Food: The Venus De Milo, Swansea, MA

October 9, 2012 -- Oh boy, where do I begin.  OK, let me start by saying that my wife and I have frequented the Venus De Milo many times in the past and it's one of the restaurants in our "rotation", you might say.  However, that might all change.  We visited the Venus this past Saturday night and when we got there the main dining room was under construction for remodeling.  I'm perfectly fine with a restaurant closing parts of its main dining area and kitchen to perform upgrades.  I'm also fine with a limited menu, decor, furnishings, staff, you name it, while the place readies itself for a re-opening.  I blame myself for not checking before I left for dinner.

This was the case on Saturday.  However, after being seated we were handed "new" menus.  As I just stated, I'm fine with limited offerings during a renovation.  Sadly, this wasn't the case; this was their new menu.  You know when you go to a specific restaurant to order that specific dish you can't get anywhere else?  The Venus De Milo just blew themselves up!  My wife and I went specifically for their signature Seafood Alfredo dish only to find it's no longer offered.  Furthermore, they have downsized their menu so much, nothing looked appealing.  Seriously.

Thoroughly disappointed to the point where I had to talk my wife into not getting up and leaving -- it would have been rude -- we decided to stay and choose something else.  After a long debate, we both settled on the Shrimp Scampi.  In the past, the entree came with a choice of soup or salad, and vegetable.  Not anymore.  Now let me say that I felt the meal was very good, but my wife was able to finish her whole plate then and there.  This is the same woman who takes home restaurant food in a doggy bag and eats it for three more meals.  What I'm saying is, the prices went up but the portions are smaller.  Furthermore, the new menu is a major step backwards in my opinion.

The Venus is also famous for their three-pound baked stuffed lobster.  The old menu prominently boasted this fact and that Emiril Lagasse gives it a big thumbs up.  The new menu has this listed inconspicuously on the bottom of the first page.  I hate to say this, but we're most likely not going back to the Venus.  Way too many signature dishes are gone -- signature dishes for crying out loud! -- and the new menu is lacking in quantity, variety, and portion size.  Very sad indeed.

Food: The Chateau, Andover, MA

September 6, 2012 -- Papa Jim has found a restaurant suitable to his liking!  Mr. Jim is very particular in his food intake, so trying to get him to the perfect place has been a little of a challenge.  The Chateau Italian Restaurant is now Jim's #1 food spot!  I have to admit, I like their food and menu myself.  I've had everything from steamers and stuffies, to New England clam chowder and minestrone soup.  Yesterday I had shrimp cocktail followed by Tuscany Styled Grilled Shrimp with grilled vegetables over rice -- fantastic!  However, I really like their Lobster, Shrimp, & Scallop Diavalo -- I've had this dish more than once!

Papa Jim has only had fried scallops and hamburgers, but he swears by them!  If Papa Jim says it's good, then you know it's good!  If you're around Andover, or anywhere in Massachusetts for that matter, give The Chateau Italian Restaurant a try.  You'll be glad you came!

Food: On the Bone, Wyndham Hotel, Andover, MA

August 30, 2012 -- On the recommendation of AP (remember him from San Diego?  He's terrorizing Andover too!), he said that I needed to try On the Bone at the Wyndham Hotel.  With anticipation of yet another stellar meal, a coworker of mine, let's call him Papa Jim, and I visited the restaurant a couple of weeks ago.  Well, let's just say I didn't share AP's enthusiasm.

First off, I can say that we didn't have very long to wait for a table.  Now I know Tuesday night isn't a big dinner night, but me and Papa Jim arrived around 7:00 PM and there was NO ONE in the restaurant!  Needless to say, we were seated immediately.  After sitting and ordering our drinks, we both turned our attention to the menu.  The prices are ridiculous and this is coming from someone whose company is paying for meals!  We both had to calculate how much we could spend (and our per diem is generous) before ordering.

Being known for its steaks (it's not called On the Bone for nothing!), I figured a good steak was in order.  I ended up getting a NY Strip steak for $29 and Papa Jim ordered a scallops dish.  The waitress first brought us our salads, which were probably the best part of the meal.  The salads for cripe's sake!  The bread that was brought to our table was hard and not to my liking.  Finally, the main entrees arrived.

