Broken Egg Bistro - Chesapeake, VA

I am by nature a planner, so when my friend randomly suggested yesterday evening that we go out to dinner at Broken Egg Bistro, I surprised us both by answering "Yes". The truth is, I have wanted to check this place out for a while now. Thursday nights is their pasta special, AND one kid eats free for every adult ordering an entrée. Nice!

We beat the dinner rush, arriving right around 6PM with our 3 girls in tow. Usually we like to sit at adjoining tables so we can allow the kids a little freedom while we dish the dirt, but they were already getting full at 6. We were seated at a 6 top in the corner next to the swinging kitchen door. Not the best seat in the house, but one where I assume a lot of our demographic may get seated. The vibe of BEB is modern diner. There is a combination of booths, tables and a bar. Overhead the open ceiling exposes industrial joints, wiring and such, which is camouflaged with black paint. The walls are warm terracotta in color. The noise level is medium to high with all the hard surfaces exposed.



Our server was very nice and on top of things, getting drink orders quickly while we scanned the menus. They have a fantastic kids menu serving kids up to age 12. There are 11 different entrée selections and 12 sides you can mix and match. Something for every picky eater in the bunch! My girl chose a grilled cheese with green beans.

I wasn’t really interested in the Pasta Special. Wanting something a little more on the light side, I checked out the menu. The “grown up” menu is segregated by category: Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches, From the Ranch (beef), From the Coop, From the Sea, Pastas and lastly, Desserts. I love Tuna and never fix it for myself. Their Tuna bite appetizer sounded interesting. “Our blackened tuna served with Pico de Gallo, homemade guacamole and flour tortilla chips.” ($9) There is an option to have it grilled versus blackened, which is what I selected. I paired it with a standard Caesar Salad ($7) and a glass of Italian Pinot Gris ($7).

The wait was not long. The kids were served first (I like this), then the adults. The Tuna was excellent. Unfortunately, the Pico de Gallo was a bit too spicy for my wimpy taste buds. I took two or three bites before throwing in the towel. The guacamole was really good, which completely surprised me. The Tuna was slightly overcooked (I ordered Medium Rare), but not to the point where I would send it back. There was still pink to it. It was covered with a sweet teriyaki flavored glazed which paired up nicely with the Mexican flavors of the guacamole and pico de gallo. The Caesar was nothing crazy, but it was good. I liked the croutons, which were small, well seasoned and proportionate to the salad.

My girl’s green beans looked delicious, so I stole a few during the kids’ third field trip to the restrooms. Served al dente, lightly buttered and seasoned with garlic, they were fantastic. My daughter came back to her seat and polished them off. She loved them. The grilled cheese was also history. Success!

Food-4
Beverage-4
Restrooms-I did not use...
Value-3

Broken Egg Bistro
757.410.8515
501 Kempsville Rd, Chesapeake, VA 23320

Passion the Restaurant - Chesapeake, VA

Passion is the in corner of a small sized shopping center that has experienced quite a bit of turnover throughout the years. Several restaurants have come and gone, but Passion has persevered. I have been trying to talk my husband into going here for years. Yes, YEARS. Finally, the planets were perfectly in line (and he heard a good review from a friend whom he respects). When I suggested Passion on Saturday, I received a positive response. Game on!

Passion has a modern but cozy feel to it. There is a nice, rather large, open bar at the entrance. We were immediately met with a friendly greeting and seated. Half of the tables are lined up along the wall with one booth seat, and one facing chair. I like to see what’s going on, and grabbed the both seat. The kitchen is open to view, and although it is busy, there is no overwhelming noise or distraction for diners.

The menu has a nice variety of fish, poultry and meat. There is even a Vegan option, so our vegetarian friends don’t have to doctor up an existing entrée by removing the meat and adding something else. We felt obligated to try out their She Crab soup. It is a recent First Place winner in Critics Choice category of the East Coast She Crab Soup Classic. My husband ordered a cup and I promised to limit my intake to a spoonful. Always a sucker for specials, I ordered the "Maytag" Blue Cheese Crusted Filet Mignon for my entrée and my husband ordered the Grilled Porterhouse of Veal. Usually a white wine drinker, I opted for Pennywise Petite Sirah 2009, California to pair up with our meat. I liked it, but believe $11 a glass to be a bit steep. I did a little online "recon" a few days later and discovered 2008, 2009 and 2010 Pennywise Petite Sirah online for about $10 a bottle. I know restaurants mark up wine, but it is silly when the price of a glass equals the price of the entire bottle.

