The Raging Bull

Last Friday, Nicole and I made our way over to Lynchburg to have a date night dinner at Bull Branch. Nicole ordered a Groupon for Bull Branch a few weeks back and we needed to get over there before it expired. After clearing the schedule and getting the reservation, last Friday night was our chance.

Prior to Nicole getting the Groupon, I'd never heard of Bull Branch and couldn't find much information about it online, since they don't have a website. The extent of my eating in Lynchburg has been in the strip around Liberty University (Moe's, Five Guys, Cracker Barrel, etc.) and I'd never really spent any time downtown. The restaurant was located downtown and it's one of the only things the center of Lynchburg had to offer. There wasn't much happening or many people out, which is unfortunate for a downtown, especially on a Friday night. Though I don't mind having an easy time finding a parking spot.

When we arrived at the restaurant, it was full of people. However, that is relative. This place is a tiny dining room with around 10-15 tables tightly positioned in different spots across the room. Not much space at all. There is also a small bar as you enter the door. If I could use one word to describe the atmosphere/layout/ambiance of Bull Branch it would be...weird. The layout is weird. The lighting and art is weird. The concept is weird. Even the front door is weird. It feels like they are trying to create an urban, modern, artsy, hip atmosphere, but most of it came across as forced and tacky to me. And since I'm quickly becoming an 80 year old grouch, I didn't like that it was too dark to read the menu and too loud to be able to have a conversation with Nicole. I'm awaiting my AARP card.

The service was also a bit weird. Although we had reservations for 8:00 and arrived on time, we were told our table would not be ready for another 15-20 minutes and that we should just wait at the bar. No offers for drinks or appetizers and no real interest from the bartender. I was confused as to why we made a reservation? After we were seated, our waiter did a relatively good job. Aside from the awkward greeting of, "Do you guys want some booze?" He was friendly, knowledgeable and provided good service.

The food is what won me over to Bull Branch. We weren't too interested in any of the entree selections, so we decided to share a variety of appetizers. We ordered the wagyu kobe beef burger with fries, seared sea scallops, goat cheese & tomato salad, and the baked goat cheese with tomatoes (we went a little overboard with the goat cheese & tomatoes). 3 of the 4 appetizers were delicious. The burger was cooked to a perfect medium well and was juicy and flavorful. The melted cheddar on top of the burger was excellent as well. The scallops (although small) had a nice, peppery crust and were very tender. And the baked goat cheese with tomatoes spread wonderfully on the small crostinis, similar to a bruschetta. I wasn't a huge fan of the goat cheese and tomato salad because I thought the cheese was overpowering and really took over the pallet.

In terms of value, I have mixed thoughts. For us, the value ended up being good because we were able to use a Groupon. We paid $20 for a $40 coupon, and then paid for tax and tip. Without the coupon, I don't know if I would return. The food was good, but I don't know if it would justify paying $12 for appetizers or $12 for a burger. Again, it feels like Bull Branch is trying to be a hip restaurant in a big city and price themselves accordingly, which just doesn't seem to fit in this region. Overall - not great, but not bad. And definitely weird.

I Want Seconds!

The Roanoke Rescue Mission is one of the most successful and respected organizations in the Roanoke Valley. They are the first name that comes to mind when people talk about charitable groups that support the community and provide for the needy. From a ministry standpoint, they serve as the blueprint for how to effectively use funds to make the greatest impact on people. Another great example of their stewardship and business sense is the decision to open a restaurant - 2nd Helpings Cafe.

2nd Helpings Cafe is only part of what the Rescue Mission offers at their property on Williamson Road. Along with the cafe, they also feature an art gallery and shop. The art gallery has some beautiful drawings, paintings, and photographs, with many of them focusing on the Roanoke Valley. The shop offers a variety of items, but I'd compare it to a nice Goodwill store. I especially liked the art gallery and would encourage anyone to check it out when stopping by the Cafe.

I was surprised at the size of the cafe. They offer patio seating out front, and also have a substantial dining area with booths and regular tables. The interior is full of light from the windows and other various lights, which gives the restaurant a warm, friendly vibe. You place your order at the counter and are then given a buzzer that goes off when your food is ready, similar to Panera.