My steak was fine, but it had too much fat and grizzle for a $29 piece of meat.  It was OK, but for the price and reputation I expected spectacular.  Nope.  The vegetables were fine but the baked potato was hard and not fluffy.  Again, this might sound knit picky, but when you spend over $45 for a meal, it better be good.  I was very disappointed.  Even Papa Jim's meal was below average and overpriced.

AP, I know you liked the place, but I can't justify the cost.  Too expensive, even for per diem.  Maybe that's why there was no one in the place.  I'm all for giving second chances to places, but the only reason why I would give On the Bone another chance is because someone else is paying for it.  Sorry.

Food: Sushi Restaurants, Andover, MA

August 30, 2012 -- If you had read any of my San Diego posts, you know that I love sushi.  With that in mind, I set out to find sushi restaurants that can compete with their West Coast brothers.  Not an easy task to live up to, since sushi arrived and thrived on the other coast before coming here.

My first sushi bar I visited was Mootone Fine Japanese Cuisine.  I went with two co-workers, Donna and Sue, and we had a great time.  I still believe that sushi places in La Jolla and San Diego were better, but I did like the California rolls and rainbow rolls, as well the Beef Negima.  Not bad, but still below SD.

The next week I visited Kyoto Japanese Restaurant.  This place had sushi and traditional Japanese and Chinese food.  It also had a hibachi area if you wanted to partake in that arena.  My coworker enjoyed the beef teriyaki and I had my traditional rainbow rolls.  I liked this place better than Mootone, just because of their wider menu.  Still nothing compared to La Jolla!

The last place I've tried is Thyme Japanese Cuisine and I really like this place! From what I gather it's a new place in town with a sushi bar, restaurant, and hibachi.  The sushi is fantastic, the atmosphere nice, and the wait staff very attentive.  Plus, it's just around the corner from the Merrimack Valley YMCA, so I can easily get there after my workouts.  And, don't let this get around, it rivals my West Coast sushi joints!

Be sure to check out these places if you're in the Andover area and are looking for good sushi.  Enjoy!

Food: Longhorn Steakhouse, Tewksbury, MA

August 29, 2012 -- I don't usually blog about chain restaurants but I have to put my two cents worth for the Longhorn Steakhouse in Tewksbury, MA.  I drive to work early Monday morning, work all day, and go to the Merrimack Valley YMCA after that, so by the time the workout's over I'm starving!  The Longhorn Steakhouse is right next to the Residence Inn where I stay, so it's the easy choice for dinner.  The steaks are always good as well as the seafood dishes.  I've had the filet mignon, prime rib, salmon, trout, you name it!  All the dishes have been great and I have no complaints.  Sara, the bartender, is starting to notice that I'm a regular, even though she did just come back from a honeymoon in Aruba -- and still recognized me.  I must have a face you can't forget!  :)

If you're working up in the Andover/Tewksbury area, I'd give the Longhorn Steakhouse a try.  The place does get pretty busy around dinnertime since there are a lot of local businesses in the area, and the bar is smaller than I'd like, so be sure to give yourself some extra time.  See you there!

Food: Yummy Maki Yummy Box, La Jolla, San Diego, Day 25

July 12, 2012 -- It's the second to the last night in San Diego.  I've chosen to lay low, get my final load of laundry done before flying home (a suitcase full of dirty clothes is not a good thing) and get some sushi.  I called Enrique, he comes out to dinner every night and he's NOT on per diem, and we went to Yummy Maki Yummy Box.  I found this little hole in the wall last time in La Jolla and I make sure I stop by for Rainbow and California rolls all the time.  Enrique didn't know about the place and he lives in La Jolla!  Not to sound like a broken record, but I needed to come here one last time.  Now, I head to bed and await my last night downtown ...

Food: The Spot, La Jolla, San Diego, Day 24

July 11, 2012 -- The days are winding down ... sadly.  Knowing that the last night in San Diego will in the Gaslamp District, I needed to go to La Jolla Cove one last time and check on my seals.  But before checking up on my flippered friends, I called Enrique and we went down Prospect St. to The Spot.  I've been to The Spot a few times and it's a reasonably priced, sports bar-like restaurant.  I had a nice meal and a ridiculous slab of five layer chocolate cake.  Enrique once again picked a wonderful dessert -- he's never seen a flambe he didn't like! -- then we left to check up on the seals.

