Drew's Place
Findlay, Ohio 45840
Drew's Place is a private restaurant on the South side of Findlay. This exclusive club was kind enough to allow me to dine with them on Friday night before the local football game. The theme of the meal was of course Tailgating.
When we arrived I understood why the owners insist on maintaining the private status of their restaurant. They maintain a very personal and relaxing atmosphere. Everyone dining that evening knew each other well and there was a great feeling of camaraderie.
The one downfall with Drew's Place was the BYOB status that it has. After a horrible run-in with a 13 year old, a case of Beer, and Jeremy, they lost their liquor license and have since asked patrons to bring their own libations. I decided to bring some Amberbock and I was good for the night.
The meal consisted of cheeseburgers and hotdogs fresh from the grill, chicken wings, chips and dip, and Gourmet Cheesy Potatoes.
The burgers where cooked to about medium and were still juicy and tender. The highlight of the meal though was the potatoes. These potatoes kept me coming back for more. They truly were incredible. I have seen a similar recipe made in kitchens back home but never using the shredded potatoes which really added something to the dish.
After finishing up the burgers everyone headed out to the football game. The tailgating themed dinner at the luxurious Drew's Place complete.
The Grade: B
Would have been higher but I still think Rossilli's was better. Right in there though.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
Ryan's (Breakfast)
Ryan's Grill Buffet Bakery
2551 East Tiffin Avenue
Findlay, Ohio 45840
On Saturday Morning I had the opportunity to go eat at Ryan's Grill Buffet Bakery. I have been to Ryan's before for dinner. I mean it is a buffet and I am Fat Dan.
The breakfast buffet ran me about $7 with a water. At first I was concerned that this was a little high for Ryan's. I mean you can have all you can eat steak for under $10 at dinner. I figured out later that the money went to support every butcher east of the Mississippi.
The food:
The buffet was huge with lots of different foods. They had two separate areas to cook eggs to order and omelets. This is always my favorite part of breakfast buffets and I think that more places should have these short order cook stations.
The theme of the buffet though was basically: Meat, Grease, Meat, Grease, Meat, Grease. Every single type of breakfast meat imaginable was covered in at least three varieties. There were even some meats that I wouldn't consider breakfast, such as the chicken tenders.
Everything tasted fine, but of course anything that causes clogged arteries normally tastes good going down.
The service:
The highlight of the buffet was the service. The buffet was well stocked at all times. Everything was hot or cold enough for consumption. The waitress was quick to clear dishes. She also let us know that there is a juice included in the price of the buffet; OJ, Apple, or V8. She also brought me a coffee that I didn't order, but I can't complain about that.
The Rating:
D+ (A+ if on Atkins Diet)
This place is a heart attack waiting to happen. They should have a defibulator sitting next to every table. I would only go here for 2 reasons: Atkins Diet or Extreme Hangover. However, this is just the breakfast. The dinner buffet is one of the best low-priced buffets I have seen. So don't confuse the two, it is a completely different place for breakfast and dinner.
I don't recommend it for breakfast.
2551 East Tiffin Avenue
Findlay, Ohio 45840
On Saturday Morning I had the opportunity to go eat at Ryan's Grill Buffet Bakery. I have been to Ryan's before for dinner. I mean it is a buffet and I am Fat Dan.
The breakfast buffet ran me about $7 with a water. At first I was concerned that this was a little high for Ryan's. I mean you can have all you can eat steak for under $10 at dinner. I figured out later that the money went to support every butcher east of the Mississippi.
The food:
The buffet was huge with lots of different foods. They had two separate areas to cook eggs to order and omelets. This is always my favorite part of breakfast buffets and I think that more places should have these short order cook stations.
The theme of the buffet though was basically: Meat, Grease, Meat, Grease, Meat, Grease. Every single type of breakfast meat imaginable was covered in at least three varieties. There were even some meats that I wouldn't consider breakfast, such as the chicken tenders.
Everything tasted fine, but of course anything that causes clogged arteries normally tastes good going down.
The service:
The highlight of the buffet was the service. The buffet was well stocked at all times. Everything was hot or cold enough for consumption. The waitress was quick to clear dishes. She also let us know that there is a juice included in the price of the buffet; OJ, Apple, or V8. She also brought me a coffee that I didn't order, but I can't complain about that.
The Rating:
D+ (A+ if on Atkins Diet)
This place is a heart attack waiting to happen. They should have a defibulator sitting next to every table. I would only go here for 2 reasons: Atkins Diet or Extreme Hangover. However, this is just the breakfast. The dinner buffet is one of the best low-priced buffets I have seen. So don't confuse the two, it is a completely different place for breakfast and dinner.
