Bugaboo Creek Steak House

www.bugaboocreek.com

Date visited: August 2, 2008

Because I became violently ill on our last visit to the Bugaboo Creek in Seekonk, MA, Mom and I had decided that maybe this steak house wasn't for us. We avoided it like the plague, and even gave it the finger a few times when we drove by. When I say that I got sick, I mean sick. So sick that I wrote a complaint letter to the corporate office. Their idea of compensation? A $50 gift card so that I could return and possibly have the same thing happen twice. Not wanting to let the card go to waste, I invited two friends who I wasn't that crazy about and let them pig out while I stuck with something simple. Luckily, nothing happened to me. Since all this happened many years ago, and I was in an adventurous mood, Mom and I decided to visit this Bugaboo location again. With a steady rain pouring down on us, I dropped Mom off at the front door and pulled into a parking spot at just about 3:10 p.m.


The parking lot wasn't full, but when we got inside, we were told by the hostess that we would have to wait for a table. Wait? Anyone who knows me knows that I hate waiting to be seated. That's why Mom and I never go out to dinner during peak hours. "What are we waiting for," I said out loud, trying to get the attention of the hostess. "There's no one in here." Mom and I reluctantly took our seats on the beautiful wooden benches in Bugaboo's waiting area. We noticed that there were several people leaving, but no one had come over to bring us to a table yet. "What is going on," I said impatiently. Finally, a waitress came over and asked us if we would like a booth or a table. When Mom said table, the waitress said that she would clean one off for us, and that our wait would only be a few minutes longer. C'MON!!!!!!! Move it, already! After waiting for what seemed like forever (it was probably only 10 minutes), Mom and I were finally shown to a table - and guess what - there was NO ONE there. There were literally only a handful of people sitting in the booths and tables in the main dining area. Seeing the lack of customers only made me more mad because it seemed that we had been stuck waiting for absolutely nothing.


After we were seated and left with two colorful, plastic menus, we were greeted by John, our waiter. After rattling off the new lobster specials, he asked us what we would like to drink. We told him two Diet Pepsis. They quickly arrived in two glass mugs, but the soda was extremely watered down. Mom's cola was almost clear, and we both commented on how Bugaboo may be cutting costs. John also brought us a loaf of wheat bread with a cup of butter on a wooden cutting board. We cut into it right away, and it was very warm and tasty. We asked John for a few minutes because we were undecided as to what were going to get. When we finally narrowed it down, John returned to take our order. Mom chose the patty melt minus the grilled onions ($8.79), and I chose - at the last minute - the tilapia tacos ($7.99). After John retreated to the kitchen, I checked the time. Mom and I were on our way to see Journey to the Center of the Earth - in 3D! It started at 4:30 p.m., and since we had been left waiting earlier (for no reason), we were now playing beat the clock.

I believe John may have overheard me say, "We only have an hour," because it was soon after that he came over to our table, apologized for the wait, and told us that they were very short-staffed. Apparently Bugaboo had been very slow the past few Saturdays, so the waitstaff had been shortened. Unfortunately, business had picked up today and the team was trying to keep everything under control. I was just really hoping that this little mess wouldn't cause us to miss our movie. Mom and I decided to take our minds off the clock and take a look around at Bugaboo's adorable interior.


Bugaboo Creek is made up to look like a lodge. There is a large stone fireplace, beautiful wooden rafters, red and white checkered table cloths, stuffed animal heads on the walls, sleds, hunting equipment, jugs, fish, old photos, and various other outdoor-inspired decorations. I even commented on how I'd like to wear the snow shoes on the wall because they look like giant flip flops (my favorite). The main attraction for the kids is that some of the animal heads and fish move and flap. Unfortunately, nothing was moving or flapping today because we overheard a waitress tell another family - with two young children - that the animals had been electrocuted during the recent storm. Good thing they were already dead! Hope the kids weren't traumatized.

Bugaboo Creek really offers a lot of different things, but it is billed as a steak house. With several premium, USDA grain-fed Midwestern beef options such as the prime rib, Fireside sirloin skillet tips, lodge filet, Timber Creek t-bone steak, Bourbon flat iron steak, Portabella bleu cheese filet, black magic steak, Charlie Morgan ribeye, and the 12 oz. Mountain Man strip, meat lovers will be in heaven here. Also on the menu are smoked baby back ribs, home style BBQ meatloaf, grilled pork chops, burgers, chicken and fish dishes, soups, salads, and a long list of appetizers, specialty drinks and desserts. For those with gluten-restrictions, Bugaboo offers a menu just for you. The prices here are pretty average for a chain restaurant, and the portions are quite large. They even offer several kids' meals, all which come with an ice cream treat for dessert. I'm jealous! The only problem we have with the food is that Bugaboo seems to par-boil the chicken before they grill it, making it very soft and limp. Doesn't sound too appetizing, does it? Also, it's a toss up as to what I got sick on the last time - the smashed potato cake appetizer, or the chicken cubano sandwich. I saw neither on the menu this time around.

