Food: ☆☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆ ☆
Cost: $$$
Dishes not to miss: Eggs Benedict, Fried Spicy Shrimp
South Beach, Miami, is the ultimate party destination. In choosing where to stay, I would highly recommend the Delano Hotel, a gorgeous boutique hotel in South Beach, Miami. Continue reading
Food: ☆ ½
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: Cuban sandwich
All foodies…beware of dinning on Ocean Drive in South Beach, Miami!
I didn’t listen…. I figured with all the hype about Lario’s being Gloria Estefan’s Cuban eatery – how bad could it possibly be.
It was really really bad!! This place is a classic tourist trap!
Lario’s is a great place to hang out at to knock back a few drinks and swing your hips to the booming Latin beats as the place turns into a makeshift salsa club. But if its good eats you are looking then this is not the place for you.
At Lario’s……the rhythm is gonna get you…not the food!!
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Larios On The Beach | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Cuban | |
| * Street Address | |
| 1300 Ocean Dr , Miami Beach, FL 33139 | |
| * Phone | |
| (305) 532-9577 |
Food: ☆☆☆☆ 1/2
Service: ☆☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$$
Dishes not to miss: Pan Onion fried chips, Heirloom tomato salad with burrata, Tangerine creamsicle pot de creme
Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is possibly one of the best food experiences Miami has to offer. Set in the funky Design District, Chef/Owner Michael Schwartz has created a casual bistro, which is an ode to “Genuine Food & Drink”.
Michael Schwartz is a leader in the farm to table movement and was recently awarded the prestigious 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: South.
Schwartz’s passion for the freshest, finest ingredients is evident in the truly superb fare he has to offer. Each dish is composed in honor of every component that has been utilized. The results are just divine.
I love that there are no pretensions here. People come here to enjoy simple New American, ingredient-driven cuisine at really affordable prices and I’m all about that!
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American New / American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 130 Northeast 40th Street , Miami, FL 33137 | |
| * Phone | |
| (305) 573-5550 |
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆☆
Cost: $$$$
Dishes not to miss: Seared Lamb Chops
Casa Tua, is a delightful Italian-style eatery in the heart of South Beach, which is set in a gorgeous Mediterranean-style house/ hotel. This restaurant flows through various parts of the house, where each area is decorated with intimate elegance. We dined in the charming outdoor garden area.
Casa Tua lived up to my expectations in its ambience and charm but disappointed when it came to service and food. Most of the dishes just failed to impress. The seared lamb chops was the one dish that really stood out but the rest of the food fell rather flat. The service was rather unimpressive too. At a place like this, you expect to be indulged in every way – no such luck here.
For the price point and the hype, I really think Casa Tua was unsuccessful at reaching its true potentiality.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Casa Tua | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Italian | |
| * Street Address | |
| 1700 James Ave , Miami Beach, FL 33139 | |
| * Phone | |
| (305) 673-1010 |
Food: ☆☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: Cowboy Breakfast, Pancakes
The Wyoming Inn is a charming spot that serves a killer breakfast. The menu is very basic and limited to eggs, pancakes, cereals and omelets. They don’t have any of the frills like eggs Benedict etc. Continue reading
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $
Dishes not to miss: Chicken Momos, Garlic Naan
The Everest Momo Shack was the most unexpected find for me in Jackson Hole, WY. After a week of trekking through Yellowstone and eating food with no spices whatsoever, I was near desperate when I chanced upon this cute little colorful restaurant, which smelled of curry!
Here’s where I met the lovely Sange and Rita Sherpa, a couple who immigrated from Khumjung, which is in the Everest region of Nepal. This industrious pair decided to open this tiny eatery, which offers a limited menu of Indian and Nepali dishes. The menu includes momos, samosa, naan; lamb, chicken, or vegetable curries, chow mein and saag paneer. If you like spice then ask for their special hot sauce – it is really good.
The Everest Momo Shack is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays evenings from May to September. The Sherpas have worked out a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship with D.O.G (a burrito place), which occupies the same space during the daytime. It’s a wonderful idea to share a space that supports two small businesses.
The food is not outstanding but it sure does hit the spot for anyone craving some ethnic South Asian eats which is impossible to find in this area. Sange Sherpa, the owner was an absolute delight to sit and chat with whilst munching on hot momos and gently spiced chicken tikka masala.
The Everest Momo Shack is BYOB and has outdoor seating only. It is a great little spot to spend a heart-warming evening at.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Everest Momo Shack | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| Himalayan/Nepalese | |
| * Street Address | |
| 25 S Glenwood St Jackson, WY 83001, Jackson, WY 83001 | |
| * Phone | |
| (307) 733-4422 |
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Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆
Cost: $
Dishes not to miss: Wild Huckleberry
Moo’s is a really popular ice-cream spot in Jackson Hole, WY. This parlor serves up really interesting flavors of homemade ice creams and sorbets. On any given day you could try a scoop if apple pie or pumpkin cheesecake. Continue reading
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: Very Berry Pie
Beyond the Grand Tetons lies a broad valley called Jackson Hole. Aptly called “The Republican Martha’s Vineyard”, this elite little town offers some really interesting food spots.
