SWEET BASIL , In Greer made date night perfect tonite!

.

 I LOVE THAI FOOD! So, for me to say this is my favorite restaurant….. of any cuisine….. is saying something. The food at either location (there is also a location at 14 & Pelham) , is always “on Point”. Our last trip was for a “date night” , so we went all out, ordering 3 courses!
We ordered the Sweet Basil rolls as an appetizer. They were delicious, especially when dipped in the brown dipping sauce. He ordered the Soft Shell Crab, and despite trying to find something else on the menu…. I was craving pad Thai. As usual the food was brought to us quickly and hot. You can tell that the kitchen staff, take great pride in what comes out those doors. The food is always very fresh! We decided on the Fried Banana with coconut ice cream. I can only describe this as the best banana split you will ever eat.

My only complaint is that I was so mesmerized by the unique video being played on the television screens in the dining area….. I’m afraid I might have been ignoring my man. Guess you’ll just have to go there to see what I mean.

 Sweet Basil @ Pelham : (864) 627-4151

Sweet Basil @ Haywood : (864) 297-4557                                

WWW.SweetBasilGreenville.com

Cantinflas Gourmet Mexican & Vegetarian Restaurant - Closer to authentic than people think!

Before I begin with my review of this establishment....Let me just say......

In doing a bit of research before composing my  review, I checked out what was posted on other sites about this restaurant. 

"Jmapple A.'s " had this To say on a site -   "Very friendly service, but I have gone several times & always been disappointed with the Mexican food.  Maybe I just haven't ordered the right stuff from their menu, but I much prefer to go to Corona's for authentic Mexican at a cheaper price."

ATTENTION ALL GRINGOS

The food at local "order by number" Restaurants, IS NOT AUTHENTIC Mexican cuisine! You know the places I mean.... "I'll have the #4 combo with beans and rice". It saddens me to read a post like this where place like Corona (Monterrey's, Mr. Salsa....) are given the title of authentic. Do you think this is what they eat in Mexico? NO. Now do not get me wrong, I do so enjoy a plate of Flauta's at any of these restaurants, but authentic...... it's just not the case. Wheew, okay.... so on to the business at hand.

 

 His parents were in town, and we wanted to go downtown and enjoy a meal. We got a later start than anticipated, due to some trouble with the printer...... Okay so I'll admit, Cantinflas was not our original choice. We were going to go to the Dwntwn Location of The Cazbah (I bet you already know where I am going with this...) THAT'S RIGHT! I'm not ashamed! We went to Restaurants.com and bought a gift certificate for The Cazbah..... So? Only, it took so long to get the printer to work, and get everyone rounded up and in the car, then to find a parking spot, and walk the 2 blocks back to McBee Street..... That by the time we arrived at the small restaurant, the only help that the hostess offered us upon finally returning to her post at the front door was, a shrug of the shoulders and "It doesn't look like any one is leaving soon". So, We Did.

We walked up Main Street, and decided to go in to Cantinflas. I think it would be safe to say that this is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants locally. I seem to always wind up there for special occasions, with out of town guests.... and even to enjoy a weekend lunch & Margarita. Oh and do they have the yummiest Margaritas! We sat down and were immediately attended to.    I chose the Enchiladas con Mole, and I can't remember what everyone else at the table ordered, but they were all very happy with what they ate. The only complaint about the restaurant is that (through no fault of their own) they don't allow you to enjoy a margarita if you are dining at one of the sidewalk tables. Maybe someday Greenville won't be run by the likes of Bob Jonesites, and then I will be able to enjoy that margarita on the sidewalk..... 

Well, well this post has been quite snarky now hasn't it? I have dinged just about everyone huh?

120 N Main St
Greenville, SC 29601

(864) 250-1300

MELLOW MUSHROOM - (posted on Metromix)

Metromix - Greenville has posted that Mellow Mushroom is the best Pizza in Greenville! Seriously people? I am so disappointed. 
I posted this in disgust on the Metromix website.

While being treated to lunch by our CEO, we were horrified to see the air vent above us kick on and blow what can only be described as "a blizzard of dust bunnies" onto our food. The mediocre food that had already taken far to long to arrive at our table was now further ruined. This not affected our table but several around us. We called over the waiter and he just shrugged it off, saying that the air vents had just been cleaned. He said they would just clean it all up, AFTER WE LEFT. Somehow this young man miss-understood that our concern was now that the food we had FINALLY been served,  had just been topped by visible chucks of dust.  We requested that the hostess go locate the manager and ask him to come to our table. Well someone..... I doubt he was the manager..... came over, and gave us the same "care less" response about the air vents. Never was an offer of new food, or any compensation made. We begrudgingly sat there and ate our food, no one wanting to make a further complaint, seeing as how this was a business lunch. I don't know how much the bill came to, or if our CEO even paid it all, because if it had been me.... I wouldn't have.  I'm not sure what the attraction is to this establishment. Is it because I am from NY and know what good pizza tastes like? Is it the "I just smoked a fatty" atmosphere? I just don't understand.
My Pick for BEST PIZZA in Greenville is Pizza City on N. Pleasantburg. PIZZA CITY

http://greenville.metromix.com/restaurants/pizza/mellow-mushroom-west-end/698958/content
http://greenville.metromix.com/registered_users/UpstateFoodSnob

JAMAICAN TWIST - "Can I have sum Ting"

So, at the risk of sounding like I am gaining monetarily from continuing to talk about  this......... I used Restaurant.com again, and we tried some Jamaican food this time.

