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Pound The Hill, Washington DC [CLOSED]

April 19, 2013

Lauren went a little Groupon-crazy for my visit to DC, and even though she doesn’t actually eat real food, she actually picked some pretty delicious restaurants. For the second of my three DC restaurant reviews, we visit Pound The Hill, this little coffee-house-slash-cafe-slash-tapas-slash-bistro-slash-I’m-not-really-sure-how-to-classify-them.

It is butter? It’s not butter? But it tastes like butter? MAKE UP YOUR MINDS PEOPLE

After looking at the menu, Lauren and I decided that we basically wanted all the appetizers. Luckily, we had 2 other people joining us, so we could do that without feeling like disgusting and terrible human beings (we literally ordered 7 appetizers, one entree, and 2 desserts to split). I’ll go ahead and go through the list of everything we ordered, although they seem to have changed the menu a bit since we went. First was the “Pan Seared Crab Cake,” all lump crab cake, red pepper aioli, mixed pepper. They did a really good job of having big pieces of crab only lightly held together with some bread. I hate when crab cakes come out and they taste more like crab-flavored bread balls. These were pretty good, especially with the red pepper aioili.

They couldn’t even wait the 2 seconds it took me to take the picture. Savages.

Next up was the Sweet Potato Gnocchi (cinnamon, sage, brown butter sauce), which were really, really good. I think this was one of my favorite things that we ordered. It was a good mix of sweet and savory, and I think all of the flavors really melded well together.

Plus, it comes in a mini skillet. How can you go wrong with that?

After the gnocchi was the Parmesan Herb Croquettes (crispy croquettes with aged parmesan, shallots, fresh herbs, paprika dijoinaise), which were also pretty good. I kind of was hoping for a little more, they weren’t really unique or outstanding in any way, but they were still good.

I mean, it’s fried parmesan potatoes. Basically all of my favorite foods.

Next up, the Prime Rib Sliders (shaved dry aged prime rib, blue cheese spread, BBQ sauce, cucumber pepper salad). They changed the name on their menu online to “Beef BBQ Crostini” which is a way more appropriate description. When I think of a slider, I think of a mini sandwich of some kind. What we actually got was prime rib bruschetta. Not the same thing. It was pretty good, but I was too busy being disappointed in their presentation to really care about the taste.

Maybe you’re supposed to put the 2 halves together? Somebody must be drunk in the kitchen.

Our next appetizer was the Fish “in” Chips (fresh cod fried in crunch potato chip crumbs, saffron lemon tartar sauce), which were interesting and surprisingly good. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, the way a good piece of fried fish should be. I don’t know that I would’ve liked them as much without the saffron lemon tartar sauce, though.

It would’ve been nice to get more than 1 tablespoon of it, though.

Next up was the menu item I had been looking forward to the most: The Bacon Tasting Plate (Benton’s couple smoked pork bacon, Tennessee wild boar bacon, New England mallard duck bacon, ancho chili maple dipping sauce). I’m not sure that I’d ever had boar before, let alone boar bacon (it’s the fatter piece), but it was delicious. I also really liked the duck bacon (darker, skinnier piece)…albeit I was the only one, but I thought it was really good with the chili maple dipping sauce. The pork bacon was really good too, but it was gone pretty fast between the 4 of us.

Bacon tasting plate. Let me repeat that for you. BACON TASTING PLATE. Why isn’t that a thing everywhere??

Following the bacon, we got the hummus of the day, which was a black bean hummus with arugula salad, sour cream, pico de gallo and pitas for dipping. It was good, but definitely not better than Dell’z Deli black bean hummus, which is the bomb.

I just kind of love hummus, no matter what it’s made out of.

The one entree we got was the Beef Tip Fondue (dry aged beef tender, pan seared onions, peppers, and mushrooms, creamy blue cheese sauce, arugula and chive salad), because that sounded delicious. It was another one of those cases where the name definitely did not match the dish that it belonged to. First of all, this wasn’t fondue at all. It was a cup of beef with a tiny dish of blue cheese sauce to dip it in. They changed the name on the online menu to “American Style Beef Stir Fry,” which is way more accurate. It was really good, but I would’ve loved more than a thimble full of bleu cheese sauce for my “fondue.”

I like how they give you a pound of arugula, like that'll make up for the lack of bleu cheese.

I like how they give you a pound of arugula, like that’ll make up for the lack of fondue in their fondue.

Apparently they recently started using a new reservation service on their website, so they bribe you into using it by offering a free dessert with your reservation when you enter “dessert me” in the promo code box. Don’t expect your server to know this, however, because ours certainly didn’t. We had to remind her of it and then explain what it was before she had any idea what I was talking about. Our “free” dessert was the Warm Winter Apple and Pear crisp with spicy sea salted honey. I liked it ok, but thought that the apples were a little undercooked. Plus I think there was way more pear than apple in that crisp. Lauren liked it though, so I guess that counts for something.

