try a new restaurant each month

Manchester… yawn !

I think it’s pretty apparent that I love Mexican Restaurants. So finding new ones is lots of fun. I was on vacation today, so a friend of mine and I went to a newish Mexican restaurant just outside of town. I had heard good things about it, but I wasn’t impressed. The margaritas were too sweet, and the food had very little flavor. I got the chicken quesadilla (average) and my friend got the chimicanga (not good). At least I know.

Sorry, I didn’t take the picture until I was done, so the food looks even less appetizing than it was. I am excited to be done with this goal, even if it is a few months early!

The other day a friend of mine picked me up for lunch. I wanted to go to Subway, but she reminded me that I wanted to try new restaurants and get this goal finished up. So we went to this drive in near the library that I work at. I was very disappointed. I imagined it to be a diner type place, but it wasn’t. Instead you ordered at a counter; there were only about five things on the menu; everything was fried; and it was over-priced. I got the chicken strips, figuring that was a pretty easy thing to make. They were over fried and not very good. The fries were less than average and the small soda ($1.49) cost a quarter to get a refil. I won’t be going back.

I love Mexican restaurants. But I mainly stick with two or three that are close to my house and I already know that I love. The other day I was looking for some place new to eat. It was beautiful weather and I hanging out with a friend I don’t get to spend a lot of time with. So I had two requirements: 1) we had to be able to sit outside and 2) they had to have drink specials. I called around and found that this fit both requirements. The outdoor seating was wonderful. The margaritas weren’t very good (although cheap) and my meal (enchiladas) was pretty boring. The chips and salsa were average, but we ordered a really good cheese dip. My friend’s quesadillas were really good though. I have included a picture of those, because if I ever go back (and I am saying IF pretty strongly) I will order that instead.

A few friends were meeting at this downtown bar. They called me and invited me to come along, but I just got done working all day and working out and was very hungry. Turns out, it’s really a restaurant. I got their Wednesday Evening Cheeseburger and Fries Special. It wasn’t great, but it only cost $3.99. Can’t beat that!

I have not had good Korean food for quite a long time…so long, in fact, that I had forgotten about the scissors used to cut the meat and the thin metal chopsticks. Having lunch at the recently opened Sula BBQ Buffet was like returning to Seoul for lunch. Virtually everyone there, from the guests to the management and cooks, was Korean – usually a good sign. The food was excellent, especially the marinated baby squid (so tender) and the grilled mackerel (robust). The bulgogi was a bit sweet, but everything else was to my taste, from the deep fried tofu to the egg fried rice and kimchee. It was well worth the $14 per person we paid, and not a bad deal at $20 for dinner, either. I would definitely consider going again.

Pepe’s is a very small Veggie Mexican Bistro right in the neighborhood of my library. A co-worker invited me to go there for dinner tonight. She is a vegetarian and just loves the place. But I was nervous all day because I wasn’t sure what I would get. But it was great. I got these veggie-nachos. There were chips, cheese, beans, corn, salsa, guac, sour cream, and squash. It was a little expensive, but I am willing to pay a little more for a mom and pop place in my favorite neighborhood!

This month it was Erin’s birthday and she chose this pizza joint. I wasn’t as impressed as I was with Pizanos. You could only order a small (12 inch) pizza or pizza by the slice. I like to be able to order a personal sized pizza. Instead I tried the calzone. It was good, but expensive. I might like to try and get pizza by the slice next time.

Again I went with my “monthly eat-out friends” to this Outback/Lonestar type restaurant. I don’t know how we picked this place or who suggested it. But it was very good. Again, it is way too far away from my house to make it into the regular rotation. But the loaded chicken breast was great and the rolls were excellent.

Each month three of my girl friends and I go out for dinner. We take turns picking the place, and if it’s your birthday month you get to pick. For Shannon’s birthday she chose Pizanos. This is a pizza place, and seeing as I don’t really like pizza, I never would have tried it. But it was really good pizza. It is across town, and I never crave pizza so I may never be back, but I still enjoyed it.