Random Taste for Thursday 2/8/18

Here we go again for the 3rd year ... a brand new set of tastes for 2018 ...

 here's the FIFTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA 

(coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!

Establishment:  Over Easy Cafe
Location:  Oakland Park (Wilton Manors)
Meal:  Brunch
Drink:  Orange Juice
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  The Waffle Slam
1 Belgian Waffle, 2 Eggs (I chose scrambled), 2 Bacon, 2 Sausage
Side(s):  n/a
Dessert:  n/a
Server:   Michael
Website:  http://www.overeasy.me/home.html
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/The-Over-Easy-Cafe-76681947405/

How many times have I stepped foot inside the local UPS store to ship something somewhere?  Probably a dozen, since making the big move here back in 2014.  How many times did I notice that a few doors down in the same complex was a diner (and you *know* we love diners in this series)?  Zero.   But thanks to a google search on a Sunday when we woke up wanting brunch, 
we were able to find this place that's been around since 1995.  It advertises itself as being family owned and I have a sneaking suspicion that every single employee (from the greeter to the grill guy) might just be related.  Below is how this family fared in the Troy-score:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (sure it's small and cute and basic, with only a handful of booths and just over a dozen stools around a counter ... but that's exactly what you'd expect from a Florida strip mall eating establishment [*everything* down here is in a strip mall] ... they effectively use the old giant mirror trick to make it seem like it's bigger than it is ... and the sea decorations painted right on the wall were just the right amount of kitsch ... the problem comes in that it's so small, that the customers inadvertently get involved in the diner drama [see home-fries-gate below] or in the diner business [we got "trained" along with the new girl because we couldn't escape hearing that back and forth])

FOOD:           8/10 (I am happy to report that this diner had spreadable butter [frequent readers know that I have a pet peeve at breakfast/brunch when the butter pats are all but frozen] and that they trusted me with a whole bottle of syrup instead of a tiny carafe ... and while things didn't look all that amazing, they tasted just fine -- even those simple looking eggs -- although a point is still coming off the top because of the plain plain waffle that arrived [how's about a little dusting of powdered sugar or something? ... the first photo is how it landed on the table, and the second one is after I helped it be a little more camera-ready] ... a second point is also deducted because that plain plain waffle tasted like it might have sat in the iron a touch too long) 

SERVICE:      8/10 (the whole experience ended without issue, but it began a bit awkwardly due to home-fries-gate ... aka that time where we were told that they were out of home fries, and so we asked for alternatives, and then accidentally ordered home fries again, which was greeted with an exasperated sigh, an Anderson-Cooper-talks-to-Kelly-Anne-Conway style eye-roll and more attitude than was deserved for that "offense" -- only to find out later that they apparently were never out of home fries after all ... first impressions really really count -- so it's double the deduction)

BACON:         9/10 (if I only hadn't been in the mood for breakfast that day, then most surely I would have ordered the "inside out bacon" "cheddar burger" [quotes shown as printed in the menu], which was described thusly:  2/3 lb Burger Stuffed with Bacon & Cheddar and Topped with Bacon & Cheddar served on Toasted Challah Roll [caps shown as printed in the menu] ... that item alone shows a proper respect for the pig-candy and is almost worth all the points ... just one point is being deducted because that breakfast bacon could have been a little bigger/thicker/tastier)

BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for the menu option being bacon AND sausage instead of bacon OR sausage, +3 for what my tablemate ordered [picture below] of some southern style sausage gravy served over sausage and biscuits, and +1 for being a place to which we will return 'cause that "inside out bacon" "cheddar burger" is calling my name)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a B

Random Taste for Thursday 5/25/17

And so it continues ... a brand new set of tastes for 2017 ...

 here's the TWENTIETH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA 

(coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!

