Etta's Seafood Restaurant - Seattle, WA

We wanted to eat one place, but they were closed. We did a search on our phones and choose another restaurant, went there, and they were closed too. We walked back and forth slightly confused on what to do when we asked one of the guys in the fish market where to go and he lead us to Etta's with raving reviews. 

I had actually heard about the restaurant before getting to Seattle but it must've slipped my mind so when I heard mention of this place I was excited. While it is located in Pike Place Market, my experience was not all about just location, it was about nice ambiance, friendly service and good food.

I wanted to try a little of everything so I started with the Creamy Clam Chowder. Creamy was not the only word to describe it, it was Clam Chowder turnt up. The bacon was a typical addition you would expect but when you add parsley oil to that it is taken over the edge.

It was random and didn't fit into what I was eating but I ended up ordering a glass of Sangria. Theirs comprised of white wine and peach. It was cool but I felt it could have been more awesome and it just wasn't.

My boyfriend stuck to his burgers and had Etta's Double Double Burger. He seemed to really love it. It wasn't a typical burger and they added a few little twist that made it interesting.

I overheard the waitress at the next table hyping up the crab cake so I decided ordering the Dungeness Crab Cakes would be a good choice. It was all crab, light and crispy! The wheatberry salad was great too and I was very happy with the basil green goddess sauce that tied it all in and added a light, subtle flavor to it all.

I was stuffed but still I had to order dessert. We choose the Coconut Cream Pie. It was creamy coconut goodness but then there was the crust. It was too hard to cut through and just kinda ruined it for me.

On the most part, I enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere. The only complaint I had was that immediately after receiving my soup, the entrees were brought out so my main was just sitting there for quite some time while I finished my chowder and me no likey that.



Etta's Seafood Restaurant

The Pike Pub and Brewery - Seattle, WA

After a 5 hour flight, bus to rental facility, and enduring a long line/process to get the rental car, my boyfriend and I finally made our way into the city and we were famished. Not knowing anything about the city, we headed to Pike Place Market with hopes of finding something to eat. Not knowing who, what or where we asked the guy at the information booth to lead us to a locals spot where we could get a beer and some fish. He recommended that we go to The Pike Pub and Brewery since they specialize in beer and the best Fish and Chips.

It was right around the corner from where we were, so that was a plus to my hungry tummy. My tummy was a little pissed though that there was a small wait when get there and talked my head off the entire time. While we waited for our table to be called I observed the restaurant and the impression I got was that it was reminiscent of a chain restaurant. I know that it isn't but it just felt like a BJ's Brewhouse not a local spot.

It is a brewery so I wanted to try a sample of their beers and ordered their flight. Obviously some I liked and some I didn't (based on personal preference) but this is definitely the way to go on a first visit.

My boyfriend ordered the recommended Pike Halibut and Chips. It was pretty tasty mostly due to the quality of the fish. The Kimchi coleslaw was noteworthy too.

I had the Wild Salmon Sandwich. The fish was cooked amazingly. I also appreciate that the lemon caper aioli wasn't too tart or overpowering. I didn't however find the salted bun necessary when paired with salty potato chips.

At the end of the meal, my conclusion was that the food was solid and overall The Pike is a good introduction to tourist of the city. If that is not reason enough surely the beers will be!



The Pike Pub and Brewery

BurgerFi - Weston, FL (Nationwide)

In South Florida, there is no shortage of burger places. From franchises to local stores, new burger joints keep popping up. You may have heard of one called BurgerFi (and may have already eaten there), however, I felt that it was my duty to check out for you.

I knew of the burger chain, and have seen them everywhere but while I have been away (living in New Orleans), I never knew one had opened up in my hood. I partake in burger indulging yet try to be somewhat healthy (occasionally) so Burgerfi's approach to focus on healthier, all-natural ingredients is very appealing. 

Natural Angus and never frozen patties sound great but how do these creations taste? A look at the burger may have you feeling a little disappointed (it is very petite), but it is piled with topping and biting into the branded burger which is cooked well done, you will be happy to know that it doesn't lose its juiciness. All in all, a BurgerFi Cheeseburger is a nicely balanced burger, which my 9 year old niece said was the best burger she ever had.

I think it is really disrespectful to the burger to not have fries to eat it with. The Fresh Cut Fries were tasty but left something to be desired. The addition of one of their fry topping may help with that though.

We also sampled the onion rings which were a lot better. They were huge, freshly cut rings that are generously breaded with a slightly sweet batter, then deep-fried to golden brown crispness.

The Wagyu Kobe Beef Hot Dog was more than just your regular dog. You could noticeably taste the difference in quality of the meat and I'm sure the rest of the dogs are like that too.

The Milkshake was thick but not too thick. It was of good quality and consistency.

Lastly, if you are a member of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Foursquare, you can use your status to get a Free Frozen Custard. It is creamy and delicious and you can add the toppings of your choosing.

Yeah, the food is fresh and taste great but it is important to note that the burgers and hot dogs are pretty small, and the meals are a bit more expensive than one would expect, but overall, we enjoyed the offerings at BurgerFi.



BurgerFi

Eating My Way Through the Cheesecake Factory Menu: Chicken Bellagio, Tiramisu Cheesecake

Chicken Bellagio
Crispy Coated Chicken Breast over Basil Pasta and Parmesan Cream Sauce Topped with Prosciutto and Arugula Salad. 

This is the same chicken that is used in the Louisiana Chicken Pasta. The chicken is pounded so that it is very thin and coated with a light and crispy batter. Despite this process, the chicken is still very moist. The pasta was cooked well but I couldn't exactly distinguish the basil flavor. The Parmesan cream sauce wasn't heavy and gave the dish flavor without overpowering. The arugula salad that tops the dish is fresh and if you feel guilty about eating at Cheesecake Factory, it will help trick your sense into believing what you ate was somewhat healthy. Overall, it was pasta but didn't feel like too heavy of a dish, it's just that the portion is huge and if you actual succeed in eating it all, you will be stuffed.