One of the most popular breakfast spots in town is called “The Bunnery”. One can find long lines snaking out the front on weekends for brunch. The Bunnery offers a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, which mostly lean towards items with bread and baked goods.
We tried a few of their desserts and honestly I was not impressed. The thing to try there is meant to be their “Very Berry Pie” which was good. They make a great piecrust but everything else we tried was really quite mediocre. The apples in the Caramel Apple Pie were too hard and chewy to eat and the Raspberry Truffle Chocolate Cake was really dry. We even tried the chocolate cake, which was very average as was the carrot cake.
Perhaps the brunch is better but I’m still wondering what all the hype is about?
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| The Bunnery Bakery & Restaurant | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 130 N Cache St , Jackson, WY 83001 | |
| * Phone | |
| (307) 733-5474 |
Food: ☆ ½
Service: ☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: The Hay Shaker ( it needs a lot of fixing though)
The Grand Tetons are a truly majestic mountain range that tower 7,000 feet above the valley floor. The Tetons encompass with their regality coniferous forests, alpine meadows, glaciers and multicolored wildflowers. A great (quick way) to experience the Tetons in all its majesty is to take the tram ride at Teton Village, which put you at a 9,000 feet elevation in under 15 minutes. Here, one can truly enjoy all the grandeur this mountain range has to offer.
All that elevation can sure make one hungry and Teton village offers many eating places. We had lunch at the Mangy Moose, which is located right at the bottom of the slopes. It offers a splendid view of the mountains but the food was pretty mediocre. I ordered a veggie sandwich, which was pretty decent. The rest of the meal however was very forgetful, just like our friendly but absentminded server – (she kept forgetting to bring out parts of our order).
The Mangy Moose is not an eating spot I would repeat. I think that Teton Village has many better eateries that offer better food and service.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Mangy Moose | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 3285 Village Dr , Teton Village, WY 83025 | |
| * Phone | |
| (307) 733-4913 |
Woodside Bakery is a great little find in West Yellowstone, MT, which is a town that’s does not have much going on for die-hard foodies. This is a great little bakery just a couple of blocks outside Yellowstone’s west entrance.
Woodside Bakery offers a great range of breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and made to order sandwiches. Everything here is made fresh, including the bread they use for their sandwiches. They have a great selection of baked treats. Their huckleberry scone was really delicious.
At the Woodside Bakery, there is a little eat-in section where you can enjoy a cup of coffee with your meal. You can also opt to get your order packed to go, which is always a great idea when one is out and about touring the beautiful landscapes of Yellowstone.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Woodside Bakery | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 17 Madison Avenue , West Yellowstone, MT 59758 | |
| * Phone | |
| (406) 646-7779 |
Running Bear Pancake House in West Yellowstone probably offers some of the best eats in town, with some of the nicest people serving it. This cheery little pancake house located at the West entrance of Yellowstone National Park, serves only breakfast and lunch. It is open from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM everyday. You should be aware that they are not open year round. They are closed Nov.- late Dec. and mid-Mar.-May 1.
Everything at Running Bear is made from scratch. They offer a large variety of the regular breakfast items such as eggs to order, hash browns etc. They make wonderful baked goods such as muffins, pies and so on. Their cinnamon rolls are a must try. At Running Bear it a good idea to pack one of their “to go” picnic lunches which can be savored while enjoying the sights of Yellowstone.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Running Bear Pancake House | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 538 Madison Ave , West Yellowstone, MT 59758 | |
| * Phone | |
| (406) 646-7703 |
Food: ☆☆☆
Service: ☆☆☆
Ambiance: ☆☆☆
Cost: $$
Dishes not to miss: Buffalo Chicken Wings
The Mammoth Hot Springs have been rated at one of the top five things to see in Yellowstone National Park. These gorgeous colored terraces are made from travertine and steam with hot water that comes up from the limestone beds. The hues of the formations are truly unreal. The landscape is just stunning.
West Yellowstone is a tiny town right by the West entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Good food is really hard to find around here especially at dinnertime. Luckily, our hotel had a pretty good restaurant called The Branch where we could find some decent dishes.
One of my favorite dishes was their Grizzly Bear Salad with Cha-Cha Chicken, which is served with a huckleberry dressing. It was a really nice tangy, crisp salad. Their sandwiches and desserts were rather standard. However do NOT have the breakfast here – it was truly terrible. I don’t know how anyone can mess up breakfast so badly but you are much better of trying The Running Bear Pancake House or The Woodside Bakery.
The servers at the Branch are really friendly. Many of them are visiting students from countries all over the world, who are a part of an exchange program. Chatting with them and sharing experiences was really cool.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| The Branch Restaurant and Bar | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American New / American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 315 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 | |
| * Phone | |
| (406) 646-7365 |
Food: ☆☆ ½
Service: ☆☆ ½
Ambiance: ☆☆½
Cost: $$
Dish not to miss: Smoked Red Pepper Soup, Prime Rib
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, is a geological wonder that was created by a volcanic explosion some 640,00 years ago. What resulted from that event is a glorious landscape that includes gushing geysers, multicolored hot springs, canyons, waterfalls, fumaroles, mudspots and wildlife that is beyond compare. Yellowstone National Park is historic as it was the world’s first national park in 1872.
