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 10/27/16

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

HONORABLE MENTION BEST OF 2016 FOR AMBIANCE

Establishment:  World Famous Parrot Lounge
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  (Gametime) Dinner
Drink:  Bucket o Beer
(half Bud Light and half Yuengling Lager)
Appetizer(s):  Mozzarella Sticks; Chicken Quesadilla
sticks:  made here and breaded here; quesadilla:  a blend of jack and cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla
Main:  Philly Cheesesteak (on an Amoroso roll)
choice top round, sliced in house -- add 'shrooms and mayo
Side(s):  homemade kettle chips
Dessert:  soft pretzel AND a blue jello shot for each TD!
Server:  Amber
Website:  http://www.parrotlounge.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/World-Famous-Parrot-Lounge-138197609213/

In 2001, we moved from PA (where we grew up) to Chicago, where we lived for a dozen years.  We quickly discovered that one of the ways to beat the homesickness was to spend Saturday afternoons in the fall glued to the Penn State games -- and it helped that the BigTenNetwork had launched.  That tradition of becoming insta-fans of the team continued with the big move from Chicago to the FTL in early 2014.  Which is all the preamble to say that finding a place by the beach that is known as THE place to see all the games and getting to watch a night game there was extra special.  For it to have been the game where PState beat OState in an upset was extra *extra* special!  See how the establishment scored below:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (outdoor seating ... with multiple TVs in sight ... just a block or two from the beach ... and a bucket of brew ... plus almost everyone -- customers and staff included -- dressed in your team's shirts [it's a Penn State bar!] ... what's not to like? ... well, other than the one old man who came up and introduced himself and asked us to watch his bag that he abandoned under the window while he disappeared for a bit [not cool, Anthony man, not cool -- it's the terrorist era and you dare not do that] ... so just one point lost for having to deal with old beach drunks [note that no one was harmed in this story, as the abandoned bag was reclaimed and did NOT blow up])
FOOD:            8/10 (what with eating while watching the game, this turned into a progressive meal of sorts, with something ordered after each quarter along the way ... and although it's a bar, the "bar food" was elevated -- with special kudos to the cheese stix ["homemade" and not just out of the bag] and the soft pretzel [reminding me of the Hills snack bar of my youth], an honorable mention to the philly steak sandwich [with fresh 'shrooms] ... not as successful were the queadillas [crunchy yes but melty cheese not so much] and the kettle chips [normally a favorite for me but they seemed a bit stale like maybe they were made the day before] -- so a point off for each of those)
SERVICE:      9/10 (there is none so worthy as the server who pulls the shift during the big game that has to deal with every kind of drunk ... and ours smiled the whole time, from kickoff to surprise win ... and her helpers stopped by once or twice to check in [and to deliver more ice to the beer bucket] and her busboy [who looked like he was ON the team a year or two ago] worked in the background without getting in the way ... just a point lost because of the "free" jello shots that were followed up shortly after by someone looking for donations [not that there's anything wrong with raising funds, just that the concept wasn't explained up front])
BACON:         9/10 (it's on the menu in all the right places -- added to the chicken sandwiches, to the burgers and to the salads ... for a perfect score in this category, why not add it to the list of possible additions to the philly cheese steaks and really start something special)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for bringing the Penn State pride, +3 for being so close to the beach, +3 for that bucket o beers money saving concept and +1 for being a place to which we will return, quite possibly for another night game in just a few weeks!)

TroyScore:  45 out of 50 -- aka 90, a low A

Random Taste for Thursday 10/20/16

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

Establishment:  Blue Willy's BBQ
Location:  Oakland Park
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  can of Coke
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  2 Two Plate Combos (shared)
pulled pork and chicken on one and brisket and sausage on the other)
Side(s):  Greens and Slaw PLUS Pit Smoked Beans and Mac N Cheese AND pickles and onions AND Aunt May's Corn Bread
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Keesha (sp?)
Website:  not applicable
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Willys-Bbq-411201845667321/

Who knew BBQ was a Ft. Lauderdale thing?  This is the *third* such spot in this series ... but there would be many more if the "rules" weren't that we have to eat at places where we haven't eaten before to be included.  Another note -- it's well documented that the only way to eat at a place like this is to take extra people so that you can sample (almost) every type of meat and (almost) every side, which explains the two full meals in the photos.  One last note -- this place is known for being in a pastrami war with another bbq place previously reviewed, but it's only offered once a week, and it wasn't on the night we were there.  To see how it fared in the overall bbq scheme of things, see below:

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (this particular location is relatively new, and it still shows ... and I've previously stated that I'm a fan of the limitless paper towels right on your picnic bench concept [see photo below] ... the music playing on the loudspeaker was an Eagles-ish kind of band that fit the environment [sadly there was no shazam to know exactly who it was] ... also it was actually a nice touch to be able to see one of the workers in the back room making the sides as we ate, confirming that they are indeed fresh) 
FOOD:            8/10 (here's the way it often works for these bbq joints ... they have to work extra hard in order to win across the board with meats, sides AND sauces ... here, the sides were the stars, and the meats were worthy companions [with great portion sizes all around] -- with a special shout out to the chicken skin -- but the sauces were a bit 'meh', so a point lost ... and not to beat a bad sauce down, but there was a white one that just didn't quite make sense [a little watery and a little too vinegary]  -- which is a second point lost)
SERVICE:      8/10 (as a counter service place, there's not a lot of interaction, but what there was was direct and to the point ... although there is a point docked because rib tips were the special of the day but they weren't allowed to be chosen as a meat on the combo plate, which made me sad ... and a second point lost because they ran out of the original specialty soda that my meal partner ordered)
BACON:         7/10 (bbq places and bacon don't always go together, although several previous bbq places on this countdown have found ways to score points in this category ... I kind of wished the greens HAD had some bacon in them, but I don't think they did ... all that said, there's a lot of the pig represented on the menu in other ways, so there are some points to be awarded in this oh so important category)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for the design of mistmatched chairs all along the picnic tables instead of benches, +3 for a really delicious corn bread that wasn't too sweet and didn't crumble when you ate it [corn bread pet peeves of mine], +3 for how quickly the food was served, and +1 for being a place to which we will return, because we can't stay away from those bbq establishments!)

TroyScore:  43 out of 50 -- aka 86, a solid 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 10/6/16

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

Establishment:  Funky Buddha Brewery
Location:  Oakland Park (Oktoberfest)
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  should have been a Buddhafest, but they ran out, so it was some craft brewed Blonde instead (not pictured)
Appetizer:  n/a
Main #1:  Grilled Bratwurst
a funky buddha specialty, beer-braised then grilled and served with our brewer's cabbage, doc brown ale mustard, and caramelized onions on a fresh baked poppy seed bun
Main #2:  Chicken Schnitzel
hefweizen marinated chicken cutlets pounded thin and served with doc brown ale mustard and beer pickles
Side(s):  Kartoffelpuffer
shallow pan fried potato pancakes with muy bonita applesauce, sugar and cinnamon
Dessert:  Tap Room Pretzel
our famous pretzel is made with spent grain from floridian hefweizen and the beer itself, served with whole grain doc brown ale mustard and fuhgeddaboudit red ale beer cheese
Server:  Name unknown
Website:  https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FunkyBuddhaBrewery/

This was a doubly unique stop on the tastes of Florida tour.  The rules state that it has to be a place to which we've never been ... and we've been to the Oakland Park Oktoberfest celebration each year since the big move to Florida in 2014 -- however, this year, the food supplier from years past was *replaced* with the Funky Buddha, and that was a place at which we had never eaten (although we did poke our heads in the door to use the bathroom during a pet event they sponsored).  Secondly, it was a festival as opposed to a sit down meal in the establishment.  However, as you'll see below, that had no affect on the score tabulation:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (it was an oompah-oompah party, with emphasis on the oompah and double emphasis on the party, so it was an ambiance that couldn't quite be beat ... just one point lost for the band playing the chicken dance song -- probably to get more people out on the dance floor than were going out for the traditional polkas -- which took me out of the Oktoberfest spirit)
FOOD:            9/10 (it's an outdoor festival ... so normally the expectation would need to be lowered ... but I have to say that there wasn't a single dish that disappointed ... now that I've reviewed the descriptions and realize that almost every dish had a doc brown ale mustard component, maybe it's just that I'm a big fan of that being added to any food, but every single thing was super flavorful ... and the brats were good and juicy, as was the chicken schnitzel ... plus that pretzel, though [as the kids say] ... just a point lost because the potato pancakes could have been a little thicker)
SERVICE:      9/10 (the lady who took the order originally informed us that there would be no pretzels, but after I insisted that we had just the number of tickets to get exactly what we wanted, she double checked and the order was fulfilled after all ... the food, once ordered, came quickly [and hotly] by the well coordinated crew behind the order taker ... the only complaint was that the lines were soooo long, which was a sign that the food was soooo good, but still it was an annoyance)
BACON:         5/10 (so I didn't see any bacon on the menu ... but I'm also not exactly sure that bacon and Oktoberfest are traditionally companions ... as such, I'll split the difference and chalk it up to cultural sensitivity [as I do for the Mexican restaurants in this countdown])
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for being such a difference in quality of food from the restaurant that supplied the meals in years past, +3 for an amazing soft/hard pretzel, +3 for the funnel cake [not pictured and not from this restaurant, but also available at the festival] and +1 for being a place to which we will most definitely return [if not at next year's Oktoberfest {our fourth in a row}, then for sure in the main restaurant some other time])

TroyScore:  42 out of 50 -- aka 84, a solid B (it would have been higher had they found a way to work in some Speck into the dishes ...)

