Serendipity 3 - New York City, NY

I don't usually watch chick flicks but there are a few that I really like. One of them is Serendipity, with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. Watching the movie made me curious how that chocolate drink tasted. So on one of my trips to NY I just had to taste it...

I hate to say it but my experience with Serendipity 3 was not the most enjoyable. The service was bad the food as a whole was not great (I think I had a chicken sandwich). The actual establishment was also really cramped. I think it was made for kids and petite women. As for the "Frrrozen Hot Chocolate" it was good...but not exceptional. I might go there again for the chocolate but only that. The wait alone(almost 2 hrs) makes me think twice about the previous statement.

If you are a fan of the movie or want to experience Serendipity 3 with your significant other feel free, you might like it. A TIP: get there early. But there are so many other places I would choose to stop and eat at when in NYC.


My Rating for Serendipity 3
Taste - 2.5 out of 5
Service - 2 out of 5
Establishment Aura - 2

www.serendipity3.com

Junior's Cheesecake - Brooklyn, NY

On a business trip to Brooklyn NY I accidentally stumbled upon one of my favorite places, Junior's Cheesecake. I had the night off and wanted to grab some dinner and with the misconception of Brooklyn being unsafe I thought I would walk till the streets were no longer lit. As I came upon the neon sign I remembered the episode of Making the Band where Diddy made the crew walk to Junior's for cheesecake so I gave it a shot.

I believe I had a few wings and a burger which were nothing to write home about but when I got to the cheesecake I was floored. It was the Apple Crumb cheesecake and it was the best I have ever had! I just remember the creaminess and tang that made it stand out from other cheesecake in the past.

I wasn's sure if it was just me or if others also thought highly of this cheesecake until I saw it featured on Throwdown w/ Bobby Flay and Chowdown Countdown on the Travel Channel. I actually ended up going back to Junior's the next morning for breakfast and try to grab a slice every time I am in the city. I highly recommend trying this stuff out!

My Rating for Junior's Cheesecake
Taste - 5 out of 5
Service - 5 out of 5
Establishment Aura - 4 of 5

www.juniorscheesecake.com

Quaker Steak and Lube - Westerville, OH

If you try anything at Quaker Steak and Lube you have to try the wings. You might have seen QS&L featured on Man vs. Food when he did the Atomic Wing Challenge. Although I have not had the courage to try the Atomic wings the others versions have hit the spot.

I first tried QS&L at a football party in Westerville, OH. I try to eat there every time I visit ever since. Many places serve wings but QS&L wings are the closest you can get to perfection. The wings are crispy, meaty, and full of flavor.

Other aspects about QS&L I like are the atmosphere and the full menu. If you are not feeling poultry you can get a burger and fries or ribs and onion rings. They have variety and I love options. The great food along with the sports filled atmosphere makes it a great place to grab a bite and watch the game.

My Rating for Quaker Steak and Lube
Taste - 4 out of 5
Service - 4 out of 5
Establishment Aura - 5 out of 5

www.thelube.com

Hello Deli - New York City, NY

The popularity of the Hello Deli has a little different path than most of the other places I have gone to eat. Rupert Jee gained popularity from being the neighbor of the Ed Sullivan Theater and the Late Show with David Letterman. As a fan of Letterman I wanted to check it out.

I got a chance to see Rupert when I was in NY for an engagement party. We left the Plaza Hotel that morning to do some sightseeing and happened to end up at the Hello Deli around lunchtime. I was not expecting much but I was actually impressed with my sandwich the "Regis Philban." I also liked that it didn't break the bank like some other Delis in NY.

Rupert was there the day my friends and I stopped by and turned out to be a really cool guy. He was wearing an Oklahoma Sooners shirt which made him even cooler. I would certainly go back and eat at the Hello Deli if I was in NY, hungry, and was at 53rd and Broadway.

My Rating for the Hello Deli
Taste - 4 out of 5
Service - 3 out of 5
Establishment Aura - 1 out of 5

www.hello-deli.com

Graeter's Ice Cream - KY & OH

Ice cream is something every lactose-tolerant people love. Who doesn't love hearing that ice cream truck music coming down the street or going to get ice cream at your local parlor with the family. It is such a great treat when the sun is blazing. So every summer (and every other season) I crave Graeter's Ice Cream.

Graeter's was featured on Food Network's Unwrapped and is worth every second of press. I was first introduced by a friend when I did my internship in Louisville, KY. I have not had any other ice cream that is better. My favorite is Toffee Chip but many of the other flavors are also good. They also make seasonal flavors that are a good way to mix it up if you eat there often.

What separates it from other ice cream joints is that the ice cream itself is good. Graeter's ice cream can stand alone and doesn't need any extra toppings to make it good. The big chunks of chocolate, extra butter fat, and french pot making process is enough. Not many ice creams can compete with Graeter's.

My Rating for Graeter's Ice Cream
Taste - 5 out of 5
Service - 5 out of 5
Establishment Aura - 5 out of 5

www.graeters.com

Giordano's Pizza - Chicago, IL

I remember when I was a kid I did not really like pizza that much. I guess it ended up growing on me as I got older because I love it now. I have eaten many kinds of pizza...from authentic NY style, to typical delivery, to the thick Chicago stuff. Giordano's Chicago style is by far my favorite pizza. Ever!

Featured on Travel Channel's "Pizza Paradise" and "Chowdown Countdown" it does not disappoint. My family in the Chicago area told me I had to try it so they ordered some for me. It was love at first bite! I thought I could not get enough but after that second piece I could not eat any more. How can you go wrong with pizza that filling?

If you have ever had Chicago style pizza, you would know it's the funny looking thick stuff with the sauce on top. Giordano's does it right: thick cheese, plentiful toppings, and a crust that holds everything together. The first Giordano's pizza I ever had was chicken and spinach. Sounds weird but it was fabulous. If you try any of the regular pizza toppings they are amazing as well.

My Rating for Giordano's Pizza
Taste - 5 out of 5
Service - 3 out of 5 (It's slow due to extended cooking times)
Establishment Aura - 4 out of 5

www.giordanos.com

Lambert's Cafe "Home of the Throwed Rolls" - Sikeston, MO, Foley, AL

Lambert's is a pretty big tourist attraction. I have visited the restaurant in Foley, AL and the original in Sikeston, MO. The few times I have gone both had a line out of the door and tour buses lined the parking lot. Lambert's gets a lot of hype as it has been featured on Travel Channel's Chowdown Countdown and ranked one of the best placed to pig out.

They claim to be "The home of the throwed rolls." It's always fun to catch the rolls and I have to say that Lambert's has the BEST rolls I have ever ate! They are so soft and buttery but also have a great texture and crust on the tops and bottom of the Rolls. The rolls alone are worth taking a trip to Lambert's.

As for the main entrees at Lambert's, they are not my personal favorite. The taste of the food is pretty standard and doesn't have the layers of flavors that I like. The unlimited pass arounds are great but I like meat and I judge a restaurants by the meat. So, like I said earlier, just standard. The portions are huge but who cares if the food isn't something I crave. The ham is too salty, the roast beef is o.k., and the salad is plain Jane. The best thing I have had there is the fried chicken but even that wasn't that memorable.

Overall Lambert's is worth a visit for the rolls but not repeatedly for the food. A trick I have learned for the one in Foley, AL is to enter through the souvenir shop into the dining room. You can then catch a roll and be on your way.

Taste - 3 of 5
Service - 5 of 5
Establishment Aura - 5 of 5

www.throwedrolls.com