No. 1 Rochester Chinese Restaurant - Egg Roll, Egg Drop Soup, & Schezuan Wontons

Chinese restaurants are a dime-a-dozen in the Greater Rochester area. Chances are, no matter where you live, you're within at least delivery distance of steaming, hot sesame chicken and greased-up fried rice. While this is incredibly convenient to many Rochester area residents, this also does not ensure that every place around these parts is going to serve quality, delicious, or at times, even edible fare. So many Chinese restaurants seem to get by simply by taking advantage of the fact that we Americans are fat and love anything swimming in exotic sauces (trust me, you can't deny this). Normally, these places slapping the phrase “Best Rochester Take-Out Food of Chinese” or “Number 1 Super the Best Chinese” is enough for us – we completely ignore the glaringly, grammatically-incorrect Engrish and dive headfirst into a platter of beef lo mein. While I'm sure I'm just as guilty of this folly as many of you, I can confidently say that No. 1 Rochester Chinese Restaurant is quite deserving of the abbreviated “number 1” rank they have added to their title.

Despite operating almost directly across the street from Wokery (also quite good – review coming soon?), No. 1 has managed to maintain a solid foothold in the Tops plaza in Gates, dishing out gargantuan portions for affordable prices, and doing so within only 15 minutes of ordering, no matter how outrageously big the order. Needless to say, Morgan and I have made this our No. 1 (see what I did there?) pick when we're too lazy to cook and want to overload on Chinese take-out. Each time, the food has managed to remain consistent in quality, and service has been quick and efficient. The unbelievably low bill is always a nice touch too. College kids in the area on a budget, tip of the century: order from here.

On this particular occasion, I decided to order a few of my favorites, which included an egg roll, a quart of egg drop soup, and some Schezuan wontons. All this only came to a little over $7. Talk about stretching your buck.

It took only 15 minutes from ordering for our food to be ready, and we eagerly rushed out to pick it up. On the way back home, I don't think my mouth stopped watering for a second.



Onto the food: Morgan and I consider No. 1's egg rolls to be some of the best in Rochester. Crispy outside, perfect, steamy inside, and not too greasy, these things are gone in a matter of seconds, despite being rather huge. The inside is a delicious blend of delicate pork and shredded cabbage. The combination is savory and hearty, and the crunch from the cabbage adds incredible texture to this Chinese meal-starter.



My quart of egg drop soup could not have been better – delicious, light strands of egg white swam in a slightly salty, appropriately thick container of broth. The portion may have been a bit unnecessary – I basically was given a bathtub of egg broth for only $2.50. I probably could have saved the container to use as a dog house or maybe even a swimming pool in the summer. Ridiculous.



My main course actually came from the “Appetizers” portion of the menu, but unless I had decided to share this with my entire extended family (including deceased relatives), this was far too much food for a single person. Twelve wontons, stuffed into a round, metal container didn't look like a lot at first, but once I ate one of these delicious bundles of amazing, I instantly compared them in weight and size to a pool ball. If you can eat an entire rack of pool balls, then this may seem like just an appetizer to you, but to the average non-freakish human, this is a daunting (yet completely delicious) task. The brown Schezuan sauce these are prepared in is salty-sweet, with a hint of spicy kick. The flavor is robust and full, and is complemented perfectly by the soft noodle outside, and the tender beef inside of the wonton. While this is undoubtedly my favorite item from No. 1, it does tend to get a little one-note in flavor after tossing down a few wontons, due to the simplicity of the dish (which is probably why it's considered an appetizer to begin with).

All in all, Morgan and I enjoyed yet another great meal from No. 1, and could not be happier to live so close to such a great establishment. Somehow, Chinese restaurants have become almost as commonplace in America as burger joints, and unfortunately this over-saturation of the market – much like burger joints – has brought in its' wake the acceptance of low-quality food in line with our low expectations. Fortunately, standing out in this sea of muck are a number of businesses that have not allowed themselves to fall or fail, and it is within these businesses that I am glad to take shelter. No. 1 Rochester Chinese Restaurant has stood strongly by its' belief in quality service, and has yet to disappoint me. I highly suggest the next time you're in the neighborhood to try it out.

Score (out of 10): 8

Location: 2317 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624
Phone Number: (585) 247-9220
Website: N/A

Quick Update

Sorry for the lack of updates recently - life has been going at max speed the past few weeks, but things are finally starting to slow down again. I've also been working on beta testing a new food blogger-powered smart phone app called "Ripora," which I was invited to join a few months ago. Hopefully, we'll complete beta testing soon and it will be available for the public! In the meantime, I promise to post something more substantial this weekend. Please keep reading, and as always, thanks for the support!

Los Gallos Mexican Grill - Combination Dinner #29 - Beef Burrito, Chicken Enchilada, & 2 Tacos

Many times in my day I've stumbled into a Mexican restaurant, holding my stomach due to excessive hunger pangs, reeling from cravings for crispy tortillas and spicy beef, only to stumble out of said restaurant, holding my stomach due to excessive tequila intake, reeling from intense G.I. distress. Despite a generally excellent, authentic Mexican taste, many of these restaurants also seem to use authentic Mexican water, and the after-effects can be horrific enough that a return visit almost always falls into the category of "bad decision." Luckily, Greece-based Los Gallos offers a great variety of homemade Mexican eats that are not only incredibly affordable, but also aren't mixed with laxatives.

I'm not 100% sure if this place is family-owned and operated, but the atmosphere and staff are both incredibly welcoming. Service is excellent, food is served hot, and portions are far more than generous for the price. Free, fresh, hot tortilla chips and robust salsa in unlimited quantities are a plus as well. The menu reads like a Spanish encyclopedia, or maybe a thesaurus for the word "delicious," so it's not difficult to find something for everyone. The fact that Los Gallos is open until at least 10PM every weekday and until 9PM on the weekends makes it a fantastic place to avoid the dinner rush hour as well.

Morgan and I have been here a number of times already, and have both become fans of the "Combination Dinners" section of the menu. Not only does each combo dinner come with at least two items, but the price is only $8.50 for each of the 32 selections. Definite bang for your buck.

My old standby is Combination Dinner #29, which includes a beef burrito, a chicken enchilada, and 2 beef tacos. This probably sounds like a lot of food to most of you, and to be completely honest, you're absolutely right.



The plate came out hot, steam literally billowing off of the dish in visible wisps. Warm red sauce covered both the burrito and the enchilada, but didn't seem to be completely drowning the items. A thin layer of cheese had been melted on top of both items as well. I decided to give the enchilada and burrito time to cool off a little, and tackled the twin tacos first.

Each taco was stuffed full of mildly-seasoned, finely-ground beef, pieces of shredded cheese, and shredded lettuce. The beef was great, retaining moisture without coming off as too greasy or fatty - it tasted quite lean, yet didn't lack any flavor either, partially due to the chopped bits of cooked white onion mixed in with the meat. The shredded cheese added just enough saltiness to the mix to not overpower, but rather complement the subtle spices of the beef. The crispy, fresh lettuce and delicate corn tortilla added the perfect crunch and texture to each bite. Easily one of the best tacos I've had in years.

