July 23

Date and Time Visited:         Arrival time was 8:45 p.m., Saturday July 23, 2011

Restaurant Name:                 Highland Tap

Location:                                Virginia-Highland

                                                 1026 N. Highland Ave Ne
                                                
                                                 Atlanta, GA 30306

                                                 404-875-3673
                                                
                                                 nnnwcorp.com

Reservations:                         Recommended           

Dining Style:                          Casual

Cuisine:                                  American

Entrees Order:                      Grouper Sandwich with fries ($13.00) and Seafood

                                                Linguine: linguine, jumbo shrimp, large chunks of 

                                                crab meat, smothered in a parmesan cream sauce,
                                       
                                                 topped with a decent sized lobster tail ($26.00)

Rating criteria: We rate using the Likert Scale, from 1-5, where one (1) is considered a poor rating and five (5) is considered an excellent rating and three (3) indicates an average score.

           

Food:                          Taste                           5                     

 Presentation               3                     

                                     Texture                       5          Average Score: 4        

                                     Portion Size                5         

                                    Authenticity                3         

Service:                           Wait time               5         

    Quality of Service               3         Average Score: 4

Wait staff knowledge              3                    

           

Restaurant Cleanliness:

                                    Appearance                5

                                   

                                   Atmosphere                5

Cleanliness                5          Average Score: 3        

Noise level                5         

Restrooms                 5                     

Smoking?                                No

Patio/Outdoor Dining:          Yes     

           

Parking:                                 Street parking is available

                                                 (you may have to walk a block or two)

Overall Experience (reflects the collaboration of both critics):  We really like this place but be prepared, it is located in a dungeon. At its entrance, you must descent some steep stairs that will lead you into a dimly lit bar and restaurant. Its décor is nothing worth mentioning (heavy wood) but what is worth mentioning is the food!

I (Jack) love to eat sandwiches so I ordered the grouper sandwich with fries; one mouthwatering bite and I was in heaven. There portion size was generous for my fish overlapped my bun by an inch or two on all sides. My fish was juicy, unlike the fish one would find in a fast food restaurant; dry to the bone. And what I loved most, was that the food was hot, like they just took it out of the fryer and slammed it on a plate and ran like crazy to get it to me hot! It was soooo good.

As for me (Jill), I ordered the seafood linguine. I think this dish by far is my most favorite. All the seafood was cooked to perfection. Nothing was overdone, when we all know how easy it is to overcook anything that has its origin from the sea. All I can say is, if you’re a seafood and pasta lover, “Please, please try this dish, you’ll love it!”   

Would we go back?  Of course!

Suggested Improvements: Turn up the lights!

July 10

Date and Time Visited:         Arrival time was 5:30 p.m., Sunday July 10, 2011

Restaurant Name:                 Ted’s Montana Grill

Location:                                201 W Ponce De Leon Ave

                                                Decatur, GA 30030

                                                404-378-1123

                                                tedsmontanagrill.com 

           

Reservations:                         Recommended           

Dining Style:                          Casual to formal

Cuisine:                                  American, Specializing in Bison (buffalo meat) and beef

Entrees Order:                      Bison Pot Roast with brown gravy, garlic

                                                mashed potatoes, and green beans ($17.50).

                                                Naked Bison Burger with fries: Plain 

                                                hamburger ($12.00).

Rating criteria: We rate using the Likert Scale, from 1-5, where one (1) is considered a poor rating and five (5) is considered an excellent rating and three (3) indicates an average score.

           

Food:                          Taste                           5                     

 Presentation               3                     

                                     Texture                      5          Average Score: 3        

                                     Portion Size               5         

                                    Authenticity                3         

Service:                           Wait time               5         

    Quality of Service               3         Average Score: 3

Wait staff knowledge              3                    

           

Restaurant Cleanliness:

                                    Appearance               5                                               

                                   Atmosphere                5

Cleanliness                5          Average Score: 3        

Noise level                5         

Restrooms                 5                     

Smoking?                              No

Patio/Outdoor Dining:          Yes

                                                (actually, it can be referred to as side walk dining)        

           

Parking:                                  Ample street parking is available

Overall Experience (reflects the collaboration of both critics):  Montana Grill has an old world cigar smoking lounge feel. Its rich wood décor makes one feel as if they have stepped into total luxury. We sat in a booth with high backs which seemed to give us privacy without feeling separated from the rest of the dining room. As for the food…

I (Jack) ordered the naked bison hamburger. It was good and juicy—just the way I like it. It was cooked to my specifications; well-done. For me, bison taste almost exactly like beef. Let’s just say it was just a good burger.