I don't recommend it for breakfast.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Rossilli's - Findlay, Ohio
Rossilli's
217 South Main Street
Findlay, Ohio 45840
That little known holiday, Sweetest Day, was on Saturday and Andrea chose Rossilli's for our night out on the town. Some friends of ours were in town for Ohio Northern's homecoming weekend and they happily joined us for the night.
We made reservations with no problems for 7:45, not bad when you call at 5. The group headed over early to get a drink at Boo's Lounge, a relaxing martini bar upstairs from Rossilli's. Unfortunately it was closed for a private party so we headed inside.
We were seated immediately, 10 minutes early and had a table in the fast lane. Actually, unless you got a booth, you were directly in the middle of the highway between the kitchen and the bar. This always bothers me some at restaurants, but I never had a sever run into me and the atmosphere was pleasant.
the service was slow but good, a strange mixture of waiting and then being happy with the knowledge and efficiency of the servers.
The drinks:
Andrea (Mrs. Fat Dan) - Shark Bite - This is a martini with Hypnotic. It came with a glow stick in the drink which makes it a little showy. She has had this drink before at Boo's Lounge upstairs and she always enjoys it.
Debbie (College Friend, girlfriend of Sharpe) - Cosmopolitan - This classic drink was a bit too sweet for Debbie. She speculated that they used a premix, which of course is always too heavily sweetened.
Sharpe (College Friend) - Great Lakes Brewing Company Beer (can't remember which variety) - Always a favorite. The waitress rattled off a long list of bottled beers. I am sure they had something for every taste.
Fat Dan - Coke - Don't ask. Long night on Friday, it was best for me to just have a Coke.
The Menu:
The menu had several Italian dished that you won't find anywhere else. It took me at least 15 minutes to decide what I wanted to order because everything sounded fantastic. Of course, price helped in my decision, at this point in my life I cannot afford "Market Price". Unfortunately this cut about 30% of the menu. I would rather see a meal cost $45 than be "Market Price" I am not one for surprises.
The Food:
Andrea (Mrs. Fat Dan) - Chicken Caesar Salad - Bad idea. Tasted great but was the same size as the salads that came with every entree. I guess if you really wanted to starve yourself, or the girl you just met ordered like two dinners at "Market Price" then I guess you should get this.
Debbie (College Friend, girlfriend of Sharpe) - Bowl of Minestrone and a Mozzarella Salad - the minestrone tasted a little like Chef Boyardee. Not bad but not that great, kind'f bland. The salad looked fantastic. It had large chunks of Mozzarella, and I mean real cheese, not like the cheese squares served up daily at your local welfare office. When she had it down to one chunk of cheese and the bus boy asked if she was finished I thought she was going to stab him. She definitely wanted that last piece, so I guess it was tasty.
Sharpe (College Friend) - Blackened Tuna with Asparagus and Cheese Grits - the cheese grits were new to Sharpe and he enjoyed them. They looked good and their were a lot of them. The asparagus had a hollandaise sauce on it, which I assume was good, because if you have ever had a bad sauce you know what I am talking about. The tuna was reportedly fantastic. It looked to be cooked perfectly, seared black on the outside and bright pink to red on the inside. A very good looking dish.
Fat Dan - Meatloaf - I thought this looked a little strange on the menu, and I have found that things that look out of place are usually the best item on the menu because they are special. I don't think I was wrong in this case. The meatloaf was out of this world. It was blackened with some tasty seasonings and then drizzled with a sweet sauce that gave it a candy taste. It came with garlic potatoes which were good, although not as good as some others I have had. The portion was just right as I was completely full after eating all of my meal.
the entrees also all came with a cup of soup and a house salad with a sweet poppy seed dressing that was very good. All of us had the minestrone soup so no news there.
The Bill:
I didn't get to see Sharpe's bill but ours came out to around $33:50 which is not at all bad for the type of meal we had. I was expecting a much higher bill like I would have gotten at Diamond River or somewhere. With tip we walked out at an even $40.
The Grade:
B+ The servers seemed to be rushing everywhere but never getting anything done. There was a long wait for the waitress. The food was fantastic. The price was right.
I recommend it.
217 South Main Street
Findlay, Ohio 45840
That little known holiday, Sweetest Day, was on Saturday and Andrea chose Rossilli's for our night out on the town. Some friends of ours were in town for Ohio Northern's homecoming weekend and they happily joined us for the night.
