Restaurant Review Archives - Page 7 of 9

A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard: A Dining and Entertainment Venue Near Downtown Huntsville, AL

02/06/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

I didn’t know it was there. I could have seen it when I was traveling Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, but I didn’t know where to look . . . until now.

Memorial Parkway is very close.

My cousin, aunt and I wanted a place to have lunch and visit recently, and they know how I like to explore new places and avoid chains, as a rule. My aunt is a long-time resident of Huntsville who eats out regularly, so she suggested the Lumberyard. The website is very well-done. Check it out here. A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard at 108 Cleveland Avenue, encompasses a line of formerly nondescript-looking buildings and now includes a restaurant, 5 bars, 4 stages and a large courtyard.

Exterior of the Lumberyard on Cleveland Avenue.

One of 4 stages at the Lumberyard.

It is open every day except Monday. From Tuesday to Friday, breakfast is served beginning at 8:00 a.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, the Lumberyard opens at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, it closes at 1:00 a.m.

Breakfast/brunch menu options are offered until 3:00 p.m. My Aunt June ordered Fred’s French Toast. It looked mighty good.

Fred’s French Toast.

My cousin Ginger had the Cobb Well Done, a large green salad with avocado, a boiled egg, smoked chicken, cheese and apricot barbecue sauce.

Cobb Well Done

I tried the homemade vegetable soup with a tomato base. It was bursting with flavor, and I enjoyed every bite.

Flavorful vegetable soup.

I only saw the small bar/cafe area known as the Kiln. Our food was good, and the service was attentive and friendly. But, I believe you’ll probably enjoy the Lumberyard most if you go when musicians are scheduled, when you want to have fun with friends, or on the weekends. You might also be invited to a wedding there.

The creative names of dishes on the menu are sure to bring a smile to your face, for example: Eggers Can Be Cheesers, Sweet Home Avocado, The Flying Pig, Seize Your Salad, When a Man Loves an Oven, Dixie Chickpeas and Meal Diamonds. Delightful plays-on-words. Weekend brunch specialties include: Pork Belly Eggs Benedict, Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and a mouthwatering concoction called The King — a peanut butter Belgian waffle, stuffed with bananas and crumbled bacon. Maybe some Saturday morning soon??

Albany Bistro Announces an Expansion

01/23/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Have I convinced you to try Albany Bistro in Decatur yet? Located at 1051 Grant Street, SE, in Decatur, it is perfectly situated for the neighborhood it graces. Chef Jakob Reed and his staff do a phenomenal job of serving fresh, delicious dishes in a vintage ambience. It is open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner — 11:00 – 2:00 and 5:00 – 9:00 p.m., on Saturday, it is open for dinner from 5:00 to 9:00 and on Sunday a brunch menu is offered from 11:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Three friends and I recently visited for lunch, and, as always, our meal was outstanding. Check out these entrees:

Buttermilk chicken with potatoes, collards and pan gravy. The chicken was moist and tender, and the portion was JUST RIGHT — not too much, not too little.

Mom’s meatloaf with potatoes and green beans.

Beef stroganoff with mushroom-filled ravioli, and tender chunks of filet, mushrooms and onions.

Salmon with asparagus. Both delicious and very healthy.

Since it was the Christmas season, the four of us chose to share one piece of the Bistro’s signature cheesecake creation — Coffee and Toffee. We saw whole cheesecakes going out the door, no doubt headed to be the hit of a holiday party.

Check out the website here to read about other lunch and dinner specialties.

But, now, in addition to this location, Chef Jakob is expanding his horizon and introducing even more people to his skills and concepts by opening another restaurant in conjunction with the multi-million dollar expansion of the Welcome Center at Huntsville Botanical Gardens. Table in the Garden is set to open this spring and will provide seating for 90 people, 50 indoors and 40 on the outdoor patio. The menu will feature seasonal produce that is locally sourced. Catering will be offered for the event venues at the Botanical Gardens, and there will even be an on-line ordering opportunity for those who want to pick up a quick lunch or carry something home for dinner as they are leaving work in Huntsville.

