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909 Prospect St
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 551-4509

Forever Fondue  

Category: Fondue
Neighborhood: La Jolla

3.0 star rating
20/1/2012
Every non-yelper I know seems to love this place, but I'm glad to see fellow yelpers on my page... not sure what all the fuss is about.

I came here only once after being convinced that it is the best thing since sliced bread. A group of a dozen showed up for a going away party and we had a great evening of merriment, but I left feeling utterly uninspired and slightly hungry.

For the insanity price you pay to play with your food, you should walk away satisfied, but I feel far from that, and to top it all off, the food wasn't particularly flavorful.

If there is a next time, I think I'd politely decline. Once is enough.

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501 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 324-9307

Flame Catering Cafe  

Categories: Persian/Iranian, Caterers
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square

4.0 star rating
20/1/2012
This is the hidden gem of pioneer square, not just for their food, but their amazing value.

After firing Mimosa Cafe as my daily breakfast place, I wondered 2 blocks down to Flame Catering Cafe, and boy was I happy. The girl behind the counter knew my order by the 3rd day. I just walk in and my order is cooking. And for $1.99, I get a delicious breakfast wrap that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Really really can't beat that with a stick. I kept on thinking I need to come in for lunch, but have never made it... definitely will do one of these days.

High five to Flame Catering Cafe! I'm a huge fan!

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713 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 349-8537

Mint Cafe Mediterranean Kitchen  

Categories: Turkish, Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Downtown

4.0 star rating
15/1/2012
I'm definitely used to a certain type of Mediterranean food, especially my chicken gyro... I expect the meat to be grilled or roasted. It's not here... it's cooked in a stew, which makes it look less appetizing but the plus side is that it's always moist and the flavoring is awesome.

I've also had the falafal plate too... also yummy delicious... the falafal seems a little too perfectly round... the chick-pea meal grounded just a little too fine, but I love it.

Chicken "gumbo" (what is it with the gumbo in Seattle... stop calling soups with okra in it gumbo, people! It's NOT gumbo) is mediocre even if you just think of it as chicken soup. Otherwise highly recommended!

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621 3rd Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 340-4401

Mimosa Cafe  

Category: Cafes
Neighborhood: Pioneer Square

2.0 star rating
15/1/2012
Don't let the yelp categorization fool you, it's got some Vietnamese food, but it's more like a coffee shop/ cafe. May be I should correct that... yes, that's what I will do.

I use to frequent Mimosa Cafe EVERY morning to have the ham croissant... and one day I come for lunch while I was in a rush to get to a meeting. I thought - what a great time to try their soup.

Imagine my horror when the guy behind the counter blew me off, eventhough he knows that I'm in there EVERY SINGLE DAY. I pleaded with him... I'm starving and I have less than 2 minutes before my next meeting.... can I please have some soup, it will be quick - I will throw down a 10 and pick up change tomorrow (or he can keep the $6+ in change).

He told me I'd have to wait 'cause he was busy making sandwiches.

What's the point of being a serious patron if you don't get a little help when you need it the most? I really want to drop some expletives here, but I will spare you, the reader.

I have since begrudgingly returned when others in my office wants to go... I figured the rest of the people who works here are nice, and I can't hold it against the whole place just because of one dude, but I can't help but feel really irritated every time I see that dude, so I avoid the place.

To be fair, the food that I have had is relatively good in this food desert that is the area around my office building. But as you gathered by my characterization "food desert" there isn't much competition.

Ham croissant is deliciously bad for you (so it's good I no longer eat it).
Bah mi is hit and miss... when it's good, it's delicious, but a bit on the greasy side, when it's bad it's pretty flavorless. Same with the tofu.
Gumbo is NOTHING like the real thing, but good (again, hit and miss, there are occasions when it's much better than others), I'd give it 3 stars.

By my calculations, Cafe Mimosa is missing out on $2000+ worth of business from me every year because I no longer go in for my daily breakfast and I rarely go in for lunch (once every 3 months, if that).

Go if you have no other choice, but I probably can't recommend it with much enthusiasm.

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1010 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 357-9000

BOKA Kitchen + Bar  

Categories: American (New), Bars
Neighborhood: Downtown

4.0 star rating
15/1/2012
To be totally fair, I've only been here a few times, and repeated my selection of food, but everything I've had here had been delicious (though a bit on the expensive side).

I highly highly recommend the chicken or steak cobb salad... both are fabulous.

Next, the sweet potato fries... yummm... need I say more?

Then they have this buratta cheese appetizer that is a rare delicacy..., my only gripe is that you get so little of it.

Would definitely come back for all my business (and many personal) meals. :-)

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700 3rd Ave
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 631-8080

JUNO  

Category: American (New)

3.0 star rating
15/1/2012
This place is on the same block as work, but I don't go there much because it's so hit and miss. Frankly, because it's a hotel restaurant, prices are a little too rich for my blood (especially given what you get). However, there are a few things about worthy of eat-age.