While waiting for our food to arrive, we were served bread with seasoned, dipping olive oil. The bread was slightly sweet in flavor and paired well with the salty, herbed oil. The She Crab soup arrived with the claw tip exposed, as is their signature flair. It really was good! The cream base was rich and a perfect consistency. There was plenty of crab meat. The flavor was excellent. There were nice subtleties to the seasonings. Nothing overpowered the flavor of the cream and crab.

The Veal entrée has a dramatic presentation. It is impressive, served on its side next to a beehive shaped mound of garlic mashed potatoes. It is also accompanied with mushroom Demi Glace, and Sautéed Spinach. He gave his best try, but there was no way my husband could finish it. My Filet was delicious. The meat was very tender and the proportion of Blue Cheese was right on. Blue Cheese can be overpowering. A little bit goes it long way. It was served on top of slices of Cheddar potato Gratin cake with sauteed spinach. I don’t know what was in the sauce that covered the plate, but it was delicious as well.

We finished off the meal with dessert. Alex has really gotten me hooked on bread pudding. They had a white chocolate bread pudding with Frangelica sauce that immediately caught my eye. My husband ordered Key Lime Pie. Again, my husband could not quite finish off his dessert, but the bread pudding was a goner on my side of the table.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the service. Our server was very good. He was very professional in appearance and demeanor. He kept drinks full, the table clear and courses moving along at a leisurely, but not slow, pace. When we were walking out, we received warm thanks from the friendly kitchen staff. Passion was a big hit with me. I will definitely be a repeat customer.

_Laine

Food-5
Service-5
Beverage-5
Restrooms-did not use...
Value-4
Ambiance-4

Passion the Restaurant
1036 Volvo Pkwy #3, Chesapeake, VA 23320
(757) 410-3975
www.passiontherestaurant.com 

Ocean Boulevard Bistro & Martini Bar - Kitty Hawk, NC

Flounder Special

Previously, I have mentioned how much bad food there is on the Outer Banks. This is still the case. Stick with restaurants that have limited seating and do not serve the masses, have a dress code of sorts (people are not wearing baseball hats at the bar or tables!) and where waiters are professionals, meaning they do this for a living and take pride in it.

Ocean Boulevard is one of the chosen places I will dine. Prior to last fall, I had not been since I became a vegetarian as I was unsure of my options. My mistake! Ocean Boulevard has a completely separate (and full) vegetarian menu. It is not a restaurant where they piecemeal together random vegetables to make a wannabe dish (this drives me insane). They have appetizers, salads and entrees that are completely vegetarian, i.e. they do not contain seafood, and care has been put into the ingredients.

Pinot Nior Risotto

Last fall, Nikki* and I decided to give Ocean Boulevard another shot once I discovered they had a vegetarian menu. That evening, I enjoyed a rustic vegetable gnocchi with a light white wine sauce. I needed something with carbs but not too heavy as I was running a half marathon the following day. The gnocchi was homemade with spinach, Brussels sprouts, garlic and white wine. Homemade pasta is one of my absolute favorite entrees and Ocean Boulevard did not disappoint in their creation. The vegetables were cooked to perfection and the sauce was just what I needed that evening. Nikki and I split the White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Tart. This is an absolutely fantastic dessert. The pastry is made from scratch, which makes me never want pastry that is not, and topped with caramel ice cream. Could it get any better? It was just the right size to split the night before my race. I wanted something sweet but not a dessert to myself. Nikki is not quite the dessert addict that I am, but she took one bite of this dessert and decided she would surely get her half this time (I usually take care of three-fourths of desserts when we ‘share’). The presentation is worthy of the Food Network and the flavors are as well. There are always five or six desserts and a few varieties of homemade ice cream for the choosing at Ocean Boulevard.

