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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Super King Buffet

Super King Buffet
8087 W. Broad Street
Henrico, VA 23294
(804) 270-7799
(Fountain Square Shopping Center)

Before I start, I cannot stand buffet style restaurants!

Atmosphere/Decor: As soon as you walk in the door, you know that you are in an Asian restaurant. There was a cool waterfall feature and a river running through the front half of the restaurant with 2 dozen huge Coy fish swimming around. After walking over the wooden bridge into the dinning area you could hear the Asian music playing, you could see the Gigantic Dragon Boat buffet table and all of the servers were dressed in Asain inspired silk designs. There was no doubt, I was eating some Asian food tonight!

Food: There was a ton of it! Two huge tables, both double-sided full of food! Plus a Sushi bar and a Mangolian Bar in the back of the restaurant. This place was huge. Plenty of dinning rooms. I recognized a few of my favorites on the buffet. But, for some items I needed to read the description labels (mounted above the food) to tell me what it was. Having a label explain to me what I'm eating can be slightly disturbing. But, I tried just about every item. That's right, it took me 4 plates, and 1 soup bowl, but I managed to "try" at least one bite of everything I put on my plate. Some items were delicious and others, well, I admit, I spit them out into my napkin. My husband gorged himself on his favorite, Crab Legs! Some of their foods were mass produced and lower quality, but it was what you expect from a large buffet serving a lot of people every day.

Service: We had a sweet waitress that promptly picked up all of our used plates and quickly refilled our drinks. Other than that, the "service" was up to us.

Bathroom Report: I saw them in the back of the restaurant, but I did not go in - Once I walked around, my eyes and stomach were to fixated on the food! (Especially because I was starving!)

Total Price: $32.00 (2 Adult Buffet $14.99 each, 1 Ice Tea, 1 Water) A ton of food for $15! Of course, the next day we get a coupon in the mail for Super King!

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Side Note: I still hate Buffet Restaurants!

Overall Suggestion: Child Friendly, Quick, Ton of Food

Restaurant picked by Tommy Joyner

Finn McCool's Irish Pub

Finn McCool's Irish Pub
4028 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 
Shoppes at Innsbrook
(West End)

Atmosphere/Decor: It's an Irish Pub! Ireland Flags and Crests on the walls and Irish Street signs behind the main bar. Each booth had a different antique wood framed mirror. The big front room has plenty of TVs to watch any sport you want. Decent size bar with plenty of Irish beverages on tap. There is a smaller room in the back, which leads to the Innsbrook Patio area. This room had 2 dart boards, online track horse betting (which is new) and a private smaller bar.

Food: Tommy ordered the "Fish & Chips" (which is a personal, ongoing challenge for Tommy - he has been trying to find the perfect "Fish & Chips" in Richmond) Tommy ordered a "Full" order, which is 2 huge pieces of fish and their homemade thinly sliced potato chips. Finally, Tommy has found a place that can make "Fish & Chips" to his standards! And, I would have to agree, I tried the fish & chips - both crispy and fresh! Delicious - Even the next day!
I ordered the "Angry Leprechaun" which was a smoked chicken breast smothered with pepperjack cheese with peppers and onions on top. Served on a wheat roll with fries. I loved my sandwich! I now know why they call it the "angry leprechaun" - the sauce, the smoke and pepperjack cheese really gave it some heat! (But, not too much - just enough for a little kick) My fries were, okay, slightly greasy - I did not finish eating them. I should have switched it to their homemade potato chips, like Tommy's order. They were much better!

Service: Our waitress was okay. 

Distractions: None! Although, this place looks like it would get rowdy on weekend nights/St. Patty's Day/Big Sporting Events - But, that's what you want in an Irish Pub! (Glad this one is close to home)

Bathroom Report: Spacious and Clean

Side Note: Live Music several nights during the week (Even our very own, favorite local twins, Rick & Rod Hollowell play there once a month)

Total Price: $31.24 (1 Beer, 1 sandwich, 1 entree)

Rating: 4 stars (Out of 5)

Restaurant Picked by Mary Beth Joyner

Sunset Grill

Sunset Grill

Sorry I'm a few weeks behind on posting this review. We had our first "bad experience", so it was tough for me to get on the computer and write a bad report. Therefore, I've been putting it off.

We arrived at Sunset Grill hoping for a lovely, relaxing evening.... but what we experienced was anything but that. The first booth we sat in lasted 2 minutes, due to the three raging children sitting behind us. I could not take the kicking, screaming, playing on the floor and watching the parents do nothing about their bad behavior. So, we then moved to the opposite side of the restaurant, which was closer to the bar and TVs. 