Random Taste for Thursday 9/29/16

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

Establishment:  Tropics Piano Bar and Restaurant
Location:  Wilton Manors
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  Coca-cola
Appetizer:  Stuffed Mushrooms
stuffed with andouille sausage
Main:  Shrimp Bercy
jumbo shrimp dipped in flour and egg then pan sautéed in a white wine parsley lemon butter sauce served over angel hair pasta
Side(s):  Hot Cross Bun
Dessert:  Key Lime Pie
Server:  Giovanni aka "Gio"
Website:  http://www.tropicswm.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tropicspianobar/

According to a sign by the door, this establishment is itself a historical building for the island city of Wilton Manors, and according to a lot of recent press, it's a place that is a work in progress after a recent change in ownership (the third just since we made the big move here).  And the bottom line is that there IS still work to be done ... as to how those negatives affected the score, see below:

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (currently, the immediate vibe that is being throwing off is "hotel bar and restaurant" ... which isn't necessarily good or bad, but just an observation ... the lights are dimmed enough to make a person turn down the brightness on the old cell phone to avoid getting stares, and we were lucky enough to be eating during a piano playing session -- two rooms away so it wasn't overwhelming but was just nice background music ... a point is lost because the booth bankettes are too loose so that it's a luck of the draw as to whether the person behind you is one who moves around a lot and shakes the whole seat and a second point is lost because clearly some degree of updating still needs to be done)
FOOD:            7/10 (in descending order from best to worst -- the refreshing key lime pie [with sliced almonds that we first thought was coconut], then the shrimp bercy in a very light yet flavorful sauce [my first bercy, which is apparently an established french sauce], then the giant stuffed shrooms [which seemed like maybe they were frozen pre-fab and not homemade, so a point lost] and finally the rolls and spreadable whipped butter substitute [which came three in a basket for a table of two ... so we had to fight over who got the extra roll, so another point lost] ... plus, as much I liked my shrimp, they arrived with the tails on ... disguised in the breading and the dimmed light, which resulted in a final point lost)
SERVICE:      8/10 (the actual server did fine ... and the person whom we think was the owner/manager stopped by all the tables to say hello .. but a point lost for a missing host at the stand when we first arrived, and a second point lost because the owner/manager [dressed casually] didn't introduce himself as such, although we're pretty certain that's who he was ... [also see the bonus section below for one additional comment])
BACON:         6/10 (indeed, the menu has it in the usual places [burgers, salads, etc], but I didn't see it used creatively anywhere in any other dishes [I wouldn't have minded some in my bercy sauce, unless that would violate all things French] ... so just a few points off in this essential [to me] category ...)
BONUS:         6.5/10 (+3 for dealing well with a service escalation in that the other party in our group did not like the prime rib special and made it known as such, resulting in a return visit from the owner/manager guy, and +3 for, in the end, agreeing that we'd keep it on the bill because the boys would enjoy it [see photo below] and, for the first time in this series, a half point for being a place to which we *likely* return, if only because we believe in the commitment that the new management has to turning things around)

TroyScore:  35.5 out of 50 -- aka 71, a low C

Random Taste for Thursday 9/22/16

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

Establishment:  Zona Fresca
Location:  Ft Lauderdale
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  Dr. Pepper
Appetizers:  Nachos with Steak (no Beans)
fresh corn chips, melted jack and cheddar cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and steak
Main:  Three Street Taco Platter
one each of Chicken Breast with grilled nopales cactus, avocado, cilantro, onions, and lemony dressing, Roasted Pork with pickled onions and cilantro and Baja Fish authentic Baja-style! fresh beer battered fish with shredded cabbage, pico, and our own tangy dressing
Side(s):  Chips and Guac
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Francisco
Website:  http://zonafresca.com/locations/fort_lauderdale
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/zonafresca

When it comes to quick tacos ... there are places like Taco Bell (the common denominator for the common folk) and sit down restaurants of Mexican or Mex-fusion persuasion ... and then there are the Tijuana Taxis of the world that seem like a frat boy's version of his favorite late night taco joint.  Into the mix comes Zona Fresca, a southern Florida mini-chain (with eyes at expansion ... a common thread in this series for many of these soFlo chains) and it has taken its place at the top of the pyramid because if provides an authentic taste via counter service.  It may not be as experimental as the taco food trucks in the scene, but it solidly scores (see below, remembering that a place without bacon automatically starts at a disadvantage on my scoring scale):