Again with the little skillets. I want a bunch of these, just to serve random stuff in.

Our second dessert, which I liked better, was Warm Spiced Doughnuts with powdered sugar. I think they tasted just like a funnel cake from the fair (read: delicious), but were really rich so I didn’t really eat more than one bite. Plus I’d eaten 7 other appetizers so I was kind of running out of room.

Seriously. Everything tastes better in a little skillet.

All in all, I’d say I had a pleasant experience at Pound The Hill. The one thing that really bothered me was that even though we had 4 people at the table, they kept bringing out our appetizers with only 2 or 3 servings each. Considering they ranged from like $8-$12 you’d think they would’ve been considerate enough to bring enough servings for the number of people at the table. Or at least specify on the menu how many servings each appetizer comes with. I get that it’s a little bistro/cafe/whatever, but still. If you’re going to have tables that seat 4 people, you should be prepared for that. Also, it was super pricey for the amount of food you actually got. Lauren kept saying that “that’s just DC, everything is expensive” but after 5 days there, Pound The Hill was the only place I thought was ridiculously overpriced, especially for such tiny portions.

I still have no idea what kind of restaurant this is.

Pound The Hill
621 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 621-6765

Restaurant Reviews Washington, DC

Ethiopic (Washington DC)

April 12, 2013

So I just spent 5 busy and wonderful days in Washington DC visiting Lauren in her new city. It was the first time I’d been to DC as an adult and not in the company of my classmates and chaperones. It was nice to have to freedom to do whatever I wanted to. Although that was usually just seeing touristy stuff, eating, and shopping. So basically all the same things I did on my 11th grade field trip (only this time I added alcohol and Starbucks).

A combination to instantly make any trip more exciting.

Since I’d never had Ethiopian food before (and Lauren suddenly got all adventurous with her palate now that she’s a big fancy DC gal), we went to what she claimed was the “best Ethiopian restaurant in DC.” We were joined for dinner by Lauren’s roommate Ashley, and my childhood friend Monika. We had 9:15 reservations, and the place was pretty packed when we got there. First, let me talk about the bread. This is one of those restaurants, like Moroccan, where you don’t eat with silverware, you use your hands and bread as utensils. The bread at Ethiopic was unlike any other bread I’ve ever eaten before. It tasted kind of sour, and had a spongy consistency not unlike play-doh. It was good, but also kind of weird. Not sure if this is what it’s like at all Ethiopian restaurants, but I’d imagine this kind of bread is pretty typical of Ethiopian cuisine–heavy, easy to eat, and I’m pretty sure it expands in your stomach to make you fuller faster.

Also, it comes rolled up like a rug.

To start, Monika and I ordered the Azifa (lentil salad seasoned with red onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs & spices), which probably tasted delicious, but I wouldn’t know because it was literally THE SPICIEST THING I’VE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE. Which wouldn’t have been as big of a deal, if our waitress didn’t disappear for most of the time, leaving my water glass empty. I felt like a fire breathing dragon. Monika thought it was great and ate most of it. I stuck mainly to the weird play-doh bread, because it hadn’t betrayed my trust the way the lentils did.

Who knew some little lentils could bring me to tears.

Lauren and Ashley got the Timatim (fresh diced tomatoes, onions, garlic, jalapeno pepper, olive oil, lemon juice & spices) to start, and also had the same complaint about it being spicy. Lauren said when she got it last time, it wasn’t nearly as spicy. She thought maybe because we had a later dinner time, they prepared all the appetizers ahead of time and just let them stew in their own juices. Which makes sense, because I usually can handle jalapenos ok.

Yay, more bread carpets!

For main courses, Monika and I got the Ethiopic Signature Tibs (tender boneless leg of lamb marinated & sauteed with red onions, garlic, jalapeno pepper, fresh tomato, rosemary, herbs & spices served sizzling hot). I ordered the appetizer and my entree at the same time, so I ended up being really worried that my lamb was going to be inedibly spicy, but it actually was perfect. Very mild and flavorful, not fatty at all–some of the best lamb I’ve ever eaten. All of the flavors really came together well, and I loved the big fresh sprigs of rosemary with the rest of the vegetables (although I avoided eating anymore jalapenos to prevent future mouth fires). I almost smacked the waitress in the face when she brought a little dish of “spicy chile sauce in case the lamb isn’t spicy enough.” STOP TRYING TO BURN MY TASTEBUDS OFF OF MY TONGUE.

Apparently, the key to getting silverware is to order the hot food.

