Bite of the Week - Bolthouse Farms Perfectly Protein Drinks

Mom and I are on a diet. Please don't panic. This does not mean that we are going to stop eating out on Saturdays. It only means that we are going to be following a strict plan during the other six days of the week. Mom saw a diet in a magazine that showcased the benefits of adding soy and whey to your diet (20 grams each per day). Since neither Mom nor I have ever had soy or whey before, we decided to follow this plan. It seemed easy, and the woman who followed it lost over 400 lbs. Wow!!

Shopping for soy and whey seemed to be a bit of a challenge. However, I spotted the Bolthouse Farms display in the produce section of Whole Foods and noticed that they have soy and whey drinks already made (from their Perfectly Protein line). The down side is that they cost $4 each (for the liter bottles). Hell bent on following this plan, Mom and I grabbed a handful of bottles and a couple of snacks and headed for home. We started this plan on Tuesday, April 22. As of Saturday, April 26, Mom has lost eight pounds and I have lost seven.

THE VERDICT: The shakes are ... GOOD!!! Thank GOD! If they sucked, we would have found it really hard to continue this plan for a second week. Although the magazine did not suggest using Bolthouse, we are more than happy to keep buying these delicious drinks. The vanilla chai soy and the mocha cappuccino whey shakes are cool, refreshing, and available in your local supermarket. They also have a second whey shake that is hazelnut latte flavored - can't wait to try that one! Since the diet calls for 20g of soy and whey each, we purchase the liter bottles - which contains 42g of protein - and split them in half. Honestly, you would not be able to tell that this drink is good for you. After mixing it with fruit, it tastes like a milkshake. However, on its own (and I've had a few straight before), it's just as good.

For all you nosey people out there, here is the plan that Mom and I are currently following. Now remember, this is not a lifestyle. We are only doing this to take some weight off, so please save your "you can't live like that forever" comments. We get it.

7 a.m. breakfast: Bolthouse Farms soy shake with 20g of protein mixed with 1/2 cup of fruit.
*10 a.m. snack
1 p.m. lunch: Bolthouse Farms whey shake with 20g of protein mixed with 1/2 cup of fruit.
*4 p.m. snack
7 p.m. dinner: Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, or Healthy Choice meal with 20g of protein and less than 300 calories.

*The snacks that we've been having are: 60 baby Goldfish crackers; an apple with two teaspoons of peanut butter; a half cup of carrots, three ounces of cottage cheese, and three wheat crackers; and a piece of fruit with 10 almonds (or cashews).

Bite of the Week - Haagen-Dazs Green Tea Ice Cream

I was excited to try this new Haagen-Dazs flavor of ice cream. I had never seen it at Stop & Shop before, and was curious as to how the ice cream was actually going to taste like tea. I was hoping that I was not about to pay $3.50 (the sale price) for a pint of crap. When I got it home, I excitedly took out a spoon and dug into the pea green ice cream. I could not taste the tea flavor at all. Actually, I couldn't taste anything. I gave Mom a spoon and she sampled it as well. She could very faintly taste the tea flavor, but I still couldn't. I retreated to my bedroom with the pint and really started to chow.

THE VERDICT: I still don't know! I liked it, but I don't know why. It didn't have a flavor to me. At one point I did taste the green tea, but it was only for a moment. It didn't really have a distinct taste. This could be because, as my friend Scott pointed out, green tea really doesn't have a strong flavor. Would I buy this ice cream again? Yes, but perhaps I would wait and let it get a little warmer before I start to eat it. I heard that when ice cream is a little soft, the flavor really pops. We'll see!

Dairy Queen

www.dairyqueen.com

Even before visiting Flo's Clam Shack for lunch, Mom had decided that we should get an ice cream dessert at the Dairy Queen located at 7 East Grove St. in Middleboro, MA. I know it seems a little crazy to drive from Portsmouth, RI, to Middleboro just to have an ice cream, but Mom and I love this place and since it was a beautiful day, we sat back and enjoyed the ride to one of our favorite warm weather spots. We hit DQ at about 5:30 p.m.

Not surprisingly, Dairy Queen was mobbed. This chain is a definite favorite among New England residents, and I still can't believe that there was once one in Fall River - and it closed! It just doesn't seem possible. Although some Dairy Queens have indoor seating, this particular one does not. The only way to place an order is by walking up to the front window or by heading around back and going through the drive-thru. Since we were already sitting, Mom and I figured that the drive-thru was our best best. Actually, we've never been to the walk-up window. We always get turned off by the fact that we a) have to stand, and b) have to wait in the long lines. When we pulled up to the drive-thru menu, a female voice came over the loud speaker and asked us what we wanted. I already knew what I was going to get - a small Cappuccino Heath Blizzard. I've been getting the Cappuccino Heath Blizzard on nearly every Dairy Queen visit. After a few minutes, Mom decided on a medium twist (vanilla/chocolate) ice cream cone. Our total came to $5.15 and we were told to drive forward to the next window. When we got to the pickup window, we were greeted by a friendly girl who cashed us out. She also asked if I would like a cover for my Blizzard. I said yes, and was handed my covered Blizzard and Mom's cone. Unlike other drive-thrus, this particular Dairy Queen always provides excellent customer service. I believe she even threw in some napkins as well. What a gal!

