El Potrero

PLACE: El Potrero (5516 Fenton Rd.  Fenton/Hill intersection, next to the Secretary of State [or one down, I don't remember exactly]).

NUMBER: (810)237-8844

VISIT NUMBER: No idea.

REASON FOR RETURNING: Favorite Mexican Restaurant, period.  Words cannot not describe my love for this place.

PRICE: $$, but some entrées do hit the low $$$ range.

CUISINE TYPE: Mexican

WAIT TIME TO ORDER: Usually no more than 10 minutes.

WAIT TIME FOR FOOD: 10-15 minutes depending on the type and amount of dishes ordered.

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Tend to either be immigrants or college kids.  Most of them speak Spanish fluently, though lately they seem to be getting quite a few people who have been learning it in the kitchen.  The turnover rate seems to be high, though, outside of a few "regulars".  Raquel always has a smile ready for everyone, and I adore her for it.

FOOD IMPRESSIONS:

•Always order something with the queso sauce.  You will not be disappointed.  It's simple, creamy, and delicious, as well as very traditional.  If you want some with spice, get the ChoriQueso dip.  Your tastebuds may think they've died and gone to heaven.

•The chorizo has an a tangy, spicy flavor to it, as well as having a kick, instead of lacking one or the other like most do.

•The "Camarones al Chipotlé (Chipotle Shrimp)" is quite possibly the spiciest dish on the menu, depending on the cook.  Everything is made to the taste of the on-duty chef, which is what makes this place so charming.  I love the Camarones, though, because you can always taste the smokiness of the chipotle peppers, regardless of the heat. A lot of cooks play up the Pow, not the Wow, but I have never had that issue here.

•The tortillas are fluffy, but not too thick, and hardy.  I always get an extra order (3 to a tinfoil packet) for mopping up my cheese sauce.  FABULOUS.

•Get the fried ice cream.  Just do it.  You'll thank me later.  Lactose intolerant?  I am so sorry.

DRINKS: Coke; usual Mexican beers (Modelos and Corona); horchata (a sort of sweet rice-milk and cinnamon concoction); apple juice, sometimes orange or pineapple, too.  The happy hour margaritas are a great deal.

SATISFACTION: Yes.

WOULD RECOMMEND?: Of course.

NOTES: Always kid-friendly - plenty of space, and the servers always have something nice to say or give to the kids.  If you go for Happy Hour, or tag along on a friend's meal, and only order chips, any order after the first is something like $1.50 to $2?  This isn't the case if you order food, though.

Puerto Vallarta

PLACE: Puerto Vallarta (3192 S. Linden Rd.  Across from the mall, in the strip mall with Hobby Lobby & TJ Maxx).

NUMBER: (810)732-0212

VISIT NUMBER: 1

PRICE: $$

CUISINE: Mexican

WAIT TIME TO ORDER: ~10 Minutes (we asked for more time; we were asked immediately if we were ready to order).

WAIT TIME TO FOOD: ~10 Minutes

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Moderately pushy.  As this was my first visit, I wanted to look at the menu without interruptions, but that didn't happen.  I felt as though I was inconveniencing the waitstaff by not knowing what I wanted before I sat down.  Not a very good vibe.  The waitress did not know the name of a few of the dishes, had to be shown what they were in the menu, and then proceeded to act as though we were idiots!  Also, received the appetizer (nachos) alog with the rest of the food.

FOOD: Okay, for the price - but if you like fresh cilantro, you'll love this place.

•Skimpy on the cheese in the Chicken & Chorizo Quesadilla, and an adequate amount in the plain Cheese Quesadilla.

•Nacho Supreme was alright - nothing terribly memorable, except the guacamole was nice, creamy, and added a wonderfully "fresh" taste to the dish.  Honestly, for the appetizer/entrée, the guacamole was the best part.

•Pablo Burrito was, again, okay.  The beans had a metallic taste to them.

•Sopapillas were alright, but the tortillas used were too thick to fry properly, so the dessert didn't have a crunch, just a stale "pop".  Flavor was good - cocoa powder and cinnamon on them.

•Xachos (?) tasted like a flan, but again, nothing special.

DRINK SELECTION: Coke, Jarritos; quite a few domestic beers (& O'Doules), Mexican regulars (Corona, Modelos); lots of different kinds of Tequilas, obviously, but only "Gin", "Rum", "Vodka".

SATISFACTION: okay.

WOULD RECOMMEND?: If I was at the mall and didn't want to go out of my way for my favorite Mexican place, I would maybe consider returning.

NOTES: Kid-Friendly.  Very cute and bright decor, but it seems rather kitschy. The booths are gorgeous, though - I love the carvings!

