Toledo Restaurant Reviews

On Hiatus

2007-09-01T07:04:00.000-07:00

Due to time constrains, I will be continuing the hiatus on this blog indefinitely.

I appreciate the high number of readers who continue to visit this blog for earlier reviews, and I promise to get back to restaurant reviews when my schedule permits.

Thanks for stopping by!

Returning Soon!

2007-05-09T08:41:00.000-07:00

Due to more pressing obligations, I have not been able to update this blog as much as I would have liked.

I have more time this summer, and I plan to return to a minimum of one review per month.

Thanks for visiting!

New Toledo Fine Dining Site

2006-07-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

(Toledo, OH) TRR would like to extend a warm (and belated) welcome to another site dedicated all things culinary, The Glass City Gourmet

Karen bills her blog as a "chronicle of one woman's attempt to cook, eat, diet and entertain with both flair and whimsy," and the site more than lives up to its billing.

Visitors will find recipes, tips, and restaurant reviews on the site.

Here is her review of Bistro Wasabi, and this is a link to her review of Rosie's Italian Grille.

Good luck, Karen, in your quest to garner fame and fortune as "The Glass City Gournet."

Mancy’s Bluewater Grille -- 8.56/10.0

2006-05-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Review by contributing critic Hooda Thunkit

”Tradition is our Inspiration!”
(Restaurant visited: Thursday, May 11, 2006)

Food: 8.5
For an appetizer, we (Mrs. Thunkit & I) ordered and shared the (four) Crabcakes ($ 9.00).
The crabcakes were, quite simply, “to die for.”
The menu also lists a large variety of “rawbar” choices and has an extensive spirits and wine list.

Mrs. T: ordered the Grilled Salmon ($ 16.00 w/small house salad ($ 2.50 up-charge), Iced Tea ($ 2.25), and the Key Lime Pie ($ 5.00). Mrs. Thunkit, as usual found all of her meal satisfying and tasty.

Although we were offered and specified raspberry vinaigrette dressing for our salads, a regular vinaigrette was presented instead, with no explanation…

I had the Black Grouper (grilled) ($ 21.00) w/small house salad ($ 2.50 up-charge), Coke ($ 1.95), and the Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler ($ 6.00).

I was a little startled/surprised by my entrée, the Black Grouper; the taste was much stronger than I had anticipated, and the fish announced its arrival before I ever saw it coming. I found the “scent” rather distracting. Not being that familiar with salt-water “finned” cuisine, this could be normal though.

We both found the sauces on both the appetizers and entrees to be far from mundane. In fact, they took a little getting used to (okay, a LOT of getting used to.).
We didn’t see the traditional tartar or cocktail sauces being served with anything, no matter how much we would have hoped otherwise. But then, maybe it was our unsophisticated palates craving for well-executed, familiar tartar or shrimp sauce alternative. A choice though, would have been welcome with open mouths.

The portions were typical/adequate and the presentation was very well done, which is to be expected, at a Mancy’s property. Our dinner (for two) before tax and tip, was $ 66.20.

A note about prices and pricing:
As the Menu varies daily, depending on the catch of the day, the menu is priced and printed daily. Based on that day’s menu, I would characterize the prices as upscale, but in line with the other Mancy’s restaurants that we’ve patronized.

Ambience: 9.0
The outside of the former Hopp’s had been reworked, moving the entrance to the West side (from the South) and looks more upscale, less folksy. The interior appears more spacious, and the nautical (“bluewater”) theme carries through in the bar area with faux ice blocks stacked as shelves for the various libations, while elsewhere in the bar area (casual dining???) ice hanging from the ceiling was dripping as if melting.
Most or all of the faux ice doubled as accent/mood lighting; it was backlit with, what else, cobalt blue lights. Our table was appropriately appointed; Mancy’s uses real cloth napkins, as one would expect. The glassware was strikingly cobalt blue, a very nice touch.

The décor consisted of nautical touches, a few tasteful paintings and that blue ice theme. The lighting, retro and art deco reminiscent, seemed an odd choice. A few of the “cylinder within a cylinder” hanging table lights seemed poorly placed and were poorly done, IMHO.

Cleanliness: 9.0
The dining areas were spotless and each dining area was completely stripped and thoroughly cleaned before being reset for the next guests.
The restrooms were clean and well maintained
The food prep area was not viewable.

Service: 7.8
The wait staff, actually our waitperson, was a tad inattentive, table bussing was tardier than normal, and our waitperson was seen kibitzing a lot, with fellow waitstaffers.

Prices: 8.5
Entrees vary and are priced daily. Consult the day’s menu for more specifics.

Information/Location:
Mancy’s Bluewater Grille
461 W. Dussel Dr. Maumee, OH 43537-4209
Between Ford and Osage (in the former Hopp’s location)
Phone: (419) 724-BLUE
www.mancys.com

Hours:
Lunch: MON-FRI 11:00am - 4:00pm
Brunch: SUN 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Dinner: SUN-THU 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Dinner: FRI-SAT 4:00pm - 11:00pm

Accessibility:
The dining area and restrooms are fully equipped for all accessibility needs.

Smoking Accommodation:
This is a non-smoking restaurant.

Credit/Debit Cards:
Any and all major credit/debit cards are accepted.

City Hall Grille & Drinks -- 7.42 / 10.0

2006-04-16T16:29:00.000-07:00

You Can’t Beat City Hall

Well, maybe…

City Hall was visited on Monday, February 6th, 2006

We pulled into the parking lot promptly at 6:00 p.m. and there was only one other car there, this should have been our first clue that something might not be quite right at City Hall…

Note:City Hall is in what was formerly Mac and Tong Rafati’s “Our Place” restaurant.