After polishing off both tacos, I used my fork to dive into the red sauce-laden burrito and enchilada. The chicken in the enchilada was moist, soft, and slightly-sweet white meat, which went nicely with the starchiness of the soft flour tortilla it was wrapped in. The tortilla shell itself was able to soak up tons of flavor from the sweet and mildly-tangy red sauce, without becoming too soggy or unpleasant in texture.

While the chicken enchilada proved to be quite good, it leaned a little more heavily on the sweet flavors of Mexican cuisine, and lacked the heartiness and savory nature of the beef burrito. The beef's saltier flavor combined with the red sauce for a perfect salty-sweet dynamic that was truly easy to inhale (and that I truly inhaled). Little, sweet pieces of sauteed white onion were an excellent addition to the beef as well, perfectly rounding out the combination's flavor. Overall, this meal was beyond any of my expectations of Mexican cuisine in Western New York.

Besides a handful of exceptions, Mexican restaurants in Rochester tend to disappoint me, generally offering food made completely out of Ex-Lax, or Taco Bell-inspired slop (although, let's be honest - for those on a budget or those who are drunk, which I am often both, Taco Bell is the food of the gods). It's great to see a restaurant like Los Gallos thriving in Rochester, and not just due to cheap prices, but because of the top-notch service, huge portions, and quality food as well. For those looking for an authentic taste of Mexican cooking, check out Los Gallos - just be sure to bring your appetite.

Score (out of 10): 9.5

Location: 2700 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14626
Phone Number: (585) 227-7718
Website: http://www.losgallosmexgrill.com/

New Smart Phone App

Hey everyone,

I apologize for the lack of reviews recently - I've been quite busy with some interesting side projects, as well as the time-consuming agenda of everyday life - but I wanted to just let everyone know that I was recently contacted to have my blog featured in an upcoming smart phone app. The app will not only serve as a way to increase exposure to my blog (hopefully, increasing my readership in the process), but its' main focus will be to help people receive reviews and suggestions for restaurants and food items that are consistent with their tastes. The beta testing of the app begins sometime in July, so I'll be sure to keep everyone posted!

Thanks again for the amazing support you've all given me that has allowed me to achieve such an opportunity! I promise, more full reviews coming soon! In the meantime, be sure to tell your friends to check me out and/or follow me, and remember...stay hungry!

-Brian

Agatina's - Rigatoni with Fra Diavolo (Red) & Chicken Pastina Soup

Italian food is pretty easy to find throughout the Greater Rochester Area. However, good Italian food is somewhat harder to stumble across. Fortunately for Morgan and I, an Italian restaurant called Agatina's is located incredibly close by, and they have managed to provide quality food in huge portions time and time again. Agatina's looks small and quaint at first glance, and if you're cruising down Buffalo Road, it might be easy to miss...if it wasn't for the substantial number of people packing their parking lot to the brim regularly. After meeting the friendly wait staff, taking in the casual yet refined dining atmosphere, and (most importantly) sampling homemade Italian specialties from their rather extensive menu, it wasn't difficult to see why it's been an area favorite for over 26 years. Great for a fun dinner on date night, a family-friendly outing, or just a heaping plate of hot, Italian comfort food, Agatina's appeals to any occasion; it even boasts a fully-stocked bar, if you doubt the inevitable food coma is not going to be enough to make you a bit groggy.

I was in the mood for something with a little spice and zing, so I chose a dish I had tried before - Rigatoni with a red Fra Diavolo sauce. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with this particular dish (I was too, until about a year ago), Fra Diavolo is a sauce that can be prepared any number of ways - the two basic preparations are "white" (oil-based, with minced garlic and pepper)and "red" (tomato-based, with minced garlic and pepper). Agatina's prepares this sauce by request, as either mild, medium, or hot. Being a chilehead of sorts, I always order the "hot" variety, and this night was no exception. I had previously ordered the "white" variety of sauce, and found, while delicious, that it lacked the heat I so craved. As such, I ordered the "red" style sauce on this occasion, hoping to find a difference between the two preparations.

Despite ordering what I knew to be a kiddie pool filled with pasta as an appetizer, a soup and salad were included with my meal. I ordered ranch dressing with my salad, and chose a cup of Chicken Pastina Soup to start off with.



Chicken Pastina is one of my favorite soups from Italian cuisine - the finely chopped pieces of carrot, celery, spinach, and onion soak up all that great, salty chicken broth flavor, as does the pastina pasta, while the chunks of shredded chicken add some great texture and (obvious) chicken flavor. Morgan (who got New England Clam Chowder) and I hardly had to wait to have our soup served to us, and it came out of the kitchen fresh, hot, and went down incredibly easy (I very well may have drank mine).

The salad was typical and unsurprising (not that this was a terrible thing), consisting of fresh onions, chickpeas, tomato, lettuce, and black olives. Great nibble-worthy, rabbit food to tide us over while we waited for our main dishes (although I am quite a sucker for chickpeas - they're just plain awesome). The only thing noteworthy about this salad was that there were no croutons, which was forgivable, as Agatina's provides fresh loaves of bread as an additional starchy side.

Next came our main courses - my Rigatoni with Fra Diavolo basically was a huge, red swamp, with helpless pieces of pasta drowning in it. Fortunately, my fork was there to help fish them out.


Sorry about the awful pictures. The lighting in Agatina's is not conducive to the cellphone camera-wielding blogger.

Let me start out by saying that if you enjoy spicy food, and also enjoy Italian food, you must try this dish. The Rigatoni were cooked to perfection, while the Fra Diavolo was a perfect blend of sweet tomato, bold herbs and garlic, and peppery heat. Chunks of stewed tomatoes made their way into this sauce, adding a real heartiness to this dish that I did not expect, although enjoyed quite a bit. As far as the spiciness of the peppers (the waitress told me they were cayenne), I found the dish to put some surprising fire on my tongue, and a slight dew of sweat on my brow. It was the kind of warmth that spreads throughout the inside of your mouth, and for a heat fan like myself, it was really quite enjoyable.

***DISCLAIMER*** Now, Morgan thinks my tongue is broken, and anytime I tell her something isn't all that spicy, she insists that I simply am more desensitized to the "hot" taste sensation many other people are more sensitive to. This very well may be true, and in the interest of keeping wimpy weenies who can't handle heat from being misled and consequently having a horrible meal, I do stress that you ask for a sample of the sauce before diving headfirst into a plate of the "hot" variety. Now, back to your regularly-scheduled blog post.