Establishment:  Aruba Beach Cafe
Location:  Lauderdale By The Sea
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  coke?  water?  beer?  (oops -- I forgot to record)
Appetizer 1:  Lobster Bisque (soup of the day)
Appetizer 2:  Baked Escargot (for the table)
(tomato, garlic and pernod, served with crusty French bread)
Appetizer 3:  Seafood Quesadilla 
(flour tortilla stuffed with fish, shrimp, scallops, jack & cheddar cheese, served with guacamole)
Main:  Grilled Swordfish (special of the day)
Side(s):  House Rice AND a whole loaf of freshly baked Bimini Bread with Honey Aruba Glaze
Dessert:  Key Lime Pie
(Key West lime citrus custard pie with whipped cream. kiwi and raspberry drizzle)
Server:   receipt said Matt B (although I don't think there ever was an introduction)
Website:  http://arubabeachcafe.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/arubabeachcafe/

If you take nothing else away from this post, you should understand the call to action to hie thee hither to this establishment at your earliest convenience to score some of their homemade freshly baked Bimini Bread with Honey Aruba Glaze.  Their social media says they sometimes run out, so hie thee hither early in the day.  You can thank me later.  Also -- a quick disclaimer about this post:  due to a delay with the publication of this blog, this review is being retroactively slotted in May 2017 but posted in June 2018 for a meal that was actually eaten and photographed in July 2017 [hope you can follow that!]).  Also also -- keep on reading to see how this particular local treasure fared on the Troy-score:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (a wall of windows looks right out into the ocean -- which I'm sure is amazing during the day and maybe even special at night ... and a good sized veranda wraps around on the outside and is next to the beach and the main thoroughfare to it -- which I'm sure is good for people watching ... but as explained below, I opted for moving our group to a corner against the wall so that we could focus on the conversation and the people across the table from us, which is how I came to realize that there was a bit of an 80's hotel feel about the decor, which is why there is a point deduction)

FOOD:           8/10 (truth be told, there's a real good chance that I would have been happy making a meal just out of that homemade bread [see bonus below] ... but I was also very pleased having chosen the swordfish special, because I like me a fish that is more steak-y than flaky, as that one was, and the meal felt healthy [as opposed to some of my choices in this series] ... plus the quesadilla was packed full of goodies as you want a quesadilla to be ...  the points lost are because just about everything else felt like it was so so close to being delicious but just a touch off -- the bisque was a touch too sweet, the sides were a touch too forgettable, and even the key lime pie was a touch too tart -- a persistent enough problem that is worth the rare double point deduction for the same issue) 

SERVICE:      8/10 (we put the service to the test immediately ... as in *before* we sat down ... as in I didn't like the first table offered and wanted to pick something in the corner instead so that we weren't immediately on top of other guests as our party had lots of conversation and catching up to do -- and I'm happy to say that they gladly re-seated us quickly ... the points lost are because there wasn't much interaction during the meal and because there was definitely no urgency at the end of the evening when we were pressed to leave since the meter was running out even though we explained that fact to the staff)

BACON:         6/10 (that's one point for every time I saw it on the menu ... and that was in all the usual places [wrapped around a scallop, as a salad topping, defining a burger, as a side meat for brunch] ... but that was all rather expected and nothing all that special, which, for me [and the overall score], was disappointing) 

BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for those special fishy light fixtures [see accompanying photo], +3 for that amazing glazed loaf of bread (I just can't say it enough), +3 for providing live music to amp up the atmosphere and +1 for being a place to which we will return on a night when we can maybe focus on those breathtaking views a little more)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a B

Random Taste for Thursday 11/3/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-THIRD of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Duffy's Sports Grill
Location:  Plantation
Meal:  (Gametime) Dinner
Drink:  2for1 Guinness
Appetizer #1:  New England Clam Chowder
Appetizer #2:  Smoked Fish Dip
Crispy flatbread, fresh vegetables, grilled Naan bread
Appetizer #3:  Loaded Potato Skins
Bacon, scallions, jack & cheddar cheese, sour cream
Appetizer #4:  Sesame Tuna Tostado
Seasoned and seared Ahi Tuna, served cold on a crisp tostone with homemade tzatziki, Sriracha and scallions
Appetizer #5:  Open Faced Meatball Sliders
Our homemade meatballs with a blend of ground Certified Angus Beef® and Heritage Farms Cheshire Pork® simmered in marinara sauce and served on slices of toasted baguette with Parmesan cheese.
Main:  Bacon Mushroom Cheeseburger
1/2 lb burger with onions and pickles
Side(s):  Parmesan Truffle Fries
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Carissa
Website:  https://www.duffysmvp.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DuffysPlantation/