With ice cream in hand (and in cup holder), I drove us to our favorite Middleboro eating spot - the Middleboro Crossing parking lot. The reason this is our favorite spot is because a) it's close to DQ so our ice cream never has a chance to melt, and b) there is usually a lot going on it that plaza, so we're never bored. Mom adores this ice cream. In her opinion, it is probably the smoothest ice cream she has ever come across. She loves the great flavor and mouthfeel (ick, I hate that word). Her favorite thing to get is just a plain cone. She absolutely loves the way they make their ice cream with a little swirl on top (like a figure eight). The ice cream is thick and always neat, even in the cone. Whatever they do to keep the ice cream in the cone, keep doing it! As for me, I'm in love with the Blizzards. I've had a few different flavors, but my current (and maybe all-time) favorite is the Cappuccino Heath. My suggestion to you is to definitely get the small. Dairy Queen does not skimp on the portions. I believe I got the large once and almost burst my spleen trying to finish it. The ice cream is cappuccino flavored and blended with an appropriate amount of finely chopped Heath Bar pieces. I appreciate this because, although I love big pieces, it's nice to not have to worry about breaking your teeth on a bit of cold candy. I would definitely recommend this treat to any coffee lover. Mom has had this Blizzard a few times and agrees with me. We love it!

Although Dairy Queen makes food like burgers and fries, I am not sure if this location serves anything other than ice cream. Since we've only been to the drive-thru, we've become acquainted with what can be handed out of a tiny window. Treats include the Blizzard ($3.10-4.25) which is an ice cream blended with your choice of mix-ins such as Oreo, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, Butterfinger, M&M, Snickers, Kit Kat, turtle pecan cluster, and mint Oreo pieces. If you want extra stuff in your Blizzard, it is an additional $.50. The Blizzard of the Month is the Tin Roof Brownie, which is very well advertised both on the Web site and at the drive-thru. Other treats include the peanut butter parfait, banana split, Oreo Brownie Earthquake ($3.65), shakes and malts, cones and dipped cones (vanilla, chocolate, and twist), waffle bowl sundaes, waffle cones, sundaes, strawberry shortcake ($3.70), and floats and freezes ($2.50-3.75). You can also order a box of take home treats like the DQ sandwich and the Buster bar. For drinks, you can order your basic soft drink and/or bottled water, but for something extra, try their Moolatte ($2.75-4), which is basically a frozen coffee drink - and it's delicious! If you're not feeling a coffee drink, you can order an Arctic Rush - kind of like their take on slush. It comes in several different flavors. Please note that these prices may vary.

Full and satisfied, Mom and I drove away from our eating spot and headed toward home. We both look forward to going back and having another ice cream. I'd also like to find out if this location serves food because I'm dying to try some of their famous burgers. Another plus is that an Orange Julius is going to be sharing space with the DQ, so that gives us one more reason to take the drive to Middleboro. Who knows? Maybe you'll even see us eating in the parking lot. It's a small world.

The Dairy Queen in Middleboro is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. For other locations and hours of operation, visit their Web site at www.dairyqueen.com.

Flo's Clam Shack

4 Wave Ave.
Middletown, RI 02842

(401) 847-8141

Park Avenue
Portsmouth, RI 02871
(401) 847-8141

www.flosclamshack.com

Today was a beautiful, yet annoying day. At first, Mom and I had no idea where to go for lunch. Since she had been sick with a cold all week and wasn’t feeling 100%, I told Mom that she could choose where we would chow. She picked Flo’s Clam Shack on Island Park in Portsmouth so that we could sit outside in the fresh air and have a relaxing, delicious lunch. Did we sit outside? Yes. Was our lunch delicious? Yes. Were we relaxed? Well …

We arrived at Flo’s at just around 3:30 p.m. As usual, there were no parking spots in the gravel lot that surrounds the building, so I made my own. There was a small crowd gathered around the main window, so Mom and I quickly stood in the ordering line to – what else – place our order. Mom had already decided on what she wanted – an order of fish and chips with some clam cakes. I was also going to have some clam cakes (we were going to order a half dozen) and, believe it or not, a burger. Flo’s has always made a great burger. When it was finally our turn to place an order, the cashier at the window informed us that they did not have any fish available. No fish at a seafood restaurant? Uh oh. I panicked and turned to Mom, who instead ordered a burger and changed our half dozen clam cakes to one dozen. We also ordered two cans of diet root beer. The female cashier handed me a white rock with a number painted on it, and also gave me the two cans of soda. The rock is how Flo’s keeps track of your order. They hand you a rock, you wait in line until your rock's number is called, and then return said rock. Our number was 56, and our total was $13.99. Mom and I slowly backed away from the ordering window (there were all kinds of people crowding in on us), grabbed some straws, napkins, and some vinegar for me, and took a seat at one of the outdoor picnic tables at the side of the building. I later moved my car so that I could be parked in an actual parking spot, not like the fake one I created out of pure laziness.