White Chocolate and Macadamia Nut Tart

This past weekend included another half marathon and therefore, the increased rigidness of my schedule and diet. Our waiter, who also served us in the fall, was very professional and knew the wine and food well and from the wine selection, Nikki chose a half bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc ($24). The fresh bread and soft butter also win praise. Out of the four vegetarian entrees, I chose the Pinot Noir Risotto ($17), which came with sautéed asparagus, roasted tomatoes and red onions and honey. The honey meshed so well with the other flavors in this dish. I was thrilled and would love to have this again. Nikki ordered the special, lightly fried flounder with asparagus in a white wine bacon sauce ($30). She said the sauce was watery and would not order this again, so Ocean Boulevard missed a five on the food rating.

_Alex

Food-4
Service-5
Beverage-5
Restrooms-5
Value-5
Ambiance-5

Ocean Boulevard
4700 N Virginia Dare Trail, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
http://obbistro.com/index.php
Open for dinner 7 days a week, all year long
Open Table Reservations Click HERE

Outer Banks Brewing Station - Kill Devil Hills, NC

According to their website, “The Outer Banks Brewing Station is the first wind powered brewery in the United States! We were also the first business to produce wind power on the Outer Banks. We pride ourselves in being innovative and conscious about the environment, while helping others learn as much as they can about renewable energy and sustainability.” Okay, that is great, but how is your food?

Spring break found me down at the OBX for an overnight with my family. Arriving right around lunchtime, we headed for a familiar spot we had been before and liked: The Outer Banks Brewing Station. The restaurant interior is dark. The decor doesn’t appear to be overly thought out. My daughter found it hilarious that rugs were hung up high on the walls, right next to the disco ball. The women’s restroom doesn’t say “Ladies” or other iterations on the door; it simply has a Wonder Woman Doll. This always makes me smile. Everything has the look, feel and smell of a bar, but what else would you expect? Live bands play most nights and the restaurant morphs. The real eye catcher is the brewery, of course. Through large windows you can see the all the inner working of the process. Occasionally you will see someone walk through doing whatever task is needed at all the different stages of brewing. I am not a beer drinker these days; however they also offer non-alcoholic home brews of Ginger Ale, Root Beer and Cream Soda. My husband tried one of the hearty beers and I sampled the Root Beer. Hands down, the best Root Beer I have ever had!

We were the first customers of the afternoon, followed by one or two other tables during our stay. The service was brisk and friendly. I think they have a great kids menu, which even includes a kid’s steak. My daughter ordered a kid pizza (typical). The crust on their pizza is really more of a whole grain flatbread, with cheese topping and very light sauce. Not at all a typical kid’s pizza, but she devoured it. It was so large we had to take leftovers home. Leftover packaging is recyclable and compostable. Nice! I ordered a Caesar Salad with grilled Salmon. It was perfect. Sometimes Salmon gets overcooked at restaurants, but this one was just right. My husband ordered the Barbecue. When it hit the table I knew I had been out-ordered. I am a hush puppy lover, and had to steal one from his plate to sample. They were tasty and sweet. The cornmeal was a light flavor that came though subtly versus overpowering other flavors.

As Alex has mentioned several times, there is a lot of mediocre to bad food at the Outer Banks. This seems to happen in most resort/vacation type cities. Over the years I have found the Outer Banks Brewing Station to consistently serve good meals and good service along with their tasty brews. That they are making a concerted effort to be innovative and conscious about the environment is a great added bonus. Because, let’s face it, if the food is bad, no one is going to eat there regardless of your environmental efforts. The restaurant is conveniently located close to the Wright Brothers Memorial. If you are there with your family, I recommend this as a nice lunch place for all.

_Laine

Food-4
Service-4
Beverage-5
Restrooms-3
Value-4
Ambiance-3
Outer Banks Brewing Station
600 South Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
Open 7 days a week! Mon – Sun at 11:30 am, Brunch on Sun til 4 pm

Saffron Indian Bistro - Virginia Beach Town Center

A craving for Indian lead me to Saffron in the Virginia Beach town center last Thursday night. I had heard good things and was excited to give them a try. The restaurant has a great location. It is right on the corner of Columbus Street, across from a nice sized parking lot. Getting in and out could not have been more convenient!

We arrived a little after six and were promptly seated. I have heard tales of woe from people who had long waits, but during the week this did not appear to be a problem. The decor of Saffron is clean modern; dark, with lots of tile, brushed steel and subtle lighting. To me it was instantly relaxing. I commented on the music and my husband said it sounded like something you would hear at a spa. Again, calm and soothing.