Back to back sports bars -- courtesy of a night Penn State game last week, and a World Series game 7 this week -- and in both cases, it was a delight to be eating in restaurants that placed a healthy emphasis on the food they were serving instead of it being an afterthought to all the alcohol.  And a quick note about the feast on display ... this was a viewing party, so all of the apps (except the soup) were shared amongst four of us, and the main was split between two.  *Together*, we cleaned those plates ... and this is how the establishment fared in the score:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (lots of TVs and outdoor seating was available [we love a place with outdoor seating], with comfortably sized booths [we hate a booth where four people feel crowded] made this place "home" for the night ... plus there were a cast of characters at the bar that were entertaining to observe during the commercials ... just a point lost 'cause it was a bit loud, all things considered [and not just when we were bellowing out Cubs cheers])
FOOD:            8/10 (there was a lot to sample, which is a double edged sword in this rating because that means there were more opportunities to maybe miss something ... but the burger [juicy!] and fries [flavorful!] matched the menu pics and tasted great, the clam chowder had huge chunks of clam and was super creamy, and those meatball sliders were just the right touch ... the smoked fish dip was smoky enough but not anything amazing, although serving it with naan was nice ... the points come off for the tuna tostadas [with an overwhelming splash of Sriracha] and the loaded potato skins that could have used a bit more potato and a bit more things loaded on to them)
SERVICE:      7/10 (our server took it in stride when we explained we had moved in for the night to watch the whole game, and that we were going to order in stages ... and the staff was quick to change the channels on the TVs upon request so that everyone had a good view of the World Series ... but a point lost for a bathroom that was unattended [no paper towels and urinals with standing urine on the floor around them] and another lost for being a sports bar that was closing down before the final game of the World Series had ended -- strictly at midnight, right in the middle of a 10th inning rain delay ... and a final point lost because it was a super long wait for the first of the many dishes to arrive [and that was just fish dip])
BACON:         10/10 (it's on the menu in all the right places -- added to the chicken sandwiches, to the burgers and to the salads ... plus it was part of what made the skins almost loaded)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 because the Cubs won the freaking World Series [later, after we got home], +3 for BOGO beer all night long, and +1 for being a place to which we will return, because I saw some desserts walk past our table that looked amazing)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B

Random Taste for Thursday 10/13/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTIETH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Beth's Burger Bar
Location:  Orlando
Meal:  Late Lunch/Early Dinner
Drink:  fountain Coke
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  Double Bacon Burger
burger with chocolate covered bacon and peanut butter and cheddar cheese
Side(s):  TaterTots
Dessert:  that which I wanted wasn't in stock at this location
Server:  Name not captured
Website:  http://bethsburgerbar.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BethsBurgerBar

To date, this is the farthest location geographically in this series, but it's still in Florida ... so it counts for taste #40.  It's going to serve a dual purpose over on the Facebook, where I have a different Burger Quest concept that's also underway based on a 2013 Zagat's list of the top 25 burgers in the country.  It turns out that my original stop for a burger in Orlando -- the one on that guide -- closed down a year or so ago, and Beth's is standing in as a replacement, as it popped up on various best burger sites on the interwebs when I went looking for a stand-in.  I was almost tempted to try the doubleD challenge (four patties, eight pieces of bacon, five cheeses and all the fixin's), but I was MORE tempted by the special burger of the day as seen on the sign below.  Also below, the score for this particular Florida taste:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (clean, bright, with a large cut out of Beth herself at the counter -- plus an oldies station playing classic hits and there were lots of things to look at, including downtown Orlandians in the seating section out front ... just a point lost over the stacked mugs at the tables, which looked like the way they serve the drinks but were actually merch on sale ... it might have been a coincidence that my server didn't give me a plastic cup until I requested one ... or it might have been some sneaky kind of upsell afoot)
FOOD:            7/10 (let's get one thing right ... this burger was awfully pretty, worthy of the close up shot included below, and the burger itself was hot and tasty ... that said, there's a point lost because the peanut butter "sauce" would have been better as full on peanut butter [don't be scared, Beth], a second point lost because the tater tots were being rationed [similar to another place on this countdown], and a final point is lost because the menu I picked up at the counter got me excited about a ice cream sandwich cookie ... and I was told "we don't carry that here at this location" [get a bigger freezer, Beth])
SERVICE:      8/10 (this was another counter service place, so the interaction was somewhat limited ... but everyone was friendly and fine ... except for the fact that it was apparently shift change when I was eating, and with just a few customers in the place, the employees stood around and talked loudly about their business, including a delivery girl who was disappointed that an order came in right when she was supposed to leave, and another two guys discussing what was talked about at a recent employee meeting ... so apoint lost for each conversation I overheard that I never should have)
BACON:         10/10 (when bacon is the first bonus topping listed, you know that the place respects the bacon ... and when the special of the day is bacon drizzled in chocolate, you know that the place *honors* the bacon)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for Beth's entrepreneurial story and for taking on the five guys directly, +3 for all the merch, and +1 for being a place to which I will *have* to return the next time I'm in town, if only to take on the double D challenge mentioned above)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B

