Food Friday

Food Friday #20: Pano's

2007-10-03T11:34:00.001-04:00

Hailee:
I've never been to a Greek restaurant before, so I have no idea what to expect, and so I decided to order one of the house specials. I had Red Snapper with Sweet Potatoes. It came with greek salad (their house dressing is yummy! Balsamic Vinegar + lots of herbs) and baked sweet potatoes. The red snapper was exceptionally fresh and the pumpkin butter sauce on it was very appetizing, though I couldn't tell that pumpkin was used.

Kenny had the Beef Souvlaki Dinner (Pita + Beef skewer + Greek salad topped with lots of feta cheese + mashed potatoes). I would recommend this dish to those who love their greens, and at the same time, want some meat.

Kevin's Sea Scallop Linguine Pasta was the star of the night. The Linguine was not too creamy, not too sweet, everything was perfect. However, I found the scallop rather disappointing. If you ate it with your eyes closed, you probably wouldn't know it's scallop at all!

I'm craving for more!

Food Friday #19: Pizza Plant

2007-09-18T07:52:00.000-04:00

By Kenny:

This week's Food Friday takes to this pizzeria-cum-bar called the Pizza Plant. The first thing that strikes you about the place is the strong smell of cheese and freshly baked pizzas and when you enter the place, you are immediately amazed the quirky yet somehow apt decor.

However, we are not here to examine decor, we are here for pizzas! So how are they?

Before I tell you about their pizzas, I'll start off first with the appetizers we ordered, baked chicken, which is somewhat similar to Buffalo Wings. It is very saucy, so you should take care when eating them, and very sweet. It is also extremely tender and overall a very good way to start your meal at the Pizza Plant.

The pizzas arrived shortly after the baked chicken and we ordered the classic Hawaiian and an all meat pizza called Animal House 5. The Hawaiian is not unlike the Hawaiians found in other pizzerias but it has a unique twist - the cheese, which Kevin describes as being milky. Animal House 5 on the hand was pure unadulterated meatiness. It has large chunks of meatballs and ham and what not and if you are meat-lover like I am, you've got to do yourself a favor and try it!

That's all for this time, stay tuned for next week's Food Friday!

Food Friday #18: Uno Chicago Grill

2007-09-01T23:16:00.000-04:00

Hailee:
Uno Chicago Grill has this deep-dish pizza, where the height of each ingredient-loaded slice is estimated to be at least 1-inch. Being a pizza fan, I had to try it. Before that, we had calamari as an appetizer. They were mixed with bits of hot peppers and tomatoes which balance out the greasiness since it is a deep fried dish. Otherwise, nothing much about the dish.

For pizza, we had Numero Uno since it has almost everything in it- Sausage, pepperoni, onions, red and green peppers, mushrooms, chunky tomato sauce, mozzarella and grated Romano. The unique part about deep-dish pizza lies in its flaky crust, but I was more interested in the pizza pan. There is a grille to level up the pizza so that oil can drip and we can enjoy it with less calories! Back to the pizza, which I think is great value for money. It serves 2-3 (asian appetite) at the cost of USD18++. I'll definitely be back for more.

Kenny:
It's Food Friday again and this time, we decided to visit a pizzeria called Uno's Chicago Grill which is only minutes away from our place. The reason we chose Uno is because of the special pizza they serve.

Uno serves this very special pizza called the deep-dish pizza, which is a thicker variation of traditional pizzas. This deep-dish pizza has a very flaky crust which reminds me of Delifrance pastries. We decided to have Uno's flagship pizza, the Numero Uno, and it was topped with so much ingredients that I can't remember what was on it. The pizza was fantastic and as my girlfriend has pointed out, very good value for money considering it's only USD 20 and it feeds three quite comfortably.

Uno's is a place no pizza lover should miss.

