Relish

Price: $$$
Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Quality of Service: 5 out of 5
Food Overall: 5 out of 5

The word ‘relish’ in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is defined as “Enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one’s tastes, inclinations or desires.”  The gourmet burger joint Relish in West Palm Beach, FL is defined as…well, the exact same thing, really.

I had first learned of this place when a few of my friends on a popular social network were ‘liking’ the page of this eatery. I checked out their website and was intrigued by the innovative menu, so I grabbed the wife and trekked out there.

I say trekked because for us, it’s a 45 minute drive in low traffic. I mention the traffic here not as a means to deter you, but to amplify a point: I don’t drive 45 for WORK, let alone for lunch. However, I’d gladly add another 45 minutes to that time clock just to visit Relish again. THAT. GOOD.

A word of advice: If you plan of going, hit up their website first. They have so many choices and combinations that it will take you a bit to decide what you want. Basically, you get your choice of meat (ranging from good ol’ American ground beef to Lobster. Yes. Lobster.), choose a ‘relish’ (these flavor dynamos run the gamut from an artichoke and spinach spread to teriyaki pineapple sauce), and if you like they have various handmade sides, like sweet potato fries or polenta fingers (all with your choice of 4 different salt combinations!).

Throw in a unique shake and you’re in for a ride to TastyVille, my friend. But I think it’s time we got into the review before I salivate all over my laptop…

Ah, the milkshake. Truly a holy trinity staple (Burger-Fry-Shake), Relish is doing these up fresh-to-order and they’re doing them big. This is the Salted Caramel shake, and that wedge on top? It’s a 4 oz. piece of actual salted caramel, kind of brittle-like in texture, and love-like in flavor.

The shake was creamy and rich, but not so that it ruined your meal by filling you up too quickly (of course, I did split it with my wife). It was absolutely fabulous. They have several other flavors to choose from, like Espresso Bean or Cracker Jack, and I’m looking forward to a new selection on my next visit.

This was my wife’s burger: Ground Beef with Drunken Onions (sweet onions sautéed in beer). This was one of the juiciest burgers I’ve ever had. It was magnificent in its simplicity. You got some salt and pepper, and a good crust on the burger, but really they let the meat shine through.

The onions had that distinct beer taste, almost stout-esque in flavor. However, the beer taste still allowed for the sweetness of the veggie to come through first and foremost. These guys have it down to a science.

The fries are almost like shoestring style, with sea salt. Crispy and fresh cut, with the tender middle and crunchy outside, just like a quality fry should be.

And now, the showstopper: Wild Boar burger topped with brie and blackberry compote. Good. Frakkin. Night. This was just a collision of tastes that took me a minute to think on, but I am so glad I ended up here.

First, the boar: I’d never had it before today, and I was expecting a similar flavor to pork. Not true. It’s really very comparable to beef flavor-wise, with a touch of game to it, but not offensively so. I was juicy and had an sort of ‘leanness’ to it. Delicious.

The brie was the perfect complement to this burger; sharp and pulling up that boar taste to new horizons. And the blackberry compote was tart and sweet enough to mellow everything out and put it all on a level playing field. It’s mana on a bun. Speaking of which, the bun is toasted so that the edges just get a char to them, adding yet ANOTHER flavor profile to your sandwich.

The sweet potato fries, like the regular fries, were crispy and perfectly cooked, and were picked at the right time for that sweet flavor to come through. I accompanied mine with the garlic salt to knock the sweet back a notch, and it worked out beautifully.

They also have desserts, like a DIY S’mores Kit, but by the time we were finished, we were stuffed. In fact, we really didn’t eat dinner that night. Throw in a nice little atmosphere and service with personality and you’ve got a burger joint well worth the drive, no matter where you are.

After all….it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Relish
401 Northwood Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33407 
(561) 629-5377
http://www.relishburger.com/

The Rustic Inn

Price: $$$$$
Atmosphere: 3 of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5


I’ve covered all kinds of dishes so far on this blog, but I think the one edible ecstasy I haven’t touched on yet is seafood. Why, you ask? Well, I’m not a real big seafood eater. In fact, I’m not too big on fish at all, save the occasional Mahi taco.