Service was solicitous, but not rushed. Several waiters served our table throughout the night, picking up plates, or bringing more drinks. I like when restaurants use this type of team service. The customer gets much better service and consequently the team gets better tips. The menu is complex and lengthy. There are many different appetizers, a page of breads, and another 3-4 pages of entrees. One page lists about a dozen curry sauces that can be paired with different “proteins”. One page is tandoor selections. Another page is dedicated entirely to vegetarian dishes. Don’t be afraid to ask the staff for help. I asked a lot of questions about the curried sauces and which paired up better with what protein. I got great details that I would never have know on my own, and consequently made a great combination.

We started out with cocktails, a Meat Samosa appetizer and Aloo Pratha bread. The Meat Samosa surprised me when it came to the table. It was larger that I had envisioned and the shell was crisp. Inside it was filled with crumbled lamb and vegetables. Indian food is all about the dipping sauces too! This had a slightly sweet, and mildly hot sauce that was the perfect accompaniment. Aloo Pratha is my favorite Indian bread, and I always order it at every Indian restaurant. Theirs is paired with a light yogurt sauce. The bread was very tasty, with nice seasoning in the potato filling. I thought it was a bit oily, but not in an overwhelming way. Both items were in the clean plate division by the meal’s end.




We both opted for curry dishes. I ordered TIKKA MASALA (requesting mild), which is a tomato based cream sauce with herbs & spices, and I paired it with lamb. My husband ordered VINDALOO, a classic Goan Speciality, tangy spicy sauce with Ginger & Potatoes, and paired it with scallops. Both dishes were served with one large bowl of Basmati rice, to be shared. Mine was  fabulous. It had a hint of heat and unbelievable flavoring. I could not stop eating it!. My husband’s dish came out and it was bright pink! Interesting.....  He ordered his hot, and about halfway through the meal I could see the sweat rolling down his brow. He agreed that everything about his meal was perfect.

Overall, I loved Saffron and know we will return. In addition to having excellent food and service, the prices are very reasonable. Portions are large, so be prepared to ask for a take home doggie bag.

_Laine

Food-4
Service-4
Beverage-4
Restrooms-NA, didn’t use
Value-4
Ambiance-5
http://saffronvabeach.com/
4532 Columbus Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (757) 644-6904

Every Holiday Means Peeps

My good buddy Alex is a Peep fanatic. Every holiday has us scrounging local markets looking for those hard to find, specialty Peeps. On the other hand, Peeps are one of the few sweets I can have around indefinitely with no desire to eat. This is okay too, because Peeps probably have an unlimited shelf life. Considering that there are only 32 calories in a single Peep, and 5 Peeps equal a single "serving", they really are not a horrible treat choice if you want to break bad on your diet for a day.

If you are interesting in making your own Peeps, I came across this recipe online. Imagine the expressions on the faces of your friends and family when you present them with homemade Peeps! That almost makes it worth the effort.
_Laine

Omar's Carriage House $10 Entrees

Omar's Carriage House is a funky little restaurant tucked back a little bit off the beaten track on West Bute Street. They have good food and I enjoy their eclectic ambiance. Omar has been running this special annually for several years now. It is popular and a good deal. We recommend that you give them a try if you haven't already, and make sure you book a reservation.

In celebration of our 14th anniversary, Omar's will have $10 entrees and $10-$20 bottles of wine every night of April, Monday-Saturday, 5-10pm.

We do this every year as an appreciation of our customers' continued support for the last 14 years!!

http://omarscarriagehouse.com/

313 West Bute Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 622-4990

Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's - April 3rd

Laine and Alex love ice cream! Laine's favorite B&J flavor? Chunky Monkey!

Head out to your local Ben & Jerry's today to get your free cone. Remember to bring your patience along. Whenever something is free, lines are long.

Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House - MacArthur Center, Norfolk

Two Saturdays ago after a movie at the Naro, my husband and I stopped in Kincaid's at 4:45PM for cocktails before deciding what we wanted to do for dinner. It was already kind of busy, (something to do with basketball), and the 4 available tables in the bar area were dirty. No biggie, we just took a seat and were quickly waited on, including having the table cleaned. We had great drinks, and enjoyed the Oysters Rockafeller’s so much we ordered 2 rounds.