2nd Helpings serves breakfast and lunch. I haven't been for breakfast but they appear to offer standard fare: bagels, eggs, bacon, sausage, muffins, toast, etc. However, they do have a large variety of bagels, which are also used for their lunch sandwiches. They have a number of different sandwiches and serve Boar's Head meats and cheeses. I had the Fourth Street Chicken (grilled chicken, bacon, swiss, romaine, & mango chutney) on an everything bagel and really liked it. The portion was VERY generous and the mango chutney really added a nice sweetness to the meat and cheese. The sandwich also came with a side of bagel chips. Nicole had a salad that she really loved and I've also heard very good things about the soups.

To make the meal even better, it's hard to beat the value. For a huge sandwich with a side of bagel chips, it cost $6. All the sandwiches are $6, salads $7, soups $3, and a variety of other things. And 100% of the restaurant's profits go toward the goal of the Rescue Mission: to provide shelter, food, and clothing for the homeless. A great place to eat for a great cause. 2nd Helpings is truly unique and shows why the Roanoke Rescue Mission continues to deserve the support of our community.

Mangia! Mangia!

It's been a week since my last post because of some internet issues and other things taking up my time. The local restaurants to review are adding up, but I wanted to get in another review from the Annapolis area.

For our last night in Annapolis, I was really craving some pizza. We had seen the typical pizza chains like Domino's and Papa John's, but I wanted to try something different if we could find it. As we were driving around and scoping out our possibilities, we stumbled upon Bertucci's, which was tucked away in a strip-mall parking lot. My dad said he'd been to a Bertucci's in Atlanta and was confident we could get some good pizza here, so we decided to give it a shot. As I've done with quite a few restaurants I've reviewed, I'll give Dad props on this choice.

The dining area was huge. One side of the restaurant seemed to be a bar, while the other side was a large dining area where most tables had views of the open kitchen and brick ovens. It's a step up from the local pizza/sports bar/pub, and had more of a P.F. Chang's/Macaroni Grill/Brio feel. Nice, but casual. Although the dining area was large, it was proportionate and most of the tables were being used. Also, the restaurant had an adequate staff to cover all the tables and provide quality service. Our waiter was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful with our orders.  

The Ultimate Bertucci

I was hoping for some great food, especially pizza, and Bertucci's fit the bill. We ordered a couple different pizzas - a large Ultimate Bertucci and a small Stella. The Ultimate Bertucci is for meat lovers with the pie being divided into four corners, each of which is covered with a different meat topping - chicken, sausage, ham, and meatballs. It was delicious. The toppings were great (especially the meatballs & sausage) and the crust had excellent crispiness from being cooked in the brick oven. The Stella was our vegetarian pie, with toppings of mushrooms, eggplants, peppers, & basil. It was also good, but wasn't nearly as popular as the Ultimate Bertucci. The large was huge and could comfortably feed three people, if not four. If you're not in the mood for pizza, Bertucci's offers a number of other Italian dishes - pasta, salads, sandwiches, calzones, etc.

Along with the pizzas, Bertucci's also serves fresh rolls to your table before the meal. The rolls were hot and had a great crust and were served with a dish of olive oil and italian seasonings for dipping. If I hadn't had such a craving for pizza, I would have feasted on the rolls. Truth be told, I feasted on the rolls as well as the pizza. Shameless.

While the price was more than what you'd pay at Little Caesar's or the other major chains, it's not a bad deal. Most large pizzas are around $18, which isn't bad if it's feeding 3-4 people. And don't forget about the pre-meal rolls! The salads and other entrees appeared to range anywhere from $7-$16. I'd say the value is similar to Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, and other similar Italian restaurants. Overall, I came away very impressed and know where I can get my pizza fix in Annapolis.

Yes We Can!

The past couple times we've been to Annapolis, we have been looking for a great place to get seafood, especially crabs. Our first trip, we ate at a place called Harris Crab House and had a good experience, but it was a bit far away from Annapolis. This last trip, we found what we were looking for - Cantler's Riverside Inn.

Cantler's is located just a few minutes outside downtown Annapolis you have to take a few winding roads that lead you back to this hidden gem of a restaurant that is located right on the water. It's not a big place and it's well known among the locals and typically crowded, so expect to wait for a table. We went for lunch on an early Sunday afternoon and had to wait for about 20 minutes, which I'd assume is fairly common.

There are both indoor and outdoor dining areas and we were fortunate enough to be able to eat outside. Most of the tables are connected together (a la long picnic tables) and you sit on long benches, which means everyone kind of crowds together and enjoys the entire experience as a collective group. People are pounding away and cracking crabs all around you and the smell of fresh seafood fills the air as you look out over the water. Nothing fancy about it - Cantler's is truly authentic.