Lauren and Ashley split the vegetarian sampler #1 which consisted of gomen (fresh collard green simmered in mild sauce seasoned with spice and herbs. Mild.), miser wot (split lentils simmered in spicy hot berbere sauce. Spicy), kik aletcha (yellow split peas simmered in a mild and flavorful onion and herb sauce. Mild.), dinich wot (curried potato simmered with red onions, garlic, jalapeno peppers, olive oil, fresh herbs & spices). I thought it was really cool that the used the bread as a plate for the different vegetarian dishes. I really liked the collards, although they kind of surprised me a bit. Being from the south, I’m used to eating collards a certain way, and this was very different. Still good, though! I also liked the yellow and red lentil dishes, although the red one was a bit spicy. I didn’t get to try the potatoes but Ashley said she really liked those, so I’ll take her word for it.

I think sampler platters are my favorite food.

We didn’t get dessert because we were so full (it’s that bread, man, I swear). But I did try a glass of Ethiopian red wine, which was good, but kind of bitter for my taste. When the check came, I was surprised at how inexpensive everything was. I’d definitely go back here again and get the lamb tibs (and try to avoid all of the outrageously spicy stuff). I’d definitely recommend Ethiopic if you’re ever near H-Street in Washington DC!

It almost looks like this picture could’ve been taken in Charleston.

Ethiopic
401 H St NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 675-2066

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Wild Olive

April 5, 2013

So, I’ve mentioned before that Wild Olive is my mom’s favorite restaurant in Charleston (and possibly all of South Carolina), but I’ve never actually taken the time to write it up before. Since I had the pleasure of dining there a couple weeks back, I made sure to take lots of photos to put on this blog. Looking back at the photos, the’yre pretty terrible (low light + cell phone camera = crappy pictures), so I’ll just have to woo you over with my words (and pictures I find on Google). Here’s an interior shot I took before the sun set.

And this is one of the better ones.

I’ve been with my mom a couple of times. She absolutely loves the “marinated warm olives,” so we always end up ordering those.

This picture comes from the Wild Olive website and makes me really wish I liked olives.

I love the “house cured salumi with mozzarella, caponata, chicken liver rustica crostini” appetizer because it is delicious. I know a lot of people see “chicken liver” and get grossed out, but trust me. It is so freaking good. I also love the fresh mozzarella, but let’s face it, I am a sucker for fresh mozzarella. Plus, salami/salumi is delicious, and they give you a bunch of different kinds of salami on a platter, so how can you go wrong with that?

As you can see, I took this from the Wild Olive website. I wish my pictures looked this fly.

I also really love the arancini balls there, or as they’re listed on the menu, “suppli al telefono risotto fritters stuffed with sausage, spinach, parmesan, mozzarella.” So delicious. They’re not big like the ones they make in Boston, but they’re still really yummy. When you bite/cut into them they’re hot, cheesy, and really delicious.

Also, I am always a huge fan of anything deep fried and stuffed with cheese.

The most recent time I went with my new friend Regina, we started with the beef carpaccio (beef carpaccio with parmesan, horseradish aioli, melba toast, arugula, Sicilian sea salt). It’s basically like a beef salami and I really loved it. I think the sea salt and horseradish aioli added a nice element to the dish as a whole. The consistency kind of threw me off a little bit, because it’s very soft. I’m glad they gave me the crostini to balance it out.

As you can see, I took a piece from the middle of the plate before I remembered to take the picture.

We also got the bruschetta which is different than normal bruschetta as it came topped with rapini, purple cape beans, chile flake, garlic, and pecorino sardo. I think they change it out seasonally, because I’ve seen different pictures online. It was kind of weird eating bread with beans on it, but I think I really liked it. They did a really good job of balancing the flavors of each ingredient.

I’ll have an entire salad on my bread, please. Thanks!

I usually try to be adventurous, so I was intrigued by the “squid ink linguine with local shrimp, tomato, garlic, fresh spicy red chile, basil.” However, I’m not crazy about shrimp pasta, but I really wanted to be able to say that I’ve had squid ink pasta before. I asked the waiter how it was and he said “It’s good, but it basically tastes like seafood pasta. If you don’t like fishy tasting food, don’t get it.” So. Instead I was lame and basic and opted for the chicken parmesan. I know, I know. But it’s SO GOOD. It comes with “potato alfredo, marinara, mozzarella, arugula,” and it is SO good.

This picture I grabbed from Charleston Crafted

Last time we went, my mom got the “Grilled Stevenson Place Farms grass-fed steak with smashed fried and truffled Yukon gold potatoes,” but she doesn’t love truffle oil, so instead she replaced the potatoes with an order of potato gnocchi in marinara sauce. As I recall, she loved it.

Even though that steak is the size of her whole head.

Regina and I also got dessert, because apparently she considers herself something of a tiramisu connoisseur. Luckily for me, she was nice enough to share it with me, and let me say. Wow. That tiramisu is damn good.

This picture I grabbed from Urbanspoon.

I’ve always had a really positive experience every time I’ve gone to Wild Olive. From the food, to the ambience, to the service, to the wine, it’s always a good time. It’s definitely worth driving out to John’s Island!

Ok. Time for my lunch break.

