BLUE APRON - NATIONWIDE

We love food. I also love to cook. Big Daddy loves when I cook too! But I don't cook nearly as much as I did when the kids were still living at home. Reason being, cooking for two has never been an easy feat for me to accomplish. When I cook, I cook for an army with a weeks worth of left overs. Trimming that down hasn't been easy. I was bemoaning this fact when I happened upon BLUE APRON. A friend was posting these amazing images on Instagram of meals she'd prepared and I was pretty impressed. So I did a little research but I was still not convinced. Then that friend offered me a coupon to test out their services for free. Free and food was a no brainer!

Blue Apron is a weekly subscription service where fresh ingredients and great recipes are delivered to your front door. You can opt out of a week or cancel easily and there is no obligation that renders you stuck with anything you don't want.

As their website boasts, each week you get exciting, seasonal recipes created by their culinary team and renowned guest chefs. Ingredients are perfectly pre-measured. No recipe is ever repeated in the same year, meals are 500-700 calories per serving and they take thirty-five minutes to prepare. You choose your free delivery date and the refrigerated box arrives when expected. There are interactive recipe cards and how-to videos to take all the guess-work out of the experience.

Our first box featured everything we needed for Spiced Meatballs with Garlic Toasts and Summer Squash Salad, Stir-Fried Ginger-Basil Chicken, and Seared Salmon and Panzanella with Corn, Shishito Peppers and Thai Basil. 

Now, I'm going to be honest. I've been cooking since I was eight-years old but this had me slightly intimidated until Big Daddy started dicing and slicing vegetables to help me get started. Then I had a blast preparing restaurant quality meals like I was a professionally trained chef! It was fun, but it was also work.

We cooked the Seared Salmon that first day and it was really good! My favorite part was the panzanella, a traditional Tuscan salad made with homemade garlic croutons. It was a delightful blend of corn, plum tomatoes, heirloom cucumber, Shishito peppers, Thai basil and those croutons. I will cook this again without hesitation, 

The second day we prepared the Spiced Meatballs which I thought would have been our favorite. I was surprised when I really didn't like it much at all. To our disadvantage they forgot to include the spice blend. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this faux pas. Fortunately, I have a fully stocked kitchen and spice cabinets so blending the dried thyme, garlic powder, mustard powder, lemon peel and crushed pepper wasn't a challenge. But the entire meal, a North African specialty, was just too citrusy for my taste buds. The sauce was just okay, not special, and it left me wishing I'd doctored it up a bit more. This one didn't work for either of us. 

The third day we cooked the Stir-fried Chicken and it was a definite winner! Big Daddy and I both loved everything about this meal from the lightly flavored coconut jasmine rice to the Thai-themed stir-fry with the thick, flavorful, sweet chili sauce. The Japanese eggplant was sheer perfection and a nice addition that I would never have thought to try on my own.

Will we use Blue Apron again? Most definitely. Will we recommend it to others? Without a doubt. On the two-person plan the cost of each meal is only $9.99 and you get three meals per person per week. The family plan which serves four is $8.74 per person and you have the option of getting two meals or four meals per week. The portions are generous and filling and you would not be disappointed.

Personally, Blue Apron was everything I was hoping it would be and more!

ANGIE'S RESTAURANT - GARNER, NC

Angie's Restaurant in Garner, NC has become one of our new favorite places for breakfast and lunch. It's a no frills establishment that caters to a crowd of regulars with great, home cooked meals. Established in a renovated old farm house, it's plain, not at all fancy nor pretty. Inside you're greeted by a loyal, enthusiastic staff that put the friend in friendly. By nature, they are all huggers and there isn't a customer yet that isn't considered a friend.

Since our first visit we've been a few times, eager to try the specials of the day. Fried chicken is on Thursdays and Friday's is fish day.

The fried chicken is a contender for the best in NC. It was tender, crispy, moist and seasoned to perfection. We'll try it again to insure the experience wasn't a fluke. Mashed potatoes are real potatoes, creamy with the perfect touch of butter flavor. The gravy was thick and rich and just like grandma use to make it. 

We've enjoyed perfectly fried okra, the most scrumptious hush puppies, macaroni and cheese that rivaled my own, and Big Daddy's meal of choice, perfectly fried pork chops. The fried shrimp and oysters was top notch as well. 

The list of everything that is picture perfect about Angie's is long and lengthy. We have yet to experience a meal that has been a disappointment and they cap each dish off with the dessert of the day. 