Atmosphere/Decor:  
There were random items throughout the entire restaurant. One area was decorated nicely, like it was meant for fine dinning (the room were we started), the other area is casual, near the bar, bathrooms, and kitchen. There were old library books on the walls, plastic flowers, old pictures, etc. (I found this to knick-knacky, in a bad way) They also have an outside deck (which is up against their parking lot and had a view of Broad St.) and a tiny little covered patio/screened porch (which had 1 guy playing the guitar) Overall, I'm not sure what "theme" this restaurant is going for? Too many different rooms/areas that do not flow together.

Food:
We started with 2 appetizers, Lobster Bites and the Crab Dip. I fell in love with the Crab Dip! It was delicious! (But, like most dips, they never give you enough bread/chips to finish the dip) We ordered the Lobster Bites, because it was the nightly special, or - so we thought... It was also on the regular menu for the same exact price? So we are not sure what made this a "special", they put it on a separate menu, charge the same exact price and offer it every night. (Strange Marketing) Tommy & I have eaten a lot of Lobster and we know what Lobster looks like and what it tastes like - This was NOT lobster. It was clearly shrimp. What really gave it away was there were shrimp that were not deveined - yuck! We called over the waitress to ask her, and she was clueless, so she went to the kitchen to ask, and came back with the reply "It's Lobster". Next, I ordered a regular spinach salad. I was somewhat pleased with the size of salad for the price. Tommy ordered the sunset chicken wings. (Or so we thought...) He ordered them crisp and extra spicy! So, when they arrived and we saw Kansas City Pork Wings (Hog-Wings) instead, you can imagine Tommy's reaction. The waitress, was yet again, clueless. She never offered to fix the order, in fact, to Tommy's embarrassment, I tried to call over what looked like the manager to try to salvage our dinner. She also had nothing to say to us. Someone should have fixed the order, or at least given us a discount for their mistake and awful service. Not to mention the chipped plate you served my food on and the dirty silverware you expected me to eat my meal with. 

Service: HORRIBLE!!! It was probably the worst waitress I have had wait on us in years!
No refills on drinks, did not pick up used plates, dirty silverware, chipped plates, refusal to correct her mistake once the food arrived, and extremely slow returning to the table after food was served.

Distractions: See Above!

Bathroom Report: Very Small. The bathroom doors opened out into the restaurant area next to the bar, slightly unsanitary and gross! 

Side Note: I will never eat here again

Total Price: Overpriced! ($52.00) (3 apps, 1 salad, 1 wine, 3 beers & my water that was never refilled!)

Overall Suggestion: Eat somewhere else

Rating: 1 star (That was for the Crab Dip)

Restaurant picked by Tommy Joyner

 
  

Monday, September 6, 2010

Basilis

3107 W. Cary Street
Richmond, VA 23221
804-257-7901
www.basilisgr.com
(Carytown Area)

Atmosphere/Decor:
Basilis is very basic when it comes to decor. A fresh coat of paint, a wall of retro stools and some pictures of Greece hanging on the walls were the only noticeable differences from the previous owner (Carytown Seafood). This place reminded me more of a "take-out" spot than an actual relaxing restaurant. They kept the same layout, display cases, and counters as the owners before them (which was a great savings for them) They also have a flat screen TV playing an informational movie about Greece (with subtitles) and Greek music playing in the background - nice touch!

Food: 
Tommy and I decided to order light for lunch, so we decided to share a small greek salad ($3.50) and I got the chicken gyro (4.95) and he got the meat gyro with fries ($6.95). Wow! What a ton of food! We could not finish either gyro! So, guess what we had for dinner? Greek Gyros! They were excellent - I highly recommend picking up a gyro from this place, except for when the Greek Festival is in town! The greek salad was okay...watery, and only 1 olive - I've had better. Tommy liked their fries a lot.

Service:
You order and pay at the counter and then they bring you the food. Not much "service". In fact, the back counter is all self-service - you fix your own drinks and pick-up your napkins and condiments. At the end, you throw away your own trash and stack your baskets on the counter. If you didn't like the service, it's your own fault - LOL! Keep the tip for yourself and go shopping!

Only Distractions: A few flies...
It was a hot day in Carytown, you can't help opening the doors in a restaurant - it happens everywhere.

Bathroom Report: Normal, Nothing Fancy

Side Note: I would suggest that you place an order for pick-up and don't forget dessert! We were too full to order any, but the dessert case looked amazing! Yummy Baklava!

Total Price: $19.78 (1 soda, 1 salad, 2 gyros, and a side of fries) Not bad for Lunch & Dinner!

Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Overall Suggestions: Great Greek Food! (good prices too) Family Friendly and very quick
 
Restaurant picked by Mary Beth Joyner