Author: gatorgirl.outoftheswamp@gmail.com

Loveless Cafe – Nashville, TN

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to the famous Loveless Café just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

The last time I was here it was for breakfast. This time I was there for lunch.

You can’t come to Loveless Café, and not order their homemade Buttermilk Biscuits. It doesn’t matter what time of day you visit, they serve these warm morsels with a selection of homemade jellies. These will be some of the best biscuits you will ever try. They are extremely light and fluffy.

The Hot Chicken was spectacular. It was crunchy and juicy. The spice was not overwhelming. You can pick two sides to enjoy with the chicken. The mac & cheese was rich and creamy. The cheesy grits were delicious. The cheese made the grits savory. Who says grits are just for breakfast.

The Pulled Pork Barbecue Sandwich was large. The smoky taste from the pork shined through. The barbecue sauce added sweetness. The sandwich came with French fries.

You can’t come to a southern restaurant without trying the classic Fried Chicken. This classic, southern staple was crispy and juicy with each bite. The two sides with this dish were green beans slow cooked with bacon to add a great smoky taste. The mashed potatoes were immensely creamy and the gravy that came on the side was very savory. It paired wonderfully with the mashed potatoes

The food at Loveless Café is made with such heart. You will enjoy each and every bite.

www.lovelesscafe.com

Enjoy!

T

Metro Diner – Jacksonville, FL

I was in Jacksonville, and I remembered there was a great diner I had been to before.

Metro Diner was also featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives which has helped this restaurant expand to other locations.

It was breakfast time so I was ready to enjoy their Classic Breakfast. It was simple, scrambled eggs, grits, and toast. There was a lot of food on the plate. The eggs were fresh. The grits had a great creamy and salty taste once I added some butter.

Another Classic Breakfast was ordered. This one had eggs over medium, and it came with bacon, homestyle potatoes, and fresh biscuits. It was extremely hearty.

A side of Pancakes were ordered. This buttermilk batter had great taste. It was perfect to share with the classic breakfast.

Biscuits and Gravy was a larger breakfast than I was expecting. The two biscuits were smothered with creamy pepper country gravy, hashbrowns, and scrambled eggs. There was also extra country gravy on the plate which tasted perfect with the eggs and hashbrowns. I would recommend getting a side of the gravy to eat with a homestyle potatoes.

If you want a great place to go for breakfast, Metro Diner should be on your list. Just keep in mind, they are popular so there could be a small wait.

www.metrodiner.com

Enjoy!

T

Fatbelly Pretzel – Nashville, TN

There was a cute little shop that opened on the east side of Nashville called Fatbelly Pretzel. They have a selection of pretzels, unique pastries, like pretzel danishes, along with sandwiches and salads.

I love pretzels, especially fresh made pretzels. I ordered the Classic Salted Pretzel. The dough was slightly sweet. The salt on the pretzel complemented the taste. It was soft and warm.

I wanted something a little more so I ordered a side of their Sesame Krab Noodles. This was a cold noodle, like a pasta salad. It was tossed in a soy sauce dressing with a rich, sesame taste. It was slightly salty with a great nutty flavor. The krab added nice texture to the soft noodles.

This was a nice little spot to grab a snack. Check them out at www.fatbellypretzel.com

Enjoy!

T

5 Points Diner – Nashville, TN

The 5 Points area of Nashville has a great selection of bars and restaurants. It was the weekend, and we were looking for a place to go for brunch. 5 Points Diner looked like a great spot.

The place was packed. There were no tables available, but we were able to get spots at the bar. We decided to get a brunch cocktail. We had great service at the bar from some of the friendliest bartenders.

It’s brunch time so a Bloody Mary was definitely ordered. It was their house bloody mix blended with Deep Eddy Vodka, lime juice, and hot sauce. It was tangy with just the right amount of heat.

The Let’s Have A Kiki was like a cherry limeade just for adults. They used Deep Eddy Lime Vodka, Sprite, and grenadine. It was not too sweet and had the right amount of cherry taste.

The Ain’t Easy Being Squeezy was a refreshing cocktail with lots of citrus flavor. They blended Absolute Citrone vodka with sugar, lime juice, and topped it off with soda.

The last cocktail ordered was the Yes We Do. This is their espresso martini. Clearly they get asked about this drink a lot so they named it for their answer. They use Borghetti, Tito’s vodka and a local coffee shop’s coffee. The shop is called Bongo check them out.