Now, the desserts have been interesting, but not spectacular. There was peach cobbler that was good not great. Chocolate cobbler which Big Daddy really liked but I would pass on the next time. And pineapple pudding, a kind of banana pudding with pineapple instead of bananas.

Angie's has a loyal following and it's because their customer service is exceptional. The staff go above and beyond to satisfy. And the entire atmosphere just feels like home. It's warm and welcoming and immensely comfortable. We would eat at Angie's Restaurant every day of the week if such a thing were possible!

SAWASDEE THAI RESTAURANT & BAR - RALEIGH, NC

Big Daddy and I have been wanting to try a Thai restaurant that has gotten rave reviews since opening. Sawasdee Thai Restaurant & Bar sits in a shopping center off Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh, NC. The owner and chef, Deanne, was born and raised in Thailand and she brings an authentic flair to the dining table.

The atmosphere was okay, nothing spectacular. There are booths along one wall, tables in the center of the room, stools at the bar and a cute little corner area with these over-sized wicker chairs and a ton of green plants. It was the décor in this part of the building that I thought they should have run with through the entire restaurant but that was just me. All in all it was clean and comfortable. The staff was attentive and friendly and from the moment we walked through the door we liked the place.

Knowing that Thai food can be extremely spicy we decided to take it slow and ease our way into those classic dishes that come overly packed with peppers. And of course we started with fried chicken!

It was an appetizer call Chicken Tatsuta Age and it was thin slices of chicken breast marinated with Thai seasoning. The chicken was melt in our mouth tender and it was a great start to the meal. Just thinking about it has me craving some right now!

Big Daddy was only feeling so adventurous. He ordered a mix of the Pineapple Fried Rice and Thai Fried Rice. It was jasmine rice with eggs, tomatoes, onions, pineapple and chicken. It was an overly generous portion and with the pineapple it was slightly on the sweet side. I call it a mix because the pineapple version comes with curry seasoning, crunchy cashew nuts and raisins which he didn’t want. The server suggested he just take the regular fried rice and add the pineapple and chicken. It worked. I really liked it but next time I plan to try it as it comes. Notice I did say next time!

I ordered the Garlic Chicken. I love Chinese garlic chicken and wanted to compare the two. My plate was a nice serving of tender chunks of chicken breast stir fried with broccoli in a minced garlic sauce. It came with a serving of jasmine rice on the side. The sauce was more thin gravy consistency but the taste was fresh and light, not at all thick and heavy like the Chinese version. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

We ended the meal with something called Ka Nom Tuay. It was a steamed dish of coconut pudding. It was hot when it was served and the first bite didn’t wow me. As it cooled the taste got sweeter but the texture was still off putting. I couldn’t get past the lumpy, pasty feel in my mouth. It was not our favorite part of the meal and we won’t be ordering it ever again.

We will, however, be revisiting Sawasdee. The meal was really good and I’m excited to try more of the food. They also have a sushi bar and a ramen noodle bar so there’s a long list of things we can’t wait to experience. This was a definite winner for us!

MAMI NORAS - RALEIGH, NC

PERUVIAN FOOD! We both love trying food from different cultures. Okay, we just love food! A friend suggested we give Peruvian food a try since I'm a big fan of Latin and island flavors. He recommended MAMI NORAS. They have four locations in the Triangle area and wanting something we'd never eaten before Big Daddy and I were game.

I really liked MAMI NORAS. Per their website they are recognized for their unforgettable rotisserie chicken, cooked in a special marinade, then roasted in their imported oven from Perú. This oven uses wood charcoal, no gas or electric heat is needed. And they pair their chicken with traditional South American sides like plantains to yucca fries and black beans.

We both ordered the chicken. He got white meat, I ordered dark meat. I opted for the black beans and white rice and Big Daddy wanted fries and slaw. And the food was really good! I commend them on the chicken. It was tender, moist and flavorful. The black beans were some of the best I've ever had but the rice was lacking. It's hard to screw up rice but theirs was dry with bits of hard pieces like it had been sitting for some time. The fries and slaw weren't overly special but they were good.

Now where I give them big points is the service. The service was exceptional. The young woman who took our order cheerfully explained the menu and the cooking process and I was impressed by how hard everyone seemed to be working. The tables and floor were clean and after every sitting there wasn't a moment of hesitation before someone was picking up the dirty dishes and wiping down table and seats for the next person. Business was brisk and no one was slacking. 