Before long, our food had arrived. Both dishes looked very tasty. Mom's patty melt - which was topped with Swiss cheese and horseradish sauce - was cooked medium well, which is exactly what she asked for. Accompanied by some fries, Mom said that the patty was tasty, the buttered panini bread was not greasy, and the Swiss was not overwhelming. Surprisingly, she found the horseradish sauce - which she was a bit nervous about - to be quite tangy and delicious. Mom also enjoyed the side of fries, which she said were hot and good.


My tilapia tacos were a last minute decision which I did not regret. Served on flatbread with a large wooden skewer through the three of them, the Cajun-roasted tilapia was very tasty. Each taco was stuffed with a mixture of shredded cabbage and cilantro ranch dressing, to which I added the accompanying tomato salsa. The flavors came together very well, giving the taco a fresh, clean taste. Also on the plate was a serving of fried onion strings and wild rice medley. Since I'm not a fan of rice, I only had a couple of forkfuls. It was good, but really not my thing. I did find the onion strings to be a little on the greasy side, but this is normal with this type of fried food.


At almost 4:15 p.m., Mom and I decided that we needed to get our check and go. John returned to clear away our empty plates and bring the check. The total came to:

Tilapia tacos - 7.99

Patty melt - 8.79

Subtotal - $16.78

Tax - .84

TOTAL = $17.62

Notice anything? John left off our sodas. I don't know if this was a mistake, or if this was something he did because he knew that we had been left waiting, but either way, I didn't have time to correct the error (sorry, John). We had a movie to catch! I left $21 on the table for John which included a 20% tip. Before leaving, Mom and I paid a quick visit to the ladies' room, which was most improved from our last visit. It was neat and clean, versus the gas station outhouse that we were subjected to the last time (which I also discussed in my now infamous letter).

Thankfully, Mom and I made it to the theater just in time to pick up our 3D glasses and watch the movie - which was a lot of fun. After the movie, we were talking about our meal at Bugaboo, and about our previous visits. We agreed that today's meal was good, but that - in general - Bugaboo could do a lot better. The service is not always that great, and sometimes the food isn't very inspired. We've bumped it up from two hearts to three only because a) I didn't become ill, and b) the food was tasty. However, we do feel that this adorable chain hasn't really lived up to its full potential.

The Bugaboo Creek Steak House in Seekonk is located at 1125 Fall River Avenue. For more information, visit their Web site or call (508) 336-2200.

Kent's Restaurant

1675 G A R Highway
Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 672-9293

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Date visited: 7/19/08
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Kent's is one of those restaurants that Mom and I had only visited once, but really enjoyed. Since we hadn't done an "official" review of this place yet, and we were heading toward Seekonk to see the movie Mamma Mia!, Mom decided that we should check out Kent's for a second time. Plus, one of our favorite fans - Liz - couldn't say enough great things about eating here. Since it was early, Mom and I figured that if we were going to visit Kent's - now was the time. This place gets seriously busy during the dinner rush. We were glad to see that, once we pulled into the parking area at 3 p.m., there were only a few cars in the lot.

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Once inside, there are two doors. The one on the left leads to the bar, and the one on the right leads to the dining area. After Mom and I had figured this out (it had been a while since our first visit), we spotted a list of specials and began checking them out. A waitress spotted us and asked how many were in our party. We said two, and she led us to a table by the windows. The dining room was empty except for one family which had a gentleman that was eating a clam boil very enthusiastically. His sleeves were rolled up and he was practically inside the aluminum tin that it came in. Mom and I were very glad to see that he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

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The waitress, who we later found out was named Amy, was extremely friendly. She came over to our table to bring the plastic-covered menus and list of specials. She also took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - which she quickly brought over in real glasses. When I had walked in, something on the board had caught my eye. Seeing it again on the specials' list, I was pretty sure that I was going to order that particular dish. Mom was busy reading the menu over and over, trying to decide from about 100 things that appealed to her. When Amy returned to the table, Mom and I were ready to order. I chose the Florentine ravioli ($8.95), while Mom chose the five cheese ravioli ($8.95). I was surprised that we both ended up choosing things off of the specials' list. Since both of our meals came with soup or salad, Mom chose the minestrone soup while I chose the soup of the day - cream of spinach. I was pretty excited because I love spinach, and now I was about to have it in my meal and in my soup. Yum! Mom and I also ordered an appetizer of boneless buffalo wings ($7.90). Voted the best buffalo wings around by The Herald News a few years ago, these wings were out of this world. We had them on our first visit and have been dying for them ever since. After asking us if we would like any ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce (we declined), Amy took away our menus as Mom and I took a look around the dining room.