I love downtown La Jolla, Prospect Street with all the eclectic shops and boutiques, the perfect sunny weather, palm trees, and exquisite views.  We strolled along the Ellen Browning Scripps Park, taking in the rolling waves ...

 until we came up to the Cove's main attraction -- the seals!

Though it was my last time here on this trip, I won't be my last time ever.  I fell in love with La Jolla and the next time I come I'll be bringing the family.  Bye for now seals, take care and watch out for Great Whites!

Lodging: Residence Inn, La Jolla, San Diego, Day 22

July 9, 2012 -- The end is near!  I checked out of the Manchester Grand Hyatt for the last time this morning and after work I checked in to my home-away-from-home, the Residence Inn in La Jolla.  I really do enjoy staying here; it's quiet, central to everything in the San Diego area, next to the La Jolla YMCA, and not as noisy as being downtown.  Don't get me wrong, being in the Gaslamp District has its advantages, but when you realize that most people at the hotel are on vacation and you need to get up at 5:15 AM to get ready for work, it makes for a difficult combination.

Sadly, this is my last week in San Diego, so I need to see my spots one last time before I go.  I called Enrique, who lives in La Jolla, and we went to the Rock Bottom restaurant to catch the Home Run Derby at the 2012 MLB All-Star game.  I frequented this place many times since it's walking distance from my hotel.  They serve a great spicy shrimp and chicken jambalaya, which I had to have, and washed it down with some local brews.  The Home Run Derby was entertaining, but we made it an early evening; 5:15 AM comes pretty quick!!!

Food: KC BBQ, San Diego, Day 21

July 8, 2012 -- After spending almost three hours at Point Loma, I was starving!  Right across the street from the Manchester Grand Hyatt is the Kansas City Barbecue.  This place serves the best barbecue ribs and pull pork sandwiches in the city.  However, the establishment's claim to fame is that the dive bar scene filled in Top Gun was shot here!  The decor hasn't changed since the '80's and it's a quaint place to visit.

With lunch taken care of, I needed to hit the laundromat again.  Get It Clean was the spot once again, and I was able to reach Enrique for a drink afterwards.  With my belly still full of pulled pork, Enrique and I found a local watering hole called True North.  Not a bad place if I do say so myself!  Alas, it was a Sunday and I needed to pack since I would be leaving downtown San Diego for La Jolla once again ...

Food: Gaslamp District, San Diego, Day 20

July 7, 2012 -- It was nice to sleep in this morning, especially after such a fun night!  I didn't want breakfast food, but didn't feel like fajitas or hamburgers either.  Whenever I'm feeling that way, shellfish is usually the answer.  Luckily, down the boardwalk of Seaport Village rests my destiny -- Joe's Crab Shack!  You really can't go wrong with steamed crabs, now can you!

Having my fill of seafood, I took a stroll along the harbor.  Get a load this, for lack of a better word, yacht.  That's a helicopter sitting on the helo pad on the back of the vessel.  The picture doesn't do it justice; that boat was big!

Later in the day, I met up with Rocco for dinner before heading out to the Padres game.  We ate at Henry's Pub on 5th Avenue.  The food was great, I had a chicken dinner, and we were able to sit outside in the nice, warm San Diego air.  After dinner, it was game time!

Food: The Yard House, San Diego, Day 18

July 5, 2012 -- Man, are we tired!  Ever since AP left we kind of ran out of steam during the week, but that doesn't mean we sit in our hotel room!  Enrique took the rest of the holiday weekend to visit friends and relatives in San Francisco, leaving me and Rocco to fend for ourselves.  Rocco was a bit tired still, so I looked for food solo.  The first night sans Enrique found me heading to one of my favorite restaurants, The Yard House.  Again, with tons of beer on tap, how can you really go wrong?  As with my other visits to the Yard House, the Jambalaya was excellent and the beer was cold.  If you're in San Diego, get here if you can at least once, it's worth it.

Being a Thursday, and without Rocco to hang with, I decided to call it an early night, for the weekend was right around the corner ...