While sitting and waiting for our food, we talked about how Flo’s has never changed. Even when my parents used to visit Flo’s before my sister and I existed, this cozy wooden shack has pretty much stayed the same. There is a giant white buoy by the main window that all kids love to sit on, lots of ropes and nautical knickknacks decorating the building, and a side lot filled with blue picnic benches where diners can sit and take in all of the fresh ocean air. Be careful, though. If you look up, you’ll often see a gang of seagulls hovering over you. I wouldn’t suggest feeding them as the other patrons eating would probably frown upon a bird turd ending up in their clam chowder. However, if there are leftovers, there is a small beach right across the street where people often let the birdies have a nosh. There is even a sign letting customers know that Flo's is closed during hurricanes. Good to know!

It felt like a lot of time had gone by since we placed our order. I told Mom that our food should be ready “any minute,” and that I would wait over by the pickup window. Meanwhile, the cashier kept calling two numbers over and over – two and 90. After about 10 minutes, number two mysteriously appeared, but 90 still had not. The cashier continued to call number 90 again and again. By this time, I had been standing in line for 15-20 minutes, not including the time I was waiting on the bench with Mom. A 90-year-old man that I think was hitting on me kept asking me if he was number 90, but he was number 17. The man to the left of me who was wearing a green shirt was not number 90, and neither was anyone else. I started to panic. Was I number 90? I looked at my rock again and saw the number 56. Phew. I was not imagining things. About another 10 minutes went by before I noticed that everyone that I had been waiting with was long gone, and there was a new batch of customers standing around the windows. I finally walked over to the pickup window and asked the cashier if there was anything wrong with the order for number 56. She took my rock, flipped it over, and said, “Um … this is number 90. I’ve been calling this number for a while.” I said, “Um … no. This is number 56.” Apparently, the number was in fact 90. Let me show you:

I’m sure you could see how my mother and I were mistaken. Apparently the barely-there line at the bottom was put there to prevent morons (oops) from thinking that it was the number 06, but to us, it looked like 56. Maybe if they hadn’t painted the number with hot pink nail polish we would have been able to read it a better. Nevertheless, I took the food from the cashier, felt the bags to see if the food was still hot, and took my seat with Mom. When I did, Mom was frenzied because she didn’t know what was taking me so long. What I didn’t know was that she had gotten up off the bench a few times to see if I was still in line, or if I had taken off. Where was I going to go? I was hungry! Jokingly, she said, “You weren’t number 90, were you?” Since we were seated right next to the guy with the green shirt who I was talking to about how number 90 better get their act together and get their food, I told Mom what happened in a low voice. She was shocked. She said, “But it was number 56!” I had to explain about how we had apparently been holding the rock upside down the entire time. “Ohhhhhhhh,” said Mom. “I guess so.” She then told me that a man had come up to her because she had been sitting alone for a while to ask her if she was number 90. Little did she know, she was!

I feel a little rotten that I wasn't able to get a full price list, however, Flo's is very inexpensive. For only $13.99, Mom and I had two sodas, two burgers, and a dozen clam cakes. That's a lot of food, and not a lot of cash. With all the drama going on with my rock number, I tried to get a picture of the menu, but it didn't come out clear. The bright side is that you don't really need a menu at Flo's. If you want seafood, they have it. That's the bottom line. I tried asking for a take-out menu, but they don't exist. Here is what I was able to find out: chowder combo ($4.95), and I believe this consists of a bowl of chowder and a handful of clam cakes; clam cakes ($2.95 for 1/2 doz., $4.95 for doz.); stuffed quahog ($2); fish and chips ($6.95); fish only ($4.95); lobster roll ($10.75); fish sandwich ($4.25); plain or creamy chowda (and yes, they spell it like that - $2.95/$3.95); fried clams (starting at $11+); clam strips (starting at $7+); and other stuff like scallops, onion rings, chicken fingers, fried calamari, and any other kind of fried seafood you can think of.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, we were finally able to dig into our food. Both burgers were juicy and delicious. I’m not sure what kind of meat Flo’s uses, but I’ve never found a chewy piece of fat nor an uncooked section. Neither has Mom. Our bag of clam cakes were still steaming hot (I’m surprised) with a crispy coating and soft interior. There weren’t too many clams in the cakes, but this is fine with me because I enjoy the clam taste, and not necessarily the clam feel. Mom feels the same way. We ate in seconds because we were so famished and annoyed. When we had finished, there were still about four clam cakes left in the bag. Mom and I got in the car and parked on the other side of the street so Mom could chuck the clam cakes out the window for the birds. After we realized that the cakes wouldn’t get very far, Mom got out of the car and hurled the food onto the beach. Seagulls were flying in every direction. I even spotted one flying off with an entire clam cake in its beak! I hope he, or she, enjoyed it as much as we did.

Flo’s Clam Shack on Island Park has been famous for clams since 1936 and is a staple, especially around this area. It’s often the first outdoor restaurant that Southern New Englanders visit when spring starts, and just before Flo's closes for the year, those same people visit for a last hurrah before the fall weather rolls in. Although illegible rocks could pose a problem, it has been run this way for years and I wouldn’t change a thing. Just make sure you aren’t holding your rock upside down.

Flo’s Clam Shack in Portsmouth is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Flo’s also has an indoor restaurant on Wave Avenue in Middletown, RI.

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.