Random Taste for Thursday 9/15/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the THIRTY-SIXTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

HONORABLE MENTION BEST OF 2016 FOR APPETIZER

Establishment:  Primanti Bros.
Location:  Wilton Manors
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  (Bottomless) Coke
Appetizers:  Fried Half Moon Mozarella, Two Spicy Meatballs with Marinara Sauce and Fried Zucchini Planks
Main:  Chicken Parmesan
Primanti style breaded chicken breast baked with tomato sauce and cheese
Side(s):  Salad (with Balsamic Dressing), Butter Bread and Pasta with Sauce
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Eric
Website:  https://www.primantibros.com/locations/wilton-manors/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Primanti-Brothers-Pizza-Grill-of-Wilton-Manors/113491555350976

For two weeks in a row, I'm taking advantage of a loophole of sorts to stay true to this concept.  Primanti Brothers, based in Pittsburgh but apparently being franchised all over the country (a concept that drew complaints from some of my PA based FB friends when I checked in on social media), also has a pizza stand here in the FTL at the beach ... and once, while on vacation (aka drinking), I'm pretty sure that I stopped by for a slice or two of pizza.  But I had never set foot inside one of their bigger restaurant locations until this particular taste, so this feast will be allowed to count for this series.  And to see how that feast scored, see what follows:  

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (it's a pizzeria ... that looks like a pizzeria -- so that's a good thing ... and this spot has a bar area, family tables AND booths so it's got a little bit of everything for everyone ... a few TVs help pull off the sports bar vibe ... and you can watch the food as it's being made [or just watch the guy working the pizza ovens all night long] ... it's a Pittsburgh based company, so the picture of QB Ben R on the wall makes sense, but a point has to be deducted for each of those sexual assault charges of his that are implicitly endorsed by featuring his photo)
FOOD:            7/10 (the more you feast, the more food you try, so the more likely you'll experience some variety in the quality ... starting at the high end of that continuum, there are the meatballs [so tasty and somehow so light and airy], the zucchini planks  [planks I say!] and the homemade bread ... more middling were the deep fried mozarella moons that were good enough, but about which I was expecting a gooey full half-a-cheese-ball instead of what arrived [so a point lost] and the chicken parmesan dinner, which seemed to contain chicken pieces about the same size as the chicken parm hoagie would have had [so another point lost as I expected *more* being a dinner portion ] -- plus a final point lost because the butter pads weren't spreadable [an established pet peeve of mine])
SERVICE:      8/10 (the server was friendly and kept very busy, making a point to stop by the table every time he passed, and the best part of the evening may have been when the other server dropped off some of the food and said, "you guys eat like I do" -- which I think meant that we ordered a LOT of food -- but there is a point lost for the timing of the delivery of all that food [I would have liked to have finished my salad before the apps arrived] and a second one lost due to the policy of charging $.75 for extra dressing [really?  are the customers *really* abusing requests for condiments and putting the business at risk?])
BACON:         8/10 (somehow none of the dishes on which we feasted included bacon, but it was listed on the menu a few times in a few ways [on salads, fries, sandwiches AND as a pizza topping], which means that there are points to be awarded in this category for sure)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for putting those zucchinis in planks [I've had sticks and circles and fries ... but never planks!], +3 for being the type of place where we almost expected to be referred to as 'you'uns', +3 for those meatballs [they *would* go out of business if they ever turned those into an all-you-can-eat special] and +1 for being a place to which we will definitely return [so as to taste the PA style hoagies if nothing else!])

