Restaurant: Naked Fish, Salt Lake City

Restaurant: Naked Fish

Web Site: http://www.nakedfishbistro.com

Address: 67 West 100 South, Salt Lake City, Utah

Phone: (801) 595-8888

High end Sushi joint downtown, across from the Marriott.

Was in town for several days for meetings, but all were held in the hotel with included meals. So, not a lot of chances to see the local places. But, two dinners were on my own, and felt pressed for time and without a car, ended up being lazy and going across the street.

Enjoyed it so much I ended up being there twice. The first night with a fairly large group of 7, the second night with a colleague and we sat at the bar (the sushi bar). I liked the first night so much went back for seconds.

The large group was seated in a main room, in what appeared to be the traditional Japanese way of the low dining table and sitting on the floor. However, it was an illusion; the table had a sunken section in the floor so once you were down on the floor your legs were below your body - somewhat bench style seating. And frankly, a welcome relief for joints that are not of a younger man. The table service was very polite, and we spent the meal trying a number of things, just passing the artistic plates around the table. Very spicy edamame was different, not too spicy but enough heat to get the point. Some of the pieces were very different, including one where the fish, rice, and fillings were placed into a rectangular mold and pressed into a perfect thin brick shape and then cut into pieces. All was extremely artfully presented, with lots of specific garnishes and sauces.

The second night, back for more and sat at the bar. The sushi work was done by what seemed to be the head chef, and we not only had a more purposeful tour around the different pieces, but also got quite an education in the fish used, the preparation, and the business of a sushi restaurant. Not only tasty, but we learned something, too! It was also fun to watch the food being prepared, as the artfulness was the result of very meticulous use of tweezers, squirt bottles, and slicing. Unless you are with a number of people, sitting at a sushi bar is always preferred to a table. I guess this goes for the non-sushi style of bar as well.

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Restaurant: The Wild Tymes, St. Paul

Restaurant: The Wild Times
Web Site: wildtymes.net
Address: St. Paul, Minnesota
Phone: (651) 224-8181

Not really my kind of place. A just-a-bar place trying to be a sports bar with live music. Can’t make up its mind. The night we were there the music was odd; flamenco music with a dancer. A real disconnect when you’re trying to watch college football. A handful of locals getting their drink on, and some bachelorette party a little tipsy clogging up the place.

The food came out and it was all deep fried cheesy tortilla chips and wings sloppy with spicy sauce. Beers on tap were good. Ordered the special of the day; the walleye platter. This is a local dish I try to have once when I’m in the area (the Minnesota equivalent of Maryland Rockfish). Wasn’t expecting much, but everything else on the menu seemed fried or a burger.

Well, a very nice surprise. The fish was broiled crispy, came with steamed asparagus and spring potatoes. Very well executed, well presented, tasty, great price point. Nice to see the people in the kitchen get tired of dropping the fry basket into the oil. They do a really good job with this dish.

Everyone else seemed OK with what they had.

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Restaurant: Sakura, St. Paul

Restaurant: Sakura

Web Site: http://www.sakurastpaul.com

Address: 350 St. Peter, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102

Phone: 651-225-0185

Sushi is always a favorite when traveling, this one was across the street of the hotel I was staying in.

Tried it twice. I wasn’t blown away the first time I was there, thought it was somewhat average food. But, I went back a second time because I needed a bite to eat and was by myself and sitting at the sushi bar is always an easy way to dine when traveling by yourself.

Well, I’m glad I went back the second time. The first time I ordered a regular combination, which was some tempura and some sushi pieces. My theory is when trying new places order something you know well to create a baseline comparison. When you go out for Chinese food, get lo mien or something to get a sense of the style of the place. For Japanese food its usually miso soup and tuna rolls.

The problem with that theory is that most regular sushi is subtle stuff to eat. The spice is mostly wasabi and pickled ginger. All you have to go on is rice and raw fish which is not much to hang a decision on (unless its not good, like grocery store sushi). So, the second night I was able to look through the sushi bar and take a stab at what they think their special things are.

Their take on the dragon roll was very good. A little crunchy, a little spicy, and little cool, a little hot. I’m not a big fan of “big sushi”, its a little hard to get in a bite. But, this was worth it. Well presented, moist, fresh, good. Had some egg and cucumber rolls as desert to mellow out. Very filling and very good. I’m glad I went back a second time, it really changed by opinion of Sakura.