Overall, a great, hearty, and much more than filling meal, Agatina's also provides a great environment in which to enjoy your Italian banquet. The price of some of the dishes might seem a little steep at first glance, but keep in mind that bread, soup, salad, and a gigantic plate of food are all provided, with the friendly and accommodating service I've gladly become accustomed to seeing at most of my favorite local eateries. If you can't decide between the 5034958 Italian food joints in the area, swing by Agatina's and grab a bite of very real and very good homemade Italian cuisine - just be sure to bring your appetite.

Score (out of 10): 9

Location: 2967 Buffalo Road, Rochester, NY 14624
Phone Number: (585) 426-0510
Website: http://www.agatinas.com/

Olympia - Greek Combo Platter (For 1) & New England Clam Chowder

I've been a fan of Greek food since the first time I tasted it several years ago, thanks to a good friend, whose love for his Greek heritage is only surpassed by his zeal for sharing said heritage with all who will stop and listen. What better to bond over than a culture's food?

My love for Greek food led me to Olympia, located on nearby Lyell Ave. Olympia has another venue out in Greece on Flynn Road, but I have yet to make my way out to try it. Morgan and I have now been happy customers of the Lyell location for about two years, and each time we go we're greeted with hospitable staff, quick service, and reasonable prices. Compared to the bill, the portions provided are more than exceptional. The menu includes a wide variety of Greek, Italian, French, and American diner-inspired dishes, comprising a fairly standard, family-friendly selection; Olympia is the perfect place to stop for some warm, familiar, comfort food.

A restaurant named "Olympia" seemed like a pretty good place to get some authentic Greek fare, but picking to eat there proved to be the easy part - choosing between Spanakopita, the Gyros Platter, and the Olympia Pasta ended up being a much more daunting task. In the end, I decided to go with a little bit of everything by ordering the Greek Combo Platter. Normally served to feed two, the cooks at Olympia are kind enough to offer this in a single-serving portion. The Greek Combo Platter consists of a slice of spanakopita, beef kebabs, chicken kebabs, pita bread, tzatziki sauce, and a Greek salad with house dressing, all served over a gargantuan mound of Greek-style rice pilaf. A side of soup is also included, in case you're not content with eating only a small city. The platter was also supposed to include stuffed grape leaves (which I have had served with the platter in the past), but for some reason they forgot this particular evening (not that my waistband was complaining much). Regardless, this heaping landslide of food serves as a veritable Greek sampler for Olympia, and is well worth the 12ish dollar menu price.

To start, I chose New England Clam Chowder for my side of soup.



Most New England Clam Chowders I've had have been quite thick, cream-based soups, that tend to be almost too substantial of an appetizer, due to the heavy broth and massive quantities of starchy potatoes within. However, Olympia's chowder was thinner in consistency, which allowed me to enjoy a full cup, without filling up too much on it. The broth itself still maintained a rich, milky flavor, while clams added that perfect seafood tang to balance out the sweetness of the cream. The potatoes were firm enough to add great texture to the soup, but soft enough to soak up the amazing flavor of the broth. Overall, a great start to the meal.

After literally scraping my bowl clean with my spoon, the main course was served.



I wish I could write that I had finished the entire platter, like a competitive eating champion, but I barely managed to finish off three-quarters of the massive avalanche of Greek cuisine in front of me; still, in the interest of this blog (and my own curiosity), I tried a little bit of everything.

The rice pilaf was a perfect, buttery (king-size) bed of starchy goodness, and helped break up the overtly meaty flavors of the kebabs. Each kebab came with grilled peppers and onions, along with seared chunks of beef and chicken, which proved to be a great combination when eaten together. I enjoyed the chicken both by itself, and combined with other ingredients on my plate, but the beef actually was cooked a little too long, and had lost a bit too much moisture (and therefore flavor) during the grilling process. Unfortunately, this also made it a little tough, but I compensated for these issues by wrapping some of the beef, some lettuce from my salad, a few pieces of grilled onion, and some tzatziki sauce in a piece of pita bread, to make a mini gyro of sorts; the tzatziki sauce helped take away some of the beef's dryness, and all of the ingredients added excellent flavor to the meat and bread. The pita bread alone was soft, light, and (much like the rice pilaf) a great way to break up the meal's strong individual flavors.

The Greek salad included delicious, crisp iceberg lettuce, fresh black olives, tomatoes, cucumber slices, sliced red onion, and a liberal helping of feta cheese. I chose not to use the house dressing, since it would have soaked into my rice pilaf, but I did sample it, and found it to be smooth, rich, and both sweet and tangy (possibly due to dill). The only complaint I had with the salad was the excessive feta cheese; now, I absolutely love feta cheese almost as much as the next Greek cuisine enthusiast, but in this quantity in proportion to the rest of the salad, the flavor was a bit overpowering, and I found myself pushing some of it off of my greens.

My favorite part of the entire platter was the spanakopita; the pie itself was soft, light, flaky, and buttery, and was well-balanced with the spinach's mild bitterness. While I'm not entirely sure of which spices were baked into the pie, I can say that they were not overwhelming, and added subtle peppery and earthy undertones. My mouth is actually watering as I write this.

While not the greatest meal I've had at Olympia in recent history, the great service, comfortable atmosphere, excellent variety, and affordable price tag will, without a doubt, have Morgan and I coming back again. If you're in the neighborhood and want a generous helping of warm comfort food, or just need somewhere to grab a quick coffee and piece of pie, Olympia is definitely worth checking out. Who knows? We may even end up bumping into each other there.

Enjoy!

Score (out of 10): 8

Location: 2380 Lyell Ave, Rochester, NY 14606
Phone Number: (585) 429-6231
Website: N/A

Jine's Restaurant - Hash Benedict & Turkey Sausage

As is expected of me by this point, I have once again disappeared from the blogging scene for ages, only to return with a plethora of random food reviews and mindless musings. I apologize to those of you who have actually been reading and waiting for new entries of this nonsense to be posted, but I assure you that the wait is now over. While I can't promise complete diligence towards maintaining this blog, I can at least offer you the occasional post regarding my random journeyings around the area (and sometimes beyond) in my endless quest to shovel delicious food into my ever-growing stomach. I truly appreciate those of you who continue to read, and thank you for your support. Now, without further delay, my latest food review:

If Morgan and I have ever been guilty of a self-inflicting sin since moving closer to the city, it's been our neglect of Jine's Restaurant on Park Ave. Despite hearing numerous people's raving reviews of the place, it wasn't until a few months ago that Morgan and I actually decided it was time to put these rumors to the test. Since that day, we have returned many, many times to indulge in Jine's "upscale diner"-style atmosphere and sample the myriad of outstanding culinary offerings. Now, I normally consider the term "upscale diner" a snobby way for 2-star restaurants to justify charging you $12 for a plate of meatloaf, but honestly Jine's manages to exude a feeling of elegance, while maintaining a casual and comfortable environment. A great date restaurant, due to being open 7 days a week (until 10PM from Monday - Saturday, and 8PM on Sundays), Morgan and I have been to Jine's for quite a few fun, romantic meals, although Jine's is also the perfect place for a quick Sunday brunch with family or friends. Staff are friendly, helpful, and efficient, the menu is varied enough for the pickiest of palates, and the price tag on most of the meals is fairly reasonable for the quality and quantity of food provided. Jine's definitely should be complimented on their selection - dishes range from familiar and hearty comfort food to modern spins on homemade classics.