Chef Jakob believes strongly in the farm-to-table movement and is a proponent of sustainability. He enjoys serving organic ingredients and developed his love for cooking by watching his grandmother.

Make your plans soon to visit Albany Bistro in Decatur and watch for an announcement about the Grand Opening of Table in the Garden in just a few short months.

Edgar’s — Fresh Deliciousness at The Village of Providence

12/19/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Beware! This post will make you plan a trip to The Village of Providence in Madison SOON. Edgar’s the long-renowned bakery in Birmingham has spread its goodness to North Alabama. But, not only is it a bakery, it is also a gift shop and a great casual restaurant option. Check out the breakfast and lunch menus here.

Exterior of Edgar’s on a prominent corner in Providence.

Located at 472 Providence Main St. NW #100 in Huntsville, AL, Edgar’s is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day except Sunday. If possible, go before Christmas because the decorations, gifts and pastries are so beautifully-decorated. But, if that’s not possible, then plan an occasion early in 2017. Even if you’ll be on your new diet, they have lots of great salads to keep you out of trouble.

Crab cake salad.

Salad trio with chicken, tuna and egg salad.

Chicken salad croissant.

Enjoy these photos while your mouth waters.

View from the front door to the display and order counter.

Wandering through the gift shop area.

Temptations galore. “One of each, please.”

Perfect for holiday trays or for contributing to parties.

Looks like a painting by Wayne Thiebaud.

The layers of a lemon square.

Perfect petit fours.

GROUND — Hidden eatery in Franklin, TN

11/21/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

(As you are reading this today, be aware that Steve and I are in the throes of Cousins Camp 2016. We will be up and at ’em in a big way, feeding breakfast to 10 eager grands who will be ready for all that awaits on my famous Clipboard of Fun. Your prayers for the safety and health of all of us would be greatly appreciated).

If it hadn’t been for a casual Facebook post from my nephew Tom, I never would have known about this place. He displayed a photo of an amazing looking hamburger, and it “just so happened” that we were going to be in Franklin keeping three grands for a few days while their parents were doing mission work in India. GROUND immediately found its way to my meal planning process.

Outside view of Ground.

GROUND is located at 330 Mayfield Drive. Just put it in your GPS. It’s off of Carothers Parkway if you’re familiar with the area. It’s a small place. Probably no more than 2 dozen people can be seated at one time, but the tables become vacant pretty quickly, so don’t let that deter you. The menu is built on 3 items — burgers, potatoes and salads. The children’s plates are only $5.00, and on Saturday kids eat free. What a deal! We weren’t in a particularly “healthy” frame of mind the day we visited, so I don’t have any photos of salads to show you, but GROUND does tout fresh, farm-to-table ingredients, so I suspect they would be delicious.

Wall board describing GROUND’s vision and approach.

Order and prep counter.

Two of our grands had cheeseburgers with fries. They couldn’t finish even 1/3 of their fries but declared them to be great. Another grandson had a cheeseburger and a baked potato. His meal got 2 thumbs up as well.

Kids plate with a massive mound of fries.

Mouthwatering cheeseburger with a baked potato.

Steve and I had El Toro Spuds, his with jalapenos, mine without. Yummo!

El Toro stuffed spud.

Those jalapenos gave it quite a kick.

If you’d like to try an out-of-the-way, non-chain, farm-to-table cafe, I believe you’ll enjoy a casual lunch or dinner at GROUND. They’re closed on Sunday, so plan accordingly.

Royal House Oyster Bar on Royal Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter

10/10/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Following the strong recommendation of a trusted friend, Steve and I left our hotel on Canal Street recently, walked a couple of blocks to Royal Street, turned left and walked a few more blocks. At the corner of Royal and Calle B San Luis (St. Louis St), we spotted our destination — Royal House Oyster Bar. We were craving oysters.