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (bright and fresh and clean, with a separate salsa bar and outdoor seating -- what's not to love! ... plus parking [not a lot ... but enough] and what sounded like authentic mexi-music playing ... just a single point lost because the line of those waiting to order backs up into the eating area)
FOOD:            7/10 (I was pleasantly surprised to see the tacos all came double wrapped ... and I really enjoyed the buttery texture of the not-chunky guac ... as for the individual types of tacos sampled, the fish was the tastiest, followed by the juicy juicy flavorful pork and last was the chicken -- a point comes off for that chicken one being overwhelmed by the cilantro, a second point gets deducted because the homemade chips weren't warm [which would have elevated the nacho appetizer], and a final point is lost because they contract with that *other* soda provider instead of with Coca-Cola)
SERVICE:      9/10 (it's another counter service location, but the gentleman behind the register was friendly and efficient ... and had a way of calling everyone "boss" with it sounding sincere and not cloying ... just a point lost because he touched the tip jar before taking the order ... I'm not even certain that it was deliberate, but more of a subconscious stroke of the container ... I would have tipped either way, but it was the only mildly off-putting part of the exchange)
BACON:         5/10 (this is the fourth Mexican restaurant in this series, and I'll say here what I said for two of the other three:  "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 for having the audacity to make fun of the gringos not once, but *twice* on the menus [implying weaker taco and weaker beer choices], +3 for being popular enough to have lines yet efficient enough to move through them quickly [just during our meal, which was #395, they processed another 30 orders], +3 for the option of outdoor seating set back far enough from the main highway that it would feel like patio eating and +1 for being a place to which we will most definitely return)

TroyScore:  40 out of 50 -- aka 80, barely a 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 9/8/16

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

NOTE:  This establishment qualified for the REDEMPTION ROUND in 2017.   

Look for the updated "taste" here:  

https://50tastesofflorida.blogspot.com/2017/03/random-taste-for-thursday-33017.html

Establishment:  Miller's Ale House
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Lunch on Labor Day
Drink:  Dr. Pepper and two sips of a Pepsi
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  Zinger® Mountain Melt
medium garlic Zingers® piled over crispy fries and smothered with melted Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon and green onions.Side(s):  Ranch Dressing
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Corey
Website:  https://millersalehouse.com/locations/ft-lauderdale/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Millers-Ale-House-181208372285760/

Full disclosure -- this was the FIRST time I set foot inside this particular (mostly) Florida chain of ale houses (as is required to be included in this series), but with 75 locations now all over this state and a few others, it is also very likely that I was once inside one of the Orlando editions of this business (because I'm pretty sure it's down the road from our corporate call center where I met a work colleague for appetizers a few years ago).  I was tempted by the menu to order the OssoBuco (pic below), but then the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of a human heart, so I had to pass.  See here for how the food I DID order led to the score below:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (I like walking in a place and the first impression I get is how I had no idea it would be soooo big and this was one of those places, with a big big bar in the middle and full dining rooms on either side of it ... as a sports bar, it had the requisite team things hanging all around ... and I was especially happy to see booth after booth after booth [I love me a booth] ... and there was a mini-arcade with a pool table and a Golden Tee to help promote the "bar" side of the "bar" restaurant ... a point lost for there being more TVs than customers [although the holiday might have had something to do with that)
FOOD:            6/10 (in the spirit of that full disclosure I mentioned above, this meal was eaten after a night out of bar crawling, so that may have affected my taste buds ... but a point lost for a registered item called a zinger [breaded chicken strips] that, quite simply, didn't have any "zing" ... another point lost for fries that just didn't seem like they were cooked all the way through [especially those underneath the zingers] ... a third point lost for there not being more zingers on the dish ... and a final point lost because you're always going to lose a point with me if you chose to serve Pepsi [boo!] over, Coke [yay!]
SERVICE:      9/10 (we actually met the server at the door, which he held open for us ... and I'm not sure if that was protocol or just coincidence and he was checking the weather right when we walked in ... for someone having to work on the holiday, he was very friendly and very smiley and joked about pulling up a plate to join us so he only gets a point docked because he free-refilled my Dr. Pepper with a Pepsi ... of note, when I pointed out the error, he immediately apologized and fixed it)
BACON:         9/10 (I found seven references on the online menu ... and I appreciate that the place is very versatile with its uses ... on top of fries, added to burgers and sprinkled on salads .. just a point lost because, as you can see from the picture of my main dish, it could have used a bit more of those applewood smoked bacon crumbles)
BONUS:         6/10 (+3 for keeping the pesky kids away from the pool table [only those 21 and over are permitted to play, according to a sign on the wall] and a +3 for having helpful checks that included the total of the bill divided by the number in your party so you didn't have to do any math)

TroyScore:  39 out of 50 -- aka 78, a high C