Wild Olive
2867 Maybank Highway
John’s Island S.C. 29455
(843) 737-4177

3 Comments

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Crave Kitchen & Cocktails

March 29, 2013

The first time I visited Crave was June of 2011 with my mom for Sean’s birthday (and because I had a Groupon). I remember it was really delicious, so I don’t really know why it took me so long to go back again. Probably because it’s all the way out by the Isle of Palms connector and I rarely venture out in that direction if I can avoid it. Both Crave and its executive chef, Landen Ganstrom follow me on twitter, and tweet at me pretty much anytime I post anything food related, (ie “Looking for somewhere to eat lunch in Charleston,” etc) with suggestions, which can be really helpful.

Plus, those are some excellent suggestions.

After I saw that Crave won “Most Life-Changing Mac and Cheese in America” from Esquire Magazine, you can bet they shot to the top of my list of restaurants to try. I had their mac and cheese at the Mac Off in October where they won People’s Choice Best Macaroni and Cheese, and it definitely stood out from the crowd.

It’s especially good with pulled pork or brisket!

So I dragged Becca out there last Saturday for lunch to try it for ourselves. I started with the Macaroni and Cheese, which I reluctantly shared with Becca, and I have to say, it was pretty damn delicious. It reminded me of that Mitch Hedburg joke “Fettucini alfredo is macaroni and cheese for adults,” because it had a similar flavor. I was almost tempted to cancel my entree and just get another order of the macaroni, but I had just enough self-control to resist.

Creamy, cheddary, deliciousness.

Becca got the Greek dip to start (Creamy garlic hummus and Mediterranean olive tapenade, served with flat bread and mixed greens topped with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese), which I gladly shared with her. We were surprised at how good the hummus was. For some reason, I was expecting it to be really generic tasting, but it was actually really yummy. I don’t do olives, but Becca said she loved the olive tapenade.

Gosh, I love hummus.

For my entree, I went with the turkey club (oven-Roasted half pound turkey club served with toasted ciabatta bread, apple wood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and cajun remoulade), which was outstanding. You could really tell that the turkey was fresh and not lunchmeat out of a package. It was thick and flavorful and so good. I also love that the bacon was nice and crispy. I hate when restaurants serve chewy, rubbery bacon. This was perfect. And the cajun remoulade was the perfect condiment. The sandwich just went together really well. I got a side salad to accompany my club (to try and cancel out some of the damage I did with the Mac), with the lemon vinaigrette which was good also. It had olives, feta cheese, and cucumbers on it, and it was really good for a side salad, but I wouldn’t say that it blew me away at all. Then again, it’s really difficult to get me excited about a salad, no matter how good it is.

I wish they delivered downtown. I’d eat that sandwich every day.

Becca got the “Wedge salad” (local Butter lettuce with Humbolt Fog Blue Cheese, Duroch pork lardons, crisp fresh red onions, apples and a cracked black pepper and dill dressing), which more accurately should be called a “butter lettuce salad with a wedge of bleu cheese.” She liked it, but was a little disappointed that it wasn’t actually a wedge of lettuce.

I, however, think all “wedge salads” should actually be a wedge of cheese and a side of lettuce.

For dessert, I was really excited to try the Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake that they tweeted me about a couple weeks ago when I was looking for a dessert place in Charleston. It’s a “rich Gluten-free chocolate cake with salted homemade caramel butter crème and sea salt chocolate frosting topped with caramel drizzle.” It was, in the words of my mother, “The Bomb.” It was so yummy. I don’t think I would’ve known it was gluten-free if they hadn’t specified it on the menu. I loved that it was sweet without making me feel like I had diabetes by the second bite (I’m looking at you, Applebee’s). They have a bunch of other desserts that look good, too, like Baked Alaska, Seared Pear, Hot Fudge Snickers, Coconut Cake, and an array of ice cream. I definitely know where to go next time I’m looking for dessert.

Omigosh, it’s so good.

I also see that they have a bunch of options that are gluten-free, paleo, and cross-fit friendly for people like me who are trying (keyword here being TRYING) to eat healthier. Despite the fact that our service wasn’t really that great and I really wish they had a better website, the food more than made up for any issues I may have had. I highly recommend stopping by Crave whenever you’re out in Mount Pleasant or Isle of Palms.

Now, I’m CRAVING Crave! hyuck hyuck

Crave Kitchen & Cocktails
1968 Riviera Dr
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 884-1177

1 Comments

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

The Owl, Greenville, SC [CLOSED]

March 22, 2013

This review comes to you from my amazing mother, Tina. She’s beautiful and crazy and has relatively good taste (most of the time). Here goes!

…And this is one of her BETTER moments.

Sydney posted a link on my Facebook wall the other day for a write-up from a Greenville food blogger about a new restaurant in called The Owl on Pleasantburg Road. The article made it look so good we decided to go there for dinner that same day. After reading the reviews we thought it would be packed, but luckily for us, 5:30 on a Tuesday evening must be the calm before the storm, because we were their only customers for a while.