On the balcony of Royal House in the early evening.

We arrived early enough to score a prime seat on the outside of the upstairs balcony, perfect for people-watching, architecture-gazing and listening to nearby street musicians. It was vintage New Orleans at its best. Emergency vehicles careened through the narrow, one-way streets. A few cars drove by below us, looking futilely for a parking spot, and occasional bicycle taxis pedaled along at a leisurely pace (no doubt getting paid by the hour OR by the weight of the passengers in the back). The gaslights were just beginning to flicker on throughout the French Quarter. Almost within touching distance was the lavish apartment of the owner of Antoine’s Restaurant across the street with its ornate wrought iron railing.

The apartment of the owner of Antoine’s with its lavish wrought iron.

Antoine’s has been serving French Creole food in New Orleans since 1840. What a place for a party!

Looking toward Antoine’s across the street from Royal House.

And, diagonally across from Royal House was the ornate Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, one of those splurge kind of hotels.

Omni Royal Orleans Hotel.

Back to those oysters. The menu listed a myriad of intriguing selections. Oysters on the half shell. Chargrilled oysters. Oysters Rockefeller. Oysters Royale. Oyster Tacos. But when I spotted Oyster Beignets, I knew I’d have to try them. Beignets are a New Orleans tradition, especially if you get them at Cafe du Monde, but oyster beignets??

Oyster beignets.

After sampling them thoroughly, my conclusion is that oysters should stay oysters, and beignets should stay beignets, and “never the twain should meet.” Powdered sugar on fried oysters?? Not my favorite, and I’m generally very adventurous.

The Boiler Pots had been highly recommended, but since we’re going to Maine soon and since many of the Boiler Pots included lobster, we decided to go in a different direction. Steve chose blackened redfish with potatoes and vegetables.

Blackened redfish.

I chose the eggplant and oysters entree. I really like eggplant, and I really like oysters. It should have been fabulous, but I’d give it about a B. It just seemed a little heavy somehow. But, you are certainly free to decide for yourself. Never fear. There are a couple dozen more great-sounding entrees listed. You’re sure to find one that will suit you.

Eggplant and oysters entree.

Desserts were extremely tempting — Bananas Foster Cheesecake, Brownie a la Mode, Homemade Bread Pudding — but we refrained.

There was a somewhat fun/somewhat unnerving quirkiness to that upper balcony where we sat. It was LEANING!!! Yes, LEANING. So much so, that our sweating water glasses (because of the heat and humidity) kept sliding across the table. The diners beside us didn’t manage to catch their glass in time, and water spilled on passersby below. Gulp. Our server told us that wineglasses are no longer allowed on the balcony because of the hazard, and that the worst incident was when a Tabasco bottle rolled off hitting a parked car. Yikes!! If the whole leaning balcony idea makes you a little squeamish, then just ask to sit inside. The tables are covered with white cloths, it’s cool, and flatscreens are placed conveniently for cheering on the Saints and LSU. Downstairs there is a huge bar with a full-length mirror behind it. I’m told you can sit there and watch the world go by through the mirrors.

Upstairs dining room of Royal House.

Royal House Oyster Bar is one of so many great places to eat in this city known for its food. It’s not cheap, but I think you’ll like the atmosphere, the character of the building, and the seafood.

Ruby Slipper Cafe: Perfect for “Morning People” in New Orleans

10/03/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

New Orleans is known primarily as a night-time, stay-out-late-and-party town, especially in the French Quarter, but now there’s a great restaurant catering to folks who get up early and want to eat. Ruby Slipper Cafe was opened after Katrina because Erich and Jennifer Weishaupt, two engineers with Shell Oil, wanted to do something nice for their area. According to their website, the name was inspired by “a powerful sense of homecoming when we returned to New Orleans after Katrina.” And they felt that Dorothy, wearer of the famous ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz had said it best, “There’s no place like home.”