Shellfish, on the other hand, I tend to enjoy. Especially crab. Crab to me is the steak of the sea. I know I know, most folk say that about lobster. While I do enjoy lobster, I just crab to have more of a meat consistency and just more flavorful.

The thing is though, crab is expensive. And if I’m going to eat it (or at least pay to eat it), it better be of the top quality crab. Also, crab can be difficult to get at, especially for a novice such as myself. I smash and crack for that little taste of meat, but that’s a lot of work for a little pay off. So as I said, it better be worth my effort.

Welcome to The Rustic Inn, my friends. A South Florida staple (nay, icon) for over 50 years, if you’re going to eat crab I strongly suggest you do so here. This is my wife’s favorite restaurant, and in her first trimester when she was nauseas at the thought of ANY food, this was the one thing she could scarf down and feel totally at peace and somewhat normal.

These people do crab right. In fact, they do all kinds of seafood right. My usual favorite is the ‘All Hands on Deck Platter’, which is a ½ rack of their tangy BBQ ribs, a good size bowl of peel and eat garlic shrimp, a cluster of decadent Alaskan Queen Crab (the easiest to crack and eat, next to King), a boat of these awesomely crunchy potato wedges and the sweetest cornbread you’re gonna find dining out. All this for $26.99, and you don’t leave the table hungry.

The main attraction is my wife’s usual, and I’ve attempted to tackle it a few times myself: The Crab Sampler (That picture up above with the cafeteria tray covered in 1/3 of the ocean’s creatures). This is I don’t know how many pounds of crab, but it comes with their famous garlic crabs, golden crabs, Alaskan queen, and Dungeness crab, plus parsley potatoes.

It’s an insane amount of food. I don’t order it because honestly, it’s just too much for me. My wife and her sister however knock this thing back like it was an appetizer to the ACTUAL Sampler.

But about the flavor: Man. This is top of the line crab. The garlic crabs (note: you MUST be a garlic lover, as this is some potent shellfish) are sweet and pungent with that herby-buttery-garlicky love. The queen is well, just the meatiest, creamiest crab you can get on this tray. The goldens are a nice palette cleanser from the garlic, and everything is so fresh it’s like you were eating on the beach.
It’s a ton of food, and this particular dish is ‘Market Price’ (which means if you need to ask, you probably shouldn’t be eating here). After all, great seafood isn’t cheap my friend. But as I’ve said before, you get what you pay for.

The environment is a child’s dream: It’s loud. It’s packed. You get to destroy things with a mallet. And if you’re prone to headaches, be advised: This is a birthday hotspot. Why does that matter? Because they announce your birthday over the loud speaker and as is tradition, EVERYONE in the restaurant slams the bajeeus out of the table with their crab hammers for about a minute each time.

It’s not a romantic night out, for sure. But it IS a ‘grab a couple friends, head down, have a brew, nosh a crustacean or 15, and just have a good time’ night out. Get there early: they fill up quickly. So bring your wallet, grab some Advil, and don’t forget your appetite.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

The Rustic Inn
4331 Ravenswood Road
Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 33312
954-584-1637
http://www.rusticinn.com/

Meals on Wheels - Cheese Me

Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Depends on the location
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 3 out of 5

On our recent trip to Bedner’s, the wife and I chose to check out the Cheese Me (http://www.cheeseme.com/ ) truck for our vittles decision. As she’s pregnant, her main craving has been grilled cheese, any which way. So, it made sense that she flocked directly towards this mobile restaurant.

The guys working inside were incredibly friendly and eager to serve you. Of course, when you pay $30.00 for two grilled cheese sandwiches and two cokes, you expect top dollar service. I also decided to try their ‘Truffle Waffle Fries’, as I am a huge fan of truffles, yet I just find better things to spend my money on than truffle oil. You, know, like rent.

For those of you unfamiliar with truffle oil, it is extremely potent, very fragrant, and oh-so-yummy. It’s also about $20.00 for 2.5 oz. of the stuff. So, when I ordered the $6.00 side and only about 8 waffle fries showed up in a little basket, well, it sort of made sense.