My only disappointment was the Caramel Flan. I really wanted some. But according to the cashier, they didn't have any available. "There wasn't any cut." However she did suggest we try the Caramel Cookie, insisting that we would not be disappointed. I wasn't convinced so I passed. I will however make another trip to eat here again and hopefully get a taste of that flan!

TILTED KILT

I love a great Irish pub! I'm not a big beer fan but when I do drink I only drink Guinness and where better to get Guinness than an Irish pub. Big Daddy is not a fan of Guinness, the taste just too dark and bitter for his liking. He's weird. I know. As for the Irish pub, he could take it or leave it. But I wanted Guinness and off we went to visit Tilted Kilt located in Raleigh, NC. It was mid-afternoon and I was having issues. I wanted an ale and that dry Irish stout was calling my name. Big Daddy was only interested in lunch although he did order a Bud Light.

Tilted Kilt is a good Irish pub. I don't know that I loved it but under the right circumstances, I would probably go back again. The atmosphere was inviting and friendly. The customers lively and their waitresses were attentive. The staff is costumed, the women slightly Hooter-esque in very small kilts with red plaid push-up bras beneath a tied white blouse. Male staffers likewise wore a kilt but not as short or revealing. Doesn't take rocket science to know what key demographic they cater to. And the men were there in full swing!

They have a decent menu of pub/bar fare. Things like wings and chips to help soak up some of that alcohol. But truth be told, I don't know if they're a good place to eat if you're looking for a really good, stick to your bones kind of meal.

He ordered the Irish Dip. It was shaved rib eye steak topped with melted Swiss cheese and a side of au jus for dipping and it was served with fries. I ordered the Pastrami Sandwich. Thinly sliced hot pastrami and Swiss cheese served on marble rye with spicy mustard was a great companion to my Guinness. At least that's what I was hoping for. But to our dismay, the chef was clearly having a bad day that afternoon. Someone had been heavy handed with the salt in both of our dishes. Both were barely edible. And you know it had to be exceptionally salty when Big Daddy couldn't eat it. 

We decided not to count them out altogether. A bad day doesn't necessarily make for a bad restaurant all around. We'll try them again, if for no other reason than to satisfy my taste for Guinness.

BACKYARD BBQ PIT - DURHAM, NC

Tea & Breakfast, an online news, entertainment and fashion sight recently published a list of the Best Soul Food Restaurants in America. Some sixty food places made the cut and we were intrigued. As we perused the list there were some we had heard of and others that we knew about and had dined in. We were suddenly excited by the prospect of trying the others. I screamed, “Road Trip!!!” and Big Daddy gassed up the car.

Our first stop was number 39 on the list, Backyard BBQ Pit in Durham, North Carolina. We headed in that direction and arrived about 7:15 pm on a Friday evening. The place itself is a dive, nothing at all that gives you any warm and fuzzy feelings once you step through the door. But there was a line of customers wrapped around the building and that in and of itself had us intrigued. Once we stepped inside, however, every ounce of that intrigue dissipated.

Pure chaos greeted us at the door. We have never witnessed the likes of such ever before. As we stood in line for some twenty-five minutes we watched patron after patron be disappointed as the food began to run out. “Sorry, all out!” became their mantra. We were slightly confused until the man in front of us noted that they closed at 8 PM. Then a young man stuck his head out the kitchen window and cried out last call for fried food. If you didn't order it right then and there you weren't going to get it.

We quickly ordered a fried catfish plate, a fried whiting plate and a fried pork chop plate. Chaos continued as minutes later they were still unsure of who had ordered fried what. Another twenty minutes passed and we watched as they locked the door some ten minutes early. We asked about sitting down and dining and were told it wouldn't be a problem but there would be no refills on any drinks we purchased since they were closing. We opted to take the food home instead. Once home, I filled our plates and we sat down, hopeful that the meal would meet our expectations. It didn't.

Big Daddy and I both believe the catfish is probably much better if eaten hot out of the fryer. But I found the catfish fishy and I was not a fan. Both of us were willing to try it again when we had an opportunity to dine in.

The vegetables were mediocre at best. The greens were tough and clumpy and tasted of a hint of sugar. Neither of us is a fan of vegetables with sugar added. The macaroni and cheese was good, not great, but okay. The canned yams were right out of the can with nothing added to spice them up and the string beans were blah. I was wholeheartedly disappointed but I agreed to give them another try.