As a wholly-genuine breakfast food lover, Jine's breakfast menu is a veritable culinary playground during Morgan and my brunch sessions there. To be honest, I can sometimes spend upwards of 15 minutes deliberating on whether I should try any one of their 20+ varieties of delectable, four-egg omelettes, or one of their unique twists on Eggs Benedict. On this particular occasion, unable to choose whether I wanted Eggs Benedict or eggs with a side of Corned Beef Hash, I chose the Hash Benedict and a side order of Turkey Sausage. Hash Benedict is essentially Eggs Benedict served over a generous helping of Corned Beef Hash, with American cheese melted into the hollandaise sauce, all of which is served over toasted English muffin halves. The side of Turkey Sausage was served up as 3 small patties, mimicking the classic breakfast sausage patty found on most menus, albeit (and obviously) made of turkey instead.



Shortly after taking my first bite of Hash Benedict, I realized that I had found the Holy Grail of hearty breakfast combinations. The poached eggs were prepared perfectly, the slightly runny yolk mixing into the hollandaise sauce's buttery and creamy flavor, all complemented by the mild tang of melted American cheese. The Corned Beef Hash was phenomenal, to say the least - not overly-salty, the corned beef flavor blended perfectly with soft potato chunks, with mild hints of onion, all lightly pan-seared to give the dish a satisfying crispy texture; easily, some of the best Corned Beef Hash I've ever had (and I have had a lot). While this was a wonderful addition by itself, once the egg yolk, hollandaise, and melted cheese mixture combined with the Corned Beef Hash, there was nothing I could do but continue to put forkful after forkful of the delicious concoction into my mouth. Not once did the savory ingredients work against each other, and the fact that the perfectly-toasted English muffin seeped up all of this flavor was an added bonus to this already outstandingly satisfying meal. The main negative aspect of this dish is one that plagues almost all food that utilizes melted cheese: eventually, as the cheese cools, it begins to harden and seize up, becoming a somewhat gluey paste that must be scraped off the sides of the dish, instead of serving as the velvety blanket of flavor it began as. The other thing that some might find unpleasant is the hollandaise, egg yolk, and cheese mixing into all of the other ingredients, not due to the taste, but due to this causing the entire dish to become somewhat monotonous and uniform in flavor. With this in mind, these are the only two shortcomings of this meal, and are really quite minor.

The Turkey Sausage patties were a great addition as a side, offering the classic spice of breakfast sausage patties, while utilizing the much milder flavor of the turkey meat. Those of you who have never had turkey sausage may be put off by the leaner meat's tougher consistency, which may have you using a knife to cut through the first few bites of each patty. Texture and toughness aside, turkey is a great, lower-fat alternative to one of my favorite breakfast sides.

Overall, it can't be denied that Jine's serves up one hell of a good breakfast. I felt fully satisfied at the end of my meal, having eaten my fill and then some, all at a reasonable and completely affordable price. Jine's should definitely be considered by those on a budget, costing less than many of the other local eateries downtown, and is of far better quality than any chain restaurant I've been to lately. Easily one of Morgan and my favorite places for weekend brunch, lunch, or dinner, Jine's is just around the corner from you, and is waiting with welcoming service and, as always, plenty to eat.

Score (out of 10): 9.5

Location: 658 Park Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
Phone Number: (585) 461-1280
Website: http://www.jinesrestaurant.com/

Westgate Family Restaurant - Chicken Tuscany Soup & Country Sweet Chicken Sandwich

NOTE: As with my International Buffet post way back when, I was unable to get a picture of Westgate Family Restaurant's logo, since one doesn't exist. Hopefully, you won't hold this against the typically professional (and awesome) nature of this blog. Without further ado, I present...the entry.

Morgan and I have a somewhat bizarre habit of family restaurant/diner "hunting"; I use the term "hunting" loosely, because we don't actively go out looking for family restaurants/diners to eat at, but rather randomly pick one to try as we drive around the Greater Rochester region in my air-conditioning-challenged car. While this habit is potentially gas-guzzling and wallet-obliterating, it is spontaneous, fun, and gives me some great material to work with, as we both become more enlightened in the field of Rochester-based family cuisine.

During one such voyage through Chili, on a hunt for dinner, we discovered a little place called the "Westgate Family Restaurant" in the small Shoppes at Westgate Plaza on the corner of Chili Ave. and Howard Road. The placid-looking, family-style eatery sits quietly between a gargantuan Panera Bread, and a loud, steam factory of a Chinese take-out place. Although we love both Panera Bread and Chinese food, Morgan and I zeroed in on the tranquil family restaurant, hoping to uncover a hidden oasis of comfort food.

The inside of the Westgate Family Restaurant is just as unassuming as the outside: modest decor, friendly and efficient staff, and enough of an Early Bird Special crowd to reassure anyone that this is a good place to simply relax. With an extensive diner-style menu, covering everything from breakfast to dinner, the Westgate Family Restaurant just felt - for lack of a better word - right.

I decided to start my meal off with a cup of the Chicken Tuscany Soup, which was comprised of shredded chicken, tomato, celery, lima beans, and carrots, all in a chicken stock broth. I assume it was made ahead of time, and simply ladled into a cup, then warmed up, but it still came out quick and hot, the aroma alone enough to make my mouth salivate with anticipation.



The best comparison I can make of this Chicken Tuscany Soup to any other food would be salty chili. I realize this sounds odd (and somewhat unappealing - trust me, this isn't a bad thing), but the truth is this: after simmering in a pot for God knows how long, the beans lost some of their firmness, and quickly thickened the broth into a delicious bean trace/chicken stock hybrid. The resulting dish kept the consistency of a thick soup, but had the boldness and flavor of a hearty chili. I'm not sure if this was how the soup is intended to be served, or if I simply caught a tasty fluke; regardless, my compliments to the chef.

For my main course, I ordered a Country Sweet Chicken Sandwich - two grilled pieces of white bread, framing two breaded pieces of chicken (essentially, two chicken fingers), smothered in melted cheddar cheese, and a healthy dose of Country Sweet sauce, all served with a side of ridged/wavy potato chips.