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Although it looks like a steakhouse from the outside (and Mom thinks that it was originally billed as such), Kent's Restaurant has a pretty elegant dining area. Set up like a banquet hall with matching off-white tablecloths, chairs, and wall color, Kent's really goes out of its way to make sure that they can seat as many customers as comfortably as possible. There are no booths here, but the tables and chairs were quite comfortable. Although we couldn't really see the bar, I did notice that it seemed very large and had a flat screen TV hanging above. Back in the dining room, on each table there were paper place mats that featured local area businesses. In the center of the place mat was the Kent's tag line: "Where Friends Meet." After a few visits to Kent's, you will understand what they mean. It seems that everyone knows each other here. A lone man came in to sit at the bar, but not before stopping by to say hello to the guy who was all over his clam boil. Later on, another family came in, knew each waitress by name, and gave them all a hug before sitting down and ordering their meals. On our first visit, Mom and I noticed the same thing. Filled with "regulars," Mom and I got the impression that Kent's has a very loyal customer base. No wonder you can't get near the place on Friday and Saturday evenings!

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Before we knew it, Amy had arrived with our soups. Mom said that her minestrone was very good. It had a tasty broth, was chock full of vegetables, and was served piping hot - just like she likes it. My cream of spinach soup was just as delicious. I'd never had cream of spinach before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much spinach was actually in the soup. There were other minced vegetables in there as well, and it all blended together beautifully. This soup should really be on the permanent menu! Amy had also brought over a small loaf of bread (the butter packets were already on the table), which was soft, warm, and very tasty.

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As we finished with the soups, our boneless buffalo wings were making their way to our table. I made a comment that my nose was already running because of the heat, and Amy laughed. I have a love/hate relationship with buffalo wings. I adore the taste, but they beat the crap out of me. My face turns red, I start sweating, my nose runs, and I definitely need to have a drink or two nearby so that I can cool down. What a prize, huh? Remind me never to order these on a date. What Mom and I like about these particular wings is that there is a good amount on the plate. Lately we've been finding that restaurants will only give you four or five wings, but this plate had at least 10 good-sized pieces of chicken, accompanied by some celery and carrot sticks. Now, Mom says that these wings are very sneaky - and she's absolutely right. When you first bite into one, the flavor of the sauce seems very sweet and tangy. However, after a few seconds, the heat starts to creep up on you and turns the wings from sweet into spicy. Mom recommended Kent's to my aunt, who tried the wings and said that they were a little too spicy for her. However, she really enjoyed the taste. As we started to dig in, we found that each piece of chicken was cooked perfectly, was very tender, and had a great amount of that tricky sauce. By the time we had finished the wings, Mom was perfectly fine, but I was a mess. Dabbing my face with a napkin, I had to eat a couple of veggie sticks and drink about half my Diet Coke to try and cool down, but that's nothing new for me. This always happens, but for these yummy wings, the pain was worth it. They are our favorite by far.

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Kent's has a very extensive menu. Unfortunately, when I asked Amy if we could get a take-out menu to go, they had run out. Kent's does a lot of take-out business, which is why they came up with the take-out window. Located on the left side of the restaurant (where the bar is), we often spot people standing in line to pick up their food. What a novel idea! You wouldn't think that a full service restaurant would offer something like this - but they do! Because we didn't have a menu to reference, Mom and I had to go by what we spotted on the menu while we were choosing our meals. We noticed that although some of the large seafood platters are in the low $20s, the rest of the menu is in the $8-15 range. There is quite a lot of comfort food here, which is probably why this restaurant is so popular. Mom was having trouble deciding between the ground sirloin platter and the boneless fried chicken. I was looking at the baked stuff sole and the filet Mignon. Other menu items include various appetizers, pastas, seafood, steaks, salads, burgers, and sandwiches. On our last visit, I had the French onion soup with broiled scrod, while Mom had the spaghetti and meatballs. Both meals were excellent, but the one thing I do remember was that I had a side of fries with my scrod, and they weren't very good. The fries were just big slabs of potatoes that seemed to be boiled. Perhaps that was just an off night.

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Finally it was time for the main event. When Amy brought over our plates of ravioli, we were shocked. There were only three on each plate. Does that sound like a ripoff? Well, let me explain. They were the biggest ravioli that we had ever seen. This stuffed pasta had to be homemade, because we've never seen anything like that in a store. Covered with a nice layer of sweet sauce, each one of Mom's ravioli were stuffed with the delicious ricotta cheese blend. She was impressed because - for once - the ravioli actually had more filling than pasta. Lately we've been getting screwed when it comes to fillings, but these were filled to the brim and held their shape as Mom cut into each one. There is nothing worse than cutting into a ravioli only to find air and some leftover water from when the frozen pieces had been thawed out. Luckily, there was none of that with this meal. Everything was great, and Mom loved the taste.

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I should mention that before I began eating my ravioli, Amy noticed that my soda was getting low (probably from all the drinking after the wings) and refilled it for me. I, like Mom, thoroughly enjoyed my ravioli. Each one was filled with ricotta and spinach and had a nice, fresh taste. The sauce was nicely spiced and was not overwhelming. I could not get over the size of each piece - just humongous!

