Comment Archives: Stories: Restaurants
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Best Milkshake in Town?”
One of my favorites is from Mike's Ice Cream. I like to get a milkshake made with their Tennessee Fudge ice cream. Anything from Bobby's Dairy Dip is awesome and Diana's Sweet Shoppe makes a pretty mean chocolate milkshake as well.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Best Milkshake in Town?”
My favorite milk shake is the Mocha Milkshake from M. Market in Cummin Station. The combination of espresso, chocolate, and ice cream is so incredible, I often think about it as I work.
M. Market makes good Coffee, good Mocha, and good milkshakes, so the combination is outstanding.
Re: “Husk Nashville Announces Opening Date — Less Than Three Weeks Until Launch!”
Are they going to have THE Bloody Mary!
Re: “In Defense of Chains: Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q”
Just what we needed, BBQ hipsters... ;)
Re: “In Defense of Chains: Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q”
i was first introduced to the world of bbq outside of whitt's and famous dave's about 10 years ago. A friend who is the best chef i know enlightened me to martin's and KCBS competitions and gourmet bbq.
Since then, one of the biggest things i've noticed about bbq is that it is a magnet for snobbery. People start talking about bbq around here, you would think its a bunch of indie rock snobs trying to one-up each other with references to obscure bands and arguing over who's local record store is cooler and more authentic.
look no further than a few of the comments above. Even a restaurant like Jim N Nicks, which does just about EVERYTHING the right way, isn't safe from condescending criticism by a self-proclaimed expert. Even the folks who travel around the country to participate in (largely) good natured bbq competitions, the same folks who have helped to educate the hoi polloi about bbq beyond the Whitt's of the world, aren't real enough for some purist. This is probably the same kind of guy who went to see JEFF at Springwater or Glenn Danzig's and loved it, but won't go see them at the Cannery now and condescendingly calls their large crowds a bunch of poseurs.
Let's see the forest for the trees here, folks. Its unfortunate that enjoying bbq is a subject worthy of scholarly criticism by some folks. Now having said that, unlike an above commenter, i'm always interested in reading about a great bbq restaurant and their handmade from scratch sides. I think its always worth writing about, so keep up the good work, chris, and let us know what you find out about Jimmy Carl's re-opening!
Re: “Husk Nashville Announces Opening Date — Less Than Three Weeks Until Launch!”
Will they be serving lunch?
Re: “Husk Nashville Announces Opening Date — Less Than Three Weeks Until Launch!”
Well I'll be darn. Just in time for my birthday.
Re: “Cinco de Mayo at Old Chicago? Works for Me!”
"Wasn't quite up to snuff...?" Unless they brought us the wrong pizza -- though they did refer to it as Chicago-style when they set it down -- the Old Chicago pizza wasn't even close. Not saying it was a bad interpretation... They didn't even seem to try. It was what I remember Pizza Hut deep dish being like (my partner who also used to live in Chicago said the same thing.)
Not only did it not taste like Giordanos (my fave), Lou Malnatis, Ginos, etc., it didn't even try to look like it. Odd.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Ramen Rage Edition”
@S L: I had no intention of trolling. Frankly, I was looking for a good open thread conversation starter, and thought the airline ramen hissy fit was an amusing story. Apparently you didn't find the humor in it.
I don't recall drawing my own conclusions about your experiences. I only said I think it's difficult for someone to judge the value of something they haven't tried. I was under the impression you hadn't tried Otaku South's ramen. If you have tried it, and found that it wasn't a good value, then I apologize.
But I feel strongly that it's hard to judge the value of something you haven't tried. That's just my opinion. And we love to hear other opinions too! But that doesn't mean we feel obligate to agree with them.
I'm not sure why you took this post personally. I was in no way targeting it at you. But if you were offended, my apologies.
Re: “Nashville a Top 10 Pizza Destination? I Had No Idea ...”
Manny's.In the arcade.Do it.
Re: “The Road, Episode 30: El Pollon Crazy Grill [Eating Our Way Down Nolensville Pike]”
OK, this review renewed my faith in Bites. I was beginning to wonder if Sean _really_ thought every restaurant he tried was actually good...
Re: “At Feast, a 5th & Main resident admirably tries to fill a neighborhood-dining void, with awkward results”
ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED
I was beyond dismayed to read the Nashville Scene’s article on feast. As an east Nashvillian, I frequent this restaurant/bar, perhaps not to the point that I could be considered a regular, but certainly enough to have tested the menu thoroughly - and the staff. I have never, not once, been dissatisfied with my food selection or service. I would even go as far as to say that of the foods I generally do not like, feast has an uncanny way of seducing my taste buds. The staff has always been attentive, personable and a welcome reprieve from the weight of the office – as are the cocktails! (If you’re feeling adventurous, ask for a signature drink made with a “few of your favorite things”- never a let-down!)