Food: 4.7
The menu, which touches on all of the usual entrees, chicken, steaks, fish, shrimp, also delves into ribs and kabobs.

The portions were as expected for the price, and were presented in a no-frills manner, as one would expect in this type of venue (bar & grill).

I just HAD to try City Hall’s Cup of Chili ($ 2.99) as an appetizer. I tried it, I finished it, and it was…, memorable, if nothing else. It reminded me of canned chili, the gloss, the sheen, the taste, especially the taste.

Much to my later regret, I ordered the Walleye & Shrimp (deep-fried) ($ 12.99), and my dinner companion (Mrs. Thunkit) ordered the Broiled Yellow Fin Tuna Steak ($9.99).

The chili was the high point of the evening. The Walleye & Shrimp (cutouts, I called them, at the time) was the (for me) low point.

I had never thought how bad overcooked fish and shrimp could be before this, now I will NEVER forget how bad it was.

The self proclaimed “chef” MUST have been new at this “cooking” thing, to have allowed both my shrimp and walleye to have fried until every molecule of moisture and flavor had had been vaporized, leaving behind wooden-like cutouts, that only resembled what I had requested in size and shape only.

Now, it wasn’t as if our “chef” was busy, only two other couples ventured in while we were dining…

Mrs. Thunkit, on the other hand, was having a little better luck with her Yellow Fin Tuna. It too, was very dry, but had retained some flavor. She graciously said that it was “fine,” when I could tell better (both by the look of her tuna and by trying it myself).

The quality of the food, IF it had been prepared properly, was estimated to have been excellent by us, unfortunately, this is only an estimate/guesstimate…

Note To counter our utterly forgettable experience, many of Mrs. Thunkit’s co-workers speak very highly of City Hall’s luncheon fare (sandwiches & salads).

We WILL do a follow-up visit, as is our practice after a questionable meal, in 10 - 20 years, after the memories have faded sufficiently. About half of the time, in our experience, the “bad” meal will turn out to have been a fluke, in which case we will return regularly.

Our meal tab with Iced Tea and Soda was $ 26.18, before tax and tip.

Ambience: 8.0
City Hall is set back a little from Reynolds Rd. and has a spacious, well-lit parking area.

Once inside, the restaurant appeared to have been minimally changed, however the North wall had been opened up with added windows and a door to a planned deck for outdoor dining, weather permitting.

The walls were tastefully appointed with black & white “Images in Time,” scenes of early Toledo, compliments of The Toledo Lucas County Library, and descriptions are provided on the back of each menu, for your perusal. The pictures were unobtrusively framed, to avoid distraction from the subject matter.

Cleanliness: 8.9
The dining area was neat and clean, and the food-prep area was not viewable, unlike the restrooms (more about this later). The overall appearance of the restaurant was very favorable and inviting.

Service: 7.5
The “staff” as near as we could tell, consisted of a bartender, a “chef” and a janitorial type person, enough considering the restaurant’s size and traffic.

The “chef” waited on us, explaining the details of the specials, taking our orders, setting the tables, apparently preparing our meal, serving the meal, bussing the table, and seeing to our check. He was attentive, prompt, and kept our table efficiently bussed.

Our “waiter/chef” was easy to understand and not overbearing.

The bartender, tended the bar area (both customers).

The evenings “entertainment” was provided by the gentleman assuming the janitorial duties, He wheeling the mop and bucket through the dining area and into the men’s restroom where he proceeded to empty the trash, carry it past us , (in a clear garbage bag) while we were dining, returning to finish swabbing the floor (open door) and generally cleaning up the facility.

One would have thought was that by 6:00 P.M., the restaurant would have been prepared to receive business…

Prices: 8.0
The entrée prices ranged from $ 9.59 for the Chicken Breast dinner to $ 15.59 for a NY Strip & Shrimp. Appetizers were $ 1.50 (French Fries) - $ 8.99 (½ Slab of Ribs, Chicken Drummies & Veggies for Eight), and sandwiches are
$ 5.49 - 8.99.

An “Ethnic” heading in the menu offered Hummus and Grape Leaves. City Hall also offers a limited Kids Menu, Desserts (as offered by your server), and a full bar selection, including bottled and draft beers and wines by the glass.

This is a moderately priced restaurant.

Location:
City Hall Grille & Drinks
315 S. Reynolds Rd. (S. of Hill Ave.)
Toledo, Oh 43615-5931
Phone: (419) 536-1166

Hours:
City Hall is open:
Mon.-Thu. 11:00 - 11:00
Fri., Sat. 11:00 - Midnight
Sun. 12:00 - 9:30

Accessibility:
Both trance and dining areas are negotiable via wheelchair, access to the restrooms are less so, requiring some close maneuvering, but the restrooms (once inside) are friendlier with the usual accommodations evident.

Smoking Accommodation
This is a “Toledo” non-smoking restaurant, but the new deck will undoubtedly be smoker friendly.

Credit/Debit Cards:
All major credit/debit cards are accepted.

Review by Hooda Thunkit

Tom's Bar-B-Q & Grill - 7.25/10.00

2006-04-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Food - 8.25
Ribs are the forte of this express restaurant, and Tom's has won numerous awards for their slabs. The slab I demolished had a tangy, smoky flavor, and was just slightly on the fatty side and very juicy.

I also tried the Italian sausage, which was delicious.

Note to people with food allergies: Tom's uses peanut oil, so avoid the fried foods if you have an allergic reaction to peanuts.

Ambience 6.00
Tom's lacks a dining room, but does have a few picnic tables from which you can watch the goings-on of Front Street. The emphasis is on takeout and drive-through.

Cleanliness 7.50
The restaurant is clean, well-maintained, and employees stay busy keeping it that way. The exterior is brightly-lit and clean.