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Feeling just as stuffed as our pasta was, Amy came over to clear away our plates and brought the bill with her. The total came to:

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Ravioli five cheese - $8.95

Ravioli Florentine - 8.95

Boneless Buffalo wings - 7.95

Lg. soda - 2.50

Lg. soda - 2.50

Taxable - $30.85

Tax - 1.54

TOTAL = $32.39

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We left $39 for Amy, which included a 20% tip. She was an excellent waitress. Although we did not use the restroom on this visit, we did on the last and we both agreed that it had been very clean, despite the large amount of customers that were there that night. Amy wished us well as we rolled our full selves out to the parking lot. Just as we were leaving, we noticed that more customers were starting to come in. I could tell that it was going to be another busy night.

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Mom and I really enjoyed our time at Kent's. The service was great, the dining room was clean, the menu was extensive, the portions were huge, the prices were average, and the food was absolutely delicious. We can definitely see why this restaurant is so popular with Swansea residents and other locals. Just make sure to get there early if you don't want to wait, but even if you have to, eating at Kent's Restaurant is definitely worth it.

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Kent's Restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Texas Roadhouse

www.texasroadhouse.com

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My friend Scott and I have been friends for over three years, and in that time, we have never gone out for dinner together. Sure we've eaten Quizno's subs at our desks at work, and even shared a Paparoni pizza from Papa Gino's in the break room, but we've never actually gone to a restaurant, sat down, and ordered a meal together. Since we're both big fans of Texas Roadhouse, and we both magically had some cash on hand at the very same time, we decided to have dinner at the Roadhouse at 124 Westgate Drive in Brockton, MA. Although Mom likes the food here, she's not a fan of the noise (and there is a lot of noise), so today was the perfect time to do a review of the restaurant. I met Scott at his office (my old job - *sigh*) and drove to the Roadhouse. We arrived at about 6:30 p.m.
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By the fullness of the parking lot, we both knew that the restaurant was quite crowded. Luckily, Scott scored an awesome parking spot and was pretty happy with himself because of it (apparently he always has a long walk to the front door). Once inside, Scott and I had to wait in a small line that had formed around the hostess station. I noticed that there were also people sitting in the waiting area, which consists of a small TV, large barrels of peanuts, and two wall-length benches. A few minutes went by before Scott and I finally had a chance to tell the hostess that we wanted a table for two. Thinking that we were going to wait a while for a table, I was pleasantly surprised when a waiter came over, grabbed a basket of buns from the warming shelf by the kitchen, and started walking us to our table ... and walking ... and walking. He walked so damn slow that I was basically stepping on the back of Scott's sneakers. Even Scott turned around and whispered, "Are we ever going to get there?" I guess the waiter was trying to make small talk by asking, "Have you ever been here before?" When Scott said yes, the waiter turned around and said, "Welcome back." Doesn't seem like much, but apparently Texas Roadhouse teaches the wait staff to really drag this part out. This is not the first time I've encountered the slow walkers. Mom, who normally walks very slowly, was pretty much walking up the waitress's back on our last visit to the Dartmouth, MA, Roadhouse. Nonetheless, we finally arrived at our booth. He put down our basket of buns and told us that our waitress we be over in a minute. I reached over and handed Scott one of the plastic-covered menus that were already on our table. Although we already knew what we wanted, it's always fun to look at the menu.




A few minutes went by before our waitress came to the table. Her name was Tina Marie and she seemed to be in a bit of a rush. Although friendly, she talked very quickly. She may have had a lot of people to serve that night, so I don't blame her for speeding things up. I'm the same way. She took our drink order - two Diet Cokes - and since she noticed that we already knew what we wanted, she took that order as well. Scott and I were going to start with the Rattlesnake Bites ($4.99) as our appetizer, and Chicken Critter Salads ($9.29) as our entrees, both with honey mustard dressing. He ordered his with egg, and I (of course) requested that the egg not be there. Tina went away to put in our order, but quickly came back to bring us our sodas, which were served in real glasses. In the meantime, Scott and I stuffed our faces with the delicious soft buns with flavored butter and the nearby peanuts, which are placed at every table in a silver bucket (with an extra bucket for the empty shells).

Texas Roadhouse is a really well-decorated restaurant chain. As soon as you step through the door, you are transported into a world of cowboy hats, rodeos, and line dancing - and yes, there is actual line dancing. Whenever you hear the country music that is piped in through a large jukebox get turned up louder than normal, be sure to turn toward the middle of the restaurant where you will see the waitstaff busting a move. A cute touch, but not so cute if you're waiting for your food to arrive and your waitress is in the middle of the Boot Scootin' Boogie. The restaurant is also on the loud side. I often find myself screaming across the table at my dining companion even though they are only about two feet away. Also, it is always crowded, so it really doesn't matter when you visit - there is a pretty good chance you'll have to wait to be seated. Once seated at your table or booth (there is a mix of both, but the booths can be a little tight), you'll be able to check out all the crazy knickknacks scattered around the restaurant. There are several caricature drawings of country stars hung up around the top of the bar, cacti, cowboy boots, saddles, and any other stereotypical southern trinket. I'm also pretty sure that you can request your margarita to be served in a cowboy boot that you can keep as a souvenir! If you're on the shy side, I wouldn't suggest coming here on your birthday. If one of your "friends" decides to tell the staff that today is your special day, not only will a group of waiters flock to your table to embarrass you, they'll shine one of the overhead lights right on you, scream "Yee Haw" in your face and get the rest of the diners to do the same. Oh, and they'll tell everyone your age. "Doris is turning 58 today ... yeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaw!" No thank you. I'd kill myself, and take everyone with me.