I am glad we got a chance to visit 5 Points Diner. Unfortunately they are now closed but hopefully they open somewhere else in the future.

Enjoy!

T

Blueberry Hill – Las Vegas, NV

There is a classic diner, called Blueberry Hill, that is perfect for breakfast. It has been serving Las Vegas since 1987.

I was really hungry when I got there. I had just flown in from the East Coast and was ready to chow down.

I ordered the Crêpe Dealer. This breakfast came out on two plates. The three eggs I got over-medium. They were perfectly cooked. I was able to get bacon and sausage on the side.

The main reason I ordered this dish was because of the crêpes. I got two crêpes, but I did not want any filling. I just wanted to taste this sweet crêpe itself. They accented it with whipped cream and fresh strawberries on top. Now if you want filling in your crêpes, you have the choice of a four cheese blend or homemade fruit compote.

The Corned Beef Hash Omelet was also ordered. This was an interesting omelet. It’s huge. It’s a half pound of eggs, corned beef, sautéed tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and cheddar cheese. It took up almost the whole plate. There were even hashbrowns on the side and they were cooked crispy. This omelet could easily be shared by two people.

If you are an early riser or out late at the casinos, and you need a bite to eat, check out Blueberry Hill. They have a few locations around Vegas, so check out their website to find one near you.

www.blueberryhillrestaurants.com

Enjoy!

T

Eleven – Kissimmee, FL

There is a wonderful rooftop restaurant at the Reunion Resort called Eleven. I got to go there for an event, and I was excited to get to be wined and dined.

This rooftop bar/restaurant has great views. There’s a pool you can lounge in if you want. You can see all of the theme parks in the distance. It’s cool at night because you can see all the fireworks.

We started the event off with some cocktails as we socialize with other guests.

The appetizer table was set up outside so we could enjoy the views. The spread was nice. We had an array of options:

– Caesar salad

– Two different kinds of Hummus

– The Charcuterie Board was beautifully arranged with cured meats and artisan cheeses. There were sauces of jalapeño hatch peppers, and honey.

For dinner, it was served family style at each of the tables. The food just kept coming out. There was something for everyone to enjoy.

The Spinach Artichoke Dip was extremely creamy. It was a blend of Fontina and Manchego cheese. They served colorful tortilla chips on the side.

Meatballs came out and these were lamb meatballs with basil, a peanut crumble and saffron aioli. They had a slight gamey taste, but the saffron aioli helped hide that.

The Flatbed Pizza came out and everyone got excited. It was a Margarita Pizza. The dough had great flavor. There was a lot of melted cheese that normally a margarita pizza does not have. I love this because the cheese is sometimes the best part of the pizza.

There were beautiful Beef Steak Skewers that were on top of the bed of Couscous. The steak was tender and had a great pepper taste.

The Shrimp and Grits were amazing. There was so much on the plate. The grits were creamy and cheesy, the best I’ve ever had. The shrimp was tender, but not the star of the dish.

One of the side dishes was Broccolini. They sautéed this with butter and garlic. It was also cooked with raisins. This added a spectacular sweetness to the broccolini, which can sometimes be bitter.

Salmon was the fish for the night. This was a pan seared perfectly. It was flaky and fresh.

The Mac & Cheese came out last and now I know why. Because I would’ve eaten the entire bowl myself and would not have had room to try any of the other dishes. This mac & cheese was made with Fontina Mornay cheese. It was so creamy. Total comfort food.

It was time for dessert. They set the dessert tables up back outside. We got to enjoy:

– Key Lime Cheesecake. It was both sweet and tangy.

– Layered Cake Cups –  there was chocolate, strawberry and vanilla icing available

This was the best way to experience Eleven. If you were in the area or staying at the Reunion Resort, you must check them out.

www.reunionresort.com/dining/eleven

Enjoy!

T

Bri – Boyne City, MI

The Boyne River Inn has been a beloved place since 1893. Visitors can enjoy a wonderful meal at BRI.

We were greeted as soon as we walked in. The Midwestern hospitality was on full display.

We sat outside overlooking the river. It was a beautiful view. Plus is was a great day to be outside; the temperature was fantastic.

We started with the Stuffed Dates. These were a unique appetizer that are not normally on menus. They baked Medjool dates that were stuffed with goat cheese. Then they were wrapped in bacon and covered with a balsamic glaze.