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B

Random Taste for Thursday 8/11/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the THIRTY-FIRST of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Flip Flops Dockside Eatery
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Late lunch (Early dinner?)
Drink:  Guinness (and a water)
Appetizer:  Smoked Fish Dip
served with toasted pita
Main:  Baby Back Ribs
"famous" made in-house fall off the bone pork baby back ribs
Side(s):  Fries and slaw 
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Rich
Website:  http://www.flipflopsdocksideeatery.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/flipflops.docksideeatery/

The more of these eateries I visit as a part of this ongoing series, the more I'm learning that time of day becomes a factor in the experience (which is why I'm glad I included the "meal" in the details from the start).  Today's establishment is known for getting packed for special events ... and also when the Water Taxi unloads, seeing as how it appears that walking through the dining room is the only way to get off the dock ... so visiting it in the middle of a slow afternoon in the off-season might not be exactly representative of all that it has to offer.  But all the same, to see how it hit its marks as "good" -- just not "outstanding" -- see these score details: 

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (with marketing stating that it's a "Key West" vibe ... and with me and mine still not getting any further south than Key Largo ... I'm going have to assume that the open air pavilion style dining room right on the water [the Intercoastal] gets it right ... with a late afternoon DJ spinning pop tunes during the meal and lots of pretty bright colors and decorations [including a chair rail made of actual flip flops], it was a welcoming place ... a point lost because the DJ's tunes seemed to all be a minimum of five years old and a second one lost for the unfortunate smell of strong boat gasoline fumes that wafted over the dining room near the end of the meal)
FOOD:            8/10 (down here, you can judge how a meal will go based on the wow factor of their smoked fish dip ... and I can say that I really really liked the toasted pita ... which is the awkward to say that the dip was good [and smoky ... and with pickled jalapeno], but not outstanding ... but let me say for sure that the ribs indeed fell right off the bone as advertised and I'm happy when a kitchen isn't afraid to put a little salt on their fries [even if senior citizens need to keep an eye out to monitor their intake] ... a point lost for an underwhelming slaw with an odd aftertaste of "old" and a second one lost for having the stout Guinness instead of the draught bottle [really, we fans would pay a little more for that experience])
SERVICE:      9/10 (our server helped portray the laid back vibe ... which worked all the way up until the point at the very end where there was a too long wait for the check to arrive ... and then for that check to be picked up despite me having the card ready to pay, hence a point lost)
BACON:         10/10 (good news -- the menu has an item on it called "bring home the bacon", so this place understands that it's one of the key food groups ... and a review of the totality of the menu shows that bacon makes multiple appearances ... even though my meal didn't have any on it [maybe that's what the fish dip needed for some extra oomph?], this place gets all ten bacon points)
BONUS:         6/10 (+3 for the special that day [full rack of ribs for the price of half a rack] and +3 for the cute, albeit *giant*, well behaved st. bernard type dog that was allowed to be seated at the table behind us)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B

Random Taste for Thursday 7/14/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the TWENTY-SEVENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Char Hut
Location:  Oakland Park
Meal:  Dinner
Drink: Cherry (Coke+Sprite)
equal parts Cherries Coke and Sprite from a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine
Appetizer:  Truffle Mac & Fries
our signature white cheddar special, drizzled with white tru ffle oil.
Main:  Big-Bite Burger
1/2 pound steak burger prepared from a special chef’s blend with select cuts of brisket on a Kaiser roll -- with toppings of bacon, cheese, mushrooms, mayo, bbq and lettuce
Side(s):  Rosemary Fries
crispy, golden Char-Fries drizzled in olive oil with rosemary
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Counter service but Mo took the order
Website:  http://www.charhutinc.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CharHutOaklandPark/