The bar scene has definitely been kicked up a few notches. We had visited this building a number of years ago when it was a private club known as Gumby’s. Though it’s a small place and sparsely decorated, this once shabby tavern has been transformed into a chic establishment. I really like the cool bar stools and open kitchen.

The atmosphere was pretty neat. I like that it was really simple in the way of decor. Each of the tables had different color candle holders and a nice cold bottle of water.

I was really looking forward to trying some of the stuff mentioned in the blog post we read, but when we looked at the menu, none of the dishes we read about were actually on the menu. Apparently their menu changes seasonally, so what you see here might not actually be on the menu when you visit.

The menu is made up of appetizers, “small plates,” and full-plated entrees. We started with the Fruit Plate and the Lamb Meatball Plate. The Lamb Meatball plate wasn’t considered an appetizer, but it could have been and we were curious. The Lamb Meatballs were scrumptious. I loved the duck fat mashed potatoes. Not sure on what the sauce was on top. Looked like a mustard or a cheese but was neither. The pistachio pieces on top made the whole thing look pretty. Tasted wonderful. Interestingly, while eating it as I first bite into a pistachio piece I thought I was a seed or shell because I forgot there where nuts on it and that threw me off at first. You don’t think about nuts when chewing on a meatball. But altogether it was fantastic.

This is the Fruit Plate. Not what I pictured, but tasted amazing. I could eat this all day long. The pear and parsnip slices were warm, the nuts pieces were toasted and the ricotta was cool and creamy. It was simple, but the flavors came together really well. I’d go back for the fruit plate alone, it was that good.

For my entree, I ordered the steak well done. I know I’m “not supposed to do that” but that’s how I like it, and I’m the one who has to eat it, so just deal with it. Lots of places have problems cooking steaks well done, but The Owl cooked my steak just the way I like it. It came with Fried Brussels Sprouts which were the bomb. I should cook my Brussell Sprouts like this forever. The pile of cheese and mound of butter tied everything together. This can only be described as a mouthful of yummy flavor.

Russ got the Pasta Pomodoro, with something called “parmesan foam,” whatever that is. I have to say that The Pasta Pomodoro was my least favorite thing. I tried it once, went about eating my steak, then tried it again and I have to say–it did not get any better. I wanted it to be yummy. It looked yummy. It wasn’t so yummy. I don’t know if it was the Hazelnut, or “basil chip” or something in the spice department but the taste wasn’t where it could/should have been. Maybe this for someone else’s palate but not mine.

The service was wonderful. Everyone was very welcoming. The Chef even came out to thank us for stopping by…And stopping by is what we will do again and again. Can’t wait for the new menu change to try new and exciting entrees and revisit a few favorites. A very enjoyable dining experience.

The Owl
728 Wade Hampton Blvd
Greenville, SC 29609
(864) 252-7015

4 Comments

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Crust Wood Fired Pizza

March 15, 2013

I love pizza. There’s nothing better than a hot, cheesy, slice of really good pizza. One of the great things about pizza is that when it’s good, it’s great. And when it’s bad (i.e. Papa Johns or Domino’s)…it’s still pretty good. I prefer pizza that either has a thick, garlicky crust, or a thin, crispy crust that has that fresh-baked-bread taste and texture that can’t be beat. Well… all this pizza talk has me salivating over my keyboard. I really have to find a salad joint to review.

OMG pizza salad. How is that not a thing??

A couple Saturdays ago, I chose to try out Crust Wood Fired Pizza on James Island with Becca. It’s a cute little spot with an open kitchen and a chalkboard wall on which they write the daily specials. Their menu is very simple, which I like, and yet I still had a hard time choosing, since everything looked so delicious. We started with the arancini (fried risotto balls). I was hoping they were going to be like the giant ones I had in Boston, so I was slightly disappointed when they were only the size of golfballs. They were good, but lacking something, though I’m not sure what. They were served with this “simple tomato sauce” which I absolutely loved. You can definitely tell it was homemade.

Yummy, cheesy rice balls

Becca also got the handcut fries served with rosemary aioli and topped with some “grana padano” which our waiter (who was a dead ringer for Joey Lawrence) described as “like parmesan cheese but BETTER.” I thought it just tasted like parmesan cheese, which apparently means I’m uncultured. But whatever, I can’t be perfect at EVERYTHING. The fries were delicious, and I loved that they tasted like rosemary. Though I’m not European enough to be totally comfortable with dipping french fries into mayonnaise, the rosemary aioli was freaking good.

I know what you’re thinking, and yes we did eat the whole basket.

Then we each ordered pizzas because we thought maybe we should have some more carbs with our carbs. I really wanted to order all of them, because they all looked amazing. Next time I’m definitely going to try the chicken and bacon pizza (spinach, sundried tomato, caramelized onions, goat cheese, mozzarella, grana padano). I ended up getting the Bianca, a white pizza with fontina, mozzarella, grana padano, garlic, and rosemary. I added crispy prosciutto because I wanted some meat on that mother, and I think I definitely made the right choice. It was hella good.

