empty when I walked in at 12:15 and when I left at 2 was jammed. Definitely people eat later here. Eating at the high table gave me a good view into the kitchen and prep as it was going on. 

Final thought...beef was good, not great. Was tender but stringy, not much fat on the cut. The soup and potatoes were super rich and quite good. Could've probably went with the tasting menu as they included the soup and beef shoulder in much smaller portions along with 2 fish servings. Did not need the full amount I guess for lunch but it's all good. Do I need to come back with the recommendations of making reservations a month in advance?? Maybe not. 

27 Rue Malar, 7th arrondissement 

75007 Paris

 

The definitive La Casona vs El Paisa review

Central Falls, Rhode Island. A place where there are 2 good Colombian restaurants that I frequent. Today I want to do a heads up comparison between their bandeja paisa aka plato montañero dishes in descending order of goodness

Steak - no doubt EP. Larger, juicier, thicker cut here. LC has 2 thinish strips

Chicharron - LC wins here because this is what I imagine the chicharron to look like. Straight pork rind with individual pieces all fried up. Great and perhaps a touch better with the chimmichurri sauce

Chorizo - LC by default (and it is really good nonetheless). I don't think EP even includes it if I remember correctly

Rice - LC only because they put the beans on the side. This means that the rice can absorb good stuff like pork fat, beef grease, and egg

Egg - LC by default again

Plantains - sweet ones at both. Not fried. I like both and would be deal breaker without.

Salad - LC had better dressing only because I remember it. EP is non memorable so I will go with LC here (and no onions either)

Beans - both include them. Ok

Boiled potato - EP has it so they win by default. Not flavorful, uneventful

Yucca - EP has it so they win by default. Not flavorful, uneventful

Avocado - extra side at both. Not ranked. It is good

Atmosphere - both have the spanish music playing and not many gringos at all. Authentic in my book. EP is cash only. No bien. LC is the choice here due to credit card acceptance

Wow for the longest time I thought I liked EP better. Side by side comparison shows otherwise though. Will have to keep that in mind for future Colombian meals. There it is...buen provecho!!

La Casona (bottom picture) - @@@@
El Paisa (top picture) - @@@

Europe trip

Just got back from France and Spain and to say we ate would be an understatement. Will try and get some posts up about the food