Service 7.75
Not quite "fast food," as Tom's makes everything to order, but I received my food on both occasions in less than five minutes.

Prices
A 1/2-slab of ribs is $8.95, and a full slab is $16.99. Sandwiches are in the $3-$4 range.

Location
Tom's is located at 702 Front Street, just north of Main. If you take the Cherry Street bridge across the Maumee, you turn left on Front Street and the restaurant is on the corner of Platt and Front. Phone: 419.697.7400

Hours
MON-THU 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
FRI-SAT 11:00 am to 12:00 midnight
Closed on Sundays

Some major credit cards are accepted. The restaurant also offers carryout and catering services.

Accessibility
The carryout window is wheelchair-accessible.

Happy Rose Buffet 7 / 10

2006-04-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

(Toledo, OH) The word "buffet" usually causes me to cringe; it conjures up visions of portly dining guests, piles of greasy fried foods, and the feeling that I will be engaged in a process more akin to feeding pigs in a trough than "dining."

However, I was pleasantly surprised when several of my children convinced me to try the Happy Rose Buffet. While the local four-star restaurants have nothing to fear, I have to admit that the food quality was as good as a person could possibly expect from a buffet-style restaurant.

Food - 7.5
While geared toward American-style Oriental fare (i.e., lots of fried chicken and beef dishes), there are enough choices to please diners who normally eschew "Oriental" restaurants. The food, in general, was hot, fresh, and of decent quality.

Of special note was the fresh sushi bar. There was a wide variety of choices, including ahi tuna, salmon, and eel, as well as more Americanized sushi items like California roll.

Ambience 6.50
Happy Rose is set up for large groups and big crowds, so you might want to dine at lunch if you would like a quieter, more intimate experience. There is nothing particularly striking about the decor, although the newness of the Monroe Street location means that the standard Chinese restaurant amenities are at least fresh-looking.

Cleanliness 7.50
The restaurant is clean, well-maintained, and employees stay busy keeping it that way. The glassware, plates, and silverware were spotless on both of our visits.

Service 7.25
Servers generally are attentive, and quick with refills and removing plates as you finish a trip to the buffet.

Prices
Lunch buffet runs $6.99 per person, while dinner is $9.99 on weekdays and $10.99 on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays and holidays the price is $9.99 all day. Prices do not include beverages.

Location
There are two Happy Rose Buffets in Toledo:
5335 Airport Hwy. (near Lowe's) Toledo, OH. (419) 385-8989
5221 Monroe St. (near Target) Toledo, OH. (419) 509-5942

Hours
Lunch: MON-SAT 11 AM to 3:30 pm
Dinner: MON-THU 3:30 pm to 10 pm
Dinner: FRI-SAT 3:30 pm to 11 pm

All major credit cards are accepted. The restaurant also offers carryout and catering services. There is no smoking in the facility.

Accessibility
The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible, and little maneuvering in the restrooms seemed to be necessary for larger chairs.

Outback Steakhouse, Maumee, OH -- 8.6 / 10.0

2006-03-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

”Shoot Through To An Outback Wherever You Are”

This review by the inimitable Hooda Thunkit

Food: 9.25
I had the Victoria’s “Center Cut” Filet (9-ounce tenderloin, $13.99) (No Worries!)(WRONG…), Caesar Salad, and the “Walkabout Soup O’ The Day” (It was Bean).

My steak arrived underdone (purple inside), but was quickly rectified and returned, cooked to perfection (pink inside).

Mrs. HT also had the Victoria’s “Center Cut” Filet (7-ounce tenderloin, $10.99) (No Worries)(This time, they were RIGHT), House Salad w/raspberry vinaigrette, and the “Too Right French Onion Soup.”

Note:It is rare for Mrs. T to order a steak, but as she put it, “We are in a Steak House, aren’t we? Of course, I couldn’t argue with her logic ;-)

Both meals (once mine was adjusted) were excellent, so much so that we decided to order dessert (also rarity for us).

We both decided on the “Cheesecake Olivia” ($4.49); I got the chocolate, and Mrs. T got the raspberry.

Although the dinner was excellent, this dessert (at least 3” tall) was the high point! We ate every crumb and scraped the sauces off of the plates. It looked and tasted GREAT!

Ambience: 8.75
The view from the street left no doubt that you were about to enter an Outback Steakhouse, it is classic.

The interior (also a classic) was tastefully appointed with pictures and a few Australian fixtures that left no doubt where you were. There was a ~5-foot tall kangaroo “Greeter,” but the koalas that used to adorn the wall posts were missing on this visit.

There were a few large tables capable of seating up to 8 and the rest of the restaurant was populated with comfy booths. I must say that the booths were exceptional. Also the wide aisles allowed someone to sit at the end of the table and not measurably block or hamper the wait staff or other diners from getting past/through.

Over each booth’s table were outdoor lights reminiscent of the 30’s, just a bare light bulb and a metal shade with a white enameled interior and a green enameled exterior, very retro… Additionally, the aisles were lit by recessed cans in the ceiling housing slightly pinkish incandescent lamps.

The tables appeared to be wooden and layered with a thick clear finish; the table settings were functional.

I found the Ambience to be acceptable and not over done.

Cleanliness: 8.5
The dining area was very clean, however the restrooms needed a little picking up from mostly stray paper litter.

Service: 8.5
The wait staff was attentive, prompt, easy to understand, and efficient without being overbearing or non-existent.

Prices: 8.0
The Outback’s entrees prices ranged from (adult) $10.99 to $28.99 (King Crab), and included a “Joey” section with menu items priced at $4.99 - $6.49.

Our dinner (no alcohol) came to ~ $ 38.00 before tax & tip.