This is a sandwich I'd highly recommend to those who have an attraction to sweet and salty combos. The breaded chicken and melted cheddar cheese, not to mention the crispy, buttery bread, lend the typical salty, savory quality to this sandwich, but the Country Sweet sauce stands out in perfect contrast to the rest of the ingredients. For those who have never tried Country Sweet sauce, I apologize to you - truly, a Rochester masterpiece, Country Sweet sauce (best served with chicken...or anything for that matter) tastes a lot like the offspring of a one-night stand between a bottle of honey mustard and some sweet and sour sauce. Not quite spicy, but shouldering enough of a kick to be called "tangy," the Country Sweet sauce on my chicken wrapped up the sandwich nicely. The chicken itself offered a crunchy outside to a mouth-watering, juicy, white meat center, while the cheddar cheese was in gooey contrast to the toasted bread; this sandwich had some serious texture, in all the right ways.

For those out in the Chili area, the Country Sweet Chicken Sandwich and the Chicken Tuscany Soup alone are worth a stop out to the Westgate Family Restaurant. However, those looking for a nice, quiet place to kick back and relax, while enjoying some delicious, diner-friendly comfort food (at a modest price) need search no farther - the Westgate Family Restaurant might just be your new favorite place.

Score (out of 10): 8.5

Location: 1577 Howard Road, Rochester, NY 14624
Phone Number: (585) 426-7280
Website: N/A

Philly Steakout - Philly Classic

So, I realize you've all sustained yet another long drought of entries here at Rochester's Endless Buffet, and for this I sincerely apologize. To be honest, my life has been busier than normal lately, and finding time to write has become more and more difficult for me. Luckily, I've been documenting reviews of my meals on my phone, and will hopefully be catching up on them all as soon as I find some time to write (and breathe, for that matter). Pardon me ahead of time if this entry is a little on the funky side - I may be a bit rusty.

Morgan and I were watching the Travel Channel (which strangely enough has almost as many shows about food on it as the Food Network), and a bit about Philly cheese steaks came on. Needless to say, we hopped in the car and went to a little place on Long Pond Road in Greece, NY that Morgan's father had told us served a stellar cheese steak. Philly Steakout serves up some authentic Philadelphia flavor to a more than willing Rochester market. Their menu includes favorites, like the cheese steak, but also includes deli sandwiches, chicken-based subs, and a few original recipes as well. The dining room inside is by no measure large, but those with claustrophobia can call ahead of time to place an order for pick-up. Eating there is highly-recommended though, since the open kitchen allows you to watch your fresh food being prepared, and the subway car-esque atmosphere adds some supreme authenticity to the experience.

Since a cheese steak is what I drove out for, a cheese steak is what I ordered - well, kind of. I actually ordered a slight variation called a Philly Classic, which consists of the basic thinly-sliced and chopped steak, and cheese (I went with provolone), but adds the option of peppers (I chose hot peppers), grilled onions, and mushrooms (which I dislike and declined). Being my first time eating at Philly Steakout, I chose to go with a "regular" size portion, as opposed to the "large" cheese steak, despite the heavenly aroma wafting from the kitchen window, beckoning me to do otherwise. The sound of the steak sizzling on the grill, combined with the smell filling that building make it physically impossible to resist ordering something upon entering Philly Steakout.



My sandwich came out of the kitchen piping hot, and dripping mouthwatering juices from its meaty core. The first bite into the Philly Classic made me instantly realize why it became a "classic" - all the different ingredients lent a unique piece to an amazing flavor puzzle. The savory flavor of the tender steak met the crunch and texture of the grilled onions and peppers, which easily could've been overpowering if the rich provolone didn't compliment the bolder flavors so well. The bread was fresh, fluffy, and light, and helped soak up some of the juices from the steak. The Philly Classic was messy, losing bits of meat, onions, peppers, and globs of cheese, and I had no shame in scooping up these delicious scraps with a fork after I finished off the sandwich.

All in all, a great meal, although I found myself craving more after eating only a regular...next time, I will definitely tackle the large. The price wasn't terrible, comparing to most local delis and sandwich shops in quantity and quality. For those looking for a great taste of Philly, who don't want to make the drive or spend the cash on a vacation, I highly recommend stopping by Philly Steakout and showing them some New York love.

Score (out of 10): 8.5

Location: 1595 Long Pond Road, Rochester, NY 14626
Phone Number: (585) 225-6810
Website: http://phillysteakoutny.com/

Bull on the Beach (Ocean City, MD) - Open Pit Beef Platter

In perhaps the most supreme example of procrastination of all time, I bring to you a review of a meal Morgan and I had on our last afternoon in Ocean City, MD, almost a month and a half ago. I remember we were really craving pit beef, since the boardwalk was littered with signs advertising said food item; fortunately for us, several venues along the beach sold open pit beef sandwiches. We were walking along the boardwalk by 2nd Street, when we noticed a little hole-in-the-wall place called Bull on the Beach. Bull on the Beach has a handful of locations throughout Ocean City, each priding themselves on serving up some of Maryland's best open pit beef. The particular boardwalk location we chose is part of the myriad of seasonal businesses that Ocean City is famous for, and is only open from April until October each year. Not wanting to miss out on their specialty, Morgan and I decided to order an Open Pit Beef Platter, which consisted of an open pit beef sandwich and a choice of a side - we chose french fries, since we were sharing the platter between us.

The open pit beef sandwich consists of thinly-sliced, lean, tender, top round beef, cooked on an open pit, and piled extra high on a warm, fluffy bun. The sandwiches are made-to-order, ensuring they're fresh and served steaming hot. The staff when Morgan and I went were all young kids, but they were mostly polite and efficient in what they did. The view of the boardwalk and ocean while we ate was a great feature of this humble, little grill.



A quick lunchtime meal, the Open Pit Beef Platter turned out to be plenty of food for Morgan and I. The fries were a nice starter; lightly-salted and crispy, they served as typical side dish fare. The sandwich itself was essentially a larger version of an Arby's roast beef sandwich - this isn't necessarily a bad thing; I like Arby's roast beef sandwiches. The meat was easy to chew, lean, and full of delicious, robust, savory flavor. The only downside to this meal was that the beef was a little dry, a common negative effect of cooking beef on an open pit for too long. Despite this, the sandwich itself did not suffer any loss of flavor.

For what Morgan and I got, the price was pretty reasonable, especially for a beachfront meal, coming to about $8 and some change. The menu extends far beyond pit beef as well: chicken, ham, and steamed and raw seafood comprise a succulent menu of boardwalk fare. Although not mind-blowing in any aspect, Bull on the Beach proved itself a great place to grab a quick bite to eat, and definitely proved to Morgan and I that Ocean City has more than enough to satiate those looking to enjoy a breath of ocean breeze in good company.

Score (out of 10): 7.5

Location: 2nd Street, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: (410) 289-2855
Website: http://www.bullonthebeachoc.com/

The Embers Restaurant (Ocean City, MD) - Variety

For our final night in Ocean City, Morgan and I decided to treat ourselves to one of the area's famous all-you-can-eat buffets. We had a tough time deciding which place to go to, with our choices including The Bonfire Restaurant, The Embers Restaurant, Hall's Restaurant & Buffet, Phillip's, and many more. All the restaurants were similarly priced, and most of them had comparable menus, but after reading over a few (dozen) reviews, we finally set The Embers Restaurant as our destination.