First all, the cedar plank grilled salmon... yum!

Second of all, happy hour menu. I literally ordered the ENTIRE happy hour menu once, and most things are mediocre... the truffle fries are good, but very very salty. They used to have kobe sliders that are pretty good, but that has been replaced with pulled pork sliders, which are shockingly good. The calamari is also worthy, but that's it.

The other yelper's slug/snail in her salad has thus far kept me from trying the salad, but I may try the seared ahi salad at some point 'cause I heard it was good.

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25330 Richards Rd
Spring, TX 77386
(281) 298-7455

Country Time BBQ & Fixins  

Category: Barbeque

4.0 star rating
8/1/2012
This place cracks me up... it's a BBQ joint ran out of someone's front yard.

Janis and I came here because of the yelp reviews, and weren't too disappointed.

The sign out front says "Best BBQ in Spring" which I recon is probably true. The pull pork is definitely fabulous - they can do a little upgrading to the bun, but definitely good enough to be call the "best in Spring." The brisket is also pretty good... need a little more flavor in the seasoning, but delicious enough if you drench it in the BBQ sauce. Potato salad is mustard based, not my thing, but Janis thought it was pretty good, and the slaw leaves a lot to be desired. Janis had the smoked turkey... she says it's just mediocre. Since we nearly always agree on food 99% of the time, I'd take her word for it.  

The part that cracks me up? You can go to the bathroom in the family's garage. Yeah. Now that's what I call hospitality - extra half star for that.

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25701 Interstate 45 N
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-8980

Fukuda  

Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars

3.0 star rating
8/1/2012
This is pretty good, and may be there are no competitions, but this sushi joint is no where even remotely close to being worthy of 4.5 stars.

The menu is expansive, which is interesting... they get special props for that. Janis and I tried a ton of stuff... so here's a quick run down:

Tempura plate - broccoli, pumpkin, onion, sweet potato, zucchini - 2 stars
Spinach tempura - 4 stars
Beef asparagus maki - 3 stars
Gin Dara - overcooked and not seasoned to the traditional standards - 3 stars
Akai Hana roll - presentation A+, but tastes blah - 2 stars
Sashimi (salmon) - tough and not super fresh, but beautifully presented  - 3 stars
Sushi (yellow tail) - 3 stars
Sushi (salmon) - 3 stars
Sushi (peppered tuna) - 3 stars
Sushi (white tuna) - 3 stars

The shining exception is the super white tuna (escalor)... that's a 10 star... I would come back just for this.

Good service... could be faster with the water refills. May be I shouldn't compare sushi in the Woodlands with sushi in San Fran, Seattle, Philly, Boston, or London... but those are my datapoints.

Sorry Fukuda, I really want to give you a A, but can only muster up a C+ for you. At least you pass.

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19709 Hwy 99
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(425) 771-7629

L&L Hawaiian Barbeque  

Categories: Hawaiian, Barbeque

2.0 star rating
2/1/2012
Uck. Hawaiian BBQ fail.

Smelled so good, but tastes so bad.

I tried a bunch of different things to give them the best chance of winning me over...

Battered and fried shrimp, mahi mahi, and BBQ chicken, but all of it was blah.

Topped off with soggy fries. Whoo hoo.

Thanks, but no thanks.

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12857 El Camino Real
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 509-1800

Urban Plates  

Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Carmel Valley

4.0 star rating
30/12/2011
It's good food that's local and some fully organic selection. Very delicious but not "dream-about-it" good. I debated giving it just 3 stars because as an operational strategist, I can't help but be frustrated by the poor layout of the lines. So inefficient, and creates such amazing chaos and needless angst.

But I'm giving them points back for the community tables and nice friendly staff. It won't be on my "must have list" when I visit So Cal, but definitely wouldn't have to drag me to go back.

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71 Compliments

  • Thank You

    My sentiments exactly.  Plus, they "don't use MSG!"

  • You're Funny

    The "love child of Mr. Gumbo and Ms. Chili"...poor little okra!!!

  • You're Funny

    This sounds like a horrible experience but you managed to find some humor… More »

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"Just another foodie"

Review votes:
469 Useful, 175 Funny, and 221 Cool

Location

Seattle, WA

Yelping Since

January 2007

Things I Love

rock climbing, the ocean, sushi, music, being outdoors

My Hometown

Houston, TX

When I'm Not Yelping...

I climb a lot of rocks

Why You Should Read My Reviews

'cause I had my own food column

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http://www.zillow.com

The Last Great Book I Read

Dali Lama's Art of Happiness

My Favourite Movie

Under the Tuscan Sun

My Last Meal On Earth

Santa Rosa de Puerco

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I eat butter straight up

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yelp