Food Friday #17: Chester's New Orleans Bar (Revisted)

2007-08-26T21:30:00.001-04:00

Hailee:
When it comes to eating out, I personally prefer to order meat as a main course because I can hardly make decent meat dishes. So at Chester’s, I had to have the Chicken Marsala, with Coleslaw and Seafood Jambalaya (2 sides of my choice). Surprisingly, the side dish, Seafood Jambalaya surpasses the main dish - Chicken Marsala. The thick piece of chicken breast meat tasted really bland if I don’t slap on the mushroom gravy. I guess the chicken was boiled then pan-fried, with little marinating done to it. On the other hand, Seafood Jambalaya, a spicy rice dish was flavorful. Every grain of rice was filled with spice and sweetness. Every bite caused a mild explosion in my mind. I never knew rice can taste so good!

Dinning at Chester’s was a happy experience, the staffs were attentive and most importantly, they were flexible at adjusting to patrons’ needs.

Chicken Marsala

Kenny:
Eating at Chester’s was the first time I sampled New Orleans fare and it is really something unique. For Singaporean readers who are wondering what New Orleans cuisine is like, I would say that it is comparable to Indian cuisine because it is spicy and rich with flavor.

I had the New Orleans Chicken which was a baked rice dish with chicken, melted cheese and a special sauce. The sauce was rich in spices, which made the rice very tasty and the chicken was tender and savory.

However, this richness of flavors is a double-edged sword. One on hand, the food is delicious and tantalizing to the taste buds but at the same time, it is also very easy to get overwhelmed by the taste. This is not necessary a big thing, but definitely something to consider.

My advice would be to come with friends and share the food. This way you not only get more variety, but also ensure that the richness of the food doesn’t overwhelm you.

New Orlean's Chicken

Food Friday #16: Steve's Clams

2006-06-20T01:22:00.000-04:00

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Clams and Oysters, Raw and Casino, Bigger Better Faster More... Steve's Clams ROCK!

Food Friday #15: Shango

2006-05-29T15:54:00.000-04:00

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The minute I walked into Shango, I felt like I was back in Holland Village in Singapore. We believe the owners actually converted the garage into part of a dining area. It's very charming and inviting.

They have a vast array of dishes on the menu from po-boys to meat/seafood entrees however, some of them did seem a bit pricey. Personally, I opted for the Creole Bouillabaisse ($19), which was tasty. Loaded with scallops, clam, crawfish, shrimps, in a richly spiced tomato stew. However, it could have been more satisfying accompanied with spiced rice, just like what I had at Chesters (Refer to Food Friday #11).

Rating: 4/5

Shango New Orleans Bistro and Wine Bar.
3260 Main St. (near UB South Campus and the Gloria J. Parks Community Cener), Buffalo. 837-2326.

Food Friday #14: The Left Bank

2006-05-22T12:42:00.000-04:00

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Left bank was initially where we wanted to go last week. Unfortunately, the reservation was full until 10pm!! Wow, first signs that it's really popular. The secretary in my office warned me to make my reservations early as it is just a small restaurant and reservations fill up quickly. Finally on the following Monday, I managed to get a reservation for 3 at 5.45pm for friday.

It's quite a drive to the restaurant but it's all worth it. Upon seated, soft crusty bread were served with their scrumptious homemade sundried tomatoes and olive oil dip (free). That's so good and thinking of it still makes me drool. I had an excellent seafood pasta ($19), with generous portions of shrimp, lobster, crab, and garnished with breaded artichokes. The delicious artichokes were crispy on the outside and succulent inside which really adds a nice touch to the whole dish. Another foodfriday success with great service and food. Rating: 5/5

The Left Bank
511 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213, 716-882-3509
http://www.leftbankrestaurant.com/

Food Friday #13: La Tee Da

2006-05-12T20:37:00.000-04:00

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Penny: Outstanding! La Tee Da has the best presentation I have seen so far. The cod filet ($17) I had was cooked to perfection and served on a bed of garlic-mashed potatoes! The other accompaniments include garlic rice, asparagus, cranberry chutney, butternut squash flan, and lightly fried cauliflower breaded with parmesan cheese. Impressive, isn't it? This was one of those rare dinners that tasted as good as it looked. Their home-made desserts look devine but I was too stuffed to try them. I'll definitely go back for more. Rating: 5/5

Located at 206 Allen St. (in Allentown), Buffalo.