Red Slipper Cafe on Canal Street in New Orleans, just past the corner of Bourbon St. and Canal.

When the Weishaupts opened their first cafe in Mid-City, they were quoted as saying, “We hope it doesn’t lose too much money.” They quickly stopped worrying because they had found a need that needed to be met, and they did it deliciously. Presently, there are four locations in New Orleans, one in Pensacola and one in Orange Beach. All are doing well. Ruby Slipper Cafe is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch 7:00 – 2:00 on weekdays and 7:00 – 3:00 on weekends.

Interior of the Ruby Slipper Cafe on Canal St.

Ruby Slipper t-shirts and souvenirs for sale near the front.

The menu lists such specialties as: Barbecue Shrimp and Grits, Eggs Blackstone and Bananas Foster Pain Perdu. In our case, Steve chose a Build-Your-Own Omelet with goat cheese, avocado, and red pepper.

Build-your-own omelet with fruit.

And I chose the Southern Breakfast with bacon, grits, scrambled eggs, a fried green tomato and a biscuit.

The Southern Breakfast.

We were able to walk about a block from our hotel to the nearest location on Canal Street. Ruby Slipper has a noisy, pulsating vibe and the service is prompt and polite. I would definitely recommend it.

P.S. Ruby Slipper also has two other features I’m sure the locals appreciate. 1) A Rewards Program where frequent diners can earn discounts on future meals. 2) A nowait app. Using your smartphone, you can get on the waiting list and plan your arrival for the estimated time your table will be waiting. Genius idea.

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students, Part 3 (A Unique Cafe)

09/05/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

CREPE MYRTLE CAFE

The Crepe Myrtle Cafe at 1192 Donahue Drive in Auburn is nestled into a plant and flower-filled oasis. To find it, look for Blooming Colors nursery at the corner of College St. and Donahue. As you wind your way to the back of the property, you will see a building with a large outdoor dining patio. At the front of the cafe, a produce store filled with locally-made goods and gift items has a large seasonal display. Then, start thinking about crepes of all kinds — breakfast crepes, savory lunch crepes and, of course, dessert crepes. What a clever play on words! Crepe myrtles are grown and sold at Blooming Colors, and the cafe prepares edible crepes.

Large outdoor dining patio.

Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., and then the rest of the menu is ready and waiting from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. If crepes aren’t your “thing,” don’t worry. Pigs in a blanket, fresh-made scones, and plenty of salads, soups and paninis are also available. Kids’ roll-ups are also offered, which are actually 1/2 paninis with traditional favorites inside such as ham and cheese, peanut butter honey and banana or PB and J.

Unassuming sign points the way.

The order counter at Crepe Myrtle.

Steve and I shared the Veggie Lovers Crepe, the Eggs Florentine Crepe and a hot, gooey cinnamon roll. Very good!! I did find out that the cinnamon rolls aren’t made from scratch or anything, but they were still delicious.

Our breakfast!

Warm, ooey, gooey cinnamon roll.

Eggs Florentine crepe with plenty of fresh spinach.

The atmosphere is completely casual, and we found it to be a delightful choice for breakfast, and the prices were good. We also came out with several goodies from the produce section.

South Alabama peanuts.

Locally-grown tomatoes — the definition of summertime.

Colorful displays of fresh produce in the front section of the cafe.

Suggestions for Parents of Auburn Students, Part 2 (Restaurants)

08/29/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, there are some definite “student favorites” when it comes to eateries in and around the Auburn University campus — Guthrie’s, Cheeburger Cheeburger and the like. I would also add Momma Goldberg’s Deli and every chain fast food place known to man. However, if you’re looking for something a little more unusual or upscale or even trendy, then today’s blog and next Monday’s will provide some recommendations.