Since this is a chain restaurant, the menu could vary depending on where you're located. Appetizers include the Cactus Blossom ($5.99), grilled shrimp ($6.99), and the cheese fries ($4.99). There are also several salad options that you can get served with homemade dressing. Mom especially likes the chicken Caesar salad ($9.29). Burgers and sandwiches include the pulled pork sandwich ($7.29), and the Smokehouse burger ($7.79) which is a half pound of fresh ground chuck with sauteed mushrooms, onions, BBQ sauce, and jack and cheddar cheeses. There is a kids' menu, a dessert menu (featuring a Big Ol' Brownie for $4.99), and a long list of side dishes, but the main attraction here are the steaks. Each plate is served with two sides, and you can choose to smother any steak with mushroom, onions, gravy, or cheese for $1.99 extra. Steaks include the USDA Choice Sirloin ($8.99-17.99), Ft. Worth Ribeye ($13.99-18.99), Texas T-Bone ($19.99), New York Strip ($16.29-18.99), Dallas Filet ($14.99-18.49), and the Prime Rib ($14.29-18.99). Another favorite is the Texas Roadhouse ribs ($12.99 half slab; $16.99 full slab) that are "blue ribbon" winners and slow cooked with a blend of seasonings and their signature BBQ sauce. You can also order a Texas Size Combo platter of steak, chicken, or ribs for $15.29-18.99. For those non-red meat eaters, there are a variety of chicken and fish options available. Fish dishes include the fried catfish ($10.99) and grilled salmon ($13.29), which the chicken dishes include grilled BBQ chicken ($9.99) and country fried chicken ($10.29). I need to start leaving my Chicken Critter Salad obsession behind so that I can try some of Texas Roadhouse's other delicious entrees.

It didn't take long for our appetizer to arrive. Scott had never had the Rattlesnake Bites before. We were both a fan of the Iguana Eggs that they used to serve (kind of like their version of a jalapeno popper), but of course, they took them off the menu. The Bites were served with a cup of Cajun horseradish sauce and were really tasty. The little bits of diced jalapenos and jack cheese were spicy and the batter was nice and light. Delish!

After we polished off our Bites, our salads arrived. Thankfully they remembered to keep the egg out of mine. Both salads looked and tasted amazing. The greens were fresh, the cheese was tasty, the bacon was crisp, and the chicken was juicy and well cooked. I adore this salad because you really do get a lot of flavor with every mouthful. Of course, Scott had some extra flavor going on in his because of the egg, which he really enjoys. We both finished every bite of our huge salads, and I found out something about Scott - he eats slowly!!! I was finished with my salad long before he was. Maybe I eat too fast? Could it be? Either way, we were both glad to be having one of our favorite salads together. While Scott was still eating, I decided to check out the ladies' room, which is almost always disgusting (well, the one in Dartmouth is, at least). It actually wasn't bad today. A little disheveled, but Texas Roadhouse does get a lot of bathroom traffic. Not sure if that is a good thing.

Egg

No egg

Tina returned to the table clear my plate and to see if all was well. Just before she came over, Scott and I were talking about this alcoholic drink that he likes - Malibu Rum with Diet Coke. He told me how good it was, and I was mad that I had forgotten to order one. After some pressure from Scott ("Will ya just get it already!"), I had Tina bring me one. YUM. It totally tasted like coconut soda. Scott says that mixing it with regular Coke takes out some of the coconut taste, so he uses Diet. When he had finished his salad and I had finished boozing it up, Tina returned and asked if we wanted dessert. I think we both grunted the word "no," so she quickly brought over the check. The bill came to:

Rattlesnake bites - $4.99

2 Diet Coke (@ 2.19) - 4.38

Fried chicken critter (2 @ 9.29) - 18.58

Malibu rocks - 5.25

Subtotal - $33.20

Tax - 1.66

TOTAL = $34.86

After some confusion about how we would split the bill, we decided that Scott would pay the $34.86 and I'd leave the tip. Sounded good to me! Normally, I would have left $7 (20% tip), but I wasn't paying attention when Scott told me to leave $8. Later on, when I did the math, all I could think about was that extra dollar I left on the table. WHAT A CHEAPSKATE!!! Sometimes I'm such a stickler, especially when it comes to money. It's probably because I don't have that much of it.

Stuffed, Scott and I made our way across the slippery floor to the door. Seriously, sometimes all the peanut dust and shells scattered around slicks up the floor, so be careful! The restaurant was really starting to fill up, so I was glad to be out of there before the Friday night rush. We got in his car and headed toward the Showcase Cinema in Randolph for a night of horror movie watching, but our Roadhouse meal turned out to be a lot better than the flick. Actually, I've never had a bad meal at Texas Roadhouse which is why I keep going back - even despite spontaneous dancing, rank bathrooms, and obnoxious birthday celebrations. What can I say? I just love that Chicken Critter Salad. Yee Haw!!