It's true.  I do love a burger (which you could have figured out by now what with how many photos of burgers already appear in this series).  As such, when looking for another burger option in the area, this local chain that started in Miami way back in 1976 that is looking to ramp up its franchising became the next choice.  It is counter service -- and fast casual -- and it reminded me at times of Subway (with its "you tell me what toppings you want" section) and Noodles and Company (with its mac and cheese side) and even my favorite Eat-a-Pita place back in Chicago (where I regularly had pita stuffed burgers).  Their motto is "one bite says it all" ... so I'll echo them and say that "one score says it all":

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (it was a quiet night ... which was probably good since the made-to-order concept would likely create a bit of a bottleneck on the ordering line were it busy ... but the dining room was welcoming and the supplies and add-ons [like straws, lids, condiments, etc] were well stocked ... and although it was too hot to eat outside that evening, there was a patio area shared with a smoothee shop and a dunkin donuts as an option -- speaking of which, one point is lost for the workers tearing down the outside a full hour before they closed as we were wrapping up our meal inside and another point lost for some dirt on the floor, as sweeping it might have been a better use of their time)
FOOD:            7/10 (kudos for having so many options as burger toppings and for being made to order to your temperature request right in front of you AND for offering the burger on a pita as a choice ... but a point lost for too much powder on the outside of that pita and another one lost for the excess rosemary sprigs on the fries [including one that got stuck in my teeth] and a final point lost for those flavored fries because they were missing basic salt)
SERVICE:      7/10 (as much as I appreciated Mo, who knew her menu in and out and was friendly as friendly as could be, there are two points lost for two different colleagues interrupting her twice during the order taking and a final point lost for breaking down the shake machine an hour before they closed, robbing us of our raspberry shake dessert)
BACON:         10/10 (when the menu says add bacon to anything for 80 cents ... that's an invitation to add bacon to ANYTHING for a very reasonable price ... my only regret -- and this is my fault -- I should have done it to the fries and the mac and cheese)
BONUS:         9/10 (+3 for Mo caring about her job as much as she did [I really can't say enough about her and her pleasant attitude], +3 for the pita option and +3 for the Coke freestyle machine [really, everyone should have one of these contraptions by now])

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B

Random Taste for Thursday 4/7/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the THIRTEENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  BurgerFi
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Late Dinner
Drink:  Twiced Cherry Coke/Sprite Mix (I love me some make your own mix machines)
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  the limited time only Brisky Business
Double short rib + brisket blend, topped with homemade tomato jam, candied smoke bacon and sharp white cheddar
Side(s):  Cry and Fry, done Urban Style
onion ring and hand cut fry combo -- parmesan and herb fries topped with garlic aioli
Dessert:  Swirl Custard Sample
Server:  Larry (or maybe Tom) -- it said Larry on my receipt but I heard him introduce himself to a customer as Tom
Website:  https://burgerfi.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BurgerFi/

It's a southern Florida chain ... but there may be a spot or two in your state now that they are franchising and growing ... and we first "met" them at the local bacon fest, although they are a place we see all the time heading over to the beach.  In their words ... they are "From the farm, not the lab.  We were started in a gourmet kitchen. By gourmet chefs. They didn’t know fast food, so we’re less burger joint, more five-star restaurant. Meaning, there are no shortcuts. Or microwaves, freezers, or heat lamps for that matter.  We cut. We chop. We mix, instead.  We #trysomebetter."  It's also officially the second burger joint since starting this series.  Here's why it falls just a few points below the other one (which was the first taste back in January):

