Always fun to give these a try!
Read this article in Wine Spectator to learn more about this year's vintage.
_Laine
Friday, November 20, 2009
2009 Beaujolais Nouveau
Always fun to give these a try!
Read this article in Wine Spectator to learn more about this year's vintage.
_Laine
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Press 626 Cafe & Wine Bar - Norfolk, VA
Press 626 cropped up in a location that was rumored to not harbor a restaurant after the Winehouse moved to Colley Avenue and has since closed shop. I had spoken with some locals that had visited Press, but this was my first social call to the place. Laine and I decided it was time.
The layout of the restaurant has not changed much since it was the Winehouse. New paint colors and some new furniture, but the same front space with little tables, same bar, a slightly larger table in one corner and then a side room that seemed suited for parties or a very large table setting. I arrived and had to park around the corner because Press' building has a very small parking lot (think extra, extra small, so you may have to walk, which is good for you anyway). We sat at the bar since Laine's friend joined us and a two-top was not going to cut it. I arrived at 12:20pm (this will be sigificant later in the review) and hopped in a bar seat to review the menu.
I had looked online and was pretty certain I would order 'The Best Grilled Cheese - EVER' on sourdough. A piece of advice, the online menu says pickles come on the sandwich, but the actual menu does not indicate this important tidbit of information. I like pickles, but not on grilled cheese, so I requested the sandwich sans pickles. You can also add bacon for a buck or a slice of tomato for fifty cents. All of the pressed sandwiches come with a side or mesclun greens and because I already decided I would order dessert, I stuck with the salad. For a small fee, you can have a cup of soup or home fries instead of the greens. Not to compare everyone o No Frill, but the sourdough could have used a little more butter in the grilling process. Its a grilled cheese, so why go light on anything. The mixture of Swiss, Vermont cheddar and goat cheese was extremely tasty but the goat cheese gave it that added pizazz. I love goat cheese, so I may be partial.
For the finale, I ordered the apple cinnamon bread pudding. The taste was excellent but it was not hot when it arrived. Warm would even be pushing it for a temperature rating. I was in such a hurry I did not make a fuss, but I would have asked them to reheat it had it been during an extended meal. This leads me to my malcontent temperament over the experience. Service took FOREVER. Remember, I arrived at 12:20pm? The waiter did not bring our food until a few minutes before 1pm. It took him a good while to take our order, but on top of that, the lag between ordering and receiving seemed interminable. I looked at my watch five times and I do not typically do it more than once during lunch, and only because I am typically on a time constraint, as many people are for that meal. I was very agitated that the food took as long as it did. These are sandwiches, not bouillabaisse. Put some heat on in the kitchen. I had to eat pretty quickly and would have enjoyed being able to appreciate my food a little more.
With the time predicament, I rate the overall experience in the middle. Unfortunately, the wait killed my mood at the end. The food was tasty (just heat that bread pudding up until it is steaming hot) and the atmosphere is pleasant, so if Press can remember they are serving a lot of folks that have to get there and get in and out in under an hour and back to wherever they need to go, they will rise on my rating scale. The grilled cheese was around $8. Of course, you can make this a lot cheaper, but in the scheme of sandwich prices, that is not too bad. The bread pudding was $7 and for dessert that is the going rate. I will definitely have dinner at Press and they do have Sunday brunch, and I need a new brunch scene in a pretty serious way. I am wearing out the few that I like.
Try it out and let Laine and I know what you think.
~Alex
I have been wanting to try this place. A wino at heart, every time I drive past Press 626 I say to myself, "I've have GOT TO try this place", then I promptly forget. I was excited to head out there on Friday with one of my work buddies in tow. We snagged the last spot in their lot (sorry Alex!) and headed inside. We have perused the menu online and already decided on what to order. Every restaurant should have a website if for this reason only...to put the menu online! It tickled me that both Alex and I wanted the Grilled Cheese, fitting for a chilly late fall day.
Seated at the bar, directly next to the coffee station, felt surprisingly cozy. Being on the short side, I am not usually a sit at the bar gal more for comfort than anything else. I no longer drink coffee, but was severely tempted because the aroma's coming from the various flavors they were preparing in the French Press smelled delicious! They offer organic French pressed coffee and teas by request for a meager $2.95. Watch out Starschmucks! I checked out the wine menu longingly. I was not familiar with most of it, but noted that it had a nice variety of countries and grapes represented. I have been enjoying Argentinian wines lately and saw a few I would have liked to try, were I note returning to work.
Whenever a restaurant uses terminology like "THE BEST EVER" on the menu, it feels like a challenge to me. Especially for something like grilled cheese, of which there can be infinite varieties. Being a smart-alec on occasion (occasion = a lot) I had to ask the waiter if it was really the best every. He said yes, but after a slight pause. AH HA! The tone was set. My work buddy waffled between the Cubano and Monster and finally settled on the Monster, a rib steak sandwich with caramelized onions, tomatoes, cilantro, Swiss cheese and chipotle aioli. We both added Tomato soup as our side.