The Embers Restaurant is conveniently located on Philadelphia Avenue, by 24th Street, and is open a majority of the week during the off-season, and daily during the on-season. Prices might seem a bit high for both their buffet and à la carte menus, but in truth, the prices are competitive to similar restaurants in the area, with a $20 buffet special available every weekend. The Embers is kept clean, well-lit, and is staffed with friendly, helpful employees. The buffet offers an almost overwhelming variety of food, from typical seafood fare, to American diner-style dishes, to freshly-made Italian pizza and pasta, and even Asian-inspired cuisine; one thing is for sure when you dine at The Embers Restaurant - you will get your money's worth. There's even a carving station that offers up prime rib, top round of beef, and ham. For those who still have room in their stomachs after all that food, The Embers also sports a full dessert bar. All the essential food groups, of course.

Me? Well, I couldn't help but sample a little bit of everything. And by "little bit," I mean I tackled this meal with the mindset of a death row inmate.



Let me start off by saying that I have eaten at my fair share of all-you-can-eat buffets: some good, some bad, some so foul that I can only imagine that the chef was attempting to capture the flavor of a make-out session with Satan's armpit; however, after trying the food offered at The Embers Restaurant, I can easily say that it ranks among my favorite buffets of all time. While not every dish was a masterpiece, the food was clearly of a higher caliber than your average smorgasbord. The pastas I tried (including one of my favorites, tortellini alfredo) were cooked to perfection, and served with a variety of bold, flavorful sauces. The fried foods I ate were not suffocating in batter, nor did they taste like they had spent too much time in the oil. The meat from the carving station practically melted in my mouth, each slice served fresh, after being cooked in its own juices. All the crab meat I tried (including some excellent Crab Imperial) embodied that perfect blend of salty-sweet seafood flavor that has established crab as one of my favorite meals of all time.

I could go on and on about the high-quality food, the great staff, and the wonderful atmosphere, but the true reason Morgan and I loved The Embers Restaurant so much was the fact that it felt like it truly represented our time in Ocean City: an eclectic collection of some of the brightest laughter and experiences life has to offer. If you're ever in the area and want an excellent way to wrap up your evening by the ocean, The Embers Restaurant is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm from head to toe - especially your stomach.

Score (out of 10): 9

Location: 2305 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: (410) 289-3322
Website: http://www.embers.com/

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Adolfo's Italian Restaurant (Ocean City, MD) - All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti & Meatballs

I realize it's an incredibly late review, but my life has recently been quite busy: I'm constantly working, and I try to find time to pursue personal hobbies as well, such as the video game review blog I manage. I apologize that this is the case; I will try to write more frequently. With this being said, it's time to start the review.

While the off-season nightlife of Ocean City was somewhat lacking, Morgan and I frequently took twilight walks through the city's empty streets and along the deserted boardwalk. Not only was this incredibly relaxing and fun, but informative as well; during one of our aforementioned walks, Morgan and I stumbled across a small, quiet-looking place known as Adolfo's Italian Restaurant, tucked away at the end of South Baltimore Avenue by the boardwalk. Since we were in the mood for some local Italian, we chose to eat there the next evening.

Family-owned and run, Adolfo's is open year-round, and provides some excellent, personal service. Their menu is pretty extensive, offering standard Italian fare, as well as some original recipes, and while the prices might seem a little high (in truth, they're pretty comparable to other boardwalk businesses), the quality you get in return is well worth it. The inside of the restaurant itself is dimly-lit and modestly-decorated, adding a somewhat romantic ambiance to the whole place; unfortunately, this same dim lighting made taking pictures impossible (at least impossible to take without being rude to the other patrons).

Since it was the off-season when Morgan and I visited Adolfo's, we got to take advantage of their limited time, off-season specials: every Wednesday and Thursday, certain entrees on their menu are half price, and all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs is offered every Thursday as well; we just so happened to be there Thursday, and ordered ourselves some all-you-can-eat spaghetti. Our meals came with fresh-baked bread with slices of warm pepperoni on the side, and garden salads with homemade Italian dressing.

I apologize ahead of time for the picture, since it's not mine; as I stated before, the lighting within Adolfo's was pretty low, and due to this I had to take a picture from the internet. Fortunately, the picture I chose looks very similar to the meal I ordered.



The bread that came out before the main course was soft, fluffy, and still warm from the ovens. The sliced pepperoni that came with it added a little extra kick to what many consider a boring, old starter.

Our salads were crisp, fresh, and interestingly enough, lacking croutons. There was also ricotta cheese crumbled on top of the greens. The homemade Italian dressing was delicious - not too oily, although the portion was a little meager; I really would've liked more of it on the salad to help balance out the bold flavor of the ricotta, and to make the salad a little less dry. Overall, it was a nice appetizer though.

Next came the all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meatballs. Served in big, heaping portions, Adolfo's was more than generous in quantity. The spaghetti was tender, the sauce was salty-sweet and seasoned with basil, and the meatballs were large, hand-packed, and hot. The meat used wasn't quite as rich as I originally hoped, but was still flavorful enough to satisfy my taste buds. Unfortunately, this slight lack in bold flavor made the huge serving size grow a bit bland by the end; regardless, I enjoyed the meal enough to ask for a second plate.

While I can't rank Adolfo's among my favorite Italian restaurants of all time, I can certainly recommend it to anyone in the Ocean City area looking for a good deal on all-you-can-eat Italian. The price might initially put off some, but as I stated before, it's pretty standard for a restaurant by the beach. If you enjoy nighttime walks through deserted city streets like Morgan and I, take a stroll by Adolfo's Italian Restaurant: you might just like what you find inside.

Score (out of 10): 8

Location: 806 South Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: (410) 289-4001
Website: http://www.oc-adolfos.com/

Salvatore's (Ocean City, MD) - Onion Pizza & Maryland Crab Soup

Morgan and my dining experience in the off-season ghost town of Ocean City, MD continued when we chose to go out for some local pizza. However, we were unwilling to spend our money at one of the tourist traps along the main strip, where the quality and portions most likely lacked in comparison to the price. Instead, we chose to drive around aimlessly, as we sometimes do, in search of a pizza place a little deeper inland. By doing so, we found ourselves ordering off the menu of a local Italian and seafood restaurant, known as Salvatore's (not to be confused with the local pizza chain).

Salvatore's is located on the corner of the Stephen Decatur Highway and Ocean Gateway (Rt. 50) in Ocean City, and has (as far as I know) only one location. The location is convenient for those staying at a hotel nearby on the beach (only a few miles away from the main strip), and quite easy to find. While the decorations of the outside (and inside, for that matter) are a tad gaudy, the dim lighting inside gives the quaint, little bar and dining area a somewhat romantic feel. As I stated before, Morgan and I were visiting Ocean City during the off-season; the area was practically deserted, and Salvatore's was completely empty, save for a bartender/waiter and someone I assumed was the owner. Despite this, Morgan and I were greeted with smiles and great, fast service.