Don't forget, you can contact me at:

localflintrestaurants@gmail.com

Or

twitter.com/FRestRevs

Coming up: Maybe a contest?  Details soon!

Tap Takeovers: When Brewery and Restaurant Combine

Have you ever gone to a bar or restaurant and lamented about their beer selection?  Ever wonder why craft brews only seem to have one or two taps, and the rest are devoted to mainstream beers that only really appeal to some?  Ever choked down a "watered-down" brew just to have a beer with dinner?  Not interested in beer, but have to hear this from a beer aficionado every time that you end up dining out together?  Well, a new type of dining experience has popped up in the Flint area within the last few years, one that seems to please both food- and beer-lovers: Tap Takeovers.

In their most simple form, tap takeovers are exactly what they sound like: a brewery will come into a bar or restaurant and literally "take over" every tap that the place has.  Quite often, it's no where near that large, as either the brewery can't handle an operation that large due to time restraints or other issues, or the place being "taken over" can't open up all of their taps, for whatever reason.  In those cases, the bar area will usually have a takeover menu printed, but other beers can be ordered off of the menu.

Another thing about tap takeovers are the length.  Quite often, they will last a few hours, even up to a day; representatives of the brewery may show up and stay around, to answer any questions about their operation.  However, sometimes, a bar will continue the takeover on their own, until every last keg is drained dry, so as to not lose those profits.  That is why I recommend, if you wish to attend a tap takeover near you, but not have to deal with all of the people, that you call the location of the takeover, to see if they plan on keeping the extra beers on tap after the takeover.

Sometimes, a restaurant can't afford to host a complete tap takeover; unlike bars, they have people coming in at all times of the day, and the regulars may protest the removal of certain beers.  Many of these restaurants instead put together a sort of "beer dinner", where they pair specific brews to courses on their menu.  These are rather fun to take part in, and definitely a good experience for both beer-geek and foodie alike.

As mentioned before, these types of events have become a lot more popular in the Flint area.  It appears that the owners of Flint area bars have heard their patrons' pleas for a structured, yet adult, night out.  Indeed, there are a few local events coming up soon!:

At Alexander J's, located just north of the Fenton/Hill intersection, they will be hosting a Bell's Brewery Dinner on August 8th.  They plan on having 4 courses, complete with 4 different brews, for $44, and will only have 50 tickets available, go get them before they're gone!

See the details here: http://ow.ly/i/2Hrum

Check out their Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/alexanderjs.smokehouse.1

A little birdie told me that Table & Tap, located on the corner of 2nd St. and S. Saginaw in Downtown Flint, is planning on having a tap takeover by Kuhnhenn Brewery, sometime this September!  I recently tried Kuhnhenn's DRIPA, and let me just say that, for a Double IPA, That thing is DANGEROUS.  Very mellow, very smooth, but I hear that's the virtue of rice over wheat.  I will definitely post more on this takeover as I find out!  In the meantime, check out their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/tableandtap

Habachi Buffet

PLACE: Habachi Buffet (3022 S. Linden Rd. Corner of Linden & Lennon Roads).
NUMBER: (810)732-3888
VISIT NUMBER: 1

PRICE: Weekday Lunch & Kid's Options - $; Dinner - $$
CUISINE: Asian-Style Buffet (Chinese, Japanese, American)
WAIT TIME TO ORDER: 0 Minutes
WAIT TIME FOR FOOD: 0 Minutes

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Very quiet, very helpful.  A few seemed to not speak English as well as others, but it didn't hinder our experience at all.

FOOD IMPRESSIONS/TASTES:  Mostly good.  Sashimi, calamari (despite seeming to be made with octopus, not squid) were good with good textures.  Plain pork dumplings were not very appetizing.  Plenty of deserts: 6 kinds of ice cream, and chocolate-chip ginger snaps, and a peanut-marshmallow concoction.

DRINK SELECTION: Pepsi, Tea.

SATISFACTION: Overall good.

WOULD RECOMMEND?: Yes.

NOTES: The Sushi/Sashimi Bar is back!  Also, some things are dinner only (but they say it by the name), so watch and be careful if you don't want to be charged for a dinner.  The desserts were plentiful, but pretty run-of-the-mill.  Lots of chicken dishes for lunch; it seems like everything else (flounder, oyster, sashimi, etc) is for dinner only.  Also, prices were figured due to a group of three - one dinner, one lunch, and one kid's menu adding up to about $20.00, on a weeknight.  Not bad.

Capitol Coney Island

PLACE: Capitol Coney Island (G4021 Van Slyke Road, SE corner of Bristol and Van Slyke).