Location:
Outback Steakhouse
401 W. Dussel Dr.
(W. Dussel & Osage)
Maumee, OH 43537-1667
Phone: (419) Number
http://outback.com/

Hours:
Mon.-Thu 4:00-10:30; Fri., 4:00-11:30; Sat., 3:00-11:30; Sun., 12:00-9:00

Accessibility:
The dining area is mostly accessible without the use of ramps which do make the rest accessible

On the non-smoking side, at least, the booths were plenty wide as were the aisles. I would rate the booths as accessible at the (few) tables, with no perceptible restrictions.

Restrooms (via the ramps) are fully accessibility and equipped (although the restrooms needed some attention.

Smoking Accommodation
Here’s the rub. Although this is in Maumee and accommodates both smokers and non-smokers alike, the ceiling fans on the non-smoking side made the environment very smoking side like. I sincerely hope that they will remedy this situation in the future. It was the only drawback to an otherwise excellent experience…

Credit/Debit Cards:
Most major credit and debit cards are honored.

Phoenicia - 7.25 / 10.0

2006-02-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

(Toledo, OH) Phoenicia is a restaurant on the third floor of the Student Union at the University of Toledo that gets very few mentions, but which quietly provides great Mediterranean food at a reasonable price.

Food - 8.0
Everything that you would expect - tabbouli, gyros, shish kabob, Greek salads - and the food quality is above that of many Greek and Lebanese restaurants. The vegetables are fresh, the seasonings are creative, and the portion sizes will please even the largest appetites. If Mom ran a Mediterranean restaurant, it would be just like this (except no one yells at you to take your shoes off at the door!)

Ambience 7.25
Phoenicia is a laid-back restaurant, and the decor is a bit on the plain side. That being said, the restaurant is an excellent choice for those doing business with UT staff, and its location in the center of campus makes it an ideal lunch or dinner destination.

Cleanliness 8.5
The restaurant is consistently clean and well-maintained. The glassware, plates, and silverware were spotless on all of our visits.

Service 7.25
The food is served quickly, and servers generally are attentive. Our most recent server had some difficulty with finding our check, and had to ask us again what we had, but usually the servers are motivated, friendly college students.

Prices
Entrees range in price from $4 to $12. Our bill for two people (with no alcohol, but with dessert) was $21.

Location Phoenicia is located in the Student Union at UT. The best parking for visitors to the University is in the West lot. (419) 530-2151.

HoursMON-THU 11 AM to 8 PM, FRI 11 AM to 7:30 PM.
Reservations are accepted. All major credit cards are accepted. The restaurant also offers carryout and catering services. There is no smoking in the facility.

Accessibility
The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible, and little maneuvering in the restrooms seemed to be necessary for larger chairs.

Bravo! Cucina Italiana - 9.25 / 10.0

2006-02-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

(Toledo, OH) I must admit that when my wife suggested this "new restaurant at the mall" I had visions of fried chicken nuggets and cheap egg rolls. It was with great trepidation that I allowed myself to be convinced to try Bravo! Cucina Italiana.

And it is a good thing that I listened to my wonderful wife (I should remember to always do that, except in Super Bowl picks). We enjoyed perhaps our best meal and dining experience in at least 12 months (and we eat out a lot!)

Food - 9.5
Simply put, we were wowed. Eveything we ordered tasted fresh, and everything we sampled had a signature taste. Not to be missed is the foccacia bread served with meals that is acompanied by a sweet herb oil for dipping.

Pay the extra buck and get the Mista Insalata, which is a delicious blend of mixed greens, pine nuts, bacon, and a sweet viniagrette dressing. I cannot remember the last time I so enjoyed a salad!

Among the entrees we sampled, the best by far were the Penne Mediterranean and Gamberetti fra Diavolo; both of these entrees were succulently prepared and had incredible blends of seasonings.

After dinner we tried the Tiramisu, and this is hands-down the best Tiramisu in town.

Ambience 9.25
Fascinating blend of Tuscan and contemporary decor. Unlike some restaurants in the Italian genre, Bravo! does not try to club you over the head with its Mediterranean theme. White tablecloths, fine china, and polished silverware subtly proclaim that no expense was spared in creating a unique dining experience.

Cleanliness 8.75
This is a newer facility, and as such everything should appear to be in proper working order. It was. The only area that needed any attention was the entry foyer, but given the snow and salt, this was to be expected.

Service 9.5
Our appetizers, salads, and entress were timed perfectly, and the server was conscientious about refills and clearing plates. The check was presented and returned with rapidity, and the friendly server was not one of those clingy types that inject themselves into the guests' conversations. In addition, Victor - our server - was the consummate fine-dining service professional; every hair neatly in place, uniform starched, pleated, and perfectly fitted.

Prices
Entrees range in price from $8 to $22. Our bill for two people (with no alcohol, but with dessert) was $53.

Location
The restaurant is located at the Westfield Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe Street R-3. The best entrance is on the south side of the mall. Telephone: (419)-472-1200.

Hours
11 AM to 10 PM Sunday-Thursday; 11 to 11 PM Friday and Saturday. Reservations are accepted. All major credit cards are accepted. The restaurant also offers carryout and catering services. There is no smoking in the facility, although there is a smoking lounge connected to the pub.

Accessibility
The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible, and little maneuvering in the restrooms seemed to be necessary for larger chairs.

Calvino's: 8.25 / 10.0

2006-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

(Toledo, OH) The two-story restaurant in Cricket West has most of its seating on the second floor. The kitchen is located on the first floor, and I suspect that servers get a lot of exercise jogging up and down the stairs. The restaurant bills itself as having "Foods of the World," but the emphasis is on the Mediterranean.

