RESTAURANT REVIEWS BY JOEY Z

Good Evening Speakies:

Thought I'd hit you with a few more reviews of the local eateries. While being on a small vacation last week, Roe and I had an early dinner at Applebee's on US 27 in Davenport, FL. We tried the 2 for $20 meal idea. This includes 1 appetizer and 2 main courses for that price. We chose the onion rings for the appetizer, I had the sirloin steak with baked potato and asparagus. Roe chose a chicken pasta dish. The onion rings were a little dark and crispy and thought that was how they served them until the table along side of us received their order. They received a huge platter of golden brown and fresh looking onion rings. My meal was good, but Rosemary's was bland and certainly not an alfredo sauce they should be serving. Roe asked to speak to the manager and explained about her meal being tasteless and how we thought the dark crispy onion rings were the way they made them; he assured us it's not and they are suppose to be golden in color. Roe feels the server should not be serving something that would be considered 'unacceptable' according to the company's standards, but refrained from telling that to the manager. We weren't looking for a discount and none was given. I received a free New England Ice Tea from a table who did not want the 2 drink happy hour special.

We took our son Joe and his girlfriend Elizabeth out last Friday to LongHorn Steakhouse. Visitors coming to the area, this one is located on West 192, near the Orange Lake Country Club Resort, heading towards US 27. The restaurant was packed with tourists due to its location. My chop steak was good, Roe's ribs were sucked to the bone, my son had crusted chicken and enough to take to work that night. His girlfriend really enjoyed her steak and brought some home also. Good Food, get there early.

On the last evening of our mini vacation, we tried one of our usual places, Giordano's Italian Restaurant. We go there every year for a meatball sandwich and beer. It was early, nice booth, waiter was OK, so we placed our order, 2 meatball sandwiches, no cheese just marinara sauce. Will never eat there again. Sandwiches were served on a type of Cuban bread, sauce was thin, orange looking with chopped onions and other veggies. I've seen golf balls softer than the meatballs. Roe had to use a knife to cut hers, being Italian herself, meatballs are to be soft and tender like a woman. They also had a funny spicy taste we could not lay our finger on. We of course brought this all to the waiter's attention who later sent the manager over to our table. Rosemary advised him how to make meatballs the Italian way and the proper sauce to use. We found out the chef was Moroccan and thus the funny tasting spice in the meatballs became known. The sauce we were told was the product of the chain itself, better get some better marinara we told the manager. He was going to grab the tab, but we told him we did not complain for that reason. Things are tough and when you go out for lunch or dinner, people only want the best for their dollar earned. This place rates a 2 thumbs down.

More to come as we venture out to eat.