NUMBER: (810)238-5961

VISIT NUMBER: Lost Count

REASON FOR RETURNING: My personal favorite Flint Coney Island.

1. PRICE: $
2. CUISINE TYPE: American
3. WAIT TIME TO ORDER: 15 minutes.  I'll explain in the notes.
4. WAIT TIME FOR FOOD: Did not get food.

5. STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Did not seem understaffed, but the waitstaff who were there did not seem to care about those of us who were waiting for food.

6. FOOD IMPRESSIONS/TASTES: N/A.

7. DRINK SELECTIONS: Pepsi products, plus the usual coffee/juice/milk selection.

8. SATISFACTION: Honestly, none.

9. WOULD RECOMMEND?  Not based on this visit, no.

10. NOTES: They are remodeling from the light-50's diner style they had, to a darker style, and had apparently decided that they only needed 8 booths (plus the bar) for their patrons.  As they are a 24-hour restaurant located diagonally from one of the largest employers in the city (and less than a mile from another), this seems like a rather odd move.

I walked in and sat down, as is normal, and the waitress brought me two menus, asking if I was "dining solo".  I said yes.  She sat both menus down, got my drink order out to me, and walked away, and I didn't see her for another five minutes (when she walked to another table to spend some time with those patrons).  Ten minutes later, she walked over to me to ask if I wanted to order some appetizers while I waited.  She either misheard or didn't believe I was dining alone, but had not thought to check on me until I had been waiting for a quarter of an hour.

I finally got to order what I wanted, and sat back to wait, but ended up having to leave almost immediately due to a phone call.  I never received any apology, though one table did have the chef come out to apologize to them over a food mixup, which I thought was rather appropriate.

I honestly was rather upset by my treatment, and if this had been my first visit, I probably would not be back.  My only hope is that the waitstaff is a bit more attentive to a single diner.

Hot Diggity Dog - It's "National" Hot Dog Month!

Around here, if you ask a "Flintstone" about Flint, there are three different topics that will probably be brought up:

1. The crime/violence in the city.

2. GM (good or bad, depending on the person).

3. Their favorite coney island.

Flint residents definitely know a thing or two about a "real" coney.  We know that the only coneys worth eating are made with Koegel brand dogs, covered in thick sauce that is more the consistency of taco meat than chili, and topped with mustard and onions.  We know that a Detroit coney is a great hot dog, but the soupy topping is a chili sauce, not a coney.

This month is considered "National" Hot Dog Month, and I am planning on visiting as many coney islands as I can, including, of course, Angelo's.

If you have any places you think I should visit, feel free to contact me at:

localflintrestaurants@gmail.com

Or

twitter.com/FRestRevs

Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers

PLACE: Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers (5100 W. Corunna, Flint Twp.  Next to VG's)
NUMBER: (810)422-5429
VISIT NUMBER: 2
REASON FOR RETURNING: Good food.

PRICE: High $-Low $$
TYPE: Burger Joint meets Fusion meets Nightclub
TIME TO ORDER: Queue, ~8 minutes.
TIME TO FOOD: Less than 10 for straight-off the menu orders, about 10 for a custom.

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Bright, bubbly, mostly-female floor staff; why were all the guys seemingly hiding out in the kitchen?  Very helpful, but not good at moving the slower-ordering people along or out of the way, and speed is crucial in line-ordering.  Due to the set-up of the kitchen-floor door, customers standing and waiting are privy to kitchen conversations - including private lives, and disparaging remarks about the food/orders.  It isn't terribly comforting to hear, "GROSS!" coming from the back, and not know why.

FOOD: The smells of the food are wonderful.  It literally smells like an outdoor barbecue, and who doesn't live the smell of grilling meat?
The Thai Burger (Cheddar Cheese, Grilled Pineapple, Thai Sauce, Fried Wontons, and Lettuce) is a great mixture of sweet, spicy, and savory - the pineapple and sauce work together perfect harmony.  The fries are thick-cut and starchy, without being too potato-tasting - a pillowy center surrounded by that perfectly fried crust.  The wontons had a sort of stale taste, probably from the frying, but the Cinnamon Wontons had no real sweet flavor to them along with the stale-fried texture.
The custard is creamy, thick, and delicious, but melts more quickly than ice cream (meaning major brain freeze)!  The fried portobellos are amazing, and the balsamic vinegar reduction sauce is *to die* for, even alone.  The fried green beans are good, but the chipotle mayonnaise just tasted like Red Robin's Campfire sauce, with less BBQ sauce.

DRINK SELECTION: Great selection of Michigan craft and not-so-craft beers.  Coke products with public fountain.  They have smoothies, shakes.  More alcoholic choices include cabernet, chardonnay, and moscato wines; as well as frozen drinks like margaritas, piña coladas, punch, and daiquiris.