THE HOUND

This was the #1 recommended must-try restaurant that I heard about from a trusted friend and also learned from “people on the street.” Located at 124 Tichenor Ave., The Hound is located on the street behind Cheeburger Cheeburger, conveniently beside a parking deck. The building used to house a printing company, then a brewery, before becoming this exceptionally popular casual dining spot. When you walk in, you will be reminded of a rustic hunting lodge or even a barn because of the concrete floors, brick, weathered wood walls, cedar plank tables, mounted deer heads and antlers and lots and lots of wood accents. This is NOT a tablecloths-and-cloth-napkins kind of place. It is one that is being fully embraced by students, teachers and returning alums of all ages.

Front exterior of The Hound.

Casual interior of The Hound with lots of wood and openness.

Owners are Matthew and Jana (Caruthers) Poirier. Jana, along with lots of immediate and extended family members, are diploma-bearing Auburn fans. The dream of Matthew and Jana was to return to Auburn and establish a restaurant and bar with (according to their website) a “focus on bacon, bourbon, community, and family.” The bacon, by the way, is actually cured in-house at The Hound. Some of the tables and many of the wood beams and decorative touches throughout the decor were handmade using reclaimed wood and other “finds” from Alabama. A large community table and the hostess stand were crafted by Jana’s father and used in her wedding to Matthew in 2010. Upside-down minnow buckets used as light fixtures add to the lodge/barn feel of The Hound — not to mention the large painting of hounds when you walk in the front door.

Painting inside the front door goes perfectly with the restaurant’s name.

Upside-down minnow buckets used as light fixtures.

Community table made by the father of owner Jana Caruthers Poirier.

Hostess stand crafted from reclaimed wood by John Caruthers.

Since the Auburn University mascots are the eagle and the tiger, I wondered how The Hound got its name. According to our server, Matthew Poirier fell in love with a restaurant in California during a trip there which was called The Bloodhounds, so he wanted to bring a similar vibe to Alabama. Another California connection is a special spicy pepper sauce that they have shipped in to use in several of the recipes.

The Hound is closed on Mondays. On Saturdays and Sundays, it opens at 9:30 and serves a separate brunch menu. Tuesdays through Fridays it opens at 11:00 a.m. and closes at midnight. For our first visit, Steve and I were there for lunch. He chose the Little Piggy Grilled Cheese with a house salad. This was no ordinary grilled cheese. It consisted of 3 cheeses, some of that house-cured bacon, tomato and brandy ketchup on sourdough bread.

This Little Piggy Grilled Cheese and house salad.

I chose — as a result of feeling that I was in a hunting lodge — the Bison Burger and fries. Naturally, I had to ask where the bison meat came from. Rocky Mountain Natural Meats in Henderson, Colorado provides the lean and very tasty ground bison. It was delicious!!

Bison Burger, mushrooms, Swiss cheese and tobacco onions with fries.

I suspect that the Poiriers will continue to have great success. They have, in fact, already opened another restaurant — The Depot — which is only a couple of blocks away at the railroad tracks and specializes in seafood. It will be on our must-try list for a future visit.

Prices are well above fast food prices, but so is the taste and quality. We enjoyed The Hound a lot and would certainly recommend it.

2 Huntsville Restaurants to Spotlight — Grille 29 and 1892 East

08/08/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

I recently had articles published about 2 great restaurants in Huntsville, so I want to call your attention to them here on my blog. One I had visited several times previously, and the other was completely new to me. Both have great chefs, unique features, and loyal diners.

Grille 29 is located right at the entrance to The Village of Providence in Madison, AL. It is a WONDERFUL place to celebrate a happy occasion. The food, the ambiance and the service are worth the splurge. You can dress up or dress down, but prepare to feel special when you’re there.