The menu features a variety of seafood options as well as other things for people who are in the mood for something else. Our group didn't rate high on the variety scale with four of us ordering the lump crab cake sandwich. Branching away from the crab cake party, Nicole ordered the crab legs and my mom ordered the steamed shrimp. We also ordered a basket of steamed shrimp for the table as an appetizer. Everything we ordered was OUTSTANDING! The steamed shrimp were enormous and had great flavor and I don't think I've ever tasted a better crab cake. Not only was it huge, it had awesome flavor with large chunks of fresh crab (delivered straight off the boat to the restaurant's dock) and basically no filler at all. The side of hush puppies that I had with it were very good as well. I'd want to go back and try the all-you-can-eat steamed Blue Crabs, but it'd be tough to pass up another opportunity to get another crab cake sandwich. Honestly, it'd be tough to ever pass up a sandwich that good.

My only complaint about Cantler's would be the service. Nearly everyone we encountered that worked there would fall under the category of rude. The parking attendant, hostess, and our waitress all had trouble being friendly or exhibiting any sort of hospitality. We also had a tough time getting our drinks refilled in a timely manner. That being said, we were so happy with the food that it didn't matter too much.

Cantler's is exactly the type of restaurant we were hoping to find. A local restaurant with a great atmosphere that reflected the culture of Maryland and the coastal/Eastern Shore area. A meal here helps make spending time in Annapolis truly memorable.

All Present & Accounted For

As I mentioned in the previous post, we spent the past weekend in Annapolis and had a great time. Nicole and I went up with my mom and dad, and Brent's friend, Makenzie, came along with us. We left Roanoke on Thursday afternoon and stayed up there until Monday morning. It was good to be able to spend a legitimate of time there instead of constantly being on the road.

Brent & Mac - Don't Ask

We were able to spend most of the weekend with Brent, which was his first break from the grueling process of Plebe Summer. He was released on Friday at lunchtime and was able to hang out with us for most of Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. It was obvious that he was ready to have a break and get away from the academy for a bit, but I could tell that he seems to have adjusted and enjoys as much of it as he can.

Maryland Blue Crabs

After his release on Friday, he took us up to his room and we met his other two roommates. It was crazy to see how clean they are expected to keep their living quarters and all the small details they have to be aware of  (like requirements for the blinds on the window). His roommates seem to be good guys and Brent likes them because of their willingness to work hard. It was also awkward to meet his detailers and company leaders - the people who have been yelling at him all summer. I know they were trying to be friendly but I didn't know how to talk to them other than to say, "Sir, yes, sir." 

Once we got away from the academy, we went to Brent's sponsor's house for lunch. A sponsor is someone who "adopts" a few midshipmen during their time at the Naval Academy and acts as a sort of host family for them. Brent is fortunate to have an AMAZINGLY sweet lady as his sponsor and he's going to be in great hands during his four years with her. She hosted us for lunch and had an awesome spread on the dining table, including her famous crab dip. After eating half the dip by myself, I'm trying to figure out how she can be my sponsor.

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxed. We tried some local restaurants that were very good (food posts are coming) and walked around downtown Annapolis a good bit. We didn't want to plan too much because we wanted Brent to enjoy his free time and it was good to take things easy. It was also fun to sit around and listen to all his crazy stories from the summer. Other than that, it was a lot of short little trips around Annapolis and walking around.

Makenzie holding Herschel

One last thing...Nicole and I have a new pet. We talked for the past few months about getting a hedgehog and finally picked one up on our way home from Annapolis. He's a tiny little fellow (fits in the palm of my hand) and now calls the Aldridge house home. There were a lot of different ideas for names but after watching how much he liked to scurry around and his interest in digging, I decided 'Herschel' was quite appropriate. Nicole has decided not to commit to a particular name and will call him whatever she feels like at the moment. Whatever his name is...he's ours!

Parents Weekend

Dahlgren Hall

I have been out of commission with the blog over the past week because it was a very busy weekend. We went to Annapolis for the weekend to visit my brother for Plebe Parents Weekend at the Naval Academy and had a great time. Lots of laughs. Lots of stories about his summer as a plebe. Lots of excellent food. And lots of pictures. I'll post more of our pictures (that we were able to take with a NEW CAMERA!) soon and, as usual, provide some reviews of the great food we had.