Food - 8.75
One of the best pizzas in town. Everything is fresh, and there is a wide variety of specialty toppings available. Be sure to try the Greek pizza.

Our favorite appetizer is the roasted vegetable platter, which features eggplant, zucchini, and several other veggies marinated and fresh-roasted with pine nuts.

We also liked the beef and chicken kabobs, which were tender and had a subtle marinade. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and had just the right amount of searing on the grill.

Ambience 7.25
Quiet little place that is a nearby getaway. This is a great place for a couple to share a bottle of wine and a light meal, as well as for a family to enjoy a pizza in a setting that is hard to find in this age of mass-produced, paint-by-numbers chain fare.

Cleanliness 7.5
The dining area and kitchen were in excellent shape, but the restrooms needed some TLC. Patrons have been picking at the artwork in the men's restroom, and the cracked floor tiles suggest that it is time to remodel the restrooms.

Service 8.75
Our appetizers, salads, and entress were timed perfectly, and the server was conscientious about refills and clearing plates. The check was presented and returned with rapidity, and the friendly server was not one of those clingy types that inject themselves into the guests' conversations.

Prices
Entrees range in price from $6 to $15. Our bill for four people (with no alcohol) was $44.

Location419) 531-5100
The restaurant is located at 3143 W Central Avenue in Toledo, OH, in the Cricket West plaza. Entrance is on the Central Avenue side. Telephone:(419) 531-5100

Hours
11 to 10 PM Monday-Thursday; 11 to 11 PM Friday and Saturday, 4 to 10 PM on Sunday, and reservations are accepted. All major credit cards are accepted. The restaurant also offers carryout and catering services.

Accessibility
The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible only at the single downstairs table, and maneuvering in the restrooms might be necessary for some larger chairs. I did not see an elevator to the second floor, although there might be one hidden in the kitchen.

Louis G's: 7.25 / 10.0

2006-01-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

(Sylvania, OH) The restaurant's theme centers on the Roaring Twenties, and a gangster-speakeasy motif is featured here.

There was live jazz on the Saturday night we visited, and it was a welcome change from the piped-in Muzak that many restaurants utilize.

Food - 8.0
I have to preface my review with my disappointment that the restaurant was out of strip steaks, filet mignon, and prime rib when we visited.

That being said, the items we did sample were well-prepared. The shrimp Creole appetizer was excellent, combining lightly-sauteed prawns with a spicy wine sauce served on a bed of rice.

I lieu of steaks, I ordered the babyback ribs. They were a bit dry and overcooked, but still fell off the bone like good ribs will.

One guest felt that her tilapia was overly oily-tasting. The other guests ordered the ribeye steak, and all were impressed with the grilling of their entrees.

One might argue that the portion size is geared toward lighter eaters, as all of the steaks were in the 8-12 ounce range (historymike is a firm believer that when you dine out, you should do so with gusto; he normally orders steaks in the 16-20 ounce range. This, of course, is probably why he needs to shed 20 pounds).

Ambience 8.0
Linen tablecloths, polished sliverware, and quality china are among the features of this restaurant. Diners can choose to sit in the lounge area (where smoking is permitted), or in a separate nonsmoking dining area that is quieter.

The wine list left something to be desired; too much emphasis was placed on high-end bottles in the $40-and-up range, while there were very few house wines available by the glass.

The restaurant also features karaoke on select nights.

Cleanliness 8.75
Very clean dining area, and the kitchen appeared to be well maintained. The men's restroom needed some attention, though, as there were paper towels on the floor.

Glassware was spotless, although the glasses did not match. The server explained that the dishwasher was "backed up."

Service 6.0
We were disappointed in the level of service for this type of restaurant. The server neglected to keep ice water filled, and had to be prompted several times. It took a long time for plates to be removed, and it seemed as though the server was unhappy that she wound up with a late table in her section (we arrived at 8:30 PM). It also took a long time for the check to be presented, and we had to remind the server several times for the check.

On a more positive note the food arrived at the appropriate times, and the server was very knowledgeable about the menu.

Prices
Entrees range in price from $10 to $20. Our bill for two people (including two glasses of the house cabernet sauvignon) was $54.

Location
Louis G's is located at 5147 North Main Street in Sylvania; it occupies a space that used to house Someplace Else, Madison's on Main, and Kokomo's. Phone: 419-824-3000

Hours
4 to 10 PM Tuesday-Thursday; 4 to 11 PM Friday and Saturday, and reservations are accepted. All major credit cards are accepted.

Accessibility
The restaurant is wheelchair-accessible, although maneuvering in the restrooms might be necessary for some larger chairs.

Nick's Cafe: 7.25 / 10.0

2006-01-16T14:34:00.000-08:00

Nothing fancy here, and yet I found myself returning for a third visit the other day. I posted a generic breakfast image on the left until I remember to bring my digital camera next time.

Food - 8.0

Huge portions on all of the items sampled. I enjoyed the gyros platter, and the mountain of fries was huge, but the cooking oil needed to be changed. All of the vegetables I sampled were quite fresh.

I returned to eat breakfast the next day, and once again the portions were quite large. Everything was delivered hot and well-prepared; I ordered a breakfast combo featuring eggs, sausage, and hash browns.

Ambience 7.0

Very simple decor, much what one would expect at a diner. The booths were spacious, and the atmosphere was that of a busy truck stop. The restaurant does not have a smoking section.

Cleanliness 7.0

The building seemed to be maintained fairly well, although the men's restroom needed some attention on the day I was there.

Service 8.5

Fast, friendly, efficient. The servers keep your coffe mug filled without asking, and only engage in conversation if you seem to want it (I was interviewing someone on my first visit, and the server refrained from annoying chatter). Five star it ain't, and yet the servers excel at what they do.

