Lula's Louisiana Cookhouse

PLACE: 113 S. Washington, Owosso (Just south of the M21/Washington corner.  Parking available on the street or behind J.C. Penney's/the bowling alley, if you want the exercise.  ;) )

PHONE NUMBER: (989)720-5852

VISIT NUMBER: 1

PRICE: $$-$$$

CUISINE: Cajun/Creole

WAIT TIME TO ORDER: About 5 minutes

WAIT TIME TO FOOD: About 10-15 minutes.

STAFF IMPRESSIONS: I'm not easily won over by service.  I've worked in customer service, and honestly, I'm kind of picky.  This place...  The service was excellent.  The waitstaff was attentive without hovering, very acceptive and sweet to our small child.  We also had the owner of the restaurant come out to speak to us, which was a nice touch (I have never had anyone from "the back" come to my table, so that truly stands out to me); I noticed he made sure to speak to as many tables as he could, which was absolutely wonderful, and I appreciated the personal feeling that it gave our meal.

FOOD IMPRESSIONS:

•The Dolma is amazing - an explosion of lamb and grape leaf, with the rice sopping up the oil/garlic/herb flavor.  Add the tzaktziki sauce and it almost turns into a cake with a creamy, yoghurt-like frosting.

•The Gator and Catfish were coated with a phenomenal breading, that was not too salty or spicy, but gave a wonderful Cajun-like bite.  I've had Cajun that wanted to burn your tastebuds off in place of flavor...  This was not one of those times.

•The only steak on the menu was exceptional - tender, juicy, with a little Cajun tang...  And cooked to perfection, even to a picky eater with a rare way of ordering.

•The pasta was the perfect, just-below al dente texture.  The Cajun creme sauce is divine (think Alfredo with a twist), and worked exceptionally well with the Crawfish in the dish.

•Crawfish itself was a meaty, wild, more earthy-flavored lobster; it was kind of the backwoods cousin, what venison is to beef, if you will.

•The beignets...  Well, first, let me show you the only picture of our meal that I managed to take (food...too...delicious...can't...stop...eating!):

That is all of the powdered sugar that we couldn't eat.  I love powdered sugar, so that is...amazing.  The little tiny puffs taste like the high-class cousin of an elephant ear.  I love them.  I want more,

DRINKS:  The sweet tea is not sickeningly so, which is refreshing (no pun intended).  Other than Coke, teas (sweet and iced), and milk...  I was too busy drooling over the food menu to notice, I'm sorry.

SATISFACTION:  I'll only be satisfied if they put a location closer to Flint.  They are phenomenal!

WOULD RECOMMEND: Absolutely.

NOTES: It is small, but doesn't feel crowded.  I estimate about 20 tables are there, and they fill up QUICKLY, so definitely come early.  They also are open from 12-2, then reopen 430-9, so plan for that.

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.

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.

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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