Tiramisu Cheesecake
Wonderful Cheesecake and Tiramisu Combined into one Amazing Dessert! 

I like Tiramisu and I like cheesecake, but combined I found it to be a strange and I realized that I rather enjoy them separately than together.

Iris Restaurant - French Quarter - New Orleans, LA

The building where Iris Restaurant is located could easily be mistaken for an apartments but the menu posted outside the window makes its presence known. The interior, while painted the same colors as the outside of the building, is a classy upscale but not stuffy atmosphere. Whether you're looking to wine and dine, cozy up on a first date or celebrate a romantic special occasion this restaurant is the place.

Our waitperson was a true professional and my trusted advisor throughout the evening. He interjected his opinion and made suggestions which is something a lot of waiters don't do but that I find welcoming. His suggested cocktail for the evening was either the Prickle or The Count. I ended up choosing The Count and I couldn't be happier with the choice. It wasn't what I would typically order but it was a exemplary choice and a well crafted cocktail.

I was so please with my first cocktail and curious about what our waitperson said was his favorite cocktail that I ordered the Prickle. This is a gin based drink and I don't drink gin. You could obviously taste the gin in the drink but its subtle sweetness and refreshing coolness made me like it.

Iris's menu is small with about 10 main choices but most of the dishes sounded so good I was having trouble choosing just one. I offered up my choice and out of my picks, our waitperson recommend the Duck Confit. The skin was perfectly crispy and the meat was moist beyond belief. Combine that with the corn and the sweetness of the peaches and you have a delectable dish.

My boyfriend ordered his usual steak in the form their Steak Frites. It was very tender and tasty. The foie gras-marrow butter was a brilliant touch and put this dish it over the top. The fries were incredible too, I reckon a Belgium would eat these fries and give them his/her stamp of approval.

We finished off the meal with the Chocolate Soufflé Pistachio Cake. It was rich, chocolaty yumminess but if I am not mistaken, this was not a soufflé (unless it was a fallen one) and more like a flourless cake. I liked it anyways and the nuts added some texture to the dessert.

Iris was flawless, I can't wait to come again!


Iris Restaurant
321 N Peters St New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 299-3944
www.irisneworleans.com

Visit Savannah: The Cotton Exchange Tavern & Restaurant - Savannah, GA

Exploring River Street in the evening, we decided to have dinner at a nearby restaurant, but when we got to the restaurant we selected, it was empty and that turned us off (especially on such a popular street), so we decided to go someplace else and for one reason or another ended up at The Cotton Exchange Tavern & Restaurant.

The Cotton Exchange Tavern & Restaurant reminded me of basically any chain restaurant. Against my better judgement, it was probably better suited for mass alcohol consumption than a real meal but it was packed so it seemed like a good decision at the time. Right off the bat, the service was horrible. We were waiting for a table when we saw one open by the bar and asked if we could be seated there. The guy at the front said yes and then disappeared like he was going to get the stuff to clean the table and never came back. When we finally got someone else to seat us, and endured slow delivery of the drinks and food, we realized we were never given utensils to eat with. Bottom line, service was slow and disorganized. 

The Seafood Scampi was acceptable. It definitely wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and at least I can say the shrimp in the dish was good. 

The Teriyaki Char-Grilled Chicken had a descent tasting sauce but the chicken had no seasoning what so ever, but the good is that it wasn't dry. 

After dinner was better, River Street is a cool spot (literally) to immerse yourself in the tourist experience of Savannah equipped with gift shops, Wet Willies and street vendors.

The Cotton Exchange Tavern & Restaurant
201 E River St Savannah, GA 31401 
(912) 232-7088

Visit Savannah: Forsyth Park Cafe - Savannah, GA

Forsyth Park is a large park that has plenty to see, do and probably one of the highlights of my Savannah vacation. It engulfs the natural beauty and a bit of the history of Savannah. The kids got to play and I got relax out of the beaming sun under the Moss covered Oaks.

When we got hungry, we stopped by Forsyth Park Cafe located inside the park instead of trying to venture out. I wished we would have since the food wasn't anything special. It was basically limited options with a price tag that didn't match the basic taste. 

The kids had donuts which were were frozen, my mom had a parfait that wasn't really too bad, but the chicken tenders tasted like they were freezer burned or came from a box. It wasn't worth it.

Forsyth Park Cafe
700 Drayton St Savannah, GA 31401 
(912) 238-5158

Visit Savannah: The Public Kitchen & Bar - Savannah, GA

After the long drive into Savannah from Fort Lauderdale to spend the Labor Day weekend as a mini family vacation, we were famished and looking to eat. Without stopping at the hotel to check-in, we headed straight to The Public Kitchen & Bar for lunch.

The impression I got of The Public Kitchen & Bar is that it is a cool dining spot with friendly staff and awesome (fake) grass walls that surely entertained my niece and nephew. All that is fine and dandy, but the food is what makes the most lasting impression.

I ordered the Paella. I liked it, I just didn't like that it was so tart but the rice was cooked perfectly and in the end I cleaned my plate.

My sister had the Vegetarian (Black Bean Burger). She said it was one of favorite meals of the trip.

My mom had the Crabby Patty. She complained that it had too much filler and wasn't crabby enough but still tasted good.

We had no plans to order dessert but after peeping the desserts at the table next to us, we ordered the Berry Trifle to share. It was a strong finish to the meal, I wish I had ordered my own!

The Public Kitchen & Bar
1 W Liberty St Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 200-4045
www.thepublickitchen.com