Bite of the Week - Junior's Lemon Coconut Cheesecake

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A little over a year ago, Mom received a catalog in the mail for Junior's Cheesecake. Inside were pictures of some of the most delicious cheesecakes we had ever seen outside of the ones made at Roxy's Delicatessen in New York City. We decided that we must have one. Since I had just been laid off from my job, Mom and I vowed to order the most delicious-looking one - the lemon coconut - as soon as I found a job. Who knew that we would be waiting a whole year? Now that I've been employed at my job for almost two months, we decided that it was time. After verifying with Junior's customer service line that the prices were correct (after all, the catalog was a year old), I mailed the check for $48.95 ($37.95 for the cake; $11 for shipping) on Friday, March 4. We were very pleased when the cake arrived packed in an air tight cooler on Thursday, March 10. We didn't even have to wait a week! Thank God!

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THE VERDICT: Oh. My. God. It was like heaven topped with coconut. I know that you're probably saying, "Wow, that's a little much to spend on a cheesecake." However, considering the one we ordered over 10 years ago from Roxy's was about $80, I think that $48.95 was a steal. We love the way that it was layered: the bottom crust was topped with a layer of creamy cheesecake which in turn was topped with a layer of lemon filling, a layer of white cake, and a layer of white frosting covered with coconut. It was as beautiful to look at as it was to eat. It was an 8" round, which doesn't seem large, but it was very thick and dense. A little piece went a long way. We also appreciated the way Junior's handled the order. They have a customer service line, kept us up to date with our order via e-mail and a UPS tracking number, and packaged it beautifully. We would definitely order from Junior's again. The hardest part will be deciding what to get!

Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery

200 Woonsocket Hill Road

North Smithfield, RI 02896

(401) 767-3014

www.wrightsdairyfarm.com
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If there is one thing my mother loves, it's a good bakery. With all the sensational sights and smells to take in, she pretty much just stands in the center of a store and starts spinning as if she were Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat up into the air with glee. Yes, she gets that excited. This excitement was taken to a whole new level when my aunt suggested that we pay a visit to Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery, which is about 13 minutes down the road from Wright's Farm Restaurant. She raved about their fantastic pastries, so of course, this was something that Mom and I couldn't miss - but we missed it. Twice. It turns out that the tiny arrow pointing down toward the farm at the corner of Route 102 and Woonsocket Hill Road didn't catch our eyes. Perhaps we were overwhelmed with thoughts of pastry or stuffed from all the chicken we just ate. Nonetheless, we eventually spotted the arrow and drove down the winding street to the farm at around 5:30 p.m.

This farm was exactly what all farms should look like. There were large dairy cows roaming the fields, bales of hay stacked up in one of the barns, a milking station, various storage sheds, farm equipment, and oh, did I mention the huge gourmet bakery? We drove past a sea of large boxes with tiny calves inside (perhaps for protection from the larger cows) and into the bakery parking lot. The lot wasn't too big, but was practically full. People love this place! When we stepped inside through the sliding doors, Mom's jaw dropped. I thought she was going to spin, but she just stood there in awe of all the mouth-watering delights that were scattered throughout the beautiful country store. Right away we spotted a shelf with Wright's Dairy Farm T-shirts. I should have gotten one!

We didn't know where to look first, so we slowly made our way through the well-stocked shelves filled with cakes, cookies, pies, breakfast goodies, and other treats. Individual cream pastries include the small cream puffs, chocolate and strawberry boats (large and small), peaks, apple crisp, raspberry bismarks, comets, and assorted cake squares. Individual custard pastries include large and small éclairs, maple and vanilla napoleons, trifles, and zeppoles (seasonal). Other refrigerated goodies include rum teacake, cannollis, and apple dumplings (seasonal). Some of the many flavors of pie include chocolate, coconut, banana, apple cream, apple, pumpkin (10" only - seasonal), key lime pie (9" only), custard (10" only), and pecan pie (10" only - seasonal). There are also fruit square, cookies (such as chocolate chip, hermits, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter chip, Russian tea cookies, butter/shortbread, M&M, macaroons, Florentine, vanilla bisquits, pin wheels, and sugar), bars (brownies, M&M brownie, Mounds, radio, magic, and pecan diamonds), and their many varieties of cakes, such as strawberry shortcake, black forest, cow, three-layer, checkerboard, fresh fruit tiara (seasonal), killer (8”), cheesecake (10” plain or fruit), carrot, zuppa (8”), and tiramisu (8”). Other baked goods include muffins and scones, flaky pastries, bow ties, rogarts, angel wings (cinnamon discs), bear claws, eccles cakes (pretzels), almond crescents (pie pockets), baklava/choco-almond treasures, sugar-free pie pockets, sweet rolls and buns, danish, meltaways, pecan rolls, coffee rolls, and hot cross buns (seasonal). Everything was reasonably priced, fresh, and looked out of this world.