Fire In The House

I debated over writing about this place because they are a major chain, but that doesn't make it any less of a restaurant. I enjoy finding good local spots to eat, but I also don't have a problem dining at chains if it's an enjoyable place to eat good food.

Since coming to Roanoke, Firehouse Subs has been a model of consistency. They have earned the reputation of being a good restaurant to get a sandwich that tastes good, is served quickly, made by a friendly staff, at a reasonable price. Even with competition from sandwich places like McAlister's Deli & Subway in the same shopping center (Towers), Firehouse maintains a steady flow of customers.

There's nothing unbelievable about Firehouse. It's in a quasi-strip mall. They serve sandwiches. They yell, "Welcome to Firehouse!" when you come through the door. In a way, it's all very predictable. Fortunately, it's predictably good.

Although Firehouse serves salads, soups, & chili, the menu is primarily about sandwiches For the sandwiches, there are three different categories: hot specialty subs, hot subs, & cold subs. I've had things from each category and been pleased with each one. They offer medium and large sizes for their sandwiches and serve them on white or wheat bread.

My recommendations for each category:

Hot Specialty: Hook & Ladder (smoked turkey, honey ham, & Monterey Jack)

Hot: Smoked Turkey with Provolone

Cold: Chicken Salad

*Ordering a sandwich "Fully Involved" means including mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, & onion.

You have the option of ordering just a sandwich, or you can make it a combo with chips and a drink. They have a stand full of bags of chips you chose from and the drinks are available at a fountain where you help yourself. A sandwich usually costs ~$5 and a combo would make your meal ~$7-$8. Because you order at the counter and don't have to leave a tip, the meal can be relatively cheap and provide the opportunity to get something quick.

While I doubt Firehouse will be collecting Roanoke's fine dining awards, they will continue to thrive. As a restaurant, they know what they do and they do it well. And good for them for recognizing it. 

Best & Worst

Before I get to the meaningless sports banter, it was a rough weekend for America. Losing our credit rating is a blow to our economy and national prestige, as noted by today's nose dive in the stock market. Even worse than the news about our credit rating, it was awful to hear about the loss of our soldiers in Afghanistan. Their sacrifice makes it possible for people like me to comfortably sit here and work on a useless blog. A big thank you to all who serve in our armed forces and protect our freedom.

Best: Adam Scott winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio over the weekend. With all the talk about Tiger Woods returning and Scott playing with Steve Williams, Tiger's ex-caddie, the Aussie went out and dominated the field. Scott was the model of consistency in this tournament, firing rounds of 62, 70, 66, & 65 to finish with a four stroke lead at 17 under par. If you listen to the media and read the stories about this win, you'd think it was Steve Williams who won the tournament and Scott was a lucky bystander. No one is really talking about the fact that Scott has been one of the most consistent players on tour this year. This was his fifth finish in the top ten of a tournament since March and it appears that Scott has regained his form after a difficult couple years.

They can't bear to watch.

Worst: Pittsburgh Pirates. A couple weeks ago, the Pirates were leading the NL Central and looking to make some big moves at the trade deadline. Instead of their yearly tradition of trading away their best players for more prospects, the Buco's made a couple moves to get some veterans who could contribute towards a playoff run. Now, they've lost ten in a row after being swept by the abysmal Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres. I think most people were hoping the Pirates could stay in the race through the end of the season, but most thought they would run out of gas. It looks like the fuel gauge is on empty. And things won't get any easier with their next three series being against the Giants, Brewers, & Cardinals. Time to walk the plank boys. 

The Best Resort in Athens

Athens is full of great places to eat. There are the traditional southern style restaurants that offer the typical meat and three with a side of southern hospitality. There are the quirky taquerias and mexican restaurants scattered all over town. There are the earthy and artsy vegetarian restaurants full of personality and unique dishes. And there are the cheap dives for struggling college students that need something good to eat while being able to pay with pocket change. Considering all the different kinds of restaurants, a place has to really be special to be considered the most popular restaurant in town. Welcome to Last Resort Grill.

Last Resort is located in downtown Athens at the corner of Clayton St. and Wray St., and the spot has become a landmark for area foodies. It's almost impossible to dine at Last Resort without having to wait for a table. I've been on a Saturday night and waited over an hour, and recently went on a Monday night and had to wait 20 minutes. There is even a small wait if you go during lunch. Unless you're there when they open, waiting is inevitable. Whenever the restaurant is open, people flock to get in.