There was a wonderful blend of sweet, tart, and salty. The date was creamy and sweet. The tartness came from the goat cheese. The bacon added the saltiness, with a little crunch.

They have a giant Woodfire oven inside the restaurant.

Naturally, we had to try the Meat Pizza. This included ham, pepperoni, bacon, and Italian sausage. They gave a generous portion of all the meat. The dough was sweet and had a nice crunch from being cooked in the oven.

The BRI  Burger was a classic cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and onion. It was cooked to a perfect medium, and the American cheese was melted all over the patty. It was very juicy and the seasoning was great. The burger also came with a side of French fries.

The Fish Sandwich was huge. It was almost too big to be a sandwich. The beer battered, fresh cod was deep-fried until crispy. There was lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce on the bun, but the fish tasted so good on its own that the condiments were not necessary.

A visit to Boyne City would not be complete unless you visited BRI for something to eat.

www.boyneriverinn.com

Enjoy!

T

Caddy’s – Madeira Beach, FL

I have visited Caddy’s many times. It is one of my go-to restaurants in Madeira Beach.

I love the view of the Gulf. The second floor of the restaurant is the best spot.

It was a hot afternoon, so grabbing some frozen drinks was a must. The Frose blended vodka, Moscato, sour mix, peach purée, and pear syrup. This combination was both sweet and sour, almost like a piece of candy.

The Rocky Margarita was a nice take on a classic. It blended Silver tequila, triple sec, sour mix, orange juice, and lime juice. It was a very fresh tasting margarita.

The Calamari was a great appetizer to start with. They were flash fried to crispy. A sweet Thai chili sauce was served on the side for dipping. The calamari were tender, and there was just the right amount of breading.

Another great appetizer is the Kickin’ Watermelon Bites. They chopped up watermelon and mixed it with feta cheese, dust it with chipotle & extra-virgin olive oil. A balsamic glaze was drizzled all over. Some mint and lime juice accented the dish.

This was extremely refreshing, the sweetness of the watermelon and the tartness of the feta cheese complemented each other. It was also a unique blend of textures. This was a great dish for a hot day.

The Ahi Tuna was tremendously fresh. It was so tender. It melted in my mouth. They did a char-crusted sear on the tuna. They drizzled a spicy mayo and teriyaki glaze on top. There was a seaweed salad also served with the tuna.

A dinner at a beachside restaurant would not be complete without some Mahi Tacos. They lightly blackened Mahi and topped it with pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese, and a chipotle sauce. The soft tortilla shells wrapped around the Mahi, made it easy to pick up and enjoy. The Mahi had fantastic seasoning.

If you are looking for a great beach restaurant, then Caddy’s is the perfect place.

www.caddys.com/caddys-madeira-beach/

Enjoy!

T

John’s Roast Pork – Philadelphia, PA

If you’re looking for a classic Philly cheesesteak, you must head over to John’s Roast Pork. They have been serving this Philly staple since 1930.

There are a few options of John’s Ultimate Cheesesteaks:

  • The cheesesteak with cheese is your classic version that has provolone cheese that melts into the bread.
  • The cheesesteak with onions is the classic with the cheese and pork plus they loaded up with onions. They are beautifully mix throughout.

The meat is extremely tender and full of flavor. The simple seasoning that is used on the meat is delicious. It keeps you going back for more. You can’t take just one bite. The sandwiches are large, and you’ll find yourself eating the entire thing.

If you are in Philadelphia, then check them out at www.johnroastpork.com

Enjoy!

T

Flushing Ice Cream Factory – Flushing, NY

When we were visiting New York, we are looking for some ice cream. We found Flushing Ice Cream Factory. If you like tons of choices to choose from this was the spot.

When we got to visit, we tried a few options. Pistachio is one of my favorites. The large pieces of pistachio nuts added a nice crunch throughout the creaminess.

The Matcha was unique flavor. It had a slight earthy and bitter taste but it was toned down from the sweetness of the ice cream. You just keep eating and you don’t know why, but you can’t put it down.

The Coffee had a rich flavor and definitely gave you a jolt of energy.

From my understanding this location in Flushing, New York is now closed, but you can always visit their Chinatown location.

www.chinatownicecreamfactory.com

Enjoy!

T