Food: Rockin Baja, Nicky Rotten's Bar & Grill, San Diego, Day 16

July 3, 2012 -- Rocco was STILL tired from his cross country endeavor and early morning lab shift, so we decided to make it an early night the day before the Fourth of July.  We went to the Rockin Baja to start the night, as usual, and Brooke was tending bar with a smile on her face!  I'm really starting to like her!!!  After a few beers and shrimp fajitas, which are awesome if I might say, Rocco and I left our favorite place behind and trekked up 5th Avenue of the Gaslamp District.

Looking for a new sports bar to catch the Red Sox game, we found Nicky Rotten's Bar and Grill a few blocks up the street.  Even though we had just eaten, the smell of buffalo wings clinging in the air got our stomachs going again.  Yup, they were good!  I just wish the Red Sox could have played as well.  Either way it was a nice evening and we got to sleep in with the holiday tomorrow.  Ah, tomorrow ...

Food: Gaslamp Strip Club, San Diego, Day 15

July 2, 2012 -- Today, Rocco arrived.  With AP heading back to RI a few days ago, Enrique and I needed reinforcements.  After a tumultuous 22-hour travel extravaganza, Rocco landed in San Diego exhausted.  Severe storms on the East Coast had wreaked havoc with the airlines and poor Rocco spent more time in a North Carolina airport than flying to sunny California.  So, knowing that he would be tired and hungry I knew the perfect thing to cheer him up: The Gaslamp Strip Club.  Now don't get the wrong idea, this is a steak place, and an awesome one at that!

First and foremost, you need to know that you will be cooking your own steaks.  They have grills placed about the restaurant, loaded with spices and cooking utensils.  You simply choose the steak you want, side dishes, and anything else and the waitress (in fishnets, nice touch) will bring everything to you.

We both picked our steaks and headed to the grill.  That's Rocco seasoning their signature Gaslamp Strip Steak.

I also had the strip steak and helped myself to the grill, too.

Yeah, the food is as good as it looks!  I highly recommend the Gaslmap Strip Club for those who want to have fun cooking steaks without the high prices of traditional steak joints (Donovan's or Fleming's)  

After dinner, I brought Rocco to the Barley Mash for a beer and to let him check out the completed product (he was with us in April when the establishment was nearly finished.)  The beers were cold, but poor Rocco was dead tired.  Until another day ...

Food: Wang's, North Park San Diego, Day 14

July 1, 2012 -- Being a Sunday and still recovering from the day at the Safari Park, I figured a day poolside at my hotel, the Manchester Grand Hyatt, was in order.  Enrique was exhausted and he had things to do, so my day was set.  I took a nice, long stroll along the waterfront and Seaport Village before grabbing some food supplies from the local Ralph's super market.  After that, I finished reading the book I had brought with me to San Diego, The Last Templar.  A pretty good read if you like the mystique of the Templar Knights and the coveted treasures and secrets they have been hiding for a thousand years.

Later that day I had to take care of a good week's supply of laundry -- hey, even I need to be domestic from time to time!  Enrique pointed me to a laundromat in North Park called Get It Clean.

If you have to do laundry while on travel, and if you don't have services in your hotel, this is a fine place to go.  It took me a little over an hour to wash and dry my clothes.  But, I'm not here to blog about life's necessities!

Of course when I mentioned to Enrique that I was in the North Park area he had a restaurant in mind.  He said he heard about a great Chinese Food buffet called Wang's.  Well, they didn't have a buffet, but the food was by far some of the best Chinese Food I ever had.  And take a look at the size of this place ...

There were plenty of tables and seating, and the restaurant was suprisingly packed for a Sunday night.  There was even a function room that was under construction upstairs.  Very impressive and I'll be sure to go back there again some time.  Our hostess was gracious enough to pose for a picture, especially after we told her that she would be in my blog!

And no night would be complete if Enrique didn't have dessert.  I wasn't surprised when he said we had to stop in at Heaven Sent Desserts.  There was more chocolate there than meets the eye!  Believe it or not, I didn't get any snacks, but rest assured, Enrique took a doggy bag home!

Though nothing Earth shattering happened today, we both knew that Rocco was arriving tomorrow ...

Food: Restaurants and Bars, San Diego, Day 12

June 29, 2012 -- Enter Enrique!  And where else would we be, along the Pacific Beach boardwalk and Crystal Pier?  The Pacific Beach Shore Club of course!  Pacificos and appetizers at happy hour while watching the sun sink into the ocean can't be a bad thing, right?