The Tomato soup was disappointing. I can't say it wasn't good, it just wasn't what I expected. It tasted like marinara sauce, was similar in texture and had the tomato seeds in it. Just not my style. The sandwiches were both good. My view of the grilled cheese is rather pedestrian, so any grilled cheese that doesn't at least contain American cheese will never rate as "The Best", but this one was pretty darn good. Alex was right about the goat cheese. The texture added an extra kick to the other cheeses, like ricotta does in lasagna.
The atmosphere in Press 626 is very relaxed, and I suppose that is why the kitchen service is on the sluggish side. The servers seemed to be bustling and my drink glass stayed full. Housed in an old Ghent building it was a little chilly inside the restaurant, so lukewarm food quickly turned cold. Single paned, glass windows with no storm coverings will not keep out the winter chill and drafts will abound. 'Tis the season.
Overall, I enjoyed Press 626 and look forward to returning again in the near future when I will be able to take my time and enjoy more of their menu offerings.
_Laine
Press 626 is located in Ghent at
626 West Olney Road, Norfolk, VA 23507.
Hours are Monday-Friday 11:00AM-11:00PM
Saturday 5:00PM-11:00PM
Sunday [Brunch]10:30AM-2:30AM
The layout of the restaurant has not changed much since it was the Winehouse. New paint colors and some new furniture, but the same front space with little tables, same bar, a slightly larger table in one corner and then a side room that seemed suited for parties or a very large table setting. I arrived and had to park around the corner because Press' building has a very small parking lot (think extra, extra small, so you may have to walk, which is good for you anyway). We sat at the bar since Laine's friend joined us and a two-top was not going to cut it. I arrived at 12:20pm (this will be sigificant later in the review) and hopped in a bar seat to review the menu.
I had looked online and was pretty certain I would order 'The Best Grilled Cheese - EVER' on sourdough. A piece of advice, the online menu says pickles come on the sandwich, but the actual menu does not indicate this important tidbit of information. I like pickles, but not on grilled cheese, so I requested the sandwich sans pickles. You can also add bacon for a buck or a slice of tomato for fifty cents. All of the pressed sandwiches come with a side or mesclun greens and because I already decided I would order dessert, I stuck with the salad. For a small fee, you can have a cup of soup or home fries instead of the greens. Not to compare everyone o No Frill, but the sourdough could have used a little more butter in the grilling process. Its a grilled cheese, so why go light on anything. The mixture of Swiss, Vermont cheddar and goat cheese was extremely tasty but the goat cheese gave it that added pizazz. I love goat cheese, so I may be partial.
For the finale, I ordered the apple cinnamon bread pudding. The taste was excellent but it was not hot when it arrived. Warm would even be pushing it for a temperature rating. I was in such a hurry I did not make a fuss, but I would have asked them to reheat it had it been during an extended meal. This leads me to my malcontent temperament over the experience. Service took FOREVER. Remember, I arrived at 12:20pm? The waiter did not bring our food until a few minutes before 1pm. It took him a good while to take our order, but on top of that, the lag between ordering and receiving seemed interminable. I looked at my watch five times and I do not typically do it more than once during lunch, and only because I am typically on a time constraint, as many people are for that meal. I was very agitated that the food took as long as it did. These are sandwiches, not bouillabaisse. Put some heat on in the kitchen. I had to eat pretty quickly and would have enjoyed being able to appreciate my food a little more.
With the time predicament, I rate the overall experience in the middle. Unfortunately, the wait killed my mood at the end. The food was tasty (just heat that bread pudding up until it is steaming hot) and the atmosphere is pleasant, so if Press can remember they are serving a lot of folks that have to get there and get in and out in under an hour and back to wherever they need to go, they will rise on my rating scale. The grilled cheese was around $8. Of course, you can make this a lot cheaper, but in the scheme of sandwich prices, that is not too bad. The bread pudding was $7 and for dessert that is the going rate. I will definitely have dinner at Press and they do have Sunday brunch, and I need a new brunch scene in a pretty serious way. I am wearing out the few that I like.
Try it out and let Laine and I know what you think.
~Alex
I have been wanting to try this place. A wino at heart, every time I drive past Press 626 I say to myself, "I've have GOT TO try this place", then I promptly forget. I was excited to head out there on Friday with one of my work buddies in tow. We snagged the last spot in their lot (sorry Alex!) and headed inside. We have perused the menu online and already decided on what to order. Every restaurant should have a website if for this reason only...to put the menu online! It tickled me that both Alex and I wanted the Grilled Cheese, fitting for a chilly late fall day.
Seated at the bar, directly next to the coffee station, felt surprisingly cozy. Being on the short side, I am not usually a sit at the bar gal more for comfort than anything else. I no longer drink coffee, but was severely tempted because the aroma's coming from the various flavors they were preparing in the French Press smelled delicious! They offer organic French pressed coffee and teas by request for a meager $2.95. Watch out Starschmucks! I checked out the wine menu longingly. I was not familiar with most of it, but noted that it had a nice variety of countries and grapes represented. I have been enjoying Argentinian wines lately and saw a few I would have liked to try, were I note returning to work.