This pizza is divine. Just the right amount of char.

Becca was a little more adventurous and got their butternut pizza with roasted butternut squash, mushrooms, caramelized onions, goat cheese, mozzarella, arugula, and truffle oil. I tried one slice and immediately regretted not ordering it. Seriously, I know it sounds weird, but it was really good. My mom wasn’t a fan, however. She thought it was awful. To each his own, I guess.

It’s not a pizza salad, it’s a salad pizza!

I hope this place stays open for a while, I really want to keep going back. It’s so good! If I get around to trying that Chicken & Bacon one, I’ll let you know! UPDATE-I did get the Chicken and Bacon, and it was really good. Probably my new favorite.

I’m digging the sign

Crust Wood Fired Pizza
1956 B Maybank Hwy.
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 762-5500

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Fire Street Food

March 8, 2013

Dude, I freaking love Fire. I eat here once a week. Sometimes twice. It’s kind of a problem. In fact, I think Blue Ion is single handedly keeping them in business (anytime you want to start giving us that discount, would be great!). In fact, I’m using all of my self control to not walk the twenty feet across the street to go get some curry right now. Seriously, I’m addicted. Although I do occasionally miss Tacone, I’m so glad it replaced that weird “Burger Babies” place that I never actually tried because the name freaked me out.

Basically what I pictured every time I heard “Burger Babies.” …gross

First of all, while I’ve never actually ordered the pad thai, I’ve mooched enough off of other people to know that it’s good. It’s not necessarily the best pad thai I’ve ever had, but it’s tasty and flavorful and when you’re craving pad thai, this will definitely do the trick.

I’m glad I have friends who put up with me taking pictures of their food all the time.

My favorite thing at Fire is the curry. Specifically the Red curry. It’s my kryptonite. It’s so damn good, there simply aren’t enough words in the English language for me to accurately convey how much I love this stuff. I know everyone in Charleston freaks out over Basil, but I’ll take Fire’s Red Curry over Basil’s EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. Seriously. I’d eat it 7 days straight. Ben likes the yellow curry best, and the green is good too, but red is definitely my favorite.

OMG. I want this right now. RIGHT NOW.

I went there once craving a sandwich, and got their fried fish sandwich with sweet spicy mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickles, and avocado. It was delicious. If I wasn’t on a diet, I’d eat that sandwich all the time. It’s very fresh and I love that they have all these great, flavorful veggies on it.

“Hey sweet thang, can I buy you a fish sandwich?”

They also have burgers, chicken sandwiches, and sushi so it’s the perfect spot to go with friends or a date who’s not into curry (although the space is a bit cramped, so you might consider taking your food to go). Basically, try this place. It’s straight up deloycious.

I’m honestly a little surprised that I’m not in this picture.

Fire Street Food
293 King St
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 641-0152

2 Comments

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Coleman Public House

March 1, 2013

I actually ate at Coleman Public House back in November, but I’m only just now getting the chance to review it. Sorry about that. I’m kind of lazy. But, I digress. I first heard about CPH in the City Paper in last year’s Best of Charleston where they were voted “Coma-Inducing Skillet of Cheesy Goodness.” Sounds like my kind of restaurant. Plus they reference The Hunger Games on Facebook. What’s not to love?

I’m a sucker for anything Hunger Games

I was able to get a taste of their mac and cheese at the Mac Off in October, and it was delicious. So I was super pumped to go visit. The parking lot was crowded and we ended up having to park in the shopping center next door, so we thought it was going to be super crowded, but it wasn’t actually that bad and we were seated immediately. I started out with a 4 beer flight sample of Fort Collins Chocolate Stout, Van Den Bossche Buffalo Belgian Stout, O’Dempsey’s Big Red, and Railhouse Honey Wiess. I liked all of them except for the Honey Weiss which was way too sweet. I think the O’Dempsey’s Big Red was my favorite.

Big Red, Honey Weiss, One of the Stouts, The Other Stout.

We started with two appetizers because we have a really hard time making decisions and couldn’t narrow it down to one. But I’m really glad we chose the two of them because they were really yummy. The first one was duck confit taquitos (Duck Confit, Queso Fresco, Crispy Yellow Corn Tortillas, Tomatillio & Avocado Salsa). They were sooo yummy, although I’m not sure I would have liked them as much without the avocado salsa. It really tied the whole dish together.

I’m really into instagram.

Our second appetizer was Mini Lamb Burgers (Ground Lamb, Spices, Onion Chutney, Pickles, Tzatziki Sauce) which were seriously good. They tasted like gyros, but better. I think next time I might order them as an entree and just get a side of mac and cheese, because they were soooo good.

Also, I’m really into lamb right now.