The Polynesian is Disney’s island style resort where little adventures lurk in every nook and cranny. The landscapes of this hotel are rather impressive with a volcano style pool, the jungle atmosphere and a little beach to lounge around in.
The lobby is a flurry of activity where you might find a group of residents doing the hula to island beats or others just enjoying the gorgeous waterfall and greenery that adorns this space.
The Polynesian offers a few choices for dinning and thought we missed the popular “Luau” dinner we did have breakfast at the following spots. The food is very average but the wonderful servers more than make up for that.
SEUSS LANDING 1000 Universal Studios Plaza Orlando, FL 32819 (407) 363-8000
Hats off to universal for truly capturing the spirit of Dr Seuss. This cheery land is beyond adorable.
You really feel like you have stepped into anyone of the crazy worlds that he created.
Characters like the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and Thing 1 and thing 2 are all around doing cute little shows.
With two kids who are obsessed with Harry Potter, we had to hit the brand new Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal this past summer. It was a wonder for the kids to see one of their favorite stories come to life. They have done a great job of Hogwarts but I found everything was made a little too small – I think they grossly underestimated the popularity of this world. In any case here are some of the food spots we hit whilst at Harry Potter world.
This might just be my favorite Disney theme park. Animal Kingdom has been fashioned with utmost care. Its Disney brilliance a its best.
They truly have managed to recreate an authentic, nostalgic feeling of Asia and Africa, right here the USA.
I really enjoyed soaking up the great attention to details that every little tea stand and food stall has been done with.
Here are some of my favorites ( more about the aesthetics than the food).
Epcot is my lifeline when it comes to food.With all the countries represented in the World Showcase, you have to figure there are some decent meals to be had.
I always try and schedule Epcot towards the middle of our trip because by that time I’m really hankering for anything ethnic. For me spice is quintessential to my survival. When I reach Epcot, the very first thing I do is head to Mexico to the indoor market place to buy me some kicking habanero sauce. This stuff is seriously potent – I mean a 9 on the Richter scale of heat. Once I’m armed with this sauce – any bad meal can be turned into passable as long as it is doused in this heavenly hot sauce!
My favorite Epcot World Showcase food spots are the Tangerine Café in Morocco, Yakitori House in Japan and a semi decent meal at San Angel Inn. The very worst are in the UK – The Fish and Chips place and Lotus Blossom Café in China ( it really is despicable food). France offers a nice little dessert stop off at its Patisserie and China has a nice little tea stand which offers some interesting teas to cool you off.
Here are some of the restaurant I tried:
Narcoossees is the extremely popular seafood restaurant at the Grand Floridian. The setting is very charming as it overlooks the lagoon and is a great spot to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom from. One can also catch the night-lights show on the lagoon.
Narcoossees is one of the fine dinning restaurants that the Grand Floridian offers. The price points are high and in my opinion the food does not live up to the hype. The scallops was the best dish of the night and their desserts were pretty good but other than that nothing impressed me. Next time, I’d save my Disney dollars and spend them elsewhere
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Narcoossee’s | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American New / American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 4401 Grand Floridian , Orlando, FL 32830 | |
| * Phone | |
| (407) 939-3463 |
The Grand Floridian Café is a casual café, which offers a nice relaxed setting for those who would like to have more leisurely, sit down meals.
The food is reasonably good – a shade better than Gasparilla Grill. I would recommend trying the Lobster Eggs Benedict for breakfast.
The service is a little slow but the servers are very charming and friendly. They spend a good amount of time chatting you up which is a quintessential part of the phenomenal Disney service. So if you are in a hurry to hit the theme parks and don’t want to dwell on your meals, the Grand Floridian Café may not be an ideal choice.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Grand Floridian Café | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★★☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 4401 Grand Floridian Way , Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 | |
| * Phone | |
| (407) 824-3000 |
Gasparilla Grill is the essential, informal, hang out spot for any family with young kids. It’s a casual cafeteria style; self serve café, which offers a reasonable range of quick foods
The offerings at Gasparilla Grill are superior to the regular hot dog and chicken nugget menu that you get at most kid friendly restaurants. They have a nice selection of hot foods served at each meal and a fresh sandwich bar. They also have a host of cold foods that include sushi, wraps and salads.
Gasparilla Grill is a great option for those who want to eat quickly and get to the theme parks on time.
Here is some of what we ate:
|
|
* Restaurant Name |
|---|---|
| Gasparilla Grill and Games | |
| * Overall | |
| ★★☆☆☆ | |
| * Neighborhood / Cuisine | |
| American Traditional | |
| * Street Address | |
| 4401 Floridian Way , Orlando, FL 32830 | |
| * Phone | |
| (407) 824-3000 |