I had always meant to try the Jamaican restaurant on main street, but other than running in several times to grab some "Ting", one of my favorite carbonated beverages in possibly the whole world, I hadn't done so.

When I noticed that they were listed as a location on the Restaurant.com website, I bought a certificate. I also purchased the one for The Cubi-Thai Restaurant (mentioned previously), The Cazbah location in Greer, and for Thai Sky in Greenville. The certificates are good for a year from date of purchase and with them being only $2, my only regret is that I didn't purchase more.

We headed downtown on a rainy Thursday night with plans to enjoy dinner with my best friend and his Fiance.
The place is small, with just a few tables. And the reggae music from the islands we would have expected to hear coming out of the speakers was instead replaced by 90's "baby makin' music". That's what I called the slow jam hip hop from my youth. It was keeping us entertained with the constant "oh my gosh..... do you remember THIS song?"
We ordered a Jamaican Beef Patty and split it as an appetizer, and ordered the Jerk Chicken meal for me and the Curry Pork meal for him. Our friends ordered the Curry Seafood dish and the Jerk Chicken.
The food is served with a generous portion of beans and rice & what was listed as mixed vegetables.
We all agreed, the food was delicious maaan! What was listed as mixed vegetables was a pile of boiled cabbage and carrots on our plates. I didn't think I liked cooked cabbage with the exception of my obsession of egg rolls....... I DO! It was really a lot better than I thought cooked cabbage would be. We all sat there digesting our food and drinking Red Strip & Ting and enjoying each others company. It was a lovely time had by all , at this unassuming little Jamaican restaurant that I had always meant to eat at..... and now I had.

JAMAICA TWIST

28 South Main Street
Greenville, SC  29601

(864) 298-0013 phone

menu |   map

RED LOBSTER - The Fish were the lucky ones.... They were dead.

My Best friend was celebrating a milestone in his life yesterday. So to celebrate we all went out to dinner. When asked where he wanted to go (taking in to consideration his parents were dining with us, and the late hour), he decided on Red Lobster.

Not being a fan of seafood, I was sure that there would be at least one thing that I could order. I was wrong there were 3. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the hosted and seated in an almost empty restaurant. The waitress came about 5 minutes later and gave us menus. She returned shortly thereafter and wanted to take our dinner order we asked her to come back. Keep in mind we still hadn't ordered drinks. We had to prompt her to take our drink order and then waited 10-15 minutes for the drinks. I ordered The Grilled Chicken Entree. When the food came the small scoop of mashed potatoes was cold. By cold I don't mean it wasn't steaming hot. I mean the potatoes were COLD. I know that Red Lobster has been around for ages...... but why? In telling co-workers this morning about dinner last night, everyone was pretty much in agreeance. That the food and service at most locations is far less than acceptable.

The question my co-workers and I posed, and maybe one of you can answer for us....... "Why is Red Lobster always packed?

Mojito's - My Liquid Lunch

My co-worker and I decided we were going to lunch today. She said she wanted pizza, and you'll never guess where she wanted to go....... GASP - Mellow Mushroom. The CEO of our company laughed and said, she's not going there..... haven't you read her Blog (and she had). On our drive down main street, we passed a new little restaurant that I had been wanting to try, Mojito's. I told her to turn the car around, I knew where to go to lunch. Upon entering the small cafe, the smells of my childhood came rushing back to me. Ahhhhh the smell of olive oil, garlic and black beans. As I was exclaiming how great it smelled, she was turning up her nose and disputing that. We sat ourselves (as the sign suggested), and were then greeted by our waitress. She told us about the specials which, it being Friday, were their Signature Cuban sandwich ($7.95), and the daily special of Ropa Vieja ($6.95). For those of you who didn't grow up with the privilege of having a mother who prepared this....... It is shredded beef slow cooked in a tomato based sauce with peppers, onions and green olives. Once the waitress offered that, there was no decision to be made. My co-worker hesitantly choose the same (much to my hesitation too). Now dispite the title - we skipped the yummy looking Mojitos ($7.00/$8.00) on this trip, it being our lunch break and all. The Ropa Vieja was served with a scoop of white rice, bowl of black bean soup and two platanos (Sweet plantains). It was great, even my co-worker liked her lunch. Now I would have said that lunch was awesome, BUT...... no one cooks as good as mama.

I am eager to go back at night, to enjoy that Mojito and dance to some salsa music, because it seems that the cafe turns into a hoppin night spot once the sun goes down.

816 Main Street - Greenville
(864)423-9491
http://www.myspace.com/mojitosonmainstreet

The Birth of a Blog

After having a series of unfortunate experiences at local (well established) eateries, I wondered....... "Why the heck are these places still in business?" Is it because people don't know any better or are they afraid to patronize locally owned "mom & pop" type restaurants? So often I've seen awesome smaller restaurants fold, when stink hole chain restaurants flourish. I refuse to believe that people are so ignorant to what good food should taste like, that they wouldn't eat out better, if they had a bit of friendly help
This blog was inspired by the mediocre food and horrible service at three seperate visits to Chief's Wings & Firewater (Greenville) and a visit to Mellow Mushroom (Greenville) that, well lets just say that I didn't notice monster sized dust bunnies listed as a pizza topping on the menu.
Needless to say, my first bit of advice on this blog will be to tell my readers to AVOID these two restaurants at all cost. If it's pizza your craving downtown, then visit Bertolo's at the opposite end of Downtown Greenville. Wings are what you want? Then just about anywhere that serves them, would be better in my opinion then Chief's.