I (Jill) had the bison pot roast, and for me, I can taste the difference between bison and beef. The bison meat tasted gamy. The gaminess was faint but my palate still detected it. I absolutely love pot roast, it is one of my most favored dishes of all time, but Montana grill didn’t do it justice. The best pot roast I’ve eaten in Atlanta was at the Roadhouse Grill, but unfortunately they are no longer in business. I am always looking for a place to eat good pot roast, so if anyone out there knows of some place please let me know.    

Would we go back?  We will move on to more exciting things. Serving a unique meat like bison is not enough to keep customers coming back.

Suggested Improvements:  None

July 2

Date and Time Visited:         Arrival time: 8:45 p.m., Saturday June 25, 2011

Restaurant Name:                 Bay Breeze of South Atlanta Seafood Restaurant

Location:                                11440 Tara Blvd

                                                 Hampton, GA  30228

                                                 770-471-9408

                                                 (actually located in Lovejoy across from Wal-Mart) 

Reservations:                         Not necessary

Dining Style:                          Causal

Cuisine:                                  Southern, seafood

Entrees Order:    

                                                Jill had the “Any Three Item Combo:” fried  shrimp,

                                                clam strips, and tilapia ($13.95). Jack ordered the

                                                grilled tilapia ($12.95).

Rating criteria: We rate using the Likert Scale, from 1-5, where one (1) is considered a poor rating and five (5) is considered an excellent rating and three (3) indicates an average score.

           

Food:                          Taste                           5                     

 Presentation               3                     

                                     Texture                       5          Average Score: 4        

                                     Portion Size                5         

                                    Authenticity                3         

Service:                       Wait time                    5         

Quality of Service                   3         Average Score: 3

Wait staff knowledge              3                    

           

Restaurant Cleanliness:

 
                                     Appearance                5  

                                   
                                    Atmosphere                 5

Cleanliness                  5          Average Score: 3        

Noise level                  5         

Restrooms                   5                     

Smoking?                   No

Patio Dining:             No      

           

Parking:                     Yes

Overall Experience (reflects the collaboration of both critics): This restaurant was a rare treat! It has a very festive and vibrant atmosphere and is busy from the moment they open their doors to closing. Their park lot stays full because the food is good! Our food arrived at our table piping hot; we mean both plates, even though the restaurant was packed full. We waited a little longer than usual for the food but to have it come steaming hot like it did, our concern for the wait time went out the window. As for the taste, it was awesome! Who wouldn’t love to put perfectly seasoned-piping hot seafood in their mouths? Their seafood was likely frozen before it was cooked but it didn’t taste that way. The shrimp were superb with the flavors busting in our mouths. Not only that, they give us more food than we’ve had in the all the restaurants we’ve visited. It seems their generous portions are common place at Sea Breeze because almost everyone who left, left with a doggy bag, including us. If you like fried, broiled, or grilled seafood, than Bay Breeze is the place to be. Oh, one more thing we neglected to mention, their prices are more reasonable than any seafood restaurant we’ve visited. Try these folks, you’ll love them!

Would we go back?  Dog-gone right we would!

Suggested Improvements: As for the food: None!!!!!!!!!! Wait staff could use a little improvement.

June 25

Date and Time Visited:         Arrival time was 8:45 p.m., Saturday June 25, 2011

Restaurant Name:                 Umi Japanese Steakhouse

Location:                                550 Eagles Landing Parkway

                                                 Stockbridge, GA  30281

                                                 770-389-6999 

Reservations:                          Recommended          

Dining Style:                          Casual, hibachi

Cuisine:                                  Japanese     

Entrees Order:         Jack ordered the chicken and shrimp and Jill ordered the steak and shrimp. Food was prepared hibachi style.