For our entrees, we got the fungi burger (Gruyere, Roasted Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, White Truffle Oil) which he was really excited about since he loves mushrooms. He was a little disappointed once it actually arrived, saying it wasn’t really as flavorful as the appetizers had been and while the burger was good, he had really been hoping for something outstandingly delicious. He did like the truffle & parmesan fries though.

More like nomburger

I debated for a while between the caprese burger (Fresh Mozzarella, Vine Ripe Tomato, Pesto, Balsamic Reduction), the black and bleu burger (bleu cheese, vine ripe tomato, fried onion strings…it’s not on the menu anymore, so I’m just spitballing here), and the barnyard burger (Goat Cheese, Oven Roasted Tomato, Fresh Spinach, Caramelized Onions). Our waitress talked me into getting the Black and Bleu burger, which I ordered with a side of their smoked gouda mac and cheese (Smoked Gouda, Parmesan, Pecan Smoked Bacon, White Truffle Oil) in place of fries. The mac and cheese was damn good. The burger was also a little disappointing. There was just too much going on. Plus their buns are huge, so there’s this overwhelming ratio of bread to burger. Plus, I think maybe I just don’t like bleu cheese as much as I think I do.

God, that mac and cheese looks amazing.

We were both super stuffed, so we ended up opting out of dessert. All in all, I’d say CPH is definitely worth going back to. Maybe next time I might just order a bunch of appetizers with my mac and cheese, or maybe try some of their homemade flatbreads. I would definitely recommend trying this delicious pub if you’re ever in Mount Pleasant!

Now all I can think about is that mac and cheese

Coleman Public House
427 W Coleman Blvd
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 416-8833

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

The Macintosh

January 25, 2013

Restaurant Week is usually my favorite time of the year. A chance to get a sampling of some of the best that Charleston restaurants have to offer without totally breaking the bank. This year, I was in charge of picking the group restaurant. After reading a Yahoo! article that declared The Macintosh one of the Best New Restaurants of 2012, I decided that’s where we should go. Unfortunately, the evening started off bad, and never really went up from there. I made reservations for 9:45 Friday night. I got there 10 minutes early and was told that our table had paid, they were just waiting for them to get up before we could be seated. Fast forward 45 minutes later and we’re finally told we can sit down. No apology. No comped beverages or appetizers. Just a flippant “thanks for waiting,” as they showed us to our table.

This restaurant. I hate it.

So as we’re sitting at the table, I’m unhappy, tired, and hungry. Then comes our waiter, who was surly and unhelpful for most of the meal, going as far as to scold us when we stacked up our menus after ordering (you know, to try and make his job easier)… “No, don’t do that. Just leave them there, I’ll come around the table and get them.” Right. Ok. Then he was constantly reaching over us to pick things up or put things down, and not a single time did he say “pardon my reach.” Normally this wouldn’t bother me, except I’m at a restaurant where I’m paying $28 and up for entrees, I expect some top notch service. Then he just disappeared for a while, we don’t know where he went. Basically, he was just terrible.

In the words of Stephanie Tanner “How rude!”

They were very clever with their restaurant week menu. Instead of just giving us a menu with the restaurant week items on it, they gave us the full menu with the restaurant week menu items underlined. Very smart on their part, since only 2 of the 7 people in our party ended up ordering from the restaurant week offerings. It was also kind of annoying that although their menu stayed the same throughout the week, they changed up the items that were part of the 3 for $30 promotion (so if we’d have come on Thursday or Saturday night, we might have had a better selection…basically we lost the food lottery).

Not unlike Tantalus

To start, I got the pork ravioli (Country Ham, Shiitake Mushroom, Creamed Lacinato Kale). Honestly, I only got it because it was the most expensive of the appetizers, and I wanted to get my money’s worth. It was actually spectacular. If I’d just gotten a big plate of those, I would’ve been perfectly happy. Bennett got the crispy pork belly (Pole Beans, Marcona Almonds, Radish, Lardo Vinaigrette) even though he opted out of the 3 for $30 special, and it was also outstanding. Naringa got the salad of carrots (Ginger, Golden Raisins, Ricotta Cheese, Asian Greens, Candied Spiced Nuts) which she really liked, but I never in a million years would’ve ordered.

In a battle of Pork vs Carrots, pork wins every time.

For the entree I got the grilled Local Triggerfish (Anson Mills’ Sea Island Cape Beans, Red Quinoa, Kennerty Farm’s Mustard Greens, Dashi Broth). It was good, but I think they undercooked the beans which was disappointing. Or maybe I’ve just never had beans cooked correctly? Are they supposed to be cooked al dente like pasta? I don’t know. Naringa opted for the Crispy Duck Leg (Golden Beets, Pickled Mustard Seed, Chestnuts, Winter Greens, Celeriac Goat Cheese Puree), which she really seemed to like. The only other Restaurant Week entree was a Winter Vegetable Plate (Carolina Gold Rice Grits, Seasonal Vegetables, Mushrooms, Butternut Squash) which I’m sure was delicious, but for the red-blooded american boys and girls I was eating with, it left something to be desired. Everyone else opted to get “The Mac” 8oz House Ground Burger (Aged Cheddar, Nueske’s Bacon, Pecorino Truffle Frites), which was good but not better than many of the other burgers you can get around Charleston.