From the gorgonzola mac n’ cheese to the golden fish n’ chips to the BLT with a pickled fried green tomato (lovely twist on a personal fav), every visit has been a success. You can never go wrong with their fries (if you like a little potato in them and not just a plate of crunchy oil). What’s more, their brunch is fantastic! I drooled over the sunshsine flat, a delectable breakfast-food-medley on the lightest, flakiest of crusts. Not to mention the fluffy biscuits with that sinful gravy on top! I could go on for pages, but I’ll leave a little to be desired, in the hopes that the Scene’s depraved review does not deter those foodies who seek a menu for the more eclectic. Nevertheless, I respect the fact that we all have our differences.
Perhaps most disconcerting was the article’s opener. As an avid reader of the Nashville Scene, it is typically the beginning paragraphs of an article that entice me to read on or make me groan as I turn the page in search of diversions. As this article discussed feast, I compelled myself to push forward regardless of my inner cringe. The misfortune of what occurred at Germantown East Café will never be forgotten, especially by locals, as it touched many of us. But even non-locals have it burned into their memories whenever they read anything posted about feast. Surely it is time to let the past rest in peace. I feel confident in saying those who were personally affected by Jay’s loss do not enjoy finding the tragedy splashed across the Nashville Scene as bait for a food review. Very distasteful.
Re: “Nashville a Top 10 Pizza Destination? I Had No Idea ...”
Just tried NYPie and it is phenomenal! Their sauce is even better than Joey's! It has that authentic je ne sais quoi, tastes like the sauce my Gram used to make after it simmered all day! Clean shop, fast service; the kids can marvel at the dough being tossed into submission while waiting. Real nice people, too.
Re: “In Defense of Chains: Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q”
My secret reason for frequenting JNN was their queso, which was originally made with SMOKED fresh tomatoes. Gamechanger. Now I smoke tomatoes whenever I smoke anything else (all pipe and rolled product jokes aside). Whoever thought of that was genius. Alas, the last several times I've been the best chunky bits of that queso were nowhere to be seen, and the servers confirmed a change was made high up and the tomatoes were 86'd. What a terrible idea ! The problem with a chain is right there - someone makes a decision based on lots of centralized input and analysis, and immediately wipes out your potential favorite thing everywhere, and they may have made that decision based on some/few/several out of all locations failing to do it well. When they provide local stores no options to respond to their own direct feedback, those providing that feedback go back to feed elsewhere eventually...(I could even get over the large-plates-small-food thing if they just brought back the smoked 'maters in the queso!)
Chains on their own are not terrible. I miss Houston's. I wish we were on Lawry's list for their next Prime Rib restaurant. If there were 10 Blackstones or just the one, some would still say it feels like a chain and some of us would dance with joy at having other addresses to try. Sopapilla's is unique to this area but so familiar to fans of the genre that it can almost feel tired while sitting here in its very own space. Denny's used to be an oasis when you were on the road, now it's a joke. Shoney's could have saved itself 20 years ago by realizing the boomer nostaliga was a money maker and bringing back Big Boy, counter service and the old menu. Instead they have gone through a conga line of CEOs and perfected the lowest common denominator of buffet service and become the poster child - with all of their offshoots - of sysco-based chain dining at its best/worst. A chain or a one-off still has to know what they do and do it well to succeed. Or just replicate crap really well to people who are addicted to the familiar.
Re: “The Road, Episode 30: El Pollon Crazy Grill [Eating Our Way Down Nolensville Pike]”
oh my gosh, @Les Thugs. Pick me up off the floor. That might be the best blog I've seen in months. Already bookmarked.
Re: “The Weekly Open Thread: Ramen Rage Edition”
Usually trolls exist in the comments section, but it seems Bites likes to give them editorial privileges. Thanks - as usual - for not only dragging a tired conversation back through the ringer but especially for so fearlessly drawing your own conclusions on my eating experiences and background based on comments that conflict with your personal POV. I stand by them all: traditional ramen is typically fantastic and exactingly well-made for far, far less in places not named Nashville, and when such is well-made is usually available on its own, without that pesky high-priced pickle course. If over-spending for it makes you feel good about yourself and/or your town, great! If being cautiously optimistic that having discovered real ramen the populace of this great town will now support additional, full-time options that don't require all the fluff of $30 pickles is my sin, then mark me as having so sinned.
and yeah, having had great ramen, eating bad ramen is indeed a travesty, and often worth a complaint. Nothing, however, short of seeing a flight attendant leave the door open as the jet-bridge grows smaller through the window is worth anything more than a grimace once you have boarded your flight, whether you're headed across the ocean or across the Mississippi.
Re: “Cookbook Review: Health on Your Plate (Plus a Giveaway)”
Sounds very interesting.
Re: “It's Patio Season!”
Chick-fil-a, Starbucks, Blue Coast Burrito and Panera Bread in Smyrna have all welcomed my pup - :)
Re: “Cookbook Review: Health on Your Plate (Plus a Giveaway)”
Definitely curious about this book. I'm up for anything offering advice on healthier living.