SATISFACTION: Burgers are delicious (and the Make Your Own out of ANYTHING is a wonderful idea I will have to try and review in the future!), as are the sides, but be wary of some extras.  The service is good, as long as you aren't in a hurry and decide to stand and wait up front.  Make sure to judge the speed of the line over the size.

NOTES: The atmosphere reminds me a bit of an under-18 nightclub, with the grayscale colorscheme, color-changing lights. and pop music, but most of the clientele seems to be over Katy Perry, One Direction, and the like.  I do wish they had a larger music selection.
Also, the place is kid-friendly, offering plenty of high chairs and booster seats, but no space to put the high chairs except an aisle.  Also, the dining room seems to be mostly tables, but there are about a dozen booths that I saw.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yes.  The taste and price of the appetizers and burgers far makes up for my decor and dessert issues.  Also, they sell bottled Dirty Bastard!  What's not to love?

Contact me!

localflintrestaurants@gmail.com

twitter.com/FRestRevs

Why Are You Doing This?

I'm not an expert, and I don't claim to be one.  I have no culinary experience, outside of my own home - hell, I've never even worked at McDonald's.  I'm just your average person who thought maybe other people would like to read some unprofessional reviews about Flint-area restaurants/food joints, and maybe find a new place to love.

I admit it, I do look up to those shows on the Travel Channel, like "No Reservations" and "Bizzare Foods".  I love how they've taken their passion and made it into their career, and I would love to do something similar.  I won't lie, a part of me is doing this for me.

I'm also interested in showing a better side of Flint, outside of the violence and drugs that the rest of the nation seems to think is the complete Flint experience.  I want to showcase the sense of community we have, and our fierce "Flintstone" pride, our individual backgrounds coming together to create unity from diversity, and what better way to do that than highlighting our food industry?  After all, in so many cultures, having a meal with someone is a nearly-scared experience, a ritual which requires both hosts and guests to know their parts.  It forges a bond that makes the participants, even for a short while, unable be shaken from its carb- or meat-induced camaraderie.

There are other important parts of Flint, I know, and believe me when I say that I will try to touch on as many of them as I can.  Ultimately, I'm hoping to show to the rest of Michigan - and the rest of the United States - that Flint may be down, but we are not out.  We are a strong set, ready to bounce back as a whole, already turning ourselves around in some areas, and someday Flint will be a different, better community.

~Local Flint Restaurants

Localflintrestaurants@gmail.com

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/FRestRevs

Disclaimer!

I would just like to say that I am not going to rate the restaurant/experience in the traditional sense, even though that was my original intent.  I don't want people saying that I ruined their business because I don't like the food.  I will also revisit places that I "Would NOT recommend" after a few weeks/months, to see if it was a one-time issue, or if I just don't like the place.  Just because I don't like the place doesn't mean that it needs to close - I'm trying to encourage my audience to try new things by trying them, too, and passing along not only my experiences, but the mere existence of new places.  I am NOT a professional - I just like food.

Remember, if you want to contact me for any reason, my email is localflintrestaurants@gmail.com, or you can find me on Twitter: @FRestRevs

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to Flint Food, your home for local restaurants!  This is pretty self-explanatory: I go to restaurants in the Greater Flint Area (including the Owosso, Fenton, and Lapeer areas), and I'll share my experiences.  On occasion, I may also talk about different kinds of food, including fast food, coffee shops, and seasonal things like ice cream parlors, as well as recipes and home cooking.  I will also post about special events in the area (Back to the Bricks & Curwood Days, for example) and I will also try to plan "theme" weeks based on them, and other holidays.

Most of my posts will have a set criteria, which I will list here, along with their descriptions, for your convenience. I will repost the criteria every time, but not the explanations.

1. PRICE: Less than $5 average item price-$; Less than $10-$$; Less than $15-$$$; $16+-$$$$
2. CUISINE TYPE
3. WAIT TIME TO ORDER (includes reasons for delay, and ordering type)
4. WAIT TIME FOR FOOD: Will post if ordered straight off the menu (or with items/toppings removed) vs. custom orders
5. STAFF IMPRESSIONS
6. FOOD IMPRESSIONS/TASTES
7. DRINK SELECTIONS (serves alcohol?)
8. SATISFACTION
9. WOULD COME AGAIN?
10. NOTES (including kid-friendliness)

I will try to be as thorough as possible, and include pictures of my food as well. I'm currently working on my first post; in the meantime, you can email me your favorite places at localflintrestaurants@gmail.com, or tweet them to me at @FRestRevs!