I’ll tell you what though: These things were delicious. That truffle flavor was infused in every bite of these crispy, hot fries. It really started the meal off right.

Now, the Sammies: First, let’s review my option: The McShane. This was pulled pork, homemade coleslaw and vintage cheddar, all nicely griddled between two pieces of garlic Texas toast. It was very good, very creamy and extremely rich. There is some sort of creamy sauce on it as well (I think it was mayo), and there was quite a bit of it. A little less of the mayo concoction and this would have made it just a bit more satisfying. But still: Great grilled cheese.

My wife’s choice: The Cheese Us Kryst. This was two pieces of sourdough bread, and in between was provolone, cheddar, mozzarella and American cheeses. This was, quite possibly, the best grilled cheese I’ve ever eaten.

What makes it so good is that despite its intimidating cheese overload factor, it doesn’t show in the actual taste. Oh yes, it’s VERY cheesy, but you don’t get that heavy ‘Ugh, I just ate four cheeses fried on buttered bread’ feeling. It had a…daintiness to it, if you will.

If this truck passes down our way again, I’d definitely stop in for a nosh. It brings you back to that simple time when a good grilled cheese fixed everything, but it also brings some grown up to the party to remind you that, “Hey, it’s life but it’ll be ok. Here, have a sammich.”

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Meals on Wheels - The Fire Within

Price: $$$
Atmosphere: Depends on the location
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 1 out of 5

Ah, food trucks. Those mobile little venues of mouth treats delivered to a destination within 10-25 miles of your couch.  I’ve always read about food trucks, seen them on TV, but I’ve never really had the chance to get into them (unless you count those so called ‘roach coaches’ that used to pull up at the warehouse with a sammich or sodas during lunch time).

A few weeks ago at Bedner’s Fresh Market (See the ‘Porky & Beth’s BBQ’ review form more info), they had a few food trucks come by to sell their wares to the masses. I grabbed the little woman, my buddy Warren, and his wife and hopped in the car for what we hoped would be a taste extravaganza explosion type of day.

Warren opted to go to The Fire Within (https://www.facebook.com/TheFireWithinFoodTruck ) for his first go ‘round. He ordered the skirt steak skewers on a bed of beans and rice. Now, food trucks can gather quite the line rather quickly, so it took a good 20 minutes or so to get these meat sticks in his mitts, but steak can take time to do right.

Which makes me wonder what took them so long, as this dish did not represent quality in any way, shape or form. You get two decent sized skewers, with a mini-skirt on each stick, and covered with a thick salsa type of chimichurri. Ok, so first things first: If you do something on a stick, it’s ill advised to cover it in a chunky, non-adhesive condiment. As soon as you pick it up, that stuff slides right off.

But in this case, that was ok because for a salsa/chimichurri, it was virtually flavorless. It’s like they sucked the taste right out of the onions, tomatoes and peppers that looked so bright and inviting. Regardless, it’s a condiment. Yes, it should be tasty, but to be honest, he paid 14.00 for the steak, not a spoonful of veggies.

Unlike the salsa, there was nothing ‘virtual’ about the skirt steak. It was COMPLETELY flavorless. No seasoning (that includes SALT) at all, and what’s worse, the steak was cooked to death. Now I get some people have an aversion to rare meat, and that’s ok. But this was dry, chewy meat that just tasted disappointing. In fact, if disappointment was a purchasable spice, I’d say they marinated this steak in it for a week.

The rice and beans were either out of a can (garbage or otherwise), as they too were dried out and flavorless. It just goes to show you kids, looks can be deceiving. I write this review as a warning. Not to stray you from food trucks (see my review on the ‘Cheese Me’ food truck), but to stay away from this Fire.

After all….this food sucks.

Sabor



Price: $$$
Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5

By now I’m sure you know that I am a Cuban food junkie. And the best part about living in South Florida is that you are literally surrounded with dozens of choices in any given county of delectable Spanish cuisine. Even better? They spring up all the time so there’s always something new to try, and even better than that is a lot of them are originals: No Chain Required.