We tried them again this past weekend and the experience wasn't much better. This time we arrived at 5:30 for dinner just to discover that they close at 6 PM on Saturdays. Really? On a Saturday? This time we ordered two rib plates. We wanted to try the fried chicken but they weren't taking any more fried food orders. And, again, someone was yelling for the door to be locked so that no one else came inside.

Again, we ended up taking the food home. Again, the macaroni and cheese was good and actually better this time than the last.  And this go round we tried the sautéed cabbage. They were good and neither of us had any complaints. Now Big Daddy enjoyed the ribs. They were heavily sauced and the sauce was sweet. I’m more of a dry rub kind of rib girl. And the sauce was too sweet for my tastes. He would eat them again. I would pass.

What we did agree on is that we won’t be repeat customers at Backyard BBQ Pit. The food didn't live up to the hype and I was thoroughly disappointed. But what was most off putting for both of us was the customer service. We watched as plates were prepped and handed to customers before their fried pieces were finished. Then the fried food was wrapped in wax paper and just handed to the customer over the counter. No bag. No nothing. The staff was surly, clearly more interested in closing the doors than making their paying customers feel welcomed. Questions were met with abrupt answers and the whole vibe felt extremely amateurish. For a food business it was just not good. 

CAFÉ PARIZADE - DURHAM, NC

Café Parizade is a long time staple in Durham, NC. Six years ago my mother, sister, and I hosted my father’s 70^th Birthday dinner celebration for fifty persons in their private dining room. From start to finish the staff went above and beyond our expectations. Since then I have been promising to return but just never got there. But I love the atmosphere and have never been disappointed by the food.

Recently Big Daddy and I were given a gift certificate to Café Parizade and l was over the moon excited! It was an opportunity to dress up and rub elbows with a sophisticated, trendy crowd. At least that was my plan. But this week we happened to be in the area mid-afternoon and decided to pop in for lunch since we didn’t know when we’d get another chance. The lunch rush was done and finished and there wasn’t a crowd so the wait staff were exceptionally attentive.

Everything about Café Parizade feels like a Mediterranean excursion. The décor is whimsical and inviting. The staff hail from all over the world and the food tastes out of this world!

 The meal started with a beautiful basket of whole grain focaccia bread. Big Daddy balked at the bread at first because it was “chilled” and he likes warm bread when it comes to olive oil and dipping. Our waiter, a young man from Kenya studying dentistry, said the bread is served at room temperature. Of course, Big Daddy joked about the room being a refrigerator! But the bread was fresh and spattered with olives. The dipping oil was a flavorful olive oil atop red pepper flakes and grated parmesan cheese. I could have made an entire meal off the bread. It was that good.

For his appetizer Big Daddy ordered the seasonal soup of the day. It was a healthy bowl of creamy goodness; a delightful melding of chicken and scallions in a rich cream sauce. This needs to be on the menu every day. On a day like today, I’d give anything for a big bowl to offset the cold and rain.

For his entrée Big Daddy ordered the CHICKEN SOUVLAKI KABOB. It was a kabob of grilled chicken atop a bed of chopped Greek salad and arugula with tzatziki sauce and pita triangles on the side. The portion was modest but more than enough for a full meal. The chicken was melt in your mouth tender and so flavorful. Surprisingly, Big Daddy liked the cold focaccia bread more than the pita but it was all good.

I started with the PARIZADE SALAD, a pretty dish of mixed greens, strawberries, bleu cheese, and almonds in a raspberry vinaigrette. It was like eating spring time, bright and fresh! Everything about it made me feel good. It looked pretty and tasted great. For my entrée I went for the pasta and ordered the FETTUCCINE CARBONARA. It was delicate noodles in a parmesan cream sauce topped with Applewood bacon, hardboiled egg, and green onions. The sauce was a little bland for my liking. It really could have used just a smidgen of salt to accent the flavors. I also found the chopped egg a little off putting. For me, it just seemed out of place. And it did nothing to enhance the taste.

We ended the meal with their BLACK VELVET PRALINE TORTE. It was three layers consisting of a velvety smooth blend of milk and Gianduja chocolate, caramel praline, blanket chiffon cake and topped with a warm chocolate praline sauce. It tasted much better than it looked. The flowers dusted on the plate were pretty but the warm sauce dumped on top of the torte was not appealing to the eye and I won't even repeat what Big Daddy thought it looked like.