Grille 29 anchors the Village of Providence in Madison, AL

Executive Chef Cara Thompson is bringing her experience, her knowledge of Huntsville people, her skill and her youthful adventuresome nature to Grille 29’s kitchen, and the results will have you going back for more again and again. Flavors of cheesecake and bread pudding vary depending upon Cara’s whim and seasonal ingredients, and her specials allow you to have new taste experiences during each visit. One of their menu items — Grouper Oscar — is listed in “100 Dishes to eat in Alabama before you die,” and it is worthy of the description. Steaks are handcut from Hereford beef, and the seafood is shipped using wet ice by ground transportation for peak freshness.

The formula for success in Huntsville has led to adding another Grille 29 location at Brookwood Village in Birmingham.

Read more about this fabulous place in my article for MilesGeek.com here and see some photos that will have you picking up the phone to make a reservation. Did I mention chocolate souffle?

1892 East was new to me, but I’m so glad I found it. Billed as “the New American restaurant and tavern in the neighborhood,” it has been heartily embraced by diners living in the historic Five Points area of Huntsville as well as those who gladly drive in from all of the city. In fact, the atmosphere of neighbors-eating-with-neighbors drew me in right from the beginning.

Exterior of 1892 East located at 720 Pratt Avenue in Huntsville, AL.

Executive Chef Steven Bunner seeks out the very best in locally-sourced ingredients and combines them into uncommon offerings seldom found on other menus. Vegetarians, in particular, will be pleased when they peruse the selections at 1892 East. Think about Mushroom Pot Pie or a Tempeh Sandwich for lunch or maybe Vegetable Cassoulet or Roasted Acorn Squash for dinner. I had Stuffed Trout when I was there, and it was cooked perfectly. After appetizers of Scallop Rangoon, I still had room to share Creme Brulee with Steve. Never fear. There are plenty of non-vegetarian choices as well, such as beef tenderloin, salmon, chicken, shrimp and chops, and the kids’ menu includes mac and cheese, grilled chicken and French fries, along with Cheese Flatbread. Definitely something for everyone.

Here is my article about 1892 East in MilesGeek.com.

Ahhhhhh, creme brulee.

On both of these evenings, Steve and I were hosted by the restaurants, but in spite of their generosity, the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Move Over, Cracker Barrel — Blue Plate Cafe is Doing It Bigger and Better!

07/25/2016 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Hungry? Headed to or from Parkway Place Mall, Huntsville Hospital, Von Braun Center or Clearview Cancer Institute? Then, boy, do I have a recommendation for you!

My Silver Fox and I recently discovered Blue Plate Cafe, and it was almost like closing our eyes and imagining we were eating our grandmothers’ cooking. With two locations in Huntsville, one on Governor’s Drive and the other on South Parkway, you should be able to find one easily.

Diner atmosphere and decor.

It’s a busy, noisy place with great food, courteous servers, fast service and large portions served in a 1950’s diner atmosphere. The Governor’s Drive location has been blowin’ and goin’ for 12 years, and the South Parkway version was added a little over a year ago. Carry-outs are popular, and the South Parkway location offers a banquet room.

Reasonable prices.

Breakfast is served from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Then the lunch and dinner menu begins at 11:00 a.m. and goes to 8:00 p.m. everyday except Sunday.

At least 5 meat choices and 10 vegetables are offered each day, varying depending on the day of the week.

Chicken and dressing, turnip greens, mashed potatoes, fried okra, cornbread and good sweet tea!

Chicken and dressing, black-eyed peas, Great Northern beans, tomato/cucumber salad, cornbread.

Breakfast offerings range from traditional eggs and bacon to omelettes, pancakes, waffles, fruit, pastries and everything in between.

3-egg omelette topped with pepper jack cheese, biscuit and grits.

Scrambled eggs, bacon, fluffy biscuit, hashbrowns and cheese grits.

Portions are larger and tastier than Cracker Barrel’s, and you don’t have to wade through all of the other merchandise temptations to get to your table. We liked it, and I think you will, too. Not gourmet. Just yummy comfort food.

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