Alexander J's Smokehouse

PLACE: 5490 Fenton Rd, Mundy Twp (Just north of the Fenton/Hill intersection)

NUMBER: (810)715-9137

VISIT NUMBER: 1

PRICE: $$-$$$

CUISINE TYPE: BBQ/Steakhouse

TIME TO ORDER: About 5 minutes

TIME TO FOOD: 10-15 minutes for 4 entrées, 5 minutes for our appetizer.

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Waitstaff was nice, but seemed unsure of himself.  Did not know about the beers, and let us order beers that were not available at the time, not once but twice.  We wanted a chance to look at the menus, but the waiter hovered either at our shoulders or at the table next to us, so we felt rushed.  It was early afternoon, though, and we were the only table, so perhaps he was bored.

FOOD IMPRESSIONS:

•The bacon boats were delicious.  Truly. The soft starchiness of the potato, creaminess of the melted cheese (Colby?), and the bacon!  Applewood smoked, I believe.  Excellent!

•The sauces were good, especially the candy apple, I believe it was called?  It was sweet, with a spicy kick as part of the aftertaste.  I forgot to write down the names, but if I could buy sets of the sauces, I would.  They'd be good gifts - there's something for everyone, and even the spiciest one had a really good flavor.

•Perhaps it was because we came in almost exactly when they opened, but the meat...  I tasted no smokiness, no dry rub, nothing without the sauce, which had been heaped onto the center of the sandwich & soaked into the bun, which made the bread oddly sloppy.  I would have liked my meat to have been completely coated in sauce, though.

•Honestly, the best part of the trip was dessert.  We tried the Kentucky Pie, and it was amazing.  I'm not a fan of pecan pie, but pecan pie with a chocolate chip cookie baked into it?  Sign me up!

DRINK SELECTION: I believe Coke products.  As for beer, I'd suggest deciding on a few beers, just in case some are out.  Their menus are posted on their site:

http://alexanderjs.com/menu.pdf for the full menu, or 

http://alexanderjs.com/bar.php for a "bar" menu.

SATISFACTION: Yes.

WOULD RECOMMEND?:  I'd like to return for dinner, to see if we came in before the kitchen was actually "ready" for us.  I know it can take some time to actually be ready for a big order, and we did order a lot of food.

NOTES: Our waiter was very sweet and attentive to the child we had with us, and there are spaces wide enough for high chairs, with room to walk between tables.

The restaurant was VERY clean!  VERY, VERY, VERY clean.  I was impressed.  The restaurant has a very fun and lively atmosphere, so it's easy to see why the trivia and karaoke nights here are popular.  They also schedule events quite often, so it helps to check their website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

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Table & Tap

PLACE: 555 S. Saginaw St, Downtown Flint (Corner of S. Saginaw and W. 2nd St - NOT AVENUE. Between Kearsley & Court).

NUMBER: (810)250-3631

VISIT NUMBER: 1

PRICE: $$ for beer and food

CUISINE TYPE: "Bar Food", with a high-class twist.  And Beer, Glorious Beer!

TIME TO ORDER: Beer-0 mins; we held off on food for about 10 minutes.

TIME TO FOOD: 10-15 for a group of 4, on a moderately busy Saturday afternoon.

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Very friendly, helpful, and knowledgable.  We even got tipped-off to a possible tap-takeover that may be happening in September.  Also, the server made sure to add a personal touch, adding (only good) commentary on our beers, and getting our names.

FOOD IMPRESSIONS:

•Baked Macaroni and Cheese was good (the crumble on top was crispy as opposed to mush, which can ruin the dish), but it wasn't anything special.  The pasta itself seemed a bit overcooked, almost rubbery, and the baked cheese had the same consistency.  The flavor was on the high side of average, but...

•Honestly, you don't come to T&T for the food.  The drink selection is one of the largest around, and is insanely diverse.  Trust me when I say, there's something for everyone - from Average Joe to Beer Snob to "I Don't Like Beer" (my pick for IDLB - the Kuhnhenn's DRIPA packs a punch without the bitter, hoppy flavor).

DRINK SELECTION: Coke, and a very good selection of beers.  They have their tap menu listed here, updated often: http://www.beermenus.com/places/8716-table-tap

SATISFACTION: Very.

WOULD RECOMMEND?: Absolutely.  I love a good beer.

NOTES: The tables tend to run too high for a high chair (unless you get the ones in the window nook), but the staff truly does try to make children feel welcome.  Unfortunately, with the small space (it's in downtown Flint) and tall tables, this joint isn't really kid-friendly.  Also, the bathroom is in the back, down the hall, and seems to be shared between the other commercial properties, which could be a bad thing after one too many beers.

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Italia Gardens

PLACE: G-3273 Miller Rd, Flint Twp (Just east of the Miller/Lennon intersection).

NUMBER: (810)720-4112

VISIT NUMBER: Unknown

REASON FOR RETURNING: Better Italian than Olive Garden.

PRICE: $$-$$$

CUISINE TYPE: Italian

TIME TO ORDER: 10 minutes.

TIME TO FOOD: 10-15 minutes, depending on order size.

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: Usually very prompt and polite.  This visit, we had one heck of a waitress - she was a riot!  She definitely kept my party laughing the entire time we were there!  Sadly, I didn't catch her name.

FOOD IMPRESSIONS:

•The bread is a simple white bread, plopped into a knot-like shape and baked.  The butter has a simple cream-and-garlic flavor.  The bread comes to the table fresh & hot from the stone oven (visible to the dining area), and the butter is always cold.

•They serve a basic antipasto salad, but I'm not a salad person.

•The pasta is always good and slightly al dente, just slightly; if you can, the lobster pasta is absolutely amazing.  The creaminess of the alfredo sauce with the little chucks of melt-in-your-mouth lobster is absolutely stunning.  The lobster has a briny taste, though it's not as overpowering as shrimp.

•Their ribs are very sweet and tender, and it's not hard to put down a half-rack and come back for more.  The fullness does come, though, so be wary.

•The spitini is divine.  All this dish is is a simple meal of breaded, chopped steak, skewered with hunks of onion and bay leaves.  It is absolutely divine.  The simplicity seems as though it would underwhelm, but the meat has the taste of a long-marinated steak, and the texture is easy-to-chew, like a well-cooked burger.

•The parmesean-crusted whitefish is very good.  It doesn't have the usual fishy flavor that one would expect, probably due to the fact that these fish come from Lake Superior.  It's very flaky in texture, and has a sort-of chicken flavor to the meat.

• The tiramisu...  If nothing else, order a plate of this.  The not-overly-sweet taste of the mascarpone cheese (similar in texture to cream cheese, but not as sweet) in contrast to the "competing flavor" of chocolatey goodness, makes this rich dish work as one, instead of having a too-sugary dessert.

DRINK SELECTION: Coke products; Beer: Bud, Labat, Michelob and Moretti Italian; Wines (Red: Lambrusco, Valpolicella, etc; White: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, etc), $5/glass or $18/bottle.

SATISFACTION: Very.

WOULD RECOMMEND?: Absolutely.

NOTES: Kid-friendly, but it is a nicer/quieter restaurant, so please keep the other patrons in mind.

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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!

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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.

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?

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