Whenever a restaurant uses terminology like "THE BEST EVER" on the menu, it feels like a challenge to me. Especially for something like grilled cheese, of which there can be infinite varieties. Being a smart-alec on occasion (occasion = a lot) I had to ask the waiter if it was really the best every. He said yes, but after a slight pause. AH HA! The tone was set. My work buddy waffled between the Cubano and Monster and finally settled on the Monster, a rib steak sandwich with caramelized onions, tomatoes, cilantro, Swiss cheese and chipotle aioli. We both added Tomato soup as our side.
The Tomato soup was disappointing. I can't say it wasn't good, it just wasn't what I expected. It tasted like marinara sauce, was similar in texture and had the tomato seeds in it. Just not my style. The sandwiches were both good. My view of the grilled cheese is rather pedestrian, so any grilled cheese that doesn't at least contain American cheese will never rate as "The Best", but this one was pretty darn good. Alex was right about the goat cheese. The texture added an extra kick to the other cheeses, like ricotta does in lasagna.
The atmosphere in Press 626 is very relaxed, and I suppose that is why the kitchen service is on the sluggish side. The servers seemed to be bustling and my drink glass stayed full. Housed in an old Ghent building it was a little chilly inside the restaurant, so lukewarm food quickly turned cold. Single paned, glass windows with no storm coverings will not keep out the winter chill and drafts will abound. 'Tis the season.
Overall, I enjoyed Press 626 and look forward to returning again in the near future when I will be able to take my time and enjoy more of their menu offerings.
_Laine
Press 626 is located in Ghent at
626 West Olney Road, Norfolk, VA 23507.
Hours are Monday-Friday 11:00AM-11:00PM
Saturday 5:00PM-11:00PM
Sunday [Brunch]10:30AM-2:30AM
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Kyushu Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar - VA Beach
I have not eaten at every sushi restaurant in town. Doing so is becoming an increasingly impossible feat as it appears that every new shopping strip now comes with a sushi restaurant. Fortunately, I don't really need to try anymore. I was introduced to be best one about 8 years ago. It is Kyushu. I love it for several reasons, but the number one reason is that they have the freshest, best tasting fish in town. Their fish is consistent every time you visit, lunch or dinner. Honestly, you can take away all the interior decorations, service, fancy food arrangements, prices, whatever. With the abundance of mediocrity available today for sushi the key determining factor must be the taste and quality of the fish. Kyushu simply nails it.
I dined there last Friday evening with my husband, who happens to be the person who introduced me to Kyushu. He's probably been eating there for well over a dozen years. Kyushu is in a shopping strip on Newtown Road, not the most fashionable address in Virginia Beach. In fact, the New York bus depot has moved in next door, taking the location down a notch or two in my opinion. However, I seriously doubt they would ever consider moving, nor would I really want them too. In today's world of constant change, where most possessions are disposal in value, it is somehow reassuring for me to know I can step away from Kyushu and come back a year later to find it exactly as I left it. The interior is about as fashionable as the location. There are basic tables and chairs which are very close together. No secrets from your neighbors while dining at Kyushu! The sushi bar is not just for decoration. On busy nights and at lunchtime the seats will be packed. This was a typical Friday night and it was jammed packed. We seemed to arrive at a good time, as most of the tables were turning over and we were seated right away.
The same people are always working there, from the servers to the sushi chef. Once you go there enough they get to know you, but regardless they greet everyone who enters and say "Thank you!" (kind of loudly) to everyone when they leave. Once seated your server will great you with a warm towel for a pre-dining refresher and take your drink orders. They have the basics, but no extensive beer or wine list. You can choose from a couple of Japanese beers, plum wine and Sake, in addition to the usual suspects of sodas, US beers, etc. Whenever we dine out for sushi I will order Sake. I love it and feel like it is the perfect complement to the food.
We ordered a la carte, mixing up sushi and sashimi with a California Roll, Volcano Roll and Mussels appetizer. If you are a mussel eater I strongly recommend that you try this broiled delight. I simply can't NOT get them. They are my favorite. These are mussels in an open faced shell, topped with a "secret" sauce and lightly broiled. You can watch these being cooked because the broiler is behind the sushi bar and up high, over the stove, right about at eye level. The plate comes to the table with the sauce still sizzling. I have also had their fried oysters and recommend these to fellow oyster eaters. They are cooked to perfection with a light tempura batter. All of the sushi and sashimi selections were delicious. The Volcano Roll was very tasty but also very rich. Most sushi is not what I would consider filling, so I warn you that this roll is heavy.
Service is always brisk. It is the kind of place where you have a primary waitress but everyone working there will wait on you. Although the restaurant is somewhat kid friendly, I believe Kyushu is better suited to older kids who may have a bit more self control and manners. My six year old is not quite ready in my opinion. There is a pretty decent chance that her volume and inability to sit still could hamper the dining experience of someone else, especially since the tables are so close together.
So leave your fancy pants and high heels at home, throw on your favorite jeans and head out to Kyushu for the best sushi in town. You will not be disappointed.
_Laine
Kyushu Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
400 Newtown Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462-5619
(757) 490-1177
Lunch Hours
Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner Hours
Monday - Thursday 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday - Saturday 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sunday Closed
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