When the server asked if we were going to have anything else, and we said no, she asked us to make sure no one else sat at the table, because she had already promised it to someone. By now the place was packed. I suggested she get a reserved sign then, as I am not really into barroom altercations, which she did. When she brought us the check, she said "I am sending the people over now." And she did, while we were still seated at the table. We had not even had a chance to TIP her or sign the receipt. Six people came and sat on the empty seats right next to us and stood over our table. We spent $65 on drinks and appetizers, $80 with a tip, only to get our butts kicked to the curb by our waitress.

I so badly want to like Kincaid’s. I constantly torture myself, returning there time and time again, only to be disappointed.

_Laine

First Updated to Review
10/23/09
I have to add an update to this previous review. I had lunch today with 4 co-workers at Kincaid's. It ended up being a series of small errors that added up to a less than satisfactory experience. The food was great. That was not the issue. The service was a mess. It took 50 minutes to get our food. During that time the table next to us got in a tizzy because a credit card was "lost" in-between being given to the server and making it back to the table. Yikes! During the conversation they were having with the server another man who worked there presented the credit card which had been returned by a patron who found it on the floor. Thank goodness for honesty.

The entrees made it to the table with one missing completley and another one missing the sweet potato fries. We were assured that the fries would be right up and the other entree was on the way. The other entree came rather quickly but the fries did not. With a reminder, the fries made their way to the table when we were all wrapping up our meals. The manager offered a free dessert to that diner for her inconvenience. When she ordered, her dessert of choice was not available. She chose another and requested it as "to-go".

A couple of the guys got the wrong checks when they came to the table, and the server had to return with the correct ones. Next, one was missing an item in error. Ah, another honest patron! Back again to correct the check. Finally, gift cards were presented for most of the orders and we were told it would take about 10 minutes to process them because of the computer. Good grief, are they using dial-up?

Upon returning to work, another co-work who we had seen there told us that when his food came out, it was given to th wrong table. After the people checked it out (touched it)and informed the server of the error, she tried to simply pass it over to his table. This would be acceptable if it had not been handled by someone else, but.... He ended up getting a fresh order "to-go" because he had to get back to work.

I honestly don't think that most if the issues were the servers fault. Yes, she was seriously in the weeds, but that seemed more a function of staffing than ability. I could tell she was stressed out about it and trying her best to maintain. I can honestly say that I have never had a meal at Kincaid's that has been a home run. NEVER.
_Laine



Original Review - November 04, 2008
Kincaid's Fumbled, But Recovered the Ball...Sort of...

Without randomly drawing as we usually like to do, Laine and I chose Kincaid's for last week's adventure. Kincaid's is a chain, something that usually scares me, but she and I decided to go for it. We would need to review it eventually and this day was as good a day as any. Plus, it was cold and windy outside. We were not in the mood to stand around deciding. Kincaid's has a more sophisticated feel than, say, California Pizza Kitchen. Located in the MacArthur Mall, Kincaid's is a happening after hours spot for Downtowners. They have a large lunch menu as well as a varied dinner menu. At first, we were both set on salads, but then decided to go for something else. We know our readers eat more than salad. I chose the wild mushroom omelet with smoked Gouda, truffle oil and chives. I was pretty excited as it is hard to find omelets during lunch unless on a brunch menu and that is usually restricted to weekends. Instead of potatoes (not a huge fan), they gave me sautéed broccoli and carrots and mixed greens. I was very pleased. I have had dinner before at Kincaid's and thought it was fine, but nothing exciting. Today's lunch has put Kincaid's on our steady lunch menu and I would go for dinner again - overall, it was a better experience than previously. Service was perfect. Mary, our waitress, was attentive and fast. She even asked if we were under a time restriction and since we were, our food came out fairly quickly. No martini or wine lunch for Laine and I today, unfortunately, but we appreciated Mary asking. We have definitely visited a few restaurants that do not seem to realize that people are trying to eat lunch in an hour, give or take. Kincaid's also has a lunch deal for $10that includes soup, a salad and an entree such as salmon or steak. We might try that the next time.
~Alex