Rating criteria: We rate using the Likert Scale, from 1-5, where one (1) is considered a poor rating and five (5) is considered an excellent rating and three (3) indicates an average score.

           

Food:                          Taste                           3                     

 Presentation               5                     

                                     Texture                      3          Average Score: 3        

                                     Portion Size               3         

                                    Authenticity               3         

Service:                       Wait time                   5         

Quality of Service                   3         Average Score: 3

Wait staff knowledge              3                    

           

Restaurant Cleanliness:

                                    Appearance                 5
                                   

                                    Atmosphere                 5

Cleanliness                  5          Average Score: 5        

Noise level                  5         

Restrooms                   5                     

Smoking?                   No

Patio Dining:              No      

           

Parking:                     Yes

Overall Experience (reflects the collaboration of both critics): I (Jack) really liked this place. The atmosphere was pleasant, the chief was entertaining, and the food was good. My chicken was moist and the shrimp were not over cooked. Though I can offer no big fanfare overall, I can say it was good.  That’s all I have to say about that, but I’m sure Jill has loads to say!

As a matter of fact I (Jill) actually don’t have much to offer via positive or negative reviews for this restaurant. I had the steak and shrimp. Everything was just ok. The food was ok; nothing to brag about in any way, shape, or form. If I had to use an accurate descriptive to reflect my overall experience it would be, “Typical.”

Would we go back?  Jack would love to. Jill would pass.

Suggested Improvements:  Jill: Up the ante on your spices and seasoning on your food. Nothing stood out for me.

June 18

Date and Time Visited:         Arrival time was 4:30 p.m., Saturday June 18, 2011

Restaurant Name:                 California Pizza Kitchen

Location:                                264 19^th Street Nw (Atlantic Station)

                                                Atlanta, GA 30363
                                             
                                                404-249-7034

                                                 cpk.com                      

Reservations:                         Recommended           
                                                (Your table will not be seated until your entire party
                                                is present).

Dining Style:                          Casual

Cuisine:                                  American, Pizza    

Entrées:                                  Caesar Salad and Baby Clam Linguine with lemon cream sauce

Rating criteria: We rate using the Likert Scale, from 1-5, where one (1) is considered a poor rating and five (5) is considered an excellent rating and three (3) indicates an average score.

           

Food:                          Taste                           3                     

 Presentation               5                     

                                     Texture                       3          Average Score: 2        

                                     Portion Size                3         

                                    Authenticity                3         

Service:                       Wait time                    5         

Quality of Service                   3         Average Score: 2

Wait staff knowledge              3                    

           

Restaurant Cleanliness:

                                     Appearance                5                                               


                                    Atmosphere                 5

Cleanliness                  5          Average Score: 3        

Noise level                  5         

Restrooms                   5                     

Smoking?                   No

Patio Dining:              Yes     

           

Parking:                     Yes (Validated parking and street parking)

Overall Experience (reflects the collaboration of both critics):

Let’s just say California Pizza Kitchen is nothing to brag about. My (Jill) clam linguine was lute warm and dry. I had to request additional sauce and have my entrée warmed up before I could eat it. (Jack) hey, my Caesar salad was good; not exceptional but good.

When we dined there, we did so with a party of eight and boy was the hostess irritating! Their policy is not to seat anyone until the entire party has arrived. We had one guest that was running a little behind but when he called to say he was in the process of parking, we told the hostess that we were all here. When they sat us they noticed that there was one chair vacant and inquired about it. We informed them that the person was parking and that we had his order, needless to say, this hostess guy buzzed around our table like a fly attracted to rotten meat and he also gave us dirty looks so that we would know he was irritated with us. The last guest showed up five minutes after we placed all of our orders including his! For this hostess to buzz around our table giving us the dirty eye is unacceptable!

Would we go back?  Heck no!

Suggested Improvements:  Train your staff!