We also noticed the large refrigerated case at the end of the store. Wright's really prides themselves on their fresh milk products. According to their Web site, the milk never leaves the store and comes straight from their cows to our tables in less than 48 hours. Milk products include skim, 2%, whole, chocolate, and coffee milks. They also have mini milk containers for the kids. Wright's also carries both light and heavy cream, and egg nog (available only in November and December). Although Mom and I weren't interested in buying milk at that time, we were both dying to know how it tasted. Later on, we had a fan of ours tell us that all their milks, no matter what percent it is, have the flavor of whole. Sounds good, but we were more interested in the refrigerated pastry case. After taking a number (just like at the deli), a young worker asked us if we were ready to choose something. I had narrowed my choices down to two things. One looked like a key lime tart, and the other looked like a smaller key lime tart. Since one was large and green and the other small and white, yet they were both topped with limes, I asked the girl behind the counter to describe them. She told me that the white tart was called a key west, and had a more tart flavor than the key lime. Since it looked delicious - and easy to hold in the car - I decided to get one of those. Not wanting to be left out, Mom got one as well. The worker placed the tarts in a small box, printed out a receipt, taped it to the top of the box, and sent us on our way.

After Mom and I had narrowed down our other choices, it was time to head over to the register. Mom was quite excited because not only was she able to get a treat to eat right away, she got some breakfast goodies and buns to have the next day. We were greeted by a young cashier, who rang and bagged our order. The total came to:

Meltaways - $4.20

Chocolate Chip Scones - 3.60

Dozen snowflake rolls - 2

2x tarts (@ 1.99 each) - 3.98

Hermits - 4.28

TOTAL = $18.06
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Before we left the bakery, Mom spotted some spoons in a jar by the register. We had both wondered how we were going to eat the tarts in the car, but thankfully Wright's provides both spoons and straws for your eating and drinking pleasure.

When we got to the car, we took the two tarts out of the box and grabbed the spoons. We rolled down the window, hoping to smell some fresh country air, but all we could smell was cow manure. Rolling the windows back up, we dug into our cool, fresh key wests. The key west lived up to its name. It was a bit more tart than the key lime, but absolutely delicious. The real cream that was on top really helped cut the tartness so there was a nice blend of flavors with every bite. The crust was flaky, the filling cool and creamy, and it was really a delight to eat.


Our other purchases included chocolate chip scones (which had a sweet icing and were filled with chocolate chips), a dozen rolls (the same fantastic rolls that are served at Wright's Farm Restaurant), meltaways (covered in cinnamon, syrup, and nuts - yummy), and a bag of hermits (which were deliciously spiced and available to order on their Web site):


Of course, Mom saw about 100 other things she wanted to buy, but I had to stop her. After all, how many baked goods can one family have? Wait ... maybe I shouldn't ask that question. Before leaving the farm, which has been servicing the Rhode Island community for over 100 years, we decided to take another spin around the parking lot to get a better look at the cows. A personal shout out goes to cow number 80, who posed for a picture for me!! Make sure you check out our slide show to see him, or her, in all his bovine glory.

Both Mom and I adore quaint little out-of-the-way places like Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery. It is the perfect place to visit on a beautiful spring afternoon, and there's nothing better than freshly made pastries from a picturesque New England farm - no matter what season it is.

Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Wright's Farm Restaurant

84 Inman Road

Harrisville, RI 02830

(401) 769-2856
www.wrightsfarm.com

My friend Rick is an angel. Without Rick, I would have never found out about the Xanadu that is Wright's Farm Restaurant. This all-you-can-eat chicken, pasta, fries, salad, and rolls wonderland seems to be very popular with large groups, the disabled, and of course, the rotund. Falling into that last category, Mom and I put on our eating pants and headed for Harrisville, RI.

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Arriving at about 4 p.m. after some wrong turns (turn LEFT off the highway to Route 146A/102 and keeeeeeep driving), we pulled into the very large parking lot. We were met by a parking attendant who asked us if we were with a large party. When we told him no, he told us that we could park anywhere near the main entrance. Since Mom and I had been here once before, we already knew where to go and quickly found a spot. There were already people roaming the lot and heading for the entrance, so I knew we were going to be in for a crowded dining experience.

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Once we stepped through the main entrance, we took a right and headed over toward the restaurant area. Because this restaurant/banquet hall is extremely large, I had forgotten where to go. Luckily, there was a couple in front of us that was also headed toward the restaurant, so I just followed them. Once we arrived at the hostess station, I told one of the girls that I wanted a table for two. She then proceeded to give me a list of directions on how I could find "Brittany," who was to be our guide once we arrived to our pre-selected dining area. After following a bunch of twist and turns, going down a ramp, and passing by two large bars, we finally spotted Brittany, who directed us to a nearby table. Thank goodness! Walking to our table was almost like exercise, and God knows that we weren't ready for that. We hadn't been waiting long before we were joined by our waitress. Her name was Kerri, and she was dressed in a Wright's uniform as was the entire staff. She asked us if we were going to have the chicken, and we both shouted, "Yes!" She also asked us what we would like to drink. Mom and I asked for Diet Coke, and Kerri offered to bring the drinks in either single glasses or a pitcher. We chose a pitcher, and it quickly arrived along with our starters - a freshly made salad topped with a delicious Italian dressing, and a basket of rolls with butter. It wasn't long before our salad and rolls were joined by bowls of pasta with homemade sauce, fries, and Wright's tender, juicy chicken.