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (the place was emptier what with me eating later, which means that there were plenty of seats ... both inside and outside on a patio, and that's important for a place that proudly gives you an old school beeper for your order and messages to you that your wait is because everything is handmade ... during the whole time, you're serenaded with the latest pop 40 hits ... and, if you breathe in deeply, in addition to the fresh food smells, you can smell the ocean just a few blocks away) 
FOOD:            7/10 (the establishment prides itself on fresh quality ingredients ... and that definitely comes through in the tastes ... plus they have just the right amount of limited menu items with intriguing topping choices [on the mains AND the sides] ... but, for the first time ever in this series, I'm deducting three points for the exact same problem -- the size of the burger, which was almost half the size of the sides ... quite bluntly, I just expected it to be bigger)
SERVICE:      10/10 (it's a counter style establishment, so the service is mostly in the ordering, but that went just fine ... and every employee that made eye contact as they went past made a point to say hello ... plus the guy who gave the free custard quickly acquiesced to giving me a swirl when he first offered only chocolate OR vanilla)
BACON:         8/10 (it was smoked ... AND candied ... but one point lost because I thought that I might have been missing the bacon while eating the burger and then noticed the description implied that it was tiny pieces instead of big strips ... and a second point lost because of how sad I was thinking that I might have missed the bacon)
BONUS:         6/10 (+3 for having the mix your own Coke machines and +3 for the scratch-off Wednesday promo and the free custard sample that I won)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B

Random Taste for Thursday 3/17/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the TENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Jalisco Restaurant
Location:  Ft Lauderdale
Meal:  Late Dinner (we actually closed the place at 10pm)
Drink:  Coca-Cola
Appetizer:  Chicken Soup
Delightful delicious homemade soup loaded with chunks of tender chicken floating in a savory, simmering broth with rice.  Some say it is magical!
Main:  Sizzling Fajitas (Steak and Chicken combo)
Marinated chunk skirt or chicken breast are grilled with fresh bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, green peppers and spices, then presented sizzling at your table with sour cream, Mexican relish, cheese, and hot tortillas to be combined and eaten like a taco
Side(s):  Guac to go with the warm chips and salsa (one each of hot and not) and the above fajita accessories
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Linda 
Website:  not applicable
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jalisco-Retaurante/100860013292824

There's a lot to be said about an unassuming place that simply puts out good food ... and that's exactly how it felt when my sister and her eldest son joined me for a late dinner after his swim meet this past weekend at this restaurant.  Full disclosure -- I'm not the biggest fan of Mexican food ... mostly because I get in my own head about the textures and don't like how everything blends together on one plate.  However, that didn't matter here because of the great variety of choices ... which allowed me to get a dish that didn't have a pool of beans (not that there's anything wrong with them).  I almost got a dish called the "crazy Mexican", but didn't feel comfortable saying that out loud ... just like I almost got an authentic pineapple soda, but chose coca cola in the end.  And, in a worst case scenario, I *could* have ordered the Hamburgeusa, which was in the "gringo" section of the menu!  But I didn't ... and my evaluation is below:

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (it's much bigger than it looks from the outside, with a cute cantina bar and walls filled with the stereotypical things one would expect like sombreros and panchos and the like ... plus the staff all reinforce the concept in that they likely may not know a lot of English ... a point is being deducted though because there were workers in the foyer while we were eating [you can see them in the photo below] taking advantage of close-to-closing time to work on some kind of project and another one lost because the TVs weren't working at the time)
FOOD:            8/10 (there was plenty of it -- one of those plates where halfway through the meal you felt like you hadn't yet made a dent in what you had eaten and every bit of it was tasty ... that said, a point is lost for the excess cilantro in the chicken noodle soup [that was otherwise "delightful and delicious" just as the menu description promised] and another point lost because no one gave a warning about how spicy the "Mexican relish" was that was in the mix as a taco-add)
SERVICE:      10/10 (hot food [sizzling hot!] that was delivered quickly from a menu that was designed for the nonSpanish speaker ... and although our meal bumped into their closing time, there wasn't a single bit of pressure to "eat and get out")
BACON:         5/10 (it's a tricky category, as traditional authentic Mexican food is more about the fresh ingredients ... and although the menu includes many references to pork and carnitas and such, the reality is that I didn't see a single reference to bacon on the menu ... out of sensitivity to the culture and because of the high scores in all the other categories, I'll put a few points on the board) 
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 because I scared the server by asking her her name at the end of the meal [I did NOT ask her her immigration status], +3 for having a menu description that included permission to "lick the plate" on an item, +3 because it's so close to where I live and +1 because it is a place to which we will definitely return]

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B (B as in bacon, which would have raised the score on my scale)