This particular restaurant, Sabor, is located in Boynton Beach, FL. Is one such ‘original’ eatery. My wife and I (I spend a lot of time with her judging from my posts, don’t I?) actually found this place through Groupon and figured we’d give it a try. I am so glad that we did.

The first time we ate there we were impressed, however they had just opened and the chef at the time was a BIG fan of cumin. I’m not sure how familiar you are with this lovely spice, but trust me when I say that a little goes a loooooong way. She however, had a difference of opinion. The black beans and mojo were just doused with it, and it was kind of off-putting. However, the rest of the meal was very good.

So, when Groupon offered up another coupon for them, we bought it instantly and returned to this lovely little restaurant. It’s simply decorated, yet has that ambiance of romance and privacy to it. Light colors and intimate lighting are perfect for date night. The servers are bubbly and have great personalities, and are very knowledgeable about the menu.

Our waiter this time recommended we start off with the Quesadillas De Camerones, and we went with it. These things are now a must for us on our next visit. These are not your basic quesadillas. Filled with meaty shrimp, velvety cheeses and a spicy little house sauce for dipping, it’s a great way to whet the palette for the meal to come.

Their salads are crisp and always have that fresh quality to them, and the homemade dressing is just fabulous.  

The actual meal though? Wow. Leaps and bounds above our first visit (we were informed after the meal that they hired a new chef who now does his own spin on the recipes left behind. Kudos for that type of forward thinking, as we both agree on the proper usage of cumin).

We both had ordered the Churrasco, which is a marinated skirt steak, cooked to perfection and covered in a scratch made chimichurri sauce. The steak was juicy, with a wonderful blend of spices and herbs coating the outside, char-grilled and covered in this cilantro-y, garlicky love topping. The black beans and rice were definitely changed, with subtle hints of bell pepper, onion, and cumin (subtle, but present). And the plantains were sweet and fried up nicely.

Top all that off with a Cuban coffee and some of the richest flan I’ve ever had, and you’ve got a great meal in a unique spot. Be sure to keep an eye on Groupon, as they love to use this site. Snatch it up and take your favorite person (or persons) along with ya. We’ll see you there.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.

Sabor

220 N Congress Ave Boynton Beach FL, 33426

561-200-4860http://tastesabor.com/home

California Pizza Kitchen

Price: $$$$
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 3 out of 5

Chains. Some people swear by them, while others (read: my wife), not so much. But chains can be useful, no? Chains restrain murderous criminals from choking you to death in a courtroom. Chains keep that heavy machinery suspended so when you walk under it you’re not instantly destroyed.

But of course, this is a food blog, and the chains we talk about here are food related. Chili’s. Duffy’s. La Bamba. While these places are good for the quick fix (La Bamba is actually one of my favorite Mexican joints), they’re not necessarily ‘unique’. Today’s spotlight is on California Pizza Kitchen (CPK).

This place has multiple locations across this great nation of ours, and although it is a chain, it’s one of those ‘higher end’ chains. For example, McDonald’s is a chain, but it’s a bottom feeder and not worth another mention on this blog. It serves a purpose, but mostly to late night drunkards and recreational narcotics users.

CPK is a chain in the realms of Grand Lux Café or J. Alexander’s. Better quality of food, finer quality of service (usually), and it definitely comes with an amped up price tag. However, I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for, which is why I don’t eat at CiCi’s.

My wife had received several gift cards for CPK as a holiday gift, so we decided to have dinner on the fine students at Ideal Middle School. We started with these little BBQ tacos, part of their Small Cravings menu. Simple enough: Two flour tortillas, stuffed with cilantro, Korean style BBQ’d beef in this nice soy-based sauce. They were a tiny bit dry for my tastes, but the flavor profile was definitely present.

We had our dinner salads which were just salads (good, but not worth a paragraph here), but they’re a ‘Pizza Kitchen’ for a reason. I ordered their new Habanero Carnitas pizza with thin crust. This was a really good pizza. It’s got layers of slow roasted pulled pork, tangy red onions, a mild cilantro pesto that only comes through at the end of your bite, quality cheeses that add that creaminess you’d expect in a pie, without being overly cheesy.