The Brockton Texas Roadhouse is open from 4-10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. on Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www.texasroadhouse.com for local restaurant hours, menus, and prices.

Becky's BBQ

82 East Main Road

Route 138

Middletown, RI 02842

(401) 841-9909

After visiting the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, RI, Mom and I were ready for lunch. We decided to take the drive to Middletown to visit an Internet favorite - Becky's BBQ. Conveniently located across from the Christmas Tree Shop plaza, Becky's resembles a home rather than a barbecue restaurant. With parking located in the back of the building, Mom and I pulled in at just around 3:45 p.m.

sign on Route 138

rear parking area and entrance

When we stepped inside, we saw that Becky's only had six tables. At first Mom and I started to choose a table, but then we realized that we would have to order our food at the counter, which was located just in front of a large kitchen area. After studying the homemade meals board located just to the side of the counter, we were ready to order. A polite young man was sitting beside the cash register, and Mom informed him that we were going to dine in. Then she told him that she would have the BBQ pulled pork sandwich plate with corn ($5), and I would have the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich plate with potato salad ($5.25). The young man then asked us what we would like to drink since the sandwich plates come with a beverage. He informed us that aside from the soda cooler which held soda cans and bottled water, Becky's also had homemade sweetened and unsweetened tea available. We both chose a sweet tea and he gave us a total:

BBQ pulled pork sandwich plate - $5

BBQ pulled chicken sandwich plate - 5.25

Subtotal - 10.25

Tax - .82

TOTAL = $11.07

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After paying for our meal, Mom and I took a seat at the back of the restaurant so that we could take in the full view of the place. Being at Becky's feels like you're in your grandmother's kitchen. With its country decor, apple wallpaper, background music, and lace curtains, we felt very comfortable at Becky's. The smell of the barbecued meat is just intoxicating. A large hutch placed close to the door held things like small candies and various Rhode Island pamphlets and fliers. Each table was dressed with baskets that held utensils, wet naps, and napkins, and also on the table were their two main sauces - the Kansas City Sweet and the North Carolina, a vinegar/pepper based sauce. Take out menus are available on the counter, so of course, Mom grabbed one. There was also a chalk board that listed a kids' menu and the house specials. Today's listing was a Brunswick stew with cornbread and a drink for $5.99.

The food did not take long to arrive, and we were pleased to see that it was served on compartment plates. A young lady in a Becky's shirt delivered the food, and about a minute later, delivered our teas. Mom's pulled pork was very moist and tender, with not a bit of fat anywhere. It was delicious, and not at all salty. She said that it was done really well, and was disappointed that the sandwich wasn't bigger as she scarfed it down so quickly. Her corn - the typical nibblet variety - was tasty. She added butter, and she said that it complimented the pulled pork nicely.


Also wishing my sandwich was bigger, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The potato salad was surprisingly tasty. They added celery and topped it with paprika - which I love. My chicken was also very moist and tender, and I decided to add some of their Kansas City Sweet sauce to the sandwich. It gave the meal an extra kick without totally overpowering the delicious meat.

Both Mom and I were afraid that the sweet tea was either going to be too sweet or too bitter, but we were both very pleased with the way it tasted. It was very cool, refreshing, and satisfying. Neither of us had ever had sweet tea, and we were glad that this was our first experience with it.

Because our meal was on the small side, we decided to order dessert. Since I was facing the chalkboard, I could see that Becky's was offering three different dessert choices - key lime pie ($2.99), pecan pie ($2.50), and New York cheesecake ($1.99). I decided to go with the key lime pie, while Mom chose the pecan. I returned to the counter and gave my order to the young man. The total came to:

Pecan pie - $2.50

Key lime pie - 2.99

Subtotal - 5.49

Tax - .44

TOTAL = $5.93

TOTAL OF ENTIRE MEAL = $17

I returned to the table to join Mom in waiting for our pies. We didn't have to wait long. We decided to cut both pieces in half so we could try each one. The key lime was cool and refreshing, and seemed to have a bit of a chocolaty crust. The pecan pie wasn't overly sweet (as some are) and had an unusual crackly crust that both Mom and I really enjoyed. Both were topped with real whipped cream, and the pies were a great ending to a delicious meal.

We left Becky's happy, satisfied, and pleased that the Internet recommendations did not let us down. Thankfully we did not have to use the restroom, because there didn't appear to be one. Perhaps it is located in the kitchen area beyond the counter. The waitstaff was very pleasant, and we even saw the young lady that brought our food return some money to a family that was mistakenly overcharged for some beverages. The only thing that we regret is that we did not leave a tip. Sometimes when we visit places that require payment before dining, we forget to leave something for the waitstaff. Perhaps it is because we're used to including the tip with the bill, but I'm sure we will make up for it next time - and there will definitely be a next time.