Prices

Inexpensive entrees ranging from $4 to $12, and the postions are quite generous. You will not leave feeling you did not get your money's worth.

Location
2516 S Reynolds Rd Toledo, OH 43614. 419-866-1793. The restaurant has access from both Heatherdowns and Reynolds, and is on the southwest corner of the intersection.

Hours

The restaurant is open from 6 AM to 8:30 PM seven days a week, and accepts all major credit cards.

Accessibility

The restrooms would be a bit of a tight sqeeze for anyone using a mobility device, but most tables and booths seem accessible.

Applebee’s (Dussel Dr., Maumee, OH) -- 8.45 / 10.0

2006-01-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Review by restaurant critic Hooda Thunkit

Food: 6.75
Applebee’s has an impressive menu, covering all of the bases, so to speak. From the appetizers to the sandwiches, rollups & burgers to the many entrees and combos, and closing with desserts, the only demographic that I felt was slighted or ignored were the Vegetarians.

Our Dinner for two:
Mrs. Thunkit just HAD to have the Honey Grilled Salmon ($ 10.99), a repeat for her. It was accompanied by mixed veggies (carrots, broccoli, and zucchini), garlic toast, and almond rice pilaf.

I ordered from the Take Two portion of the menu, choosing the Crispy Buttermilk Shrimp and the Honey Grilled Chicken ($ 12.99). It too was accompanied by the mixed veggies and garlic toast, but instead of the rice, mine came with the creamy garlic mashed potatoes.

The sauce accompanying the chicken and the salmon was billed as “Honey Pepper Sauce.” Although I could taste some honey and traces of pepper, the overwhelming taste was medicinal and could NOT be explained by the server, he even asked in the kitchen.

I didn’t use the side sauce, toughing it out with what had already been applied to the breast pieces. Mrs. Thunkit and I tasted both sauce sides and they were identical. She however, found it to be less objectionable on her salmon, probably due to the salmon’s relatively stronger flavor. The chicken itself was tender and juicy.

The presentation was quite attractive and the portions reasonable; no one left hungry.

My dinner choice had a few problems. Besides the unidentifiable taste in the side sauce, the Garlic Bread (yes, I know that is “buttered” beforehand and probably microwave thawed and warmed) but mine was COLD and soggy, not hot/warm and slightly crunchy, as expected… Somebody in the kitchen dropped the ball on this one, plain and simple…

Now, let’s move on to the Crispy Buttermilk Shrimp.

The Shrimp had “the look” that I have come to detest. A quick stab with my fork confirmed what I had expected, it was greasy. The push of the fork brought forth grease from the “crispy” buttermilk coating. The shrimp was crispy, greasy, and dark, because it was cooked at the wrong temperature and for too long. Thankfully, the coating was NOT excessive and the shrimp inside was edible.

The sides where as expected, except for the garlic mashed potatoes which were shiny, way too light/fluffy, and with many overly large pieces of skin within.

Now, I like potato skins in my potatoes, but when they get in the way of eating the spuds, they are too big. I can’t explain the fluffy/light texture that gave this side an unnatural sheen, But I can tell you that it wasn’t the garlic. I couldn’t taste the garlic, which I was looking forward to…

The Dessert
Mrs. Thunkit had a piece of Raspberry Cheesecake for dessert; I abstained (an unspoken non-New Year’s Non-resolution).

Now, Mrs. Thunkit HATES raspberries, she won’t even touch them. She explained her decision bu stating that raspberry sauce has no raspberry seeds and no raspberry hair…

Anyway, she LOVED her Raspberry Cheesecake! I took a very tiny small taste (purely for this review) and found that it lacked that certain something, seeds and hair.

Iced Tea for her and Pepsi with little Ice for me and we were out of there. It wasn’t overly crowded, but now (@ 6:15) a short line was forming. The early birds have won again!

Ambience: 8.75

The exterior looks like an Applebee’s, of course, they are everywhere!

The interior is “sports bar,” right out of the restaurateur’s playbook, with lots of wall space devoted to sports, sports, and more sports. What separates any one Applebee’s from all of the rest though, is the Neighborhood Wall.

”The Neighborhood Wall in every Applebee’s celebrates local life. Discover fascinating stories from the walls of Applebee’s across the country.”

The bare tables of inlaid laminate (or synthetic stone) were surrounded with wood trim. The sturdy chairs were of light finished wood (matching the table’s trim) with the cushioned seat finished red vinyl faced fabric.

The table settings were nothing out of the ordinary.

The walls were covered, literally form floor to ceiling with sports related pictures, posters, gear, and accessories, but the stuff hung above the lower lip of the track mounted accents virtually disappear form view, after sundown.

The deco was very appropriate, given the venue.

Cleanliness: 9.0

The dining area and restrooms were spotless
Food Prep Area (if viewable)

Service: 8.75

As we flew in with the “early birds,” there was no wait and we were quickly escorted to our table. Our waiter for this visit was promptly behind the seating hostess. The table was also bussed with the same promptness.

Our waiter however, was almost less than prompt in offering drink refills… almost.

Understandability was not an issue as we all spoke the same primary language.

Shortcomings, if any, were not with the wait staff.

Prices: 9.0

Salads ranged from $ 6.49 - $ 8.49, appetizers $ 3.99 - $9.49, entrees $ 9.49 - $ 16.99, Sandwiches, rollups & burgers were around $ 7 - 7.50. The WeightWachers portion of the menu (including desserts) was fron $ 3.49 to $ 10.99. The 6 desserts from the regular menu all came in at $ 4.99. Our dinner with one dessert came in at $ 35.10 before tip.