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The food was amazing. The rolls were served warm, and were very soft and fresh (we later found out where the rolls came from - Wright's Bakery). The salad was crisp, and the classic Italian dressing was cool and tangy. We both heard that everyone goes crazy over the fries. They're skin-on, and for whatever reason, tasted a little bit sweet. They were very potatoey, and quite good, especially covered in their delicious homemade ketchup. The pasta was of the shell variety, cooked nicely al dente, and was covered with a thick, homemade tomato sauce. It was spicy and tasty. Last but not least - the chicken. This was probably some of the best chicken we've ever tasted. Mom wishes she knew how it was prepared. We received two pieces of white meat, and two of dark. I wish I had known that you could request a particular type of meat, because I definitely would have gone all white (I'm not too big a fan of dark, although this dark was very tasty). The chicken was so moist that it literally fell off the bone when we picked it up. It was juicy and cooked perfectly. Mom said that she could make a meal of just the chicken. Although we only had one round of everything, we could have easily had seconds as the restaurant is "all-you-can-eat." Kerri had come over during our meal to ask how everything was, and with full mouths we had nothing but good things to say. Mom told me that there is also a sirloin option here (instead of the chicken). If the steak is as good as the chicken, steak lovers will have nothing to worry about.

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The interior, although a bit confusing, is quite beautiful. With ramps and large doorways, everything is easily accessible for people with disabilities. There are both booths and tables, depending on which room you sit in, and several bars scattered throughout. The rooms have a bit of an old fashioned look, but everything is kept neat and clean. Wright's has several large rooms reserved just for parties, and according to their Web site, have a staff of almost 200 people to keep things running smoothly. To the left of the main entrance is a gift shop where you can purchase their pasta sauce, Italian dressing, homemade fudge, and other candies and gifts. The picture below was taken just as we entered our dining area (hold the camera straighter next time, Ma), but the room quickly filled with patrons only minutes later.

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After clearing away our plates, Kerri brought over the bill. The total came to:

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2 adults @ $10.25 each - 20.50

Beverage - 5.75

Tax 1 - $1.64

TOTAL = $27.89

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We left $33 on the table for Kerri which included a 20% tip. She provided excellent service. Before leaving, I filled out the comment card that was left on the table. I think that made us eligible for a free dinner, which would be fantastic! Mom and I decided to use the restroom before we left Wright's, and for handling such a large crowd, the bathroom was very clean and orderly. After leaving the restroom, we spotted an exit sign and decided to see where it led. We were hoping that we didn't have to take that long walk all the way back to the main entrance, especially after having stuffed our faces. Luckily for us, it actually led us right to the parking lot! I even spotted my car from the door, so all we had to do was walk through the little grassy area where a few people were relaxing on white wooden benches.

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Wright's is really a fantastic restaurant. Sometimes with family style places, the food can lack flavor. At Wright's, all the food is homemade and has an out-of-this-world taste. Plus, it caters to everyone from young kids to an elderly person in a wheelchair. I would definitely suggest having your next party at Wright's, or perhaps take the family for a drive on a lovely day and stop in for some chicken. You will not be disappointed.

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Wright's Farm Restaurant is open from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 12-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 12-8 p.m. on Sunday.

Bite of the Week - Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter

On one of the food Web sites that Mom frequents, one of the "foodies" decided to try an assortment of domestic and assorted butters to see if there was any real difference between them. After selecting about a half dozen of the most popular brands, from a very fancy French one to good ol' Land O' Lakes, she conducted a taste test. Although she thought the winner was the very expensive French one (over $5 a pound), the popular selection was the Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter. Of course, New England Bites just had to try it. We picked it up in the cheese section of Stop & Shop for $3.29 for a half pound package. Ouch!

THE VERDICT: Delicious! The butter was nice and creamy, melted very easily, and had a bright yellow color. The butter had a definite sweet taste to it, and went well with our English muffins. It was really very tasty, and we can see why it was a favorite among the foodies. We would definitely buy it again, but would use it sparingly because of the price.

Newport Jai Alai's Grand Grille

Inside Newport Grand

150 Admiral Kalbfus Road

Newport, RI 02840

(401) 849-5000

www.newportgrand.com

OFFICIAL COPY OF THE MENU

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Mom and I figured that plenty of time had past since our notorious visit to the Newport Grand Grille on July 7 (see review below). Since we were feeling lucky and wanted to play the slots, we figured that today would be a perfect day to see how improved the service had become after all the hoopla that went down last year after our dining experience. We arrived at Newport Grand at around 3:30 p.m., but stopped off to play some games first. Luckily for me, the $20 I lost almost immediately came right back to me within minutes. Not wanting to lose it again, Mom and I took off and headed for the dining room at around 3:45-4 p.m.

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SIDE NOTE: A lot has changed at Newport Grand. It seems that all the machines have gone up in both price and lines. For example, I love playing this Red, White, and Blue Firecracker slot. The game used to have five lines at five cents. Now there are nine lines at ten cents. I guess with all the economic drama we're all facing, the casino was forced to up the prices.

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When we arrived at the dining room entrance, we were greeted by a very polite hostess who we had never seen before. She showed us to - believe it or not - the very table that we complained about the last time. Not wanting to make a scene, or cause anyone to remember who we were and promptly spit in our food - we shut our mouths and sat there, staring at our menus. Boy, talk about a price jump! Everything seemed to go up between $2-5. Maybe the casino isn't doing so well? I hope not. We really like it here. Soon after we decided what we wanted, a waitress named Kelsie came over to take our order. Mom chose her favorite - the fish and chips ($14.95), while I chose the Reuben with fries ($10.25). We also ordered two Diet Pepsis. Usually when we visit the Grand Grille, the food takes a while to come out. Mom and I don't mind because we know that all the food here is prepared fresh, so it's worth the wait. This time, however, the food was delivered quickly. My guess is that it really doesn't take that long to fry a piece of fish and slap a sandwich together. Kelsie brought over the two dishes, and warned us about the hot plates. Both meals looked amazing.