*******

Normally I only include snippets of the menu, but since there is virtually no information about Becky's on the Internet (except five-star ratings), I decided to post the entire menu complete with prices. On the back of the menu, Becky's explains the barbecue process: "Barbecue consists of placing a large cut of meat in a closed pit and allowing it to cook indirectly by the smoke from a hardwood fire. The temperature is kept at 180 to 225 degrees, and the very slow cooking causes the connective tissues of the meat to tenderize and dissolve. We are talking about barbecuing with real hardwood, real slow, for a real long time. When that meat comes out of the pit, it doesn't need sauce because the barbecue flavor is smoked right in. The smoke ring from our cooking process creates a reddish color in our meats. This is known as a smoke ring - the sign of real barbecue." Both the pork and the beef is barbecued in Becky's hickory pit for 18 hours, and then pulled, cleaned, and lightly sauced (you can ask for meat without sauce). Becky's chicken and ribs are hand-rubbed with their own spice blend and then barbecued in the hickory pit for hours. Both the chicken and the ribs are described as "fall-off-the-bone."

Becky's BBQ dinner specials are perfect for feeding your hungry family of four, six, or eight. The Straw House (dinner for four) includes one quart BBQ pulled pork, two pints of the sides of your choice, and four pieces of cornbread for $25.95. The Wood House (dinner for six) includes one quart of BBQ pulled pork, one pint of BBQ pulled pork, three pints of the sides of your choice, and six pieces of cornbread for $39.95. The Brick House (dinner for eight) includes two quarts of BBQ pulled pork, four pints of the sides of your choice, and eight pieces of cornbread for $52.95. Becky's BBQ is also available to cater all business luncheons, company outings, holiday functions, family events, and weddings. Mom and I actually came in behind a couple of girls that had stopped by to place an order for a party of 12.

Dinner plates include rib tips ($6.99) which are subject to availability, BBQ half chicken ($7.49), BBQ pulled pork ($7.99), BBQ pulled chicken ($8.29), the 1/3 slab rib plate ($8.99), BBQ pulled beef ($9.29), and the 1/2 slab rib plate ($12.25). All dinner plates come with cornbread and your choice of two sides. You can also substitute a side in place of beverage for an additional 25 cents. Customers can also choose one of Becky's combos, where you can build your own meal with the following choices: two sides and cornbread ($2.99), BBQ pulled pork ($2.60), BBQ pulled beef ($3.25), BBQ pulled chicken ($2.75), BBQ chicken leg and thigh ($2), BBQ chicken breast ($3), and the 1/4 slab of BBQ ribs ($4.75). Add any of these meat portions to all available plates for the prices listed above.

If you're looking for something lighter, there are sandwiches and sandwich plate options. BBQ sandwiches come in small, regular, and large, and are available in pulled pork ($1.99, 2.99, 3.99), chicken ($2.15, 3.25, 4.49), and beef ($2.49, 3.75, 5.25). You can also add coleslaw to your sandwich ($.20, .40, .60). Sandwich plates include the BBQ pulled pork ($5), BBQ pulled chicken ($5.25), and the BBQ pulled beef ($5.75). All sandwich plates are served with a regular sandwich, a beverage, and one side. Lunch plates include a BBQ chicken leg and thigh ($4.75), BBQ pulled pork ($5.25), BBQ pulled chicken ($5.40), BBQ chicken breast ($5.75), BBQ pulled beef ($5.99), and the 1/4 slab BBQ ($7.25). All lunch plates are served with a beverage, cornbread, and one side. The lunch menu is served until 5 p.m., and for children under 12 and seniors, lunch is served anytime.

Family style meals include the 1/2 pork ribs ($9.25), the whole slab of pork ribs ($17.99), half chicken ($4.50), whole chicken ($8.49), and a dozen wings ($3.99), which are subject to availability. You can also order the pulled meat in 1/2 pints, pints, or quarts. Pork is $4.99, $9.49, and $17.99; chicken is $5.25, $9.99, and $18.99; and beef is $6.25, $11.99, $21.99. Sides, which include Becky's three-bean bake, smashed potatoes, nibblet corn, potato salad, and cole slaw, are also available in different size containers (side $1.25, 1/2 pint $1.79, pint $3.40, and quart $6.40). You can also order a slice of cornbread for $.79. Beverages include soda or spring water for $.99, or you can try some of their delicious homemade sweet/unsweetened tea for $.99. There are free refills on the tea.

For dessert, Becky's has key lime pie ($2.99), and New York cheesecake ($1.99). Listed on the chalkboard, but not on the menu, was the pecan pie ($2.50). For the kiddies, Becky's offers peanut butter and jelly on a roll for $.99, a Juicy Juice box for $.75, and whole and chocolate milk for $.99.