On a scale of one through ten I’d give the meal a solid eight. Neither one of us was really disappointed. We would go back in a heartbeat. I’m actually looking forward to summer and their infamous Prixe Fix Friday menus. The Prixe Fix Friday menus, with five courses for a nominal price, focus each month on one of the Mediterranean countries, with inspiration coming from Spain, Morocco, Italy, and Greece, culminating with their Greek festival at the end of the summer.

Café Parizade was a win-win for us both! I absolutely LOVE this place!

BRIGS RESTAURANT - DURHAM, NC

It's one of our favorite places to go for breakfast. Brigs Restaurants have been around for some twenty-plus years and with good reason. Great service and good food are always a win-win for foodies. It's one of our regular go-to places for breakfast and Big Daddy and I will sometimes order their sandwiches and salads to go for lunch or dinner.

They have a MENU of standards and then there are the specials. They create a new omelette every week, a new Benedict every month, a new sandwich every month and a new griddle special every month. Plus each of the six LOCATIONS has been know to create a new salad or sandwich that will run for a brief period of time.

On this particular day we were both in the mood for omelets. They make theirs with three eggs and a variety of ingredients. Each plate is served with your choice of English muffin or toast, and homefries, grits, or fresh fruit.

Big Daddy ordered The Beast, a meat-lovers dream come true. It was filled with ham, smoked turkey, bacon, sausage and cheddar-jack cheese. Mine was more organic. I ordered the Malibu and enjoyed the fresh spinach, avocado, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheddar-jack cheese. And I admit to adding a side of perfectly cooked bacon!

The coffee is some of the best and my one and my only complaint is that the juice glasses are too small.

I also have to give kudos to the staff! Friendly, attentive and always on point, even when something goes awry, they are all a sheer delight to be around. 

We have yet to order anything that was not good. Their Cobb Salad is one of my favorites and there isn't anything not to like about their BLTC sandwich that requires a knife and fork to eat or my other favorite, the grilled ham and brie cheese on thick slices of rye bread.

Expect a wait during prime meal times and on Sunday mornings they will not seat you until everyone in your party has arrived. But trust me when I tell you, the wait is well worth it.

All thumbs up for Brigs!

 

UNCLE BUCK'S BREWERY & STEAKHOUSE - DALLAS, TEXAS

So Big Daddy and I are in Texas! And in Texas they say things come BIG. So we were anticipating meals either big in portion or big in flavor.

We found a new favorite in Uncle Buck's Brewery & Steakhouse owned by Bass Pro Shop. This place is definitely a man's place. It’s a full working brewery and steak production facility. And it's huge! From the soaring vaulted ceilings to the massive beer vats, it's got the lock on that BIG factor. They can seat 180 in their upstairs bar which features a huge-screen TV, four 50” flat screen TV’s, and full menu service. Downstairs in the main dining room they have enough room for you and 399 of your closest friends for lunch or dinner.

Uncle Buck’s menu features things like hand-cut buffalo steaks, Cajun rib-eyes, Uncle Buck burgers, smokehouse ribs, alligator, scrumptious salads, and succulent soups made in-house.

Since arriving in Texas we've eaten here twice. That in and of itself should tell you what Big Daddy thinks about the place! I mean really, he ate, then rolled next door to the Bass Pro Shop to shop. It was man cave heaven. 

The first time we dined there Big Daddy ordered the Country Fried Steak. As the menu said it was tenderized steak, battered and fried, topped with white country gravy and served with whipped red skinned potatoes and a fresh vegetable. The portion was substantial and the meat so tender that he could actually cut it with a fork like it was butter. The potatoes were creamy and nicely flavored and the string beans had just the right amount of bite. Once again I was left wishing I'd ordered what he'd ordered because his plate looked better than my plate. And my plate didn't look bad.

I ordered the Catfish Platter which included two cornmeal breaded catfish fillets served with fries and coleslaw. The catfish was good and the cornmeal batter was perfection but I had more fries than fish. But the coleslaw was exceptional and since I'm not a fan of coleslaw that was saying a lot. 

The second time we ate here we were supposed to switch it up. Big Daddy ordered the Chopped Steak but the same potatoes and string beans. They were still as good the second time around and the ten ounce chopped sirloin steak with a peppercorn sauce was really good. There was a hint of Worcestershire  sauce in the meat that gave it a little punch that he really liked. 