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With the steam floating away from the plate, Mom was in heaven (she just loves a hot dish). The fish was a nice large piece - not only long, but thick. Even despite its thickness, it was perfectly done, and couldn't have been better. The batter was light and crisp, not at all greasy, and the fish fell apart with flaky tenderness. The Grand Grille really has one of the best fish and chip platters around in Mom's opinion. Her fries were crisp, light, and not greasy. She said the whole meal was delicious. Mom loves this dish so much that even though it went up in price, she would get it again.

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My Reuben was fabulous. I think I scarfed it down in a matter of minutes. The corned beef was like buttah. It literally melted in my mouth and had no icky pull to it (God, I hate that). I was a bit nervous seeing all the sandwich meat stacked up in the bread like that, and I was very thankful that it was prepared so well. The Thousand Island dressing and sauerkraut were very tangy, and the Swiss cheese wasn't too gloppy. The only minor thing was that the rye bread got a little soggy, but I doubt there is a way to stop that from happening since the dressing and sauerkraut get soaked into the sandwich. My fries were amazing, although they really did give me a lot (I couldn't finish them). I would definitely recommend this sandwich to any Reuben fan. It was amazing.

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Kelsie had come over during our meal to ask how everything was, and we had nothing but good things to say. When we were finished, she cleared away our plates and brought the bill:

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2 sodas - $4.50

Fish and chips - 14.95

Reuben - 10.25

Subtotal - $29.70

State tax - 2.08

*FBT - .30

TOTAL = $32.08

*I assume this means food and beverage tax.

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We left $38.50 on the table for Kelsie which included a 20% tip. She really provided excellent service, and we really did notice an improvement with the other servers/hostesses. Before leaving, I filled out the comment card that asked how our experience was. We signed it "New England Bites," so we hope that the people at Grand Grille know that we've been back, and definitely enjoyed our visit. We can't wait to return again, especially now that we know that the customers are being treated well, and the food is still fabulous ... even though the prices went up.

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PS - Just as Mom and I were down all the money we had decided to spend (a.k.a., lose at the slots), we won it all back!! It was definitely our lucky day.
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The July 7th showdown:

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***SECOND UPDATE*** -- I received a personalized e-mail from the Food and Beverage Manager, Joe Caruso, regarding the poor service that went down on July 7. He left me his phone number which I promptly called on the afternoon of July 12. He told me that he was actually in a meeting about the service situation, and that he would call me back ASAP. I was surprised to hear that they were actually discussing me, and was anxiously anticipating his return phone call. When Mr. Caruso called back, he thanked me for my great article, my honesty, and also apologized for the service. He said that there were many changes being made regarding service, and he's sure that everyone is now on the same page regarding customer satisfaction. He seemed very confident that the situation had been addressed, and I completely believed him. He told me of his background in customer service and assured me that what took place on July 7 would not happen again. He then offered us a meal on the house, which was very surprising. I have no doubt in my mind that everyone at the Grand Grille is on the right track and is going to put the customer first from now on. I can't wait to go back!

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***UPDATE***-- I sent the review below to the only E-mail address I could find for Newport Grand (info@newportgrand.com). Here is the response I received:

Laura,

Thank you.
Our Food and Beverage Manager will look into your experience with us.
If you like this the food…..we have Daily Dining Deals in July.
Go to our website and click on http://www.newportgrand.com/dining.html
We look forward to having you back again soon for great food and improved service.

Newport Grand Slots

*sigh* -- Oh well. So much for an apology.

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Today is July 7, 2007. In other words, 7-7-07 - the luckiest day in existence. Couples are getting married, people are buying lottery tickets and today, like many others, Mom and I decided to try our luck at the slot machines inside Newport Grand. After all, we had to win something, right? It was a lucky day! Plus, we would be dining at the Grand Grille, one of our favorite restaurants of all time. What could go wrong?

We hit the casino around 4 p.m. and noticed a lot of cars in the parking lot. Saturdays are usually a busy casino day anyway, but today was special, and I was sure that there were some people in there for the same reasons that we were - the lucky day. We decided to pick up a Newport Grand Rewards card first, since we had not yet applied for one. The woman behind the desk was extraordinarily helpful and wished us good luck for the day. Mom and I then headed straight for a quick bite at the Grand Grille.