KL: I love the deco, but the restaurant was a little too warm. There were candles and spot lights everywhere. The food was very well presented. I love the presentation. The garnish was layed out so nicely that it was almost a sin to touch it. Penny's codfish was so tasty and it tasted like scallop (LOL)... My grilled fish also tasted nice with lemon and rice. What's the rice cooked with? I don't know, but it was really good!

Food Friday #12: O Restaurant

2006-05-12T20:33:00.000-04:00

We had a nice time at O but unfortunately we lost all our photos. :( Rating: 4.5/5

O Restaurant and Lounge
Northtown Plaza (on Sheridan Dr., between Payless and Dunn Tire), Amherst.
332-4656.

Food Friday #11: Chester's New Orleans Bar

2006-04-23T15:17:00.000-04:00

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Mr Big says: Chester's was a bar and grill place which specialize in Cajun fares. The dinning area was about the same size as the bar area (i.e., small). We waited for about 45mins before we were sitted, but it was worth the wait. I had the New Olrean Chicken and Rice and a French Onion soup (why not right, since the French Quarter was there). The Chicken and rice was very favorfully... spicy to say the least. The favor was IN the rice, not ON it. It had french rolls, so I could dip them in the gravy which was delightful. I love Cajun food, so I will definitely try out the other dishes. Wish they had more space and cooks (4.8/5)

Penny says: Chester's Grill & Bar is a hole in the wall but the food is excellent and utterly satisfying. We shared a fried clam strips which was just chewy and well done. Personally, I just have to order myself a Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo because it's a New Orleans must-have. For entreé, I had Cajun Shrimp & Rice and the shrimps tasted so fresh and succulent. I hope we'll be able to find more places like this one to make our Food Friday a even more memorable one everytime. (5/5)

FoodFriday #10: Shanghai Red

2006-04-16T12:03:00.000-04:00

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A very elegant and high-scale restaurant on the waterfront. What a great view and perfect ambience. Although there's nothing shanghai about Shanghai Red but you'll find a nice variety of seafood, steaks, chicken and pasta entrees. Most of the entrees range between $15-$25. I must say I am not a big fan of the food but for the experience, this is definitely a must-see when you are in Buffalo. Rating: 4/5

Kelvin: I like the concept of the place... nice view of...er... the waterfront... birdsin the diving for fish... The entrance of the restaurant was pretty cool too. like a small garden...
But I think the food was so-so., nothing fantastic. I actually find it a little bland. But the good news is, we found out that there was a decommissioned ship near the restaurant.

So anyway, I went for the Bx3 concert on the following day and it was great. Bx3 is the bass version of G3 with Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, and Jeff Berlin. Managed to take a picture with all 3 of them at the end but the person who took the pic messed it up. I was looking at another direction and 2/3 Jeff's head was gone. That is why I don't like to let others handle the camera!

Food Friday #9: Tsunami

2006-04-03T15:08:00.000-04:00

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Tsunami located at 1141 Kenmore Avenue Kenmore is our nineth food friday outing. How was it? Let the photos speak for itself. Rating: 4.5/5
1141 Kenmore Avenue Kenmore, New York 14217. Tel: 447-7915

Food Friday #8: Fat Bob's Smokehouse

2006-03-26T02:20:00.000-05:00

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This week's my turn to decide the venue for food friday. I did research for almost four days and no, I'm not kidding you. Finally deciding on suposedly best barbeque in Buffalo — Fat Bob's! Located at 41 Virginia Place, Buffalo, NY 14202, Fat Bob's right next to Mother's (see food friday #4). The ambience casual, relaxed, with picnic-style tablecloths and a wall-sized aquarium separating the dining room from the bar. I ordered their famous St. Louis Pork Ribs, half rack with two sides (onions rings and hush puppies $12.25). FINGER-LICKIN-GOOD! It's done just right and the meat comes right off the bone. The sides are absolutely perfect too, and the portion's generous. Definitely recomend FATBOB's to anyone who has cravings for good BBQ. Rating: 5/5