Location:

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill
531 W Dussel Dr
(Between Ford St and Arrowhead Dr)
Maumee, OH 43537-4025
(419) 897-9779
http://www.applebees.com

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11:00 A.M. - 11:00 P.M.
Fri-Sat 11:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Sun 11:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Accessibility:

The lower dining area (the bar/”pit”) was easily accessible with/by a wheelchair. The upper dining area is the non-smoking section (at least on the South and West sides of the dining room) had access via two ramps at the back of the lower section (the “pit”) however, I doubt that many Assisted Living or Nursing Home residents could negotiate the ramps alone. A mobile spouse would probably have a hard time assisting their mate, as the ramps appear to be “legal” but, just barely, IMO. Younger, stronger guests may negotiate the inclines without much trouble

The restrooms are fully accessible with two separate, spacious “stalls” in the Men’s, probably mirrored in the Ladies’ and, with accessibility rails in the stalls and appropriately positioned porcelain on the walls. They were clean and adequately stocked with supplies. The sinks were properly fitted and designed to be barrier free.

Smoking Accommodation

Applebee’s has both smoking and non-smoking dining areas, although they are immediately adjacent to each other, separated by short, table height walls.

We were seated two sections away from the smoking “pit,” and still caught a few wisps of smoke as people seated in the area, closer to the smoking section, moved about. Although there were only two smokers in the “pit.” our clothes had that telltale smoke odor; we immediately removed and dispatched them to the clothes chute, upon returning home.

Credit/Debit Cards:

All major cards are accepted

Golden Fleece 7.25 / 10

2006-01-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

Located in Detroit's historic Greektown, the Golden Fleece is one of the oldest restaurants on the strip.

Food - 9.0
This category is easily the strongest suit of the Golden Fleece. Nothing too fancy, just some of the best-tasting Greek food you will ever eat.

The gyros and shish kebab are always flavorful and generous in portions. Be sure to start out with saganaki, the traditional flaming cheese in which it is mandatory to shout "Opa!" when the server ignites it.

Also not to be missed is the marinated octopus. Even diehard seafood haters in my party liked this appetizer.

Ambience - 7.5
Noisy and crowded (especially if there is a Red Wings, Tigers, or Lions home game), the Golden Fleece nonetheless has the feel of a busy Manhattan diner. There are both smoking and non-smoking sections, but non-smoking tables can be quite close to the smoking section.

Cleanliness - 6.5
Not high marks here. The restrooms are, well, a bit grimy, and the door lock looked like it was about to fall off. The vinyl tablecloth had something sticky remaining on it. The servers had tied-back hair, and the open kitchen was clean and well-organized.

Service - 8.0
Fast service by a friendly server. The appetizers, salds, and entrees were timed well, and the server quickly removed plates and glasses. Refills were quite prompt.

Prices
Very reasonable. Entrees are between $6 and $15. Dinner for four (two appetizers, salads, entees, no booze) was $68. The Golden Fleece accepts all major credit cards.
Location

Hours
Open SUN - THU 11 AM - 1 AM, FRI - SAT 11 AM - 3 AM.

Accessibility
This is an old building with cramped quarters. Getting to a table would not be a problem, but the hallway to the restrooms might be problematic for those using wheelchairs.

Location
525 Monroe Street in Detroit's Greektown. Exit Lafayette Street from I-375.
313-962-7093

Saigon Bistro -- 8.5 / 10.0

2005-12-31T14:55:00.000-08:00

Come experience Toledo's most exquisite and authentic Vietnamese entrees. The recipes come from the owner's family heritage. The atmosphere is friendly, family-oriented, and fascinating. Stop by and try an entree from our extensive lunch menu, or stay and savor a unique Vietnamese feast. Review by Hooda Thunkit

Food: 8.4
Our couple #3 opted for an appetizer, choosing the Pho Tai, noodle soup with thin sliced steak (small) for two. This could have easily served four. (This was the small serving of the Pho Tai entrée)

We chose from among the 70+ listed entrees choosing (4) shrimp, a pork, and a beef selection.

The portions were typical of oriental fare except for couple #1’s specialty choice of ginger shrimp in a clay pot with caramel sauce. When the clay pot’s lid was removed, a meager portion of tiny shrimp, separated by few onion pieces and couple small slices of mild (weak) ginger stared back at this disappointed diner. Thankfully there was rice and soy sauce. The caramel sauce, or possibly caramelized veggies were MIA.

Couple #1 also ordered shrimp with mixed vegetables, which was, portion wise, more typical. Her meal held an unwanted surprise in the form of red pepper flakes that made the expected meal much hotter than one would expect from the menu listing.

Saigon Bistro does NOT indicate the “hotness” of an entree in any way on their menu, so it would be wise to seek the advice of the wait staff before making your final selection. There were no other surprises or disappointments among the six diners in our party.

The variety of choices was good, but the menu had few mentions of crab and none for lobster. There was a wide choice of non-alcoholic drinks available, but no wines, beers, or mixed drinks.

The quality of the food was good and presented well.

Ambience: 6.8
Saigon Bistro is located in a nondescript strip mall; the exterior is generic except for the signage.

The interior was found to be equally generic with white tile flooring and minimal oriental themed decorations. The incandescent “cans” in the tile ceiling were fitted with energy saving fluorescent lamps that protruded past the can’s bottom spraying the dining room with plenty of light, although it is somewhat distracting.

The tables and chairs were also generic too with black laminate tops and no oriental details either. The bare tables were set with paper napkins and well worn flatware wrapped in another paper napkin along with an oriental soup spoon and plastic chopsticks.

This ambience was found to be appropriate for a restaurant in this price range.

Cleanliness: 9.0
The dining area and the restrooms were clean; the food prep area was not viewable from the dining area.

Service: 8.8
The wait staff’s attention was not as prompt as couple #1’s feminine diner (the one with the peppery shrimp) would have wished for, but the rest thought it adequate.