The key to this pizza however is the habanero salsa. It comes on the side so you don’t have to worry about igniting your tastebuds on bite#1, however, you’re really gonna want to dive into this stuff. It’s spicy, don’t get me wrong, but it brings a new level of flavor that really takes the pizza to another plateau.

The service was good enough and the décor is appealing to the yuppie crowd (we were in Boca, after all).My wife ordered the spinach and artichoke pizza, which was delightfully creamy with the perfect amount of spinach flavor flowing through the entire dish. Again, while chains may not be ‘diamonds in the rough’, you can find a gem or two if you hit the right ones.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food (For a chain).

California Pizza Kitchen
http://www.cpk.com

Lucille's Bad to the Bone BBQ

Price: $$$
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5


You’ve heard me speak of BBQ by now, and of the several reviews I’ve posted to date, there are a few I would say ‘You REALLY need to stop here.’ Well…welcome to Lucille’s Bad to the Bone in Boca Raton, FL.

The atmosphere takes you to one of those sort of ‘Barnyard hootenanny meets a Nawleans swamp house’ vibes. It’s quaint, with that feeling of this-could-get-rowdy. They’ve got this massive wall of hot sauce that you can use to kick it up a notch, but be warned: That top rack is muy caliente. The staff is friendly and they’re quick with your order.

Ok now that that’s out of the way, let’s get into the meat of our review with the…uh…meat of our review.

My wife and I ordered the Pit Platter IV: A half rack of Baby Back Ribs, and your choice of two meats: We both opted for the pulled pork and brisket, and I had the baked beans and coleslaw (hey, I know that’s my usual side order, but a true BBQ joint stands by the quality in their accompaniments, and these are just staples that need to be done right). Oh yeah, and a corn muffin.

Ribs: My goodness. These were some of the most tender lip-smacking ribs I’ve had in a long time. Fall off the bone, and just the right amount of fat to tenderize them through the slow cook process. You could actually taste the love put into these things, like they had a salt shaker full of it back there. Nicely sauced without trying to hide the smoke.

Pork: Again, another success story. Juicy, succulent, and with a nice rub flowing through each bite. This is a quality butt they’re using here, and it shows in the layers of texture (some bites have a little chew, while others have that melty tendency you get from the fat-side up method of cooking).

Brisket: This stuff was ridiculous. I mean, insanely good. This is the cheerleader your tongue wanted to take to prom. Fantastic rub (and you’ll note when you go that the rub isn’t really generic across the board; you taste subtle differences in each animal sacrifice). It was shredded fine and tossed in their house sauce, but again, you were able to taste the bar-be-que in addition to the sauce.

Coleslaw: Nice and tangy, with a hint of sweet. Definitely get points for doing this one up right. Not overstated, not run-of-the-mill. It’s the side dish that brought the beer to the party. Yeah, that guy.

Baked beans: Another hit. Loaded with meat pieces and some fatback to add that bacony flavor to them, with a distinct brown sugar undertone that reminds you that the road to Tasty Ville is just a few feet up the road.

Corn Muffin: Honestly, it’s a corn muffin. Good, but nothing special, but it’s a must for some bread-like product to hit the plate in a BBQ joint. Interestingly enough, they put a slice of white bread beneath your pork and brisket. THAT’S a true sign of an official BBQ place, friends.

So if you’re in that mood for some down home, love intensive, meat devouring BBQ, swing on by Lucille’s.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Food.


Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ
3011 Yamato Road
Boca Raton, FL. 33434
561-997-9557
http://www.badtothebonebbq.com/



Rock N' Roll Ribs

Price: $$$
Atmosphere: 4 out of 5
Quality of Service: 2 out of 5
Food Overall: 3 out of 5

As any good red-blooded American will tell you, BBQ (or ‘Bar-Be-Que’, if you want to get picky about it) is a staple to a normal, everyday diet. In fact, out of the four basic food groups (Bacon, Cheese, Pork and Beef), BBQ heavily involves two of them. Oh, and before you correct me by saying ‘Bacon IS pork’, I’m fully aware of this fact. That being said, Bacon will ALWAYS deserve its own grouping.