This place is perfect for Athens. The atmosphere is vibrant and lively, but also rustic and elegant. The ambient noise can be a bit loud and the place gets warm because of an open kitchen, but the environment can still feel intimate. The tables are filled with all different types of people - college students bringing their parents for dinner, families with young kids, and older couples back in town to visit their old college town. It's the sort of place that can accommodate a large group having a celebration while also hosting a couple looking for a romantic evening.

Salmon & Grits

I'm three paragraphs into this review and haven't even mentioned THE FOOD! The food at Last Resort is outstanding. The menu is refreshingly creative without delving into the realm of bizarre and showy. The ingredients are simple, but they offer a twist that reflects a unique dining experience. Last Resort uses many local vendors and farmers to supply their ingredients, enabling them to highlight the best local food Athens has to offer. Personally, I would recommend the Adobo Salmon, Praline, or Rockville pasta. That being said, I doubt you could go wrong with anything on the menu. And don't forget to leave room for dessert. Last Resort serves cakes from the legendary Cecilia Villaveces (I actually think they're overrated except for the German Chocolate) and cheesecakes from Blackbird Bakery.

For most restaurants like this, it's tough to have a meal without paying $25-$30 per person. Last Resort goes against the grain and serves great food at a reasonable price. Most dishes range from $12-$17 and are served with bread and a side salad (the homemade dressings are amazing). Not to mention, Last Resort might be the best lunch value in town with many of the dishes being in the $5-$8 price range.

I could go on and on about Last Resort. It constantly receives great reviews from food critics and has been talked about as one the best restaurants in the south. I don't doubt it. Ironically, Last Resort doesn't need any good publicity or promotion. The quality speaks for itself.

All Signs Point to BBQ

Big ups to my dad for introducing me to Gary's Barbecue during our recent drive from Roanoke, VA to Athens, GA. Gary's is a western North Carolina barbecue institution that is located just off Interstate 85 about 30 miles north of Charlotte.

When my dad mentioned stopping at a random barbecue place for lunch during our trip, I was skeptical. He said it had been around forever and was the sort of place that wouldn't have a website, and I was worried it would be a greasy spoon, making it painful to sit in the car for the next three hours. My impression didn't improve much when we pulled into the parking lot. There were plenty of cars, but the exterior had a "blue collar/working class" vibe and I figured this was going to be a "Man vs. Food" style restaurant.

This was just one wall.

My impression changed when we walked in. I don't think the staff at Gary's would disagree that they serve barbecue and cookout style food for any type of clientele, but the atmosphere is awesome. Although we went during the busy lunch hour, you seat yourself and we were able to find a table in their huge dining area. They have three or four different rooms with dining tables, and all of the rooms are decorated with classic signs from different eras of the 1900s. It took me a while to look at the menu because I was too busy checking out all the awesome signage on the walls. It's like Cracker Barrel on steroids. To go along with the signs that provide a vintage look, they also have a room with old 1940's & 50's convertibles on display.

The food at Gary's is simple. It's good, old-fashioned barbecue served on paper plates with plastic utensils. While it may be lacking in presentation, there is nothing lacking in flavor. I ordered a barbecue sandwich with a side of coleslaw, and we shared an order of hushpuppies. The barbecue on the sandwich is served without sauce because they have different bottles of sauce available on the table. I topped mine with the "Sweet & Smoky" sauce and thought it tasted great. And I thought the coleslaw was excellent! It was chopped very fine and tasted very sweet, just the way I like it. I put a generous amount of coleslaw on my sandwich and also used it to dip my hushpuppies in. The hushpuppies didn't have much flavor but tasted better when mixed in with the slaw. I tried my dad's order of brunswick stew and was very impressed with that as well.

The service at Gary's was very friendly and efficient. Our waitress was the classic, sweet southern woman who called us all "sweetie" and "honey." After placing our order, it probably took her no longer than 3 or 4 minutes before she returned with our food. Tasty food that is reasonably priced and served by friendly staff is a great combination in a restaurant. Throw in the great atmosphere and you can understand why Gary's has become a landmark. So, if you're looking for an authentic North Carolina barbecue experience while traveling along I-85, stop in and give Gary's a try.