Food Friday #7: Rays

2006-03-18T17:26:00.000-05:00

Penny says:
It's Friday again and also happened to be St. Patrick Day. Coincidentally, Big found this restaurant Ray's which offers St Patrick's Day buffet from 4:00 to 8:00pm. Whoa, everything just fell in place and soon we were there checking out the buffet. We had to wait for about 10mins to be seated. The buffet's priced at $9.95 but the spread is stunning! Everything is well prepared: Fried chicken; Polish sausage; breaded haddock; breaded shrimp; pierogis (cheese, and very tender that evening); sweet and sour cabbage; mashed potatoes; French fries; pasta; macaroni and potato salads; vegetables; rolls; czarnina, cream of brocolli soups; salad bar; pistacchio cake and southern banana pudding. Rating: 4/5

Kevin says:
Located in along a busy street of a quiet town, Ray's is actually a catering and special events organizer which holds dinner buffets only on Fridays. Part of the fun involved going back in time in a nostalgic setting of a smokey bar lounge, wooden dancing floors, cheesy chandeliers overlooking a single buffet fixture. Of the limited range of southern style food they served, each item did impress me with the quality you'd expect if you were to order the same ala carte style. The fish fry was exceptional, while the rest of the spread were equally traditional and delicious. Incidentally the waitress underpriced our meal by accident (-$10!), but Penny set a good example for us Asians by alerting her to it. If anything, I thought in such parts of America, where we were the only asians in the whole place, it's extra important to make a good case for ourselves. Overall, it was a homely authentic experience, but nothing incredible. Rating: 3/5.

Food Friday #6: Kabab & Curry

2006-03-12T20:33:00.000-05:00

Penny says: Kabab & Curry on Transit Road was where we went last Friday. The service's excellent however if you compare authenticity, taste, and experience, I feel that Tandoori's still way more impressive. Of course in terms of price, Kabab's definitely more economical. For example, all their entrees are served with rice unlike at Tandoori's, you gota place a side order of rice. On the average, each of us spent $16 with tips. Rating: 3.5/5

Kelvin says:
I think the food is authentically good. There is live music entertainment (instrumental) every Friday from 6-9pm. But somehow, there wasn't any magic dust in the air. Rating: 3.5/5

Kevin says:
As my friend Anish attested, the spread we had was authentic and good tasting. The experience we had though left more to be desired since it felt that the food spoke for itself, while the restaurant did little to add to the overall dining experience. Waitresses didn't make the effort to recommend anything, not even good desserts and we left the place sooner than any other Food Friday eateries we've traversed. I felt more could have been done. This place is great for a quick meal, but not so for dinner I feel. Tandoori was completely different, and wins my honor of best Indian Restaurant in Buffalo. Let me know if you think otherwise. Rating: 3/5

Food Friday #5: Eagle Restaurant

2006-03-05T00:32:00.000-05:00

Penny's opinion:
Desserts Galore! If you have a sweet tooth, I suggest to skip the entrees and explore the desserts! They have a mean cream brulee and traditional, good old-fashioned cakes. Don’t get me wrong, their entreés are fantastic—Kevin and I had the famous Fish Fry and Big dived into their gigantic succulent Divers scallops. Still, their desserts are simply irresistible. I wish I had the capacity to try everything. In the end, the three of us had to share a creme brulee because we were too full. Rating: 4/5

Kelvin's opinion:
Very nice deco, very old. The scallops were as big as my handphone. Rating: 4/5

Kevin's opinion:
Overall great experience. From start to finish, service was excellent. Although the Fish Fry was suppose to be their highlight (cheap too!), it failed me as a fish fry eater... it was got soggy too fast, though it's sheer size made up for it in terms of value. Interestingly, this was the only place I've seen where they brought out all their desserts on a tray to ask if you'd be interested. This certainly got our attention and we promptly orderd one. Rating: 4/5