Service was very good, the waitress was attentive without being smothering. And, it was nice getting guidance from the sushi chef. Bartender did a great job on the martinis, too.

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Restaurant: Sushi Tango, St. Paul

Restaurant: Sushi Tango

Web Site: sushitango.com

Address: 8362 Tamarack Village, Saint Paul, MN 55125

Phone: (651) 578-0064

A suburban strip mall Sushi joint, with surprisingly good food and unsurprisingly good service.

While it doesn’t look like much as you’re driving by, walking in I had high expectations in that we seemed to be the only non-Japanese people eating dinner there. Had an assortment of pieces, all good and delivered quickly and politely. The cost was also not bad, which was expected from the relatively low rent retail space and economic effort on decor. Would gladly go there again.

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Hotel: Hilton Oceanside, Ocean City, MD

City: Ocean City, MD
Chain: Hilton
Property: Hilton Suites Ocean City Oceanfront
Address: 3200 North Baltimore Avenue, Ocean City, MD 21842
Phone Number: 410.289.6444

Check Out: May 2012 ($220)

Most Ocean City Maryland hotels are pretty beat.  They were built in the 60s and 70s and are constantly abused by the heavy family traffic this east coast beach town gets each year.  There is a lot of more upscale housing of the condo variety, and a few newer hotels.  This property is a newer Hilton property, located at the 32nd street latitude on the beach, which is a little past the end of the boardwalk.  This part of town is more waterslide and pizza joint-centric (Ocean City gets quieter as you move north), but this specific hotel was super nice (relatively) and we were there in the off season so very quiet.

Ocean City in May is low key enough that people can fish and walk their dogs on the beach, while warm enough for shorts and flip-flops, and most of the places are open.  We went down for a long weekend with no particular plans, but had a great room with a balcony on the corner (an upgrade from normal).

The hotel had some inside parking which was great as it was a little rainy when we got there.  There is a large pool area outside with two pools and outside eating and drinking (all closed pre-season when we were there), and an inside pool and exercise room.  There was bar and restaurant action, although we only used the bar and went elsewhere to eat.  Room service one day - very good as typical for full service Hiltons.

We liked the room a lot.  Suite style, with a living/dining area inside the door, pretty full service kitchen with real refrigerator and dishwasher, stocked with the basics for cooking and eating.  Bathroom was large with a multi-headed shower that was pretty nice, and a separate Jacuzzi tub.  Balcony off the bedroom overlooking the beach.

Staff was super nice and helpful.  Concierge service helped navigate dining in the area (we hadn't been to the MD beaches in quite a while).

Rating:

• Safety: 1
• Dining: 1
• Bar: 1
• Internet: 1 (free for Hilton Honor)
• Wireless in Common Areas: 1
• Work Space, Power: 1
• Shower: 1
• Air Conditioning, Bed: 1
• Common Areas: 1, plus 1 point for beach

Total: 10





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Update to Collegeville Marriott

The remodeling is done, a real improvement. Comments here.

Restaurant: Mon Ami Gabi

Restaurant: Mon Ami Gabi, Bethesda, MD
Web Site: www.monamigabi.com
Address: 7239 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 654-1234

Right in downtown Bethesda in the hoity-toity Bethesda Row area, a French Bistro on the corner where the movie theater is. There is a bar area where you first walk in, and three dining areas; one that can be closed off for private parties. A chalkboard on the left has the specials of the day.

The menu has a number of steak and frites choices, with a number of other options. Salmon and scollops this time, both were very good. More cream and butter than we're used to for the side dishes, but we're probably not typical in this compared to most. Waite staff very professional, a number of good wine selections as well as a rolling cart with the by-the-glass choices.

Bar area is more crowded than it should be, because of its corner orientation in the room, and because of that completely annoying process of people sitting at the bar and covering it with entrées. If the place had a small plate policy for bar eating it might make it easier to have a pre-dinner drink there. As such, you might be better served to have a pre-dinner drink somewhere else that would be easier to get some service.

We've been here a few times now, every time enjoyable and worth the cost.


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Restaurant: Volare

Restaurant: Volare
Web Site: http://www.volarerestaurant.com/
Address: 201 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 410-9900

Great, old school Italian restaurant in the heart of Chicago. Good, professional service staff. Was not overpriced, although if you go crazy on the wine and courses you could get there. Noise was off-the-hook loud with the room packed.