Well, how does sushi sound?  Since they don't serve that at the PB Shore Club, me and Enrique made the short drive to La Jolla.

One of my favorite places on Prospect St. is Sushi on the Rock, and what better dish than a Rainbow Roll.

Sadly, Enrique needed more excitement ...

Food: Barley Mash, San Diego, Day 11

June 28, 2012 -- It's AP's last day!  Being fearful that he would not wake up to make his flight, we decided to head back to the Barley Mash for dinner.

Me, AP, and Enrique had only appetizers, which we only OK.  The mussels and shrimp skillet were pretty average, nothing like the prime rib potato pie we had last time.

Enrique on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed his ribs!  Fortunately, we had great view of the street and were able to do a lot of people watching.  After dinner, AP wanted to get a better view of the sky ...

Travel: Seaport Village, San Diego, Day 10

June 27, 2012 -- After settling in to the Manchester Grand Hyatt, me and AP ventured along the Seaport Village that extends along the boardwalk and San Diego Bay.  The Village reminds me of Brick Market Place in Newport, RI -- touristy shops, bars, and restaurants all along a beautiful body of water (yeah, that's my shadow in the photo below!)

AP, hungry as usual, led us to Joe's Crab Shack where we had pots of steamed crabs, clams, mussels, and shrimp, all layered in Old Bay seasoning.  We were so hungry that we forgot to take a picture of the food for the blog, but trust me it was delicious!

Food: Raglan Public House, Ocean Beach, Day 8

June 25, 2012 -- After work, AP said that he was meeting his nephew, Neil, for dinner and asked if I wanted to come as well.  "Of course!", I said and with a quick text over to Enrique, the Three Amigos were off to Ocean Beach.  Our first stop was The Harp for some wings and baseball (we had to wait for Neil to get off work.)  The quaint Irish bar served its purpose, but it was time to venture down Newport Ave. to pick up Neil.  On the way, we had first decided to go to Hodad's for a burger, the place featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, but the line was way too long.  But, look at that view!

Neil pointed us to the Raglan Public House, just down Bacon Street (bacon makes anything good!), claiming that their burgers were just as good as Hodad's.  Getting hungrier by the minute, we obliged.  Raglan's is a New Zealand-themed restaurant with killer burgers and fries.

AP and Enrique were a little confused over the menu,

but Neil and I understood it perfectly, and enjoyed our waitress Josie and her perky personality!  Hey, what's not to like!

Unfortunately, AP did not share me or his nephew's enthusiasm over our waitress, since Josie forgot to bring him his fries with his burger.

After dinner, we said bye to Neil and headed back home, full and satisfied (though AP still was upset about those missing fries!)

Food: Moo Time, Coronado, Day 7

June 24, 2012 -- I was told that if we found ourselves on Orange St. that we had to get ice cream at Moo Time.  Great call!  The down side of such a popular spot is the line waiting to get in, and being a fantastic Sunday afternoon, this was just the case.  Actually, the people serving the ice cream took FOREVER, but the end result was as expected -- great ice cream!

AP, as usual, had to have the three scoop, Heath Bar, waffle cone concoction that took literally fifteen minutes to make.  Yeah, I was served after him.  Look at that cone -- it's as big as his head!

With our sugar fix satisfied, we bid goodbye to Meredith and headed back to the hotel.  We did have work the next day!!!

Travel: The Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, Day 7

June 24, 2012 -- After a very eventful Saturday, me, AP, and Enrique needed a calm Sunday.  We decided to travel to Coronado to have lunch, walk the beach, and get some ice cream.  AP's niece, Meredith, joined us as well.  The Hotel Del Coronado is an icon of Coronado Island.

We had lunch overlooking Coronado Beach, the nation's #1 rated beach for 2012, at the Sun Deck Bar & Grill.  The weather again was perfect, the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches delicious, and the view beautiful.

After lunch and a stroll on the beach, we traversed the neighborhoods off Orange St., taking in the gorgeous homes.  Where do people get this kind of money?  Seriously?

Getting near the end of our visit, there was only one thing more to do -- find some ice cream!