One odd thing; when our orders came out and the server mixed two of them up, we were left to make the switches ourselves with little more than an “okay” from the waitress upon mentioning the error.

Although dining in an oriental restaurant, staffed with the typically oriental wait staff, we were relatively understood, as was our server by us.

Prices: 9.2
Prices for the entrees typically ranged form $ 5.95 to $ 12.95 (most were $ 6.95 - $ 9.95), with a couple of menu areas sporting prices in the teens.

Location:
Saigon Bistro
4102 Airport Hwy.
(Between Reynolds & Byrne)
Toledo, OH 43615-7100
Phone: (419) 382-1212
www.SaigonToledo.com

Hours:
Tue. - Thu. 11-9
Fri. & Sat. 11-10
Sun. 12-9 closed
Mon. closed

Accessibility:
The dining room is handicapped accessible, as are the restrooms. However, as the restroom hallway is lined with extra chairs and a cabinet, restroom accessibility is ZERO. The restrooms are both single occupancy with no expected accessibility aids evident.

Smoking Area:None

Credit/Debit Cards:
Yes, All Major

The Mango Tree - 8.25 / 10

2005-12-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

Food 8.5
We sampled the Turtle soup and the French onion soup, both of which were delicious. The dinner salads were quite fresh, although the spinach salad I ordered was drenched in dressing. Dinner was accompanied with fresh-baked rolls; I ate far too many of these.

I ordered a surf-and-turf prime rib with fried shrimp combination. The prime rib was well-cooked, although the kitchen avoids much seasoning (historymike is a sucker for a heavily-seasoned exterior). One of my guests ordered the roast duck with a Cumberland sauce (read: l'orange) on the side, and the seasoning combination created a unique taste sensation. Another guest ordered the cilantro lime-lemon fliet of sole, which had a light, flavorful taste. Finishing off the meal was a Crème Brule topped with mango slices; the dessert could have used a few more seconds of flambé, but otherwise was delicious.

Ambience 7.0
Nothing special here, as the restaurant's interior is low-key and devoid of much that is unique. The feel is that of a formal dinner in someone's house, and there are separate enclosed dining areas for smokers and non-smokers. Quiet classical music played in the backgound. An odd aesthetic non sequitur: the men's room had stock posters of Ferraris and other expensive sports cars, which seemed to belong on my 17-year old's wall rather than in a upscale restaurant.

There seemed to be inconsistencies in the temperature throughout the restaurant, and the hostess led us to a table "in the back where it's warmer." There was a space heater near the exterior door, presumably to combat this problem.

The wine list seemed a bit skimpy; the goal seemed to be to cover the basics with at least one moderately-priced bottle. There were three pedestrian chardonnays, and most of the major varietals were represented by only one bottle. Nothing jumped out at me from the list as a particularly creative addition.

Cleanliness 8.5
Linen tablecloths are changed after every meal, and the restaurant is quite clean. Restrooms were immaculate and well-stocked, with silk flowers on the counter.

Service 9.0
Our server was friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable about the menu. Plates were promptly removed, and service seemed to be a collective effort, as at least three employees participated in various aspects of the meal.

Prices
Entrees are in the $10 to $20 range. We spent $54 for our meal, which did not include alcohol, but included appetizers and dessert.

Location
The restaurant is located at 217 S. Reynolds Road, just south of Hill in Toledo. 419-536-2883. All major credit cards are accepted. There are a few items on the menu for children, but I personally would not take children to this restaurant without a roll of duct tape.

Hours
The Mango Tree is open MON-THU 11:30 AM to 10 PM; FRI 11:30 AM to 11 PM; SAT 5 PM to 11 PM; SUN 4 PM to 8 PM.

Ciao! - 8.75 / 10

2005-12-26T13:35:00.000-08:00

Food - 9.5
We began with the asiago al forno , a cheese appetizer with fresh thyme and pungent black pepper. Fresh-baked bread was also served with an herb olive oil.

I ordered the fileto di manzo, which is an herb-crusted tenderloin served with portabello mushroom, goat cheese, and tomato. It was a perfect medium rare, and the filet seemed to melt as I took a bite. My dinner guest ordered scaloppine di vitello con gambereti, veal served with artichoke hearts and shrimp in a light butter sause. The only negative consideration in the food was a side dish of risotto, which was somewhat overdone.

Ciao! has an excellent wine list, and our server was very knowledgeable about wines in stock as well as creative wine pairings.

Ambience - 8.0
The restaurant has the feel of a Tuscan country villa, with an appropriate sense of decor that does not devolve into the garish. Tables, however, seemed a bit too close together; admittedly, the somewhat boisterous party at the next table may have influenced this observation.

Cleanliness 9.5
In general, the restaurant is well-maintained. The restrooms were clean and well-stocked, and the portions of the kitchen that could be observed from the dining room were also tidy. All of the silverware, plates, and glassware were spotless.

Service - 8.0
Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Plates were removed almost immediately, and refills arrived without prompting. Our server, however, was in need of a shave, and his shirt needed to be tucked in, which lowered the overall service score.

Prices
Entrees are in the $15 to $25 range, but there are a few menu items under $10.

Location
Ciao! is located at 6064 Monroe Street in Sylvania. It is directly west of US-23; if arriving from the freeway, go straight at the light and immediately turn right into the Ciao! parking lot. 1-888-456-DINE.

Hours
Ciao! is open for dinner only; MON-THU 5-10 PM, FRI 5-11 PM, SAT 4-11 PM, and SUN 4-9 PM. All major credit cards are accepted. I consider the restaurant to be kid-friendly, but I personally would not take small children to this restaurant.

2005-12-01T07:22:00.000-08:00