Syrian-style (light like Lebonese) sandwiches with smoothies, hookahs at night, a big tv and Wi-Fi.
What we had:
I had a Falafel Saj, my DH had a honey-mustard chicken Saj. I was told by a Pakistani friend of mine once that you can really tell the quality of a middle-eastern restaurant by their Falafel. Seems like a good rule of thumb to me. The falafel here was perhaps the best I've ever had. If not the best, certainly tied with Neomonde Deli (Raleigh). The falafel was light, not fried to death, not greasy and not spiced to death, either. It was exactly what you don't expect; light, crispy, with a nuanced flavor. I could taste individual spices. Craziness! The Saj (flat bread... not a pita, more like a tortilla-ish foldy naan or lavash) was really good, too. They make it fresh to order. It takes a bit, but it is so worth it. The honey-mustard chicken was really good, too. Our Sajs (Sajes?) left us feeling satisfied but not bloated. We felt healthy. Like we were making a good choice. (I've already asked my DH if he's a pod person. I guess even he has to get tired of grease sometime).
Décor:
Cute. I love the neo-retro plastic chairs. The color scheme (lime, sunkist, slate and cream) is fun, upbeat and snappy. This place looks healthy.
Service:
I really hope this isn't standard. We went on a Sunday afternoon, and the place was pretty dead. I'm thinking the guy that greeted us and made our lunch was one of the owners, and he mostly had nothing to do. I really hope it gets jammin at night or something. He was really warm and friendly, though. He checked to make sure we liked what we were having, and seemed to genuinely care if we liked the food. The service was great; I just hope it gets busier.
Overall impressions:
This place is really good. It's healthy, fresh, fast, and reasonably priced. And, they have Wi-Fi. I miss Wi-Fi. They have it freakin everywhere in Jax (even Denny's), and Raleigh, too. The menu isn't huge, but what they do have is good. I want to try more. And maybe a smoothie while I'm at it. I'm kind of proud of them for their menu, too. Being a middle-eastern sandwich shop, what's the first thing you think? The ubiquitous Gyro, of course. But no, not here. No Gyro (or shwarama) anywhere on the menu. Good going, guys. A menu like that makes a statement. We're different. I like it. And, it would be very easy to eat vegetarian here, which is a plus.
Maybe this place can restore our faith in the Miami New Times a bit, too. Bella Luna was their suggestion, too, and we all know how well that turned out.
I can't believe a place that has Wi-Fi doesn't have a website; What Google says
Rating:
5 out of 5 salamanders
Paquitos Mexican Restaurant
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Mmmmmm...... Mexican
What we had:
This place is fantabulous. Fan. Freakin. Tabulous. We ate here for the first time almost 2 weeks ago, and we liked it so much we took my sister in law when she came down to visit the next weekend. This was the first place we took her, it's that good. I've had the steak tacos (can't remember the name... it's on the page with the head section "Chipotle".. half way down the page, second from the left. The tacos had killer steak, a little pico, light cheese. The steak was great. The seasoning was spot-on. My DH had some sort of chicken burrito. The chicken was really great, too. And the beans. The beans! I'm pretty damn sure they didn't come from a can. I've never tasted pintos that taste... so... beany. The table salsa is even great. The second time we went, I had a combo plate. Maybe called Durango. I don't really remember what was on it except for a quesidilla, but I do remember I didn't want to stop eating it. The rice is even tolerable, and I can't stand "Mexican" rice. I can't remember what my DH had, but I know he really liked it. I'm excited to try the pork. The menu is even insane. They have everything. Even burgers. And some ginormous meat death on a plate thing. I can't remember the details, but it starts with 16 inches of steak, and ribs get involved somehow. I'm working my way up to it.
Décor:
It's bright, I'll give it that. It's kind of like Mexico threw up. A little of everything. But, strangely, it works. My only real gripe is the padded tables with burro blankets and lace on top. The table padding makes the drinks a little unstable. I'm a klutz. I don't like having to worry about dumping my drink in the food I'm totally not relinquishing for anything. It makes me tense.
Service:
Par for a Mexican restaurant. In brightly-colored outfits.
Overall impressions:
Mmmmmm..... Mexican. My SIL put it best when she said "It's better than Ranchero." [El Ranchero (or Rancherito, whatever works) is hands-down the best Mexican in Raleigh. And that's saying something.] I need to try the pork. Or the fish. Or more steak. I need to try everything. And for those of you who like to live dangerously, their Tequila selection takes up a whole page.
