Monday, November 8, 2010

"Super" Sushi Sunday at Maki Fresh Sushi Rolls & Japanese Grill

FRESH! FRESH! FRESH! Everything was fresh!
Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE sushi. I am always willing to try a new sushi joint. On Sunday 11/7/10 for lunch, my friend and I visited Maki Fresh on highway 280. This place has been on my to do list ever since they first opened. This is not a fancy pants sushi restaurant. It is very casual with lot's of green accents and decor. I like this place and will return because of the lunch specials and variety. I also ran across some great specialty dishes that I would love to try on future visits. There is also a self serve section of freshly prepared, pre-packaged sushi as you enter the front door. This is complete with bags and a self check-out machine to prevent getting in line.
*disclaimer* this place will in no way become a replacement for my favorite sushi restaurant which shall remain nameless to protect the feelings of Maki Fresh.
Atmosphere: Super! It was not too crowded at all. To place an order, you pick up a menu, go through the line, place your order,pay & take a number. Then the food will be brought out to your table.
Staff:  They were okay. Not overly friendly, not rude, just okay. They seemed more focused on the operations aspect of providing service than anything else. The food was delivered to us in a timely manner.
What I/ we had: I had the Tokyo bowl- a huge portion of what is called "not so fried rice" including diced chicken, steak,shredded carrots, corn, cherry tomatoes & cilantro(deliciously different). I also had a bowl of miso soup inclusive of mushrooms & scallions. My dining mate had the Crunch Crunch roll. She rated this roll about an 8 compared to other sushi places. It was still very tasty.
*warning!! The Tokyo Bowl is enough for about 3 people. Either go with a team or wait until you have a bear of an appetite.
Price: The Tokyo Bowl $8.95- The Miso Soup $2.95- The Crunch Crunch roll $6.95. Given the fact that we received a great deal of food & a coupon, our total was only $3.00. We had a wonderful experience and will return! However next time I will opt for the Lite Bowl combo w/ a drink for $5.95 which is a smaller portion.
On a scale of 1-10 I give Maki Fresh a rating of 8.5
For more information & the menu please visit them at http://makifresh.com/
Please leave your comments below. If you would like to receive updates of new reviews, please send the word ADD to RestaurantRaider@Gmail.com






Sunday, November 7, 2010

The Ragtime Cafe - A Seriously Good Meal!

I cannot wait to go back to the Ragtime Cafe'. This restaurant was a suggestion from a friend. Greatest suggestion EVER!!
I ventured out to dinner on 11/4/2010 to the Cafe with a really good friend who respects my adventure for "off the beaten path" dining experiences. Ragtime's logo is a photo of a shrimp so I was led to expect a menu over loaded with seafood & Cajun choices. Much to my surprise, it was quite the opposite.
Atmosphere: This is not a date restaurant. If you are expecting to have a conversation you can actually hear, this is not the place. This has more of a sports bar atmosphere. Very modern and trendy.
Staff: The staff was very nice, accommodating, but a little slow(in the kitchen).
What I/ We had: An appetizer of "above average" loaded potato skins, I had the quiche of the day, a delicious blend of chicken, broccoli & onions baked into a flaky, deep dish pie crust. This was also accompanied with a bow-tie pasta salad over lettuce & a fruit salad containing large, fresh cut pieces of apples, pineapple, honey dew, cantaloupe & an orange wedge. This was a lot of food.
My unadventurous dining companion had a medium well cheeseburger & fries.
Price: quiche dinner $7.60 bacon cheddar burger $7.40 potato skins $6.30
With the deduction of a gift certificate, our complete total was $2.22.
On a scale of 1-10 I give the Ragtime Cafe' a rating of 8. This would have been higher had the food delivery been a little faster.
Overall, I was extremely pleased by the amount of food I got for the price. I cannot wait to go back. If you would like more info, please visit their website at http://ragtimecafe.com/
Be sure to tell them about this review!!
*Leave your comments below




Monday, November 1, 2010

Jackson's Bistro....Brunch SOHO Style

Visited on October 24, 2010

At the suggestion of my fellow (and trusted) foodie, I thought it would be a beautiful day in South Homewood to try the infamous brunch menu at Jackson's. Much to my surprise, I found this place to be trendy, affordable yet upscale. The epitome of a SOHO bistro.
Atmosphere: Delightful, trendy, busy but well organized. Not too loud. They also have outdoor seating, a full bar and televisions.
Staff: Extremely knowledgeable & attentive. The waiter was able to help guide the ordering process and even made suggestions as to how to curb our spending.
What I/We had: I had the delicious thick cut, twice batter dipped french toast. Topped with thinly sliced apples, syrup and a glass of H2O. My dining companion selected the "omelette to order". This was a customized omelette made up of spinach, mushrooms & swiss cheese. This was accompanied by cinnamon toast & an individual sized pot of African nectar hot tea.
Price: The french toast 7.50 The omelette 8.50. Just over 20 dollars combined.
On a scale of 1-10 I give Jackson's Bistro a 9
We were EXTREMELY happy with our food!! You will not be sorry.
Visit their website at http://jacksonsbarandbistro.com/birmingham/
Be sure to tell the staff about this review!