Beans served al dente.

For dessert, I got the caramelized banana and peanut butter chocolate tart, which was really yummy and tasted like a banana Reese’s cup. I liked it a lot, although it was very rich. Naringa got some kind of apple something that was really yummy. Bennett caved in and got the sticky buns dessert with some kind of liquor glaze, I want to say bourbon, but I’m not sure.

This was also delicious.

I got two cocktails while I was there, one was really good and the other was God awful. The Honey Badger (Jack Daniels Honey, housemade chai, orange bitters, almond milk) is possibly the worst cocktail I’ve ever tried. DO NOT GET IT. Unless you’re really into whiskey and chai, in which case you’re gonna love it. The Little Italy (Luxardo, Cinzano, prosecco, lemon) was delicious and almost made up for the first cocktail.

This isn’t it, but this is the closest thing I could find. DON’T ORDER THE HONEY BADGER.

At the end of the meal they tacked on an automatic 20% gratuity for our waiter (who did NOT deserve it), even though it said nowhere on the menu that they automatically tack on gratuity, nor did they mention it on the phone when I made my reservations. So that was annoying. All in all, I’d say I might give them a second chance (not during restaurant week ever again), but I definitely wasn’t as impressed as I expected to be.

From their website. Also, this was the table at which we were sitting.

The Macintosh
479 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 789-4299

3 Comments

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Ali Baba Mediterranean Cuisine – CLOSED

January 18, 2013

I love Mediterranean food. I could eat it every day of the week. My favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Charleston (and probably all of South Carolina) is Ali Baba Mediterranean restaurant in Mount Pleasant. It’s awesome, and really reasonably priced. I thought I really liked Pomegranate in Greenville, but Pomegranate can’t even hold a candle to Ali Baba (and Taziki’s shouldn’t even be considered “Mediterranean food.”)

That’s like calling Taco Bell “authentic mexican cuisine.” The only difference being that Taco Bell is delicious, and Taziki’s is not.

We always order the Ali Baba dinner for two, which is an appetizer sampler platter, a meat sampler tray, tons of rice, unlimited delicious pita bread, and a dessert sampler for $39.99. Really there’s enough food for 3/4 people, because we always have enough leftover for dinner the next night. Which is really good, because I’m super lazy and it’s gosh darn delicious.

I am the person equivalent of a cat.

The interior of the restaurant is nothing fancy. White walls, some mediterranean-inspired artwork hanging, hookas lining the bar area (I’m assuming you can smoke hookah there, but I’ve never done it), some clutter around the bar area… It feels like you’re eating at someone’s home, rather than in a restaurant, which I personally like. And now to the food. The appetizer plate consists of hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabouli, and Jerusalem salad (cucumber, tomatoes, onion, green peppers in tahini). The hummus is awesome, and the falafel is the best I’ve ever eaten. I don’t really love baba ganoush, but I actually like it at Ali Baba. As for the tabouli, I just am not a fan of it on its own, but I think it’s okay on stuff. To each his own, I suppose.

Also, the falafel is amazing. Seriously amazing.

Barely got a picture before it was all gone.

The meat plate is my favorite thing. It’s what I imagine they serve in heaven. Shawirma, kibby, kofta, grape leaves, and even more falafel served over a huge mountain of curried rice. It’s seriously good. I always ask for a side of tahini, and then build little stuffed pita sandwiches out of everything on the tray. It’s the best. The shawirma is amazing, it’s unlike anything I’ve had elsewhere.

This would be part of my last meal request.

We also order the stuffed zucchini plate, which is zucchini stuffed with rice and beef in a tomato sauce. It’s so yummy, and I love having that tomato sauce to dip other stuff into (especially the grape leaves). It’s my mother’s favorite thing to order. I think it’s really interesting as it’s unlike anything else I’ve had before (and I mean that in a good way!)

That sauce is amazing. I have no idea what it is, but it’s delicious.

The desserts are good, but they’re not my favorite. There’s the baklava (which I like best of the two), which is filo dough stuffed with pistachios, cinnamon, and honey sauce, and the Burma, which is noodle strings filled with pistachios and honey sauce. They’re yummy, I’m just not a huge fan of pistachios.

Forgot to take a picture, so I stitched 2 of them together from Google Images.

I definitely recommend Ali Baba if you enjoy Mediterranean food. If you’re not hungry enough for the dinner for two, you have to at least order the shawirma and falafel. Those are the best things.

Probably my #3 favorite restaurant in Charleston.

Ali Baba Mediterranean Cuisine
920 Houston Northcutt Boulevard #2
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 388-0683

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