I got a bowl of Maryland crab soup to start with. For those unfamiliar with this particular recipe, it is essentially vegetable soup with cooked crab meat added. Salvatore's crab soup is loaded with plenty of corn, red beans, green beans, potato, celery, carrots, and bits of onion.



The Maryland-style crab soup came out hot and fresh from the kitchen, and smelled delicious; I could see hearty vegetables and big pieces of crab meat floating in the steaming broth. However, despite the great, robust smell, I found the flavor of the soup somewhat watered-down. While it wasn't necessarily bad, the soup definitely wasn't as bold or flavorful as many of the other Maryland crab soups I've had; instead of complimenting each other, the flavors of the various vegetables, crab meat, and broth did not blend as well as I hoped they would. All in all, this dish wasn't terrible, but wasn't nearly as great as it could have been.

Score (out of 10): 6.5

For our main course, Morgan and I ordered a large pizza, half cheese for Morgan, half onion for myself. As such, I will only be reviewing the onion pizza.



Once again, I don't claim to be any sort of pizza expert, and will refer you to my good friend at The Rochester NY Pizza Blog for such expertise. That being said, I will try my best to give my impressions accurately and professionally. The pizza came out quickly (probably because we were the only ones in the restaurant), and was hot, fresh, and baked to perfection. The cheese wasn't saturated in grease, nor was it slathered on haphazardly, but was melty and light. The pizza wasn't drowning in sauce, which was also nice; the sauce itself wasn't overpowering, and the seasonings gave it that great, balanced, salty-sweet taste. The crust was incredible - light and crispy, easy to chew, and not too filling or bready; I did not expect to find such a great New York-style pizza crust in Ocean City, MD. The onions on my half were slightly-browned, crunchy, and added amazing texture and flavor to the pizza.

The pizza more than made up for the lackluster crab soup, and I highly recommend it to anyone else from New York seeking a taste of home away from home. The best part about Salvatore's was the cost: being a little farther away from the beach, Salvatore's provided large quantities of food for a more than reasonable price; Morgan and my bill was only around $15, all food and drinks included. For those looking for a more affordable meal than the standard by-the-beach fare, Salvatore's is more than close enough to be worth the drive. I'd be a little hesitant to try their seafood again, but finding a slice of New York pizza in the heart of Maryland was like heaven on earth.

Score (out of 10): 9

Location: 9935 Stephen Decatur Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: (410) 213-7070
Website: N/A

Old Mill Crab House (Ocean City, MD) - Crab Cake Sandwich

During our first whole night in Ocean City, MD, Morgan and I were unaware that almost every local restaurant was closed for the off-season. Upon realizing this, we spent about 30 minutes driving around the main strip in a desperate attempt to find a seafood buffet. After that search proved fruitless, we decided to take a chance and eat at the first random restaurant we saw open: the result was us stumbling into the Old Mill Crab House.

Apparently, the Old Mill is a small franchise, with only two active locations: the original is located in Delmar, DE, and the newer Ocean City restaurant. As such, the service maintains a hospitable and personal air, and the restaurant itself is well-lit and well-maintained. The menu is a bit limited, and the prices are a bit high (but expected; it IS in a tourist beach town, after all), but what is offered ends up being served fast, served hot, and served fresh. The Old Mill is sure to please those looking for fresh surf and turf, chicken, or even ribs. A kid-friendly menu is available for picky eaters, and a surprisingly extensive selection of alcohol is offered by the Old Mill for adults in the group. For those looking to loosen their belts a few notches, an endless "all-you-care-to-eat" special is available that includes clams, shrimp, crabs, corn on the cob, hush puppies, and more.

Since I'm currently on a budget, and was also craving a local crab cake, I went with the crab cake sandwich (relatively inexpensive), which was one of the Old Mill's famous lump crab cakes (either broiled or fried - I chose fried), topped with fresh lettuce and tomato (which I discarded; I'm not a fan of uncooked tomatoes), wedged into a fresh, fluffy hamburger bun. The sandwich also came with a choice of french fries or coleslaw - I ended up going with the fries, figuring they'd be more filling than the coleslaw. Sides of ketchup and tartar sauce rounded out the meal you'll see below.



The french fries that came with the meal were wonderful, and arrived at the table crispy, hot, and perfectly-salted. As for the crab cake...well...

I've eaten a lot (and I mean A LOT) of crab cakes in my life, and even I can't describe how amazing this crab cake sandwich was. Normally when I order a fried crab cake, I expect them to bread it or deep fry it in a vat of grease, which, while delicious, sometimes alters the flavor of the crab meat; however, the Old Mill surprised me by only lightly-battering the crab cake before frying it, which gave it a great crispy outside, without unnecessarily soaking the inside meat. The crab meat ended up being light, moist, and subtly sweet, just as it should be. The tartar sauce was delicious, providing a tang that matched and melded perfectly with the salty-sweet flavor of the crab meat. Lettuce added a great amount of crunchy texture to this otherwise incredible meal.

There are truly some great places to eat at out here in Ocean City, and I'm glad I can say that the Old Mill Crab House is one of them. This was a wonderful meal, and the best part was that Morgan and I stopped entirely at random. It just goes to show that not every part of a vacation needs to be planned out; sometimes the fun experiences come along completely by chance.

Score (out of 10): 9.5

Location: 12407 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: (410) 250-2722
Website: http://www.oldmillcrabhouse.com/

Famous Famiglia Pizzeria (Allentown, PA) - Cheese Pizza

Hello out there in cyberspace! Let me start off by saying that currently Morgan and I are enjoying ourselves out in Ocean City, MD; as such, the next series of posts will be from this sunny city, its surrounding area, or from wherever on the road we decide to eat. I realize it's not quite "Rochester's Endless Buffet," but I thought it'd be a fun way to share my experiences while I'm out of town. Hope you all enjoy!

This post is from Monday, when Morgan and I decided to take a quick break at an Allentown, PA rest stop during the grueling 8 1/2 hour drive. The food selection there was pretty mediocre, so we settled on pizza from Famous Famiglia Pizzeria, figuring it would be filling and inexpensive. Turns out, we were right.

This particular location (Famous Famiglia Pizzeria is a national chain) is inside of the Allentown Travel Plaza on the Pennsylvania State Turnpike, right outside of (you guessed it) Allentown, PA, and can be accessed from both the northbound and southbound roads. The rest stop is clean, well-maintained, and offers a number of roadside snacks at fairly affordable prices. The Famous Famiglia Pizzeria in particular has friendly, efficient staff, and stretches your dollar out without sacrificing quality. Since rest stop food is notorious for being overpriced, I was expecting to shell out around, possibly over, $10 for two slices of cheese pizza, but in reality only spent about $7 and some change. Famous Famiglia also offered a limited assortment of pasta, salads, and calzones, but I figured that cheese pizza would give me the most bang for my buck, and would serve as a great example of the pizzeria's most basic offerings.