I went big this time and ordered the Trophy Burger. It was two fresh burgers piled high with American cheese, smoked bacon and crisp fried onions. This time I substituted their onion rings for the fries. This was a BIG sandwich but one of the best burgers I've eaten in a very long time. The meat was flavorful and tender and the onion rings were absolute perfection. Thick cut they were served with this chipotle ranch sauce that I really want to find a bottle of to take home. 

Now the staff was exceptional; attentive and polite, but they were slow as molasses. I don't get the impression that this is a place you want to eat at if you're in a hurry! And I heard from another diner that they don't serve bottled water which was an issue for her since the tap water tasted of chlorine if you didn't add lemon.

Overall, the food at Uncle Buck's was good and both meals left us immensely satisfied. We will eat here again before we leave Texas because Big Daddy is insisting on trying one of their infamous steaks. Supposedly, their USDA® Choice cuts are perfectly aged for a minimum of 21 days to enhance their flavor. I can honestly say that it's good we don't have an Uncle Buck's back home because they would definitely be one of our favorite go to spots when neither of us felt like cooking. No fried chicken but they easily get a few stars from us.

GG FISH & CHICKEN - RALEIGH, NC

With an advertising budget that suddenly has them running television ads on a regular basis, we had to give GG Fish & Chicken a try. With three locations between Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina we tried the Raleigh Capital Boulevard location.

GG Fish & Chicken is a neighborhood favorite specializing in Southern cooking and the Durham location has been labeled one of the best eateries in Durham. Translated, it's a popular fried fish and chicken joint!

First impression, we weren't giving them any awards.

The Raleigh location was outdated and on the surface: nasty. We walked in and I was ready to walk out before we even thought about ordering. But there was a sizable crowd waiting and a lengthy line of customers that peeked our curiosity to know more.

Big Daddy ordered the chicken wings for us to share since they were advertising a special; 10 whole wings for $6.99. We also ordered two lunch plates. We both chose fried catfish with fries and coleslaw. And this is where GG Fish and Chicken won us over.

The wings were just so-so, nothing overly spectacular. Crisp, on the small side, not overly seasoned. In fact, barely seasoned at all. I would not order them again. Big Daddy says he would think about it.

But the fish...the fish was sheer perfection! Nicely seasoned, fried to perfection and abundantly portioned. We LOVED the catfish. So much so that we went back the next day for take out. This time Big Daddy switched up and got the fried whiting. I know not to mess with a good thing and I'm glad I stuck with the catfish. We both think it's much better than the whiting.

Where GG Fish and Chicken lost us was the atmosphere. It takes the term dive to a whole other level of down in the dumps ugly. I kept looking for something to crawl across the table that had not been wiped in a good long while. That first day I suffered through dining in. The next I opted for take out.

Will we order the fish again? Most definitely Would I try anything else on the menu? Yes! Without hesitation. Will I dine in? Hell, no! Not even if you paid me.

FLYING FISH - N. Myrtle Beach, SC

I hate when I'm really looking forward to a meal and it turns out to be a major disappointment. Our last day at the beach I really wanted seafood and I was looking forward to really good seafood. Our hosts selected Flying Fish Public Market & Grill. I was happy to learn that this was not one of their favorite go-to seafood spots.

We will probably never eat here again. Although their claim to fame is that the seafood goes from the boat to the kitchen within two hours of being caught, the fish being fresh is all they can claim. Once it was cooked it was all downhill.

Let me start with the staff and service. We asked for a particular table. There's no point in dining on the water if you can't have a window with a view. We were there shortly before noon and there was no crowd so being seated at the table we wanted should not have been a problem. The hostess was visibly annoyed when she had to actually wipe off that table to accommodate us and she didn't bother to hide her irritation. It set the mood for the entire meal. The server was much more pleasant and I actually give her props for her efforts. Without her pleasant personality the entire meal would have been a total bust.

We started with a round of appetizers for the table to share.  The men selected the coconut shrimp with spicy orange marmalade and crispy calamari with sweet and spicy chili sauce. Eating the calamari felt like chewing on rubber bands and the sauce was horrific. The orange marmalade was the best thing on the table at that point. That is until you dipped a shrimp into it.

Big Daddy ordered Fish and Chips and I ordered the Southern Fried Platter with Oysters and Flounder. The oysters were probably the best things on both of our plates. They were lightly breaded, nicely seasoned and very tasty. The fish was over fried and tasted like the oil had not been changed in ages. The slaw was just okay and the fries were oddly seasoned. Two of us thought they'd been dusted with parmesan cheese and the others weren't sure. Either way they were not good and it's not often I can't at least eat the fries.