Food Friday #4: Mother’s Restaurant

2006-02-26T18:51:00.000-05:00

Penny's opinion
When I first heard about Mother’s restaurant, it came to me as an Asian restaurant. Don’t ask me why. Okay, I was wrong, it’s actually an American and Asian fusion restaurant. Located on a quaint street in the city, we walked in and were pleasantly surprised of the ambiance. Though it’s a tad noisy because at the adjacent, crowded bar but everything else’s perfect. The food’s very well prepared and luscious. On top of these 3 entrees, we also shared two mussels and oysters appetizers. There’s a lot of food and the average price for each of us is about $25. Rating: 4/5

Kelvin's opinion
Firstly, let me turn on my slanglator: "The food is totally delish!"- Slanglator turned off.
We should have gotten a reservation. The dining area wasn't full, but they were booked the entire night. Luckily, we managed to get a table on condition that we have to finish by 7:30pm.

The menu was simple. 2 pieces of Letter-size paper, one like a resume paper, the other a normal photocopier paper. We heard so much about the mussels so we had to try them. The mussels were in a mild red curry with is good for dipping the bread in. Speaking of bread, the starter bread wa kind of hard, and the butter was cold and hard too. But the presentation made up for it.

Other than the mussels, we order raw osyters which were present good. Very fresh. My main entree is the NY Strip Steak. Came with mash potato and green "pod-like" vegetable. First the steak. It was huge. This was the first time I had to have a to-go box for FF. the meat was juicy and flavorful. The mash potato was great too... So much favor in the potato you could eat it alone. And the green "pod-like" vegetable... I was never a fan, until now. They were so soft and tasted really good. In all, I think the preparation of the food really made the difference.

Kevin's opinion
Looking innocuously quiet from the outside, you'd think that you arrived a little too early to this hidden little joint. A step later though the heavy door and you'd swear you were in the middle of New York City. Smooth jazz plays over the overcrowded bar area as we snaked our way through the crowd for a dive towards the dining host. This tall assuming man first gave me the impression that we were never going to get tables without a reservation (yes people book in advance for this), but we were much relieved when we discovered how a no-show reservation gave us the opportunity to sample Mother's fusion delights.

As Kelvin mentioned, we went all out for Bluepoint oysters and mussles in red curry. Both were an absolute delight. Honestly speaking, the oysters bettered the mussles because the latter just seemed to provide little innovation to the palate. Fresh oysters are a natural winner... mmm, I can't remember the last time since I had such smooth oysters go down my throat. My main entree consisted of the Grilled Swordfish, with a hint of Orange Garlic reduction sauce with wasabi to kick it up a notch. The fish was unlike any fish I've tasted... it seemed fresh since it was so juicy with the firm bounce for that satisfying bite. The flavors went well together, though it did still feel a little thin in flavor for my liking. The risk of eating fusion food is that you're in for unexpected tastes, and that's what I got. Good fusion I believe needs little conviction to like. Gladly, Mothers is quite close to that. :)

Food Friday #3: Tandoori's

2006-02-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

Tandoori's
7740 Transit Rd, Buffalo, NY 14221 (See Map)
Phone: (716) 632-1112
Web: tandooris.com

Open lunch buffet M-F 11:00am to 2:30pm
Sunday dosa brunch 11:00am to 2:30pm
7 Nights for dinner starting 5:00pm
Our Average Cost: US$15/person

Kevin opinion:
After a fun-filled drive, we finally arrived at our exotic destination of the day: Tandoori's. We've been staring at this place for the longest time ever since we often found ourselves camping across the street at Atlanta Bakery Cafe (decent food/beverages, free WiFi!). From the outside all might seem quiet, but once you're in the restaurant, your senses tingle with the smell of saffron rice and the bright colors of traditional indian fabric adorning the space around you.

Once seated by our friendly server, the mood was set as he lit our table candlelight. In a flurry, we were served traditional indian crackers and three fried vegetarian pattes (one for each of us). These "meat balls" as I called them were quite tastefully deceptive... While the server told us they were made of vegetables, they tasted like the juiciest meat to the rest of us! These complimentary appetizers came immediately with two difference sauces, one sweet and the other spicy, perfect for those starving and can't wait for their entrees.