Now, I'm no pizza expert (I leave that to my good friend at The Rochester NY Pizza Blog), but I have to say that Famous Famiglia's cheese pizza was a more-than-adequate snack during the long trek to Ocean City. While a slice of cheese pizza from a Pennsylvania rest stop can only hope to imitate the amazing quality of a New York-style pie, the emulated recipe at Famous Famiglia in Allentown does a damn good job in that department. The mozzarella cheese was melted to perfection, browned a bit on the top, and wasn't simply a tarp serving to hold pools of grease; in fact, the whole slice was only slightly greasy, unlike many New York-style pizzas I've had in the past that were practically oily hand towels. The crust was thin, light, and crisp, but was fluffy enough to give the slice some real substance, and was incredibly fresh in flavor and texture. As for the sauce, Famous Famiglia has found a wonderful blend of sweet, roast tomato flavor and aromatic, Italian spices.

While a single slice proved to fill my stomach only so much, in terms of rest stop food, Famous Famiglia definitely provided some great quality and value. If you ever find yourself in the Allentown, PA area, or traveling along the Pennsylvania State Turnpike, I highly suggest giving Famous Famiglia Pizzeria a shot...especially if you're on a budget!

Score (out of 10): 8

Location: Allentown Travel Plaza, Pennsylvania State Turnpike, Allentown, PA
Phone Number: (610) 366-3872
Website: http://www.famousfamiglia.com/

California Rollin' - Miso Soup, Katana Roll, & BBT Roll

California Rollin' actually has two locations in the Greater Rochester area: the original location is in Village Gate, on North Goodman St. in Rochester, while the other location (known as California Rollin' 2) is in the old Ferry Terminal in Charlotte. California Rollin' serves up fresh, hand-rolled sushi, in both traditional and more unique, innovative forms. They further add to their menu with creative spins on other traditional Japanese recipes, and offer daily specials as well. This review is from a meal Morgan and I had at the original location, which has a distinct flair and atmosphere that is artsy, yet laid back.

On this particular outing, I started off with an appetizer of miso soup; for those unfamiliar with this traditional Japanese dish, it is fish broth with shiitake mushrooms (I ordered mine without these), scallions, chunks of tofu, miso paste (a soy-based paste), and wakame (a type of edible seaweed).

I didn't take a picture of my own miso soup, so I found a picture on the internet. Hope you don't mind!

For my main course, I went the unorthodox route by ordering two California Rollin' originals: the Katana Roll and the BBT Roll. The Katana Roll is a cooked maki roll (rolled sushi), featuring crab stick (imitation crab meat), seaweed salad, Japanese mayo, and "onion crunchies" (basically French fried onions). The BBT Roll is a tempura roll (deep-fried rolled sushi), made from pan-seared tuna, smothered in Dinosaur BBQ sauce.

BBT Rolls on the left and right. Katana Roll in the middle.

While miso soup might not sound appealing to many who read a description of its ingredients (and I've definitely had my fair share of crappy miso soup), I assure you that if you're a curious first-timer, California Rollin's recipe is the one to try. The soup's broth was not overpowering in fish or soy taste, and both the tofu and seaweed leaves absorbed the flavors of the broth and the scallions perfectly. I highly recommend this particular miso soup.

As for my sushi, I still can't decide whether I like the Katana Roll or the BBT Roll more. The BBT Roll may sound simple, but it has a great flavor: the seared tuna is a wonderfully light and familiar fish base, while the BBQ sauce adds some great bold and spicy flavor; the fact that this roll is tempura-fried adds some real crunch to the entire thing, providing some awesome texture.

The Katana Roll is an incredible whirlwind of flavors: the imitation crab meat is light and sweet, while the seaweed salad and "onion crunchies" combine into a great mixture of flavors and harder textures; the juxtaposition of the creamy Japanese mayo and the crunchier layers is damn near perfect.

All in all, California Rollin' is one of my favorite places to eat something a little different. While it runs a little expensive (at least for my wallet), I still think everyone in the area should give this place a try. Sushi is a unique enough dish as it is in Rochester, but California Rollin' manages to innovate beyond the realm of the ordinary. If you're a sushi beginner, I highly recommend trying the BBT Roll; for those with a craving for something with a plethora of interesting flavors, try the Katana Roll. Regardless of what you choose, California Rollin' is sure to not disappoint.

Score (out of 10): 9

Location: 274 North Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14607
Phone Number: (585) 271-8990
Website: http://www.californiarollin.com/

Hilton Family Restaurant - Meatloaf Hot Plate

The Hilton Family Restaurant is a quaint, little diner, tucked away in downtown Hilton, NY. Despite being located in a town with otherwise unremarkable dining locales, the Hilton Family Restaurant proves to be a hidden diamond in the rough. While many will be tempted to disregard the Hilton Family Restaurant, due to its quiet, homely appearance, I strongly urge against this - this place is definitely worth checking out for their home-style meals and warm, casual atmosphere. Morgan and I find ourselves wandering out to Hilton every couple months or so, just because we find the place so incredibly comfortable.

On this particular trip, I ordered the Meatloaf Hot Plate - a simple meal, consisting of a meatloaf sandwich and mashed potatoes, smothered in brown gravy. Despite lacking a lengthy description, this was one hell of a meal.



The cooks at Hilton Family Restaurant proved to me once again that they definitely know what they're doing. The meatloaf was baked perfectly: the breadcrumbs and seasoning used tasted like a home-cooked meal; savory and hearty, but not too salty, or overbearingly rich. The bread was fresh enough to soak up the flavor of the beef gravy - which I found lacked the overly-salty, beef bouillon quality so many beef gravies possess - and managed to not get disgustingly soggy (not that this mattered, as this is a meal meant to be eaten with a fork and knife). The mashed potatoes were smooth, creamy, and buttery; combined with the gravy, they were easily on par with the quality of the sandwich.

This is a meal that will fill you up and warm your core: home cooking at some of its finest. If you're on a mission to find savory, rich, and hearty food, this meal is most likely right up your alley. If you're not a fan of mashed potatoes, the Hilton Family Restaurant has no problem subbing them out for one of their many other sides. For those looking for cheap eats, the Meatloaf Hot Plate, as well as many other items on the menu, come at incredibly affordable prices (just be sure to bring cash, or at least a debit card to use at their ATM). Those of you missing Mom's homemade meatloaf should definitely stop by the Hilton Family Restaurant and give the hot plate a try; you might be surprised at how genuinely it gives the old family recipe a run for its money.

Score (out of 10): 9

Location: 52 Hovey St., Hilton, NY 14468
Phone Number: (585) 392-4700
Website: N/A