I wish there was something about this place that I can say I liked but there really isn't. With all the great seafood restaurants in Myrtle Beach I can't say that I would recommend them to anyone if asked. It was truly a disappointment.

TRAVINIA ITALIAN KITCHEN - N. Myrtle Beach, SC

Big Daddy and I stole a few days down at the beach, the first getaway for the New Year and one of our last binges before we resumed our green smoothie cleanse and diet. We reconnected with family and had a delightful time just hanging out and playing board games as we sipped on our favorite adult beverages.

Our first day there the group of us decided to try Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar. There was some reluctance for a few after reading the reviews. Seems like they might have had some issues a year or two ago. Others of us were more optimistic and I was just wanting to check out the new Market Commons area where they were located.

Our party of six was quickly seated and within minutes a round of drinks was had by all and appetizers were on the way. The table shared the Gnocchi and Italian Sausage, Pan Fried Calamari, and the Italian Nachos. The gnocchi was exceptional and everyone loved the calamari with its spicy marinara sauce. I noticed the men were particularly fond of the nachos which were a nice presentation of lightly fried chips, Italian sausage, provolone, black olives, tomatoes, scallions, banana peppers, and asiago cream sauce.

Big Daddy ordered their Pasta Mia Nona. His bowtie pasta was served with grilled chicken, mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, and that scrumptious asiago garlic cream sauce. I chose the Chicken Marsala and was delighted that they had no problems replacing the cappellini with rigatoni. The sauce was rich and abundant.  My sister/BFF ordered the Scampi Travinia. Although the jumbo shrimp weren't overly jumbo, they were a nice size. The sauce was a delicate blend of garlic butter, herbs, basil and beurre blanc served over cappellini. 

My brother ordered Uncle Tony’s Favorite Pepperoni Pizza. Unfortunately, neither I, nor Big Daddy got a chance to taste it but by the way he inhaled it, I think it was good! The other couple dining with us selected the Flounder Parmesan. The fish was lightly crusted with Italian bread crumbs and was served with lemon butter, capers, spinach-roasted tomato pine nut orzo pasta. The presentation was extremely pretty and it tasted good.

Big Daddy said he would definitely eat here again and I whole-heartedly agree with him.  Our server was delightful and went above and beyond to insure that our meal was topnotch. I can't wait to get to the beach again and will make this a definite must stop. Two thumbs up!

And please, forgive the stock photos but with all the excitement and chatter going on we both forgot to take pictures of our meals!

BIG ED'S CITY MARKET RESTAURANT

We really like Big Ed's City Market Restaurant! I credit Big Daddy for the discovery, the downtown Raleigh venue serving up down home goodness with true Southern flair. We've been twice now. The first time we were there for breakfast. I wanted grits and Big Daddy was craving country ham. Both plates were served with red-eye gravy and both plates were loaded with fresh baked biscuits and fatback. They have easily stolen the award for our favorite breakfast spot.

The second time we went for fried chicken only to discover that they don't serve fried chicken every day. But we weren't discouraged, choosing the daily Blue Plate Special instead. On this particular day the special was fried catfish with a whole host of sides including cornbread and a biscuit. The meal also came with sweet tea and dessert. It was a wealth of food for $8.50 per plate.

Big Daddy ate his fried catfish with butter beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. I chose the collard greens and butter beans.  From start to finish the meal was exceptional with only a few bumps. The butter beans were on point and we were both thoroughly pleased. 

Big Daddy enjoyed the mashed potatoes and they were real potatoes not powder. The collards were the only real disappointment for me. Cooked with real pork meat the flavor was on point but they were horribly over-cooked and were more paste and stem than anything else. They had absolutely no bite or chew to them at all. But I loved the coleslaw that came with the fish and that's saying a lot because I'm not a big fan of coleslaw.

They have some of the best cornbread I've ever eaten and the biscuits are good, too, but I prefer them with breakfast. We both selected the banana pudding for dessert. We've had better but theirs was not bad at all.

Overall, both meals earned an easy A+ from us. The staff is friendly and pleasant, the atmosphere engaging and service was exceptional. They have an extensive MENU that's sure to please everyone. We will definitely frequent Big Ed's City Market Restaurant again. We just have to try the fried chicken!