Moving on…

Living in South Florida, we are rife with BBQ eateries, more so than your stereotypical BBQ locations, like NC. So, being an aficionado of the smoky, tasty flesh that these joints produce, I’m always on the hunt for the next great ‘que. Sometimes these adventures are hit or miss. Rock N Roll Ribs in Coral Springs is a bit of both.

First off: This is ‘Rock N’ Roll’ ribs. Meaning, it is owned by the drummer of Iron Maiden, and the décor is littered with signed cymbals,  drum heads, Eddie (Iron Maiden’s skeleton mascot) statues and sarcophaguses, and even a full drum kit on a ‘mock’ stage. There’s a large HDTV center stage that plays concert footage from rock bands while you chow down.

I apparently missed the memo prior to dining here, as most of the clientele we donning their heavy metal tees and spiked bracelets. It was like eating at a concert. I love my heavy music, but not enough to dress up for it so I can consume a rib or two. But the place has style, if you’re into that thing. It has that ‘event’ vibe.

The Service: Sucks. My wife and I sat down and were greeted promptly enough, and placed our drink orders. It took about 15 minutes to bring those back, and for us to order (bear in mind we just ordered club soda and tea; nothing fancy or requiring an umbrella).

Our salads showed up 30 minutes after that, and the lettuce was wilted and just not good. When we addressed this with our waitress, she looked and said ‘Oh, I’m sorry about that.’ Then left. Didn’t even take them off the bill, which isn’t what we were looking for; just wanted to let them know to check their produce for future patrons. But that’s what I get for ordering a salad at a rock joint.

When our dinners finally arrived (another 40 minutes AFTER the salads), it was impressive looking, I’ll say that. Served on a large pizza tin, it looked to be a smorgasbord of flavors: ½ rack of ribs, pulled pork, coleslaw, baked beans and garlic toast. I was intrigued and ready to dig in. And boy was I….adequately satisfied.

Ribs: Tender, with a perfect smoke ring around the entire layer of meat. A little chew to them, but in a good rib, that’s ok and even expected. Great rub, great sauce (and sauce selection as well), and really just a tasty, tasty rib. I would definitely order these again.

Pulled pork: Probably the juiciest pork I’ve ever had. Ever. And I’m part Cuban. Tender as all get out. And flavorless. Yes, you heard me. There was virtually no flavor to this pork at all. Sure, you could sauce the hell out of it, but that kind of defeats the purpose of good BBQ in my opinion. No rub, no sauce…just juicy, plain, no flavored pork.

Coleslaw: It’s coleslaw. Granted, I love my coleslaw, and a great slaw I’d write about for days. But this was just your run of the mill, ho-hum slaw. No big deal. Same thing with the garlic toast, but then again, throwing that on a plate of ‘que is like other restaurants including a sprig of parsley with your steak. It’s like you HAVE to do it.

Baked beans: Honestly? The star of the show. These were the best baked beans I’ve ever had in my life (sorry Ma). They were sweet. They were tangy. They had meat and just this unctuousness to them that…well, words fail.

All in all? It was an experience. Was it a great one? No. Was it a good one? Yeah, we had a nice time, and the rock atmosphere really makes it a fun dining adventure. Will I go back? Most likely, but it’ll probably be for a full rack and a tub of beans, hold the sleepy slaw, wilted salad and flavorless pork. Oh, and I’ll be sure to don my rock tee so I get better service.

But if you’re in the neighborhood, and you’re a BBQ fan (and a metalhead doesn’t hurt), stop in and check it out. It’s a good time and there are some good vittles here if you play your cards right.

After all, it’s just Da(m)n Good Decent Food.

Rock N’ Roll Ribs
4651 State Road 7 (US441)
Coral Springs, FL 33073
954-345-RIBZ (7429)
http://www.rocknrollribs.org