Company website; What Google says
(No freakin way! They have a website! And... .Delivery!!!! is 10:00 pm too late to eat Mexican?)
Rating:
5 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
This place is fantabulous. Fan. Freakin. Tabulous. We ate here for the first time almost 2 weeks ago, and we liked it so much we took my sister in law when she came down to visit the next weekend. This was the first place we took her, it's that good. I've had the steak tacos (can't remember the name... it's on the page with the head section "Chipotle".. half way down the page, second from the left. The tacos had killer steak, a little pico, light cheese. The steak was great. The seasoning was spot-on. My DH had some sort of chicken burrito. The chicken was really great, too. And the beans. The beans! I'm pretty damn sure they didn't come from a can. I've never tasted pintos that taste... so... beany. The table salsa is even great. The second time we went, I had a combo plate. Maybe called Durango. I don't really remember what was on it except for a quesidilla, but I do remember I didn't want to stop eating it. The rice is even tolerable, and I can't stand "Mexican" rice. I can't remember what my DH had, but I know he really liked it. I'm excited to try the pork. The menu is even insane. They have everything. Even burgers. And some ginormous meat death on a plate thing. I can't remember the details, but it starts with 16 inches of steak, and ribs get involved somehow. I'm working my way up to it.
Décor:
It's bright, I'll give it that. It's kind of like Mexico threw up. A little of everything. But, strangely, it works. My only real gripe is the padded tables with burro blankets and lace on top. The table padding makes the drinks a little unstable. I'm a klutz. I don't like having to worry about dumping my drink in the food I'm totally not relinquishing for anything. It makes me tense.
Service:
Par for a Mexican restaurant. In brightly-colored outfits.
Overall impressions:
Mmmmmm..... Mexican. My SIL put it best when she said "It's better than Ranchero." [El Ranchero (or Rancherito, whatever works) is hands-down the best Mexican in Raleigh. And that's saying something.] I need to try the pork. Or the fish. Or more steak. I need to try everything. And for those of you who like to live dangerously, their Tequila selection takes up a whole page.
Company website; What Google says
(No freakin way! They have a website! And... .Delivery!!!! is 10:00 pm too late to eat Mexican?)
Rating:
5 out of 5 salamanders
Pollo Tropical
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Newfangled Latin/Caribbean style fast food chicken joint.
What we had:
I still can't believe we've only been here twice. Pollo Tropical was actually the first place we ate in Miami. We both had the chicken fajitas. Someday I'll branch out. Someday. But the fajitas are so good. And so reasonably priced. I absolutely love the black beans & rice here. Yeah, I know, black beans. So generally unexciting. But these are good. And the rice is actually seasoned. I don't think I've ever had seasoned white rice at a restaurant. Maybe I should try more Caribbean places. The chicken at Pollo is cooked really well, and it's all really healthy since they grill the chicken. You can see them doing it. No frozen chicken-glue here (no chicken tenders, either).
Décor:
Bright, happy, vaguely tropical in a kind of fast food way. The inside of both of the locations I've eaten at reminds me of Taco Bell, but in a good way.
Service:
It's fast food. So far, at least, the cashiers seem to have all the requisite chromosomes, so that's a plus.
Overall impressions:
We like Pollo. It's healthy, light-ish, really reasonably priced and quick.
Company website; What Google says
Rating:
3 out of 5 salamanders
What we had:
I still can't believe we've only been here twice. Pollo Tropical was actually the first place we ate in Miami. We both had the chicken fajitas. Someday I'll branch out. Someday. But the fajitas are so good. And so reasonably priced. I absolutely love the black beans & rice here. Yeah, I know, black beans. So generally unexciting. But these are good. And the rice is actually seasoned. I don't think I've ever had seasoned white rice at a restaurant. Maybe I should try more Caribbean places. The chicken at Pollo is cooked really well, and it's all really healthy since they grill the chicken. You can see them doing it. No frozen chicken-glue here (no chicken tenders, either).
Décor:
Bright, happy, vaguely tropical in a kind of fast food way. The inside of both of the locations I've eaten at reminds me of Taco Bell, but in a good way.
Service:
It's fast food. So far, at least, the cashiers seem to have all the requisite chromosomes, so that's a plus.
Overall impressions:
We like Pollo. It's healthy, light-ish, really reasonably priced and quick.
Company website; What Google says
Rating:
3 out of 5 salamanders
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