I have been to Kincaid’s numerous times over the years for drinks (they make a mean Manhattan) and/or dinner, but this was a first for lunch. I have had great meals there and some pretty bad ones, so I was curious to see how lunch would pan out. I agree with Alex that the ambiance offered beats most of downtown's loud and rushed lunch vibe. The atmosphere is quieter and calmer, but service was snappy and professional. Alex and I decided to step out of our salad box and consume some calories for lunch. Lately I have had a serious bacon craving. What in the world? I love bacon. I love to smell it cooking. I love it crispy and not crispy and more is better. With this said, they had an interesting sandwich with bacon, turkey and avocado. Sign me up! I even ordered sweet potato fries....out of control! The sandwich arrived, and it was cold. I was expecting toasted, or maybe even grilled, since this was basically a BLT, or club sandwich with avocado added. I was a little disappointed, but soldiered on. I took one bite and it was pretty good. I took a second bite and the bread started to break. I took a third bite and decided to eat it with a fork because the bread was falling apart. Ugh, bad bread? Was this my reward for stepping out of the box?! Mary came to the rescue, swiped my plate and returned in about 5 minutes with a completely new, fresh order. Of course, this was round better and the bread was fine, but to be honest, I had been let down. I took most of it back to work in a carry out container. Geez that reminds me… it is still sitting in the fridge....
_Laine

Kincaid's
300 Monticello Avenue, Suite 147
(in MacArthur Center)
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone:(757) 622-8000

Lunch Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30am-4pm
Sat 11:30am-3pm
Sun 11am-4pm

Sunday Brunch Hours:
Sun 11am-3pm

Dinner Hours:
Mon-Sat 5-10pm
Sun 4-8pm

Bar Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30am-11pm
Sat 11:30am- 12am
Sun 11:30am-9pm

Happy Hour:
Monday-Friday 4:30-6:30pm

Fat Canary - Williamsburg VA

My husband and I ventured out to the Fat Canary this past Saturday. It was a cold day of drizzling rain, and not much seemed to be happening up and down Duke of Gloucester Street, but the restaurant was hopping. The interior of the restaurant is funky, and it is not as large as you might expect. The tables are close together, and Saturday there were several large parties versus a lot of couples dining. The atmosphere was festive and loud. The open kitchen and hard floors/ceiling/walls are volume maximizers. There was a lady at the table across from us who was literally yelling through the entire meal. I am sure the wine had something to do with that as well. So wear your party shoes, and leave your secrets at home.

Dinner was fantastic from start to finish. Our server Nicholas really steered me in the right directions when I was stuck between two entrees and two desserts. He was also very helpful with wine accompaniments. The staff is well trained on wines and I recommend you take their suggestions and try something new. He was so right about the dessert too!

Here is what we ordered

Arugula and Frisée with Pears, Old Chatham Camembert and Aged Balsamic

Free-Range Guinea with Gnocchi
Charred Tomatoes, Tuscan Kale, Melted Onions and Fresh Thyme

Pan Seared Sea Scallops, Freekeh with Oyster Mushrooms

Huckleberry Amish Cake with homemade Goat Cheese Ice Cream

Pecan Pie ( I think the Ice Cream was Cappuccino)

_Laine
Fat Canary
410 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185-3603
(757) 229-3333

Downtown Delectables - Norfolk Restaurant Week Cookbook

Introducing a new feature of Restaurant Week – Downtown Delectables! The cookbook features recipes from Downtown Norfolk chefs and friends. You can view the cookbook on your computer, print it out as a hard copy or print the recipes that you like best. Downtown Delectables also includes biographies from the contributors.

I think this is a great idea. As part of Restaurant Week, Downtown Norfolk is sponsoring an online cookbook featuring select recipes from featured restaurants. You can view it online HERE, download and save the pdf or even print it if you are into killing trees. I might have to try that Chili recipe from Byrd & Baldwin, it sounds interesting. Thanks to all the restaurants for sharing.

_Laine

Norfolk Restaurant Week

Alex and I always look forward to restaurant week. Per the usual we will be trying out some of our old favorites and some we haven't explored yet. I'm not seeing a huge amount of creativity with lunch menu's, which is not a big surprise. Considering the number of people who regularly dine out for lunch downtown I think they are missing a great opportunity to introduce new customers to their specialties. For example, soup and a turkey sandwich is not going to keep me coming back to your restaurant!. I am a bit disappointed to see that Todd Jurich's Bistro has the same menu as last restaurant week, but we will probably go there regardless, because everything was so phenomenal last time. Check out the menu here and plan your week. Look for some new reviews from Alex and Laine soon!