Becky's is open from 12-8 p.m. on Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Check out the beautiful sights at the Topiary Garden:

Smokey Bones BBQ & Grill

www.smokeybones.com

I've only been here once, but Laura has been here a few more times with friends. I remember we were seated at a round table, which I thought was cute. They have TVs at almost every few tables, which can be a little annoying because everyone can put on a different channel and it certainly doesn't add to the ambiance. They had a typical steakhouse menu, with appetizers, burgers, salads, and of course - plenty of meats. They're known for their ribs, which are said to be delicious. Laura's friend Tim used to get them all the time, and he thought they were tasty. The day I went here, I had a burger that was really great. You could tell it was made with quality beef. Laura had the BBQ chicken salad, which she thought was also great as it already came chopped, which she likes because she's lazy. All she did was add one of their table side hot sauces to the mix. Unfortunately, the Smokey Bones in our immediate area has gone out of business. The closest one to us now is about 20 miles away. I don't know why it went out of business, whether it was management problems or competition from Texas Roadhouse, but I know several people that will really miss this place. They had these hot donuts in a bag for dessert that I'd heard about, but never got to try. Now I may never get the chance!

Ponderosa Steakhouse

www.ponderosasteakhouses.com

I've only been to this chain restaurant a couple of times, mostly with my two nieces. Besides their regular menu, they have a homestyle buffet that includes a lot of favorites such as fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, corn, rolls, etc. They also have a little dessert buffet. I've only had the buffet when I came here, so I can't comment on their regular menu, but everything at the buffet was alright for what it was. The food was tasty and hot, but nothing out of the ordinary. A lot of the items are a hit with kids because they're really easy to handle. Little pieces of chicken, fried fish, fries, etc. If given a choice, it would not be somewhere I would choose to go for lunch. But if I was going to lunch with someone who wanted to come here, I also wouldn't say no. So if you want a good place to go with the kids, where I think they'll really enjoy the menu, hit up Ponderosa.

Outback Steakhouse

www.outbacksteakhouse.com

Why did the server want to sit in the seat with me? At least that's the way it seemed. After we were seated in our booth, our server crouched way down to take our order and to speak to us. It was kind of weird! He did this throughout the service. I guess it's their way of making themselves seem very friendly, but I just found it a little uncomfortable. I've heard others mention this, too. I'm just getting used to them telling you their names and what schools they go to, etc., etc. I'm not ready for them to sit with me and share my lunch. Outback Steakhouse is part of a large chain that became famous for their Blooming Onion - which I didn't try because I don't like onions. But from everyone I've ever talked to, they have the best Blooming Onion of any restaurant. This was my first trip to an Outback, but it was Laura's second. We visited the Seekonk location, and I had been wanting to try it for quite a while. Laura had the Queensland Salad, which is fresh chicken breast salad on a bed of chopped iceberg and romaine with Monterrey Jack and Cheddar, bacon, diced egg (Laura took that out), tomatoes, and toasted almonds. I had the Chicken On The Barbie, which is a fresh boneless chicken breast seasoned and grilled. Served with BBQ sauce on the side and fresh veggies. (LOL - two non-steak eaters at a steakhouse). We both found our dishes to be good, but nothing spectacular. In reality, we had a tough time deciding what to order because if you're not a big steak lover, their menu seems to be somewhat limited. If you are a steak lover, this place must be great because it's always crowded. I found the prices a little bit high for their appetizers and items that you can get at other restaurants, but not exceedingly so. I'd like to give it another try, and maybe try something other than chicken. We'll see how it goes! Right now, I just have to say that our experience was pretty good. Oh, and the servers really have to stand on their feet.

Memphis Roadhouse Southern Barbecue

383 Washington St.

Attleboro, MA 02703

(508) 761-5700
www.memphisroadhouse.com

We've only been here once, and actually I would like to try it again. It's probably the only restaurant in our area that has genuine BBQ. When Laura and I went here, we thought the place was really set up quite cute. It looked like a little Texas ranch, and the smell of BBQ permeated the restaurant. It made you hungry as soon as you walked in. We had gone here for lunch, and we were lucky to get right in because I heard they get very busy at night. The menu is extensive and a meat lover's dream. I had a hard time deciding what to order. They had all manner of steaks, ribs, chops, pulled pork, smoked turkey, etc. Their sandwiches come on different breads and also on my favorite - big Texas toast. They have some nice sides like cole slaw, corn, macaroni & cheese - all the regular BBQ favorites. I ended up ordering a smoked turkey sandwich on Texas toast, and the turkey was outstanding. It was very well done and very, very moist. Laura ended up ordering a chicken salad, and she was disappointed in the fact that there wasn't enough chicken to go with her bowl full of veggies. She liked the chicken taste, but just wished there were more than three pieces in her salad. The prices are reasonable for all this meat, and I'd definitely like to come back and get either a pulled pork sandwich or platter. Laura would like to try something different also. I think it's worth a second shot.

Georgio's Steak House

1881 County St.

Dighton, MA 02715

(508) 669-5323

I have been going by this restaurant for many years, and had never stopped in until recently. I should have stopped in sooner. Georgio's is a Dighton landmark known for their Greek specialities and outstanding pizzas. It has a very rustic interior with lots of wood booths and paneling, and nice paintings of Greek towns on the walls. They have a nice varied menu which includes some Greek dishes, pizzas, seafood, and steaks. On our only visit (so far), Laura ordered a Greek calzone which she found delicious. I had the fish and chips which were terrific. We waited a long time to finally try this place, but I know we'll definitely be back again.