Only had a glass of wine with dinner, but list seemed full and lots of reasonable bottles. Had a nice house salad, and the fresh bread was awesome - crusty on the outside, warm and delicious on the inside. Had a sea bass special, that was with some white wine sauce with olives and spinach. My colleague had the risotto, which was probably the best I had ever had, although super hot - you needed to wait for it to cool off before you could eat it (not unexpected).

A good choice when in downtown Chicago.


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Southwest to Milwaukee

It’s never fun having to get up for an early morning flight, especially when you forgot to print out the boarding pass 24 hours before the flight - missing that important chance to board in the “A” section. But after getting “B-1” you know there can’t be many people on the flight, so not so bad. Had the budget first class seat - a whole row to myself, and no person in front of me to lean back and crush my computer.

I used to hate flying Southwest because of the old boarding process (“Ready...BOARD!”) when you had to get there two hours before the flight to line up and then sprint down the jetway as fast as you could. The numbered process is much, much better and a good compromise between reserved seats and the chaos of the old method.

Southwest has a different business model than most of the others. Since they only fly 737’s, you always know what the plane will be like and no surprises like small storage (its all small storage) or a seat behind the bulkhead. And, they do seem to be on time more than most. Perhaps this is because they can swap equipment around more easily with the common aircraft throughout the fleet?

Restaurant: Big Greek Cafe, Rockville

Restaurant: Big Greek Cafe, Rockville
Web Site: http://www.biggreekcafe.com/
Address: 4007 Norbeck Rd, Rockville, MD 20853
Phone: (301) 929-9760

They call it Rockville, I list it with Olney, but it’s really Norbeck. The great crossroad of MD Route 28 (Norbeck Road) and MD Route 97 (Georgia Ave) is a small strip mall with the Big Greek Cafe. It’s been a couple of things over the years, but generally a mediterranean take out place, now greek. Always our go-to for kabobs, now our go-to for gyros. From the same people that run the Golden Flame in downtown Silver Spring, a small take out place focused on Greek dishes and comfort food.

Interior is not much, just some tables for people not really thinking about taking-out, but there’s also not much space to park here (parking is actually a challenge with this small, poorly organized strip mall), but it is worth the hassle. The salads are all big and fresh with good ingredients, and gyro meat is real meat and not pressed ground processed meat. Everything we’ve tried has been very good and good proportions, a good value place.


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Restaurant: Umami Moto

Restaurant: Umami Moto
Web Site: http://www.umamimoto.com/
Address: 718 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 455-6856

High end Sushi joint in downtown Milwaukee.

Here on business with colleagues. Some interesting takes on Japanese dishes, but I stuck with mostly basics but had a Salmon special which was very good (crisp on top with a barbeque like glaze). Sushi and edamame were top notch. We were in a booth in the back, and the noise level was quite high as the interior was all tile and glass. A typical design mistake where style doesn’t consider the sound reflectivity of surfaces in a public space.

I’d go again, very good food and service. I’d ask for a different place to sit, however.


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Restaurant: Pizzeria Da Marco

Restaurant: Pizzeria Da Marco
Web Site: http://www.pizzeriadamarco.net/Pizzeria_Da_Marco/Home.html
Address: 8008 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 654-6083

A new (May 2011) pizza joint in Bethesda, right on Woodmont between St. Elmo and Cordell. Promises authentic Neapolitan pizza from a wood fired oven.

Having never been to Italy I can’t judge the authentic part. But, the wood fired oven part is pretty common around here and in general they promise thinner crust that is both chewy and crispy. Da Marco delivers on this. The crust was a little bit thicker than I expected, but very tasty and easy to eat with your hand (the way pizza is supposed to be be eaten) without grease.

The space was large and open, with a large bar stretching the length of the wall that eventually becomes the kitchen. Was there for lunch with some colleagues, so can’t really gauge the noise level for dinner. Also, has only been open a few weeks, so some weaknesses with the waiters but I would expect this to get better over time. Most of the pizzas were 11 to 13 dollars and are of the “personal” size, but plenty big as a serving. Salads were good also.

Not much of a pizza eater at this point, and there weren’t a lot of alternatives (unless you think a calzone is an alternative), but a good choice if this is what you’re looking for and you’ve grown up past the home delivery vendors.


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