The Boti Peshawari I ordered made an entry as it sizzled on the hotplate (watch the video for that unmistakable sound). As I mentioned, although the meat was intentionally dry, you could taste a lemon flavor to the tender chunks of lamb. The juicy sauted vegetable added crunch to the soft meat, making this a well balanced, mildly spicy dish. The fragrant Saffron Rice I added went perfectly with this hearty meal, making this a highly recommended combination. Simply delightful! (Kevin gives 9.5/10)

Kelvin's opinion:
I didn't really expect much from this place. I thought: Just another Indian restaurant around the Buffalo area... I stand corrected! From the moment we stepped in, I knew this was a restaurant that valued its customers and would go the extra mile to make their meal a gastro experience. The backdrop of the restaurant was sprinkled with soft dim lighting but ornamented with bright multicolored fabic that is synomous with the Indian culture.

The Kadai Gosht was amazing spicy (I ordered it "HOT"). The lamb was just tasted right with the amount of spicyness from the curry. I'm not a spicy eater but I will eat spicy food if they are worth it, and trust me, this is worth it! You can also have it prepared mild or medium spicyness too. I got the wheat bread with mashed potato inside it. It tasted pretty good too with the lamb. As Kevin said, "This is like a trip back to Singapore without the expensive plane ticket." I agree, the standard of this restaurant is comparable to authenic Indian food in Singapore. The waiters were also very professional and helpful.... giving us useful descriptions of the dishes and what would be closest to the kind of dish we wanted. What I would like them to have to make my experience even more enjoyable? More Indian music... and a little more lighting. (Kelvin gives 9.5/10)

Penny's opinion:
Yummy! (Penny gives 10/10!)

Go with a friend and use this coupon which gives you 50% off a second main entree. If you're still not convinced, here are what others say about Tandoori's.

Food Friday #2: Siena Restaurant at Main Street

2006-02-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

For our second stop in Food Friday series, we went to Siena which is a fine dining restaurant located in the heart of Snyder. Bet this is one of the best fine dining I've been to as I certainly enjoyed myself aplently. I had a scrumptious fussili pasta with generous cuts of spicy Italian sausage and shrimp in a spicy tomato cream sauce for $18.95. Two words: Love it. Kevin picked Filet of sirloin, char-grilled with a Barolo wine reduction and crimini mushrooms for $22.95. Big finally decided on the Chicken Piccata for $18(?). We'll definitely head back, that's for sure. Visit their web site for more information.

The setting was pretty posh... a little to grand for my scruffy dressing. But still I think it was a good time. The lighting was a little too much (too dark rather) for me. There were BRIGHT YELLOW column lights that were too distracting to be called cosy. Still the food was good. Chicken piccata was tender and moist. Vegetable on the plate (can't remember what type) were very fresh and crunchy. Overall, a real oral-treat. (Kelvin says: 8/10)(Penny says: 9.5/10)

Food Friday #1: Steel Drums Caribbean Restaurant & Bar

2006-02-14T02:04:00.000-05:00

So this is our first stop in our Food Friday (FF) series. The idea behind FF is really to be adventurous, step out of our safety zone and try different restaurants in and around Buffalo. Lest we leave Buffalo like the frog who just stares up from the bottom of a well.

The investigative method is simple. Each Friday, we will dine at a restaurant that we have never been before. We will take turns to research on the restaurants
(i.e., Newspaper reviews, internet reviews, word of mouth), and then try out the restaurant on friday. Then we will rate the restaurant and its food based on our subjective measures. Yes! We make the rules because we can. If it bothers you, go start your own FF. Or better still, you can called it something else (like Makan Monday)... and remember this, we called it first!

Steel Drums was somewhat a cultural-exchange for us. The setting was pretty cool, a little like a 60s swing dancing bar. Almost looks like the patrons were going to spontaneously burst out into a song. A salsa CD was looping throughout the night but it was ok, pretty nice music that suited the restaurant's food.

Two words to describe the food.... Deliciously tender! Reminds me of Kong Ba (stew pork). Really good stuff. Worth checking out for the food and ambience (if you want to escape the thought of wintery Buffalo for a few moments). (Kelvin says: 8.5/10) (Penny says: 8.5/10)