When we first got there, the middle section of tables and the bar section was quite filled. There was an older couple waiting to be seated in front of us, and a few single diners standing behind. Quite a while went by before the hostess, a petite older woman with glasses, got around to seating the first two patrons. She sat them at a table which was in the center of the room, right next to a coat rack and behind the wait staff station. This table seems to put diners on display since it's right in the middle of all the "action," and I could clearly understand why the two diners, after being seated, moved over to an empty booth. If looks could kill, the hostess, and the glasses-wearing brunette that was to be their waitress, would have annihilated those two because they shot them both a death glare that was probably seen by just about everyone in the place. Mom and I were still stuck standing behind the "Please wait to be seated" sign while the hostess ran around with a handful of menus, and the would-be waitress stood by the bar socializing and washing several water glasses. Finally the hostess came around to us and dragged us to the same center table that the previous guests had rejected. I, in my most polite tone of voice, said, "Could we not sit here, please?" She ripped the menus off the table, huffed and puffed with disgust, and plopped the menus down on a table against the back wall. I was a bit taken back by how rude she was, but I still felt badly for making her walk a whole five extra feet, so I said, "I'm sorry." I even said, "Thanks," when our menus were slapped down on our new table. Hey, it's not our fault. We just didn't want to be sitting in the middle of the room like two pink elephants. Plus, there were other people waiting behind us. Surely one of them would want the table.

Lo and behold, the next patron (when he was finally seated) occupied the table. Mom and I were now sitting and were still remarking on how long it was taking for the people waiting to actually get seated. A gentleman in a yellow shirt who looked like a manager took our drink order. He was quite polite, but he obviously looked he was just serving us to help out the flustered wait staff. Mom and I both ordered Diet Pepsi and proceeded to look over the menu. It was at this point that we overheard the waitress from the section with the infamous table exclaim things like, "What is wrong with people?! This always happens! My lunch is sitting back there. I don't get it!" I look up and see that the waitress had just been talking with the hostess, who was staring directly at us. Mom and I were obviously the subject of that conversation due to our requested table-swapping, but we should have never been subjected to actually hearing it first hand. What about the other customers? Were they discussing them as well? Well, as we found out throughout our lunch, they were. Little snide comments here and there, lots of dramatic sighs and pauses, stomping by with empty plates, slamming doors and things around, fake happiness when bringing the bill in hopes of a tip, etc., was all being done by this one waitress (the hostess seemed to disappear in the hustle and bustle of the restaurant). This waitress was even complaining to her boss, which seemed to be the guy in the yellow shirt. I don't know if he is just numb to her negativity, but he didn't say a word. He just stood frozen in silence as she aired her grievances about not getting to take a break. Even all the other waitresses were staring at her in awe because she was acting like such a drama queen. Waitressing obviously isn't for her, and I think it's time that she find a new profession because unfortunately, this is not the first time that we've seen this girl act like an overtired child before.

Because we've been here so many times, and because we were ordering items from the menu that we've already tried, I wasn't even going to do an official review of The Grand Grille today (hence no photos). However, due to the rotten attitudes of some of its staff members, I decided to make an exception. When we were finally ready to place an order, a blonde waitress was summoned to our table by the guy in the yellow shirt. She seemed to be very rushed, but was still quite pleasant. Mom ordered the Fish and Chips Platter ($11.95) and I ordered the Willow Tree Chicken Salad Sandwich on Rye with Brew City Fries ($7.50). She took away our menus and Mom and I quietly sipped our Pepsis while listening to the pleasant sound of the nearby slot machines.

The food at the Grand Grille is outstanding. Although we usually end up waiting a bit for our meals to arrive, this is quickly overlooked when we bite into our meals and taste how fresh everything is. We've had several scrumptious entrees and appetizers here, but our favorites are definitely the Nachos Grande ($8.95) and the New England Clam Cakes ($6.50). We've also had one of their speciality margaritas which was cool and tasty. The waitresses are usually polite, but they do seem a bit frustrated. Perhaps there aren't enough of them to handle all the customers, but honestly, when we've eaten here, the place has never been that busy. I don't know how some of these girls would hold up if they worked for a busy chain restaurant like Ninety Nine or TGI Friday's.

Our food arrived, but it was brought to our table by Mr. Yellow Shirt. Everything was delicious, as we had hoped and expected. My chicken salad was cool and fresh, the bread was soft, and the veggies were crisp. Mom's fish was hot, white, and lightly breaded. It was quite a large piece of fish, and the fries that came with both platters were tasty and plentiful. The blonde waitress who took our order returned to ask how everything was. We were extremely pleased with the actual meal, so our mood was quickly changing from annoyed to satisfied. Although Mr. Yellow Shirt cleared away our dinnerware, Blondie reappeared with the bill ($25.11). I believe her real name was "Nicole," and that is (hopefully) who are 20% tip went to (although I was a bit confused on this because we were actually served by two pleasant people). We didn't want to take our frustration with other members of staff out on poor Nicole. After all, she had to deal with these people on a regular basis. Thank God we were only here for lunch. As we left, we noticed "Negative Nelly" walking around the restaurant with her purse, still complaining to the other servers. GET OVER IT ALREADY!!! What was this girl's problem?

The Grand Grille will remain in our Excellent category because of the quality of food, the ambiance (dark, quiet, cozy), the interior (tin ceilings, candlelit tables, dark green decor), the cleanliness, and the proximity to some of our favorite games (Hoot Loot, Wheel of Fortune, Star-Spangled Firecrackers). However, these waitresses need to drop the attitude. Customers should never overhear them discussing other patrons, and their so-called "lousy" job. Waitress jobs are a dime a dozen; I'm sure they can easily be replaced.

PS -- We didn't win on the slots. So much for a lucky day!