Review - Chicago Grill

I had seen this small restaurant less than a block off of College Ave numerous times and always kind of wanted to try it, but always ended up going somewhere else. Well the other night, I finally sprung, and I'm glad I did. There are quite a few of these types of places scattered about and they are all typically the same. Chicago dogs, gyros, etc. Well at this Chicago Grill, they offer those things as well as quite a bit of Mediterranean food, and from what they tell me, it's all made from scratch.

I decided to go with a gyro and the 3 piece falafel on the side. The gyro, to be honest, was nothing out of the ordinary. Not to say it was bad, it just wasn't anything special. The falafel was the real star of the show. It had the perfect texture and they gave me some incredible home made hot sauce to dip it in. Wonderful. My fiance got the chicken parmesan sandwich and that was quite good as well.

On our way out our server asked me how the hot sauce was and I told him it was good. He then told me that next time I come in I should ask him to make the hot sauce how he likes it, telling me that he adds tahini to give it a more creamy texture. He also recommended me the falafel wrap which I just might have to try next time. Excellent down to earth service and great food! I'll be back!

Review: Parker John's BBQ And Pizza

I've long been searching for a good BBQ joint in the area. I have no interest in trying Famous Dave's, I've seen their prices and heard enough bad things that I will definitely stay away. It came to my surprise when I heard there was a place out in Kiel offering up authentic southern barbecue at a reasonable price. We decided to make the trip (about 30-40 min) out and it was definitely worth it. It's a relatively small place but I was surprised at how new and clean everything was on the inside.

The first thing that hits you as you walk in the door is the smell of the smoker. It's a wonderful hickory smell that I can say I have not smelled in quite some time. The menu covers everything you'd expect; pulled pork, brisket, smoked turkey, ribs, etc as well as a number of sandwiches, most of which are served on a lightly toasted telera roll. I opted for the pulled pork dinner which included a heaping plate of pork lightly drizzled with their house barbecue sauce, two pieces of buttery texas toast, and two sides. I chose fries and coleslaw. The meat was exceptional. Melt in your mouth goodness. They include a trio of sauces at the table including a Memphis  sweet sauce, a Kansas City red sacue, and a Louisiana hot sauce. The Louisiana stole the show. My fiance ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and that was wonderful as well.

I did *not* save room for dessert but could not pass up the apple cobbler served in a cast iron skillet. It was stupendous. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures as I did not have my camera with me, but I will be back soon and will take some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

If you're looking for good authentic barbecue then Parker John's is definitely worth the trip.

A Taste Of Appleton

If you're tired of the same old chain restaurants serving up the same bland, flavorless food, and yet still command hour long waits on a Friday night, then this blog is for you. Yes, I will admit, for years as a child I thought Chili's was about as good as it gets. However, Appleton has far more to offer than just the chains, with new restaurants seemingly popping up monthly. The food scene here has come a long way, covering almost all cuisines (and price ranges) and offering up something for just about everyone.

This blog will seek to educate and inform about some of the best (and not so great) restaurants of Appleton. Going out to eat at least weekly, I thought it'd be a good idea to start jotting down some of my thoughts for myself as well as for anyone else who has any interest.

Keep your eyes peeled in the coming days for some posts that actually talk about food.