We made reservations with no problems for 7:45, not bad when you call at 5. The group headed over early to get a drink at Boo's Lounge, a relaxing martini bar upstairs from Rossilli's. Unfortunately it was closed for a private party so we headed inside.
We were seated immediately, 10 minutes early and had a table in the fast lane. Actually, unless you got a booth, you were directly in the middle of the highway between the kitchen and the bar. This always bothers me some at restaurants, but I never had a sever run into me and the atmosphere was pleasant.
the service was slow but good, a strange mixture of waiting and then being happy with the knowledge and efficiency of the servers.
The drinks:
Andrea (Mrs. Fat Dan) - Shark Bite - This is a martini with Hypnotic. It came with a glow stick in the drink which makes it a little showy. She has had this drink before at Boo's Lounge upstairs and she always enjoys it.
Debbie (College Friend, girlfriend of Sharpe) - Cosmopolitan - This classic drink was a bit too sweet for Debbie. She speculated that they used a premix, which of course is always too heavily sweetened.
Sharpe (College Friend) - Great Lakes Brewing Company Beer (can't remember which variety) - Always a favorite. The waitress rattled off a long list of bottled beers. I am sure they had something for every taste.
Fat Dan - Coke - Don't ask. Long night on Friday, it was best for me to just have a Coke.
The Menu:
The menu had several Italian dished that you won't find anywhere else. It took me at least 15 minutes to decide what I wanted to order because everything sounded fantastic. Of course, price helped in my decision, at this point in my life I cannot afford "Market Price". Unfortunately this cut about 30% of the menu. I would rather see a meal cost $45 than be "Market Price" I am not one for surprises.
The Food:
Andrea (Mrs. Fat Dan) - Chicken Caesar Salad - Bad idea. Tasted great but was the same size as the salads that came with every entree. I guess if you really wanted to starve yourself, or the girl you just met ordered like two dinners at "Market Price" then I guess you should get this.
Debbie (College Friend, girlfriend of Sharpe) - Bowl of Minestrone and a Mozzarella Salad - the minestrone tasted a little like Chef Boyardee. Not bad but not that great, kind'f bland. The salad looked fantastic. It had large chunks of Mozzarella, and I mean real cheese, not like the cheese squares served up daily at your local welfare office. When she had it down to one chunk of cheese and the bus boy asked if she was finished I thought she was going to stab him. She definitely wanted that last piece, so I guess it was tasty.
Sharpe (College Friend) - Blackened Tuna with Asparagus and Cheese Grits - the cheese grits were new to Sharpe and he enjoyed them. They looked good and their were a lot of them. The asparagus had a hollandaise sauce on it, which I assume was good, because if you have ever had a bad sauce you know what I am talking about. The tuna was reportedly fantastic. It looked to be cooked perfectly, seared black on the outside and bright pink to red on the inside. A very good looking dish.
Fat Dan - Meatloaf - I thought this looked a little strange on the menu, and I have found that things that look out of place are usually the best item on the menu because they are special. I don't think I was wrong in this case. The meatloaf was out of this world. It was blackened with some tasty seasonings and then drizzled with a sweet sauce that gave it a candy taste. It came with garlic potatoes which were good, although not as good as some others I have had. The portion was just right as I was completely full after eating all of my meal.
the entrees also all came with a cup of soup and a house salad with a sweet poppy seed dressing that was very good. All of us had the minestrone soup so no news there.
The Bill:
I didn't get to see Sharpe's bill but ours came out to around $33:50 which is not at all bad for the type of meal we had. I was expecting a much higher bill like I would have gotten at Diamond River or somewhere. With tip we walked out at an even $40.
The Grade:
B+ The servers seemed to be rushing everywhere but never getting anything done. There was a long wait for the waitress. The food was fantastic. The price was right.
I recommend it.
Say What You Know
and I know my food. After going out to a new restaurant this weekend, I decided that I need to start doing some reviews of the fine, and not so fine, eateries that I visit. I think that anyone that knows me will be able to tell you that I know how to eat. I am Fat Dan for God's sake. I started up a brand new blog just to showcase my eating talents and to give advice on what restaurants are worth the time and which ones should just microwave frozen meals to save their patrons from the crap that they actually cook in their kitchen.
I will be following up this intro post with my first review, Rossilli's restaurant in Findlay, Ohio.
I will be following up this intro post with my first review, Rossilli's restaurant in Findlay, Ohio.
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